asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will guarantee the maintenance of the present workforce at RAF Sealand for the foreseeable future in view of the proposed rundown at Shotton steelworks; and if he will make a statement.

So far as can he foreseen, RAF Sealand has a long-term future. While I can give no guarantee that no changes will occur in the numbers and composition of the personnel employed there, no major changes in overall numbers is contemplated at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what would be the present net cost of providing free school dinners on a non-means-tested basis.

At present take-up rates the cost of providing free school meals for pupils at maintained schools would be approximately £250 million a year, of which £90 million would represent the income forgone by remitting the standard charge. But there would almost certainly be an increase in demand with resultant overall costs of the order of £350 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total cost of free school meals for the most recent period for which information was available.

Approximately £34 million in 1972–73, of which £19½ million represents the income forgone from remitting the standard charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is now available on the take-up of free school meals.

The latest complete figures are for October 1972, when 850,000 pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools in England and Wales, representing 10·7 per cent. of the numbers of pupils in attendance, received free school meals. Full information from the 1973 census is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the additional costs involved if the take-up rate of free school meals was increased to 100 per cent. of those eligible.

It is estimated that about 80 per cent. of the pupils who qualify for free school meals take advantage of their entitlement, though it is impossible to be precise about a figure of this kind. On this basis the additional annual cost involved if all those eligible received the meal free of charge would be between £5 million and £7·5 million depending on the proportion of those who now pay for their meal.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the additional costs involved if free school meals were supplied (i) to all those now taking school meals, and (ii) to all those attending school.

Approximately £90 million and £230 million a year respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice she has issued for the training of careers teachers in giving guidance to disabled students.

It is generally accepted that, as far as possible, handicapped students should be treated in the same way as other students, although many will need special help to offset their disabilities. Much of the general guidance given by my Department, through its publications and Her Majesty's inspectors, is relevant to teachers of handicapped children.Specific advice was given in my Department's pamphlet "Careers Guidance in Schools", published in 1965, which contains a chapter on the problems of handicapped school leavers. My Department's pamphlet "Careers Education in Secondary Schools", published last month, which sets out the findings and recommendations of the survey conducted by Her Majesty's inspectors over the past two years, contains a section devoted to careers education and guidance in special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the number of permanently and substantially disabled students at present being educated in sixth forms, further education colleges, special further education colleges, colleges of education, polytechnics and universities, respectively.

I am not able to supply the figures, which are not collected by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children who have received special education have entered courses at colleges of further education, colleges of special further education, colleges of education, polytechnics and universities, respectively, in each year from the date on which figures are first available.

A return of school leavers during the academic year 1970–71 from all special schools in England and Wales showed that, of the 8,775 pupils who left, 814 entered some kind of full-time education. This was a special survey, and figures for other years are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of students who are registered disabled with the Department of Employment and are undertaking a course in a higher education institution, excluding courses specifically established for the disabled.

This information is not available. The Department of Employment's register of disabled people shows only their age and type of disability and it is not possible to identify the number of students included.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to ensure that grant structures for disabled students will take account of additional expenses incurred by disabled students receiving a major award; and if she will make a statement.

The grant regulations and teacher training arrangements include provisions which may be used to help disabled students in receipt of mandatory and teacher training awards; but I will consider this further during the current review of student grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provisions she has made for the housing needs of disabled students attending courses of higher education; and if she will make a statement.

This is a matter for universities and, in the case of colleges of education and further education, local education authorities. The Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 requires such bodies to make reasonable provision for the needs of disabled persons. The attention of local authorities was drawn to the requirements of the Act in a joint circular issued by the Government Departments concerned in August 1970. Advice to the universities on the implementation of the Act was issued by the University Grants Committee in April 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is the number of buildings for which planing permission has been granted since the operative date of Section 8 of the Chronicaly Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, which have been constructed for any of the purposes named in the said section;(2) of those buildings for which planning permission has been granted under Section 8 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970, (

These figures are not collected by the Department. The information available, however, suggests that local education authorities and others providing new or remodelled school buildings are showing a proper regard for Section 8 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 in the provision made for car parking, access, lifts and sanitary facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement concerning the payment of tuition fees by disabled students living at home who are at present dependent on supplementary benefits.

Any student, whether disabled or not, who is not in receipt of a mandatory or teacher training award may apply to his local education authority for a discretionary award which may include the payment of tuition fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has any plans to enable the profoundly deaf to obtain teaching qualifications which would license them to teach, similar to the opportunities now being provided in social work for similarly qualified personnel; and if she will make a statement.

A candidate suffering from deafness may, at present, be admitted to a course of initial teacher training leading to qualification to teach in a maintained school provided the college concerned is satisfied as to his physical capacity for teaching, with where appropriate a hearing aid, and his suitability for the teaching profession in other respects. I have no plans to alter these arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if her Department has undertaken any study of the vocational rehabilitation institutions and student support schemes in the United States of America and Poland; what interdepartmental consultations there have been to ensure the creation of integrated programmes; and if she will make a statement.

I see no reason why my Department should undertake a study of this kind, but if the hon. Member will write to me giving further information I shall consider the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he has taken to examine career prospects for disabled students entering a course of higher education; and if he will make a statement.

My Department's services to disabled people are continually under review. Disabled students may obtain advice on careers prospects from careers officers of the youth employment service and from disablement resettlement officers, and they should benefit from the general improvement in the employment situation. I understand that those concerned with the guidance and placing of university students are also reviewing their services to this group.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what directives he has issued through the Central Youth Employment Executive for the training of careers officers to give guidance to disabled clients; and if he will make a statement.

There have been no directives issued through the Central Youth Employment Executive for the training of careers officers specialising in work with the handicapped. Our policy is to advise that such specialists should be appointed to the youth employment service when the numbers of handicapped young people in any one area justifies this. Special training is provided for these officers. All careers officers are advised to consult my Department's employment medical advisers and disablement resettlement officers if they require advice on cases involving handicapped young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what provision he has made for the training of occupational guidance officers in giving advice to disabled clients; and if he will make a statement.

The occupational guidance officer attends an eight-week basic course before he takes up post and an advanced course of two weeks about four months later. He interviews disabled people during his training and gains an insight into the problems of disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the current level of manual workers' earnings in industries other than mining as compared with the level at the time of the Wilberforce award to the miners.

The following are changes based on the monthly indices of average earnings of all employees; estimates are not available for manual workers only. Between March 1972, the month after the Wilberforce settlement, and August 1973, average earnings in manufacturing industries increased by 19·2 per cent.—after adjustment for normal seasonal movements—and in agriculture, construction, and gas, electricity and water by 43·1 per cent., 24·3 per cent. and 13·2 per cent. respectively—these figures being available only without seasonal adjustment. The corresponding August 1973 index for mining and quarrying was 28·1 per cent. higher than in October 1971, before industrial action preceding the Wilberforce settlement, and 10·7 per cent. higher than in March 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his estimate of the reduction in available labour in areas of acute shortage, such as the London and the Solent, attributable to maintenance in force of the earnings rule for retirement pensioners.

I regret that there is no available information on which such an estimate can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what he estimates to be the level of rate support grant in each of the next five years for the London borough of Waltham Forest.

My right hon. and learned Friend will be putting proposals on the amount and distribution of rate support grant in 1974–75 to local authority representatives later this month. The amount that will go to any individual authority will depend on the settlement finally reached nationally, and also, in the case of the resources element, on the rate levied by that authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what communications he has had with the authorities responsible for clearing driftwood from the Thames; and what information he has about the progress that has been made in this work.

I understand that the Port of London Authority and the Greater London Council are currently discussing ways of improving arrangements for clearing driftwood from the river. Under the Water Act 1973, the Thames Water Authority is required by April 1975 to submit proposals for the transfer to the GLC of amenity and recreational functions for the Thames in London. The GLC has indicated to the PLA that, following the transfer, it will want to consider jointly their respective functions in the clearance of driftwood which relates to visual amenity as well as to navigation.Driftwood has been more noticeable this year because of the low summer rainfall resulting in a reduced water flow which has led to the accumulation of debris in the upper river.The PLA has, during the past five years, collected 34,000 tons of driftwood at a cost of over £250,000. In recent months it has also doubled the number of moored driftwood barges available for the public dumping of rubbish and so on.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the M62 connecting the M1 and the Al will be opened.

This section of the M62 is expected to be opened to traffic in the summer of 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the M621 to be opened.

This motorway will be opened on 27th November 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total amount paid for (i) rent rebates and allowances and (ii) rate rebates for the most recent period for which information is available.

It is estimated that in England and Wales rent rebates amounting to £190 million will be allowed to tenants of council dwellings and rent allowances amounting to £50 million will be paid to private tenants in the financial year 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information is now available on the take-up of (i) rent rebates and allowances and (ii) rate rebates.

It is estimated that by May 1973 some 1¾ million council tenants in England and Wales were benefiting under the rent rebate scheme, and upwards of 350,000 under the rent allowance scheme for unfurnished private tenancies. Figures for furnished tenancies are not yet available. In the financial year 1972–73, 905,423 domestic ratepayers in England and Wales received rate rebates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the additional costs involved if the take-up rates of (i) rent rebates and allowances and (ii) rate rebates was increased to 100 per cent.

I am not able to make such an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the ultimate total cost of a typical council house, costing £8,000 to build including land, when interest at the present rate for long-term loans has been paid over the normal borrowing period of 60 years; and what proportion of the ultimate total cost is payable in the interest on the loan.

Assuming a Consolidated Loans Fund interest rate of 9 per cent., the total payments would come to about £43,500. About 80 per cent. of this sum would represent interest on the loan.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of completions of council houses in the year preceding the latest date for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures at the same date in each of the preceding five years.

During the year ended 30th September 1973, 97,900 dwellings were reported as completed for local authorities and new towns in Great Britain. Corresponding figures for the previous five years may be obtained from Housing Statistics Nos. 8, 12, 16 and 20—in each case page 15—and Housing and Construction Statistics No. 5, page 23; copies are in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to increase the number of houses for rent built by local authorities; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 14th November.—[Vol. 864, c. 151.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the progress of the planning for the Birmingham west orbital route.

An assessment is being carried out into the possible need for an orbital route west of Birmingham. I cannot yet estimate when this will be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made in his investigation into the industrial pollution emanating from the St. Andrews Fish Dock in Hull.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food that his laboratory in Hull has recently been able to put forward positive recommendations which the industry is taking up. A definite time table of work on the abatement of odours has been agreed in consultation with the medical officer of health for Hull.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the building programme for the new National Library.

While I am glad to inform the hon. Member that good progress is being made in planning the development of the Bloomsbury site for the British Library, it has not yet reached the stage at which a building programme can be prepared. I will inform the House further as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount that he has received from local authority housing revenue account surpluses since the introduction of the Housing Finance Act.

This information will take a little time to prepare, and I shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures for the total of Great Britain's overseas aid in the financial year 1972–73, the amounts of this aid which were provided by the Government and private sources, and the amount of aid from private sources which was investment.

Official aid flows net of amortisation were £250 million in 1972. Final figures for the financial year 1972–73 are not yet available. The provisional net total of private flows in 1972, which are always calculated on a calendar year basis, is £344 million, of which private investment is estimated at £111 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will terminate the supply of Westland helicopters to Saudi Arabia.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend told the House on 18th October.—[Vol. 861, c. 425.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied with the guarantees given by the Government of Saudi Arabia that weapons supplied to them by British manufacturers will not be used against Israel.

It is not our practice to ask for such guarantees from any country to which defence equipment is sold, nor would it be practicable to attempt to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures he has in view to protect the passage of British ships bound for the Israeli port of Eilat through the international waterway of the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb.

As my right hon. Friend told the House on 31st October, we are in touch with the parties about the resolution of the Bab-el-Mandeb question and other questions related to the implementation of the ceasefire.—[Vol. 863, c. 183.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to set up a fund from which small hoteliers can borrow to meet their obligations under the Fire Precautions Act 1971 at interest rates lower than those being charged by local authorities under the Fire Precautions (Loans) Act 1973.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of Great Britain's imports and exports, respectively, related to trade with the EEC and the rest of the world in the first 10 months of 1973; and if he will also express these figures in percentage terms.

I have been asked to reply.For imports, 33 per cent. from the EEC and 67 per cent. from the rest of world; for exports, 32 per cent. and 68 per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many applications have been received for transfer from dairying to beef production in Northern Ireland.

30, up to 14th November.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will consider removing the VAT charge from the telephone bills of retirement pensioners.

No, Sir. Without amendment to the Finance Act 1972, this could be achieved only if the Post Office were to subsidise telephone charges to retirement pensioners from the revenue collected from other customers. I do not think that the Post Office can be expected to vary charges between one customer and another according to their circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate, from figures available to him, the weekly family allowance payable to a family with three children as a percentage of the average earnings of adult male manual workers in the Common Market and in the United Kingdom, at the latest date for which figures are available.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested, except for Great Britain where the weekly family allowance payable to a family with three children—£1·90—represents approximately 6 per cent. of income, net of tax and national insurance contributions, where the breadwinner was receiving the average earnings of a male manual worker. The family allowances payable to families with three children in other EEC countries expressed as a weekly sum are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in Rugby are waiting to see a consultant.

There are 421 people awaiting out-patient appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of wait to see consultants in each of the specialties in Rugby.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what approximate proportion of National Health Ser- vice hospital beds is occupied by women over 60 and men over 65 years of age; what is the average length of their stay in hospital; and if he has any evidence to suggest that they stay beyond the time when they are fit to leave because it is impossible for them to return to their previous accommodation.

Information in the form requested is not available. In 1972, in England and Wales women aged 65 and over occupied 28 per cent. of all hospital beds. The corresponding figure for men was 14 per cent. The average length of stay is not a meaningful figure; in non-psychiatric hospitals, the median length of stay for men and women together was 12 days.I have no detailed evidence on the extent to which the length of stay of elderly patients is influenced by their inability to return to their previous accommodation, although it is known that delay in discharge sometimes occurs for a variety of reasons. This is a matter for resolution in individual cases by discussion between relatives, hospital and local authority staff as appropriate. The joint consultative committees of health and local authorities which are being established for the reorganised National Health Service will be able to examine particular difficulties within their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are awaiting admission to St. Cross Hospital, Rugby; and what has been the figure in each of the past five years.

612 on 30th June 1973. Figures for 31st December in the past five years are:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children in the Rugby area are awaiting ENT operations; and what is the average length of wait.

The information requested about children is not readily available. 1,413 patients of all ages are awaiting tonsil and adenoid operations, and 837 other ENT operations. The average time waited by patients who have had operations was 27·3 weeks during 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are awaiting admission to hospitals in the Coventry Hospital Management Committee area.

7,564 at 30th June 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have been awaiting admission to St. Cross Hospital, Rugby, for longer than three months, six months and one year, respectively.

374 over three months but less than six months; 132 over six months but less than 12 months; and 139 over 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are awaiting admission to St. Luke's Hospital, Rugby.

Two at 30th September 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children under 16 years of age are awaiting admission to St. Cross Hospital, Rugby.

There are 98.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will seek to obtain details of the work done in the University of Birmingham departments of chemistry and social medicine concerning the advisability of children with high lead content in their blood being encouraged to drink milk; and if he will arrange for a statement on this subject by his profesisonal advisers;(2) if he will seek powers to authorise the distribution of free milk to children for whom it would have medical benefits;(3) if he will seek powers to authorise local authorities to pay for the provision of free milk to children for whom it would have positive medical benefits;

My medical advisers have recently received details of the work done in the University of Birmingham departments of chemistry and social medicine, and these are being studied. In December 1971, all medical officers of health and principal school medical officers were advised by the Chief Medical Officer about possible hazards from excessive amounts of lead in food, the atmosphere, water and soil and asked to consider, particularly in the case of young children, what investigations should be undertaken. So far my medical advisers are not aware of any evidence that establishes that the health of children is in danger in this respect or that the provision of milk would be beneficial in this connection.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he has made in his study into the future provision of movable-seat wheelchairs for registered disabled persons.

A manufacturer is being asked to produce prototypes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the capital projects to make provision for the mentally ill and mentally handicapped for which he has refused to grant loan sanction.

Procedures for approval of local authority health and social services projects in England for loan sanction purposes involve, except for very small schemes, three stages—provisional approval of the project, approval in principle of an outline specification, and final approval after an acceptable tender has been received. I issue each year lists of projects provisionally approved for the three following years. Inclusion of a project in one of these lists means that I expect to be able to give final approval for it during the year specified if it has by then reached final approval stage and an acceptable tender is received. I am having prepared a list of the projects for the mentally ill and the mentally handicapped proposed by local authorities for 1973–74 to which I was unable to give provisional approval earlier this year, and I shall send this to the right hon. Gentleman.Local authorities have recently submitted programmes for the next three years, and revised lists of schemes provisionally approved for 1974–75 to 1976–77 will be issued in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the establishments, together with the type of treatment or care available at them, for residents in the West Bromwich Hospital Management Committee area for the treatment and after-care of patients suffering from mental disorders.

Following is the list:All Saints Hospital, Birmingham. Mental illness Hospital. In-patient and day-patient treatment for the mentally ill and severely demented.St. Margaret's Hospital, Birmingham. Mental Handicap Hospital. In-patient and out-patient care for the mentally handicapped.Hallam Hospital, West Bromwich. General Hospital. Out-patient treatment for the mentally ill.Walsall Street Social Centre, West Bromwich. Local Authority Social Centre for the mentally ill.Hill Top Adult Training Centre, Peter Street, West Bromwich. Local Authority Adult Training Centre for the mentally handicapped.Glenvale Special School, West Bromwich. Local Authority Social and Youth Club for the mentally handicaped.Warstone House, Salters Lane, West Bromwich. Local Authority Home for the elderly mentally infirm.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings to the Exchequer are attributable to the existence of the earnings rule for retirement pensioners.

At current rates of pension, the saving to the National Insurance Fund is estimated to be £135 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many fatherless families he estimates there are in Great Britain at the present time; how many are in receipt of supplementary benefit; in how many the mother earns more than £8 per week; and what would be the cost of granting them, net of supplementary benefit savings, a national insurance benefit at the rate of, respectively, the current widowed mother's allowance, or £10 per week, or £14 per week.

It is estimated that in 1971 there were about 520,000 fatherless families in Great Britain, approximately 233,000 of them receiving supplementary benefit. Excluding widows receiving national insurance benefits, the number where the mother earned £8 a week or more was 130,000. The only later figures available are for the numbers receiving supplementary benefit—246,000 in November 1972. It is not possible to estimate the cost of paying a national insurance benefit to fatherless families without knowing on what contribution and other conditions it is assumed to be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners there are between the ages of 75 and 80 years of age; and what it would cost, per year, to give them an increment of 50 pence a week.

There are 1,334,000 retirement pensioners between the ages of 75 and 80 years. On the basis that all of them, including those who are receiving supplementary pension, would benefit to the full extent of the proposed increase, the cost would be about £35 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners over 80 years of age are currently in receipt of the special increment of 25 pence a week; and what it would cost per year to raise this increment to £1 a week.

There are 1,260,000 retirement pensioners over 80 years of age. On the basis that all of them, including those who are receiving supplementary pension, would benefit to the full extent of the proposed increase, the cost would be about £49 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what measures have been taken by the Government since they took office in June 1970 to improve the real value of the income of the retirement pensioner.

The Government have introduced a system of annual reviews of benefits. Under this the three increases in pensions made since 1970 have improved the value of the pension by 55 per cent., compared with a rise in the cost of living, between November 1969 and September 1973, of 36 per cent., so that pensioners have had an appreciable real increase in their standard of living. Moreover, last December a special payment of £10 was made to all retirement pensioners—£20 for a married couple both over pensionable age; and, in the special circumstances now existing, the payment is being repeated this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons are currently in receipt of the retirement pension; of such persons, how many are in receipt of an additional

Following is the information as at 30th November 1972, the latest date for which it is available:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a breakdown of the number of persons in receipt of the retirement pension by sex and age, the latter being measured in categories of five years.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the figures for the number of persons in receipt of the retirement pension for each year since the current comprehensive system of national social insurance was implemented in 1948; what is his estimate of the future numbers of such persons over the next 10 years; and what percentage of the total population in each year such persons represented or will represent.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the proportion of national insurance benefits paid to those with incomes below the tax threshold.

It is estimated that rather over 70 per cent. of retirement pension expenditure is paid to persons below the tax threshold. A precise estimate cannot be made for other national insurance benefits, most of which are not taxable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the proportion of family allowances paid to those with incomes below the tax threshold.

About 15 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount paid for (i) family income supplement and (ii) supplementary benefit for the most recent period of 12 months for which figures are available.

£10 million and £690 million, respectively, in 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information is now available on the take-up of (i) family income supplement and (ii) supplementary benefit.

The take-up of family income supplement is approximately half, though in the case of families entitled to £2 a week or more, roughly three-quarters are getting the benefit. I regret that similar estimates are not available in respect of supplementary benefit take-up. We are at present examining the data available from the Family Expenditure Survey to see if such estimates may be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the additional cost involved if the take-up rates of (i) family income supplement and (ii) supplementary benefit were increased to 100 per cent.

Because of the small size of the sample on which estimates have to be made, and because of the transitional effects of the change to 12-month awards, an estimate concerning family income supplement cannot be made at present. I regret that no estimate concerning supplementary benefit is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for improving the pensions provision for widows of 50 years of age and over.

The standard rate of widow's pension was increased by £1 a week at the beginning of last month. I have no proposals for further improvements to put forward at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will estimate the volume of oil entering international trade from South America, the Caribbean, Africa (excluding North Africa), Indonesia and Malaysia in 1973 and in 1975.

I am afraid that statistics of the sort requested are not collected or maintained by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in respect of the work of the work of the supplementary Benefits commission, for each year since 1970, what was, respectively, the total number of claimants in receipt of supplementary benefit, the total number of annual claims, the total number of single payments, to meet immediate need, the total number of recurring weekly awards, and the total annul number of callers; and if the will give his estimates for of these categories for 1973.

The information is given the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the operation of the sections of his Department which assist United Kingdom industry in the exploration and exploitation of the United Kingdom Continental Shelf.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the cost of generating a unit of electricity in nuclear power stations using magnox, AGR and water systems.

The generating costs of the existing Magnox stations reflect the capital costs of those stations at the time they were built. The capital cost of a similar station today would be very much higher. No commercial AGR or water reactor has yet operated in this country. The probable generating costs of new stations using these types of reactor are being examined by the Nuclear Power Advisory Board as part of its work on reactor choice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the approximate cost of building a 2,000 MW nuclear power station using Magnox, AGR and water systems, allowing for an annual rate of cost increase of 10 per cent.

I regret that these figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, taking 1960 as the base year, if he will give an index to price rises in crude oil imported into the United Kingdom from the Middle East and North Africa, and compare the rise in crude oil prices with the advance in prices of manufactured goods exported to the Middle East and North Africa.

Using 1960 as the base year, an index number of the average value per ton of crude and process oils imported into the United Kingdom from Middle East and North Africa is 122 for the year 1972. A price index for exports of manufactured goods by area is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the energy difficulties, he will authorise immediate orders for both HTR (Dragon) and SGHWR nuclear reactors, following their successful development.

It is the Government's policy to intensify the installation of nuclear plants, and we intend to reach a decision as soon as possible about the choice of the next thermal reactor system. The CEGB is actively considering a programme of early nuclear orders.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the cost of Moroccan phosphates on 1st January 1973, the current price per ton following the recent price increases, and the reasons advanced for the substantial increase in prices.

The list price at 1st January 1973 for 1972–73 BPL rock was $12 per metric ton, and from 1st January 1974 is to be $40. In announcing these increases to customers, the Moroccan supplier has referred to the need to bring prices back in real terms to the levels obtaining in the past; to increases in crop values and in the export prices of fertilisers; to losses sustained by the producing company in recent years; and to the need for very substantial investment to increase production to meet the present shortage.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will ensure that special provision is made to meet the needs of disabled people who are unable to use public transport, in his contingency planning for a scheme of petrol rationing.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what is the estimated value of coal and coal products, respectively, exported and imported by the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available; and what is the estimated cost of transport involved;(2) what is the estimated value, respectively, of cars exported and imported by the United Kingdom in the last year for which figures are available; and what is the estimated cost of transport involved;(3) if he will publish figures showing in what classes of goods the value of exports or imports exceed the value of imports or exports, respectively, by 50 per cent. or less, the sums, respectively, involved for each class of goods, and the estimated cost of transport incurred;(4) whether, in estimating the cost of transport of goods for the purpose of replies to Parliamentary Questions, the cost of building and maintaining roads is taken into account.

Monthly and cumulative value figures for the year to date are published against SITC(R) Numbers 321.4 (coal), 321.5 (briquettes), 321.6 (lignite), 321.8 (coke) and 732.1 (cars) in Tables III and VI of the monthly Overseas Trade Statistics. Figures for different classes of goods, that is, SITC(R) Divisions and Sections, are given in Tables II and V. It is not possible to estimate the cost of transport incurred or any element within this relating to the cost of building and maintaining roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what proportion of available supplies of electricity are at present consumed by lighting of motorways, streets and other public external illuminations;(2) what proportion of available supplies of electricity are at present consumed by floodlighting, display lighting, and on retail and other commercial premises;(3) what proportion of available supplies of electricity are at present consumed by television receivers.

Of the units sold by electricity boards in England and Wales in 1972, the following proportions are estimated to have been consumed by these classes:Public lighting. Less than 1 per cent.Floodlighting, advertising and window display lighting. About 1 per cent.Television receivers. About 1½ per cent.Commercial use other than flood and display lighting (including public buildings, HM Forces and premises with combined domestic-commercial tariffs). 16 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will seek powers to enable him to ensure that adequate supplies of electricity are allocated to industry and essential services, without interruptions through rota cuts, by ordering the reduction of consumption for less essential purposes.

Orders have been made under the emergency regulations with effect from 15th November prohibiting the use of electricity for advertising or display purposes and for space heating in non-domestic premises. Although this will reduce the load on the supply system, there can be no guarantee that rota cuts may not be necessary if the situation deteriorates. If it should, it will not be possible because of the current EPEA dispute to ensure, except in a very small number of cases, that any consumers will receive uninterrupted supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a revised list of management consultants who have indicated their interest in working for small firms and of whom details are held at small firm information centres.

I am placing in the Library a list of management consultants who have indicated their interest in working for small firms. Full details are held at small firm information centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of mergers within the statutory scope of the Monopolies Commission have since 1965, respectively, created or strengthened a technical monopoly in that a single firm obtained more than one-quarter of the relevant market share; and which these industries or commodities were.

Before the Fair Trading Act took effect on 1st November 1973, the market share criterion for merger references under the Monopolies and Mergers Act 1965 was one-third and not one-quarter of the relevant market. I regret that for this reason the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the number of night jet landings at Heathrow in 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973.

The available records show the following totals between 2330 and 0600 hours:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the total value of aerospace exports for the first six months of 1973 as compared with the similar period for last year in categories of aircraft, engines, parts and accessories, etc., for each period.

Following is the information for aerospace exports:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when the Royal Charter of the Anglo-German Foundation for the study of the problems of industrial society was granted; and what was the reason for the delay.

The draft charter was approved by Her Majesty in Council on 24th October, and the Royal Charter will be granted shortly. The drafting of a Royal Charter for a body of charitable status is difficult and time-consuming; in this case it has been further complicated by the need to keep the Federal German Government fully informed and consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what were the approvals given in the first two quarters of 1973 for house building in Wales; and how these figures compare with those for the same period in 1971 and 1972, respectively.

The number of local authority new towns and housing association approvals in the first half of 1973 was 2,258. The figures for the corresponding halves of 1971 and 1972 were 2,001 and 1,353 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request the Welsh Council to make a survey of the production costs of dairy farmers in Wales.

It is for the Welsh Council to determine its own programme of work. Financial data on dairy farms and other types of farming systems in Wales are, however, already provided annually by the farm management survey for England and Wales, undertaken by the universities on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. Moreover, a university survey of dairy herds was carried out in the year ending 31st March 1973, the results of which are now being analysed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what estimate he has made of the effect of the Hawarden bypass scheme in attracting new industry to the area; and if he will make a statement.

Good road communications will always help in attracting new industry. I therefore regard this scheme as of much value in developing the economy of North-East Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons are at present awaiting admission to National Health Service hospitals in Wales.

39,587 as at 30th June 1973. This figure covers all specialties, and hence the numbers include patients awaiting treatment or further investigation for all types of conditions, some of which are minor. In the year ending 31st March 1973, a total of 321,622 patients were treated in hospitals in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average waiting period for patients suffering from non-acute conditions for surgical treatment in National Health Service hospitals in Wales.

Patients needing urgent hospital care are admitted immediately. The waiting time for other patients depends on the urgency of the case and the specialty concerned. It is not possible to give a meaningful average figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many beds for geriatric patients are provided in National Health Service hospitals in Wales.

3,545 as at 31st March 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many beds there are in National Health Service hospitals in Wales; and how this figure compares with that of 10 years ago.

25,542 at 31st March 1973, compared with 27,662 in March 1963. Over the same period the number of patients dealt with in hospitals in Wales has risen from 241,697 in 1962 to 327,319 in 1972. These changes reflect changes in the patterns and forms of medical care and the use of more efficient facilities.