asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he he will increase the numbers of staff who carry out veterinary inspections of animals coming into Great Britain so as to improve safeguards against disease.

All farm animals, dogs and cats and most other mammals are subject to import restriction. All ruminating animals and swine are inspected immediately on arrival in Great Britain by Ministry veterinary inspectors and from certain countries are also quarantined. Dogs, cats and mammals subject to rabies control must be quarantined on arrival. It is not, therefore, necessary for purposes of disease safeguards to increase veterinary inspection of animals coming into Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will amend the farm capital grants building scheme to allow for delays occasioned by shortages of building materials and to allow for increased steel prices.

No. Applicants under the scheme are already allowed a period of two years, with the possibility of a further extension in certain circumstances, in which to carry out approved work. Where the applicant elects to have grant assessed on the basis of actual costs, the increased cost of materials is normally taken into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps as a matter of urgency to protect beef farmers in view of the drop in beef prices in the past few months.

The economic conditions and prospects for the beef sector, as for agriculture generally, are at present being discussed with the National Farmers' Unions in the course of the Annual Review. The support measures for this sector in 1974–75 will shortly be considered by the Council of Ministers. The Community has taken a number of measures recently to strengthen support for beef.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when details of the quantities of beef purchased under EEC intervention arrangements will be available.

I shall release this information as soon as it is available from the EEC Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in regard to health inspectors of meat, if he will oppose proposals in the EEC that public health inspectors might be replaced in regard to this work by veterinary surgeons.

There are at present no EEC proposals concerning the inspection of red meat for the home market. If proposals were made they would be considered on their merits. Interested organisations, including the Association of Public Health Inspectors, would be consulted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the expression "developing Commonwealth" when used by his Department includes Asian Commonwealth States.

Unless the context indicates otherwise, reference to the "developing Commonwealth" would normally include the Asian Commonwealth States.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consult the British Sugar Corporation about improving the distribution of supplies of sugar beet pulp.

Arrangements for the distribution of sugar beet pulp are a commercial matter which is entirely tion. I understand, however, that a large proportion of its production of pulp is distributed by rail and has been subject to delays for reasons which are beyond the corporation's control.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the table of figures giving the rise in food prices as sent to the hon. Member for West Ham, North on 28th January 1974.

The following is the information:AVERAGE RETAIL FOOD PRICES IN THE UNITED KINGDOM—A LIST OF CERTAIN FOODS WHICH ROSE IN PRICE DURING THE TWELVE MONTHS—DECEMBER 1972 TO DECEMBER 1973

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reply he has sent to the President of the National Farmers' Union on his submission relating to prospective increases in the price of beef and cheese.

We have received no separate submission on these points, but questions relating to the prices for beef and dairy products have naturally been discussed during the course of the Annual Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what meetings he has recently had with representatives of the fishing industry; what matters were discussed at such meetings; and what representatives of the inshore fishing industry were invited to be present at such meetings.

I invited members of the distant water fishing industry and the fish processing industry to discuss with me informally and privately on 28th–29th January the problems and prospects of developing fisheries on stocks which are at present not exploited. As these problems do not affect the inshore industry, no representatives from that sector were invited.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price range of Canadian imported wheat in 1971, 1972 and 1973 at any convenient date.

The ranges of prices for the most traded Canadian wheat in the years referred to were as follows:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what representations he has received from Atomic Weapons Research Establishment scientists about their pay and conditions consequent upon the delay in the making of recommendations by the Pay Board on the claim of scientists for equality of payment with administrative and engineering grades; and whether he will give urgent consideration at least to granting them an intermediate award.

Representations have been received from a number of scientists, including some from AWRE, about their pay generally. The current reference to the pay board concerns the method and criteria for determining scientists' pay and does not relate to any particular claim. Its report is awaited. Meanwhile, scientists are included in the discussions at present taking place with the National Staff Side for pay increases within the stage 3 limits; and separate representations which have been made by the Institution of Professional Civil Servants are being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what investigation has been carried out into the incidence of acro-osteolysis among workers in the production of polymerisation of vinyl chloride.

No investigations have been undertaken directly by my Department but the condition has been very fully investigated in Britain, America and Europe by firms engaged in this process. The overall incidence as reported has been low and restricted almost entirely to workers on the polymerisation autoclaves.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, taking the cost of living index as 100 on 18th June 1970, what it stood at on the latest available date.

No index is available for 18th June 1970. Taking 16th June 1970 as 100, the retail prices index stood at 134.5 on the latest available date—11th December 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take action, if necessary by legislation, to prevent social within the responsibility of the corpora-security benefits becoming payable to the families of strikers and to provide for the granting in lieu of vouchers for covering the essential requirements of any children involved.

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

asked the Minister for Energy if he will propose to the North Sea oil industry, and in particular its supply ships, that whenever heavy equipment has to be jettisoned which may be a hazard to the fishing industry,

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what courses are available at Government training centres in the West Midlands; and what is the number of full-time students, male and female, respectively, in each of the courses.

The information is as follows.it notifies interested parties and has locations recorded.

I have no evidence that heavy equipment has been jettisoned in the course of offshore operations. Licensees conducting such operations are forbidden by the terms of their licences from unjustifiably interfering with navigation and fisheries. There is regular contact between officials, the fishing industry and the offshore petroleum industry to foster mutual understanding of respective interests.

asked the Minister for Energy whether he will exercise control over the period that a suspended wellhead is allowed to remain in the water of the North Sea.

Licence control over wells, whether being drilled or suspended, is exercised by the Petroleum Production Inspectorate. The Inspectorate has not had occasion to limit the period of suspension but would not hesitate to do so if it considered that, given the operational circumstances, suspension was being unduly prolonged.

asked the Minister for Energy whether he has reviewed arrangements for controlling the supply of electricity to shops; and whether he can now agree to permit lights to be turned on between the hours of 12.30 p.m. and 2.30 p.m. when shopkeepers are prepared to make balancing economies in other hours of the day.

It is not possible to make such a concession, because this would increase demand during the midday period when there is a peak load on the system.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will give a general direction to the CEGB to waive the practice of imposing a minimum charge in electricity accounts during the period of the fuel shortage.

No. Minimum and fixed charges are designed to ensure a contribution to unavoidable costs—e.g. meter reading and billing—which are not affected by the fuel shortage.

asked the Minister for Energy whether he is satisfied that the maximum retail prices for paraffin recommended in S.I., 1973, No. 2188 are being observed.

I am satisfied that on the whole the maximum retail prices for paraffin referred to by the hon. Member are being observed. I have had reports of a number of cases of overcharging but the total has been small in relation to the number of paraffin retailers. Because some of the overcharging might be due to ignorance of the statutory instrument an advertisement appeared in the national and main provincial newspapers earlier this week to give wider publicity to maximum permitted prices. Such publicity should help to reduce cases of overcharging.

asked the Minister for Energy how many complaints about retail paraffin prices have been received by the regional office of the Department of Trade and Industry in Nottingham since the commencement of the present emergency powers.

Twenty-one.

asked the Minister for Energy what extra amounts of electricity have been and are being used as a result of the increased radio audience after 10.30 p.m., following the introduction of the television curfew.

I am sorry but this cannot be identified.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will make a statement with regard to the prospects of discovering oil in Cardigan Bay.

Survey work in the area indicates the presence of a sedimentary basin which could contain oil or gas. The results of a well about to be drilled west of Cardigan should enable the prospects of the area to be more accurately assessed.

asked the Minister for Energy if he will ease the effect which the new control regulations are having on manufacturers of canal cruisers for commercial use in line with the exemptions which have already been arranged for certain sea-going commercial craft.

I am sorry that I am unable to make any concession in present circumstances.

asked the Minister for Energy what amounts have been spent by his Department on advertising in (a) newspapers, (b) radio, and (c) television, in each of the weeks since the declaration of the state of emergency on 16th November, giving a breakdown on a weekly basis.

asked the Minister for Energy what is the cost of the publicity campaign by his Department, in connection with the current fuel emergency.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer earlier today to the hon. Member for Nuneaton (Mr. Leslie Huckfield).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many incidents involving the shedding of part or the whole of their load by lorries in the borough of Ipswich have been reported to his Department over the last 12 months.

Statistics of road accidents and casualties in local areas are a matter for the local authorities concerned. I suggest that my hon. Friend contacts the East Suffolk County Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the amount per head of population of subsidy paid to support loss-making railways in Wales; and what is the corresponding figure for England.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 29th January 1974; Vol. 868, c. 85], gave the following information:The weekly expenditure on advertising from 16th November up to and including 28th January is set out below. This covers fuel economy advertising, the publication of information about new restrictions on the use of electricity and advertising related to the issue of petrol coupons.

I regret that these figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what the total expenditure by local authorities in England and Wales amounted to in each of the financial years from 1946 to the latest available date; and what percentage of this expenditure was met by the Exchequer in the form of grants.

The rate fund expenditure of local authorities in England and Wales and the proportion met from Government grants was:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Rhodesian authorities for the release of Mr. Musarurwa, former news editor of the Daily News, Salisbury, who has been in detention or continuous restriction for 10 months, or for bringing him speedily to trial in open court on specific published charges.

We have repeatedly urged the Rhodesian authorities to release detainees or bring them to trial, and I will bear Mr. Musarurwa's case particularly in mind when next there is an opportunity to raise this matter. I understand that a number of detainees have recently been released, but I have no details.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now decide not to authorise the construction of a new prison within the boundaries of the London borough of Haringey, either this year or in the foreseeable future.

There is no proposal to provide a new prison in the London borough of Haringey.

asked the Lord President of the Council if Her Majesty's Government intend to work out a population policy for the United Kingdom.

The Government's attitude to population issues is that it is right to consider the extent to which such questions should influence its policies and choice of priorities, bearing in mind the conclusion of the Population Panel Report that Britain would do better in future with a stationary rather than an increasing population. My right hon. Friend believes that people should be made aware of the significance of population trends for the quality of life in Britain. More information is required about the factors which affect these trends, and we shall be encouraging research into these matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, regarding his answer on 23rd January 1974, columns 301–2, on personal incomes, what are the equivalent figures for the male manual worker on national average earnings, i.e. excluding male non-manual workers; and what are the equivalent figures for the male non-manual worker, i.e. excluding male manual workers.

I will let the hon. Member have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish a table showing, for each half year from January 1971 to December 1973, the percentage of the total increase in total corporate profits in the private sector which was attributable to adjustments in the book value of inventories;(2) whether he will publish a table showing, for each half year from January 1971 to December 1973, the percentage of the total increase in non-financial corporate profits which was attributable to adjustments in the book value of inventories.

I will let my hon. Friend have a reply as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will compare the total net weekly income of a man with a wife and two children, assuming a weekly wage of £25, and that the previous year's pay was at the same rate, allowing for relevant tax repayments and any welfare benefits, and assuming rent or mortgage repayments of £5 per week, (a) when working normally and (b) when working short time and earning £15 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and receiving unemployment benefit for the rest of the week and any other benefits/allowances to which he may be entitled;(2) if he will compare the total net weekly income of a man with a wife and two children, assuming a weekly wage of £25 and that the previous year's pay was at the same rate, allowing for relevant tax repayments and welfare benefits and assuming rent or mortgage repayments of £5 per week (

I have been asked to reply.For the purposes of calculating the information requested by my hon. Friend the assumptions which have been made are that rent is £5 a week; that rates are £1·60 a week; that there are no income tax allowances other than personal allowances for a married man with two children (who are assumed to be aged 8 and 4 years); and that the earnings are paid in week 41 of the present tax year, that is the week from 11th to 17th January 1974 inclusive. For the purposes of determining entitlement to benefits to which expenses associated with work are relevant such expenses have been assumed to be 60p a week. As regards unemployment benefit the assumptions made are that the man normally works a five-day week; that he has completed the waiting days for benefit; that he is not covered by a guaranteed wages agreement for any of the days on which he does not work, although, as my hon. Friend will be aware, such agreements apply to very substantial numbers of people, and that earnings-related supplement would not be payable.While the assumption that Saturday working attracts time-and-a-half which my hon. Friend has made has been followed, he will know that this assumption is by no means necessarily valid for all workers; and, in any event, since double working on Wednesday has been allowed, the amount of Saturday work on the part of those who do not normally work on that day will clearly be reduced substantially. I must also make it clear that rent rebate during short-time working would require a special application by the tenant, and, in common with free school meals and welfare milk, would be for the duration of the short-time working only, except in those cases where there was entitlement during normal working.On this basis, the following are the figures of "net weekly disposable income"—defined as earnings less tax deductions, contracted-in national insurance contributions and net housing cost, but plus family allowance, the value of free school meals and free welfare milk where appropriate, and any income tax refund. "Net housing cost" in turn means rent plus rates less rent rebate.For the man earning £25, (i) when working normally, £20·48½ (ii) when working short-time on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday and earning £15, £20·39½; (iii) when working short-time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and earning £17·50, £22·36; and (iv) when working four days not including Saturday and earning £20, £18·48½. Assuming in each case the proportionate earnings given in my hon. Friend's Questions, the corresponding figures for the man normally earning £35 a week are (i) £24·23; (ii) £21·83; (iii) £25·69; and (iv) £20·87. For the man normally earning £30 a week the figures are (i) £21·83; (ii) £20·60; (iii) £23·99; and (iv) £20·08½. For the man normally earning £40 a week the figures are (i) £26·63; (ii) £23·27; (iii) £29·16; and (iv) £22·79.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate all the benefits, including free school meals, free milk, &c., together with their value, which a man with a wife and two children can claim assuming a mortgage repayment liability of £7 a week, and previous earnings of £30 per week (and that the previous year's pay was at the same rate) when (a) unemployed, and (b) on a three-day week earning £18 and drawing unemployment for remaining days.

I have been asked to reply.For the purposes of calculating the information requested by my hon. Friend, the assumptions which have been made are that the mortgage is for a term of 25 years, the rate of interest is 11 per cent. per annum and this is the first year of repayment; and that rates are £l·60 a week. It has been further assumed that there are no income tax allowances other than personal allowances for a married man with two children (who are assumed to be aged 8 and 4 years); and that the income tax week in question is week 41 of the present tax year, that is the week from 11th to 17th January 1974 inclusive. National insurance contributions under (

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) if he will meet representatives of the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association to discuss Government policy;(2) what representations he has had from the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association regarding Government policy;(3) what his policy is towards the Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association; and if he will make a statement.

The Northern Ireland Civil Rights Association has made representations on a number of subjects including detention, the security situation and the prevention of religious and political discrimination, as well as on individual cases in those fields. Due account is taken of the association's views. I have no immediate plans to meet representatives of the association, but, as I told the hon. Gentleman yesterday, I am always ready to receive representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of fatalities each month since the emergency in Ulster began, divided between the British Army, the Ulster Defence Regiment and civilians.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is his policy regarding answering Questions in the House on matters which are, since 1st January 1974, the responsibility of the Northern Ireland Executive.

Under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act a considerable range of matters was devolved to the Northern Ireland Executive and Assembly. It is right that such matters should now be dealt with in the Assembly, rather than in this House.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what he estimates to be the monthly saving of petrol resulting from the suspension of the second collection of letters in rural areas.

The Post Office tells me that it expects the saving in a full month to approach 10 per cent. of the consumption in the corresponding period of last year.

asked the Minister for Posts and Telecommunications, since the imposition of the emergency regulations and up to the latest convenient date, what percentage of first class mail has arrived the following day.

The Post Office tells me that it cannot yet add to its statement estimating that about 350,000 first class letters daily would be delayed by 24 hours as a result of the restrictions in rural services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will set up an inquiry into the accident rate of invalid tricycles, in view of the public concern at the rate of such accidents;(2) if he will set up an inquiry into the mechanical acceptability of the invalid tricycle, in view of investigations by the Disabled Drivers Action Group entitled "Safety Last—the Facts".

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister for Transport Industries to the hon. Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris) on 28th January.—[Vol. 868, c. 33.] The design of the invalid tricycle is kept under continuous review and modifications are made where these are shown to be desirable. I do not think that any useful purpose would be served by an inquiry as suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current average waiting time for admission to hospital for a hysterectomy operation in the area covered by the Manchester Regional Hospital Board; and if he will make a statement.

Separate figures for hospital admissions for hysterectomy operations are not available. Comprehensive figures for gynaecology can be provided and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current average waiting time for admission to hospital for a tonsillectomy operation in the area covered by the Manchester Regional Hospital Board; and if he will make a statement.

Separate figures for hospital admissions for tonsillectomy are not readily available. Waiting times for admission vary according to the circumstances of individual cases, and an average figure for the region would have little meaning. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible giving information about admissions and waiting times for cases in the ear, nose and throat specialty.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses need to be recruited to bring all National Health Service hospitals up to their recognised establishments.

There is no nationally accepted basis for deciding the nurse staffing establishments of hospitals. Individual hospital authorities are responsible for assessing the nurse staffing requirements of the hospitals they administer and for recruitment. Information about the number of nurses who need to be recruited to bring all National Health Service hospitals up to the locally determined establishments is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present number of staff nurses employed in National Health Service hospitals.

33,309 in whole-time equivalent terms in England and Wales at 31st March 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many student nurses are currently undergoing training in National Health Service hospitals.

51,134 in England and Wales at 31st March 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much a staff nurse is paid in her last year of training and her first year after qualification.

A student nurse in a non-psychiatric hospital receives in her last year of training an allowance of £819, £948, £981 or £1,014 according to the age at which she entered training. In her first year after qualification as a staff nurse she receives a salary of £1,191. The rates in psychiatric hospitals are £99 higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are being taken to improve conditions and pay for nurses and to increase recruitment of staff.

The pay and conditions of service of nurses in the National Health Service are determined by negotiation on the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council. The Whitley Council is currently engaged on negotiations under stage 3 of the counter-inflation programme; agreement has been reached on increases in the basic pay with effect from 1st April 1974 and discussions are continuing on other matters within the context of the pay code.My Department provides background support to the recruitment efforts of hospital authorities by means of publicity campaigns in the national Press and in cinemas, production of posters, brochures and films and provision of exhibition material.The total number, in whole-time equivalent terms, of nursing and midwifery staff in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales increased by over 9,000 in the year ended 31st March 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money can be paid to a striker in union strike pay or for part-time work outside his regular employment before his wife's entitlement to supplementary benefit, rent allowance or mortgage repayment allowance is affected.

£1 per week in either case.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children are awaiting cardiac catheterisation and major heart surgery, respectively, under the National Health Service; what is the current average waiting time; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that this information is not available and could only be obtained by a special survey of all hospital authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what developments have taken place regarding the use of a Model 28B wheelchair for use outdoors; if any trials have been com ducted; and if he will make a statement.

The Model 28B was first introduced in 1969 and about 2,350 are now on issue. It was designed to accommodate very severely disabled people who have to be pushed outdoors by attendants whose strength is insufficient to manage a non-powered pushchair in the local circumstances. The chair has proved beneficial for this purpose. Some improvements have already been made and further modifications of potential benefit to a minority of users, e.g., provision of a variety of seat-widths and detachable armrests, are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to increase the number of geriatric beds in the Bristol area, in view of the fact that beds are not available to care for bedridden elderly people while their relatives take a holiday from constant care.

No. The number of geriatric beds in the Bristol clinical area is not appreciably below the national average. The South-Western Regional Hospital Board has for some years operated in Bristol the Department's policy of providing short-term hospital care for elderly patients to enable their relatives to take a holiday. I am aware that staffing difficulties in one of the Bristol hospitals—Manor Park—have led to the temporary closure of two geriatric wards and that this has affected the number of short-term holiday admissions. The Regional Hospital Board is examining ways of overcoming these staffing difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to increase the number of secure remand places in suitable institutions for female juveniles.

Local authorities are responsible for providing suitable accommodation for girls under 17 who are remanded to their care. I have approved regional plans which contain proposals by local authorities for providing additional secure accommodation for these girls.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively, have been refused unemployment pay in the past 12 months on the grounds that they are seasonal workers; and how many of these were over the age of 55 years.

During the year ended 30th November 1973, the latest period for which figures are available, the number of seasonal workers whose claims for unemployment benefit were disallowed in their off season was 2,320, 278 and 399 in England, Wales and Scotland respectively. These figures do not include those people who refrain from claiming because they are aware that, as seasonal workers, they are not entitled to benefit in their off season. There are no figures to show how many of those whose claims were disallowed were over the age of 55 years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many registered disabled persons in England, Wales, Scotland and Cornwall, respectively, were refused unemployment pay in the past 12 months on the grounds that they were seasonal workers.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are at present in receipt of the over-80 retirement pension; and how many of these were in receipt of supplementary benefit prior to the introduction of that pension.

It is estimated that in November 1973 there were 116,000 people in receipt of old person's pension. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available, but in November 1973 32,000 of those receiving old persons' pensions were also in receipt of supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many authorised places there are now for carrying out abortions; and if he will list their names and addresses.

On 1st February 1974 there were 57 places in England approved by me for the purposes of Section 1(3) of the Abortion Act 1967 for treatment for the termination of pregnancy. Names and addresses of these nursing homes are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will list the reasons why he refuses to replace invalid tricycles with passenger-carrying vehicles;(2) if he will amend the regulations so as to provide disabled passengers with allowances and facilities no less than those received by disabled drivers;(3) if, in view of the increased cost of fuel, he will urgently examine ways of helping disabled drivers with this cost, particularly those people with two-stroke tricycles, by vouchers or other means.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take action to permit a spouse or friend of a permanently disabled person to draw private car allowance benefits in the event of the disabled person being unfit to drive himself or herself.

These are matters which must await publication and consideration of Lady Sharp's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, following his recent consultations with local authorities, he will make a progress report on arrangements to bring consumer protection and advice services nearer to people in the immediate communities in which they live; and whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy towards the work of citizens' advice bureaux in this respect.

I announced on 5th December 1973—[Vol. 865, c. 407.]—in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Gloucester (Mrs. Sally Oppenheim) that the Government proposed to give financial support for the establishment of new citizens' advice bureaux and the improvement of existing bureaux. My officials have invited the National Association of Citizens' Advice Bureaux to submit its plans for this extension of the network of advisory services.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many inquiries about available factory space or industrial sites in Wales in each year since 1970 have been made to his Department; how many firms have come to Wales as a result of the inquiries; and how many jobs were created as a consequence.

The Department is aware of 148 new manufacturing firms which have started operations in Wales during 1970–73. By the end of 1973 they had already provided over 13,000 jobs.During the same period the number of inquiries about locations in Wales were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will give the prices of high density polyethylene, low density polyethylene, styrene, polystyrene and PVC in January 1973, June 1973, and January 1974 and the percentage of the total United Kingdom market in each petrochemical product covered by imports.

Price information in respect of the products mentioned is not available. Estimates of imports expressed as a percentage of United Kingdom home demand are given, where available, in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the Polish authorities regarding their willingness to supply coal for United Kingdom consumption; and if he will make a statement.

The Polish authorities have been interested for some time in the possibility of long-term arrangements for the supply of Polish coal to the United Kingdom market. Consequently I and officials of my Department have had a number of discussions with them on this subject over the past year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what stocks of steel scrap are held by the British Steel Corporation; and if he will give a general direction to the corporation to transfer suitable qualities, so as to ensure maximum steel production during the present energy crisis.

The British Steel Corporation held about 530,000 tonnes of steelmaking scrap in the middle of January which was less than half the level the corporation would regard as normal. The corporation is responsible for operational matters, but I am advised that transfers of scrap and diversions of deliveries of scrap are already being made by the corporation to maximise steel production under all the current restraints.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the difficulties experienced in obtaining supplies of polythene packing in the food industry, for which such material is required in the interests of hygiene, he will enter into discussions with the CBI with a view to limiting polythene wrapping for luxury goods and for less essential purposes.

The manufacture of plastic packaging for food has already been made exempt from the restrictions imposed under the Electricity (Industrial and Commercial Use) (Control) (No. 2) Order 1973. My Department and the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food are keeping the situation under review. If serious shortages arise we will consider what further measures may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the trading deficit which the United Kingdom had with its EEC partners ill 1972; and how that compares with the United Kingdom trading deficit with the same countries in 1973.

The visible trade deficit was £532 million in 1972 and £1,120 million in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he will make special provision to assist ratepayers in the counties of Brecon and Radnor in paying any increased water charges in the coming year; and what reduction in the rate these provisions would bring;(2) in view of the suggested increase in water rates in Wales, what help he proposes to give to relieve the ratepayers in this respect; and by how much this will decrease the rate in each area.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment said on 22nd January—[Vol. 867, c. 1468–70.]—that the domestic element of rate support grant is being more than doubled in 1974–75. It is proposed that there should be a differential application of this element of the grant so as, among other things, to help those domestic ratepayers most affected by increased water service charges. It is not yet possible to say how this differential factor will apply in individual districts.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the existing water rate levied by each local authority in the counties of Brecon and Radnor; and what he estimates the rate will be in the same areas from April 1974 in order to finance the budget of the Welsh National Water Authority, assuming rateable values to be unchanged.

At present water rates in Brecon and Radnor are levied by the South East Breconshire and the Radnorshire and North Breconshire Water Boards. The rates levied by those

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what factors have led to the need to increase the water charges in Wales.

The precise factors influencing particular charges are matters for the Welsh National Water Development Authority. In general, the level of charges is affected by the high cost of providing services to meet new demands and of maintaining existing services to a satisfactory standard. In some districts increases arise because hitherto the existing authorities have called upon general rate funds to meet deficiences arising on water supply. In future the service will be self-supporting.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now announce his decision regarding the establishment of a new town in the Llantrisant area.

I have today informed the objectors to the draft designation order and other interested parties that I have decided not to proceed with the proposed new town. In coming to this decision I have taken into account the many representations regarding the proposal and the recommendations of the Inspector who conducted the public inquiry.The decision letter, copies of which I have sent to my hon. Friend and the right hon. and hon. Members concerned, makes it clear that in my view the Llantrisant area, although it is not to be developed under the New Towns Act, has considerable potential for further growth and will continue to prove to be an attractive and much sought after location for residential and other development. In order to ensure that the inevitable natural growth of the Llantrisant area proceeds coherently I have asked the local planning authority to prepare urgently an interim local plan for the area.I have decided not to accept the Inspector's suggestion that consideration should be given to a full re-examination of the proposal by its inclusion in the terms of a regional study. I consider that the regional strategies which are being followed by my Department are not materially affected by my decision and that any other necessary studies or changes in emphasis can be contained within the procedures and powers of the local planning authorities in preparing their structure plans.