asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received about the enforcement of the death penalty in Hong Kong; and whether he will make a statement on the policy of Her Majesty's Government in this regard.

My right hon. Friend has discussed this question with the Governor. The Governor told him that opinion in Hong Kong strongly favours the use of the death penalty in extreme cases. The Governor in turn is aware of the climate of parliamentary opinion in the United Kingdom. The Prerogative of Mercy is delegated to the Governor, to be considered in each case as it arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what communication he had from the acting Governor of Hong Kong concerning the deportation of 119 overseas Chinese men, women and children who had sought sanctuary in Hong Kong on 17th June on their way to Saigon; and what assurances they have received from the Government of South Vietnam.

The Governor informed us by telegram that on 2nd June a locally registered fishing junk was intercepted in colony waters and was found to have on board 119 illegal immigrants, all of Chinese descent, from South Vietnam. All but one were returned to South Vietnam on 17th June after assurances had been received in London, Saigon and Hong Kong that nothing serious would happen to members of the group who were victims of the syndicate which had smuggled them out of Vietnam. The South Vietnamese Foreign Minister confirmed these assurances to me in London on 4th July, and said that cases of violation of the immigration-emigration laws would be tried in open court and would not be harshly punished.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet completed his review of the political aspects of trading policy towards South Africa; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the replies my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave in answer to Questions from my hon. Friend and other hon. Members on 26th June.—[Vol. 875. c. 1540–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make it a condition of future grants that the Government carry out checks at intervals upon the expenditure by the European Movement of the grant of £20,000 to ensure that the programme of exchanges and visits with Western Europe are equitably divided between Common Market and non-Common Market countries and that the accounts of the European Movement be made fully available for public inspection.

It is already a condition of the grant to the British Council of the European Movement that its books and accounts will be open to inspection by the Comptroller and Auditor General in so far as they relate to expenditure of the grant from public funds. The BCEM also provides quarterly statements of detailed programme expenditure against the grant. I am satisfied that these arrangements ensure adequate control of expenditure under the grant.As I told the House in answer to a Question on 26th June—[Vol. 875, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which black African organisations in Rhodesia other than the African National Council will be amongst the bodies whose opinions will be sought by Her Majesty's Government in relation to any proposals for a settlement.

We are always ready to listen to the opinions of Rhodesian organisations. As to proposals for a settlement, we have emphasised that we will agree to no settlement unless we are satisfied that it enjoys the support of the African majority. This clearly means consultation with many shades of African opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government have taken over the Byrd Amendment, which allows the import of strategic materials from Rhodesia to the United States of America.

Following discussions I had with Dr. Kissinger, I am glad to say that the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee has now voted strongly in favour of repeal. This decision will need to be confirmed by the House as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has had talks with the High Commissioner for Zambia concerning the continued detention without trial of Mr. Petrie; and what were the results.

I raised the subject on 9th July during one of a regular series of meetings with the Zambian High Commissioner. He undertook to let me know the latest position as quickly as possible. When I have some further information I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made in commencing the construction of the roadway from the M62 to A64 bypassing Oulton, Woodlesford and Swillington to link up with the A1.

Responsibility for progress with this scheme will rest with the highway authority, West Yorks Metropolitan County Council, within the framework of its transport policy and programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will extend the time from the end of September 1974 to September 1975 for councils and authorities to submit their additional views on the questions connected with proposals for allocating responsibility for the exercise of governmental functions from Parliament and the central Government, with particular reference to the four schemes which have application in the regions in England.

By the end of September 1974 three months will have elapsed since the date when comments were formally invited and nearly 12 months since publication of the Kilbrandon Report. I hope it will be possible for those bodies wishing to comment to do so by then.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the mileage that has been lost by the National Bus Company and its subsidiaries this year because of the shortage of spare parts for their vehicles.

This is a matter for the National Bus Company, but I understand that information is not readily available in the form requested by my hon. Friend. Shortage of spare parts also affects other sectors of the bus industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress is being made in the building of the new bridge over the Wear at Sunderland; and when the new road will be open to traffic.

I expect at least one carriageway over the bridge to be ready for traffic by September. The second carriageway should be completed soon afterwards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will circularise local authorities advising them so to adjust rent and rate rebate schemes that they do not have the effect of reducing the benefit to pensioners who enjoy rent or rate rebates, of the forthcoming increases in pensions; and if he will make a statement.

We have already done so; and have provided by regulations for these increases to be disregarded so that those in receipt of, or who have applied for, rent rebates, rent allowances and rate rebates at the time the increases take effect do not suffer a reduction of benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from local authorities in the West Midlands about problems relating to the allocation of funds for the capital programme of the Severn-Trent Water Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Representations have been received from five local authorities in the West Midlands about the ability of the Severn-Trent Water Authority to finance sewerage provision for new housing development from its restricted capital programme. My right hon. Friend has now determined the allocation between the water authorities, including the Severn-Trent Water Authority, of that part of this year's water services programme which had been held in reserve. I hope that this further allocation, which has been made primarily on the basis of the water authorities' estimates of their requirements in relation to new housing, will help in solving the most pressing problems in the area of the Severn-Trent Water Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the average cost of modernising a three bedroomed house with improvement grant in the North-West Region of England in February 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many organisations or others from whom he received representations for and against the opening of the Sunbury-Lightwater section of the M3 asked for their views to be kept confidential; how many of these were for and how many against; and what percentage they represented of the total number of representations;(2) whether he will list separately those organisations and others from whom he received representations about the opening of the Sunbury-Lightwater section of the M3 and who did not ask for their views to be kept confidential, indicating those for and against the opening at the present time.

No. It is not the practice to list representations received.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average time lag between the making of an application and a determination of rent by (a) rent officers, and (b) rent tribunals, giving the period region by region.

I am seeking this information, which is not available in my Department, and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the current annual cost of (a) the rent officer service, and (b) rent tribunals, showing separately salaries or remunerations, salaries of supporting staff, rent and outgoings for office accommodation and other relevant costs.

Expenditure on the rent officer service in the year 1973–74 was £3,776,137. Payments to the local authorities which operate the service are not broken down in the form requested and the breakdown could not be prepared except at disproportionate cost.Annual expenditure on the rent tribunal service cannot be separated from the annual expenditure on other rent assessment panel services for which this Department is responsible. The total cost of the panel services for 1973–74 was £1,311,722.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many applications have been made to rent tribunals

			Applications	Granted	Not granted
1st April 1970 to 31st March 1971	…	…	6,769	5,010	1,759
1st April 1971 to 31st March 1972	…	…	7,403	5,540	1,863
1st April 1972 to 31st March 1973	…	…	11,261	8,819	2,442
1st April 1973 to 31st March 1974	…	…	13,982	10,785	3,197

The figures include applications for further extension of security previously granted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many references to them have been received by rent tribunals in respect of the rents of furnished

	Applications	Confirmed	Increased	Decreased	Dismissed
1st April 1970 to 31st March 1971	11,689	2,182	637	4,889	3,981
1st April 1971 to 31st March 1972	13,554	2,620	1,021	5,173	4,740
1st April 1972 to 31st March 1973	17,544	3,843	1,211	5,744	6,746
1st April 1973 to 31st March 1974	19,606	4,195	1,215	5,721	8,475

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take immediate steps to prevent the reduction of capacity by brick producers which is currently taking place.

I hope that the initiatives which the Government have taken to stimulate housebuilding will increase the demand for bricks. I have discussed the position in the brick industry with the Brick Development Association whose members are concerned to keep reductions in capacity to a minimum and I am meeting representatives of the London Brick Company and the unions later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many brick producers there are in the United Kingdom and how many works are threatened with closure.

The number of brick producers in the United Kingdom at the end of May 1974 was about 250.I understand that since the beginning of the year five works and three kilns

Readily available figures start from April 1970 when a revised table of statistics was introduced. The figures are shown below:lettings over each of the past five years; and how many of these rents have been confirmed, increased, or decreased, or applications dismissed, respectively.

Readily available figures start from April 1970 when a revised table of statistics was introduced. The figures are shown below:in other works have been closed due to the drop in demand for bricks and that on present plans a further nine works are likely to be closed before the end of the year. Two of these are older works which are due to be replaced by new plant later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local housing authorities forbid lodgers in council housing.

This information is not available in the Department. Local authorities were asked in a recent circular to allow, and indeed encourage, lodgers in their houses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many sheltered housing dwellings there were at the latest convenient count.

Statistics on the number of existing dwellings specially designed for old people are not available. However, in the last five years tenders have been accepted by local authorities in England and Wales for 116,000 dwellings of this type. This includes some 38,000 units which will have the service of a warden. Housing associations also make a significant contribution in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether there are any figures yet available to show whether

TWO-WHEELED MOTOR VEHICLES: DEATHS AND SERIOUS INJURIES: GREAT BRITAIN
Period (4 months)		Deaths	Serious Injuries
July-October 1973*	…	253	5,007
July-October 1972	…	299	5,033
* The 1973 figures have been adjusted to take into account the increase in traffic mileage between the two periods.

Because of the fuel crisis situation in November and December of 1973 and the first few months of 1974 these months have been excluded from the analysis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, as part of his review of water authority charges, he will consider the position of charitable organisations which previously received a 50 per cent. rebate on their total rate demand which included water.

As I have previously told the House, my right hon. Friend excludes nothing from consideration. To give charities any relief from water services charges would, however, require legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up an independent inquiry into the circumstances that led to the construction of buildings, including schools, by the method of pre-stressed concreting and post-tensioning in order to establish the responsibility for the introduction and subsequent hazards associated with the system.

There is no reason at present to suppose that buildings of pre-stressed post-tensioned concrete construction are inherently unsafe. We are proposing to survey a sample of such buildings but I do not think that an independent inquiry as suggested by my hon. Friend is necessary at this stage.

Mandatory wearing of safety helmets by riders and passengers of two-wheeled motor vehicles was introduced on 1st June 1973, but as riders may have taken a few weeks to observe fully the new regulations the following table gives a reliable comparison:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the average rent per dwelling for council housing in June of each of the past five years, and the retail price index in each of those months.

The following information for England and Wales is the nearest available to that requested by the hon. Member:

Average Rents (£)
April 1969	2·04
April 1970	2·23
April 1971	2·48
April 1972	2·75
May 1973	3·44

Retail Price Index (January 1962=100)
June 1969	132·1
June 1970	139·9
June 1971	154·3
June 1972	163·7
June 1973	178·9

The figures for 1969 and 1970 do not take into account any April rent increases, and those for 1971 do not take full account of them. The 1972 and 1973 figures show the first effect of the Housing Finance Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people are now employed by the regional water authorities, the Central Water Planning Unit, and the National Water Council; and how these figures compare with the numbers of staff previously employed by the various river authorities and the Water Resources Board.

The regional water authorities employ 53,642 people, the Central Water Planning Unit 60 and the National Water Council 236. The river authorities previously employed 7,832 people and the Water Resources Board employed 150. As the functions of the regional water authorities and the National Water Council are quite different from those of the river authorities and Water Resources Board, no comparison is, of course, possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the total establishment for each regional water authority and for each water division.

As the regional water authorities face very different problems, they have not organised themselves on any uniform pattern; and as they are still reshaping their organisations, their establishments are not yet firm. The number of people employed by each authority is:

North West Water Authority	9,350
Northumbrian Water Authority	1,810
Severn Trent Water Authority	9,800
Yorkshire Water Authority	5,678
Anglian Water Authority	6,730
Thames Water Authority	12,000
Southern Water Authority	4,200
Wessex Water Authority	2,104
South West Water Authority	1,970

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular encouraging local authorities to include social planners in the establishment of their planning departments.

I certainly agree that social objectives and implications must be considered at all stages of the planning process, but I think local authorities should decide for themselves from which disciplines their staff should be recruited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the scope of his review of the gipsy problem and the date when he expects the findings of the review to be publicly available.

The review, which is a departmental one, covers all aspects of the operation of Part II of the Caravan Sites Act 1968, and the steps the Government might take to accelerate the provision of gipsy caravan sites. When it is appropriate to do so, we shall announce our decisions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many gipsy sites need to be provided by the West Midlands Metropolitan County in order to obtain designation under the Caravans Sites Act 1968 for either part or the whole of the county's area.

The county can be designated only when adequate accommodation has been provided for gipsies residing in or resorting to the area as a whole. It is for the county council in the first instance to assess how many sites are needed for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a list of the names and addresses of members whom he has appointed to the Anglian Water Authority so that members of the public can contact them.

Of the 35 members of the Anglian Water Authority the former Secretary of State for the Environment appointed the Chairman, Mr. A. F. Skinner, and 12 other members: Alderman W. H. Mulley, Dr. S. W. Kings-north, Messrs. G. W. Curtis, J. Hoseason, M. V. Posner, N. R. Whitwell, J. M. Habgood, E. W. Schwehr, G. D. Rollin-son, F. M. Gilliat and K. E. Roberts. All the members can be contacted through the headquarters of the Anglian Water Authority at Diploma House, Grammar School Walk, Huntingdon, PE18 6NZ.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards seeking changes in the Leasehold Reform Act 1967, as amended, to alter the basis of the valuation of the freehold reversion.

My right hon. Friend has no intention of altering the statutory basis for assessment of prices for freeholds enfranchised under the Leasehold Reform Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will reconsider the criteria by which speed limits on main roads are fixed so that more consideration may be given to the safety, comfort and wishes of the people living in the area and buildings of architectural or historical value standing adjacent to such roads.

The criteria are designed to preserve the value of speed limits as a road safety measure and have the effect of concentrating restrictions on those roads most prone to accidents. However, if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I shall gladly look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet received details of all rate pound-ages from all the local authority districts in Cheshire and if he will now make a statement.

Returns from Congleton, Ellesmere Port and Vale Royal districts are still outstanding. I have nothing to add to the reply to the hon. Member on 20th May.—[Vol. 874, cols. 63–64.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to collect current information on the causes of dampness in new residential accommodation and seek to encourage all housing authorities in the public sector to take note of this in the design of new dwellings.

ESTIMATED AGE DISTRIBUTION OF HOUSING STOCK, ENGLAND, DECEMBER 1973
Percentage
							Date of Construction
Region						Pre1851	1891 to 1870	1871 to 1890	1891 to 1918	1919 to 1944	Post 1944
Northern	…	…	…	…	…	1·1	4·8	10·0	17·2	22·1	44·8
Yorkshire and Humberside			…	…	…	2·0	5·1	10·9	17·4	24·2	40·4
East Midlands	…	…	…	…	…	4·0	3·7	10·2	14·2	22·9	45·0
East Anglia	…	…	…	…	…	14·0	4·2	7·7	9·6	17·3	47·2
South East	…	…	…	…	…	3·2	4·5	10·1	14·7	26·1	41·4
South West	…	…	…	…	…	12·7	4·0	8·1	11·5	18·5	45·2
West Midlands	…	…	…	…	…	2·7	4·5	7·5	13·0	25·7	46·6
North West	…	…	…	…	…	1·8	5·8	12·9	16·4	24·2	38·9
ENGLAND	…	…	…	…	…	3·9	4·7	10·0	14·7	24·1	42·6

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings were completed per 1,000 popu-

The collection of information on the causes of dampness in buildings and ways to overcome it is an important and continuing task for my Department. Results are published, the latest findings being contained in Advisory Leaflet No. 47, Fourth Edition 1973, which itself has an extensive bibliography. Specific instances of dampness in housing can be investigated on a fee-paying basis by the Department's Building Research Advisory Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings were completed per 1,000 population in each of the countries of the European Economic Community in 1973.

The latest available figures are for 1972 and are as follows:

	Dwellings completed per 1,000 population
Belgium (dwellings started)	5·5
Denmark	10·0
Eire	6·9
France	10·6
Federal Republic of Germany	10·7
Italy	4·4
Luxembourg	6·6
Netherlands	11·5
United Kingdom	5·9

In 1973, 5·4 dwellings per 1,000 population were completed in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average age of the housing stock in each of the eight English standard regions and in England as a whole.

The available information is as follows:lation in England and in the eight English standard regions, respectively, in 1973.

Following is the infor follows:

Region	Permanent dwellings completed per 1,000 population, 1973
Northern	5·8
Yorks and Humberside	5·0
East Midlands	6·9
East Anglia	8·5
South East	4·6
South West*	6·7
West Midlands	4·6
North West	5·4
England	5·4
* Poole B is included in the South-West Region for housing statistics purposes.

HOUSEHOLDS WITH NO FIXED BATH OR SHOWER
							Percentage in region compared to percentage in Great Britain
Region					Number	Per cent.	Per cent.
Northern	…	…	…	…	104,950	9·5	104
Yorkshire and Humberside			…	…	163,535	9·9	109
East Midlands	…	…	…	…	109,750	9·6	105
East Anglia	…	…	…	…	62,230	10·9	120
South East	…	…	…	…	417,070	7·1	78
South West	…	…	…	…	93,655	7·3	80
West Midlands	…	…	…	…	133,030	7·9	87
North West	…	…	…	…	241,905	10·6	116
England	…	…	…	…	1,326,125	8·4	92
Great Britain	…	…	…	…	1,647,215	9·1	—

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total expenditure per household by central Government on housing in (a) England and (b) each of the eight standard regions.

Central Government expenditure on housing in England during 1972–73 was approximately £21 per household; this figure does not include local authorities' and new towns' own share of expenditure on housing. Estimates for regions are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many registered works in Hull and district have been proceeded against by the Alkali Inspectorate for pollution offences since 1970; and if he will list those firms where the prosecution has been successful.

There are 18 works in the area which contain registered processes, some of which have given rise to particular problems. They are being

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will state the number of houses in the eight standard regions in England without a fixed bath; whether he will express this number as a percentage of the housing stock in each region; and whether he will express the average for each region as a percentage of the average for Great Britain.

The figures are as mation on households which is available from the 1971 Census; estimates in terms of the housing stock are not available.kept under close surveillance by the Alkali Inspectorate but no cases have occurred to date which warrant prosecution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning the chairmanship of the East Midlands Economic Planning Council.

The Duke of Rutland, who has been Chairman of the East Midlands Economic Planning Council since 1971, has now relinquished his appointment on completion of his term of office. I am pleased to announce that Professor W. J. H. Butterfield, O.B.E., D.M., F.R.C.P., Vice-Chancellor of Nottingham University, has accepted my invitation to succeed the Duke of Rutland as Chairman with effect from today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is satisfied with the percentage of gross national product currently devoted to investment.

In 1973 gross domestic fixed capital formation accounted for about 22 per cent. of gross domestic product. I am not satisfied with this figure and it is our policy to try and increase it. In particular we need to increase manufacturing investment, which accounted for only 4 per cent. of GDP last year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much extra VAT, tobacco duty, alcohol duty and other "spending" taxes would be anticipated if the whole of additional pensioners' earnings were spent as they were earned.

I regret that the information on which to make an estimate of the indirect tax to be expected from additional pensioners' earnings resulting from the abolition of the pensioners' earnings rule is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the obligations regarding dividend payment by close companies with profits below £15,000 a year, following the Financial Secretary's remarks on 21st May.—[HANSARD, c. 291.]

These companies are subject to the apportionment rules contained in Schedule 16 to the Finance Act 1972 which apply to close companies generally. My right hon. Friend has no proposals in mind for any change.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rules are laid down governing the procedure whereby taxpayers are invited or otherwise obliged to attend offices of the Inland Revenue to give an explanation of their tax affairs; and what rules govern any subsequent interview.

Whether or not a taxpayer is invited to attend a personal interview to discuss his affairs is a matter for the appropriate inspector of taxes. The taxpayer is, of course, under no obligation to attend. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would write to me with the details and I will have the matter looked into.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will introduce legislation to ensure that all vehicles used exclusively as hackney carriages will qualify for deduction of VAT paid on purchase.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he can yet say when the detailed trade statistics promised to the hon. Member for Rossendale for availability in late June will be available and up to date.

The special tabulation of footwear statistics for January 1974 was sent to the British Footwear Manufacturers' Federation on 14th June and corresponding information for February will be made available within the next fortnight. We hope that the remaining difficulties can be overcome in time to enable all outstanding information to be made available within the next month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purchasing power of the £ sterling in the years 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974, taking the value of the £ sterling in January 1967 as 100p.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the pound as 100p in January 1967 its value in the following periods is estimated to be:

1968	95p
1969	90p
1970	84½p
1971	77p
1972	72p
1973	66p
1974 (May)	57½p

These estimates are based on changes in the General Index of Retail Prices. The figures for the years 1968 to 1973 are based on the mean of the monthly figures for each year; the figure for 1974 relates to May, the latest month for which the index is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average income per head (a) in each of the major conurbations, (b) in the surrounding area, and (c) in Great Britain, for each year since 1945.

AVERAGE INCOME PER HEAD
(£pa)
		Great Britain	Tyneside Conurbation	North Region	West Yorkshire Conurbation	Yorkshire and Humberside Region	Greater London Council	South-East Region
1959–60	…	300	250	240	290	260	400	230
1964–65	…	400	340	290	390	410	520	350
1965–66	…	430	400	320	420	380	630	390
1966–67	…	450	440	330	440	400	640	410
1967–68	…	470	390	350	430	430	690	430
1968–69	…	500	460	370	480	430	770	460
1969–70	…	540	450	420	520	480	670	540
1970–71	…	600	510	450	570	550	770	640
1971–72	…	650	530	500	580	570	810	690

		West Midland Conurbation	West Midland Region	South-East Lancashire Conurbation	Merseyside Conurbation	North-west Region	Central Clydeside Conurbation	Scotland
1959–60	…	340	260	300	210	250	270	240
1964–65	…	460	340	390	340	330	340	320
1965–66	…	520	380	440	400	360	390	350
1966–67	…	520	400	440	400	400	400	360
1967–68	…	510	430	440	420	400	410	380
1968–69	…	560	460	500	450	400	420	380
1969–70	…	570	530	460	590	480	490	470
1970–71	…	600	590	510	670	530	500	500
1971–72	…	670	650	540	720	570	560	530
1. The figures from 1965–66 onwards refer to the new standard regions. Earlier figures are therefore not always strictly comparable.
2. The population estimates used relate to the home population at mid-1959, mid-1964 etc. and include individuals of all ages whether or not they have an income.
3. The income figures used in calculating averages are derived from the Inland Revenue Surveys of Personal Incomes for the years shown. They exclude non-taxable receipt, such as certain national insurance benefits as well as income below the exemption limit for tax. That limit has varied as follows:

1959–60	1964–65 to 1968–69	1969–70	1970–71 and 1971–72
£180	£275	£330	£420
4. Up to and including 1964–65 the income of taxpayers was allocated to the region in which their tax was assessed, except for the income of civil servants, the Forces and the Merchant Navy, which was included in the figure for Great Britain but not otherwise allocated to regions. Since 1965–66 the income of civil servants has as far as possible been allocated to the regions in which they reside and since 1969–70 the income of most other taxpayers has also been allocated on the basis of place of residence. The income of self-employed persons however, continues to be allocated on a place of assessment basis and there has been no change in the treatment of the Forces, the Merchant Navy and those civil servants whose incomes cannot be allocated according to their place of residence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total cost to the national Exchequer of geriatric services, including geriatric hospital wards; and what is the estimated cost of such services provided by local authorities, including the cost of health

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 3rd July 1974], gave the following information:The information for those years for which regional figures are available is as follows:visitors and other officers engaged in helping the aged.

The extent to which services are used to help the aged cannot always be specifically identified and precise figures not available. Figures for the financial year 1971–72 suggest, however, that in England the revenue costs—at November 1972 prices—of hospital geriatric services might have been of the order of £95 million and of services provided by local authorities about £140 million. Provisional figures for capital expenditure in 1973–74 were £25 million and £23 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the average waiting time for admission to National Health Service hospital beds in Walsall for a (a) hernia and (b) tonsillitis operations when the patient has been examined by a consultant under the NHS;(2) what is the average waiting time for admission to a NHS hospital bed in Walsall for (

The average number of weeks waited by patients who received treatment under the National Health Service in Walsall in 1973 was 30·2 for inguinal hernia and 61·4 for hypertrophy of tonsils and adenoids. Cases of clinical necessity are admitted immediately.Information about private consultations is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services how many mentally handicapped patients are at present accommodated in Essex hospitals who were originally admitted from outside the Essex area.

1,370.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services how many mentally handicapped patients are at present known to be accommodated in hospitals in Essex; and what proportion of these could be discharged if suitable residential accommodation could be provided.

2,454. I cannot give an exact figure of the number who could be discharged if suitable residential accommodation were available, but the White Paper "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped" (Command 4683) suggested that the national proportion of all patients in mentally handicapped hospitals who could be discharged if residential and other facilities were available in the community was between a third and a half.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services what steps she is taking to provide suitable accommodation in Essex for mentally handicapped persons, at present confined in hospitals, who would be discharged if such accommodation were available.

Essex County Council has already provided 42 places for mentally handicapped children and 75 places for mentally handicapped adults in local authority residential homes. Further places are available in homes run by other bodies. There are under construction another 83 places for adults. The county council has prepared comprehensive plans for providing further places and my right hon. Friend has already announced—[Vol. 873, c. 1293–1303.]—her intention of pressing for priority to be given to loan consents for mental handicap projects within the overall central and local Government expenditure limits for health and social services. Not all these places in local authority residential homes will be available for those currently confined in hospitals for the mentally handicapped since places will also be filled direct from the community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services how many mentally handicapped persons from the Harlow area are known to be patients in hospitals; how many reside in community homes and other publicly provided accommodation; and how many at home.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will compare the total net weekly spending power of a man with a wife and one child under 11 years of age with a weekly wage of £20 per week with persons in similar family circumstances earning (a) £45 per week, (b) £50 per week, (c) £55 per week and (d) £60 per week, on the basis of the assumption in the Parlia-

MARRIED COUPLE AND 1 CHILD
Earnings				NI	Tax	FIS	Rent Rebate	Rate Rebate	Free Welfare Milk	Net Income
£				£	£	£	£	£	£	£
20	…	…	…	1·38	—	2·50	3·31	1·06	0·315	18·605
45	…	…	…	2·76	7·84	—	—	—	—	27·20
50	…	…	…	3·03	9·49	—	—	—	—	30·28
55	…	…	…	3·31	11·14	—	—	—	—	33·35
60	…	…	…	3·58	12·79	—	—	—	—	36·43

The above is a continuation of Table 4—"employed."—in the reply given on 15th May 1974.—[Vol. 873, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she can now indicate when the working committee of the Medicines Commission, which is considering all matters concerned with the presentation of medicinal products in so far as they affect the safety of children, will report; and if she will make a statement.

I have now received the report of the Medicines Commission's Working Group on the Presentation of Medicines in relation to Child Safety. I am arranging for it to be published as soon as possible and will then consult widely about its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services what action she proposes to take to reduce the number of deaths from chronic alcoholism of 165 in 1972 to the level of 85 in 1962 as a minimum decrease in loss of life from this cause.

Recorded deaths from alcoholism and alcoholism-related conditions in England and Wales have fluctuated in recent years but are still relatively low; nevertheless I am seriously concerned that there are a number of indications that the problem of alcoholism is an increasing one. I am therefore continuing to work towards prevention, to-

Following is the information:gether with better treatment and community facilities for alcoholics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services what action she proposes to take to reduce the incidence of cause of death due to addiction to drugs from 64 in 1972 to one in 1961 as a minimum objective.

The increase in the number of deaths from addiction to drugs in recent years gives cause for serious concern. Work towards prevention is continuing and a limited local expansion of treatment and community facilities in areas of need is planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital consultants are currently at work in England and Wales; how many work exclusively in NHS hospitals; how many work exclusively in private sector hospitals; and how many work in both.

Information about specialists working in private hospitals is not available. In the National Health Service there are 4,143 medical consultants with whole-time contracts, 5,590 with part-time contracts, and 1,063 with honorary contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the gross national product was spent on health services in each year from 1960 to 1973, inclusive.

The percentage of gross national product spent on health services from 1960 to1972—latest available figure—was:

Year	Per cent.
1960	3·8
1961	3·8
1962	3·8
1963	3·8
1964	3·8
1965	4·0
1966	4·2
1967	4·4
1968	4·5
1969	4·5
1970	4·7
1971	4·7
1972	4·9

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value in pounds sterling, at current prices, of the exports of arms and ammunition from the United Kingdom during the years 1965–1973.

No index is available to enable the values of defence exports to be accurately expressed at constant prices. However, using unit value index numbers for total exports of all manufactured goods it is estimated that exports over the period at current prices have been roughly as follows:1964–65, £190 million; 1965–66, £200 million; 1966–67, £230 million; 1967–68, £250 million; 1968–69, £280 million; 1969–70, £290 million; 1970–71, £290 million; 1971–72, £290 million; 1972–73, £300 million; 1973–74, £400 million (provisonal).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether members of the UDR will receive the special payment of 50p per day if they do their annual training in Northern Ireland; and, if they complete the qualifying period of 14 days, whether this payment will be made for all daily duties carried out for the remainder of that year.

As I explained to the hon. Member on 9th June, part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment will qualify for the special payment of 50p a day if they are called out for more than 14 days. The payment relates to continuous periods of duty. Periods of training do not qualify for the special payment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the prupose of the proposed naval visit to Indonesia.

The destroyer HMS "Fife" is due to make a routine visit to Djakarta from 19th to 24th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of all Service low-level flights during 1973 were conducted over Scotland; and how this compares with the proportion Scotland represents of the land area of Great Britain.

6·7 per cent. of all Service low-level flights during 1973 were conducted over Scotland. Scotland represents about 34 per cent. of the total land area of Great Britain.

asked the Attorney-General whether he proposes to take steps to increase the sums payable to jurors under the Jurors Allowance (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 1973 in the light of the inflation that has taken place since the regulations came into force.

The rates of the travelling allowance were increased on 20th May this year by the Jurors' Allowances (Amendment) Regulations 1974. These rates and the financial loss allowance payable under the principal regulations—the Jurors' Allowance Regulations 1972, as amended—are at present under review.

asked the Attorney-General how many prisoners serving custodial sentences have served (a) more than nine months, (b) between six and nine months, (c) between three and six months and (d) less than three months in custody before their appeal is heard by the court of appeal.

The information requested is not available, and could not be ascertained without a disproportionate expenditure of the time of the staff of the Criminal Appeal Office.

asked the Attorney-General what is the average length of time prisoners serving custodial sentences in criminal cases have to serve in custody before their appeal is heard by the court of appeal.

The average length of time between sentence at the Crown Court and the hearing of appeals and applications for leave to appeal by the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal in the period April to June 1974 was 100 days. No separate figures are available distinguishing between custody and other cases in respect of the waiting times concerned.

asked the Attorney-General, of the 327 cases in which compensation has been awarded following a successful prosecution under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968, how many of such awards were made against motor traders; how many against travel agents; how many against retailers; and what information is available regarding the remainder.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that the information cannot be provided in the form requested, without incurring undue expense. Available information on the 327 cases notified to the Department in the period from 1st January 1973 to 30th April 1974 is as follows:

	Number of cases in which compensation was awarded
Misdescriptions of goods in the following categories:
Motor vehicles and accessories	195
Clothing and textiles	12
Household appliances	8
Toys and games	1
Furniture and flooring	1
Food and drink	1
Solid and liquid fuels	1
Other goods	39

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he is not keeping records of the amount of subsidy paid on individual cheeses, in view of the fact that he is registering manufacturers and importers who are making specific, quantifiable claims in respect of each cheese; and how he keeps an accurate record of the total subsidy paid.

Payment is made on the total quantity of all eligible cheeses for which subsidy is claimed on each application form. The total subsidy paid is the sum of these individual payments. Payments made to manufacturers are recorded separately. The possibility of assembling more detailed statistics is under consideration.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total value of subsidy payments made on (a) United Kingdom produced cheese, and (b) imported cheeses since 19th June.

Between 19th June and 5th July £1,232,782 had been paid on United Kingdom produced cheese and £572,256 on imported cheeses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the beef industry in the North-West with particular reference to Cheshire.

I have nothing to add to the statement about the beef industry that my right hon. Friend made during the course of the debate on agriculture on 26th June.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the percentage of protein feeds used by British agriculture coming from indigenous sources; and what steps he is taking to encourage a greater degree of national self-sufficiency in protein feeds.

About a quarter of the "high protein feed" used by British agriculture is home produced, but of course the greater part of the protein supply is obtained from cereals and grasses. Encouragement and guidance by our advisory services has been given to the improvement of the protein content of conserved crops such as hay and silage; in the use of urea, dried poultry waste, and more recently leaf protein. Apart from this, with other members of the Community we are studying economic ways of increasing protein supplies within the Community. British producers should obtain some benefit from the decisions to aid the production of dehydrated fodder and the growing of certified field bean seeds.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many public appointments are within his gift; and what is the cost to the Treasury.

There are 138 salaried and fee-paid appointments within my gift at an annual cost of the order of £160,000. Not all of the cost falls directly on the departmental Vote. A schedule of the offices is as follows:

• Agricultural Research Council, Chairman 15 members.
• Natural Environment Research Council, Chairman 18 members.
• Science Research Council, Chairman, 15 members.
• Social Science Research Council, Chairman 17 members.
• Medical Research Council, Chairman 17 members.
• Advisory Board for the Research Councils, Chairman 5 members.
• University Grants Committee, Chairman 20 members.
• British Library Board, Chairman 11 members.
• Computer Board, Chairman 7 members.
• Schools Council, Chairman.
• Crafts Advisory Committee, Chairman.
• Burnham Committee, Chairman.
• Ministerial Adviser to the Department of Education and Science.

In a number of cases although the offices attract fees or honoraria the current holders forgo remuneration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, following the inspection of schools in the area administered by the Lancashire County Council which have been constructed by the pre-stressed concreting system, he will consider bearing the financial consequences of any such ispection and any necessary rebuilding.

Any applications by local education authorities or voluntary bodies for authorisation of building necessary to ensure the safety of buildings will be dealt with expeditiously under the normal financial arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received about the inclusion of St. Joseph's College, Bradford, in a reorganisation scheme; if, in lieu of a decision on status, he will agree to an increase in fees; and if he will make a full statement.

Representations have been received in the Department from college governors and teaching staff, from parents' associations and individual parents about the proposals for the reorganisation on comprehensive lines of maintained Catholic schools in Bradford, involving the participation of St. Joseph's College, and about a proposal that the college should enter the maintained system as a voluntary aided school. A number of inquiries have also been received from Members of this House. The views of the new Bradford education authority on the proposals were sought by my predecessor; when these are received my right hon. Friend will consider whether the proposals should be approved.Meanwhile a request has been received for approval of an increase in the school's fees. This will be considered on the basis which my right hon. Friend announced on 26th June in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks).—[Vol. 875, c. 477]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will name the further educational opportunities that are available for deaf school-leavers.

Further education facilities specially for the deaf and partially hearing are available at

• Sir James E. Jones School of Vocational Training, Manchester (a department of the Royal School for the Deaf. Cheadle Hulme).
• Brixton College of Further Education, London.
• City Literary Institute, London.
• Matthew Boulton Technical College, Birmingham.
• North Nottinghamshire College of Further Education, Worksop.

Normal facilities for further education provided by local education authorities are also available to hearing-impaired school leavers, and authorities are increasingly arranging supporting services to enable those with the necessary communication skills to attend ordinary courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek to insert into the Education Acts a right of deaf children to be educated, if they desire, to 18 years of age.

In general terms sections 8(1)(b) and 41(a) of the Education Act 1944 already provide for this. I do not think that the Act should be more specific.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has approved for new school buildings and school building improvements in the county of Cheshire.

The following major school building projects in the area of the new Cheshire local education authority received approval during 1973–74:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has now approved the proposal submitted by the Cheshire County Education Authority for a new secondary school to serve the Macclesfield area.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the shortfall of teachers in the Essex County Council area; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the authority at present has few vacancies for teachers in maintained primary schools but about 150 in maintained secondary schools. Recruitment for the coming school year is proceeding and it is not yet possible to say what, if any, shortfall there will be in September.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many national museums and regional museums there now are in the United Kingdom.

There are 18 museums and galleries customarily referred to as national institutions, apart from those financed from the Defence Vote, and, at the last count, approximately 950 others in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the high level of applications for the next academic year, he will increase the Open University's grant in aid.

Yes. I propose to increase the grant-in-aid to the university to enable it to admit 20,000 students in 1975, instead of 14,000 originally contemplated, and a further 20,000 in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many public appointments are within his gift; and what is the cost to the Treasury.

Production of a full list would involve a disproportionate cost to public funds. There are some 650 appointments in the gift of the Secretary of State. About 550 of these are salaried or unpaid and about 100 are fee-paid. The annual cost of salaries is of the order of £400,000 and of fees £190,000. Not all of the cost falls directly on my Department's Vote.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what expenditure is devoted annually to publicising the dangers of, and safeguards against, asbestos dust; if he will give details of such expenditure over the last five years on an annual basis; and what plans exist to make such publicity more extensive and effective.

I regret that this information is not available in the form requested.Since the 1969 Asbestos Regulations came into force in May 1970 my Department has made considerable efforts to publicise to both management and workers the health risks arising from exposure to harmful concentrations of asbestos dust and the safeguards to be adopted.Over 100,000 copies of a statement from the Chief Employment Medical Adviser entitled "Asbestos and You" have been distributed to workers in the industry and further copies are currently being issued to all workers participating in the Survey of Asbestos Workers begun by the Employment Medical Advisory Service in 1971 and still continuing.Four technical data notes on the subject of asbestos have been produced in substantial quantities and distributed to management free of charge by Her Majesty's factory inspectors. A booklet in the health and safety at work series entitled "Asbestos: Health Precautions in Industry" on sale from Her Majesty's Stationery Office has also been produced and publicised.A considerable amount of publicity has also been directed at the medical profession, including an on-sale memorandum on the problems arising from the use of asbestos and an occasional paper on the Survey of Asbestos Workers by EMAS.I will arrange for a copy of each of these publications to be sent to my hon. Friend.Other activities undertaken by my Department to publicise the problem of asbestos dust include collaboration in the publication of articles, especially in the medical and trade Press, assistance given to trade associations in producing specific guidance on the subject, lectures to the medical profession by employment medical advisers and talks to industry at all levels by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of total employment in North Staffordshire has

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT: NORTH STAFFORDSHIRE
				Coal mining		Pottery
				Numbers employed as a percentage of all employees in employment	Annual percentage change in the numbers employed	Numbers employed as a percentage of all employees in employment	Annual percentage change in the numbers employed
June 1968	…	…	…	6·1	—	19·4	—
June 1969	…	…	…	5·4	-11·4	19·8	+1·6
June 1970	…	…	…	5·3	-6·2	20·4	-0·5
June 1971—
(a)	…	…	…	5·2	-2·3	19·4	-5·3
(b)	…	…	…	5·0	—	18·8	—
June 1972	…	…	…	4·8	-4·1	18·6	-1·0
For June 1971 (a) and earlier dates the estimates of employees in employment are based on counts of National Insurance cards. From June 1971 (b) they are from the annual censuses of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the percentage employed in North Staffordshire for each of the past five years; and what were the comparable figures for the West Midlands and the United Kingdom.

The numbers of employees in employment expressed as a percentage of the home population aged 15 years and over are set out below for the three areas requested for the years 1971–73.

	North Staffordshire	West Midlands	United Kingdom
1971	56·2	57·5	52·4
1972	56·0	56·2	52·2
1973	57·7	57·8	53·3

NOTES:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will investigate the possibilities of encouraging and extending research in Great Britain into methods of detecting substances used in industry which produce cancer in human beings.