asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with present trends in the output of the United Kingdom dairy industry.

This is one of the factors now being considered in the context of the annual review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what period of cost increases will be taken into account for dairy products at the forthcoming price review.

The effect of cost changes over the full year since the last review will be taken into account at this year's annual review for all products.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he can confirm the compulsory acquisition of land for the Mole Valley flood alleviation scheme.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to announce his decision very shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many United Kingdom applications have been received for conversion from dairy to beef production under the terms of the EEC scheme.

Up to 31st December 1973, the latest date for which details are available, 2,062 producers in the United Kingdom had submitted applications.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the amounts purchased and the prices paid under the intervention arrangements for beef in each EEC State in 1973–74 to the latest available date.

Although intervention on beef has taken place in some member States no details of the quantities involved are available. The prices payable vary according to quality and presentation and are set out in the annex to Commission Regulation No. 2096/73.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what rise in the United Kingdom beef guide price is entailed by the next stage of alignment of United Kingdom beef prices with those of the EEC ; and what further rise would be involved if current proposals for a 10 per cent. rise in EEC guide prices are accepted.

The increase in the present United Kingdom guide price of £16·43 per live cwt. would be £0·76p if the current EEC guide price remained unchanged. A further £1·72 per live cwt. would be added if the EEC guide price were increased by 10 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the United Kingdom intervention price for beef after the next stage of alignment with the existing EEC guide price and with an EEC guide price 10 per cent. higher, respectively.

Unless other changes are made to the support system, intervention prices for carcase meat from the highest grades of cattle to which the permanent intervention arrangements apply would be equivalent to £16·70 per live cwt. and £18·40 per live cwt. respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the current market price for beef ; and how this compares with anticipated intervention price levels, after the next stage of alignment with existing EEC guide price, and with an EEC guide price 10 per cent. higher.

The current United Kingdom average market price for clean cattle is about £18·30 per live cwt., although there are considerable variations around this average, according to quality and at different markets. A direct comparison between this price and the intervention prices would not be meaningful.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the levies and duties, respectively, on beef imports from third countries if market prices were the same as intervention prices, first in the case that

				Full	Commonwealth	Developing Commonwealth
Boneless cuts	…	…	…	11 per cent. ad valorem	8 per cent. ad valorem	Free
Other	…	…	…	£0·1866 per cwt.	8 per cent. ad valorem	Free
				+8 per cent. ad valorem

The rates of duty would not be affected by a change in the guide price. As Community rates of levy are dependent upon movements of world prices they are not capable of forecast, nor can monetary compensatory amounts, which depend upon currency movements, be foreseen.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the raid carried out by the Royal Ulster Constabulary on the offices of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association on Saturday 29th December.

Acting on information received a joint RUC/Army team inquiring into the disappearance of the honorary German Consul in Northern Ireland made a search of the premises occupied by the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association on 29th December 1973. Nothing was discovered to connect the association with Herr Niedermayer's disappearance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians are employed in Scotland by his Department ; and if he will give a breakdown of the figure by Scottish planning regions.

The number of civilians currently employed by the Ministry of Defence in Scotland is 20,472. A breakdown of this figure by planning regions the next stage of alignment with the present EEC guide price had been implemented, and second in the case that alignment had taken place with an EEC guide price 10 per cent. higher ; and to what extent these duties would be affected by MCAs.

Under the existing arrangements United Kingdom rates of import duty on beef after the next stage of alignment with the present EEC guide price will be:is not immediately available and I will write to the hon. Member with this information as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will undertake that it is not planned to make any cuts in the grant to the Arts Council and that no instructions have been or will be given to the Arts Council to make any cuts in its grants.

The economies which the Government are considering relate to planned future expenditure and not to grants which have been offered to the Arts Council. There will therefore be no cuts in the grants made to the council, but the Government are bound to consider, in the present circumstances, whether future grants, including the grant for 1974–75, can continue to rise at the rate they have done since 1970. The question of grants to individual clients of the Arts Council is, of course, a matter for the council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to appoint a chairman for the committee of inquiry into the education of handicapped children.

In conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, and after consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Social Services and Employment, I have invited Mrs. Mary Warnock, Research Fellow in Philosophy at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford, to serve as chairman, and she has agreed to do so. I shall proceed with the appointment of members as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the proportion of firemen who have received a year-on-year increase in salary of less than 18 per cent., 18 per cent. and more than 18 per cent., respectively, as a result of the wage increase

					Deaths per 1,000 employees
					1969	1970	1971	1972
Deep sea trawlers:
Near and middle waters;
Length 80–140 ft	…	…	…	…	1·5	1·3	1·4	0·6
Distant waters ;
Length over 140 ft.:
Side	…	…	…	…	2·1	0·4	5·8	1·3
Stern	…	…	…	…	1·1	1·0	—	2·5
Coalmining	…	…	…	…	0·31	0·30	0·24	0·22*
Quarrying	…	…	…	…	0·58	0·69	0·46	0·40
Construction	…	…	…	…	0·22	0·19	0·19	0·18

Subject to assumptions about the relatively small labour forces on oil rigs, the annual average totality rate appears to be between two and three per 1,000.Accidents according to the seriousness of injury are not analysed by the various authorities except as follows:

						Serious injuries per 1,000 employes
Coalmining	…	…	…	…	…	2·2	2·1	2·2	1·8*
Quarrying	…	…	…	…	…	1·9	1·9	2·1	2·6
						Severe injuries per 1,000 emploveest
Construction	…	…	…	…	…	9·2	8·1	7·5	8·0
* These figures are affected by the industrial dispute which closed NCB mines between 10th January and 28th February.
†The definition is specific to notifications under the Factories Act: it is wider in scope than "serious injuries" under the Mines and Quarries Act.

asked the Minister for Energy whether permission has now been given to the CEGB to commence work on the proposed oil-fired power station at Inswork, Millbrook.

The CEGB has received consent under Section 2 of the Electric Lighting Act 1909 and deemed planning permission for Inswork Point, but has not received investment approval. Preliminary survey work is in progress. The approved by the Pay Board as being in conformity with the terms of the Government's pay code in December.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will indicate the number of deaths and serious injuries in the following industries per 1,000 employees: oil rigs, deep-sea trawler industry, coal mining, quarrying and construction, for each of the past five years.

The required data for 1973 are not yet available. Because of the differing conditions for collection the following information, made available by the various authorities, gives broad rather than precise comparability:main contracts will not be let until investment approval is given.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will issue a general direction to the CEGB that, wherever practicable, waste heat should not be dispersed in cooling towers or rivers and estuaries but used as district heating for domestic and industrial premises.

The CEGB already has a relevant statutory duty under Section 50 of the Electricity Act 1947 as amended by the Electricity Act 1957.

asked the Minister for Energy what discussions he is having with the CEGB to ensure that new power stations are designed to apply heat usually wasted in cooling systems for district heating.

As part of the review necessitated by recent changes in the energy situation my officials are inviting the board to discuss this matter with them.

asked the Minister for Energy whether he will commission a study of the health risks that affect the mining community, both workers and their families, arising from their environment, in the light of the evidence in the journal Lancet, a copy of which is in his possession, with a view to amending the compensation laws to provide for this particular problem.

The major health hazard in the mining industry, pneumoconiosis, has been studied by the National Coal Board and the Medical Research Council for many years and the work continues. More generally, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment has proposed a study of the future of the industry, including consideration of the Government's contribution to compensation for the health hazards in coal mining, as soon as normal work is resumed.

asked the Minister for Energy whether liquid natural gas storage tanks are intended in South Wales for any reasons other than emergencies.

Yes. In addition to providing security of supply, the LNG storage is required for meeting peak demands for gas, thereby enabling more gas to be supplied in South Wales during the remainder of the year.

asked the Minister for Energy what storage capacity for liquid natural gas he estimates is needed in South Wales ; how many tanks are needed ; and how many days' supply this represents.

The British Gas Corporation estimate that it requires one storage tank of 20,000 tons liquid capacity now, to be followed by a second of similar size later on. The two tanks would store gas representing about eight days' supply in South Wales at peak demand.

asked the Minister for Energy what is the range of sizes of tanks built in Great Britain to store liquid natural gas.

Sizes range from 4,000 tons liquid capacity to 20,000 tons liquid capacity.

asked the Minister for Energy what objections have been received to proposals for establishing storage tanks for liquid natural gas on more than one site in South Wales.

24 sites were examined in detail, taking into account their location, ground conditions, economics, and their proximity to mining operations, other property, and the existing gas pipeline. Hirwaun was selected as by far the most suitable, and is the only one at which it is proposed to establish liquid natural gas storage in South Wales.

asked the Minister for Energy what was the level of, respectively, oil and coal stocks held by each CEGB or SSEB power station in Great Britain each week since 28th October 1973.

This is a matter for the boards and I will ask the respective chairmen to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister for Energy what was the cost of printing and distributing petrol coupons.

A firm figure is not yet available but the overall cost is likely to be in the range of £2½ million.

asked the Minister for Energy what has been the level of imports of crude oil into Great Britain each week between 1st October and 30th April since 1st October 1968 ; how much came from each of the principal source of supply countries ; and for each week, what percentage of these total imports was supplied to CEGB and SSEB power stations.

Statistics on imports of crude oil in this detail are not available. CEGB and SSEB power stations do not burn crude oil, and weekly deliveries of oil products to them could not be directly related to weekly imports of crude oil.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will give a general direction to the CEGB to improve the thermal efficiency at present obtained out of the conversion of fuel into useful energy from existing power stations by utilising waste heat for domestic and industrial purposes.

The CEGB already has the relevant statutory duties under Section 50 of the Electricity Act 1947, as amended by the Electricity Act 1957 and under Section 2(5) of the latter Act to develop and maintain an efficient, co-ordinated and economic supply of electricity.

asked the Minister for Energy how many meetings he has had with the heads of the nationalised energy industries ; and if he will make a statement on the outcome of such meetings.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Secretary of State has met the heads of these industries. So far, I myself have met the Chairmen of the Electricity Council and of the Central Electricity Generating Board, and I have had several discussions with the Chairman of the National Coal Board. I intend to meet the others soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require those responsible for any demolition also to be fully responsible for the cost of weather-proofing any wall which becomes an external wall as a result of such demolition.

Section 29 of the Public Health Act 1961 enables local authorities to serve a notice on any person who undertakes the demolition of the whole or part of a building requiring that person, inter alia, to weather-proof any surfaces of an adjacent building which are exposed by the demolition. This provision is considered to be adequate and no amended legislation is contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on how many occasions in each of the last 20 years district auditors have imposed a surcharge on the members of local authorities.

There have been 60 occasions on which members have been surcharged by district auditors over the last 20 financial years. Details are as follows:

1953–54	13
1954–55	8
1955–56	1
1956–57	2
1957–58	1
1958–59	1
1959–60	6
1960–61	2
1961–62	4
1962–63	2
1963–64	6
1964–65	4
1965–66	3
1966–67	1
1967–68	2
1968–69	—
1969–70	—
1970–71	—
1971–72	1
1972–73	3
	60

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the percentage change in the number of new council houses and in the number of new private houses built in the first 11 months of 1973 compared with the same periods in 1972 and 1970, respectively.

Completions of local authority and new town dwellings in Great Britain during the first 11 months of 1973 were 15 per cent. and 43 per cent. fewer than in the corresponding periods on 1972 and 1970. For the private sector completions were down 4 per cent. and up 11 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities and other large organisations to recycle waste products of all kinds as a means of assisting the nation in the present energy shortage.

The extent of reclamation and recycling is already considerable, and I would refer the hon. Member to my recent speech on this subject—[OFFICIAL REPORT, 18th January 1974 ; Vol. 867, c. 1166–74]. The Protection of the Environment Bill, now before Parliament, contains provisions relating to recycling and reclamation and we are considering how these might be strengthened and improved. Research and consultation with industrial organisations are continuing.

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

The housing subsidies paid to the county borough of Warley from 1966–67 to 1971–72 in respect of the provision of new dwellings were as follows:

1966–67	456,016
1967–68	596,676
1968–69	628,383
1969–70	651,870
1970–71	1,025,828
1971–72	1,044,525

Subsidies payable to the credit of the housing revenue account, including rent rebate subsidy, under the Housing Finance 1972 are related to deficits in the account and not specifically to the provision of new dwellings. The amounts paid to Warley to date are as follows:

	Unter the Housing Finance Act 1972	Arrears in respect of years before 1972–73	Total
	£	£	£
1972–73	697,576	242,226	939,802
1973–74	1,552,804	47,406	1,600,210

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of office development permits granted in Bedfordshire in the last 12 months ; and what was the area covered and the percentage of successful applicants.

Between 1st October 1972 and 30th September 1973, the latest period for which figures are available, 25 office development permits, representing 86 per cent. of total applications, were granted for Bedfordshire, including Luton, covering 507,000 sq. ft. of floor space.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is the required distance between 60 mph speed restriction signs on motorways ; and what is the position on the A45 in Warwickshire ;(2) if he will order the resiting of the 60 mph speed restriction signs on the A45 in Warwickshire ;(3) whether he has any plans to remove the 60 mph speed limit on the A45 in Warwickshire ;(4) what discussions his Department has had with Warwickshire County Council over the removal of the 60 mph speed limit on the A45 in Warwickshire ;(5) what discussions his Department has had with Warwickshire police over the removal of the 60 mph speed limit on the A45 in Warwickshire ;(6) when his Department first came to know that the 60 mph speed restriction signs on the A45 in Warwickshire were wrongly placed ;(7) whether he is satisfied with safety conditions on the A45 in Warwickshire ;(8) whether he will pay an official visit to the A45 in Warwickshire.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of planning applications submitted to planning authorities in Bedfordshire for the past year for which figures are available, the number granted, the number refused and the percentage of those going to appeal which proved successful.

The total number of planning applications submitted to planning authorities in Bedfordshire, including Luton County Borough, during 1973 is not available ; 6,306 cases were decided, of which 4,924 were granted and 1,382 refused. Planning appeals for Bedfordshire submitted to the Department amounted to 292 during 1973. The percentage allowed is not readily available but the national average of appeals allowed is about 20 per cent., and I have no reason to think that the percentage in Bedfordshire is any different.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will indicate the reserves of clay for Fletton bricks in Bedfordshire and the extent of total reserves already used ; and if he will also identify the occurrences of such clays in other parts of the country.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not available. The Oxford clay from which Fletton bricks are made outcrops in Dorset, Wiltshire, Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Lincolnshire. Its suitability for brick making varies in different parts of this belt.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications have been made for vehicle-testing licences under Section 43 of the Road Traffic Act 1972 since 20th September 1971.

Approximately 2,500.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects that the M5 bridge at Avonmouth will be open for traffic.

The contract completion date is 1st September 1974, but we are striving for the earliest possible finish.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many units of electricity were consumed in the Palace of Westminster during the Report stage and Third Reading of the Statutory Corporations Bill.

I regret that the precise information my hon. Friend seeks is not available, but a rough estimate based on the present daily rate of consumption is 2,250 units.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to make an announcement following the planning inquiry in respect of Catthorpe, near Rugby.

I am very much aware that a decision is important to all parties to the planning appeal which was the subject of the public inquiry to which the hon. Member refers, and my Department is dealing with this as a matter of urgency. I cannot, however, at this stage say when this decision will be available. As I have explained earlier, the issues raised in this case are complex and far reaching and demand the most careful and detailed consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is ready to announce a decision on the Inspector's report on the public inquiry on measures to alleviate floods in the Mole Valley.

I hope to be able to announce my decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the White Paper setting out details of the rate support grant settlement.

My right hon. and learned Friend did so on 22nd January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has now considered the representations made by housebuilders and others on the proposals for a land hoarding charge and for contributions towards infrastructure costs ; and if he will make a statement.

In the changed state of the land market, and as a result of the measures for increased taxation on gains from land disposals announced on 17th December by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer there is now little or no advantage in speculative hoarding of land with planning permission for housing, and there is at present no evidence that such land is currently being hoarded on any significant scale. Accordingly, following earlier consultation with the local authority associations and other bodies affected, the Government have decided not to proceed with the scheme for the charge. If hoarding comes to be identified in a particular area, the local authority can readily use its powers to acquire compulsorily land which is ripe for housing but is being unreasonably withheld from development. The Government stand prepared to support the use of compulsory purchase to prevent the hoarding of such land.Under Section 52 of the Town and Country Planning Act 1972 and, after 1st April next, Section 111 of the Local Government Act 1972, agreements can be made between local authorities and developers about contributions towards the cost of infrastructure services. In order to strengthen the effectiveness of these arrangements and encourage their wider use by local authorities the Housing and Planning Bill contains provisions which enable the covenants involved in these agreements to be made binding on successors in title. Meanwhile the Government have decided, following consultations with the local authority associations and other bodies affected, not to proceed in present circumstances with a scheme which would require compulsory contributions to the cost of these services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average waiting period for a driving test in Brentwood, Essex ; what is now the national average ; and if he will make a statement on steps he is taking to shorten the period both in Brentwood and nationally.

27 weeks and 19·7 weeks respectively. My Department is recruiting additional examiners as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to set up a national bottle recovery service, or provide financial assistance towards the establishment of such a service privately.

I have been asked to reply.I do not consider that the establishment of a national bottle recovery service would be justified, nor am I aware of any grounds for providing financial assistance to private contractors operating such a service.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will specify progress on plans to construct a permanent airfield in the Falkland Islands, including the dates by which the tenders were received ; when it is intended to commence construction ; and what is the date by which construction will be completed.

Tenders for the construction of the permanent airfield were received on 9th November 1972. They are being subjected to detailed analysis. It is expected that the tender will be awarded by the end of March and that construction will be complete 24 months from that date, although the airfield could be operational before then.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will confirm that there will be no change in the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands without the full consent of the Islanders.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to promote his proposals for arms rationing to Middle Eastern countries.

Such an arrangement could be successful only in the context of a permanent settlement of the Middle East question as a whole and if it were supported by all the countries with the capacity to sell arms. I hope to take the question further with the Governments concerned, both inside and outside the area, when such a settlement begins to take shape.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the next round of tripartite talks will take place between the British, Argentine and Falkland Islands Governments to discuss progress on the implementation of the 1971 Buenos Aires Communications Agreement on the Falkland Islands.

No date has yet been fixed.Matters arising from the 1971 communications arrangements are the subject of periodic discussion by the Special Consultative Committee—on which Her Majesty's ambassador is represented—in Buenos Aires.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he had regarding the entry of Fergus Maclean to study at University College, London.

It was necessary to be satisfied about Fergus Maclean's status, and it was established that he is a patrial citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies with the right of abode in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish the number of girls under the age of 17 years who have been committed to prison since January 1973.

Figures for 1971 and 1972 were published in Table C.12 of the Report of the Work of the Prison Department Statistical Tables (Cmnd. 5498). My noble Friend the Minister of State is arranging for the analysis of such information as is now available for 1973 and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the police flats at Collinson House, Effra Road, Lambeth, remain empty ; and what action he proposes to take about them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what use is intended for the police flats at Collinson House, Effra Road, Brixton, in view of the fact that the flats are empty and there is a housing shortage in Lambeth.

As soon as transfer and redecoration are complete the flats will be used as much needed accommodation for prison officers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will compare the total net weekly income of a man with a wife and two children under 11 years of age with a weekly wage of £20 per week with persons in similar circumstances earning (a) £25 per week, and (b) £35 per week assuming that in all cases the previous year's earnings were at the same rate and allowing for relevant tax payments or repayments and welfare benefits in the following circumstances: for a week's work after 39 weeks at the appropriate rate and for three days' work at the appropriate rate together with two days' unemployment benefit due to restricted working under current regulations, and in each case showing the net income when partially unemployed as a percentage of that when in full employment.

The figures are:

Normal Weekly Wage	A	B	C
	£p	£p	%
£20	19·49	17·10	—
FIS	1·60	1·60	—
	21·09	18·70	88·7
£25	22·89	21·60	94·4
£35	29·39	25·49	86·7

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the gross national product per capita in the United Kingdom in 1945, 1950, 1960, 1970, and the latest available year, at current prices and also at constant prices based on those of 1945 ; and if he will give in

PER CAPITA GROSS NATIONAL PRODUCT AT FACTOR COST
					At current prices		At constant prices
					£	Percentage change on preceding figure	Index 950=100(1)	Percentage change on preceding figure
1946	…	…	…	…	180
1950	…	…	…	…	232	+28·7	100·0
1960	…	…	…	…	435	+87·2	123·6	+23·6
1970	…	…	…	…	780	+79·3	154·0	+24·6
1972	…	…	…	…	965	+23·7	158·2	+2·7
					Increase 1946–1972: +435%		Increase 1950–1972: +58%
					Increase 1950–1972: +315%

(1) Constant price estimates at 1945 prices are not available. The latest published constant price estimates are expressed at the price level of 1970 but reflect calculations at the relative prices of 1948, 1954, 1958, 1963 and 1970 for the whole period in question (see notes on page 97 of the latest national income Blue Book—"National Income and Expenditure, 1973")

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the net take-home pay of a married man with two children under 11 years of age after deductions of income tax and national insurance and assuming that all income was earned and that he was receiving the national average wage at any convenient date in 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972 and 1973.

Assuming that the man is not contracted out of the graduated pension scheme the figures are:

	Gross weekly earnings*	Take-home pay
	£p	£p
April 1969	26·17	21·21
April 1970	28·90	22·87
April 1971	32·30	26·06
April 1972	36·00	29·24
April 1973	40·90	32·41

each case the percentage change on the preceding figure and the total percentage change for the latest year compared with 1945.

The information available is given in the table below. No estimates are available for 1945 and estimates at constant prices are not available for years before 1948.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the precise dates to which each of the lists of take-home pay shown in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 10th December 1973, c. 45–6, applied, and what each of the levels of take-home pay would have been, both for earned and investment incomes, in real terms at October 1970 prices.

The figures of take-home pay given related to the tax years shown and were calculated on the basis of tax payable in respect of each year's income by reference to the tax rates in force for that year. They did not of course take account of the 10 per cent. surcharge on surtax for 1972–73 which has sub

						Take-home Pay (£)
Annual Income						1969–70	1970–71	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74
All Earned
£1,000	…	…	…	…	…	918·43	862·14	820·61	793·14	734·13
£2,000	…	…	…	…	…	1,637·90	1,522·57	1,427·03	1,368·37	1,265·14
£5,000	…	…	…	…	…	3,785·49	3,524·15	3,326·40	3,132·13	2,912·28
£8,000	…	…	…	…	…	5,427·80	5,059·14	4,881·81	4,585·43	4,421·74
£10,000	…	…	…	…	…	6,335·38	5,906·90	5,721·52	5,370·02	5,187·03
£20,000	…	…	…	…	…	8,139·02	7,591·21	8,791·86	8,238·80	7,976·29
All Investment
£1,000	…	…	…	…	…	843·44	789·58	754·11	742·10	731·18
£2,000	…	…	…	…	…	1,472·24	1,376·49	1,313·94	1,265·18	1,301·07
£5,000	…	…	…	…	…	2,887·88	2,700·23	2,610·05	2,476·19	2,606·22
£8,000	…	…	…	…	…	3,819·30	3,570·22	3,481·87	3,290·79	3,759·73
£10,000	…	…	…	…	…	4,291·71	4,011·45	3,934·93	3,714·10	4,287·72
£20,000	…	…	…	…	…	5,567·11	5,202·50	5,260·48	4,952·64	5,890·48

The general index of retail prices has been used in these calculations, relating the average for each financial year to the index at October 1970.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the distinctions in income tax law with regard to assessment between the clergy of different denominations ; how long these distinctions have been in operation ; and if he will review the situation, with particular reference to Evangelists, who receive neither salary nor wages.

Clergy are assessed under Schedule E in respect of the emoluments of their offices without distinction as to their religious denomination. Where, exceptionally, a clergyman is not an office-holder it would depend on the particular circumstances whether he was in receipt of income chargeable to tax. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind I will look into it if he will send me details.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will confirm that the part of his statement of 17th December 1973 concerning taxation of property development does not affect agricultural development and that potential development only refers to land with planning consent for purposes other than for agriculture.

I can confirm that it is not the Government's intention to treat as a development gain any gain on a sale of agricultural land at its value for agricultural purposes. Moreover, the proposal

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will revise the national income accounts so that they clearly distinguish the income of persons from the income of charities and nonprofit-making bodies.

The Central Statistical Office has under review the action necessary to produce separate estimates relating to charities and other non-profit-making bodies. Substantial professional resources will be required to develop satisfactory methods of estimation without adding greatly to form-filling burdens, and there are many competing claims for the available resources. It may take some time, therefore, before reasonably reliable estimates can be compiled.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a reprieve to the 10p savings stamp threatened by the Page Report, in view of requests from voluntary workers of the National Savings Movement.

My right hon. Friend is considering the future of the National Savings Stamp with the two chairmen of the National Savings Voluntary Movement, and he hopes to be able to make a statement soon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances it is to a taxpayer's financial advantage to forgo family allowances ; and how many taxpayers have done so in each of the last five years.

The situation to which the hon. Gentleman refers will arise when the tax on the family allowance together with the amount recovered in the form of tax by the family allowance deduction ("clawback") exceeds the actual amount of family allowance payable. The point at which this will occur depends on personal circumstances. As a broad rule, however, it is now to a taxpayer's advantage to relinquish family allowance if his top rate of tax is 45 per cent. or more—50 per cent. if more than one family allowance is due.The numbers of taxpayers who have relinquished family allowance are:

	Numbers
1968	1,245
1969	893
1970	788
1971	545
1972	531
1973	2,491

These figures are of known relinquishments and do not include those who did not claim family allowance when they were first entitled to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what prior consultation took place between Her Majesty's Government and the French Government on the decision to float the franc ; and if he will make a statement ;(2) what prior consultation took place between the Governments of member States of the European Economic Community on the French Government's decision to float the franc ; and if he will make a statement.

The French Minister of Finance visited Germany—the country which currently holds the Presidency of the Council of Ministers—for consultations before the decision was announced. My right hon. Friend and his other colleagues were informed of the decision on 19th January. There was a meeting of the EEC Monetary Committee, involving all the member States, on 21st January.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for upgrading to medical assistant he has received from regional hospital boards in the past three years ; how many of these were approved ; and if he will give a breakdown of the figures by region and specialty.

From 1971 to 1973, 21 applications from regional hospital boards for upgrading to medical assistant were considered ; of these 20 were approved. A breakdown by region and specialty is given below:

Region	Speciality
Northern	Geriatrics
North-Eastern	—
Eastern	Ophthalmology
	Geriatrics
	Blood transfusion
	Anaesthetics
South-Eastern	Geriatrics
	Mental deficiency
Western	Clinical chemistry
	Psychiatry
	Anaesthetics
	Orthopaedic surgery
	Pathology (two posts)
	General medicine
	General surgery (two posts)*
	Blood transfusion
	Ophthalmology (two posts)
	ENT surgery
	Dermatology
* Approval not given to one of these posts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why workers employed on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays under present conditions receive three days' benefit, while those working Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays receive two days' benefit.

The difference in the number of days of benefit paid is the result of what is called the "normal idle day" rule, which has been part of the national insurance legislation for many years and is at present contained in Section 20(1)(b) of the National Insurance Act 1965. The rule provides that, where a person's employment has been suspended, as distinct from terminated, unemployment benefit is not payable in any week for a day on which the person would not work in the normal course, unless he is unemployed (or sick) on all the other days in the week when he would normally be at work.The application of the rule to any individual claimant is a matter for the independent adjudicating authorities, but its general effect in present conditions is as follows. People working on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays who have three days of unemployment on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays—days on which they normally work—receive benefit for those three days. Those working Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays receive benefit for the two days they normally work but on which they are unemployed—Thursdays and Fridays—but not for Saturdays unless they normally work on that day, in which case unemployment benefit is paid for Saturdays also. The benefit position thus corresponds to the facts of the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his attention has been drawn to the introductory leaflet issued by the Health Service Commissioner ; and if he is satisfied that the functions of the commissioner are being clearly explained to hospital patients and their families.

Yes. In guidance issued to the relevant health authorities in September, my Department and the Welsh Office asked them to arrange for copies of the commissioner's leaflet to be made available to the public on request in their hospitals, clinics and offices, and to draw the leaflet to the attention of people who make complaints. In addition, I understand that the commissioner has sent copies of the leaflet to citizen's advice bureaux and has been in touch with a number of organisations concerned with patients' welfare.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish the number of regular family allowance payments made for each year since the scheme was first introduced.

Following is the information: the estimates are subject to a small margin of error:

	No. of payments in year (millions)
1946	53·3
1947	140·2
1948	146·6
1949	152·1
(1)1950	157·5
1951	163·5
1952	163·5
1953	165·7
1954	170·8
(1)1955	172·7
1956	172·7
1957	175·8
1958	178·0
1959	180·6
(1)1960	187·3
1961	187·1
1962	188·9
1963	191·2
1964	195·3
1965	199·3
(1)1966	207·1
1967	211·5
1968	212·2
1969	216·2
1970	219·5
1971	222·1
(1)1972	229·4
1973	227·2
(1) 53 week year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps designated to contain the increase in the number of teenage smokers.

I recognise the need to educate young people about the serious health dangers of smoking. The Health Education Council has made a new film for schools for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to set up special treatment units to care for the most violent and aggressive girls who cannot at present be accommodated within community homes.

Violent and aggressive girls in the care of local authorities are normally accommodated in community homes. We are establishing three youth treatment centres for those who are so severely disturbed that their needs cannot be met in community homes but who do not need treatment in hospital. The first of these centres is already open and two more are to be built.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people have been waiting for 12 months or longer for admission to hospitals in the Coventry hospital management area.

1,510 at 31st December 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what conclusions have been reached following his inquiry into the misuse of supplementary benefits by those on strike.

I have nothing to add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 6th November 1973.—[Vol. 863. c. 160.)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he can now say what action he proposes to take following the Foster Report on Scientology.

I cannot at present add to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Sir John Hall) on 16th October last.—[Vol. 861. c. 18–19.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services by what percentage the mortality of unskilled workers exceeds that of professional workers.

The Occupational Mortality Supplement based on the 1961 Census of Population in England and Wales gave the mortality of men aged 15 to 64 in unskilled occupations as nearly 90 per cent. above the corresponding figure for professional occupations. This figure, though allowing for differences in the two age distributions, is subject to a margin of error because the mortality rates reflect the occupation reported at death which for example may not have been the deceased's main occupation during his life. A similar figure for 1971 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many retirement pensioners live in Scotland ; and what the cost would be of doubling retirement pensions only for Scottish pensioners.

An estimated 674,000 at November 1972. The extra cost of doubling these pensions, at present rates and without allowing for changes in other benefits, would be an estimated £260 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied with the conditions on board standby vessels for the oil rigs in the North Sea.

I believe that conditions on most such vessels are satisfactory, but I am aware that there are exceptions, and I am considering what measures are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how barter deals with foreign countries are accounted for in the balance of payments figures.

In the balance of payments accounts bartered goods are recorded in visible trade at the appropriate value at the time the import or export takes place.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to suspend the use of non-returnable bottles ; and what steps he is taking to encourage glass manufacturers to recycle containers for further use.

The recent report of the Glass Industry Working Party into the use and disposal of glass containers, including non-returnable bottles, is being studied by the Departments concerned. The glass industry has embarked on a programme aimed at significantly increasing the use of waste glass in the manufacture of glass containers, and at finding new uses for it in other fields.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will introduce a total ban on night movements at Heathrow during the present emergency.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of industrial development certificates granted in Bedfordshire in the past 12 months: and what was the area covered and the percentage of successful applicants.

In the 12 months ended 30th November 1973, 41 industrial development certificates were issued for developments in Bedfordshire totalling some 1,646,000 sq. ft. These represent 98 per cent. of applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will set out, for each of the major derivations of crude oil, the retail price in October 1973 to consumers ; and if he will further split these prices down into the amount which goes to United Kingdom taxation, to the oil companies, and to producer countries as royalties etc.

I have been asked to reply.It is impossible to give an exact answer because there was no standard retail price for the major derivations of crude oil which vary quite widely according to the competitive situation and other circumstances For example, in the case of petrol supplied by the major oil companies the retail price of the 4-star grade ranged from about 36·5 to 38·5 pence a gallon but in different circumstances there were various discounts. Comparable prices for DERV and for paraffin were about 36–39·5 and 15·18 pence a gallon respectively. The tax on petrol was 22·5 pence a gallon and on heavy oils was I penny a gallon.The amounts paid to producer Governments in royalties and in other ways are a complex matter depending upon agreements between producer Governments and specific companies, and are outside my responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will provide statistics showing the movement in the prices of imported wheat, copper, zinc, tin and wool at October 1964, June 1970 and at the latest convenient date, in index form, taking October 1964 as 100.

Following is the information:

	October	June	December
	1964	1970	1973
Wheat	100·0	109·9	331·2*
Copper	100·0	125·2	197·9
Zinc	100·0	118·2	277·1
Tin	100·0	94·6	179·0
Wool	100·0	79·1	259·5*
* Provisional

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the percentage increase in commodity import prices, over and above that prevailing at a year previously for each month since January 1960.

The percentage changes, based on United Kingdom import unit value index numbers, are as follows: