asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in view of the widespread concern about the inaccuracy of the statistics on which the cull of oystercatchers on the Burry Inlet was based, if he will now proceed no further with the culling.

I shall be looking at this question in the light of the latest advice from the Ministry's scientists before the next stage of the cull becomes due in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will be reintroducing the fishing vessel grant and loans scheme; on what terms; and subject to what conditions.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 27th June and the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 17th July.

asked the Attorney-General upon what date (a) the Faulks Committee on Defamation and (b) the Phillimore Committee on Contempt of Court were, respectively, placed in the hands of Ministers; and when publication of these reports can be expected.

The report of the Committee on Defamation has not yet been received. It is expected in the next few weeks and will be published as soon as possible thereafter.The report of the Committee on Contempt of Court was received on 24th May. Publication is delayed by printing difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what rights have Her Majesty's Government in the future development of the Harrier aircraft by the United States of America.

A firm decision on an advanced Harrier has not yet been taken by either the American or United Kingdom Governments. We are currently engaged with the Americans in a joint study of the feasibility of an advanced Harrier. We have an agreement with them that, if because of the difference in the timescale and nature of the United States of America and United Kingdom requirements, they decide to launch a development programme to meet their own needs before we are in a position to decide on our own requirements for such an aircraft, a suitable option will be negotiated to enable us to join their programme at a later stage should we wish to do so. To the extent that existing Harrier technology was involved in any American programme we would have a right to a share in any royalties payable in respect of work carried out by United States firms and to make a levy on sales of items manufactured in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest available figure for the value of defence goods, including spares, and services exported from the United Kingdom to South Africa since 1st March, 1974.

It has been the practice of successive Governments not to reveal the value of exports of defence equipment to particular countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the security arrangements in that part of Rosyth Dockyard where nuclear submarines undergo refits in view of the current information that thefts of metal have taken place; and if he will give an assurance that public safety is not at risk.

Yes. I am satisfied with security arrangements throughout the Rosyth Naval Base. However, they are currently being reviewed again following the discovery of metal thefts. There is no evidence as yet that any of the metal was removed from the nuclear refit- ting area. I am satisfied that public safety is not at risk because of the existing very strict controls on all materials which might present a health hazard.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the state of security at Rosyth Dockyard.

Yes. Security arrangements at the Rosyth Naval Base, as for all defence establishments, are kept constantly under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has received the report of the Committee on Army Officer Training; and whether he will make a statement.

The Commit- tee has compiled no final report. Its present thinking is embodied in a draft which has been prepared as the basis for very widespread consultation and discussion within the Army, before it submits its recommendations to the Ministry of Defence. The Army will continue to recruit as officers both graduates and non-graduates. The purpose of the committee is to draw up a progressive, purposeful and balanced sequence of education, training and military duty which will offer attractive opportunities to all officer entrants and equip them for a full career.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he can yet ease, in any way, the present restrictions on the development of post-school education.

I have decided to make a small increase in the non-university further education building programme for 1974–75 as announced on 27th March, and I will be getting in touch shortly with the local education authorities concerned. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland proposes to take broadly similar action.Secondly, the Government are now ready to open discussions on the recommendations of the Russell Report on Adult Education. As a first step I propose to consult the local authority associations to see what progress we can make together in the development of the adult education service, especially in respect of the disadvantaged, within the constraints dictated by our present economic difficulties. When we have decided how to move in this direction the next step will be to undertake wider discussions with the main interests in the field with a view to developing, within the resources available, a varied and comprehensive service of adult education.We are also conscious of the need for positive action to combat adult illiteracy. The Government are prepared to make additional resources available in the next 12 months to help institutions working in this field and I shall shortly be initiating discussions as to how these may best be used.Thirdly, the universities' costs increased more steeply during 1973 than had been assumed when the decision was taken, as part of last year's expenditure cuts, to withhold supplementation of their grants for the academic year 1974–75. To help them in this difficulty I have agreed to make an addition of £4 million to their funds for recurrent expenditure in that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what would be his estimate of the reduction in the index figure representing the cost of living which would follow the introduction of a rebate scheme whereby organisations concerned in the manufacture and/or distribution of food were able to reclaim the Excise duty currently paid upon the fuel oil they consume.

Precise information relating to the total excise payments on hydrocarbon oils by the food manufacture and distribution sector is not available. However, if the excise duties paid on hydrocarbon oils were rebated, and the full value were reflected in reduced food prices, it is estimated that the effect on the general index of retail prices would be less than ⅛ of 1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on threshold agreements for low-paid workers whose minimum wage rates are determined by wages councils.

The present position is that seven threshold agreements are operating in the wages councils sector, and a further 25 councils are in process of introducing such arrangements. Wages councils are increasingly reaching settlements which include threshold provisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will refuse to approve any wages council orders which do not guarantee increases of at least £2·25 a week on minimum rates.

Wages councils are independent bodies representing the trade or industry concerned. My right hon. Friend has no power to reject their proposals; he may refer proposals back for reconsideration, but if then they are resubmitted, unamended, he has no alternative but to make a wages regulation order giving them effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received asking for his intervention in the dispute between the BBC and the ABS and ACTT unions in relation to the pay and conditions of service of television production assistants.

Officers of my Department have been involved in conciliation at an earlier stage of this dispute when the matters at issue were fully explored. They have continued to keep in touch with the situation but have not received any further requests for assistance from the parties involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek information about the state of industrial relations at the BBC to assist him in making available his good offices in the present dispute.

Officers of my Department have been involved in conciliation at an earlier stage of this dispute when the matters at issue were fully explored. They have continued to keep in touch with the situation and I understand that the BBC has confirmed its willingness for the dispute to be referred to arbitration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unskilled men were registered at the employment exchanges in Dumbarton, Vale of Leven and Helensburgh at the last convenient date.

I regret that the precise information requested is not available. However, the latest figures for June 1974 show that of the 1,068 unemployed males on the registers at the Dumbarton, Alexandria and Helensburgh employment offices, 559 were registered for employment as general labourers.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make an estimate of the cost of present efforts towards fuller automation in the mining industry, together with the safeguarding of a general improvement on miners' working conditions.

The NCB has a continuing programme of research and development which has the primary objective of improving the efficiency and safety of mining operations. During the current year the NCB plans to spend £6·3 million on revenue account on such research and development, of which about £1 million will be devoted to the application of automation to mining operations and approximately £1·75 million towards improving working conditions. A further £0·6 million is allocated to capital account expenditure on these items. In addition the Government will be spending about £1·5 million at the Safety in Mines Research Establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will introduce legislation to amend Sections 9 and 10 of the Pipe-lines Act 1962 to apply the provisions for mandatory sharing of pipelines to the British sector of the Continental Shelf.

The report to Parliament on United Kingdom Offshore Oil and Gas Policy stated that the Government propose to take powers to control the development of undersea pipelines. These would include measures to ensure joint use of pipelines, in the same way as for land pipelines.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans he has to build up the extraction of oil production from the Continental Shelf; and what is his estimate of benefit in terms of security of supply and foreign exchange gains.

The Government's immediate aim is to build up oil production from the United Kingdom Continental Shelf to a high level as soon as possible; decisions on longer-term production levels will be taken in the light of circumstances nearer the time. I cannot give a figure for the benefit to the United Kingdom of North Sea oil in terms of security of supply, but the balance of payments advantages in 1980 from oil alone could be about £3,000 million to £4,000 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many divers have died in oil-related activities in the Scottish sector of the North Sea in each year since 1970 and in each month of 1974.

One death in operations connected with offshore installations off the Scottish coast was reported in 1971, another in 1973 and a third earlier this month. No death occurred in that period within territorial waters off Scotland as a result of oil-related activities. Diving fatalities arising from pipeline operations outside territorial waters are not required to be notified to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what medical services are now available for divers operating in oil-related activities in the Scottish sector of the North Sea.

The provision of medical services is the responsibility of the concession owners, installation owners and diving contractors concerned. Diving contractors supplement first-aid and medical facilities on board installations with arrangements whereby a doctor can be flown to an installation in the event of an emergency, and injured men can be flown ashore. Under Diving Regulations which should be laid shortly under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 such arrangements would become a statutory requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many divers have left the Armed Services to take up employment in oil related activities in the Scottish sector of the North Sea.

No figures are available, but I am advised that the majority of divers employed in diving operations in connection with oil and gas activities on the United Kingdom sector of the Continental Shelf have served in the Royal Navy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he is satisfied with safety procedures for divers operating in the Scottish sector of the North Sea.

It is proposed to lay before the House shortly regulations made under the Mineral Workings (Offshore Installations) Act 1971 to ensure that all diving operations in connection with offshore installations on the United Kingdom Shelf are carried out in accordance with safe procedures. Consideration is being given by my Department to controlling the safety of divers engaged in pipelaying operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is meant in the paper "United Kingdom Offshore Oil and Gas Policy" by a suitable return on capital investment; and what factors enter into the calculation.

This is a matter on which I shall not reach a final view until after my negotiations with the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the basis of compensation for majority State participation in existing licences; and whether it is to be calculated on the assumption of costs incurred or market value of the assets acquired.

This will be a matter of negotiation with licensees.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what have been the average increases in water and sewerage rates throughout England and Wales in 1974–75 as compared with 1973–74.

I regret that this information is not available. I wrote to the hon. Member on 25th June explaining the position.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether special provision is to be made for new and expanding loans in the distribution of the new transport supplementary grant.

Local authority expenditure on transport in new and expanding towns will be eligible for transport supplementary grant on the same basis as similar expenditure elsewhere. But counties have been asked to identify it separately in their grant submission, so that particular consideration can be given to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take following receipt of the report by Sir Robert Matthew and Mr. Skillington on the quality of architectural design in his Department.

I am most grateful to Sir Robert Matthew and Mr. Skillington for the work they have done in preparing their report, which will materially assist the Department in considering how greater stress can be laid on the quality of architectural design.While it was not intended for publication I have, in view of the public interest already shown, decided that those closely interested in the report and its conclusions should have the opportunity to comment, before final decisions are taken. With the agreement of the authors arrangements have, therefore, been made for it to be sent to a number of interested bodies, including professional institutions and technical journals. I am also arranging for a copy to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy towards changing over to metric speed limits on roads, originally proposed on 5th March 1970.

I do not envisage a change for some years yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made on the drawing up of model agreements between caravan residents and site operators; and if he is now in a position to decide what steps to take to give security of tenure to caravan dwellers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend the Minister for Housing and Construction gave to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 12th June.—[Vol. 874, c. 549.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what will be the maximum difference in rent and rate rebates obtainable by pensioners and national insurance beneficiaries of identical means between those who are receiving such rebates before 22nd July and those who do not apply until after that date; and if he will publish a table illustrating the different level of rebate available to those two groups at various levels of income.

As a temporary exception to the general rule, applicants before 22nd July will, until the needs allowances, or income limits, in the rebate schemes are next raised, be exempted from the reduction in rebates which normally follows any increase in a recipient's income. This reduction, taking rent and rate rebates together, can result in a maximum, constant rate of 33p for each additional pound of income where the whole income is below the needs allowance; and in a constant rate of 23p in the pound where the income is above the needs allowance. Any successful applicant on or after 22nd July will be assessed in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take upon the petition, dated 11th July, by the Committee of the Manchester Council House Buyers Association which has been referred to him.

I have received the petition and it is at present being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Malawi Government regarding the arrest, imprisonment without trial and deportation of Mrs. Susan Farrow, a British subject; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Government of Malawi protesting at the treatment meted out to Mrs. Susan Farrow after she criticised a speech by Dr. Banda.

None. Mrs. Farrow was detained on the afternoon of 10th July, and was served with a Prohibited Immigrant Order on 11th July. She was released and left the country on 12th July. Her detention was legal in Malawi law.As it is the right of every sovereign State to decide which non-citizens are to be permitted to live within its territory, we cannot challenge the Malawi Government's right to expel Mrs. Farrow, although we very much regret the action and the hardship suffered by her.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information he has from the police about the whereabouts of Mr. Martin Lamarty, a Moroccan citizen, who recently abducted his infant son from Chaddesden, Derby.

I understand from the Chief Constable of Derbyshire that the police have established the whereabouts of Mr. Lamarty and his son. No criminal offence appears to have been committed, and the purpose of police inquiries was only to ensure that the child was safe and well.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what are the limits of the delegated financial authority for the Department of Industry's officers in Wales, Scotland and the English assisted areas as they affect applications for selective financial assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972; and if he will make a statement.

Until now the limit of delegated financial authority has been £500,000. Applications involving loans above this amount have had to be referred to the Headquarters of the Industrial Development Executive in London before an offer could be made. As from today, the limit for Scotland, Wales and the main assisted area regional offices in England, is raised to £1 million and a corresponding increase is being made in the delegated limits for other forms of assistance such as interest-relief grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will regularly publish statistics relating to the selective assistance which is available under Section 7 of the Industry Act 1972.

Yes. Parliament and the public are entitled to detailed information on this subject, and I shall be arranging for it to be provided. Specifically I am arranging now for the number of applications received and the number and value of offers made, on a regional office basis, under Section 7 of the Industry Act, to be published monthly in "Trade and Industry". The first statistics, for the months ended 31st March 1974, 30th April 1974 and 31st May 1974, will appear very shortly. This information will supplement the information about regional selective assistance which is published annually in the Industry Act Annual Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many applications have been received to date from Scotland for regional aid; and if he will give details.

15,173 applications for regional development grants under Part I of the Industry Act have been received in respect of investment in Scotland against which £47 million has been paid.Apart from assistance to Govan Shipbuilders, 637 applications for regional selective assistance under Section 7 of the Industry Act have been received. Offers of assistance totalling £7·7 million in loans and £12 million in grants have been made. The estimated additional employment associated with these offers is 24,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will appoint a woman to one of the vacant places on the board of the Post Office Corporation.

My aim is to appoint the best available persons to the Post Office Board and I certainly intend to see that there is no discrimination of any kind against women in future appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what is the budgeted expenditure by his Department in 1974–75 for work on the reduction of aircraft noise, excluding sums provided for the RB211 programme.

Budgeted expenditure by Her Majesty's Government for 1974–75 on programmes of general research on aircraft noise including engine and airframe aspects, together with a related examination of operational procedures, is expected to be about £1·7 million.In addition, a new noise test facility has recently been completed at the National Gas Turbine Establishment at a cost of approximately £2 million.Her Majesty's Government also expect to contribute about £0·8 million during 1974–75 towards the costs of programmes in industry aimed at demonstrating the technology which could be applied to future engines, including quieter versions of the M45H and RB211 engines.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total value of investment grants, loans and regional employment premiums in the pharmaceutical industry in the years 1970 to 1973, inclusive.

I regret that the information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what was the total tonnage of oil tankers entering the Thames estuary for each of the past five years and for the first six months of this year; and what tonnage may be expected in each of the next five years in the light of the proposed expansion of refinery capacity to existing refineries and those proposed for Canvey Island and Cliffe.

I have been asked to reply.Statistics relating to tankers entering the Thames estuary are collected by the Port of London Authority for those vessels destined for locations other than the Medway. The latter destinations are covered by the Port of Medway Authority. The two authorities have different methods of levying dues and consequently the available statistics can not be aggregated.The following figures have been provided by the Port of London Authority:(1) Net registered tonnage of oil tankers entering the Thames estuary excluding Medway, including partly laden and empty vessels.

Period	Millions net registered tonnage (see note below)
1968	13·6
1969	14·1
1970	14·7
1971	14·9
1972	15·9
1973	16·3
1974(1st half)	7·0

(2) Tonnages of oil moving in and out of the Thames estuary, excluding Medway.

Units millions tonnes
Period	Imports	Exports	Transhipments*	Total
1968	23·1	4·1	0·8	28·0
1969	24·0	3·8	0·2	28·0
1970	24·5	4·6	0·2	29·3
1971	24·2	4·0	0·2	28·4
1972	24·0	3·5	—	27·5
1973	23·5	4·5	0·1	28·1
1974†	10·2	1·8	—	12·0
* Transhipments refers to oil brought in to the estuary and subsequently re-exported.
† 1st half.

The following figures have been provided by the Port of Medway authorities:(1) Net registered tonnage of all cargo-carrying vessels importing to and exporting from the Medway.

	Millions net registered tonnage (see note below)
Period	Imports	Exports
1970	7·9	4·5
1971	7·4	4·4
1972	8·9	5·2
1973	10·5	5·3
1974 (1st half)	5·05	2·05
Just over 90 per cent. of this total is attributable to oil. Unlike the PLA empty vessels are not recorded.
Statistics are not available for 1968 and 1969.

(2) Tonnages of oil moving in and out of the Medway.

	Units million tonnes
Period	Imports	Exports
1968	13·9	10·9
1969	13·7	9·8
1970	13·6	9·9
1971	12·3	8·0
1972	14·5	9·4
1973	15·3	9·4
1974 (1st half)	7·3	3·6

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what were the estimated total costs for the Concorde project (a) at its commencement, (b) in 1964, (c) in 1970, (d) at 31st December 1973, together with adjusted figures in the first three cases in order to provide a real comparison with the figures at 31st December 1973.

Not all of the information is available in precisely the form requested; but the following details enable a comparison to be made between the estimates given at various points in the programme.Estimated total development costs for Concorde, made at the date specified, were as follows:

	Figures quoted (historic prices for previous expenditure, current prices for forecasts of future expenditure)	Adjusted to constant 1962 prices
	£m.	£m.
Commencement	150–170	150–170
1964	275	250
1970—
(i) January	730	478
(ii) October	825	523
31st December 1973	1,065	575
No comparable estimate were made at earlier stages either of the total production costs or of production profits or losses.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry (1) what is the estimated cost to Her Majesty's Government of the purchase of the aviation interests of the Hawker Siddeley Co. Ltd., in order to nationalise the company;(2) what is the estimated cost to Her Majesty's Government of the purchase of the British Aircraft Corporation Limited in order to nationalise the company.

As with other aspects of the Government's proposal to take the aircraft industry into public ownership, no decisions have yet been taken on how compensation should be calculated.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development (1) if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing, by country, the total amounts of financial aid given, or promised, to the former Dependencies, i.e., those whose affairs were the concern of the former Colonial and Commonwealth Offices, from January 1945 to the latest date for which figures are available;(2) which of the former Dependencies have received, or were promised, budgetary aid, as distinct from aid for specific objects; and what were the amounts during the period from 1945 to the latest date for which figures are available.

The following table shows the total amounts of (a) all financial aid and (b) budgetary aid received by former Dependencies between 1st April 1945 and 31st March 1973.

£'000
Europe and Middle East	(a)	(b)
Aden	59,985	38,947
Cyprus	47,825	28,480
Malta	115,282	20,762
Africa
Botswana	49,226	8,880
East Africa Community	36,328	99
Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland	20,165	—
Gambia	13,429	1,765
Ghana	27,033	675
Kenya	188,938	39,291
Lesotho	33,661	9,067
Malawi	90,371	10,372

(i) Africa	…	…	…	£51,972,509	(0·07 per cent of GNP)
(ii) South East Asia (including Indonesia)		…	…	£21,503,727	(0·03 per cent of GNP)
(iii) South America	…	…	…	£2,632,494	(0·004 per cent of GNP)

The figure for the United Kingdom's gross national product in the financial

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much of the United Kingdom's gross national product was spent on overseas aid in (i) Africa, (ii) South-East Asia and (iii) South America in 1973–74.

The following table shows the total amounts of United Kingdom bilateral aid, net of amortisation payments, provided to the three areas in calendar year 1973. This does not include amounts provided to these areas from multilateral agencies which receive contributions from the United Kingdom aid programme.year 1973–74 is not yet available.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on economic affairs delivered at Aberystwyth on 13th July.

I did so on 15th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what part of the additional £40 million she has allocated recently to the National Health Service will be allocated to the Wessex Regional Hospital Board to avert the

					1965	1970	1973
In-patients*	…	…	…	…	147,910	171,117	187,094
New out-patient attendances	…	…	…	…	15,688	24,181	29,439
New day-patient attendances	…	…	…	…	6,110	15,270	25,008
* The number of in-patients is derived from the number of discharges and deaths during each year.

These figures also cover the younger disabled amongst whom there were, in 1973, 1,256 in-patients, 175 new outpatient attendances and 124 new day-patient attendances. Separate figures for the younger disabled were not maintained prior to 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of hostels for alcoholics in England and Wales; what steps have been taken to improve the availability of treatment centres; and what plans there are for future improvement of the situation.

There are about 30 residential establishments for alcoholics in England and Wales although a number of other hostels take residents with drinking problems. A scheme providing central capital and revenue funds to voluntary bodies wishing to establish or expand accommodation for alcoholics was introduced last year. So far 11 new projects have been approved and a further 10 are planned. An extra £2 million was allocated from 1971 spread over four years to expand and improve imminent closure of hospitals in the region.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. Price) on 17th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric beds there are in the health service.

In 1973 there were 56,184 geriatric beds available in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric cases there were in 1965, 1970 and 1973.

Figures in the form requested are not available. Related information on geriatric provision is as follows:hospital treatment services as well as improving existing services. Five new units have so far been opened and a further four have been approved. This will make a total of 26 units.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reply she has given to the letter dated 19th June 1974 from the Order of Christian Unity asking for action by her in respect of the supply of contraceptives to teenagers through the National Health Service.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my right hon. Friend's reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will adjust the fuel allowance for those on supplementary benefit in view of the fact that paraffin has doubled in price within the last nine months.

Supplementary benefit scale rates, which provide for all normal requirements including heating, are being substantially increased with effect from 22nd July. Additions for extra heating, which are awarded on grounds of poor health or bad accommodation, are being increased by the Supplementary Benefits Commission from the same date.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of claimants and their dependants who are subject to the wage stop.

In November 1973, the latest date for which the information requested is available, there were 10,335 claimants with 59,793 adult and child dependants, whose benefit was wage-stopped.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average remuneration paid by the National Health Service to consultants in NHS hospitals; and how this compares with earnings of consultants in other EEC countries.

As from 1st April 1974, and in accordance with recommendations of the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration, whole-time National Health Service consultants will be paid on a scale £5,433-£7,947. About 35 per cent. of consultants also receive Distinctions Awards the present values of which are

A	+£7,947
A	£6,030
B	£3,540
C	£1,506

In addition consultants may receive fees for certain items of service.Part-time consultants receive an appropriate proportion of the whole-time salary and any Distinction Award that they hold.I regret that the Department does not have reliable information on average medical earnings in the EEC.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many NHS beds there are in hospitals in the North-West; and how many of these were occupied by private patients on the last date for which figures are available.

In the year ending 31st December 1973 in the hospitals now administered by the North-Western Regional Health Authority there were 35,413 beds of which the average daily occupancy by private patients was 193.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are the reference numbers of the oil exploration blocks off the coast of Wales, and therefore falling within the terms of reference of the Welsh Advisory Oil Committee, which have already had issued a licence for their exploration; and in which of these drilling has commenced.

Petroleum production licences have been issued in respect of the following blocks within Cardigan Bay, the Bristol Channel, and the United Kingdom sectors of the Celtic Sea and the Irish Sea.

83/5;	84/1;	84/2;	92/10;	92/14;	92/15;
92/27;	92/28;	93/2;	93/3;	93/4;	93/6;
93/7;	93/8;	93/12;	93/13;	102/15;	102/19;
102/20;	102/23;	102/24;	102/25;		102/28;
102/29;	102/30;	103/2;	103/3;		103/6;
103/7;	103/11;	103/16;	103/17;		103/18;
103/21;	103/22;	103/23;	103/26;		103/27;
103/28;	104/19;	104/20;	106/24;		106/25;
106/28;	109/4;	109/9;	109/10;		109/15;
110/2;	110/3;	110/6;	110/7;		110/8;
110/11;	110/12;	110/13;	110/14;		11214;
112/25;	112/30;	113/21;	113/26;		113/27;
113/28.
Drilling has taken place in blocks 93/2; 102/28; 106/24; and 110/8.

The issuing of licences, and the conditions under which licences are granted for all areas in the United Kingdom Continental Shelf, are matters for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many private houses in Wales have been purchased for lettings by local authorities after the announcement of the Government grant to stimulate the building industry.

I have approved applications from six authorities to purchase a total of 371 houses from the private sector. Applications from five other authorities involving 295 dwellings are under consideration. As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Cardigan (Mr. Howells) on 18th June, I hope the local authorities will rapidly convert the approvals into purchases.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many completed

Improvement between Abercynon and north of Cefn Coed						…	…	184	and a petition 2,000 signatures.
Welshpool relief roads	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	196
Llandeilo bypasses	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	70
Queensferry interchange		…	…	…	…	…	…	90
Ruabon and Johnstown bypass			…	…	…	…	…	1,391	and a petition with 830 signatures.
Chirk and Newbridge bypass		…	…	…	…	…	…	3,221	(consultative period ends on 22nd July).
Llangollen bypass	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	321	(consultative period ends on 29th July).
Wrexham-Chester Southerly Road			…	…	…	…	…	730

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has following his meeting with the National Association of Widows to make beneficial changes to the financial rules affecting widows in particular.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Mitchell) on 11th July about the meeting I had with the National Association of Widows on 26th June. My right hon. Friend has no immediate proposals affecting the tax position of widows, who will, however, be receiving the benefit of the substantial increase in pensions this month. Those widows with children will, of course, benefit from the increase we have made in the additional personal allowance from £130 to £180.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the total investment held by Middle East oil pro-

The numbers of completed questionnaires received are as follows:ducing States, including Iran, in the United Kingdom.

Investment totals for this group of countries are not separately identifiable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, and how, the Government monitor the flow of capital from abroad to British industry.

Direct and portfolio investment in the United Kingdom by nonresidents and United Kingdom companies' borrowing from non-residents are monitored under exchange control arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much tax a married man with (a) one child, (b) two children and (c) three children would pay at current tax rates if he were earning a weekly sum of £20, £25, £30, £35, £40, £45, £50, £55 and £60, respectively;(2) how much tax a married man with (

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax a married man with (a) one child, (b) two children and (c) three children would pay on weekly earnings of £20, £25, £30, £35, £40, £45, £50, £55 and £60, respectively, if a tax credit system were in operation, if tax were 30p in the £, and the husband received £4 tax credit for himself but no credit for his wife.

Assuming that child credits were paid to the mother the figures of tax payable by the man are as follows, and are unaffected by the number of children:

Weekly Earnings	Weekly Tax
£	(£p)
20	2·00
25	3·50
30	5·00

			Wife's annual earnings
			£595		£500		£2,000
Husband's weekly earnings			Total tax	Effective rate	Total tax	Effective rate	Total tax	Effective rate
			£p	Per cent.	£	Per cent.	£	Per cent.
(a) One child
£20	…	…	-29·50	-1·8	-58	-3·8	392	12·9
£25	…	…	48·50	2·6	20	1·1	470	14·2
£30	…	…	126·50	5·9	98	4·8	548	15·4
£35	…	…	204·50	8·5	176	7·6	626	16·4
£40	…	…	282·50	10·6	254	9·8	704	17·3
£45	…	…	360·50	12·3	332	11·7	782	18·0
£50	…	…	438·50	13·7	410	13·2	860	18·7
£55	…	…	516·50	14·9	488	14·5	938	19·3
£60	…	…	594·50	16·0	566	15·6	1,016	19·8
(b) Two children
£20	…	…	-133·50	-8·2	-162	-10·5	288	9·5
£25	…	…	-55·50	-2·9	-84	-4·7	366	11·1
£30	…	…	22·50	1·0	-6	0·3	444	12·5
£35	…	…	100·50	4·2	72	3·1	522	13·7
£40	…	…	178·50	6·7	150	5·8	600	14·7
£45	…	…	256·50	8·7	228	8·0	678	15·6
£50	…	…	334·50	10·5	306	9·9	756	16·4
£55	…	…	412·50	11·9	384	11·4	834	17·2
£60	…	…	490·50	13·2	462	12·8	912	17·8

Assuming that the children are under 11 the figures are:

35	6·50
40	8·00
45	9·50
50	11·00
55	12·50
60	14·00

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the case of a married man with (a) one child, (b) two children and (c) three children earning, respectively, £20, £25, £30, £35, £40, £45, £50, £55 and £60 per week, what would be the combined rate of tax if a tax credit system were in operation, tax were 30p in the £, the husband received £4 tax credit and his working wife received £4 tax credit and earned (a) £595 per annum, (b) £500 per annum and (c) £2,000 per annum.

Assuming that the child credit is £2 the figures are:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how much is to be paid to Mr. Michael Cudlipp, his newly appointed public relations consultant; and what is the maximum for expenses he will be allowed per annum.

His salary is at a flat rate of £9,750 per annum. He will also be entitled to claim reimbursement of expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of his duties in accordance with the normal procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what duties Mr. Michael Cudlipp, his public relations consultant, will undertake which are not being carried out at the present time by other members of his staff.

The duties of the Northern Ireland Office Information Services staff, in London and in Belfast, are to advise on and be responsible for the execution of all public presentational aspects of the Department's work. Mr. Cudlipp's responsibilities as a consultant will be different. He will have no responsibility for the management or administration of the NIO Information Services. Mr. Cudlipp will advise on the Department's public relations with particular reference to the developments for the future of Northern Ireland arising from the Northern Ireland Act and the Convention to be established under it.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he can now make a statement on his discussions with the representatives of the Hughes/ Kennedy Bakery in West Belfast; and whether he will grant financial assistance to this concern with a view to preventing unemployment of the workers.

The Northern Ireland Department of Commerce has offered special short-term assistance to Hughes Bakery Ltd. The purpose of this assistance is to help the company maintain employment in West Belfast and to facilitate the rationalisation of the firm's operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many persons dealing with Press and public relations are attached to the Northern Ireland office; and what is their total salary.

Sixteen. Their total annual salary cost is approximately £62,500. These figures do not include the staff of the Office of Information Services who formerly worked for the Northern Ireland Executive.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he proposes by Order-in-Council to introduce in this Session of Parliament the Solicitors Measure which was before the Northern Ireland Assembly before it was prorogued.

I intend to lay such an order as soon as possible but this is unlikely to be this Session.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what compensation will be provided to shopkeepers having to change their equipment to the metric scale; and if she will make a statement.

It has been the policy of all Governments since Government support for voluntary metrication was announced in 1965 that costs should lie where they fall. But expenditure incurred by a shopkeeper on the modification or replacement of equipment should be allowable against tax.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection if she will state the retail prices in London of the following commodities at the latest convenient date, tea, tips, ¼lb.; lard, 1 lb.; cabbage, per lb.; coffee, instant, ½lb.; corn flakes, 12 oz.; apples, eating, 1 lb.; sugar, granulated, 2 lb.; marmalade, 1 lb.; peaches, tin, 28 oz.; milk, per pint; eggs, standard, 12; beef, silverside, 1 lb.; frying steak, 1 lb.; steak, mince, 1 lb.; lamb, double loin chops, 1 lb.; bread; sliced ham; cheese, 1 lb.; flour, 3 lb.; bacon shoulder, 1 lb.; biscuits, sweet, 1 lb.; salmon, red, 7½ oz.; butter, 1 lb.; soup, 28 oz.; margarine, table, 1 lb.; potatoes, 14 lb.

The following table shows average retail prices, as collected for the General Index of Retail Prices on 21st May, the latest date for which information is available. This information is not available separately for London.

Commodity	Average retail price P
Tea, per ¼ lb.:
Higher price	12·0
Medium price	9·1
Lower price	8·7
Lard, per lb.	17·5
Cabbage, per lb.:
Greens	10·1
Hearted	9·5
Coffee, instant, per 4 oz.	33·8
Apples, dessert, per lb.	12·7
Sugar, granulated, per 2 lb.	10·3
Milk, ordinary, per pint	4·5
Egg, standard, per doz.	35·0
Beef, per lb.:
Silverside (without bone)*
home-killed	69·5
imported, chilled	63·6
Rump steak*
home-killed	93·8
imported, chilled	80·8
Lamb, per lb.:
Loin (with bone), home-killed	67·9
Loin, (with bone), imported	50·8
Bread, white, 1¾ lb. wrapped/sliced loaf	13·9
Cheese, cheddar type, per lb.	36·5
Flour, self-raising, per 3 lb.	20·2
Bacon, collar*, per lb.	43·8
Salmon, canned red, per ½-size	58·0

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will discuss with the Civil Aviation Authority action to ensure that civil aircraft are not routed over central London at heights which mean that they intercept the glide slopes for Heathrow from below rather than above, thus causing unnecessary noise interference with life in London.

This is a complex problem which has been fully discussed with the Civil Aviation Authority in the past. We will, however, discuss it with the authority again, and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what progress he has made in his consultations with representatives of the shipping industry and other interested parties regarding the introduction of legislation to implement the International Convention for the Prevention of Pollution from Ships 1973; and whether he is now in a position to introduce legislation to implement that convention.

Consultations are proceeding. Among the most difficult of the problems to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 30th April—[Vol. 872, c. 457–8.]—are those requirements of the 1973 Convention which call for the provision, both on ships and on land, of equipment and facilities which have not yet been developed. Until those problems have been solved legislation to implement the Convention could not be enforced, and we are not yet ready to announce its introduction.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what information he has received about the bankruptcy of the charter firm Western Jet Ltd.; and how many British holidaymakers are estimated to have lost prepaid flights in consequence.

Western Jet is the trading name of Columbia Air Charter and Tour Brokers Ltd. I am not aware of the appointment of a receiver or liquidator of this company. The Civil Aviation Authority, which refused to renew the company's air travel organiser's licence for this year, is investigating reports that it has been trading since 31st March without a licence. No estimate is at present available of the numbers of intending passengers that might be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what recent consultations he has had following the collapse of the Nation Life Insurance Company; and if he will make a statement.

Following the preliminary hearing on 3rd July of the company's application for winding-up in order to safeguard the interests of its creditors, its affairs are now in the hands of the court, with the Official Receiver appointed as provisional liquidator and Mr. G. A. Weiss of W. H. Cork Gully and Company as his special manager.I understand that the company's application for winding-up will be heard sub-

									tonnes
				June 1973	July 1973	August 1973	September 1973	October 1973	November 1973
Crude fertilizers	…	…	…	42	25	6	208	64	62
Manufactured fertilizers:
Nitrogenous	…	…	…	6,537	1,307	7,978	5,570	6,539	10,415
Phosphatic	…	…	…	7,846	7,689	7,410	4,941	6,427	4,471
Potassic	…	…	…	260	91	46	431	344	75
Other	…	…	…	25,743	15,094	3,266	11,922	21,418	63,000

									tonnes
				December 1973	January 1974	February 1974	March 1974	April 1974	May 1974
Crude fertilizers	…	…	…	167	131	397	236	85	383
Manufactured fertilizers:
Nitrogenous	…	…	…	6,838	12,221	13,285	19,385	6,748	11,092
Phosphatic	…	…	…	4,402	7,149	7,381	6,778	19,855	1,573
Potassic	…	…	…	18	103	101	90	18	100
Other	…	…	…	37,882	49,095	54,234	57,191	55,095	52,515

asked the Secretary of State for Trade if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT indicating which fertilisers have been exported in what quantities for each of the last 12 months for which figures are available.