asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will review the powers of entry to private property held by his officers under the Seeds Act 1920 and seek to revoke all that he considers are not necessary;(2) if he will review the powers of entry to private property held by his officers under the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Acts 1941, 1943 and 1963, and seek to revoke all that he considers are not necessary;(3) if he will review the powers of entry to private property held by his officers under the Improvement of Livestock (Licensing of Bulls) Act 1931 and seek to revoke all that he considers are not necessary;(4) if he will review the powers of entry to private property held by his officers under the Agriculture Acts 1937, 1947, 1957, 1967 and 1970, and seek to revoke all that he considers are not necessary;(5) if he will review the powers of entry to private property held by his officers under the Hill Farming Act 1946 and seek to revoke all that he considers are not necessary;(6) if he will review the powers of entry to private property held by his officers under the Agricultural Wages Act 1948 and seek to revoke all that he considers are not necessary;(7) if he will review the powers of entry to private property held by his officers under the Mineral Workings Act 1951 and seek to revoke all that he considers are not necessary;(8) if he will review the powers of entry to private property held by his officers under the Agriculture (Fertilisers) Act 1952 and seek to revoke all that he considers are not necessary;(9) if he will review the powers of entry to private property held by his officers under the Food and Drugs Act 1955 and seek to revoke all that he considers are not necessary;

The need for such powers is in all cases carefully examined before they receive parliamentary approval. Appropriate opportunities are taken to revoke powers which are no longer necessary. I will, of course, be ready to consider details of any specific problem arising from these powers which my hon. Friend may have in mind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price of farm land per acre in Great Britain in each year since 1964.

Composite figures for Great Britain are not available. The average figures for sales of agricultural land in England and Wales and in Scotland are as follows:

ENGLAND AND WALES
Period ending	£ per acre
September 1964	126
September 1965	163
October 1966	167
October 1967	174
October 1968	183
September 1969	198
September 1970	200
September 1971	192
September 1972	221
September 1973	Not available

SCOTLAND
Period ending	£ per acre
December 1964	62
December 1965	62
December 1966	76
December 1967	84
December 1968	72
December 1969	82
December 1970	93
December 1971	87
December 1972	115 (provisional)
December 1973	Not available

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he last met officials of the National Farmers' Union; and if he will make a statement.

I met Sir Henry Plumb, President of the National Farmers' Union, on 6th November as part of the continuing discussions which I have with him. I shall be seeing him again very shortly. I am, of course, also kept informed on the frequent contacts between my officials and those of the National Farmers' Union.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as much detailed information as may be readily available showing the number of food items which have increased and decreased in price since June 1970; and the amounts of such increases and reductions on either a price or percentage basis;(2) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as much detailed information as may be readily available giving the price of eggs, fish, bread, butter, meat, bacon, ham, frozen fish, and canned meats in June 1970 and October 1973, their present prices, and what has been the percentage rise in each instance during this period.

The following table shows the average retail prices of about 80 important items of food, as collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Food Prices, on 16th June 1970 and 16th October 1973, the latest date for which information is available, and the percentage and money value changes between those dates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage increase in all food prices in each of the last three complete years, and the increase in 1973 to the latest available date.

The percentage increase in the Food Index was as follows:

January 1970-January 1971:	9·1
January 1971-January 1972:	11·5
January 1972-January 1973:	10·1
January 1973-October 1973:	13·7

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the effect on home prices of all imported foods if the levies arising from Common Market membership were removed; and if he will express this as a total figure based on the latest monthly completed returns as well as on individual items.

It is not possible to isolate the effect of levies from the many other factors which determine price levels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what subsidy is available to farmers to plant barley.

No special subsidy is available to farmers who plant barley, although barley is one of the grains guaranteed under the cereal deficiency payment arrangements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the accident and death rate at work of agricultural workers during 1970, 1971 and 1972, and the latest figures for 1973.

As follows:

FATAL ACCIDENTS
Year	Number	As percentage of all agricultural workers
1970	31	·008
1971	49	·104
1972	42	·012
1973 (latest figures)	20	[·005]
(Notified up to 21st November 1973).

NON-FATAL ACCIDENTS
Year	Number	As percentage of all agricultural workers
1970	6,291	1·79
1971	5,711	1·64
1972	5,755	1·69
1973 (January to June)	2,678	[0·77]
* The basis for compiling departmental accident statistics is set out in the Annual Report rendered to Parliament.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the recent meeting in Brussels of the Council of Agricultural Ministers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made yesterday.—[Vol. 864, c. 1562–3.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many schemes have been approved for grant specifically under Section 37 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968, subsections (1), (2) and (4), respectively, since 23rd November 1971.

Most of the expenditure approved under Section 37(1) of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1968 forms an integral part of land drainage schemes approved under Section 55 of the Land Drainage Act 1930, but since 23rd November 1971 two schemes have been approved for grant specifically under Section 37(1), six under Section 37(2) and 13 under Section 37(4).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any orders under the Land Drainage Act 1961, Section 18(2), have been made.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many internal drainage boards are not party to any agreements with rating authorities under Section 25 of the Land Drainage Act 1961.

Two hundred and sixty.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many internal drainage districts there are now in England and Wales.

Three hundred and, twenty-one.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many internal drainage boards have made agreements under Section 25 of the Land Drainage Act 1961 to cover the whole area of their districts.

This infomation is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many orders under the Land Drainage Act 1930, Section 4(3), have been made since 23rd November 1971 in respect of schemes for reorganisation or abolition of internal drainage districts.

Nineteen.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many orders under the Land Drainage Act 1930, Section 11, have been made since 23rd November 1971.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many orders under the Land Drainage Act 1930, Section 21(5), have been made since 23rd November 1971.

One.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many orders under the Land Drainage Act 1930, Section 24(8), have been confirmed since 23rd November 1971.

Forty-two.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many grants under the Land Drainage Act 1930, Section 55, were made in the financial years 1971–72 and 1972–73, respectively.

Two hundred and forty land drainage schemes submitted by river authorities were approved for grant in 1971–72 and 198 in 1972–73.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will indicate what proposals have been formulated by the Common Market Commission to harmonise the permitted added water taken up by chicken and hens during the freezing process and the subsequent checking system; how this compares with current United Kingdom practice; and what advantages would be derived from adopting the proposed changes.

No such proposals have as yet been formulated by the Common Market Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the EEC regulations on the movement of brucellosis-free cattle are being equitably interpreted by the United Kingdom's Community partners in relation to cattle from Great Britain and Northern Ireland, respectively; and if he will publish a statement indicating the current treatment of United Kingdom brucellosis-free store cattle exports by each individual Community country.

Our Community partners are fully entitled to apply the requirements of the EEC directive relating to brucellosis in relation to cattle from the United Kingdom. Given the standard we have taken on our own requirements for protection against FMD and swine fever, their application of Community law to protect themselves against brucellosis is both reasonable and equitable.My hon. Friend will be aware that pending Government decisions on the recommendations of the O'Brien Committee no new licences for the export of slaughter or store cattle from the United Kingdom are being issued. The attitude of individual member States of EEC on the question of exports of breeding or store cattle from United Kingdom is as follows:West Germany, Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg will only accept cattle from "officially" brucellosis-free herds which currently excludes cattle from the United Kingdom.Denmark and the Republic of Ireland retain their national rules for animal imports under the Treaty of Accession and will accept cattle from the United Kingdom subject to certain brucellosis safeguards. Italy is prepared to accept cattle from brucellosis-free as opposed to "officially" free herds.France now only accepts cattle from "officially" brucellosis-free herds but is willing to discuss the question with the United Kingdom. These discussions are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the county branches of the National Farmers' Union that have called for Ministry action against the badger in view of evidence of the incidence of bovine TB, and if he will make a statement on what action he proposes.

The county branches of the National Farmers' Union which have requested Ministry action against the badger are Cornwall and Gloucester. A survey has been completed in the West Penwith area of Cornwall in order to ascertain the incidence of tuberculosis in badgers; an interim report has been issued and a final report is being prepared. A separate study will be made of the disease among badgers in certain parts of Gloucester.Laboratory trials have commenced to measure the virulence of badger isolates of tubercle bacilli when given to young calves. Experiments will also be started to obtain information about the susceptibility of badgers to tubercle bacilli, and about transmission of infection between badgers, and also to young calves using premises occupied by infected badgers. The results of this work will not be available for some time.When reactors are revealed in a herd and there is no obvious origin of infection, badger specimens and faeces samples are collected and submitted to laboratory examination. If the bovine type organism is recovered the owner is advised and recommended to destroy the remaining badgers on his premises in a humane manner.

asked the Minister of Agriculture Fisheries and Food what is the estimated United Kingdom percentage share of the total revenue that would be raised by Commissioner Lardinois' proposed milk tax of 2 per cent. on certain levels of output.

Our provisional assessment of the Commission's proposals in their present form is that United Kingdom deliveries to dairies could represent some 20 to 25 per cent. of all deliveries by Community producers beyond the proposed levy-free quota of 10,000 litres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the estimated United Kingdom percentage share of total EEC butter production.

In 1972, the latest year for which information is available, the United Kingdom's percentage share of total butter production by the countries which now form the enlarged Community was approximately 6 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the quantity of white potatoes exported from Great Britain in the first 10 months of 1973 and of each of the previous three years.

The Overseas Trade Accounts provide figures for the United Kingdom and do not differentiate between red and white varieties of potatoes. Exports of ware potatoes from the United Kingdom for the first 10 months of the year concerned were:

	Tons.
1970	21,405
1971	25,376
1972	35,613
1973	108,719

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what warnings are issued to fishermen concerning the dumping of radioactive wastes.

I have been asked to reply.Solid radioactive wastes from the United Kingdom are dumped in the deep Atlantic as part of an internationally supervised operation. The dumping area has a depth of water of about three miles and is well beyond our fishing grounds. Some liquid wastes containing a limited amount of radioactivity are discharged into certain coastal waters, under strict control. No specific warnings to fishermen are considered necessary in either case.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are the sizes of the six largest air forces in the world.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind numbers of combat aircraft. On this basis, the six largest air forces are estimated to be those of the People's Republic of China, France, Poland, the Soviet Union, the United Kingdom and the United States of America.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are the comparative figures between that percentage of the gross national product spent on the armed forces by the United Kingdom and each of the other NATO and Warsaw Pact countries for each of the last five years.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will seek powers to make an annual gift to supplement on future Remembrance Sundays the retirement pensions of veterans of both world wars.

I do not think it would be right to seek such powers, but ex-Service men are eligible for the £10 payment authorised for this year by the Pensioners' Payments and National Insurance Act 1973 under the same conditions as apply to the rest of the community.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how long she has had the Russell Report under consideration; and when she expects to make known the decisions on implementation by Her Majesty's Government;(2) if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of consultations she has had with the various bodies concerned with further education arising from the Russell Report, the dates on which the meetings have been held, and the list of those attending at each together with the bodies they represent.

Ten months, during which a careful analysis has been made in the light of development in adult education provision since the committee first met. My right hon. Friend hopes to arrange discussions with the main interests in the next few weeks on the basis of this analysis.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she proposes to include in her next estimates a sum to cover those recommendations of the Russell Committee which are to be implemented.

No need for financial provision will arise till decisions have been taken in the light of the discussions my right hon. Friend proposes to hold.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a note of a meeting held in her Department on Thursday 25th October 1973 with representatives of the London borough of Newham concerning the problem of 150 secondary pupils awaiting school places for upwards of five months.

No. It would not be appropriate to publish notes of this kind in the OFFICIAL REPORT. A copy of the note was sent to the Newham Local Education Authority on 26th October and the hon. Member has since had a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a copy of "Notes on the placement of pupils in Secondary Schools in the London borough of Newham" which is in her possession; and whether she will make a statement.

No. It would not be appropriate to publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a copy of "Notes on the placement in Secondary Schools in the London

Waiting since				Non-immigrants	Immigrants coming to Newham from areas of other LEAs	Immigrants coming to Newham from countries of origin	Totals
May 1973	…	…	…	2	—	1	3
June 1973	…	…	…	1	—	12	13
July 1973	…	…	…	2	3	5	10
August 1973	…	…	…	10	2	16	28
September 1973		…	…	37	3	38	78
October 1973	…	…	…	7	3	22	32
Totals	…	…	…	59	11	94	164

The specific problem of a cumulative waiting list of this dimension was brought to the Department's notice by reports in the Press on 23rd and 24th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what basis and for what reasons she has suggested to the London borough of Newham that it should increase the number of pupils in secondary school classes beyond 30; when she discussed this, proposition with the teachers' representatives in Newham and with what results; and when she intends to give her written directive to the authority on this basis.

At a meeting on 25th October with representatives of the Newham Local Education Authority my Department made a number of suggestions for overcoming the problem of placing over 160 secondary pupils in the borough then out of school. One suggestion among others was that in some cases class sizes might if necessary be increased to 31. But the Department stressed that it was for the authority to decide how to make the best use of the facilities at its disposal to meet its statutory obligation

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures in her possession stating the waiting list of children for entry into secondary schools as at 25th October, 1973 in the London borough of Newham and the number of occasions when her Department was informed of this problem.

Following is the information supplied by the authority on 25th October:to provide education for pupils in its area. There is no question of a direction to the authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she took to assist the London borough of Newham to deal with the 331 Ugandan Asian children who had entered the borough as at 23rd January 1973; and what action she has taken since this date.

The London borough of Newham submitted an application in February 1973 for an additional school building allocation of £44,000 to provide 11 temporary classrooms to accommodate Asian children who had arrived from Uganda. This was granted. No further request for additional accommodation for Asian children from Uganda has been received. The Uganda Resettlement Board has approved assistance to the authority towards the cost of providing this accommodation and grants for the salaries of five extra teachers and for equipment and capitation allowances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the average percentage increase in the price of textbooks purchased by local education authorities between 1970 and 1973.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many inspectors are currently involved in an inspection of South Bristol Technical College; what is the date of appointment to the inspectorate in each case; and what are the qualifications and teaching experience, with dates, of the inspectors concerned.

The number of Her Majesty's inspectors involved in this inspection is 10. All are well qualified in the subject areas which have been allocated to them, have both inspectorial and teaching experience in them and in many cases industrial and business experience also. It is not the practice of the Department to provide details of Her Majesty's inspectors' careers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the purpose of the inspection by Her Majesty's Inspectorate currently in progress at the South Bristol Technical College.

The rapid growth of this college, which has resulted in some overloading of the facilities, makes it desirable to consider its future development relative to the other establishments of further education in the neighbourhood. It was therefore considered that an assessment of its present use and of its future potential would be of considerable help to the new Avon authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to make a decision on whether war service should count towards pensions for the teaching profession.

War service is already pensionable in certain circumstances. My right hon. Friend is considering representations that the scheme should be broadened to cover the war service of post-war entrants who had no commitment to teaching.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average amount per head of population spent annually in Wales on public library services; and what is the comparative figure for England.

The available figures relate to the net rate borne expenditure on public libraries per head of population. In 1971–72, the latest year for which information is available, the figure was £1.07 for Wales and £1.31 for England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what projects, and at what cost, firms of management consultants have been employed by his Department since June 1970.

The information is given in the following list. It is not normal practice to publish the fees paid in individual cases, but the total cost of the studies listed is approximately £700,000. The list excludes computer consultancies and the employment of members of management consultant firms to augment the Department's own staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the decision of the then Minister of Housing and Local Government in 1965 that proposals relating to Aintree Racecourse should be referred to him, whether, before approval is given for the development of all or part of the Aintree Racecourse, Liverpool, for non-racing purposes, he will call in the present proposals, and so inform the parties, Mrs. Mirabel Topham and Mr. William Davies of the Walton Group, so that he can consider the proposed sale of the Aintree Racecourse and its implications.

An application in outline for planning permission to develop Aintree Racecourse will be considered by the Lancashire County Planning and Development Committee at its meeting on 11th December. If the committee is minded to grant it the application will be referred to my right hon. and learned Friend as a substantial departure from the development plan. On the information I have at present I would expect my right hon. and learned Friend to call this application in for his decision and hold a public local inquiry. If the Lancashire County Council refuses the application the applicant would have the right of appeal to my right hon. and learned Friend and he would hold a public local inquiry before reaching a decision on any such appeal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total amount of central funds given towards the construction of new housing accommodation within the city of Bristol for the period 1966 to the latest available date.

Claims under superseded legislation have been agreed at approximately £1,418,000, and this amount will have been paid by the end of this year, in respect of new dwellings completed since 1st April 1966 by Bristol Corporation and by housing associations building within the city of Bristol. In addition, the construction of new dwellings during this period will have favourably affected the corporation's entitlement under the Housing Finance Act 1972 to receive residual subsidy, presently estimated at approximately £290,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the delays in the provision of driving tests in Eccles, Swinton and Pendlebury, if he will indicate what steps his Department is taking to reduce the waiting period; and if he will make a statement.

We are recruiting additional examiners as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a police authority can be expected to be formed for the new police force covering Tyne, Wear and Northumberland; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend hopes to receive confirmation before the end of this month that both the new county councils concerned agree on the terms of a police amalgamation scheme for the new counties of Tyne and Wear and of Northumberland. He will then be in a position to make on order approving the scheme. As soon as this has been done the way will be clear for the new police authority to meet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when a chief constable designate can be expected to be appointed for the new police force covering Tyne, Wear and Northumberland; and if he will make a statement.

I hope that the new police authority will be able to meet shortly to make the appointment, which will be subject to my right hon. Friend's approval in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what arrangements have so far been made for the Police Federation's Guardian Board for the area of the new police force covering Tyne, Wear and Northumberland to be consulted on conditions to be applied in the new force area; if he is satisfied with these arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

The Guardian Board is represented on all the working parties set up to plan the new force, and has played a full part in their consultations. I see no reason why decisions which are outstanding on certain points should not be reached quite soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent Her Majesty's Government's present policy on determining establishments for the reorganised police forces coming into being in April 1974 will affect future reviews of police establishments; at what stage the principles governing normal reviews of establishments will be applied in the reorganised forces; if he will urgently consult the Police Federation on this matter; and if he will make a statement.

The existing arrangements for regular review of force establishments every three to five years will be maintained. For those forces affected only slightly or not at all by reorganisation I would expect the existing cycle of reviews to continue. For those forces substantially affected I would expect the establishment operating from 1st April 1974 to be reviewed as soon as sufficient experience of policing the new area is available, and the normal cycle of reviews to operate thereafter. My right hon. Friend is always willing to consider representations from the Police Federation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which police forces have, and which police forces have not, reviewed their establishments within the last two years; and to what extent the establishment has been increased in each particular case.

Following is a list of the forces where as the result of either a comprehensive review or of an adjustment the total number of police officers on the establishment has increased by 10 or more:

Force	Increase
Bradford	71
Bristol	81
Cheshire	36
Cumbria	58
Derby County and Borough	43
Devon and Cornwall	151
Dorset and Bournemouth	19
Durham	116

Force	Increase
Dyfed Powys	71
Essex and Southend-on-Sea	24
Gloucestershire	154
Gwent	62
Gwynned	100
Hampshire	150
Hertfordshire	72
Kent	77
Kingston-upon-Hull	35
Lancashire	99
Leeds City	33
Leicester and Rutland	189
Lincolnshire	154
Manchester and Salford	53
Mid-Anglia	83
Norfolk	64
Northumberland	122
Nottinghamshire	129
South Wales	267
Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent	219
Suffolk	46
Surrey	16
Sussex	161
Teesside	145
York and N.E. Yorkshire	10

In some cases further changes are under consideration.There have been changes as a result of either a comprehensive review or of an adjustment in all police forces in England and Wales except for Somerset and Bath and Northampton and County. Proposals for the establishment of the new Avon and Somerset force are under consideration and the result of the current review of the Northampton and County force will be incorporated in the establishment of the new Northamptonshire force to be created on 1st April 1974.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer in revenue terms if all retirement pensioners received £18 per week free of tax.

About £4,500 million after allowing for savings on supplementary benefit payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the extent to which the rise in house prices in 1972–73 was due, especially in London, to the financing of property speculators (a) by the banks and (b) by building societies.

The rise in house prices was due to a variety of factors. Building societies are restricted in the proportion of their advance that can be made other than to private householders or prospective householders.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much public money has been spent on matters related to the Glenforsa estate.

Glenforsa estate was acquired in October 1951 at a cost, inclusive of stock, etc., of £39,550. Subsequent capital and maintenance works amounted to £50,000.Against this, sales of land and buildings yielded £9,800 and there have been miscellaneous receipts of £5,700. In the period from October 1951 to 31st March 1973 there was a cash surplus on farming operations of some £20,000.These figures do not take account of administrative costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities he estimates will be providing at least 150 places in junior and adult training centres for the subnormal per 100,000 population in their areas by 1978.

I estimate that in 1978 there will be sufficient places in junior occupational centres in all parts of Scotland, and that the target of 150 places in senior training centres per 100,000 population will have been reached in the areas of about 15 of the existing local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to make a statement on his policy towards the Melville Report on the qualifications of staff in junior and senior occupational centres in Scotland.

I have not yet completed my consultations with interested bodies and until I have done so I cannot say when I will be ready to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that the Press and public cannot be refused admittance to meetings of the regional health authorities and area health authorities.