Written Answers

Written Answers To Questions

Thursday 24th January 1974

Home Department

Probation Service (Pay)

7.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that the difference between the starting salary of direct entrants to the probation service and of professionally trained entrants is not damaging to morale within the service ; and if he will make a statement.

I think the recent increases in the starting salaries of professionally qualified entrants have been generally welcomed as removing the disadvantages which the probation service has suffered in this respect. Any further proposals with regard to the starting salaries of direct entrants would be for examination by the joint negotiating committee in the first instance.

Shoplifting

19.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people were arrested for shoplifting during the month of December 1973 ; and how many were subsequently prosecuted.

I regret that this information is not available.

Police (Patrols)

23.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will inquire to what extent police panda cars are to be reduced in number, and by how many ; and how many police constables and other officers are to be released in this way for foot patrol on the streets.

It must remain a matter for each chief officer of police to decide how best to use all the resources available to him to deal with the particular problems of each locality. The results of the inquiry suggested could not reflect the variety of local circumstances and arrangements and my right hon. Friend is not persuaded that there would be advantage in making it.

Terrorism

24.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to restore the death penalty for persons convicted of hijacking, kidnapping, bombing, and other forms of terrorism.

No.

Children (Detention)

25.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children were detained in police cells overnight in the years 1971, 1972 and 1973, respectively.

No central record is kept of the number of children detained in police stations.

Heathrow (Security)

27.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the troops at Heathrow are in support of and under command of the police.

28.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the special security arrangements at Heathrow.

On the information available to the police and the Government about the risk of a terrorist attack at Heathrow the contingency plan for the use of police and troops was put into operation. The police are at all times in charge of the operation and specify the tasks to be undertaken but actual command of the troops remains with their commanding officer.

Winchester Bomb Trials (Expenses)

29.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ensure that no disproportionate charge falls on the local ratepayers concerning the allocation of the expenses of providing extra police manpower in Winchester during the recent bomb trials ; and if he will make a statement.

The Hampshire police authority has been asked to pay the additional costs incurred by the Metropolitan Police in assisting at the trials. Any expenditure for this purpose will attract 50 per cent. police grant. We have now received representations from the authority about the bill which has been submitted and these are being considered.

Jurors And Witnesses (Security Of Employment)

30.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to protect security of employment for all persons summoned to attend a court, whether as jurors or witnesses ; and if he will make a statement.

Any action which might interfere with a citizen's duty to attend court as a juror or witness, or any attempt to penalise him for so doing, is a most serious matter. My right hon. Friend believes the law of contempt to be adequate to cover most abuses of this kind, and he is not persuaded that legislation is necessary.

Mr R Scott (Damaged Vehicle)

31.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what compensation he will pay Mr. R. Scott of 483 Swanage Road, Wandsworth, London, S.W. 18, in respect of the damage to his commercial vehicle on 18th December 1973, at Marsham Street, London, S.W.1.

Compensation is not in general paid from public funds for damage to property caused by crime. I have written to the hon. Member.

Foreign Intelligence Agents

32.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has on increased activities of foreign intelligence agents in Great Britain ; and if he will make a statement.

It is a long-established practice that security matters are not discussed in public. But I think it right to say that as a matter of general practice any activities of foreign intelligence agents in this country are kept under close scrutiny. Any evidence of improper activities is followed up at once and neither I nor my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary would hesitate to take any action we thought appropriate.In view of concern which has been expressed about the CIA, I would add that the Government fully accept the statement by the United States Embassy that there is no truth in recently published allegations.

Central Intelligence Agency

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will deport to the United States of America any members of the American Central Intelligence Agency currently known to be in Great Britain.

No.

Northern Ireland

Executive And Assembly

33.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will make a statement on the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly.

All executive and legislative powers in respect of functions of government, other than those excepted or reserved by the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973, were devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly as from 1st January.

Employment

34.

asekd the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps are being taken to maintain employment in Northern Ireland during the current fuel crisis.

I understand that employment has so far been largely maintained in Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Executive is, however, keeping the employment situation closely under review.

Crimes Of Violence

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many murders or attempted murders have been committed which have taken place in or about licensed or unlicensed premises where alcoholic liquor is on sale during each of the last five years.

The information is not readily available in the form requested and it could not be obtained without disproportionate effort. The numbers of people who have died as a result of explosions or shooting incidents on, or close to, licensed premises in each of the last five years are as follows:

1969	nil
1970	nil
1971	26
1972	33
1973	17

Alcoholic Drink (Prosecutions)

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many prosecutions there have been in each of the last five years for selling alcoholic drink outside permitted hours.

The number of people proceeded against in Northern Ireland in each of the years 1968–72 for failure to observe permitted hours on licensed premises is as follows:—

1968	382
1969	230
1970	322
1971	253
1972	138

The figure for 1973 is not yet available.

National Finance

Mortgage Interest (Owner-Occupiers)

35.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider allowing mortgage interest payments on an owner-occupier's sole or principal home to be paid net of income tax in order to assist borrowers and to allow the real cost of the mortgage to be apparent.

Most borrowers of course obtain immediate tax relief on their interest payments through the PAYE system. However the Select Committee on Tax-Credit recommended that a treatment broadly similar to that suggested should apply when the tax credit scheme is introduced. I am considering this recommendation and in the meantime I will certainly keep my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

European Economic Community

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the total payments to the EEC in 1973 ; and what were the United Kingdom receipts from the EEC under each appropriate heading.

Provisional figures for transactions in 1973 show payments to the Communities' budget of £181 million, and receipts of £12·9 million in respect of collection costs of the Communities' "own resources", £63·3 million from the Guarantee Section of FEOGA and £1 million in respect of Euratom research.In addition, the Government made payments of £23 million to the capital and reserves of the European Investment Bank and £7·9 million to the reserves of the ECSC.

Oil Excise Duty

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the increase in the price of oil, whether, in order to minimise any increase in the cost of living, he will consider a method of providing rebate of some or all of the excise duty currently paid by organisations concerned in the manufacture and distribution of food upon the fuel oil they consume.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

Industrial Output

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the increase in industrial output between 1966 and 1973 in Scotland ; and what was the comparable figure for the United Kingdom.

Information is available on industrial production in Scotland only up to 1971 and the index of production is currently being revised. The unrevised index for total industrial production was 3 per cent. higher in 1971 than in 1966 ; the corresponding increase for the United Kingdom was 11 per cent.

Public Expenditure

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much public expenditure has been cut in the last three years.

The changes since June 1970 in estimates of public expenditure for the years 1971–72 to 1974–75 have been shown in successive public expenditure White Papers, the estimates for 1974–75 being subject to the reductions which my right hon. Friend

£ million
		1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75
January 1971—Cmnd. 4578 (1970 Survey prices)	…	−347	−393	−582	−852
November 1971—Cmnd. 4829 (1971 Survey prices)	…	+448	+603	+570	+428
December 1972—Cmnd. 5178 (1972 Survey prices)	…	−196	+434	+1,160	+1,213
December 1973—Cmnd. 5519 (1973 Survey prices)	…	−48	−592	−13	−29
Statement on 17th December 1973 (1973 Survey prices)	…	—	—	—	−1,180
TOTAL (estimated at 1973 Survey prices)	…	−150	+150	+1,250	−350

Note:

All estimates exclude investment grants, refinance of exports and shipbuilding credits and changes in social security payments to restore purchasing power.

The reductions in public expenditure announced on 27th October 1970, and on 21st May. 8th October and 17th December 1973 are all included within the estimates above.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cuts in public expenditure in each of the regions.

Forward estimates of expenditure in Supply Estimates and in the annual Public Expenditure White Papers are given on a national basis: regional analyses are not available of the estimates for 1973–74 and 1974–75 either before or after the reductions which my right hon. Friend announced on 17th December ; these reductions did not of course apply to regional development grants or to other measures of financial assistance to industry in the regions.

Excess Tax Revenue (Eec Directive)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is meant by the reference to measures necessary to freeze the yield of excess tax revenue or of loans in Article 7 of the draft EEC directive concerning stability, growth and full employment.

Article 7 of the draft EEC directive concerning stability,

INVESTMENTS MADE BY CERTAIN FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS (Analysed by type of investment)
				1961	1962	1963	1964
Pension funds^*
Total investment £m.†	…	…	…	120	132	359	378
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	51	51	60	56
British Government securities	…	…	…	6	17	−4	1
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	5	5	2	8
Other	…	…	…	38	27	42	35
Life assurance
Total investment £m.†	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	586	631
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	24	25
British government securities	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	19	14
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	10	9
Other	…	…	…	N/A	N/A	47	52

announced on 17th December 1973. The figures are as follows:

growth and full employment—8th January, R / 24/74(FIN8)—implies, in relation to the United Kingdom financial system, arrangements whereby the authorities can ensure that the proceeds of a Budget surplus or long-term borrowing may be reflected in the change in the reserve base of the banking system. This requirement is already met by the current institutional arrangements in the United Kingdom.

Investment

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total level of investment by, respectively, pension funds, life assurance funds, investment trusts, and unit trusts for each year since 1960 ; and what percentage of their respective investments for each of these years were devoted to equities, gilt-edged securities, property, and other types of investment.

The investment pattern for each of these institutions is tabulated below ; separate information is given for property unit trusts, which only came into existence in 1966. No information for life assurance funds is available for 1961 and 1962. Disinvestments are shown with a minus sign.

				1961	1962	1963	1964
Investment trusts
Total investment £m.	…	…	…	56	53	74	87
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	64	56	146	73
British government securities	…	…	…	5	55	−35	−18
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Other	…	…	…	31	−11	−11	45
Units trusts
Total investment £m.	…	…	…	7	31	54	73
Percentage investment in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	57	94	98	90
British government securities	…	…	…	—	3	−5	—
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Other	…	…	…	43	3	7	10
Pension funds ^*				1965	1966	1967	1968
Total investment £m.†	…	…	…	439	463	449	529
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	38	41	43	52
British government securities	…	…	…	13	7	15	3
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	9	10	18	17
Other	…	…	…	40	42	24	28
Life assurance
Total investment £m.†	…	…	…	633	611	682	791
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	11	11	3	19
British government securities	…	…	…	9	5	32	16
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	15	19	15	16
Other	…	…	…	65	65	50	49
Investment trusts
Total investment £m.	…	…	…	31	67	74	139
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	−87	48	154	75
British government securities	…	…	…	77	13	−47	−8
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Other	…	…	…	110	39	−7	33
Unit trusts
Total investment £m.	…	…	…	67	105	83	247
Percentage investment in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	96	93	107	82
British government securities	…	…	…	3	2	−8	—
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Other	…	…	…	1	5	1	18
Property Unit Trusts
Total investment £m.	…	…	…	—	—	30‡	51
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…			—	—
British government securities	…	…	…			—	—
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…			57	78
Other	…	…	…			43	22
Pension funds ^*				1969	1970	1971	1972
Total investment £m.†	…	…	…	552	665	751	973
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	42	60	55	62
British government securities	…	…	…	1	−3	36	2
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	20	14	11	12
Other	…	…	…	37	29	−2	24
Life assurance
Total investment £m.†	…	…	…	751	817	964	1,251
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	16	26	30	42
British government securities	…	…	…	16	10	43	20
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	24	25	20	10
Other	…	…	…	44	39	7	28
Investment trusts
Total investment £m.	…	…	…	31	−23	139	603
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	−332	−43	93	68
British government securities	…	…	…	142	−83	27	−3
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Other	…	…	…	290	26	−20	35

				1969	1970	1971	1972
Unit trusts
Total investment £m.	…	…	…	177	84	98	297
Percentage investment in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	90	75	89	50
British government securities	…	…	…	7	1	2	−3
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Other	…	…	…	3	24	9	53
Property Unit Trusts
Total investment £m.	…	…	…	41	36	45	69
Percentage invested in:
Preference and ordinary shares	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
British government securities	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Land property and ground rents	…	…	…	105	69	51	57
Other	…	…	…	−5	31	49	43
^* Sum of public sector (including local authorities) and private sector funds; no figures are available for private sector funds prior to 1963; there is a revised sample for the private sector pension funds from 1967.
† Total investment is net of current liabilities, for life assurance funds and private sector pension funds.
‡ Consists of the 21 months March 1966 to December 1967.
N/A = Not available.

Sources:

Financial Statistics.

Board of Trade Journal.

Bank of England Statistical Abstract No. 1.

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

European Economic Community

36.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a ministerial broadcast on the subject of Great Britain and the Common Market.

As I told the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 16th January, there are no plans for such a broadcast.—[Vol. 867, c. 128.]

Oil Pollution

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the continued menace of oil pollution on the South Coast beaches, he will engage in urgent consultations with other Governments to devise methods to control the discharge of oil into the English Channel.

I can assure my hon. Friend that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is frequently in consultation with other Governments on ways of reducing oil pollution of the sea. These consultations are mostly under the auspices of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation which last autumn concluded a new comprehensive international convention. When this comes into force internationally it will effectively ban deliberate polluting discharges from ships and, by dealing with their construction, help to reduce discharges from tankers if they collide or run aground. To reduce the dangers of collisions in the Channel the traffic separation scheme has a vital part to play and we have regular meetings with the French authorities about the scheme and other safety measures in the Channel.

Eec Preferences (Developing Countries)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on EEC preferences in favour of developing countries ; and when a final decision will be made.

The EEC operates a generalised scheme of preferences in favour of the developing countries which provides for tariff concessions on a wide range of products of interest to developing countries. In accordance with the Treaty of Accession the United Kingdom has now aligned itself with this system. The scheme is subject to annual review at which, in accordance with the Paris summit communiqué, the Community seeks to improve it. Negotiations are also in progress under Protocol 22 of the Accession Treaty for successor arrangements to the Yaoundé and Arusha Conventions under which tariff-free access to the Community market is likely to be enjoyed by the 43 developing countries concerned, many of which are Commonwealth countries.

Employment

Industrial Relations Act

37.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he intends to ask the Central Policy Review Staff to advise him on amendments to the Industrial Relations Act.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to do so at present.

Bedford

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate the employment figures covered by the Bedford local office giving the proportion of those unemployed (a) under 30, (b) under 45 and (c) 45 years of age and over.

At June 1972, the latest date for which employment figures are available, there were 63,100 employees in employment in the Bedford employment office area. At July 1973, the most recent month for which there is a detailed age analysis of the unemployment figures, the total number unemployed in the area was 499, of whom 32.7 per cent. were aged under 30, 16·2 per cent. were 30 and under 45, and 51·1 per cent. were 45 and over.

Coal Industry Dispute

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he now proposes to make use of Sections 138 and 141 of the Industrial Relations Act in the present industrial dispute in the mining industry.

No, Sir.

Trade And Industry

Small Firms (Rents)

38.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will introduce legislation to reduce the rents of small business tenancies compelled to work for three days a week but paying full weekly rents.

I recognise the problems facing many small businesses at this time. The renegotiation of business tenancy agreements to take account of temporary difficulties must, however, remain a matter for the parties concerned.

Scotch Whisky

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take action to increase supplies of non-luxury essential packaging and bottles for the Scotch whisky industry.

There is a general shortage of glass bottles and packaging material, and my Department is aware of the difficulties which this presents for the Scotch whisky industry. However, the industry already benefits from the exemption of the manufacture and distribution of containers and packaging materials for food from the present electricity restrictions.

Factory Building (Grants)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now consider making provision in special cases for grants to be made under the Local Employment Acts to factories commenced before March 1972 but not let before August 1973.

No. The Industry Act 1972 made generous special transitional provision for the payment of grant on factories under construction at 22nd March 1972. Building grants under the Local Employment Acts were not paid on factories built for letting.

General Agreement On Tariffs And Trade

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement once negotiations in GATT about changes in existing United Kingdom commitments are concluded.

I shall certainly report to the House on the outcome.

Concorde

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) when he expects that Concorde will receive its certificate of airworthiness ;(2) when he now expects that Concorde will enter scheduled service.

Both aspects are being re-examined by the manufacturers as part of the current programme review. I cannot provide firm forecasts until this review has been completed, and until I and my French colleague have considered the proposals presented to us.

Industrial Guarantee Corporation

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for setting up an industrial guarantee corporation.

I see no need for such an institution at the present time.

Small Firms (Scotland)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the development of a Small Business Development Bureau ; and if he will explain its rôle in assisting small firms in Scotland.

A Small Firms Information Centre has been established in Glasgow and is one of a network of 10 such centres which have been set up throughout Britain. The centre provides a source of reference and help to small firms in Scotland, introducing them to appropriate sources of advice on problems related to their businesses. It also provides a further channel by which small firms

EXPENDITURE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
						Total	Government	Other
			Total	Government	Other	As a percentage of gross national product at market prices(1)
United Kingdom(2)				£ million (3)
1961–62	…	…	657·7	378·2	279·5	2·4	1·4	1·0
1964–65	…	…	771·4	421·2	350·2	2·3	1·3	1·0
1966–67	…	…	926·3	479·4	446·9	2·4	1·3	1·2
1967–68	…	…	962·1	493·1	469·0	2·4	1·2	1·2
1968–69	…	…	1,016·6	514·1	502·5	2·3	1·2	1·2
1969–70	…	…	1,081·9	558·8	523·1	2·3	1·2	1·1
U.S.A.				Million dollars
1963–64	…	…	21,035	13,358	7,677	3·5	2·2	1·3
1966	…	…	22,285	13,970 (4)	8,310 (4)	2·9	1·8	1·1
1969	…	…	26,595	15,307 (5)	11,236(5)	2·9	1·6(5)	1·2(5)
France				Million francs
1963	…	…	6,414	4,065	2,349	1·6	1·0	0·6
1967	…	…	12,376	8,030 (4)	4,340 (4)	2·1	1·4	0·8
1969	…	…	13,860	6,907 (6)	6,952 (6)	1·9	0·9 (6)	0·9 (6)
Germany				Million deutschemarks
1964	…	…	5,745	2,354	3,391	1·4	0·6	0·8
1967	…	…	8,337	3,443	4,894	1·7	0·7	1·0
1969	…	…	10,433	4,080	6,352	1·7	0·7	1·0
Italy				Million lire
1963	…	…	181,729	60,135	121,594	0·6	0·2	0·4
1967	…	…	279,453	98,247	181,206	0·6	0·2	0·4
1969	…	…	433,938	177,740 (6)	256,198 (6)	0·8	0·3(6)	0·5(6)

can make their views known to Government and identifies and reports the difficulties such firms are experiencing.

Advance Factories (Scotland)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list Government advance factories in Scotland which at present are unlet.

Only one completed factory is available and unlet—at Inchinnan.

Research And Development

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the level of expenditure on research and development by private and governmental agencies, respectively, and as a percentage of gross national product, in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Japan, and Sweden for each year since 1960.

The information available for the United Kingdom is given in the table below, together with the information, comparable as far as possible, for other countries which is available from the international surveys conducted by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

						Total	Government	Other
			Total	Government	Other	As a percentage of gross national product at market prices (1)
Netherlands				Million guilders
1964	…	…	1,196	478	718	1·9	0·8	1·2
1967	…	…	1,860	725	1,135	2·2	0·9	1·4
1969	…	…	2,119	798	1,321	2·0	0·8	1·3
Japan				Million yen
1963	…	…	321,128	89,123	232,006	1·3	0·4	0·9
1967	…	…	606,293	183,022	423,271	1·4	0·4	1·0
1969	…	…	933,228	128,108(6)	805,120 (6)	1·5	0·2(6)	1·3(6)
Sweden				Million kroner
1964	…	…	1,332	646	686	1·3	0·6	0·7
1967	…	…	1,739	732	1,007	1·3	0·6	0·8
1969	…	…	1,904	765	1,139	1·2	0·5	0·7
Notes:
(1) Based on the latest available estimates of the gross national product at market prices; figures may therefore differ from those: included in the OECD publications on research and development.
(2) As published in Research and Development Expenditure:, Central Statistical Office, 1973.
(3) Expenditure financed by government, as reported by the sector carrying out the work.
(4) Estimated and therefore rounded.
(5) Excluding certain expenditure included in the total.
(6) Certain government funds for the finance of higher education are included in "Other".

Turnhouse Airport

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is prepared to recommend, as a result of his study of the Parliamentary Commissioner's report on the new runway and terminal buildings at Edinburgh (Turnhouse) Airport, that the airport be classified as a designated airport to allow grants for soundproofing to adjacent properties.

The major realignment of the runway at Edinburgh Airport to which the report refers is not likely to come into use before the spring of 1976. I will, in the meantime, give careful consideration with all concerned to the question of designation of the airport under Section 29 of the Civil Aviation Act 1971 and of any noise insulation arrangements.

Fuel And Economic Affairs

Q6.

asked the Prime Minister if he will discuss fuel, power and energy at his next meeting with the TUC and CBI.

Q7.

asked the Prime Minister if he will discuss fuel, power and energy at his next meeting with the TUC and CBI.

Q9.

asked the Prime Minister if he will raise the question of energy and economic problems at his next meeting with the TUC and CBI.

I am always ready to discuss these matters with the TUC and CBI.

Scotland

Q8.

asked the Prime Minister if he now has any plans for an official visit to Scotland.

I refer to the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 22nd January.—[Vol. 867, c. 1443–4.]

West Cumberland

Q12.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make an official visit to West Cumberland.

I have at present no plans to do so, Sir.

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Food Stocks

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the total stocks of food held under EEC intervention arrangements ; and what proportion in each case had accumulated before 1st January, 1973.

The stocks of each foodstuff held by or under contract to EEC intervention agencies at the latest available date, compared with the nearest available date to 1st January, 1973, are as follows:

Sugar Beet

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the world shortage of sugar and the increase in international sugar prices, he will take steps to increase the domestic sugar beet quota for 1974.

No. The United Kingdom domestic sugar quota for 1974 was settled during negotiations for accession to the EEC in the light of the internal requirements of the United Kingdom and of the Community ; these are unaffected by changes in world supplies or prices.

Subject to the availability of such things as seed and factory capacity, there is no limit to the amount of sugar beet which may be grown in Britain to make sugar for sale on the world market.

Milking Cows (Slaughter)

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to halt the increase in the number of milking cows being sent for slaughter.

There is no evidence that cow slaughterings have been running at an unduly high level. This is, however, one of the factors to be examined during the annual review.

Civil Service

Personal Secretaries

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the average amount paid per head per week for temporary personal secretaries employed by the Treasury, the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of the Environment in London in November 1973 and November 1972, respectively, excluding secretaries employed for less than one week.

The information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what was the weekly starting pay of a personal secretary in the Civil Service in London in November 1973.

Following the Civil Service stage 3 anomalies settlement, from 7th November 1973 the weekly starting pay for new recruits in inner London of a personal secretary in the Civil Service varied between £30·75 and £34·77 according to qualifications and experience. In addition the starting pay of personal secretaries who meet the Civil Service proficiency tests in typing and shorthand or audio skills may be increased by up to £4·80 a week. Personal secretaries will be eligible for a normal stage 3 pay increase, effective from 1st January 1974.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what percentage of personal secretary posts, including vacancies, were filled by established staff in November 1970, November 1972 and November 1973, respectively.

The information is not available and to compile it would involve a disproportionate cost to public funds.

Government Departments (Dispersal)

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, in view of the economic situation, whether the Government will suspend proposals to move civil servants where these proposals are being made for administrative reasons rather than to increase employment opportunities in other regions.

Civil servants move from one post to another to fill vacancies arising in the day-to-day running of a large organisation. They also move under dispersal projects which bring a variety of benefits including savings in public expenditure and improved recruitment as well as new employment oportunities. It is not proposed to suspend movements of either type.

Executive Grade Staff

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will extend non-mobility status to executive grades in the Civil Service where the salaries for these grades would not require job mobility in industry.

No.

Defence

Ulster Defence Regiment

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons are now serving in the Ulster Defence Regiment ; how this figure compares with the figure at January 1973 ; and what were the monthly recruiting figures during the period June 1973 to December 1973, inclusive.

The strength of the Ulster Defence Regiment at:1st January 1973 was 8,959 male all ranks.1st January 1974 was 7,612 male all ranks, 315 female all ranks.

The numbers enrolled for the months of June 1973 to December 1973, were:

	Male	Female
June	129	—
July	112	—
August	115	—
September	82	1
October	98	184
November	142	101
December	50	29

Army Casualties

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will indicate the number of deaths and serious injuries in the Army per 1,000 men for each of the past five years.

The figures are as follows:

	Per 1,000
	Deaths (see Note 1)	Serious Injuries (see Note 2)
1969	1·21	0·02
1970	1·35	0·01
1971	1·69	0·32
1972	2·06	0·74
1973	1·98	0·39
Notes:
(1) Deaths from all causes.
(2) Injuries include only those personnel listed as very seriously ill, or seriously ill whose injuries were attributable to military service.

Education And Science

Schools (Waltham Forest)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what major and minor school projects in the London borough of Waltham Forest will be delayed as a result of the Government's cuts in public expenditure.

The Department's Circular 15/73 announced that of major school building projects only those to meet basic needs for additional places would be eligible for approval between 1st January 1974 and 30th June 1975. Primary replacement projects for Chingford Church of England Junior School, Dawlish Primary School, and Downsell Infants School will therefore be delayed until after June 1975.The local education authority is responsible for deciding which minor projects should be carried out within its minor works allocation.

School Meals And Milk

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps designed to ensure that local education authorities do not economise in the present emergency situation by reducing the protein content of school meals or by substituting dried milk for fresh milk in schools.

Recommended nutritional standards for the school meal are set out in a departmental circular, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. One of these is that the protein content of the average meal shall include 18·5 grams of protein of animal origin.Concerning milk, the current regulations permit an authority to provide full-cream dried milk prepared for drinking only when it is not reasonably practicable for the authority to provide liquid milk.My right hon. Friend considers that these provisions fully meet the present situation. She has no plans for changing them or for taking any additional action.

Student Grants

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date local education authorities were first told of the likely effect of the Education Act 1973 on discretionary grants to students for dependants.

My Department notified authorities in a letter dated 6th July 1973 about the new scheme which came into effect on 1st September 1973. A further letter dated 31st July gave full details of the scheme.

Nursery Schools

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have notified her Department that they intend to make reductions in their nursery education building projects.

None. One local education authority has informed the Department that it would prefer to use part of its nursery building allocation for primary improvement projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she has had with the Hampshire Education Authority regarding that authority's decision not to proceed next year with 15 approved nursery school projects.

None. The authority has not notified the Department of any such decision.

Energy

Miners (Working Hours)

asked the Minister for Energy if he will publish a table showing the average weekly number of hours worked by underground workers in the mining industry for each of the past 12 months.

I regret the information is not available. The following information relates to the average weekly manshifts—including overtime shifts—of NCB underground workers. Within the NCB a manshift is the normal period of attendance at the colliery by one man in one day, that is, in most cases now 7¼ hours plus one winding time underground.

January	3·88
February	4·21
March	4·21
April	3·89
May	4·17
June	3·81
July	3·46
August	3·14
September	3·87
October	4·17^*
November	40·3^*
December	3·15^*
^* Excludes S. Wales and Scotland.

The above averages are based on men on books. They therefore reflect the effect of absences, holidays, etc.

Motor Cycles

asked the Minister for Energy if he will consider legislation to limit the power of solo motor cycles produced for general sale on the home market and if he will encourage greater use of this means of transport during the present fuel shortage.

No. The Government have already taken steps to encourage the use of mopeds and motor cycles during the present fuel shortage by excluding this class of vehicle from the revised hire-purchase and credit-sale controls announced on 17th December 1973 by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry.

Weekly Energy Statement

asked the Minister for Energy at what time, on what date, and by what means he despatched his Weekly Energy Statement, dated 17th January, to the Library of the House of Commons ; and if he is satisfied with the arrangements in this respect.

Yes, Sir. Copies of the Weekly Energy Statement dated Thursday 17th January were delivered by the COI dispatch service to the House of Commons Library at about 7 p.m. on the evening of that day.

Domestic Heating (Elderly Persons)

asked the Minister for Energy whether he will take action to ensure that the elderly and infirm are encouraged to heat their bedrooms as well as their living rooms during the current crisis ; and whether he will make a statement.

The elderly and the infirm should not deprive themselves of heating or lighting which is essential. But I am sure that they, in common with every other householder, will continue to save as much electricity as is reasonably possible.

Gas Supplies (South Wales)

asked the Minister for Energy if he will publish the names of the 114 firms which have inquired about sites in South Wales but have been told that they cannot be guaranteed gas supplies ; what were the dates of such inquiries ; and how many jobs were involved in each case.

Exchanges between the British Gas Corporation and potential customers about requirements for gas are regarded as commercially confidential. It would be quite wrong to break that confidence.

Power Stations (Fuel Stocks)

asked the Minister for Energy what has been the level of coal stocks at power stations in Great Britain (CEGB and SSEB) at each week between 1st November and 30th April during each winter since 1968–69.

POWER STATION COAL STOCKS
Million tons
				1968–69	1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73
Stocks for weeks including
28th October	…	…	…	14·1	13·5	12·5	18·4	17·1
4th November	…	…	…	14·0	13·5	12·2	18·4	17·2
11th November	…	…	…	13·9	13·4	11·7	18·0	17·4
18th November	…	…	…	13·8	13·1	11·0	17·6	17·2
25th November	…	…	…	13·8	12·8	10·7	17·1	17·0
2nd December	…	…	…	13·8	12·4	10·5	16·7	16·9
9th December	…	…	…	13·6	12·1	10·2	16·3	16·9
16th December	…	…	…	13·2	11·7	10·1	16·1	16·9
23rd December	…	…	…	12·5	11·0	9·6	15·7	16·8
30th December	…	…	…	11·7	10·1	8·7	15·0	16·2
6th January	…	…	…	11·3	9·2	7·9	14·3	15·7
13th January	…	…	…	11·0	8·9	7·7	12·8	15·5
20th January	…	…	…	10·9	8·6	7·7	11·4	15·2
27th January	…	…	…	10·8	8·3	7·8	9·6	15·1
3rd February	…	…	…	10·5	8·1	7·8	7·7	15·1
10th February	…	…	…	9·9	7·7	7·9	6·1	15·1
17th February	…	…	…	9·3	7·4	8·1	5·4	15·0
24th February	…	…	…	9·0	7·2	8·4	5·4	15·2
3rd March	…	…	…	8·7	6·9	8·5	6· 0	15·0
10th March	…	…	…	8·4	6·6	8·7	6·5	15·0
17th March	…	…	…	8·1	6·5	9·0	7·4	15·2
24th March	…	…	…	7·9	6·5	9·3	8·4	15·6
31st March	…	…	…	7·9	6·1	9·7	9·2	16·0
7th April	…	…	…	7·8	5·9	9·8	9·7	16·0
14th April	…	…	…	7·9	5·9	9·8	10·5	16·1
21st April	…	…	…	8·1	6·1	10·2	10·9	16·3
28th April	…	…	…	8·3	6·3	10·5	11·4	16·1

British Nuclear Fuels Ltd And The Radiochemical Centre Ltd

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement on private participation in British Nuclear Fuels Limited and Radio Chemicals Centre Limited.

During debates on the Atomic Energy Authority Bill in 1970 and 1971, the Government undertook to inform Parliament of their plans for private participation in British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. and the Radiochemical Centre Ltd.—a policy to which both the last Government were, and the present one are, committed. In 1971, under the Atomic Energy

Power station transmission is operated on a national basis and information on power station stocks is published for Great Britain as a whole. In answer to a Question by the hon. Member on 15th January 1974 I gave details of power station coal stocks in the winter of 1973–74. Figures for the earlier years are as follows:Authority Act 1971, the authority's nuclear fuel production business was transferred to British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. land the radioisotope business to the Radiochemical Centre Ltd. The shares in both companies are at present held entirely by the Atomic Energy Authority ; and the Act obliges the authority and the Government, separately or jointly, to continue to hold at least 51 per cent. of the voting shares.The Radiochemical Centre develops and produces radiochemicals, radiopharmaceuticals and radiation sources for use in medicine, industry and research. The business has grown steadily and in 1972–73 the company's sales were £7·6 million, of which nearly 70 per cent. was in exports. In the light of a report by Messrs. N. M. Rothschild & Sons Ltd., the Government and the Atomic Energy Authority have considered two main alternative ways of making shares in the Radiochemical Centre available to interested purchasers. These are, on the one hand, an invitation to other companies to bid for shares and, on the other hand, a public flotation. The Government have decided, with the full consent and co-operation of the Atomic Energy Authority and the company, that the right course is a public flotation subject to the statutory requirement for the authority and the Government to continue to retain a majority of the shares.The centre is a well-established commercial business, and in the light of Rothschild's advice the Government and the Atomic Energy Authority are confident that shares in the company will command a price fully reflecting the public investment in the business and its promising future. In order to get the centre off to the best possible start as a public company, the Government and the authority have decided that, before a public flotation takes place, the company should complete the introduction of an improved system of product costing and obtain one or two years' accounts based on it. Subject to this, the precise timing of a flotation will depend upon general business and market conditions.The business of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd. consists mainly in the provision of fuel and the associated services of the fuel cycle for nuclear power stations in the United Kingdom, but the company has also built up a significant export business in nuclear fuel services. In 1972–73, total sales amounted to £65 million of which exports represented over £6 million. The company is the United Kingdom's participant in the uranium enrichment gas centrifuge collaboration with the Netherlands and West Germany and has entered into other arrangements with European countries covering transport of irradiated fuel and its reprocessing.In the light of a report by J. Henry Schroder Wagg & Company Ltd., the Government and the Atomic Energy Authority have considered the timing and method of sale of shares in BNFL. They are confident that the company faces a future of further expansion, but this has yet to show itself through a resumption of domestic ordering of nuclear power stations. The Government and the authority, with the full agreement of the company, have therefore decided that a more suitable time to sell shares would be when the ordering of new nuclear power stations is fully under way, and the prospects for expansion of the whole range of BNFL's business are more clearly established. A review of the position will be made in 1975 and at the same time further consideration will be given to the method of sale.

Environment

Water Extraction (Winterbourne)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will order a public inquiry into the proposal of the Dorset Water Board to abstract water from the Winterbourne Valley.

My right hon. and learned Friend has decided to direct the Avon and Dorset River Authority to refer the licence application from the Dorset Water Board to him for determination. I understand that the water board also proposes to apply to him for a works order under the Water Act 1945. He will consider the need for a public local inquiry in the light of objections to both applications.

Compulsory Purchase Order (Northwood)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he will decide on the housing compulsory purchase order relating to 28–38 Moor Park Road, Northwood, Middlesex.

The inspector's report is under urgent consideration and a decision will be issued as soon as possible.

Land Use (Bedfordshire)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the total acreage of land held by local authorities in Bedfordshire, the land already built on by the authorities for housing, the land available for building and that reserved for industrial use and the land allocated for recreational purposes and open space.

I regret that the information is not readily available.

Demolition Work

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from the Association of Municipal Corporations about the need to control demolition work: what response he has given ; and what action he proposes to take.

The Association of Municipal Corporations wrote to my Department recently about difficulties which local authorities were experiencing in implementing the Public Health Act powers relating to dangerous buildings, including the demolition of such buildings. A meeting on this matter is being arranged between officials of my Department and association representatives.

Footpaths (Bedfordshire)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when a definitive map covering footpaths in north Bedfordshire will be ready for publication.

Hearings of the outstanding appeals relating to the draft maps were held during November and December 1973 and the report of the inspector who conducted the hearings is awaited. Decisions on the appeals will be taken in the light of the inspector's recommendations and the provisional map will then be published. Owners and occupiers of land affected may then challenge the inclusion of paths in the map by application to the Crown court. When any such appeals have been resolved the definitive map will be published.

Churches (Preservation)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make it his policy to consider the inclusion of churches for Historic Buildings Council grants if the ecclesiastical authorities declare their willingness to abandon exemption from the relevant laws.

The position of the Government is that any request from the Church authorities for State aid for the repair of historic churches is and will be considered with an open mind.

The Possibility of such grants is at present being discussed with the working party set up by the General Synod for the purpose of conducting such discussions. This working party has, in consultation with my Department, carried out studies in two rural dioceses, on the estimated cost of repairs to churches and the resources available to meet them. It is now carrying out less intensive studies in two urban areas and when the results of these are available the Government will be able to assess the scale and nature of the problem, together with the implications for public expenditure and consider the extent to which the ecclesiastical exemption might need to be removed or adapted. I understand the Church of England is keeping other denominations informed through the Churches Main Committee,

Housing Subsidies

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of housing subsidies will be for central and local authority expenditure, respectively, on rent allowances for private tenants, rent rebates for council tenants, for rate fund contributions to local authority housing revenue accounts, and for the provision of housing by local authorities, new town authorities and housing associations, respectively, for 1972–73 and as estimated for the next five years ; and what were the equivalent figures and the total housing subsidy for each year since 1960.

The percentages of expenditure in respect of rent rebates and allowances and the provision of housing which are met by central Government housing subsidies for the years from 1972–73 to 1981–82 are set out in Part I of the Housing Finance Act 1972. The rate fund makes up the difference. The percentages are similar for new towns, but these do not grant rent allowances, which are dealt with by the local authority for the area. The subsidies for new building by housing associations are set out in Part VII of the Housing Finance Act 1972.The total amounts of housing subsidy paid by central Government for new building by local authorities, new towns and housing associations in England and

Wales for the years 1960–61 to 1971–72 were as follows:—

England and Wales	Nearest £M
1960–61	61
1961–62	64
1962–63	66
1963–64	68
1964–65	73
England Only	Nearest £M
1965–66	75
1966–67	79
1967–68	89
1968–69	101
1969–70	119
1970–71	149
1971–72	175

These subsidies were paid on different bases from time to time, and cannot readily be compared with the subsidies payable under the Housing Finance Act 1972.The total amounts of Exchequer subsidy paid under the Housing Finance Act 1972 to local authorities, new towns and housing associations in England for the year 1972–73 amounted to £267 million.Forecasts of housing subsidies for Great Britain are given in Cmnd. 5519, "Public Expenditure to 1977–78", pages 68–69. The figures for the central Government element in expenditure by English local authorities, new towns and housing associations are:

	Nearest £M 1973 Survey Prices
1973–74	387
1974–75	380
1975–76	372
1976–77	367
1977–78	357

Superannuation

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to strengthen the section of his Department dealing with superannuation matters, so that proposals for pension schemes revision now before him, including the local government scheme and the Metropolitan Water Board scheme, can be dealt with before the reorganisation of local government and the water industry on 1st April, bearing in mind that these schemes are of importance to officers who will retire before that date.

I recognise the need to complete a large volume of work on superannuation by 1st April, but I do not consider that further strengthening of the staff would help. The Department will shortly be writing to the Metropolitan Water Board about its scheme.

Listed Buildings

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of listed buildings of architectural and historic importance in Great Britain at the end of 1973 ; and how this figure compares with a year before.

The total number of listed buildings in England at December 1973 was 183,444, an increase of approximately 20,000 or 12½ per cent. over the figure of 163,155 at the end of 1972. Analogous figures for Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many listed buildings were the subject of permissions to demolish during 1973.

The information has to be obtained from the local planning authorities and is not yet available.

Conservation Areas

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total number of designated conservation areas in Great Britain at the end of 1973 ; and how this figure compares with a year before.

At the end of 1973 the number of conservation areas in England and Wales was 2,530. At the end of 1972 the number was 1,980. Information about conservation areas in Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the total number of designated conservation areas within each county council area and county borough council area.

The total number of conservation areas designated up to 22nd January 1974 in each county council area and county borough area in England and Wales is given below. The number for London boroughs is also given, but those for Scotland are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

County Councils in England
Bedfordshire	49
Berkshire	109
Buckinghamshire	57
Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely	38
Cheshire	53
Cornwall	42
Cumberland	11
Derbyshire	49
Devon	86
Dorset	40
Durham	22
East Suffolk	43
East Sussex	25
Essex	90
Gloucestershire	39
Hampshire	50
Herefordshire	8
Hertfordshire	116
Huntingdonshire and Peterborough	11
Isle of Wight	16
Kent	212
Lancashire	34
Leicestershire	29
Lincolnshire (Holland)	17
Lincolnshire (Kesteven)	9
Lincolnshire (Lindsey)	28
Norfolk	17
Northamptonshire	42
Northumberland	16
Nottinghamshire	39
Oxfordshire	10
Rutland	4
Salop	12
Somerset	25
Staffordshire	51
Surrey	67
Warwickshire	84
Westmorland	10
West Suffolk	34
West Sussex	41
Wiltshire	45
Worcestershire	44
Yorkshire (East Riding)	6
Yorkshire (North Riding)	19
Yorkshire (West Riding)	76
County Boroughs in England
Barnsley	1
Barrow-in-Furness	1
Bath	6
Birkenhead	1
Birmingham	12
Blackburn	0
Blackpool	0
Bolton	11
Bootle	0
Bournemouth	0
Bradford	4
Brighton	6
Bristol	7
Burnley	1
Burton upon Trent	3
Bury	0
Canterbury	1
Carlisle	6
Chester	1
Coventry	7
Darlington	4
Derby	4

Country Boroughs in England—cont.
Dewsbury	0
Doncaster	0
Dudley	5
Eastbourne	4
Exeter	6
Gateshead	1
Gloucester	8
Great Yarmouth	1
Grimsby	4
Halifax	1
Hartlepool	2
Hastings	2
Huddersfield	1
Ipswich	0
Kingston upon Hull	2
Leeds	14
Leicester	4
Lincoln	1
Liverpool	21
Luton	0
Manchester	8
Newcastle upon Tyne	4
Northampton	3
Norwich	8
Nottingham	9
Oldham	0
Oxford	6
Plymouth	3
Portsmouth	13
Preston	0
Reading	4
Rochdale	0
Rotherham	2
Salford	1
Sheffield	7
Solihull	3
Southampton	3
Southend-on-Sea	2
Southport	1
South Shields	1
St. Helens	0
Stockport	1
Stoke-on-Trent	6
Sunderland	7
Teesside	10
Torbay	3
Tynemouth	1
Wakefield	3
Wallasey	1
Walsall	0
Warley	0
Warrington	2
West Bromwich	0
Wigan	0
Wolverhampton	8
Worcester	4
York	4
London Boroughs
Barking	0
Barnet	5
Bexley	1
Brent	1
Bromley	4
Camden	11
Croydon	6
Ealing	7
Enfield	8
Greenwich	6
Hackney	6
Hammersmith	5
Haringey	2
Harrow	8

London Boroughs—cont.
Havering	5
Hillingdon	9
Houslow	5
Islington	14
Kensington and Chelsea	26
Kingston upon Thames	3
Lambeth	13
Lewisham	6
Merton	3
Newham	1
Redbridge	7
Richmond upon Thames	19
Southwark	13
Sutton	4
Tower Hamlets	13
Waltham Forest	4
Wandsworth	9
Westminster (City)	22
City of London Corporation	8
Greater London Council	1
Number of Conservation Areas designated by County Councils in Wales
Anglesey	4
Breconshire	3
Caernarvonshire	4
Cardiganshire	5
Carmarthenshire	8
Denbighshire	0
Flintshire	20
Glamorgan	66
Merioneth	0
Monmouthshire	6
Montgomeryshire	0
Pembrokeshire	2
Radnorshire	1
Number of Conservation Areas designated by County Boroughs in Wales
Cardiff	3
Merthyr Tydfil	0
Newport	0
Swansea	2

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many buildings in conservation areas, other than listed buildings, have been made the subject of control to demolish under Sections 8 and 9 of the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972 since that Act came into force.

6,965 buildings in England and Wales are subject to control under Section 8 of the Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act 1972. This number includes 5,546 in respect of which directions have been confirmed by the appropriate Secretary of State and 1,419 which came under control immediately but which are awaiting confirmation. Section 9 applies only to Scotland and is therefore a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Tree Preservation Orders

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what records he has of the total number of tree preservation orders currently in force.

At 31st December 1972 there were 14,585 tree preservation orders in force in England. The figures for 1973 are being obtained from local planning authorities and I will write to my hon. Friend when the returns are complete.

Scottish Law Reform

asked the Lord Advocate when he instituted an inquiry into the usefulness of introducing a system of administrative law as in France to seek to provide simpler and wider forms of legal redress for individuals aggrieved by administrative reforms.

I have not instituted an inquiry into the matter mentioned by the hon. Member. In 1970 the then Secretary of State and Lord Advocate invited the Scottish Law Commission to advise on the question of existing remedies in Scots law for the judicial control of administrative acts and omissions. I understand the commission's report is in course of preparation.

Posts And Telecommunications

Transmitter (Bristol)

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when he expects that the transmitter at King's Weston Down, Bristol, will come into service.

The BBC and the IBA tell me they hope to open the station in March.

Scotland

Health Boards

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional appointments he has made to complete the membership of health boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list,

Health Board and Membership	Period of membership (years)	Experience
ARGYLL AND CLYDE
Mr. J. E. Fyfe, BL, Kilmacolm	4	NHS executive council.
Mrs. M. Lochrie, Paisley	2	Hospital board of mangement.
Mr. J. McCorkell, Paisley	4	Hospital board of management, local government and trade union.
Mr. D. McDiarmid, BL, Kirn	2	NHS executive council, local government and law.
Mr. W Petrie, Rhu	2	Hospital board of management and local government.
Mr. D. G. Scott, Greenock	4	Optician, hospital board of management and local government.
Miss T. Turner, RRC, SRN, SCM, Oban	2	Nursing.
AYRSHIRE AND ARRAN
Mr. J. S. Flanders, PhD. BSc, West Kilbride	4	Industry.
Mr. D. H. O. Gemmell, BL, FPS, Beith	2	Pharmacist, regional hospital board.
Mr. A. S. Handyside, Ayr	2	Hospital board of management and local government.
Mr. P. M. Robertson, Largs.	4	Local government.
Miss J. Stenhouse, RGN, SCM, MTD, Prestwick.	2	Nursing.
Mr. R. Watt, Patna	4	Hospital board of management and trade union.
BORDERS
Mr. R. Douglas, Jedburgh	2	NHS executive council and local government.
Miss S. Orrock, Stow	2	Local government.
DUMFRIES AND GALLOWAY
Miss E. A. Graham, RFN, RGN, Dumfries	4	Nursing.
Mr. W. Service, Newton Stewart	2	Local government.
Mr. R. D. Watson, OBE, Wigtown	4	NHS executive council and local government.
Provost J. Young, Sanquhar	2	Local government.
FIFE
Mr. T. Dennison, North Queensferry	2	Social work and local government.
Mr. D. L. Fulton, FEIS, Glenrothes	2	Hospital board of management and trade union.
Miss A. McFadden, RGN, RFN, SCM, QN, HV, Lochgelly.	4	Nursing and British Red Cross.
Mrs. J. H. Mackie, Dunfermline	4	Hospital board of management, NHS executive council and local government.
FORTH VALLEY
Mr. G. D. Drummond, BSc, FPS, Sauchieburn.	4	Pharmacist.
Provost R. D. Mclntyre, MB, ChB, DPH, Stirling.	2	Consultant, hospital board of management and local government.
Provost W. Ure, MBE, JP, Grangemouth	2	Local government and trade union.
GLASGOW
Mrs. B. Gunn, Glasgow	4	NHS executive council.
Miss J. G. M. Main, RGN, RFN, RNT, Whitecraigs.	2	Nursing.
Mr. J. Moore, Rutherglen	4	Hospital board of management, and local government.
Mr. W. R. Wilkinson, Bearsden	2	Personnel management.

with appropriate details, any further appointments he has made to area health boards in Scotland.

I have appointed the following persons to serve as members of health boards in addition to those whose appointment was announced in my reply of 11th July 1973—[Vol. 859 ; c. 367–78]—to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert Hughes).

Health Board and Membership	Period of membership (years)	Experience
GRAMPIAN
Mr. C. R. Esson, Ellon	4	Local government
Miss D. J. Lamont. SRN, SCM. HV, Aberdeen.	4	Nursing.
Provost J. A. S. McPherson, MA LLB, Macduff.	2	Local government.
Mr. R. R. Webster, Aberdeen	2	Hospital board of management and trade union.
HIGHLAND
Colonel A. M. Gilmour, OBE, MC, Invershin.	2	Hospital board of management and local government.
Miss C. L. Maclean, of Maclean, Ardgour	4	Hospital board of management and local government.
Mr. G. M. Murray, Rogart	2	Local government
LANARKSHIRE
Mrs. A. Agnew. SRN, SCM. HV, Whitlawburn.	2	Nursing.
Mrs. A. F. Anderson, MA, Thorntonhall	4	Hospital board of management.
Mr. J. T. Brown, Cumbernauld	4	Local government.
Mr. F. Gormill, Shotts	4	Hospital board of management, local government and trade union.
Mrs. R. K. Hinshalwood, East Kilbride	2	British Red Cross.
Mr A. O. Jamieson, LDS, Lanarkshire	2	Dentist, NHS executive council and local government.
Mr. D. Jamieson, Hamilton	4	Law.
Mr. R. J. Logan, JP, Carnwath	2	Hospital board of management.
LOTHIANS
Mr. M. Coyne, Broxburn	4	NHS executive council, drug accounts committee and local government.
Mr. A. Findlay, Penicuik	4	Hospital board of management and trade union.
Mr. V. C. E. Harrington, LDS, RCS(Edin.), Edinburgh.	4	Dentist, hospital board of management and dental estimates board.
Mrs. M. S. Noble, Roslin	2	Local government and social work.
ORKNEY
Mr. A. H. Bevan, MA, Stromness	2	NHS executive council and local government.
Mrs. F. M. Chirgwin, MA, Kirkwall	2	Teaching.
Mr. D. B. B. Dunnett, BDS, Kirkwall	4	Dentist and NHS executive council.
Mr. J. Flett, MA, LLB, Kirkwall.	4	Law.
Mr. M. W. T. Wood, South Ronaldsay	2	Agriculture.
SHETLAND
Mrs. R. Bald, MPS, Lerwick	2	Pharmacist.
Mr. R. R. Bentley, Virkie	2	Local government.
Mr. P. Goodlad, BL, Lerwick	4	Law.
Mrs. E. S. Reid, Lerwick	4	Hospital board of management.
Mrs. J. K. Sandison, MA, Baltasound	2	Social work.
TAYSIDE
Mr. I. Borthwick, JP, Dundee	4	Local government.
Professor J. Crooks, MD(Glas.), FRCPE,	2	University.
FRCPG, FRCP, Wormit.
Mrs. D. Radwanski, RGN, SCM, CHNC, Dundee.	4	Nursing.
Mr. H. G. Scott, Dundee	2	Regional hospital board and hospital board of management
WESTERN ISLES
Mr. N. Maciver, Callanish	2	Local government.
Mr. D. W. Macleod, MA, Lionel.	4	Teaching.
Mr. D. J. Macphail, BSc, Leverburgh	4	Teaching.

Thermal Insulation

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to improve the standards of insulation to avoid heat loss in both public and private sector houses to be built in Scotland in future ; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will examine building regualtions with a view to improving insulation standards in order to conserve heat in houses and consider giving financial assistance towards such work.

As the hon. Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) was informed on 12th December last—[Vol. 866, c 125]—I am about to consult interested bodies on proposals for improving the thermal insulation standards prescribed in the Building Standards (Scotland) Regulations. Any resultant additional costs for new public sector houses would be reckonable for housing expenditure subsidy.

Energy Supply (Administration)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland at what point his administration becomes involved in relation to the South of Scotland's Electricity Board's application to build nuclear power stations.

Formally, when the board applies under Section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act 1909 for consent to construct or extend any generating station; but officials of my Departments take part in the informal discussions which precede such applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland where in Scotland officers and staff will be located under his responsibility as a result of the creation of the new Department of Energy ; and what is the number of staff involved.

The responsibilities of the Scottish Office are unchanged, and no Scottish Office staff are affected as a result of the creation of the Department of Energy.

Holiday Homes (Crofting Counties)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has of the number of holiday homes in each of the seven crofting counties.

I have made no estimate of this, but my officials are keeping in close touch with the progress of a study of second homes in Scotland which has been commissioned from the Dartington Amenity Research Trust by the Countryside Commission for Scotland, the Scottish Tourist Board and the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

Highlands Development Board

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has given consideration to any change in the function and responsibility of the Highlands and Islands Development Board after the establishment of the Highland Regional Council in the new local government structure.

The powers, duties and functions of the Highlands and Islands Development Board were not altered by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973. I see a need for the board to continue on its present basis in close co-operation with the new local authorities in its area.

Disabled Persons

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the local authorities which have made or are making provision for the special housing needs of disabled persons as required by Section 3 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

Since the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act came into operation the following authorities have submitted schemes to me which include the provision of houses for disabled persons:

Cities

Aberdeen.

Edinburgh.

Counties

Aberdeen.

Banff.

East Lothian.

Fife.

Orkney.

Ross and Cromarty.

Stirling.

Large Burghs

Coatbridge.

Greenock.

Inverness.

Kilmarnock.

Motherwell.

Perth.

Port Glasgow.

Rutherglen.

Small Burghs

Aberfeldy.

Barrhead.

Bathgate.

Bearsden.

Bishopbriggs.

Cowdenbeath.

Cromarty.

Cumbernauld.

Small Burghs— cont.

Eyemouth.

Galashiels.

Haddington.

Invergordon.

Kintore.

Lochgilphead.

Melrose.

Renfrew.

St. Andrews.

Troon.

Turnhouse Airport

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has reached a decision about awarding expenses to objectors to the new runway and terminal buildings at Edinburgh (Turnhouse) Airport in the light of the Parliamentary Commissioner's report.

No. The report of the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration reached me only a few days ago. His suggestion about expenses is not without difficulty, but I shall consider it carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he now intends to examine future planning procedures as a result of the Parliamentary Commissioner's report on the new runway and terminal buildings at Edinburgh (Turnhouse) Airport.

Nothing in the Parliamentary Commissioner's Report suggests that a major review of planning procedures is necessary.

Departmental Communications

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, when in the future he has an announcement to make which primarily concerns the Rutherglen constituency, he will advise the hon. Member for that constituency before, or at the same time as, he passes the information to the Press, broadcasting authorities and other hon. Members.

I will continue to observe the conventions of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will answer the written communication sent to him by the hon. Member for Rutherglen on 4th July 1973 and the four subsequent telephone reminders on the subject of accident prevention.

I very much regret the delay and I expect to reply very soon.

Small Firms

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the course of his discussions with the Scottish Council regarding the conditions governing payment of its grant-in-aid, he will instruct the council in future to devote a part of its resources to a survey of the financial health of native Scottish family businesses, with a view to formulating proposals for fiscal reforms designed to preserve the identity and independence of such firms.

It would not be appropriate for me to give the Scottish Council such an instruction. I know, however, that the council is very conscious of its responsibilities to indigenous industry and already allocates resources to its encouragement and assistance. It is also aware of my hon. Friend's interest in the matter as expressed in his remarks during Questions on 21st November last year.

Social Services

Social Security Office, Corringham

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will reopen the social security office at Corringham so that local people be spared the expense and inconvenience of travelling several miles.

No. I know of no evidence which could justify such a move. The Stanford-le-Hope / Corringham caller office was closed in October 1972 because there was insufficient caller business to support the provision of such a facility. Since most business with the Department can be transacted by post and taking into account the additional arrangements for persons to be visited in their own homes where necessary, there should be little need for persons in the Corringham area to travel to Grays.

Medicine Bottles

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of medicine bottles to retail chemists.

My Department is in touch with the Department of Trade and Industry to ensure the adequate provision of containers for medicines.

Smoking

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will consider increasing Government assistance to the anti-smoking campaign.

We are at present studying the effectiveness of the various measures taken by the Government to reduce the damage to health caused by cigarette smoking and considering what might be done. The measures include support for health education and the voluntary agreement with the industry for health warning notices to be shown on packets and advertisements.

National Insurance Beneficiaries

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the number and percentage of national insurance beneficiaries, classified according to the type of benefit, drawing national assistance/supplementary benefit for each year since 1948.

Such information as is available about the number and percentage of national insurance beneficiaries receiving national assistance/ supplementary benefit has been published each year in my Department's annual report and in the annual reports of the former Ministry of Social Security and National Assistance Board. Information for the years 1967 to 1972 is summarised in Tables 34.31 and 34.99 of "Social Security Statistics 1972" (HMSO 1973). Information for 1973 is not yet available.

Pensioners (Registration)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will set up a register of pensioners so that benefit changes and concessions can be the more easily notified to all pensioners.

No. I do not think that a further register, in addition to the records already maintained in the Department's central pension branch and local offices, and to those held by local authorities, would be likely to help materially in ensuring that pensioners were made more aware of their entitlements.

Welfare Rights Officers

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will suggest to all sizeable local authorities that they should appoint a welfare rights officer.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 22nd December 1972.—[Vol. 848, c. 488–9.]

Hospital Waiting Lists

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are awaiting admission to the Dudley Road Hospital and Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham ; and what has been the figure in each of the past five years.

Following is the latest available information:

DUDLEY ROAD HOSPITAL
31st December 1968	2,743
31st December 1969	2,534
31st December 1970	2,070
31st December 1971	1,910
31st December 1972	2,350
30th September 1973	1,892
QUEEN ELIZABETH HOSPITAL
31st December 1968	2,505
31st December 1969	2,831
31st December 1970	2,479
31st December 1971	2,597
31st December 1972	1,796
31st December 1973	2,036

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many children in Warley are awaking ENT operations ; and what is the average length of wait ;(2) how many people in Warley are waiting to see a consultant.

The county borough of Warley is served by a number of hospitals in the Birmingham area. The information requested is consequently not readily available and could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost.

Hospital Complaints Procedure

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to be able to publish his considered reaction to the recommendations of the Davies Committee on Hospital Complaints Procedure.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Reading (Dr. Vaughan) on 17th December.—[Vol. 866, c. 272.]

Immunisation

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will outline in the OFFICIAL REPORT the categories of children at risk when they are immunised ;(2) if he is satisfied that all parents are aware of the possibilities of adverse reactions when their children are immunised ;(3) why he has not yet instituted a scheme of compensation for vaccine-damaged children ;(4) what study he has made of the six European countries' schemes for compensation to vaccine-damaged children ;(5) what steps he has taken to establish the actual number of children who have been damaged by vaccines ;(6) if he will now estimate the number of children who have been damaged by vaccines since they became routine ;(7) how many children under 5 years of age, in each of the last five years, developed whooping cough after being vaccinated ; and what proportion they were of all children vaccinated against whooping cough ;(8) how many children under 5 years of age, in each of the last five years, developed whooping cough and were not vaccinated against it ; and what proportion they were of all children who got whooping cough ;

(9) if he will take steps to institute a comprehensive statistical study of the adverse effects of vaccines ;

(10) if he will take steps to ensure that all local authorities report to him suspected cases of vaccine damage ;

(11) why he is not wholly satisfied with the proportion of adverse reactions to vaccines reported by doctors ;

(12) what evidence he has for his statement, in a letter to the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South on 20th November 1973, that the incidence of severe reactions to vaccinating healthy children is small ;

(13) to what cause he attributes damage to children damaged by vaccines ;

(14) if he is satisfied with the standards of all vaccines used by the National Health Service ;

(15) If he is satisfied that all children are adequately screened for possible allergies before being vaccinated ;

(16) if he is satisfied that proper care is taken in the vaccination procedures under the National Health Service ;

(17) if he is satisfied that the Committee on Safety or Medicines is well informed about adverse reactions to vaccinated children ;

(18) what advice he gives to medical officers of health about means of identifying adverse reactions to vaccines ;

(19) if the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Civil Liability and Personal Injury allow it to recommend retrospective compensation to children damaged by vaccines.

The information requested by the hon. Gentleman is being assembled and will be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT early next week.

Volume 867: debated on Thursday 24 January 1974

Written Answers To Questions

Home Department

Probation Service (Pay)

Shoplifting

Police (Patrols)

Terrorism

Children (Detention)

Heathrow (Security)

Winchester Bomb Trials (Expenses)

Jurors And Witnesses (Security Of Employment)

Mr R Scott (Damaged Vehicle)

Foreign Intelligence Agents

Central Intelligence Agency

Northern Ireland

Executive And Assembly

Employment

Crimes Of Violence

Alcoholic Drink (Prosecutions)

National Finance

Mortgage Interest (Owner-Occupiers)

European Economic Community

Oil Excise Duty

Industrial Output

Public Expenditure

Excess Tax Revenue (Eec Directive)

Investment

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

European Economic Community

Oil Pollution

Eec Preferences (Developing Countries)

Employment

Industrial Relations Act

Bedford

Coal Industry Dispute

Trade And Industry

Small Firms (Rents)

Scotch Whisky

Factory Building (Grants)

General Agreement On Tariffs And Trade

Concorde

Industrial Guarantee Corporation

Small Firms (Scotland)

Advance Factories (Scotland)

Research And Development

Turnhouse Airport

Fuel And Economic Affairs

Scotland

West Cumberland

Agriculture, Fisheries And Food

Food Stocks

Sugar Beet

Milking Cows (Slaughter)

Civil Service

Personal Secretaries

Government Departments (Dispersal)

Executive Grade Staff

Defence

Ulster Defence Regiment

Army Casualties

Education And Science

Schools (Waltham Forest)

School Meals And Milk

Student Grants

Nursery Schools

Energy

Miners (Working Hours)

Motor Cycles

Weekly Energy Statement

Domestic Heating (Elderly Persons)

Gas Supplies (South Wales)

Power Stations (Fuel Stocks)

British Nuclear Fuels Ltd And The Radiochemical Centre Ltd

Environment

Water Extraction (Winterbourne)

Compulsory Purchase Order (Northwood)

Land Use (Bedfordshire)

Demolition Work

Footpaths (Bedfordshire)