asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she can now say how many children receive free school meals nationally and in the Greater London area, respectively; what these figures represent as a percentage of meals taken; and how they compare with each of the previous five years.

Following is the answer:NUMBER AND PERCENTAGE OF MEALS PROVIDED FREE OF CHARGE TO PUPILS AT MAINTAINED SCHOOLS IN THE GREATER LONDON AREA AND IN ENGLAND AND WALES 1968–73.

	Greater London Area		England and Wales
Year	Number of free meals	Percentage of all meals	Number of free meals	Percentage of all meals
1968*	109,870	15·6	841,066	16·8
1969	84,418	11·8	594,176	11·5
1970	92,543	13·1	627,056	12·2
1971	109,106	17·4	805,462	17·3
1972	116,569	17·4	850,203	16·7
1973	113,142	16·5	795,276	14·7
*The 1968 figures reflect the concession, with-drawn after a year, under which all fourth and subsequent children in a family were entitled to free school meals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will call a representative consultative conference of local authorities, academic and administrative staff and students to discuss the provision of working and residential accommodation for polytechnics.

No. Satisfactory means already exist for the discussion of these important subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give details of research, including cost, into the cause and possible treatment of muscular dystrophy.

The Medical Research Council's Clinical Genetics Unit is carrying out genetic and biochemical studies on muscular dystrophy and, in addition to a wide range of basic neurological and muscular studies, the council is also supporting other research programmes on this disorder. Other research financed from public funds is carried out in universities and under the decentralised scheme for locally organised research in National Health Service hospitals. Much of the research forms part of wider studies in neuromuscular disorders and it is not possible to isolate expenditure on muscular dystrophy alone.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she has taken on the report sponsored jointly by her Department and the Social Science Research Council on Educational Priority.

The Government share the concern shown in the report for disadvantaged children, and this is strongly reflected in their policy on nursery education.In phase 9 of the urban programme local education authorities were invited to submit, among other things, bids for projects to strengthen the links between home and school. Both the Department and the Social Science Research Council have made grants for research projects which are a continuation of the original project.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to impose an obligation on local education authorities to establish parent-teacher associations in all primary and secondary schools within their jurisdiction.

I favour the strengthening of links between schools and parents but I do not think that legislation is advisable.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will reject schemes for the reorganisation of secondary education which entail some children having to take an 11-plus examination to attend a comprehensive school which other children enter solely on grounds of age and place of residence.

My right hon. Friend considers each proposal on its merits. She is aware of the objections which have been submitted to the proposals for reorganising schools in Wellingborough, and will weigh them carefully before reaching her decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the placing of contracts for school building after 1st January 1974.

I shall announce the arrangements for the resumption of approvals very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present differential in remuneration between head teachers and other teachers; and what it was in 1965 and 1970, respectively.

Any answer must obviously be in very broad terms, but the salary scales of head teachers carry at present an average differential over those of other teachers of 47 per cent. The corresponding figures in 1965 and 1970 were 58 per cent. and 52 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additional money she intends to grant to the Arts Council.

Under the present triennial arrangements the Arts Council has had an indication of the maximum size of its grant, subject to parliamentary approval and to revaluation, for the years 1974–75 and 1975–76. I hope to be able to give the council in the New Year, and subject to the same qualification, a further indication extending, for planning purposes, to 1976–77.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is now able to make a statement on her review of the parental contribution to the cost of university education, in particular regarding means tests.

No, Sir. I hope to announce in the spring the results of the current review of student grants, including any change in the parental contribution.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what contribution is required from parents towards their children's university education in Great Britain.

No contribution towards fees or maintenance is required from parents whose residual income, that is, the income left after offsetting certain items against gross income, is less than £1,500 a year. At £1,500 the contribution is £30. It then increases at the rate of £1 for every additional £5 of residual income up to £1,999, and beyond that at the rate of £1 for every additional £10 of residual income.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a study of the Norwegian system of giving loans and grants to university students.

My Department has collected information about the systems of student support in a number of countries, including Norway.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give the estimates, in terms of money, of the expenses of university students on which their grants were based at the last review.

After investigation of the changes in the cash value of grants needed to maintain their real value, a joint working party of the Education Departments, the National Union of Students, and the Scottish Union of Students concluded, in December 1970, that, for the period beginning September 1971, the rates of standard maintenance grant required to maintain the real value of the rates recommended for the previous triennium were as follows:

	£
London, Oxford and Cambridge	500
Elsewhere	450
Students living at home	370

I am sending the right hon. Member a copy of the working party's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will consider introducing an annual reassessment of student grants to take account of price inflation in place of the present triennial system.

My right hon. Friend is considering this as part of the current review of student grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give the number of sub-normal persons, over the age of 19 years, in the West Riding County Council area whose educational needs are being catered for; how many such persons are now on the waiting list; and if she will make a statement on her plans to provide adequate educational facilities for such people.

I am not able to supply the figures, which are not collected by the Department. My right hon. Friend is considering the Russell Committee's recommendations on the disadvantaged in her study of its report "Adult Education: A Plan for Development".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the London allowance for teachers was first introduced.

In 1945. Teachers in the London area were paid on higher salary scales before that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she will be in a position to give a decision concerning the proposed reorganisation of the Ilford Girls Secondary High School.

Once the comments on objections to the proposal have been received from the Redbridge Local Education Authority my right hon. Friend will proceed to her decision

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the results of the October census of school meals are now available; and how they compare with that of the census carried out in October 1972.

In October 5,416,000 or 66·1 per cent. of pupils at maintained schools in England and Wales took the school dinner compared with 5,076,000 or 64 per cent. in October 1972. Free dinners served in October numbered 795,000 or 14·7 per cent. of the total compared with 850,000 or 16·7 per cent. last year.A detailed statement of the returns from local education authorities on which these figures are based will be placed in the Library. This statement, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, includes returns from Welsh authorities.The census collected information about pupils buying snack meals in schools, and those bringing their own food to eat at midday. The numbers were 23,000 and 526,000 respectively, compared with 19,000 and 526,000 last year.On the day of the census, school dinners were being taken by 72·3 per cent. of all pupils present in primary schools (68·9 per cent. last year), and by 56·5 per cent. in secondary schools (55·8 per cent. last year). All but 900 of the snack meals were being taken in secondary schools, and one in 10 secondary pupils brought sandwiches as compared with one in 25 primary pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the results of the October census for school milk are now available.

In October, 1,932,000 pupils in England and Wales, being pupils in special schools or pupils in other schools entitled to it on age grounds, were receiving free milk. In addition 87,000 primary school pupils over the age of 7 were receiving free school milk on health grounds. These figures represent 95 per cent. and 3 per cent. of the respective age groups present on the day of the census. On that day 59 local education authorities had made arrangements for the sale of milk in a total of 1,229 primary and 46 secondary schools. This statement, with the agreement of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, includes returns from Welsh authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many teachers have left the education service since 6th November 1972 or from the nearest convenient date.

The information is not available. The following figures show the number of teachers who left full-time teaching in grant-aided schools and establishments during the year ended 31st March 1972:

Age under 60 on 31st March 1972	29,445
Age 60 and over on 31st March 1972	5,978
Total	35,423

NOTES:These figures include:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many sub-normal persons between the ages of 19 and 30 years are receiving education in the West Riding County Council area; and how many there are whose educational needs are not being catered for.

The Department does not collect statistics of the number of subnormal people of 19 or over who are receiving further or adult education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement concerning the future of the library service for education and the teaching profession.

Following local government reorganisation the public library authorities and the education authorities will be the same and there will be increased opportunities for beneficial links between the public library service and the education service. I am considering the implications for library services for teachers of the proposals in the White Paper "Education: A Framework for Expansion".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities make provisions for the training of teachers to deal with children who are dyslexic.

This information is not available. Courses of initial teacher training which are provided on a national basis in colleges or departments of education include an introduction to the teaching of children with reading difficulties. Opportunities for more detailed study are afforded by some 40 in-service training courses in universities and colleges as well as a specially designed post-experience course of the Open University and a significant though unknown number of short courses provided in the main by local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local authorities do not make special provision for the teaching of children with reading difficulties resulting from dyslexia.

As my hon. Friend told the hon. Member for Islington, North (Mr. O'Halloran) on 21st November—[Vol. 864, c. 438]—it seems generally agreed that the best way of dealing with specific reading difficulties is through appropriate remedial education; and this can be provided either in ordinary schools or by attendance at a remedial centre. No returns have been requested from LEAs about their provision in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many full-time university students there are in Great Britain.

The provisional number of full-time and sandwich students in universities in October 1973, as recorded by the University Grants Committee, was 244,728.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total cost of education per year of university students in Great Britain.

Information is not available in the form requested, but in 1971–72 universities' total recurrent expenditure, which covered research as well as teaching, amounted to £354 million at out-turn prices. University income from Exchequer and local authority grants amounted to about three-quarters of this sum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement explaining by what means it is proposed to give effect to her undertaking to the House that the entire proceeds from admission charges are to be freely at the disposal of the trustees of the institutions for defraying the cost of minor structural work without being appropriated in the Estimates when calculating the total sums of which the details are not in future to be separately specified and accounted for.

Subject to parliamentary approval of the Estimates, the 1974–75 Vote for each of the national museums and galleries is being increased by the estimated net amount of their receipts from admission charges. The institutions are being consulted about the uses to which they wish to apply the additional money; their choice is not restricted to minor structural works. The extent to which additional minor works can be undertaken is limited by the resources of the building industry in London but I will consider with my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment whether any additional minor works which the trustees desire can be accommodated within his programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost per annum for educating a pupil in the maintained primary schools and maintained secondary schools in the Birmingham Local Education Authority area.

In 1972–73 the average costs per pupil in maintained primary and secondary schools in Birmingham were £130 and £236 respectively at outturn prices. These costs are provisional. They include debt charges but exclude capital expenditure from revenue, taxation, adjustments with other authorities, assistance to students, school health service and certain other expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the numbers of males, females, boys and girls, respectively, who have been registered as unemployed during the whole of the past six months in the United Kingdom; and what are the figures for the Mexborough and Womb-well employment exchange areas.

The following is the information. The table shows figures for 8th October 1973, the most recent date for which the information is available.

	Unemployed for over 26 weeks
	Men aged 18 and over	Boys aged under 18	Women aged 18 and over	Girls aged under 18
United Kingdom	190,824	757	23,783	605
Mexborough	561	—	56	1
Wombwell	193	—	16	—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will request the Pay Board to complete its review of London allowances by 31st January 1974 at the latest.

No. The subject is a complex one, and the time taken to mount, conduct and process the necessary inquiries is the main determinant of the timing of the Pay Board's report. Nevertheless, the board is aware of the urgency and of the Government's wish to receive the board's report as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek to amend the phase 3 pay regulations so as to make allowances for the unsocial hours worked by those employees of dairies engaged in the bottling of fresh milk at early hours on weekdays and Sundays.

So far as I am aware, the applicability of the existing provisions to these cases has not yet been tested.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled construction or building workers are currently registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Macclesfield constituency.

The following table shows an occupational analysis of unemployed men who last worked in construction for the area covered by the Macclesfield and Congleton employment offices:

Unemployed on 12th November 1973
Electricians (installation and maintenance) premises and ships	1
Plumbers, pipe fitters	2
Steel erectors	1
Painters and decorators	7
Bricklayers	1
All other occupations (including labourers)	68
Total: unemployed men who last worked in the construction industry	80

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to increase the share of the work permits quota at present allocated to the hotels industry.

Discussions on the size and allocation of the quota are taking place and my right hon. Friend hopes to be able to put his proposals to the industry before Christmas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will cause an investigation to be held by the Factory Inspectorate into the explosion at the Yorkshire Chemical Works, Hunslet Road, Leeds 10.

News of the explosion was telephoned to the district inspector of factories who immediately began an investigation. The investigation is continuing into the cause of the explosion and the inspectorate's specialist chemical section concerned with industrial explosions is providing technical and laboratory support.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will instruct his local officials not to send unemployed claimants for jobs whose net basic rate falls below supplementary benefit rates and whose gross basic rate did not raise wages above family income supplement level.

No. My Department's local officials will bring to the notice of all registrants, employed or unemployed, details of any vacancies which appear suitable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the unemployment figure in Scotland at the latest available date; what was the figure of jobs vacant at the same date; and how these figures compare with June 1970.

Following is the information:

	Unempolyed	Unfilled vacancies
November 1973	79,599	26,875
June 1970	81,686	18,629

The figures are not adjusted to take account of seasonal factors.The vacancy statistics relate only to vacancies notified to employment offices and careers offices and do not measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will specify the prevailing rate of the average wage in the regions of England, Scotland and Wales.

The results of the 1973 New Earnings Survey included the following estimates of the average gross weekly earnings, including overtime and bonus payments, of full-time manual men whose pay was not affected by absence in the survey reference period in April 1973.

Region	Average gross weekly earnings
	£
South East	39·3
East Anglia	35·5
South West	35·8
West Midlands	40·3
East Midlands	36·9
Yorkshire and Humberside	36·9
North West	37·6
North	37·9
Wales	38·7
Scotland	37·1
Great Britain	38·1

Additional regional analyses of earnings are included in the November issue of the

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will state how often, due to an industrial dispute, there has been a declared state of emergency since the commencement of the Industrial Relations Act 1971; and on how many occasions he has used Section 141 of the Act to ballot the union membership involved in the dispute.

Three times. Section 141 was not used on any of these occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will advise the new regional health authorities to examine closely the provisions at present being made for chiropody for the elderly to ensure that there is no reduction in the standard of service.

The new regional and area health authorities have been advised that their overriding objective is to ensure that there is no interference with the services to the public as a result of the handover of responsibilities on 1st April 1974. This general guidance will be followed by advice on particular services including chiropody for which the elderly are one of the priority groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent savings have been made in the cost of nursing staff salaries at Clarkson Hospital, Wisbech.

None, Sir. Although there has been a reduction of 28 beds since July, the number of nurses in post has increased by the equivalent of one full-time nurse.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is now able to make a further statement on the recommendations of the Quirk Committee on speech therapy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he can now make a statement on the further action he is taking concerning the recommendations of the Quirk Report upon speech therapy.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Evelyn King) and the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 4th December.—[Vol. 865, c. 1067–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will seek to amend the National Insurance (Overlapping Benefits) Regulations so as to enable widows who undergo training under the Training Opportunities Scheme to draw the full appropriate grant under the scheme without losing their widow's allowance.

Widow's allowance, which, as a personal benefit, is a resettlement benefit, payable during the first six months of widowhood at a higher rate than the normal national insurance personal benefit rate, is not affected by the receipt of a grant under the Training Opportunities Scheme. Other national insurance benefits are normally replaced by training allowances at higher rates. An exception is made for widows receiv- ing widowed mother's allowance, who can keep this benefit in full and receive a training allowance of £3·50 a week in addition. Arrangements to secure this were recently introduced and my right hon. Friend has no further change in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what response he is making to representations from the Association of Hospital Secretaries expressing anxiety about members' careers in the reorganised service.

I appreciate the desire of the association to have early information about opportunities in the new National Health Service. We are preparing further guidance on the development of management structures by the filling of further posts, and I hope the Whitley Council will be able to reach agreement soon on salaries for the second-in-line posts. I will be writing to the association.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he will issue his circular recommending local authorities to transfer responsibility for accommodating the homeless to housing departments.

Together with my right hon. and learned Friends the Secretaries of State for the Environment and Wales I intend to issue a joint circular on homelessness in the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ask his Central Policy Review Staff to examine the co-ordination, quality and quantity of research into loss of hearing at present being undertaken by three separate research councils, the Department of Health and Social Security, the Department of Education and Science and the previous research, now ceased, by the Post Office; and if he will subsequently write to the hon. Member for Willesden West.

As the hon. Member knows, the Medical Research Council Sub-Committee on Research on Deafness includes representatives of the three research councils as well as departmental representatives. The Post Office is not represented. The two working parties which are to examine the problems of deafness and to advise on the initiation and development of research have only just commenced their work. Until they have reported to the sub-committee, it would be premature to initiate inquiries by another review body. In response to his request I am also writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now make a statement on the consideration by his chief medical officer of the effects on health in urban areas of atmospheric lead poisoning, and lead poisoning from other sources.

I can add very little to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 6th November.—[Vol. 863, c. 157.] The group of experts referred to has not yet reported on its assessment of the available research evidence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of general practitioners now serving the county of Leicestershire, showing the number serving rural areas, together with the average number of patients per doctor.

Leicestershire and Rutland—excluding the city of Leicester—forms a single unit which for the purposes of the family practitioner services is served by 209 doctors, and the average number of patients per doctor is 2,454. The number serving the rural areas of Leicestershire and Rutland is 94 doctors with an average number of 2,406 patients per doctor. The number of doctors serving the city of Leicestershire is 133 with an average number of 2,255.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why nursing officers, Salmon Grade 7 and above, do not receive payment for hours worked above 40 per week.

This is in accordance with an agreement of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council which provides for payment for hours above 40 a week to grades up to and including ward sister, or the equivalent level, if additional off-duty time in lieu of the excess hours cannot be granted. Subject to the requirements of the service, grades at the level of nursing officer, Salmon Grade 7, and above may receive additional off-duty time in lieu of excess hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present position in regard to the programming of the five hostels for mentally handicapped adults in Hertfordshire; and if he will ensure that construction of these hostels is authorised to proceed as programmed and without undue delay.

In 1972 Hertfordshire County Council asked for seven hostels for mentally handicapped adults to be included in its capital building programme for the three-year period 1973–74 to 1975–76. As provision for Hertfordshire was, thanks to the initiative of the county council, already considerably higher than for the average local authority, it was necessary to use the money available disproportionately for those authorities not so far ahead and therefore to give provisional approval to two only of these projects, one for a hostel at Hoddesdon in the list for 1973–74 and a further one, at a site still to be chosen, in the list for 1975–76. A cost limit has been agreed for the Hoddesdon hostel, and, subject to a satisfactory tender being received, final approval for this hostel is likely to be given early in 1974–75. 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 whether he will make a statement on the adequacy of the hospital physiotherapy service in the Portsmouth area and on the action which he is taking to combat current staff shortages.

I am aware that the Portsmouth Group Hospital Management Committee would like to employ more physiotherapists, and I am satisfied that it is taking steps to improve recruitment—for example, by offering flexible hours and by planning refresher courses for married women. The physiotherapy departments of the Royal Portsmouth and Queen Alexandra Hospitals have been amalgamated to provide better cover, and full use is being made of physiotherapy helpers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the decision was taken not to include the Willesden General Hospital in the forward building programme as a district general hospital as outlined in earlier hospital building programmes; and why the change was made.

In 1971 my right hon. Friend agreed that the North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board should plan on the basis that the Central Middlesex Hospital would be developed as a district general hospital. He also accepted that there was no question of closing Willesden Hospital, but in the light of the above proposals this could not be developed as a district general hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons he estimates are currently in receipt of a widow's pension, in receipt of supplementary benefit other than retirement pensioners, and in receipt of invalidity benefit.

Following is the information:

(a) Widow's pension	415,000
(b) Supplementary benefit (other than retirement pensioners) (just over)	1,000,000
(c) Invalidity benefit	415,000

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct his local officials not to send unemployed claimants for jobs whose net basic rate falls below supplementary benefit rates and whose gross basic rate did not raise wages above family income supplement level.

Unemployment review officers of the Supplementary Benefits Commission are not expected to press a claimant to accept a job which, taking FIS into account, would leave him materially worse off financially than he would be if he remained on supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what authority a local DHSS office adopts procedures other than the four-week rule in cases of alleged voluntary unemployment, and imposes immediate cut-offs with no explicit warning; whether such procedures are being used generally, in respect of active members of the Claimants' Union; and why in such cases, in view of delay in appeal hearings of four weeks or more, benefit is not restored pending appeal.

Under discretionary powers given to the Supplementary Benefits Commission by paragraph 4(1)(b) of Schedule 2 to the Supplementary Benefit Act 1966 (formerly known as the Ministry of Social Security Act), a supplementary allowance may be summarily refused or withdrawn in certain closely defined circumstances when it is clear that a claimant is voluntary unemployed without good cause and that suitable work is immediately available to him. This power is used only exceptionally; it is irrelevant whether or not the person concerned is a member of the Claimants' Union. Payments may be made to meet urgent need pending an appeal hearing.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost, respectively, of extending earnings-related unemployment benefit to 12 months and flat-rate unemployment benefit to 18 months; and what would have been these extra costs at today's prices if this had been done in February 1972.

On the basis of recent unemployment experience the cost to the National Insurance Fund of extending earnings-related supplement payable with unemployment benefit to 12 months would be about £5 million a year, and the cost of extending flat rate unemployment benefit to 18 months would be about £13 million a year. Based on the level of unemployment in February 1972 the cost of these changes, at the then prevailing benefit rate revalued to current prices, would have been £10 million a year and £13 million a year, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the annual cost of providing a £4 per week home responsibility payment, respectively, for single women caring for an elderly infirm relative and for mothers not in paid employment caring for one or more children under the age of 5 years; and how many persons he estimates would fall into these respective categories.

It is estimated, on the basis of the 1971 census, that there are approximately 2½ million mothers of children under the age of 5 years who are not in paid employment, while the best available figure for single women caring for elderly infirm relatives is the total of approximately 10,000 women, caring for old or sick relatives, who are receiving supplementary benefit. The gross cost of a benefit of £4 a week for these groups would be of the order of £520 million a year and £2 million a year respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of married women in, respectively, full-time and part-time employment; what percentage have taken up the married women's option; what is the present annual value of national insurance contribution payments from married women in paid employment; and what it would be if the married women's option were abolished.

National insurance statistics do not show separately how many married women are employed full-time and part-time. Based on the 1971 census information and taking employment over 30 hours a week as full-time, about 2½ million are estimated to be employed full-time. No information is available about the separate percentages of married women in full-time and part-time employ- ment who have exercised the option not to pay flat-rate contributions.It is estimated that there are some 5 million married women in employment in respect of whom national insurance contributions are payable, about 75 per cent. of whom have exercised the option not to pay flat-rate contributions. In addition there are about ¾ million married women in employment with earnings below the threshold or working for less than eight hours a week, in respect of whom there is a liability for industrial injuries contributions only. National insurance contributions, including industrial injuries contributions, are currently being paid by married women at the rate of about £130 million a year, of which £50 million relates to flat-rate contributions, including £7 million for the National Health Service; £80 million relates to graduated contributions.If the married women's option were abolished it is estimated that the yield of flat-rate contributions would be increased by about £118 million, including £21 million for National Health Service contributions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will initiate discussions with the new Hampshire County Council about the implications of proposed staff structure, distribution and strength, with particular reference to any overall reductions, for maintaining and improving the quality and effectiveness of social services including community work and good neighbour schemes in the city of Portsmouth; and whether he will make a statement.

These are matters for the local authority to determine. I am informed, however, that it has no intention of reducing the number of community work organisers and good neighbour organisers now in post.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he continues to be satisfied with the observance by Government Departments of fuel economies.

Yes. I reported to the House on 26th November that the consumption of petrol by the London Car Pool had been reduced by 15 per cent. All Government Departments are now reducing their consumption of electricity, and I understand that the Department of the Environment's headquarters in Marsham Street has saved about 20 per cent. against a target of 10 per cent.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service in how many of the cases referred to in his reply to the hon. Member for Islington, South-West on 27th November the business or other body offering employment was covered by cases (c) or (d) of Estacode, Section K, paragraph 8.

No central records are kept of how many of these also are covered by Estacode K a 8 (c) and (d); but I can say that most cases referred to the Civil Service Department concern applications for permission to join firms or organisations covered by Estacode K a 8(a).

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he next expects to meet members of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

I have accepted an invitation to do so on 20th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in order to curb those who waste fuel and cause traffic congestion, particularly in the South-East, to keep their tanks full, he will require garages to serve motorists with a minimum of four gallons of petrol during the present shortage.

This could produce a number of practical difficulties. The petrol supply situation including London and the South-East has already shown an improvement during the past few days and is expected to improve still further after 12th December when fresh allocations to petrol retailers become effective. I would prefer, therefore, for the present to rely on the good sense of motorists not to fill their fuel tanks at every opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to require garages to display prominently on petrol pumps the amount of duty paid per gallon on each grade of petrol.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce checks to discover the extent to which commercial companies which have allocations of petrol for their vehicles' use are seeking to conserve their supply by using alternative sources of fuel at private garages and aggravating the present situation for the private motorist; and if he will take steps to end this practice.

My right hon. Friend issued a statement on 7th December—[Vol. 865, c. 1649–59]—concerning the oil allocation scheme arrangements for the further period to the end of January 1974. This should reassure commercial companies as to the use and replenishment of their own supplies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will allow extra petrol, in the event of rationing, for (a) local councillors serving widespread rural areas, (b) county councillors serving similar rural areas, and (c) justices of the peace in such areas where public transport is either inadequate or non-existent and the use of their own petrol ration the only alternative.

It is intended that in such cases supplementary allowances could be applied for if the basic and business rations already issued were insufficient to cover essential needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, in the light of the dependence of the Dorset hotel industry on advance bookings and tourist mobility and having regard to railway closure, he will make an advance announcement to the effect that there will be a once-only holiday petrol allowance for peak season holidaymakers.

The possible effects on the tourist industry in certain areas would be given full consideration if it became necessary to introduce petrol rationing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence he now has of the extent to which fuel supplies are being withheld by the petrol companies in anticipation of a price increase.

I am satisfied that the oil companies are not withholding supplies of motor fuel to their customers in anticipation of a price increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what evidence he has of increases in the price of petrol.

There has been some evidence of higher prices at garages, but the Price Commission has warned them to observe the price code's provisions on gross percentage and net profit margins, and has stated that it will instantly examine any complaint of overcharging from the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage cut has been applied to supplies to petrol filling stations.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Gateshead, East (Mr. Conlan) on 10th December 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list those countries which have bought military equipment under licence from Her Majesty's Government since 1970.

It is not the practice to disclose information about export licences granted for the export of military equipment to overseas countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) how long it is proposed to take to complete studies into the possibility of using sites at Moles-worth and Elstow, Bedfordshire, for the purpose of building power stations; and if he intends to publish details of the conclusions reached in the studies;(2) whether his Department has given the necessary statutory consents for power stations at either Molesworth or Elstow;(3) whether the Nuclear Inspectorate has granted a nuclear site licence for either Molesworth or Elstow; or when they are expected to be issued;(4) whether it is proposed to place a light water reactor at Molesworth following the approval of United States of America light water systems by the Nuclear Power Advisory Board;(5) whether the building of nuclear power plants at Molesworth or Elstow will form part of the next phase of power station constructions or be reserved for a subsequent period.

The initial investigation of possible sites for power stations in England and Wales is a matter for the CEGB. I understand that such an investigation has been carried out for a site at Elstow and is proceeding for a site at Molesworth. I am unable to comment on the likely time scale of these investigations or their outcome, but no application has yet been made either for statutory consent or for a nuclear site licence for either of these sites. The timing of such applications depends on the electricity supply system requirements and rests with the CEGB.Should an application be made for a nuclear power station at any site neither consent nor a nuclear site licence would be granted until the choice of reactor system had been made and a full investigation had been carried out as to the suitability of the proposed site.The Nuclear Power Advisory Board has not yet made recommendations about any reactor system.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) if he will list his powers to control the export price of crude oil secured from the United Kingdom section of the Continental Shelf;

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer is responsible for the administration of the Exchange Control Act 1947 which provides for Her Majesty's Customs to prohibit an export from the United Kingdom unless they are satisfied that it is made under arrangements showing a proper return satisfactory to the national interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what restrictions he proposes to place on the use of private aircraft in order to conserve fuel.

As I announced on 7th December, flying by light aircraft is to cease on Sundays and fuel supplied for private flying is to be cut by 50 per cent.—[Vol. 865, c. 1649–59.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on what further plans he has to help farmers to obtain fuel oil.

The operation of agricultural tractors, machinery and equipment in the production of food is a priority use for the allocation of fuel oil and action taken by my Department in collaboration with the oil industry should ensure that adequate supplies are available to meet farmers' essential needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the principle described as "fair share all round" adopted by some oil companies for rationing oil supplies conforms with the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

It would be misleading to comment on this description in isolation from all the other factors bearing on Government policy towards international oil companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware of the effect upon industrial, business and agricultural enterprises in the Denbigh area that would result from the threatened discontinuance of fuel supplies to at least one local distributor by a major oil company with effect from 31st December 1973; and what steps he proposes to take to alleviate the situation.

My Department has been in touch with the Oil Industry Emergency Committee about the oil supply position in the Denbigh area and has been assured that arrangements are being made for deliveries of oil to the local distributor concerned to be maintained after the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what accident figures to seamen are provided by the shipping industry to the Government; how frequently they are made available; and if he will publish the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The British Shipping Federation Ltd. receives reports from member companies of all personal accident injuries to seamen on ships in their ownership. Summary statements are presented at six-monthly intervals to the Accident Prevention Committee of the National Maritime Board and to the Department. The adequacy of these statistics and the question of publication will be considered as part of the forthcoming review of the Report of the Steering Committee on the safety of merchant seamen and of the Safety Code published in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many accidents there have been to British seamen on British ships for each of the years from 1960.

Returns in respect of personal accident injuries on ships in the ownership of members of the British Shipping Federation Ltd. show that in the six months ended 30th September 1973 there were 3,039 such accident injuries reported in respect of men on duty and 528 in respect of men off duty. Comparable figures for preceding six months' periods as far back as they can be taken were:

Six months ending	On duly	Off duty
30th September 1970	3,904	734
31st March 1971	3,650	767
30th September 1971	3,027	640
30th March 1972	3,344	661
30th September 1972	2,985	430
31st March 1973	3,123	563

The procedure takes account of every injury reported by a seaman whether on

Year				Death from accidents on board, other than as a result of casualties to vessels	Death due to casualties to vessels	Total of deaths	Numbers of British Merchant seamen (excluding non-European seamen)	Numbers of naval ratings (to the nearest hundred)
1961	…	…	…	48	99	147	146,769	73,400
1962	…	…	…	67	34	101	136,923	72,200
1963	…	…	…	55	8	63	126,333	72,900
1964	…	…	…	44	28	72	123,607	74,500
1965	…	…	…	49	17	66	120,630	75,000
1966	…	…	…	54	68	122	113,867	74,000
1967	…	…	…	33	45	78	108,987	73,000
1968	…	…	…	32	9	41	100,357	71,500
1969	…	…	…	37	13	50	98,685	67,600
1970	…	…	…	45	32	77	99,649	64,300
1971	…	…	…	25	14	39	96,990	61,300
1972	…	…	…	20	72	92	89,641	61,100

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many seamen died due to drowning or injury sustained on leaving or boarding British ships via gangways for each of the years since 1960.

The number of seamen who died from drowning or injury sustained when boarding United Kingdom registered ships by gangway or ladder was:

1961	3
1962	3
1963	2
1964	11
1965	7
1966	7
1967	7
1968	5
1969	13
1970	18
1971	7
1972	8

Information of the number of deaths of seamen leaving United Kingdom registered ships cannot be made available except at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many British seamen have suffered fatal accidents in the course of their employment for each of the years since 1960; and how many British seamen and naval ratings there were for each of those years.

The information, which excludes fishermen, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he intends to introduce regulations for diving operations from oil rigs.

An advanced draft of the regulations is now being considered and they will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement regarding recent discussions to preserve the principle of minimum net weights with regard to the marking of consumer goods and the introduction in this country of the EEC policy of average weights.

We have made clear in discussions with our partners in the Community our preference for the system employed in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received urging him to implement a policy of fuel rationing.

My Department has so far received more than 1,000 letters dealing with all aspects of rationing. Of these about 10 per cent urged that it should now be introduced. The remainder dealt with the difficulties that could face particular persons or organisations if rationing came into force.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consultations he has had with interested organisations before prescribing regulations under his powers in Section 41 of the Insurance Companies Amendment Act 1973; and if he will name the organisations consulted.

I am considering what regulations need to be made under Section 41 and expect to issue a consultative document to interested parties in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many jobs were created in each of the United Kingdom regions by firms with parent companies in the EEC for each year since 1965; and how many jobs were created in each of the EEC countries during each year over this period by firms with parent companies in the United Kingdom.

This information is not available. The number of jobs likely to be created in United Kingdom regions as a result of decisions since 1st January 1973 was stated by my right hon. Friend in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 22nd October.—[Vol. 861, c. 680–82.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much fuel oil has been diverted to power stations because of the miners' industrial dispute; if he can give an estimate of how much more fuel he will have to divert from industry and the motorist to power stations between now and Christmas if the miners' dispute continues; and if he will make this information known as widely as possible.

I have made arrangements for the CEGB to receive an increased supply of residual fuel oil for its power stations above what they had planned to burn this winter. The increased supplies will come from the cuts that have already been made in fuel allocations to other users.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out the assurances sought from and given by the Vlasov group in connection with its takeover of Shipping Industrial Holdings, with particular reference to the keeping of all or part of the SIH fleet under the British flag.

Representatives of the Vlasov-Capitalfin Consortium made it clear, in discussing its proposals with the Office of Fair Trading, that it intended to maintain and expand the SIH fleet under the British flag.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on the visit to Japan of the mission from his Department to persuade Japanese businesses to invest money in the exploration and exploitation of the oilfields off the shores of Scotland and other industries, in particular on the terms that were being proposed.

The purpose of the mission was to continue the discussions about economic co-operation which took place during the visit of the Japanese Prime Minister to London in October. The principal subjects reviewed were the opportunities for British investment in Japan and for Japanese manufacturing investment in the United Kingdom, particularly in the assisted areas, and the scope for joint ventures in third countries. The Japanese expressed interest in acquiring shares in licences for North Sea exploration. The mission noted their interest but explained that no decision has yet been taken about another round of licensing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which Commonwealth countries intend to raise their tariffs against British exports on 1st January 1974 as a result of Great Britain's 40 per cent. harmonisation towards the common external tariff of the EEC on the same date; and what is his estimate of the effect of these changes on Great Britain's exports to the Commonwealth in 1974.

Only the New Zealand Government have announced plans for the gradual introduction of a non-preferential tariff. It is not possible to make any estimate of the effect on British exports.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he has any new plans for making types of aircraft in current use quieter by means of retrofit or otherwise; and if he will make a statement.

The new types of quieter aircraft introduced since 1st January 1969 such as the Lockheed Tri-Star are already required to have noise certificates, which impose stringent noise limits. The older types of subsonic jet aircraft using Heathrow and other airports are at present exempt from our noise certification requirements. I shall, however, very shortly be asking our manufacturers and operators for comprehensive information about the noise reductions likely to be attainable by modifying these aircraft including the possible time scale and cost. The object will be to bring as many as possible of these aircraft within the scope of the requirements at a future date—say 1st January 1979. It is also my intention to amend the regulations at an early date so that after 1st January 1976 new production of these older types, at present exempt, will need to be noise certificated.I am making available in the Library copies of a consultative document on this subject, which I shall be sending to air- craft operators, manufacturers and others concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, in the present fuel situation, if he will allow haulage firms and other commercial users of diesel oil to use the red coloured agricultural diesel oil, where it is available, providing the extra customs duty is paid.

I have been asked to reply.No. The system of marking and dyeing hydrocarbon oil dutied at the non-road fuel rate of duty of 1p per gallon is an essential protection for the very considerable revenue on road fuel. Present circumstances do not warrant the abandonment of this control which would be implicit in sanctioning the use of marked oil as road fuel. Current allocation and distribution arrangements take account of the interests both of users of derv and of users of heavy oil for non-road use.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if, under the emergency powers, he will introduce the arrangements proposed in Clause 16 of the current Road Traffic Bill, so that the operation of mini-buses will immediately be authorised, in order to save fuel.

I have been asked to reply.This proposal is now under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many gallons of fuel have been used in the training of Egyptian pilots on Westland helicopters; and if he will make representations to Arab States to provide fuel to compensate British consumers for the loss incurred.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hendon, North (Mr. Gorst) on 10th December.