asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if the restrictions on trawling for soles and plaice by heavier vessels approved at the last meeting of the North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission on the eastern side of the North Sea covers waters off the coast of Sussex and Kent.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the quota set for potato growers in 1975; what proportion is so far taken up; and if he will make a statement of his proposals to deal with any shortfall.

The Potato Marketing Board has fixed the quotas for registered producers for the 1975 crop at 100 per cent. of their basic acreage. This level was designed to achieve the target of 495,000 acres for registered producers in Great Britain. It is not possible to forecast with any certainty next year's plantings, but I am keeping the situation under close review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which countries have protested against the ban on live animal exports into the Common Market.

No formal protests against the current suspension of licences to export live food animals have been received, but we know that several countries do not accept that the ban was justified.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish figures showing the current salaries paid to senior civil servants; and what plans, if any, he has to increase these rates.

The current salaries paid to senior civil servants are as follows:

	£
Head of the Home Civil Service	17,350
Permanent Secretary to the Treasury
Secretary to the Cabinet
Permanent Secretary	16,350
Second Permanent Secretary	15,350
Deputy Secretary	11,100
Under-Secretary	9,000

These salaries have recently been reviewed by the Top Salaries Review Body and the Government are considering its recommendations. An announcement will be made in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which RAF and RN stations will have reductions in Service men and civilian employees as a result of the proposals in the defence review.

It is too soon to say.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent any past and present members of the Armed Forces and Civil Service have been relieved from any obligations under the Official Secrets Act, or any other undertakings, since the publication of the book, "The Ultra Secret", by F. W. Winterbotham, CBE.

The Official Secrets Act and other undertakings given by individuals engaged in World War II intelligence activities still apply. Anyone wishing to publish details of his war-time experiences in intelligence should continue to consult his former Department or the Secretary of the Defence Press and Broadcasting Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will estimate the additional cost per aircraft and in total of the RAF variant of the multi-rôle combat aircraft above the £3·4 million for the basic unit cost of the common version; if he intends to proceed with it; and how many aircraft in all he intends to purchase.

An air defence variant of the MRCA for the Royal Air Force is at an early stage of project definition. One of the aims of this work is to define the likely costs of the project before any development or production commitments are entered into. On numbers I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on 11th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has any plans to close the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Aberporth.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, following his statement on defence cuts, what maritime reconnaissance aircraft will be affected; and what numbers are involved.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the right hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Walker) on 9th December.—[Vol. 883, c. 75.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why it is proposed to retain a NATO reinforcement commitment for an air-portable brigade rather than the Parachute Brigade.

The parachute capability which we propose to retain, being more lightly equipped than an air-portable brigade group, would be less well suited to the NATO reinforcement commitment for which the latter will be declared.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Parachute Brigade has at present any operational parachute rôle other than its commitment to NATO.

The Parachute Brigade is available to take part in any operations required by Her Majesty's Government depending on the situation at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of university students completed their courses and graduated in 1963 and 1973.

This information is not available, but rates of wastage are among the information it is hoped to draw from the new Universities' Statistical Record.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many places in nursery classes were provided in the City of Hull District Council in the years 1970 to 1974; and how many are planned in the same area for the years 1974–75, 1975–76 and 1976–77.

140 nursery places were provided in the county borough of Kingston upon Hull between 1970 and 1974 under the Home Office Urban Aid Programme. Humberside County Council has allocations of £541,275 for nursery building starts in 1974–75 and £432,985 for starts in 1975–76. It is for local education authorities to decide which individual projects should be started within their allocations. No allocations have yet been made for nursery building in 1967–77.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many workers have been made redundant following the closure by Glenburn Engineering (UK) Ltd. of four of its factories in the United Kingdom.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that redundancies involving 1,206 Glenburn Engineering employees have been notified to local offices of the Employment Service Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of places available for industrial training under the Industrial Training Act in the London borough of Havering.

I am advised by the Manpower Services Commission that the bulk of training carried out under the Industrial Training Act 1964 is done by employers on their own premises. The full extent of this training is not known. Industrial training boards set up under the Industrial Training Act 1964 can provide training places for employees within their scope and can co-operate with groups of employers to set up training places through group training schemes. The Manpower Services Commission tells me that information about these training places is not readily available and inquiries are being made. I will write to my hon. Friend when I have heard from the chairman.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of places available for industrial training in Government centres in the London borough of Havering.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that there is no skillcentre in the London borough of Havering, but people wishing to train under the Training Opportunities Scheme (TOPS) can do so at the nearest centres at Poplar or Enfield, or at any other skillcentre. Courses under TOPS are also provided in colleges and approved employers' establishments, and people from the borough of Havering can attend suitable courses not only at the college in Havering and the adjacent Redbridge group but also at the many other colleges in the London area.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will place in the Library a copy of the British Gas Corporation's current application to the Price Commission.

No. The financial and other information in such an application is commercially confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement about the intended use of ZETA for energy purposes.

The experimental facility ZETA itself was superseded a few years ago in the course of continuing research by the UKAEA into thermonuclear fusion, which is now within the framework of an EEC programme. This programme shows steady progress. Fusion is potentially an important source of energy in the long term, but it is not generally expected that it will contribute to meeting energy needs before the end of this century.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy approximately how much energy, in terms of value, could be saved in the United Kingdom as a whole by reverting to British Summer Time, and what additional saving would result from Double British Summer Time.

I do not consider that such alterations would have any significant effect on energy consumption.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what steps the Government intend to take to meet the deficits of the gas and electricity industries once the compensation provided for under the Statutory Corporations (Financial Provisions) Act 1974 is exhausted; and how they will alleviate the cash flow problems of the industries meanwhile.

The Government intend to introduce legislation to amend the Statutory Corporations (Financial Provisions) Act 1974. The Bill will include suitable provisions to enable the industries to meet their interim short-term financial requirements pending the final settlement of compensation. In the meantime, arrangements have been made with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer which will permit the industries to borrow from the National Loans Fund by way of short-term bridging finance at normal interest rates for short-term loans. These loans will be repayable on the date when compensation payments are made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the current cost of constructing one mile of three-lane motorway and the cost of electrifying at 25kv one mile of existing double-track railway.

The cost of motorway construction depends on a number of factors including the complexity of the scheme, the nature of the ground and the variability in tender prices, but at present the average cost of constructing a dual three-lane rural motorway is about £1·4 million per mile. The cost of railway electrification also varies substantially according to the nature of the terrain and the number of bridges and tunnels, but in this case an average cost figure would not be meaningful because of the small number of recent schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the average cost of building a house by local authorities in Greater Manchester in each of the financial years 1950–51, 1960–61, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74 and 1974–75.

Following are the available estimates based on tenders approved for local authorities:

CONSTRUCTION COSTS OF LOCAL AUTHORITY HOUSES, NORTH-WEST REGION
		Average tender price (£) 2-storey, 3-bedroom houses
Tenders approved during:
1960	…	1,637 2-storey, 5 bedspace houses
1971–72	…	4,210
1972–73	…	5,028
1973–74 (provisional)	…	6,650

I regret that figures for 1950–51 are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total road expenditure in Great Britain by the Exchequer and by local authorities, respectively, for the financial year 1973–74.

Total road expenditure in 1973–74 for Great Britain was:

	£ million (1)
From central funds	524·6
From local authority funds (2)	572·3
(1)Figures include expenditure on road lighting and vehicle parking.
(2)Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider proposing making it mandatory for all local authorities to allow small businesses to pay their rates by monthly instalment.

No. Such a proposal could not be implemented without legislation, and further legislation on rates must await the outcome of the Layfield Inquiry on Local Government Finance. In the meantime, rating authorities were requested in the Department's Circular 73/74 to give sympathetic consideration to requests for instalment facilities from owners of small businesses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of the figures necessary to make a comparison between the impact of the domestic rate relief for 1974–75 on Wales, Cornwall and the six other most comparable English counties.

Domestic rate relief in 1974–75 had the following impact on domestic rate poundages in the South-West of England, and Wales:

1974–75 AVERAGE RATE POUNDAGES (including water and sewerage charges)
		Gross	Net of domestic rate relief
		P	P
Avon	…	68·9	55·9
Cornwall	…	67·4	54·4
Devon	…	62·4	49·4
Dorset	…	60·0	47·0
Gloucestershire	…	65·3	52·3
Somerset	…	63·7	50·7
Wiltshire	…	63·2	50·2
Wales	…	82·2	48·7

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans there are for major or minor works to the main Halifax-Burnley road; what consultations with interested parties are envisaged; and if he will make a statement on the future of this road to allay local uncertainty.

The opening of M62 has made this road less important to through traffic between the Lancashire and West Yorkshire conurbations. Local improvements, possibly including short bypasses, may suffice, but my right hon. Friend has no plans at present. If and when he formulates proposals there will be the usual consultations with local authorities and other statutory bodies, and with the public if there are feasible alternatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on recent political developments in Anguilla and on future Government policy towards Anguilla.

I visited St. Kitts and Anguilla in September for local consultations. Subsequently the Anguilla councillors have requested an assurance that all constitutional ties with St. Kitts will be severed by 30th May 1975. Her Majesty's Government have the matter under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs at what places it is possible for members of the public to scrutinise draft regulations of the EEC; and what is his policy concerning circulation of draft regulations other than to Government Departments and public enterprises.

Draft Council regulations are normally published in the EEC Official Journal ("C" Series) which is available from HMSO, from the Communities Information Office in London, and in many public libraries. Circulation by Government Departments would be a matter for the Minister concerned with any particular draft.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he intends to give to coroners about inviting close relatives to identify the victims of terrorist activities.(2) if he will now issue advice to coroners that they make a practice of asking doctors and friends, other than close relations, to identify the bodies of people who are killed.

Identification does not have to be by a close relative. But it is usually the case that the most appropriate person to perform this distressing duty is a close relative. In the circumstances I do not consider that general guidance to coroners is required. I shall, however, be writing more fully to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many close relatives of people who have been killed in the last five years have been asked to identify the bodies of their next of kin.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the level of undermanning in the West Midlands Police Force at the latest convenient date.

On 30th November 1974 the strength of the force was 1,097 officers below the authorised establishment of 6,471.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men have left the West Midlands Police Force since its formation; and how many have been recruited in the same period

Up to 30th November 1974, 208 men and 28 women left the West Midlands Police Force and 219 men and 34 women were recruited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those charged with terrorist offences in England and Wales are citizens of Eire, and how many are citizens of the United Kingdom.

I regret that this information is not readily available and that a search for it would involve disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study his Department has made of the growth of private security organisations; and if he will make a statement.

Information obtained from the police in 1971 showed that 741 organisations providing services for the protection of persons and property, including the installation of security equipment, were then known to the police to be operating in England and Wales. The information was not, however, in a form permitting any estimate to be made of the growth of such organisations.

asked the Secretary of Stale for the Home Department if he is satisfied with the current state of the law as it affects the activities of private security firms; and if he will make a statement.

Private security firms and their employees have no special status under the law. Their activities are subject to the same legal restraints as those of all other private firms and citizens, and we do not consider that additional measures of legal control are called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what representations he has received from the Worsted Spinners Federation Ltd. about the mass importation of cut-price acrylic yarns from the Far East; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement on his policy on this matter.

The Worsted Spinners Federation Ltd. has discussed this matter with officials of my Department. I understand that it is about to put a detailed case for restraining these imports to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and it will be given urgent consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry, in view of his answer to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames on 26th November that nationalised industries have been asked to follow a similar policy to that of central Government when purchasing large computer systems, whether nationalised industries remain free to purchase the computer system most suitable for their needs, whatever its country of origin, unless a directive is issued to the contrary.

Nationalised industries have since 1971 been asked to follow, in their computer purchases, a similar policy to that of central Government. This provides that large computers, defined as I Atlas power or greater, are purchased from ICL subject to satisfactory price, performance and delivery.

asked the Lord Advocate how many charges have been made against persons for shoplifting in the past eight weeks; and how this compares with the same period in each of the past three years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what controls are exerted by the Bank of England over the purchase of shares in Scottish public companies by purchasers from the oil-producing Arab countries.

Portfolio investment by nonresidents in any public company in the United Kingdom is freely allowed provided that the transaction is appropriately financed. Specific Bank of England permission is, however, required for transactions by a non-resident who holds or would as a result acquire 10 per cent. or more of the voting rights in the company concerned. Exchange control permission is required for direct investment proposals by non-residents. Such proposals are considered on their merits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in the light of the concern among members of the public at the complexity of income tax forms, what steps he is taking to effect a simplification of them and a reduction in their number.

Every effort is made to keep the income tax forms as simple as possible consistent with the complexity of the law and the need to provide sufficient guidance to taxpayers on their completion. The Inland Revenue keeps the number and the content of the tax forms under continuous review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum of tax refunded to strikers or those laid off in consequence of strikes during the most recent annual period for which figures are available.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the prospects for Her Majesty's Government of obtaining medium-term or longer-term lending from the Government of Iran; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government have not sought to go beyond the medium-term loan arrangement that was concluded with the Imperial Government of Iran earlier this year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what recent representations he has received on the abolition of tax on widows' pensions; and what replies he has sent.

I have received representations from the War Widows' Association of Great Britain to exempt war widows' pensions from income tax, and representations have also been made by Members and others about the taxation of widows' pensions. In replying to these representations I have generally explained, except where the approach of the Budget precluded a substantive answer, that it is the Government's view that the increases made this year in national insurance widows' pensions together with the substantial further increase proposed from next April are a more effective way of helping widows than providing special tax reliefs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many countries in the EEC tax widows' pensions; and if he will publish figures showing the net income of a widow aged 50, earning £25 per week gross, after deductions of national insurance and income tax, with the comparable figures for such a widow in France, Germany, Italy and Holland.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the percentage of gross national product devoted to defence spending in each of the last 20 years, and the percentage which such spending bore to total public spending in each year.

The percentages are as follows:

		Military defence expenditure (national accounts definition) as a percentage of:
Calendar Year		GNP at factor cost	Total public expenditure
1954	…	10·0	24·2
1955	…	9·1	21·9
1956	…	8·8	21·7
1957	…	8·2	20·4
1958	…	7·5	18·7
1959	…	7·3	18·0
1960	…	7·1	17·3
1961	…	7·0	16·7
1962	…	7·2	16·7
1963	…	6·9	16·2
1964	…	6·7	15·6
1965	…	6·7	14·9
1966	…	6·6	14·4
1967	…	6·8	13·8
1968	…	6·5	12·8
1969	…	5·8	11·6
1970	…	5·7	11·3
1971	…	5·7	11·4
1972	…	5·6	11·3
1973	…	5·4	10·6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made by the departmental working party on its review of legislation affecting dogs; and, in particular, on the matter of licensing arrangements.

I have been asked to reply.An interdepartmental working party under the chairmanship of an official from my Department has been established with the following terms of reference:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now raise the age limit for the RUC Reserve from 57 to 60 years.

This is being examined without commitment.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many dwellings now owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Executive in North Antrim have no electricity supply; and how many of these dwellings were handed over in this condition by the Carrickfergus Borough Council, the Ballymena Borough Council, the Bally-money Urban Council, the Ballycastle Urban Council, the Portrush Urban Council, the Larne Borough Council, the Ballymoney Rural Council, the Ballycastle Rural Council and the Ballymena Rural Council, respectively;(2)how many dwellings now owned by the Northern Ireland Housing Execu tive in North Antrim have no piped water supply; and how many of these dwellings were handed over in this condition by Carrickfergus Borough Council, Bally mena Borough Council, Ballymoney Urban Council, Ballycastle Urban Coun cil, Portrush Urban Council, Larne Borough Council, Ballymoney Rural Council, Ballycastle Rural Council and Ballymena Rural Council, respectively;(3)how many dwellings owned by the Housing Executive in North Antrim have no inside flush toilets; and how many of these dwellings were handed over in this condition by Ballymena Borough Coun cil, Larne Borough Council, Carrickfergus Borough Council, Ballymoney Urban Council, Ballycastle Urban Council, Port rush Urban Council, Ballymoney Rural Council, Ballymena Rural Council and Ballycastle Rural Council, respectively;

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the Aldergrove Airport was redeveloped; what was the expected passenger capacity it could cope with; and how many passengers have used Aldergrove in each of the past five years.

The design capacity of the present terminal facilities at Belfast Airport, which were completed in 1963, is 900,000 passengers a year. The numbers of passengers per year have been as follows:

1970	…	1,117,000
1971	…	1,116,000
1972	…	1,189,000
1973	…	1,314,000
1974 (1.1.74 — 31.10.74)	…	1,054,000

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland how many

It is estimated that for the following district council areas the numbers of Northern Ireland Housing Executive dwellings which lack the amenities detailed are as follows:citizens of Eire have been granted work permits for employment in Northern Ireland in each year since 1970.

The figures are:

1970	…	…	…	892
1971	…	…	…	675
1972	…	…	…	360
1973	…	…	…	412
1974 (to date)	…	…	…	422

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland when the issue of work permits in Northern Ireland will cease to comply with EEC regulations; and whether any negotiations have taken place to extend the period.

The EEC secondary legislation in the field of the free movement of labour is not due to come into force in Northern Ireland until 1st January 1978 when the five-year period of derogation ends. No negotiations have taken place to extend the period.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what factors are taken into consideration when granting work permits to people from outside Northern Ireland who want to take up employment in the Province.

Under the Safeguarding of Employment Act (Northern Ireland) 1947 a person who is not a Northern Ireland worker may not take up work in Northern Ireland, except for certain exempted kinds of work, unless he has a permit. A factor taken into consideration in dealing with applications is that the granting of a permit should not adversely affect employment opportunities for Northern Ireland workers. A permit is granted in respect of a specific job with a named employer and is not normally granted if a suitable Northern Ireland worker is available to take up the employment.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement regarding the United Kingdom's proposed membership of the Inter-American Development Bank.

Subject to the articles of agreement of the bank being amended by the governors of the bank to allow countries outside the Western Hemisphere to be members, Her Majesty's Government intend to apply for membership with a share subscription of US$61,595,886 of the value established on 18th October 1973, of which $10,157,410 would be paid-in, the rest callable. This capital subscription would be subject to the prior approval of the House of Commons, to be given under the Overseas Aid Act 1968, and a draft statutory instrument to secure this will be laid in due course. It is also intended to contribute US$61,595,886 to the Fund for Special Operations of the bank.It is proposed that half the paid-in capital of the bank, and the whole of the contribution to the Fund for Special Operations, should be in the form of non-interest-bearing non-negotiable notes encashable by the bank as required for its operations or to meet its liabilities. The notes would be deposited in three equal annual instalments, and the first would probably not be deposited until 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when it is hoped to complete the change-over in the retail industry from imperial to metric measures; and if she is satisfied with the current rate of progress.

There are no powers to require the retail sector to change, but the voluntary change in manufacturing industries is bringing more and more metric consumer goods into the shops. Under the Weights and Measures Act some goods may only be sold in prescribed imperial quantities; some orders have been made, and others are planned, authorising metric quantities in addition. Consultations with industry and consumer interests are continuing to determine the appropriate pace for change.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection what representations she has received to reterm the existing paragraph 34 of the Review of the Price Code, Consultative Document, Command Paper No. 5779, as an alternative option to the proposed paragraph 34; and whether she has as yet made any decision, or whether the matter is still open for discussion.

I have received representations to this effect from the CBI and from many organisations and firms. The period for consultation on Cmnd. 5779 ended on 27th November. My decision will be reflected in the order containing the new Price Code, which I shall shortly lay before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to revise superannuation arrangements for Scottish teachers.

The Scottish Teachers' Superannuation Scheme has been substantially revised recently to incorporate improvements recommended by the Working Party on Teachers' Superannuation. Further changes in the scheme may be required as a consequence of legislation to implement the social security proposals outlined in Cmnd. 5713.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that the arts in Scotland are not discriminated against in any future financial cutbacks.

There has certainly not been any discrimination against the arts in Scotland in the past, nor will there be in the future. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Education and Science pointed out in his answer on 2nd December to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mrs. Ewing)—[Vol. 882, c. 370.]—the expenditure on the arts in Scotland authorised by the Scottish Arts Council over the period 1964–74 increased by 838 per cent. compared with 434 per cent. for Great Britain as a whole. The future level of support for the arts will be carefully considered together with that for other activities and services in the light of decisions on the level of public expenditure generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he had with the Scottish fishing industry regarding the contents of the Offshore Petroleum Development Bill; and what consultations he proposes to have.

The timetable for producing this urgent Bill precluded consultations prior to its publication. Before its next stage I will consult the fishing industry on the matters on which it is concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations have been made to his Department about the proposals to construct an oil platform at Kishorn; and if he will make a statement on his policy on these proposals.

Following advertisement of the proposal in March 1974 I received 99 representations. I also had before me 41 representations, including three petitions, received by the county council. After considering all the representations—some of which supported the proposals—and the other relevant factors I issued in September a direction enabling Ross and Cromarty County Council to grant planning permission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the mileage of all-purpose dual carriageways in use on trunk roads on 30th September 1974.

In Scotland, about 164 miles.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list those trunk and principal road schemes costing over £250,000, giving the estimated cost of each, which were added to the forward road programme during the six months ended 30th September 1974.

The following schemes were added to the firm programme of major trunk and principal road schemes in Scotland during the six months ended 30th September 1974:

Trunk Roads and Total Estimated Cost
			£ million
A9 Charlestown-Duncanston	…	…	4·5
A9 Cromarty Bridge	…	…	3·8
A9 Tore-Conon Bridge	…	…	1·7
Principal Roads
A832 Loch Maree Hotel-Victoria Falls			0·3

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of dentists serving in the National Health Service in the Sussex Area Health Authority on the latest date on which records are available; and what were the comparable figures in 1973, 1972 and 1971, respectively.

The number of dentists serving in East and West Sussex in the general dental services of the National Health Service was 413 in 1974; 407 in 1973; 405 in 1972; and 387 in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what classes of information she is prepared to give, in answer to parliamentary Questions, about the implementation by local authorities of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970.

I assume my hon. Friend to be referring to Sections 1 and 2 of the Act. As regards Section 1, I already receive returns of numbers of people newly registered each year, and in the case of Section 2 statistical information about help provided to households. All this is published annually, and copies of the 1973–74 figures for Section 2 have now been placed in the Library. As a general principle I am always glad to make available any information which does not involve either my Department or a local authority in a disproportionate amount of work. Some aspects of the implementation of both sections are not susceptible to measurement by straightforward statistics—for example, the extent to which authorities translate the findings of a process of identification into planning terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many physiotherapists have resigned from the National Health Service since 1st January 1974; and how many resigned in 1973.

The information which is available centrally shows the numbers in post in September each year but not the number who resign each year. The numbers in post in the hospital service in England and Wales, expressed in whole-time equivalents, were 4,642 in September 1973 and 4,688 in September 1972. Information for September 1974 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors have resigned from the National Health Service since 1st January 1974; and how many resigned in 1973.

This information is not available. In the year ending 30th September 1973 the number of doctors in hospitals and general practice increased by 1,570—England and Wales figures. Statistics for 30th September 1974 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses have resigned from the National Health Service since 1st January 1974; and how many resigned in 1973.

Statistics of resignations are not available. The total number in whole-time equivalent terms of nursing and midwifery staff in the National Health Service in England and Wales rose from 307,697 to 312,427 in the year ended 30th September 1973. Information for 1974 is not yet ready.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many radiologists have resigned from the National Health Service since 1st January 1974; and how many resigned in 1973.

In the year ending 30th September 1973, 17 senior registrars and 14 consultants in radiology resigned. During that year the number of radiologists in the hospital service increased from 1,010 to 1,036. Information for 1974 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she is aware that there is a waiting period of eight weeks for people requiring advice and attention at the Darlington family planning clinics, and if she will take steps to see that the necessary staff and resources are available to improve this service.

The waiting time varies from 11 weeks at one of the Family Planning Association's clinics to under four weeks at hospital clinics. I have recently notified health authorities in England of their share of the £12 million towards the cost of former local authority health services, which includes the family planning service, and in addition I have made available to the same authorities a sum of £1 million towards the cost of family planning services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she intends issuing the circular to health authorities on agency nurses.

At an early date, as soon as the necessary consultations are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of the total number of people involved in strikes in each year since 1966 claimed supplementary benefits for (a) themselves and (b) their dependants.

Following is the information:Percentages of those involved in trade disputes receiving supplementary benefit for themselves and their dependants for the years 1966–1973.

Year		Percentage paid for own needs	Percentage paid for dependants
1966	…	0·04	1·42
1967	…	0·06	2·63
1968	…	0·01	0·84
1969	…	0·01	4·03
1970	…	0·02	5·66
1971	…	0·08	10·69
1972	…	0·85	13·55
1973	…	0·02	2·36

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the death rate from breast cancer in the United Kingdom.

In 1973 the United Kingdom crude death rate from cancer of the breast, ICD 174, was 446 females per million females in the population.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many early warning machines for the detection of breast cancer are available in England, Scotland, Wales and Ulster.

Information on equipment for the early diagnosis of breast cancer is at present being collected. I will let the hon. Member know when inquiries have been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many in-patients are at present in Lynfield Mount Hospital, Bradford, Yorkshire; how many of them are subject to orders made under Part V of the Mental Health Act 1959; and whether she is satisfied with the security arrangements currently in force in respect of patients subject to such orders.

There are 149 patients in Lynfield Mount Hospital, of whom four are subject to orders made under Part V of the Mental Health Act.Hospital authorities are expected to provide secure accommodation short of that provided by the special hospitals on a regional or local basis. It is for area health authorities to satisfy themselves that the security arrangements in a hospital are appropriate for the patients for whom the hospital is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services at what level a uniform family allowance for all children would have to be fixed in order to involve the same cost as the Government's proposed allowances.

In place of the £1·50 family allowance for second and subsequent children the level would be 73p for each child; or, if the cost is taken as net of income tax payable on the allowances and the same clawback is assumed for first children as for others, 96p.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will arrange for vegetarian retirement pensioners to be issued with tokens for the purchase of nutritious foods other than meat.

No. The EEC subsidy scheme applies to beef and veal only.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting time for persons in Carlisle needing dental treatment, excluding emergencies under the National Health Insurance Scheme; how this compares with cities of a similar size; and if she will make a statement.

No information is available about the waiting time for treatment provided under the general dental services of the National Health Service. The dentists are independent contractors and the arrangements made with patients for appointments are a matter for mutual agreement. The waiting time for dental treatment at hospitals depends on the nature of the treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the improvements to invalid tricycles listed in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 25th November 1974 (columns 82 and 83) have been carried out to the 21,000 motor tricycles now on the roads, including the 14,000 pre-Model 70 tricycles; and, if not, if she will list how many tricycles now incorporate all these modifications, on what date the task will be completed for the remainder, and at what cost.

The improvements relate to the Model 70. They have been included in all vehicles manufactured since July 1974. In general it would be impracticable as well as very expensive to make improvements to existing vehicles. However, all Model 70 vehicles on the road are being modified to incorporate the improved petrol tank mounting to eliminate any doubt about compliance with the relevant construction and use regulations. Necessary feasible improvements will not be delayed for cost reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action has been taken to improve the stability and wind performance of the 21,000 motor invalid tricycles now on the roads, including the 14,000 pre-Model 70 tricycles; what action has been taken to commence the fitment of collapsible steering columns; how many tricycles have been modified to meet these particular defects; on what date the task will be completed for the remainder, and at what cost.

A vehicle suitable for the very seriously disabled necessarily incorporates unusual characteristics, of which the high profile and unique steering mechanism are examples. Improvements are always under active consideration. The introduction of a collapsible steering column, which presents considerable technical problems, is in the initial stages of development.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many drivers of invalid tricycles have been fatally injured in road accidents in each of the last 10 years.

Following arc the figures:

1965	…	…	…	…	4
1966	…	…	…	…	4
1967	…	…	…	…	2
1968	…	…	…	…	5
1969	…	…	…	…	4
1970	…	…	…	…	5
1971	…	…	…	…	6
1972	…	…	…	…	6
1973	…	…	…	…	5
1974	…	…	…	…	4

In some instances it is not known whether the death resulted from the accident or was the cause of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the injury accidents involving invalid tricycles in the year ended September 1974 resulted in injury to the driver of the invalid tricycle, as against the drivers and passengers of other vehicles, or pedestrians.

The number of drivers of invalid three-wheelers who were injured in reported incidents in the year ended 30th September 1974 was 419. These injuries were mostly of a minor nature. Records are not kept to show the number of drivers and passengers of other vehicles or pedestrians injured in accidents involving three-wheelers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rate of injury accidents per million miles for invalid tricycles, as against that for other mechanically propelled four-wheelers, in the years ended September 1973 and September 1974, respectively.

The injury accident rates per million miles for the Department's three-wheelers for the years ended 30th September 1973 and 1974 were about 5·8 and 6·4 respectively. Most of the injuries recorded were of a minor nature. These figures are not comparable with those produced by the Department of the Environment for all passenger cars and taxis because of the differing bases on which the statistics are compiled.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the accidents involving invalid tricycles overturning, in the years ended September 1973 and September 1974, respectively, resulted in injury to the driver of the invalid tricycle; and in how many cases no other vehicle was involved in the accident.

Figures for 1973 are not available. In the year ended 30th September 1974, 102 drivers of invalid vehicles sustained injury—usually of a minor character—when their vehicles overturned. In most cases no other vehicle was involved, but precise figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the rate of injury accidents per million miles, in the year ended September 1974, for the Model 70 invalid tricycle; and what was the equivalent rate for older types of motor invalid tricycle.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in establishing the arrangements for the appointments of area speech therapists as recommended in the Quirk Report on Speech Therapy Services; and when such appointments can be expected to be authorised.

I have asked area health authorities to appoint area speech therapists as soon as practicable. Further progress depends on salaries being fixed for these posts. Lord Halsbury's committee of inquiry will no doubt include them in its recommendations on pay structure for this and certain other pro- fessions. Lord Halsbury has told me it would be unwise to expect the committee's report before the end of the year. I understand that the Whitley Council is proposing to meet on 19th December to discuss the possibility of making some progress in the meantime.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children in the areas covered by the Congle-ton and Macclesfield borough councils have currently been identfied as needing examination by a speech therapist.

About 11 children are referred each month and at present 25 are awaiting first appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children in the area of the former Ormskirk Urban District Council and the former West Lancashire Rural District Council are currently identified as needing examination by a speech therapist.

58 children are awaiting appointments at clinics in the former Ormskirk Urban District and 12 at clinics in the former West Lancashire Rural District.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many adults in the area of the former Ormskirk Urban District Council and the West Lancashire Rural District Council are currently identified as needing examination by a speech therapist;(2) how many adults in Kirkby have been identified as requiring the service of a speech therapist.

I regret this information is not available in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many recipients of supplementary benefit whose allowance is restricted by the wage stop are currently receiving a rate rebate; and if this information can be broken down into each of the Department's administrative regions;(2) how many claimants of supplementary benefit whose allowance is restricted by the wage stop are currently in receipt of a rent rebate or rent allowance; how many of those who are not doing so are currently having to pay rent; and if this information can be broken down into each of the Department's administrative regions.

I regret the information is not available. There are fewer than 8,000 claimants whose supplementary allowance is limited by the wage stop provision and they are almost without exception eligible for rate rebate and for rent rebate or allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT how many divorced and separated women are receiving family income supplement in their own right; and how many of these women receive maintenance payments from their husbands.

It is estimated that of the approximately 39,000 one-parent families headed by a woman who were receiving family income supplement at the end of October 1974, about 23,000 were separated or divorced. Of these roughly 9,000 received maintenance payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients, and what proportion of the total number of recipients, of family income supplement are women in full-time work who are responsible for their households.

Any single person in full-time work together with at least one dependent child forms a household for family income supplement purposes. It is estimated that, at the end of October 1974, 39,000 one-parent families headed by a woman were receiving the supplement. This represents 52 per cent. of the total number of recipients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the relationship between the current review of doctors' and dentists' remuneration by the committee formerly chaired by Lord Halsbury, and the substantive review which is now to be carried out in April 1975.

These reviews are quite distinct. The current claim to which I assume the hon. Member is referring is for interim pay increases effective this year. The substantive review which I understand the Doctors' and Dentists' Review Body will shortly be starting will be of pay levels effective from April next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion of the deterioration in the United Kingdom's overall visible trade deficit between 1970 and 1973 and between the first halves of 1973 and 1974, respectively, was accounted for by trade with the other eight members of the EEC.

52 per cent. and 21 per cent. respectively. The latter figure is influenced by the increase in the oil deficit.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade who are the current directors of the Labour Party Nominees Ltd. (Company Registration 966540); what resignations have taken place since 1st January 1974; on what dates they occurred; and on what dates they were registered at Companies House.

According to the statutory returns on file the current directors are Leonard James Callaghan; Herbert Richard Nicholas; John Gwynfryn Morgan; Frank Lane; Leonard Forden; Douglas Richards; Harold Edward Hickling; Sidney Weighell; Alexander Harper Kitson. A notice dated 13th June 1974 of the resignations of A. Cunningham, J. Diamond and J. Gormley was filed on 18th June 1974 but no dates of resignation were given. The company has been asked to provide them.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion imports of food were of total imports in each of the last 10 years.

Following are the percentages by value:

1964	…	…	…	…	27·5
1965	…	…	…	…	26·5
1966	…	…	…	…	26·6
1967	…	…	…	…	24·2
1968	…	…	…	…	20·9
1969	…	…	…	…	20·3
1970	…	…	…	…	19·9
1971	…	…	…	…	19·3
1972	…	…	…	…	18·2
1973	…	…	…	…	16·6

NOTE. Food is defined here as Section 0 less Division 00 (Live Animals) in the overseas trade statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade what proportion imports of fertilisers and other essential agricultural raw materials were of total United Kingdom imports in each of the last 10 years.

Commodities indentifiable as principally for agricultural purposes—fertilisers, animal feeding stuffs, disinfectants, insecticides, fungicides, weed killers, etc.—account for the following percentages by value:

1964	…	…	…	…	1·7
1965	…	…	…	…	1·9
1966	…	…	…	…	1·7
1967	…	…	…	…	1·7
1968	…	…	…	…	1·6
1969	…	…	…	…	1·5
1970	…	…	…	…	1·4
1971	…	…	…	…	1·3
1972	…	…	…	…	1·2
1973	…	…	…	…	1·4

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much butter is produced in Wales at the present time; and if he is satisfied that there will be adequate supplies of butter in the shops in Wales over Christmas.

I understand that there is little production of butter in Wales at the present time. However, Wales, and Great Britain as a whole, is largely dependent on imported supplies, and stocks of butter in the United Kingdom are sufficient to meet normal seasonal demand.