asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the latest estimate of the development cost of the MRCA; what proportion of this expenditure will be incurred by the United Kingdom; what is the latest estimated cost per MRCA; how many the Government propose to purchase; and what is the estimate of the proportion of total development and production costs of the MRCA which will be incurred in Wales.

The total cost of the common development work in the phase recently completed is estimated to have been £345 million, of which the United Kingdom's share is £166 million. Under the conventions normally adopted by Her Majesty's Government and our partners in the programme, the current estimate for the basic unit cost of the common version of MRCA which is at September 1973 prices is £3·4 million. Current planning requirements for the United Kingdom are for 385 aircraft. In common with those for all other projects, these are being examined in the current Defence Review. Firm orders will not need to be placed before December 1975.

				Percentage of GNP at factor cost Per cent.	Per capita expenditure £	Total expenditure £m.
NATO*
Belgium	…	…	…	3·0	53	511
Canada	…	…	…	2·4	44	980
Denmark	…	…	…	2·5	47	237
France	…	…	…	4·2	73	3,785
Federal Republic of Germany		…	…	3·9	81	4,865
(including Berlin)	…	…	…	(4·7)	(98)	(5,872)
Greece	…	…	…	4·6	29	265
Italy	…	…	…	3·3	30	1,674
Luxembourg	…	…	…	1·0	18	6
Netherlands	…	…	…	3·7	59	793
Norway	…	…	…	3·8	62	245
Portugal	…	…	…	6·4	29	246
Turkey	…	…	…	4·8	9	363
United Kingdom	…	…	…	5·7	63	3,518
United States	…	…	…	6·6	152	32,000
Warsaw Pact†
Bulgaria	…	…	…	3·0	62	500
Czechoslovakia	…	…	…	5·0	73	1,100
East Germany	…	…	…	6·0	72	1,20
Hungary	…	…	…	3·0	47	500
Poland	…	…	…	4·0	45	1,500
Rumania	…	…	…	2·0	35	700
USSR	…	…	…	8·0	131	32,000
*These figures are on the NATO definition.
† Estimates only. It is not possible to arrive at fully comparable figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what is the percentage of gross national product spent on defence by each member of NATO; and what is the estimated expenditure of each member of the Warsaw Pact;(2) what is the per capita expenditure on defence of each member of NATO, together with the estimated expenditure of each member of the Warsaw Pact;(3) what is the expenditure, expressed in sterling, on defence of each member of NATO, and the estimated expenditure of the Warsaw Pact.

The information, which relates to 1973, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will seek to obtain from the BBC a recording of the television documentary "The Rise of the Red Navy", for use by his Department's public relations department.

The Department is fully aware of the contents of the programme. Copyright questions may affect the use to which it is put.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Admiral Sir Terence Lewin's statement on the Simonstown Agreement was made with his authority; and if he will publish its terms in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Admiral Lewin gave his professional assessment of the relative value of certain Simonstown facilities in peace time, in reply to questions during a Press briefing which dealt with other matters. The Admiral did not express a view on the value of the Simonstown Agreement as a whole. No official record is available of the discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to announce his decision on the report on school fares.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 19th November.—[Vol. 881, c. 343–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has any plans to restore the issue of free milk to schoolchildren over the age of 7 years.

No decision has yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the current short- age of Welsh language teachers in nursery, primary and secondary schools, respectively.

A survey of secondary schools about a year ago suggested that there was then a shortage of between 30 and 40 Welsh language teachers in these schools. Information about any shortage in nursery and primary schools has not been collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will request all education authorities to make public the academic results of all schools.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many Scottish trained physical education female teachers are currently employed in England; and how this compares with 10 years earlier;(2) how many female heads of physical education departments are currently employed in English schools; and how this figure compares with 10 years earlier.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he now has any plans to seek powers to apply sanctions for breaches of the social contract in the light of recent pay settlements.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what requests he has had from employers negotiating pay settlements who seek to observe the guidelines of the social contract and, by doing so, incur financial penalties by breaking legally binding delivery contracts with their customers; and what reply he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has had no such requests.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what requests for advice he has had from employers engaged in pay negotiations when a strike is already in progress who wish to reach a settlement within the guidelines of the social contract; and what reply he has sent;(2) what requests he has had for advice on how the social contract may be observed by negotiators in a dispute, when employers can only reach a settlement of a strike by breaking the guidelines of the social contract; and what reply he has sent.

The responsibility for settlements lies with those who negotiate them, but in the few cases where advice has been sought from my right hon. Friend he has urged the importance of attempting to reach a settlement within the guidelines.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek powers to provide compensation to companies which incur financial penalties through breaking legally binding contracts with customers as a result of strikes due to employers not granting pay settlements which would be in breach of the guidelines of the social contract.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has any

WAGE COSTS AND OUTPUT—NCB COLLIERIES
					Wage costs per 1,000 tons
			Wages and wages charge*(£m.)	Saleable output (m. tons)	at current prices (£)	at constant prices*(£)
1970–71	…	…	382·6	133·3	2,870	2,870
1971–72	…	…	388·6	109·2	3,559	3,257
1972–73	…	…	489·6	129·8	3,772	3,224
1973–74	…	…	486·2	97·1	5,007	3,874
April—June 1974	…	…	N.A.	28·2	N.A.	N.A.
July—September 1974	…	…	N.A.	25·2	N.A.	N.A.
*Wage costs expressed at constant 1970–71 prices using the general index of retail prices as a deflator.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the present annual salaries of the Chairman, Deputy-Chairman and other directors of the National Coal Board; what are the terms of their respective contracts of service; and when

No. As my right hon. Friend said in his speech to the House on 5th November, it is a matter of great importance that people throughout the country should not believe that we have any intention of reinstituting a freeze or statutory control of incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the Government's policy concerning the reorganisation of the electricity supply industry.

I shall shortly be making a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will publish a table showing (a) the total wage bill in the coal mining industry, (b) the total amount of coal raised and (c) average labour costs per 1,000 tons of coal raised—at both constant and current prices—for each year since 1970 and for the second and third quarter of 1974.

The information is as follows:in each case the contracts of service are due to expire.

The annual salaries of the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and other members of the National Coal Board, together with the dates of expiry of their appointments, are published in the annual White Paper on Public Boards. Since the last publication in April 1974 (Cmnd. 5609), the salaries of all except the part-time members have been increased by £350 p.a. and by threshold payments; and Mr. Wellings has been reappointed until 4th July 1977. Members do not have contracts of service but their terms of appointment are governed by the Coal Industry Nationalisation (National Coal Board) Regulations 1946 (SR&O 1946 No. 1094).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of the carpets which have been fitted recently in the Committee Corridor and in the Members' Tea Room of the House of Commons and in the other rooms in the Palace of Westminster.

The carpet in the Committee Room Corridor cost £9,072. It covers approximately 900 sq. yds., and as it runs the length of both Houses the Pugin design was approved by the two Works of Art Committees in 1973. The old carpet has been used elsewhere in the palace, thus effecting a saving of £4,700. The Members' Tea Room carpet covers 278 sq. yds. and cost £1,836. It comes from the standard range used by my Department. So do most of those fitted in various other rooms since April 1974 at a cost of £7,434.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the cost of the special wallpaper in the Members' Tea Room; and why the monogram "VR" instead of the monogram of Her present Majesty the Queen was printed on the wallpaper.

Following damage to the wallpaper in the Tea Room by water during the work on the Commons Court infilling scheme redecoration was recommended in April 1973. A scheme was therefore prepared in consultation with the appropriate Committees of the House and implemented during the last recess. The cost of the new wallpaper, at £14 per roll compared with £40 per roll for the flock wallpaper which it replaced amounted to £435, including VAT. It is a Pugin designed paper printed from the original block and hence incorporates the contemporary monogram.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what use has been made of the carpet which was recently replaced in the Committee Corridor; whether it has been sold; and, if so, for how much.

I invite the hon. Member's attention to my answer today. The old carpet has been used in two Committee Rooms, two other large rooms, four small rooms and on two staircases, thereby effecting a saving of £4,700.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what arrangements have been made for the allocation and approval of calibration testing stations to meet the commitment by commercial vehicle operators to fit tachographs which will be mandatory after 1st January 1976.

Administrative arrangements are well in hand. I am considering with industry the general tachograph situation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what is his Department's estimate of the number of prefabricated dwellings in use by local authorities in England;(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT, in the most convenient form, information relating to the age of prefabricated dwellings currently in use.

I presume both Questions refer to the prefabricated bungalows provided under the Housing (Temporary Accommodation) Act, 1944. Under the Housing Finance Act 1972 local authorities have sole responsibility for these dwellings and I no longer keep comprehensive records of the total still in use. However, from local authority returns of the numbers demolished, it appears that about 21,000 were still in use in England at 31st March 1974. Information relating to the age of these dwellings is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that tyres being imported for use on public services vehicles meet the appropriate safety standards and manufacturing specifications which apply to British made tyres; and what controls and checks apply to such tyres.

It is an offence to use any tyre which is unsuitable for the purpose to which the vehicle is being put. The responsibility for complying with the law rests primarily with the operator, but public service vehicles are also tested by the Department's vehicle examiners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce regulations to promote the restriction of smoking in single-decker buses.

No. Regulations already require passengers not to smoke in any part of a vehicle where smoking is prohibited by notice. The decision to prohibit smoking is best left to the discretion of individual operators.

asked the Secretary of State for the Enivronment which member represents Wales on the committee of inquiry into local government finance.

I have been asked to reply.I hope to announce a name very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs

£m. at outturn prices
				England	Scotland	Wale	Total
1968–69	…	…	…	0·1	—	—	0·1
1969–70	…	…	…	1·9	—	0·1	2·0
1970–71	…	…	…	6·8	0·8	0·3	7·9
1971–72	…	…	…	6·0	0·7	0·6	7·3
1972–73	…	…	…	9·1	1·3	1·2	11·6
1973–74 (Revised estimate)			…	12·0	2·0	1·5	15·5

The EEC Council of Ministers will, I hope, take decisions at its next meeting early in December on the remaining major issues in the Protocol 22 negotiations. These include the commodity stabilisation scheme and the size of the next European Development Fund. It had been hoped to conclude these negotiations by the end of November, as agreed at the Kingston Conference in late July. It now seems unlikely that this aim will be achieved, but we hope that it will be possible to hold the final ministerial meeting before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards the termination of the illegal regime of Rhodesia.

My right hon. Friend explained fully the Government's views on the current situation in Rhodesia in the debate on 8th November— [Vol. 880, c. 1398.]—and I have nothing to add.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the total amounts spent in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, under the urban aid programme in each year since the programme's inception.

Following is the information requested:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received, following the recent Lords' decision that racial discrimination in working men's clubs is not unlawful; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations from a variety of sources, including Members of both Houses of Parliament, the Chairman of the Race Relations Board, community relations councils, trade union, voluntary and other organisations, and members of the public. The representations have mostly called for amendment of the Race Relations Act 1968, particularly in order to make racial discrimination in clubs unlawful. In reply I have said that I share the concern which has been widely expressed about the effect of the recent decision of the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords on clubs and that I am considering what is needed to correct the situation in the context of the review I am making of the effectiveness of the Race Relations Act as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider introducing legislation along the lines suggested by the Alsatian Dog League in its recently printed Guard Dog Charter, a coy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Scotland are considering the preparation of a code of practice for the training and use of guard dogs by security organisations, and all suggestions will be carefully considered. They have no present plans to introduce legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the Starritt Report, he is satisfied with the level of safety precautions by the Special Branch in relation to those who inform it of criminal activities, with particular reference to the case of Kenneth Lennon.

Yes. My hon. Friend will be able to form his own opinion when the report is published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will lay down a code of conduct in relation to legal proceedings involving information supplied by the Special Branch and those working on its behalf so as to protect and ensure the fair and open nature of the administration of justice.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the guidance issued by the Home Office to police forces on the use of informers, which will be published shortly as an appendix to the report of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis on the case of Kenneth Joseph Lennon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now review the workings of the British Nationality Act 1948 and the Ireland Act 1949 so as to remove from citizens of the Irish Republic the same civic rights as British subjects, and, specifically, the right to vote in United Kingdom general elections.

My right hon. Friend sees no reason to alter the voting rights of citizens of the Republic of Ireland resident here.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to begin his re-examination of the working of the Children and Young Persons Act 1969; and what plans lie has to consult such organisations as the National Association of Probation Officers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 20th November to Questions by the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East (Mr. Cordle).—[Vol. 881, c. 434–5.]—My right hon. Friend and I, together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales, pay careful attention to the views of those concerned with the working of this legislation, including the probation and after-care service. The National Association of Probation Officers has already written to us about the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many boys and girls of 16 years and under are on remand or serving sentences in Her Majesty's Prisons.

I am arranging for up to date figures to be obtained and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will take action to ensure continuity of employment in relation to the HS146 pending his review of the project.

It would not be appropriate to give any commitment in advance of decisions on our present examination of the future of the project. The Government, of course, are aware of the anxiety of those connected with the project, and the effect that cancellation would have on employment is one of the factors being taken into account in our examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will now authorise the building of two prototype HS146 aircraft pending the outcome of any evaluation of the project.

I must ask my hon. Friend to await the outcome of the Government's current review of the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will amplify his Budget statement by stating what upper limit he intends to put on the funds made available to the Department of Industry to use during the current financial year under the Industry Act 1972.

My Department's present Estimates provision for expenditure under the Industry Act in 1974–75 is £417·5 million. If additional funds are required parliamentary authority will be sought in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will place a copy of the accounts of Govan Shipbuilders Limited for the year to 28th December 1973 in the Library of the House.

A copy of the accounts of Govan Shipbuilders Limited for the year to 28th December 1973 has been lodged in the normal way with the Registrar of Companies at Edinburgh, but for the convenience of interested Members I have arranged for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the amount of Government financial assistance, under all headings, paid in each of the last seven years to each of the shipbuilding, ship repairing and marine engineering establishments in the United Kingdom.

It is not possible to provide full information. The industries in question are eligible for the normal range of aids which is, or has been, available to industry generally, including investment grants, regional employment premiums and grants available under the Industry Act and Local Employment Acts.However, it is possible to provide details of the assistance given to the larger shipbuilding companies under schemes or arrangements that are specific to shipbuilding and this information is given in the tables below. The tables include, under "others", grants to independent engine builders totalling £0·28 million. The only form of aid specific to shipbuilding which is not covered by the tables is shipbuilders' relief—a rebate of taxes currently 2 per cent. of the cost of a ship. There has been no specific aid to the shiprepairing industry in the period in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what would be the cost of changing the tax status of widows with dependent children to that of married men, and also of doing the same for widowers;(2) what would be the cost of changing the tax status of all widows to that of married men, and of widowers to that of married men.

I regret that the information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total value of Chilean debts to Great Britain; and how much is due in 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively, in interest and capital repayments.

We have no exact figures, but it is estimated that Chile's total outstanding debt to the United Kingdom amounts to approximately £124– £125 million. Repayments of capital and interest due in 1974, 1975 and 1976 are estimated at approximately £14 million, £13 million and £10 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Government support the Club of Paris agreement to permit the Chilean junta to postpone repayments of interest and capital due on Chilean international debts until 1977; and if any representations on the treatment of political prisoners were made in this connection.

The multilateral agreement for the rescheduling of Chile's external debt, which postponed repayment of 80 per cent. of debts due in 1973 and 1974 until 1st January 1977, was signed by all the members of the Paris Club, including the United Kingdom. The chairman drew the attention of the Chilean representatives to the concern felt by members of the club about the observance of human rights in Chile. Since then Her Majesty's Government have repeatedly expressed their concern about human rights to the Chilean authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if their was unanimous agreement on the rescheduling of Chilean debts among the European Governments with similar claims against Chile.

The creditor countries which took part in the multilateral debt negotiations and signed the multilateral agreement are as follows:

Belgium	Netherlands
Canada	Spain
West Germany	Sweden
Denmark	Switzerland
France	United Kingdom
Japan	USA

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make the agreement of Her Majesty's Government to any proposals for further rescheduling of Chilean international debts conditional upon an amnesty for prisoners detained without trial for supporting the Government of President Allende.

There is currently no proposal for a further rescheduling agreement with Chile. Her Majesty's Government will, in the future as in the past, seek the most effective ways of making known their concern for human rights in Chile.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of allowing the age allowance for pensioners to apply to single women who have reached the age of 60.

I regret that the information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, following the increase of VAT on petrol, if he will make proposals designed to assist those in rural areas who are entirely dependent on private transport to reach their employment.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has considered the situation of the rural motorist in areas that have no alternative transportation in the light of recent petrol price increases; and if he will consider preparing some form of relief.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he expects his recent increase in the rate of VAT on petrol to reduce consumption in the United Kingdom.

My right hon. Friend made it clear in his Budget Statement that this measure is designed to discourage wasteful of petrol.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals the EEC Commission has made for special community loans to enable member States to deal with fluctuations in their balance of payments; and how he sees this operating in respect to Great Britain's problems.

The Council of Ministers agreed on 18th November to offer four-year assistance to Italy under the EEC inter-governmental medium-term credit facility, to replace short-term central bank credit which had previously been made available. The United Kingdom obtained exemption from participation, as provided for countries themselves having balance of payments difficulties, but has offered to roll over its existing short-term credit. The total amounts involved are nearly $1–9 billion, including the United Kingdom short-term assistance of $486–5 million, which has been provided in the form of temporary investment of part of the assets of the Exchange Equalisation Account. The EEC is continuing discussion on the detailed arrangements for community loans to member States based on finance raised externally.The United Kingdom has no immediate plans for seeking assistance from the Community under any of these headings.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the maximum amount that a married woman may earn per financial year without becoming liable (a) for income tax and (b) to pay separate national insurance contributions.

A married woman does not pay tax if her income in the financial year is less than £625. National insurance flat-rate and graduated contributions become payable at incomes of £9 per week—£468 per year. A married woman may, however, opt not to pay flat-rate contributions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the current rate of inflation, based upon the retail price index for the 12 months to October; and how this figure compares with the 17·1 per cent. rate during the 12 months to September.

The Retail Price Index for October published on 15th November shows a percentage increase over the previous 12 months of 17·1 per cent., the same as the increase over the 12 months to September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the current rate of inflation, based upon the retail price index over the three months to October grossed up to an annual rate; and how this figure compares with the 8·4 per cent. for the three months to August, and 8·7 per cent. for the three months to September.

The Retail Price Index for the three months to October, grossed up to an annual rate, shows a percentage increase of 13·4 compared with the 8·7 for the three months to September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer for what reasons he has not filled the vacancy for the Government-appointed director of British Petroleum, caused by the death of Sir John Stevens, KCMG, DSO, OBE, who died on 27th October 1973.

The Government's general relations with BP are conducted through normal departmental channels direct with the chairman and management. An announcement about the appointment of a second director will be made at the appropriate time.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many public sector houses he estimates will be built in each of the next six years in the North Down area; how many applicants for housing are on the waiting list for accommodation at present; and what is the forecast of the number of persons who will make application for housing in North Down in each of the next six years.

The Northern Ireland Housing Executive estimates that in each of the next six years the number of public sector houses which will be completed in the North Down area is as follows:

Financial year	No. of Houses
1974–75	177
1975–76	184
1976–77	240
1977–78	390
1978–79	510
1979–80	410

At present there are 1,505 applicants on the waiting list for housing in the North Down area.In planning the housing programme, the executive takes into account current waiting lists, the existing condition of housing stock, and an assessment of population change prepared by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Planning. No detailed forecasts of the numbers of applicants in future years are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what is the total amount of allowances for travel and subsistence, respectively, paid to Northern Ireland Office civil servants during the last financial year.

The total amount of allowances for travel and subsistence in the financial year 1973–74 was £177,917. These allowances cover all the extra expenses incurred by officers who travel on official duty, or who are posted away from their normal place of work. It is not practical to provide figures showing travel and subsistence allowances separately. The total includes, for the last quarter of the financial year, the allowances paid to Northern Ireland civil servants who were seconded to NIO from the former NI Ministry of Home Affairs for administrative duty on law and order and protective services, which became reserved to the Secretary of State from 1st January 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many new bathroom suites have been installed in Speaker's House, Stormont; what is the total cost involved; how much has been realised from the sale of the existing fittings which have been replaced; and why new bathroom suites were necessary for the refurbishment of the building.

The house will provide residential and office accommodation for Northern Ireland Office Ministers and their staffs.Six new bathroom suites and three shower compartments have been installed in Stormont House. The total cost, including the cost of extensive plumbing and building works, has been £4,500. All original fittings which were serviceable have been either reused or taken into store. Fittings which were obsolete or damaged were worthless and disposed of as waste. New bathroom suites were necessary in order to replace certain obsolete facilities and to provide for the increased number of occupants.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the cost of the new iron spiral staircase installed in Speaker's House, Stormont; where it was made; and why it was necessary.

The cost of the new spiral staircase installed in Stormont House was £614. It was manufactured in England. The staircase was necessary, to conform with Building Regulations, as a secondary means of escape from the top floor bedrooms in case of fire.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement on the European Commission proposals on the future of the European Development Fund.

I support the Commission's proposal that the next European Development Fund (EDF) should be financed from the Community's budgetary resources. If this is not agreed I will press for the United Kingdom contribution to be related to our share of the Community's gross national product.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when she anticipates that the talks with industry on the possibility of a penalty to be imposed on companies which break the terms of the social contract by making huge salary and wage settlements will commence and which organisations are to be involved.

I assume that the reference is to paragraph 13 of the White Paper on the review of the Price

								January 1962 = 100
					1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
Beer	…	…	…	…	120	124	129	130	139
Milk	…	…	…	…	113	116	120	127	133

								January 1962 = 100 1974
					1970	1971	1972	1973	(January—October)
Beer	…	…	…	…	151	162	171	177	195
Milk	…	…	…	…	141	167	175	180	157

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are provided with accommodation in homes for the elderly in Scotland.

At 31st December 1973 there were 7,982 persons in local authority homes for the elderly, and in addition there were 4,640 residents in voluntary and private homes registered under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968 of whom 1,642 were assisted financially by the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places there are in homes for the elderly in Scotland per 1,000 population aged 65 years and over.

At 31st December 1973 there were 8,532 places in local authority homes for the elderly and 5,058 in voluntary and private homes registered under the Social Work (Scotland) Act 1968, equal to 20·3 places per 1,000 population aged 65 and over.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sheltered housing units there are per 1,000 population aged 65 years and over in Scotland.

A survey at the end of 1973 showed that local authorities had provided rather less than one sheltered housing unit per 1,000 persons aged 65 or over, but housing associations, not included in the survey, have provided a substantial amount of this kind of accommodation. In addition, local authorities have plans to provide 2,750 places by the end of this year and a further 10,500 places between then and the end of 1978. A further survey will be made next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to review the payment of inducement to medical practitioners.

My Department wrote to the Scottish General Medical Services Committee last month suggesting a preliminary discussion with representatives of the committee about the possibility of changing the system of inducement payments in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many, and which, community health councils in Scotland will include Family Planning Association representation.

Local health councils have not yet been set up, but draft schemes submitted by health boards for this purpose are at present being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many abortions were notified as being carried out in Scotland in the first nine months of 1974.

5,250.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why statistics on the number of experiments involving the use of live animals are not kept by her Department; and if she will now consider keeping them.

No. Such statistics are maintained by the Secretary of State for the Home Department, who is responsible for the administration of Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, and are published annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will express the increased level of standard rate of unemployment and sickness benefits for (a) a single person, and (b) assuming one adult dependant announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(2) if she will express the increased level of invalidity, widow's and retirement pensions and widowed mother's allowance announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(3) if she will express the increased level of the three rates of the invalidity allowance announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(4) if she will express the increased level of the higher and lower rate of the attendance allowance announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(5) if she will express the increased level of industrial injury benefit announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(6) if she will express the increased level of disablement benefit at 100 per cent. assessment announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(7) if she will express the increased level of the industrial death benefit announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(8) if she will express the increased level of the ordinary weekly rate of supplementary benefit for a single person living alone announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(9) if she will express the increased level of the proposed long-term weekly rate of supplementary benefit for a single person living alone announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(10) if she will express the increased level of the ordinary weekly rate of supplementary benefit for a husband and wife and two dependants aged 15 years announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(11) if she will express the increased level of the long-term weekly rate of supplementary benefit for a husband and wife and two dependants aged 15 years announced on 13th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings;(12) if she will express the increased level of family allowances for the second child announced on 12th November as a percentage of average industrial earnings.

I regret that, as these benefit levels do not apply until next April it is not possible to express them in the form requested by the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average delay in paying chemists in Eastbourne the monthly sums due to them for supplying prescriptions under the National Health Service in October 1974 and in October 1973.

Estimated payments were made on 1st October 1974 followed by the balance on 23rd October 1974. There were no delays in making the payments due on 1st October 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many widows and widowers there are in the United Kingdom;(2) how many widows and widowers in the United Kingdom have dependent children.

The numbers of widows and widowers enumerated in the United Kingdom and Great Britain by the 1971 Census of Population were:

	United Kingdom	Great Britain
Widows	3,138,628	3,068,195
Widowers	762,420	743,890

The figures for widows and widowers with dependent children are not available for the United Kingdom.The 1971 Census of Population of Great Britain showed 131,120 widows and 33,690 widowers with dependent children under 19 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to draw the attention of the general public to the fact that self-employed and non-employed persons are not covered for medical treatment when travelling in countries of the European Economic Community; and if she will ensure that such persons are advised to take appropriate independent action for their own insurance against this risk.

Information and advice of this kind is already given in departmental leaflet SA28 entitled "Medical treatment for holiday makers and other temporary visitors to countries of the European Economic Community" and obtainable at local social security offices. Medical cover for self-employed and non-employed persons is provided in Denmark under bilateral arrangements and will be available in the German Federal Republic following ratification of the convention recently signed with that country.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if social security offices are authorised to pay benefits in currency which is not legal tender in the United Kingdom.

No specific instructions have been issued to social security offices about the currency to be used for the payment of benefit and none is considered to be necessary. Social security offices generally make the vast majority of payments by giro-cheques or order books which are cashed at post offices but there are also occasional cash payments. In Northern Ireland all payments are made by giro-cheque or order book.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals she is considering for the provision of a medical centre for Yoxall, Staffordshire; and whether she can give likely dates for the commencement and completion of this project.

Health centre schemes are currently being considered for inclusion in the 1975–76 capital programme. It is not possible at this stage to say which schemes will be selected or to forecast starting dates.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, for the purposes of registration of births, deaths and marriages in Wales, in the absence of a specific linguistic request by the providers of information for registration, the registrars are required to complete appropriate documents in Welsh only, bilingually or in English only, or whether the matter of language is left to the discretion of the individual registrar.

Births and deaths in Wales must be registered in English and may be registered in Welsh as well if the person giving information so wishes and can give the particulars in Welsh and if the registration officer to whom it is given can understand and write Welsh. The choice rests with the informant and not with the registrar.Similarly, marriages in Wales are required to be registered in English but the parties may, if they wish, have the marriage registered bilingually provided they can give the particulars in Welsh as well as English and the person by whom the marriage is registered can understand and write Welsh.Posters drawing attention to the provisions are displayed in all registration offices and in all cases where facilities can be made available for the bilingual registration of births and deaths registrars are instructed to ask the informant whether he wishes to have a bilingual registration.Whenever notice of a marriage in Wales is given to a superintendent registrar in Wales the person giving it is asked whether he will wish to have the marriage registered bilingually and if he does, then, where the marriage is to be attended by a registrar, every effort is made to provide an officer who can understand and write Welsh. For marriages according to the rites of the Church in Wales or in other places of worship where the presence of a registrar is not required arrangements for providing the facilities for bilingual registration which the law allows are a matter for the incumbent or other person by whom the marriage must be registered.In 75 per cent. of registration districts in Wales the superintendent registrar or his deputy is Welsh-speaking and can, therefore, carry out the preliminaries to the marriage bilingually if the person giving notice so wishes. In 68 per cent. of sub-districts there is a Welsh-speaking registrar or deputy.In the three months ended 31st March 1974, the latest quarter for which provisional figures are available, the proportion of events in Wales registered bilingually was as follows: births, 1·4 per cent.; deaths, 0·3 per cent.; marriages, 1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the building of health centres in Ormskirk and Burscough has been authorised to proceed in 1974–75.

No. Both are among the very large number of health centre schemes from which selections will shortly be made for the 1975–76 building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied with the provision of free chiropody services for pensioners in the Ormskirk area.

There are eight chiropodists—one full-time, seven part-time—providing services under the National Health Service to retirement pensioners and other priority patients in the Ormskirk district. In addition a limited domiciliary service is provided to the elderly by a voluntary body acting as agents for the health authority. I recognise that this may be less than adequate at present. The long-term objective is to expand and improve services nationally to an acceptable standard as manpower and other resources permit. Local arrangements are a matter for individual area health authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what representations have been sent her regarding advertisements sponsored by cigarette manufacturers offering free samples of cigarettes; what replies she has sent; and if she will make a statement;(2) if she will seek to prevent cigarette manufacturers from offering free samples of cigarettes to the public via advertisements.

I am taking this matter up with the cigarette manufacturing industry. I am particularly concerned that such offers might encourage children to try to obtain free cigarettes.I met the industry in July and discussed a number of matters with it, including advertising and other forms of sales pro- motion of cigarettes, with a view to securing by voluntary agreement, a number of sensible measures to bring about a reduction in cigarette smoking, particularly by the young. I will be having a further meeting with the industry shortly on these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will add those workers who are engaged in heavy steel mills, tube works, and nail, screw, nut and bolt manufacturer, to the list of those who will benefit under the new regulations which came into force on 28th October 1974, and which added occupational deafness to the schedule of industrial diseases prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Act.

In accordance with the recommendations of the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council in its report on occupational deafness, the scheme now introduced has been limited to those industrial processes in which the noise levels are highest. Having regard to the availability of the technical and medical resources necessary to deal with claims, wider cover would not be feasible at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what percentage of United Kingdom exports has been sold to the OPEC bloc during each of the past five years.

Using the current membership of OPEC throughout, following are the percentages:

1969	5·5
1970	5·0
1971	5·5
1972	5·8
1973	5·7

For the first 10 months of 1974 the figure was 6·2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade whether he will publish an estimate of the loss to the balance of payments of the activities in Great Britain of the Italian Mafia as a consequence of the collection of expatriate funds and their use for the purchase of antiques and subsequent export to Italy.

I am unable to make an estimate. If my hon. Friend has any evidence of the operations of the Mafia in this country I suggest that he should pass it on to the police.