asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on costs of production and the supply of milk, including in it the time when he proposes to review the current milk price.

Production costs, supplies and prices of milk are all being fully examined in the course of the 1975 annual review, which is now taking place. My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the shortfall in production, as against consumption, of milk in the 12 months April to March 1973–74 in England and Wales; and what is the estimated shortfall in 1974–75 and 1975–76 based on

January-November
							1972	1973	1974
								Million gallons
Total milk production			…	…	…	…	2,906	2,963	2,666
Liquid milk consumption			…	…	…	…	1,629	1,655	1,550
							'000 tons
Butter	…	…	…	…	…	…	94	95	50
Cheese	…	…	…	…	…	…	181	180	203
Cream	…	…	…	…	…	…	76	81	78
Condensed milk		…	…	…	…	…	222	226	212
Full cream milk powder			…	…	…	…	27	29	26
Skimmed milk powder			…	…	…	…	166	153	96

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will discuss with other European Ministers of Agriculture the possibility of setting up a world food bank.

The idea of a world food bank has been considered on many occasions since the Second World War but it has never been possible to find solutions to the many problems of international co-operation and control involved. However, Her Majesty's Government, together with other EEC Governments, have supported the FAO international undertaking on world food security, which involves

There was no shortfall of production against consumption of liquid milk in England and Wales in 1973–74, nor is any forecast for 1974–75 or 1975–76. In 1973–74 1,472 million gallons were sold through the milk marketing boards for liquid consumption and 1,066 million gallons went for manufacture. In 1974–75 the quantity sold for liquid consumption is likely to be about 1,510 million gallons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much milk was produced from British farms in 1974; what the total consumption of liquid milk was in 1974; what the total manufacture of butter and other milk products was in 1974; and what were the figures for 1972 and 1973.

The figures for 1972 and 1973 and for the period January-November 1974, the latest period for which information is available, are as follows:international co-ordination of national stocks, and its implementation will be discussed in the EEC Council and elsewhere.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present state of sugar negotiations with the Commonwealth sugar producers, both between the Commonwealth sugar producers and the EEC and also the Commonwealth sugar producers and the United Kingdom, indicating what minimum price the EEC is at present offering, what supplementary price the United Kingdom is at present offering and what Commonwealth sugar producers are demanding.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the negotiations for 1·4 million tons of cane sugar from the developing Commonwealth.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the price at which he expects Commonwealth sugar to be available to the United Kingdom during 1975.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the recent negotiations with the EEC and the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement countries over the supply of sugar to the United Kingdom in 1975 and subsequent years.

It has not yet been possible to reach agreement with the developing Commonwealth countries on the special price to be paid for supplies to the United Kingdom in 1975. I have offered £250 per ton cif and, when talks were suspended last week, the supplying countries were asking £283 per ton.As a result, little progress has so far been made in the negotiations between these countries and the EEC on the long-term aspects of a sugar agreement, including the level of the fall-back guaranteed price. As I said in my statement to the House on 21st November, the Community's proposal is that this guaranteed price should be negotiated within the limit of the prices applicable in the EEC.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the deadlock in the sugar talks, he will publish an early statement on the negotiations in the Official Report.

There is no deadlock; only an adjournment. I have offered to guarantee, on sugar shipped in 1975 by the African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar-producing countries, the payment of a supplement over and above the minimum price guaranteed by the European Economic Community. This guarantee would enable the total price paid to be equal to £250 a long ton cif a British port. For their part, the Governments of these countries have said that they would not accept less than £283 a long ton cif, and they have proposed that this price should apply until June 1976. In a public comment after the last discussions on 14th January, Mr. Patterson, the Minister of Trade of Jamaica, who was the spokesman for the supplying countries, indicated that the sugar to be supplied against the full quantity of 1·4 million long tons of raw sugar for which access is guaranteed would be kept available for the time being. I am ready to resume negotiations at any tme.The supplying countries are engaged in separate negotiations with the Commission of the European Economic Community about the terms of access to the Community, including the minimum guaranteed price. These talks have also been adjourned for the time being.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which countries in the EEC are expected to have a sugar deficit in 1975.

According to the EEC Commission's latest estimates of sugar supply and demand during the year October 1974 to September 1975, the United Kingdom and Italy are expected to have sugar deficits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what developments have taken place since the Statement of Intent on 8th August 1973 between United Kingdom sugar refineries on the future reorganisation of the sugar industry; and if he will make a statement on the current investment programme in United Kingdom sugar beet and sugar cane factories.

The previous discussions based on the statement of intent involved a voluntary scheme of reorganisation upon which, unfortunately, it was impossible to secure the agreement of the three companies involved. Current investment programmes are a matter for the companies involved and it would be improper for me to disclose the details of any confidential discussions I may have with them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present level of contract uptake for the 1975–76 sugar campaign; and if this is expected to fulfil the current A and B quotas.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Uxbridge (Mr. Shersby) of today.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the present strategic stocks of sugar available to the Government within the United Kingdom; and what is regarded by the Government as a desirable level of such strategic stocks.

It is not the practice to give details of any of the stocks of food forming part of the Government's strategic reserves.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much sugar he now expects to be produced from the 1974–75 United Kingdom crop; how much sugar the United Kingdom has received in the Lardinois proposals; how much sugar he expects to receive from the Commonwealth producers in 1975; what the outstanding amount between expected supplies and expected demands is for 1975; and what plans he has to obtain the sugar to make good the shortfall.

The current estimate for the 1974–75 sugar beet crop in the United Kingdom is 565,000 tons of white sugar equivalent. Of the first slice of 200,000 metric tons involved in the Communities scheme for subsidised imports, 155,000 metric tons was successfully tendered for by British refiners. On 21st January, the Council decided in principle to subsidise imports of a further 300,000 metric tons as a second stage of this scheme, but I cannot yet estimate how much will come to the United Kingdom. The tonnage of cane to be received from Commonwealth countries in 1975 must depend on the negotiations that still have to be concluded. But Mr. Patterson, the spokesmans for the African, Caribbean and Pacific sugar-producing countries, has publicly stated that in the meanwhile the full quantity of 1·4 million tons is being held available. Given this situation, and the decision of the Council of Ministers in October 1974 to take whatever steps were necessary to make good the deficiency in the Community's supplies for 1974–75, it would be premature to assume that there will be a shortfall. But, should one occur, I clearly cannot disclose the contingency plans the Government are making.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the outcome of the EEC Agricultural Ministers' meeting on 9th and 10th December and on the position of the British Government in respect to the EEC price proposals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the European Commission's proposals for agricultural prices in 1975.

The Council of EEC Agricultural Ministers on 9th and 10th December was devoted mainly to a first exchange of views on the European Commission's proposals for agricultural prices in 1975–76. The Council also considered the detailed arrangements to give effect to the major decisions previously taken on sugar.I would also refer the hon. Members to my statement on 16th January during the debate on the Commission's price proposals.—[Vol. 884, c. 821–3.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now cease requiring the mutilation of pigs by ear-punching and sheep by notching, in view of the fact that this was required for subsidy payments which are no longer in operation.

The law at present requires any animal certified under the Fatstock Guarantee Scheme to be permanently marked in the prescribed fashion. I am aware that the special payments on pigs and the guarantee payments on sheep have ceased and will consider whether this is an appropriate time to introduce the amending legislation needed to enable us to suspend ear-punching in periods when market prices are safely above subsidy levels.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has yet formed a view of the EEC policy for digressive aid for glasshouse growers over six years.

A digressive aid over six years has not been accepted as EEC policy. My right hon. Friend considers that a long-term subsidy would militate against economies in the use of energy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the recent price increases for light fuel oils, and the support of the EEC Agricultural Commissioner for such a policy, he will now announce an extension of the fuel oil subsidy for glasshouse producers until June 1975.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to make an announcement concerning the extension of the oil subsidy for the glasshouse industry.

Whether or not we should reintroduce this subsidy is still being considered.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in considering the timing of his statement on the British horticultural industry with special reference to oil subsidy, he will take note of paragraph 12 of the explanatory memorandum in the EEC Commission's proposals on the fixing of farm prices, which states that the Commission intends to propose to the Council before 1st April 1975 measures designed to resolve the difficulties in heated glasshouses.

Any decision on the oil subsidy which is announced will take account of all relevant considerations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will list in the Official Report the horticultural capital grant schemes available in EEC countries.

Apart from the Farm and Horticulture Development Scheme and the Horticulture Capital Grant Scheme in the United Kingdom, capital investment in horticulture is normally assisted in EEC countries by interest rebates. All such assistance must be within guidelines approved by the Council of Ministers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will visit Cilcain, in the county of Clwyd, in order to discuss with hill farmers the outlook for their industry.

I have no plans to visit Cilcain in the near future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in all discussions on negotiations with the EEC, he will ensure that he is accompanied by a representative of the Scottish Office.

I am in constant touch with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and representatives of the Scottish Office accompany me whenever we consider that this is appropriate. I can assure the hon. Member that in discussions in the EEC Her Majesty's Ministers take full account of the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of current nationally-consumed timber is produced domestically; and if he will make a statement.

About 8 per cent. of timber and timber products, including newsprint and paper, is home grown, and on present assumptions this is expected to rise to about 11 per cent. by the turn of the century.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to announce the conclusion of this year's price review.

I hope that it will be possible to complete the review and announce the determinations by the end of February or early March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the arrangements for the promotion of the growth and conservation of grass in marginal and hill areas in the light of the fodder shortage of the current winter.

My ADAS officers are under general instructions to give this matter their special attention. The 50 per cent. capital grant for hill land improvements and the 70 per cent. grant for drainage of hill land are designed to promote grassland production, and the capital and production grants generally available also make a contribution.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that contingency plans for feeding farm animals and ponies are working satisfactorily in view of the shortage of fodder.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Hicks) and the hon. Member for Dorset West (Mr. Spicer). The slight improvement in fodder supplies and measures we have taken to help livestock producers should ease the position generally. Responsibility for feeding animals is the owner's.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce a degree of flexibility in the minimum qualifying weights for subsidy of fat cattle to enable a beast which is finished in every respect to qualify.

No. The minimum qualifying weights for beef premium and the variable premium are designed to encourage orderly marketing of cattle. This could be undermined by flexible application of the standards.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future of the United Kingdom dairy industry with special reference to the ending of the interim 7·7p increase, which is due to end on 31st March 1975.

All aspects of the United Kingdom dairy industry are at present being examined as part of the 1975 annual review. I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the total number of sows, gilts in pig, and boars which were slaughtered in 1974, 1973 and 1972, respectively; and what the total national breeding herd was compared with the breeding herd level of 10 years ago.

The total numbers of sows and boars slaughtered in the United Kingdom in 1974, 1973 and 1972 were 474·9, 413·7 and 353·4 thousand head respectively. Separate statistics of gilts in pig are not available.The pig breeding herd as shown in the June census in these years numbered 897, 1,015 and 960 thousand head. The 1964 census, which was conducted on a slightly different basis, showed a total breeding herd of 903 thousand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present profitability of the United Kingdom fishing industry, with special reference to the oil problems which British fleets are now experiencing; and what action he proposes to take.

The right hon. Member will be aware that my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has said that increased fuel costs generally must be allowed to work through the system. However, as I informed the House as recently as 16th January the Government are actively considering the question of aid for the fishing industry. I shall make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, following the World Food Conference in November 1974, he is now able to estimate the probable effect of the forecast growth of world population and agricultural production over the next 10 years on the food requirements of the United Kingdom.

The Secretariat of the World Food Conference estimated that if past growth rates continued for the next 10 years, production of food for the world as a whole should keep pace with demand. However, it also estimated that there would be a broad imbalance between developed countries, where production would increase faster than demand, and developing countries, where demand would exceed production. The actual out-turn of events will depend upon policies adopted throughout the world and on climatic conditions over the next few years. A major theme of the conference was the need to increase agricultural production in developing countries. It would seem likely that over the next decade the United Kingdom will have no serious difficulty in meeting its requirements for imported food.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of calves, heifers, heifers in calf, cows, steers and bulls which were slaughtered in 1974, 1973 and 1972, respectively.

		Beef Premium Scheme		Variable Premium Scheme
		Exchequer	FEOGA	Exchequer	Total
		£	£	£	£
August	…	654,340	—	—	654,340
September	…	2,109,771	—	—	2,109,771
October	…	5,693,811	—	—	5,693,811
November	…	5,110,934	983,897	—	6,094,831
December	…	3,061,161	3,047,909	1,165,699	7,274,769
January 1st–10th	…	302,757	302,743	37,488	642,988
		£16,932,774	£4,334,549	£1,203,187	£22,470,510

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what cost increases United Kingdom beef farmers have experienced over the last year; and to what extent this has been recouped by prices received for other products.

It is not possible to generalise about cost increases in the production of beef in view of the very wide variety of systems and conditions of production. Beef is produced with a variety of other products and it is not possible to assess the extent to which increased costs of beef production may have been recouped by increased returns from other products.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will

Statistical returns for slaughterings do not differentiate heifers in calf from other heifer slaughterings. Cow and bull slaughterings also are included together, although the proportion of bulls is very small. The information is as follows:

UNITED KINGDOM HOME-KILLED SLAUGHTERINGS
'000 head
	1972	1973	1974*
Steers	1,987·0	1,857·2	2,208·5
Heifers	786·9	691·9	942·7
Cows and Bulls	707·4	745·3	1,036·6
Calves	152·6	141·7	415·8
* Provisional.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much the slaughter premium and the variable premium have now cost the Exchequer; and to what extent this cost has been borne by the EEC Agricultural Fund.

The details relating to payments made up to 10th January 1975 are as follows:make a statement on his long-term plans for the beef industry, indicating what level of guaranteed prices producers will receive in the coming years; and if he will undertake that when this guarantee is implemented he will not revert to the situation between March and November 1974, when there was no guarantee to beef producers.

Discussions of these issues will be resumed at the next meeting of the Council of Agricultural Ministers on 10th to 11th February.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the recession in the livestock section of the British agricultural industry over the last two years, he will ask banks not to curtail their credit facilities for farmers in that section of the industry.

We are not aware of any restriction by the banks on credit for farmers who can establish their creditworthiness.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the weekly value of the total imports of meat in all forms over the past year; and what percentage this is of the weekly home demand.

The weekly average value of total imports of meat in all forms, but excluding live animals, in 1974 valued at cif prices was £13·1 million. The percentage this forms of home demand is not available since home demand is not valued on the same basis. However, estimates of the percentage of the total quantities supplied for the main meats which

			Estimated disposals (to nearest '000 tons)
Product		Provisional totals of withdrawals Community (tons)	To charitable organisations etc.	Use for Animal Feed	Distillation into alcohol	Unfit for consumption	Details not known
Cauliflowers	…	15,343	··	8	—	7	··
Tomatoes	…	4,672	··	··	—	4	··
Peaches	…	31,388	1	1	4	26	—
Pears	…	52,824	1	5	41	2	4
Apples	…	1,897	··	1	··	··	··
Oranges	…	128	··	—	—	··	—
·· Less than 500 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the annual cost to public funds, both in salaries and administrative expenses, of the cheese subsidy section of his food subsidies division at its current establishment.

£45,042.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied that the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation has adequate funds to meet the demands upon it; and if he is prepared to enlarge the sums available.

The Agricultural Mortgage Corporation raises funds from the market as and when they are required to meet new borrowing demands. The corporation

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the quantities of fruit and vegetables withdrawn from the market and compensated with EEC funds in the latest available 12 months period; and how these quantities were disposed of, including how much was destroyed.

The latest period for which we have received such information from the Commission is the marketing year 1972–73. Converting the totals withdrawn to long tons and applying the proportions for various outlets gives the following result:at present has sufficient funds to meet current requirements.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement on his policies affecting the United Kingdom horticulture industry.

Our policy continues to be to encourage growers, principally through capital grants and the help available from the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service, to modernise and where appropriate expand their production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many and what percentage of agricultural workers live in tied cottages; and how this compares with the situation in other Western European countries.

My information derives from my Department's wages and employment inquiry which takes in a statistical sample of about one-tenth of hired agricultural workers in England and Wales. In 1973 approximately 65,000—or a little over half the total—regular whole-time hired men occupied accommodation under their contracts of employment. I have no comparable information for other Western European countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tons of beef the EEC Commission has sold to the USSR; at what price; and at what cost to the EEC in payments to exporters.

The EEC Commission itself sold no beef to the USSR in 1974. Beef is released by the Community from intervention stocks and sold at prices related to current world prices laid down in Community regulations. Stocks then pass through normal commercial channels and are subject to contracts between importers and exporters. The Commission estimates that 80,000 tonnes of intervention beef were sold in this way to USSR in 1974. It is not possible to say the exact quantity exported to Russia or what amount of export restitution from Community funds has been paid on these exports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which forms of EEC beef arrangement currently under consideration he considers to be acceptable from the point of view of their cost to the EEC Agricultural Fund.

The cost to the EEC Agricultural Fund will be one of the factors taken into account when Ministers reach decisions on the Commission proposals for CAP price in 1975. The cost to the fund will depend upon the combination of measures finally agreed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many acres of agricultural land within the county of Dorset have been diverted to other purposes during the last five years; to what extent his Department has been consulted on this issue; and if he will make a statement.

Approximately 6,000 acres excluding common rough grazings.In general, consultations take place between local planning authorities and my Department over proposals to develop 10 or more acres of agricultural land.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many owner-occupied farms have passed by way of gift or inheritance from father to son in the past 10 years; and what total acreage is involved.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to exempt cathedrals and churches from the obligation to pay VAT on the labour and materials used in restoration and repairs.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to publish another Scottish Budget.

None at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ease the restrictions imposed on Scottish clearing banks, whereby they have to place non-interest bearing supplementary deposits with the Bank of England if their interest-bearing eligible liabilities grow faster than 1½ per cent. per month; and if he will raise this ceiling from 1½ per cent. to 2½ per cent. as far as Scottish banks' lending to Scottish manufacturing, agriculture, construction, and transport and communications industries is concerned.

As far as I am aware the restrictions on the growth of bank deposits are not affecting the overall availability of bank finance for Scottish industry and agriculture.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he requires parliamentary approval in order to increase Her Majesty's Government's equity participation in British Petroleum into a majority shareholding; and, if not, under what existing statutory powers he is able to act.

Parliamentary approval would have to be sought.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any plans to increase Her Majesty's Government's equity participation in British Petroleum from the current minority shareholding to a majority shareholding.

It would require very careful consideration. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Energy is making a statement this afternoon about the purchase by the Bank of England of the Burmah shareholding in BP. That purchase does not increase Her Majesty's Government's participation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total British investment in EEC countries since entry, and the total investment in Great Britain of EEC capital since entry.

The available information relates to direct investment by parent companies in overseas affiliates. Preliminary estimates for 1973 indicate a range of £330–£410 million for United Kingdom outward direct investment in other EEC countries and around £50 million for inward direct investment from other EEC countries. These figures include reinvested profits and are net of disinvestment. Most outward investment other than reinvested profits is financed by borrowing overseas. Figures of portfolio, oil and miscellaneous investment cannot at present be analysed so as to identify transactions with other EEC countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate the main sources of Unted Kingdom contributions to the revenue of the European Communities and indicate any projections made in global total or make up.

The United Kingdom's payments to the Community budget during the transitional period to 1979 are limited by reference to a percentage share of the budget in accordance with the Treaty of Accession. Until 1977 the United Kingdom's payments to the Community budget are expected to be made entirely from agricultural levies and customs duties. Under the present arrangements any additional payments needed to meet the percentage share in 1978 and 1979 would be made on the basis of VAT payments if there is agreement on a uniform assessment basis or, in the absence of such agreement, by reference to member States' shares of Community gross national product. On the basis of present policies and budgetary arrangements, United Kingdom payments to, and receipts from, the budget in the years to 1979 are forecast to be:

£ million 1974 prices
	Gross Contributions	Receipts	Net Contributions
1975	280	180	100
1976	370	205	165
1977	450	230	220
1978	505	240	265
1979	550	240	310

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what method the United Kingdom pays its share of EEC revenue; from what fund it is paid; and on what authority.

The United Kingdom's contributions to the budget of the European Communities are paid monthly by transfer from the Consolidated Fund under Section 2 of the European Communities Act 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the Auditor General has any function in regard to the expenditure of the European Communities outside and inside the United Kingdom, respectively.

My hon. Friend is no doubt aware that the Comptroller and Auditor General is independent of the Government, but I am informed by him that he has no function in regard to expenditure of the European Communities outside the United Kingdom. His functions in regard to expenditure of the European Communities inside the United Kingdom are set out in paragraph 7 of his Report on the Appropriation Accounts (Classes I-V: Civil) for 1972–73.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his most up-to-date estimates of the number of taxpayers with investment incomes in the following ranges: under £1,000 per annum, £1,000–£1,999, £2,000–£2,999, £3,000–£3,999, £4,000–£4,999, £5,000–£5,999, and £6,000 and over.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20th January 1975; Vol. 884, c. 232], gave the following information:For 1974–75 the estimated numbers are as follows:

Range of Investment Income	Numbers
(£ pa)	('000)
Under 1,000	4,500
1,000–1,999	400
2,000–2,999	165
3,000–3,999	80
4,000–4,999	45
5,000–5,999	26
6,000+	60

These numbers relate only to individuals (counting married couples as one) with total incomes above the effective tax exemption limit (£625 for 1974–75).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals of the EEC, if adopted, would prevent a future Government of the United Kingdom from imposing taxes on fuel oils as a means of maintaining a viable coal industry.

In the United Kingdom fuel oils are liable to revenue duty at 1p a gallon. In September 1973 a Commission proposal—aimed at the harmonisation of the structure but not the rates of excise duties on mineral oils—included a provision which would have the effect of exempting fuel oils from the harmonised duty. This exemption would be without prejudice to any subsequent Community provisions for the protection of the environment or for securing Community energy supplies.Fuel oils are zero rated in the United Kingdom. A provision in the proposed Sixth Directive on VAT presented to the Council by the Commission in June 1973 would require fuel oil to be subject to VAT.The Council has not yet considered either of these proposals, which would, of course, require the unanimous agreement of member States. Even if they were adopted as they stand, the United Kingdom would not be required to give effect to either of these proposals until fiscal frontiers between member States were abolished. In respect of VAT the United Kingdom has stressed that it must retain the right to apply zero rates where necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals of the EEC, if adopted, will restrict his future freedom to impose what fuel taxes he thinks fit on petrol.

The Commission's proposals for harmonising the structure, but not the rates, of the revenue duty on mineral oils, were submitted to the Council in September 1973. They envisage that member States shall be free to fix rates of duty, which may vary according to the physical properties of the oil or the use to which it is put.However, these proposals also provide that member States may not, directly or indirectly, subject mineral oils to any indirect charge other than VAT and the harmonised duty, except when emergency measures are taken for the protection of the environment. The Council has not yet considered these proposals, which would, of course, require the unanimous agreement of member States. No existing proposals would affect the Chancellor of the Exchequer's freedom to vary rates of the existing revenue duty or VAT on petrol.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what, at the latest available date, was the percentage depreciation of the £ sterling against (a) the US dollar, (b) the German mark, and (c) the French franc, since the Washington Currency Agreement of December 1971.

At close on 21st January 1975 the percentage depreciation of the £ sterling since the Smithsonian Agreement of 19th December 1971 was 9·3 per cent. against the US dollar, 33·6 per cent. against the Deutschemark and 23·1 per cent. against the French franc.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what studies have been made of the effects of the proposed capital transfer tax on agricultural holdings;(2) if he will make a statement on the effects of the capital transfer tax on agricultural production in the United Kingdom;(3) if he is now able to make a statement on the effects of the capital transfer tax on the future planting programmes of private foresters.

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

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the staffing of the police force.

During November and December this year the strength in England and Wales increased by 700 in addition to 300 who transferred from the British Airports Authority Constabulary. The total strength on 31st December was over 102,000. In addition there were 5,900 traffic wardens and nearly 33,000 other staff employed in support.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will include Luton Airport in the list of airports to be designated under the Policing of Airports Act 1974; and if he will ensure that such designation will be operational before the Easter holiday period.

The Government are examining the arrangements for policing all the main municipal airports, including Luton, and the possible need for designation will be considered. Whatever decision is reached it is unlikely that designation could take effect before Easter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to amend the Gaming Act 1968 on the licensing and siting of gaming machines in public houses in order to provide for a minimum rate of return to punters on an overall investment.

No. These machines are intended primarily for amusement. Charges for play and the value of prizes are strictly limited by Section 34 of the Gaming Act 1968 and we do not consider that further restrictions are necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what regular investigations he makes into the working of the Gaming Act 1968 with regard to amusement-with-prizes machines commonly known as one-armed bandits in public houses.

The Gaming Board has a duty to keep under review the extent and character of gaming in Great Britain, but it has only limited powers in relation to premises not licensed under the Act which provide machines offering no more than amusements with prizes, and my right hon. Friend has no plans to extend these powers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has received from the Gaming Board on regulating a minimum percentage payout for gaming machines.

The Gaming Board has informed me that it does not regard it as necessary to extend the statutory powers of the Secretary of State to regulate the minimum percentage payout beyond the machines now covered by Section 31 of the Gaming Act 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Gaming Board has any written agreement with clubs and casinos regarding jackpot prizes or percentage payouts in gaming machines and if any similar agreement exists with breweries.

I am informed that the Gaming Board has an understanding with the trade associations concerned that the minimum percentage payout of machines used under the terms of Section 31 of the Gaming Act for gaming in clubs licensed under the Act should be not less than 75 per cent. No comparable understanding exists with the breweries and is not thought necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the progress of the working party on vagrancy and street offences.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Southampton, Itchen (Mr. Mitchell) on 14th January.—[Vol. 884, c. 89.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will make a statement concerning the factors taken into account when exercising the powers conferred by paragraph 40(ii) of the Immigration Rules (H.C. 82);(2) in how many cases the powers conferred by paragraph 40(ii) of the Immigration Rules (H.C. 82) have been exercised in the periods from the date when the Act came into force on 28th February 1974, and from 1st March 1974 to the present time.

The numbers of people deported from the United Kingdom on the ground that the Secretary of State deemed deportation to be conducive to the public good were as follows:

• 1st January 1973–28th February 1974—26
• 1st March 1974–23rd January 1975—27

Most of these were cases in which, after conviction of a criminal offence, the court decided to leave the question of deportation to the Immigration Appeal Tribunal and the Secretary of State. As to the factors taken into account in considering these cases, I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 50 of H.C. 82 (Statement of Immigration Rules for Control After Entry: EEC and Other Non-Commonwealth Nationals). Generally, the considerations taken into account in cases of deportation are set out in paragraphs 45 and 47 of H.C. 82.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total numbers of findings of guilt for offences of drunkenness in the years 1970 to 1974, inclusive.

The figures of findings of guilt for offences of drunkenness, excluding motoring offences, in England and Wales for the years 1970–73 are as follows:

1970	82,374
1971	86,735
1972	90,198
1973	99,274

Figures for the year 1974 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total number of (i) male, (ii) female findings of guilt for drunken offences in (a) the Metropolitan area from 1970 to 1974, inclusive, and (b) the Inner London area from 1970 to 1974, inclusive, respectively.

Figures for the Metropolitan^* area are as follows:

Findings of guilt for offences of drunkenness
	(i) males	(ii) females
1970	32,592	3,170
1971	34,206	3,322
1972	35,846	3,304
1973	36,842	2,983
* This area comprises the Metropolitan Police District and the City of London.

Figures for 1974 are not yet available. These figures do not include motoring offences.I regret that figures for the Inner London area could not be provided without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give approximate statistics for the proportion of electors who cast their votes at each of the last three General Elections between the hours of 9 a.m. and 10 p.m.

No official information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what progress has been made in the discussions to improve the scheme to guarantee loans to United Kingdom shipowners who order ships from British shipyards.

Discussions with the clearing banks have been completed. The scheme has been modified to provide for the tapering of the agreed rate of return to the banks when the observed rate, on which this is based, is above 7½ per cent. This should provide substantial savings to public funds over the next three years. The arrears of interest which had accumulated up to October 1974 have now been paid to the banks.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what action he has taken to control the dumping of footwear from Czechoslovakia, Poland and Romania since he received representations last month from the British Footwear Manufacturers Federation.

As I told the House on 20th January, we are starting discussions with the countries concerned today.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry according to what criteria he appoints members to the Industrial Development Advisory Board.

In accordance with Section 9(3) of the Industry Act 1972 the membership of the Industrial Development Advisory Board embraces wide experience in industry, banking, accounting and finance.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what conditions will be imposed or what information will be sought by his Department in connection with companies offered loans by the Finance for Industry organisation.

None. Finance for Industry Limited is a private sector organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what research contracts he has placed or has under consideration for using wave energy to generate electricity.

The Department of Industry has placed one feasibility study contract for obtaining power from sea-waves. The cost of the project, which is being carried out at Edinburgh University, will be about £65,000 over a three-year period and should be completed during 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what assistance is not available to local firms being established or already established in a development area or special development area that is available to incoming firms.

Any local firm in a development area or special development area, provided it belongs to either the manufacturing, mining or construction industries, may qualify for assistance under Parts I and II of the Industry Act 1972. Local firms which are service industries do not qualify for regional development grants under Part I of the Act but may qualify for selective financial assistance under Part II provided the project for which they ask assistance serves a market outside the assisted areas and provides at least 10 additional jobs inside these areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry how many meetings have taken place to date of the tripartite working group on the HS146 project which was set up on 13th December 1974; and if he will make a statement on the progress made.

At the meeting on 13th December the parties involved confirmed their general agreement to the principle of further tripartite discussions on the HS146. Arrangements have been put in hand for this, including the submission of papers by the company and the unions and direct discussions with both sides. Final details have yet to be agreed, but all those involved are anxious to make progress, and it is planned that the next tripartite meeting will be soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether he will list in the Official Report the statistical data presently available to the National Enterprise Board to enable the board to identify, in order of priority, the industrial sectors where future productivity will be such as to enable them to be fully competitive in world markets in 1980–81.

The National Enterprise Board has not yet been formed. It will be for the board to decide what information it needs to discharge its statutory responsibilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry if he will arrange for special studies to be made of the export markets for British civil aircraft in Nigeria, Indonesia, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Iran, Kuwait, and Qatar, in the light of the inreased oil revenues of these countries.

Regular market reports on civil aircraft sales opportunities are received from the commercial sections of our overseas posts covering these and other countries. These are passed on to the appropriate aircraft companies to complement their own market research activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she will consider providing a car instead of a three-wheeler for a disabled widower or widow in sole charge of his or her mentally handicapped child who, although over the age of 14 years, cannot be left alone.

No, but I believe the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and I shall get in touch with him further about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authority schemes for the building of new community homes were approved, and how many disapproved, in 1974.

As my Department's capital programmes are based on financial and not calendar years, the following information relates to the financial year 1974–75.Provisional approval was given for 89 new or replacement community homes to be included in the Department's capital programme for 1974–75. Of these, 31 have so far been given final approval for the purposes of key sector loan sanction.If any of the remaining projects do not receive final approval before 31st March 1975 they will be transferred into the programme for 1975–76 if the authorities concerned still wish the schemes to proceed.None of the selected projects so far submitted for final approval has been rejected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make arrangements for copies of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 to be printed as amended by subsequent legislation.

I am considering my hon. Friend's suggestion and shall write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if the proposed plans for the use of the Belmont Hospital and the Henderson Hospital have in any way changed since July 1974;(2) whether any Government Department has been offered the Department's land at the Belmont and Henderson Hospital site; and, if so, which Department;(3) what plans he has to offer the land at the Belmont and Henderson Hospital to the London borough of Sutton for housing redevelopment.

The Merton, Sutton and Wandsworth Area Health Authority (Teaching) will shortly be making recommendations to the South West Thames Regional Health Authority on the future of this site. As my hon. Friend explained to the hon. Member during his Adjournment debate on 5th November 1974—[Vol. 880, c. 1032–38]—any land or buildings which are eventually declared surplus to NHS or personal social services requirements wil be offered to other Government Departments and to the London borough of Sutton and the GLC. No such declaration has, however, yet been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make a statement explaining the criteria for eligibility for the day attendance allowance for families with (i) profoundly deaf young children, and (ii) partially deaf young children.

The conditions for entitlement for day attendance allowance for deaf children are the same as for other disabled children. The application of these conditions in individual cases is a matter for the Attendance Allowance Board. If the hon. Member is aware of any particular cases which are causing difficulty, I should be glad to look into them, taking them up with the board if appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information or estimates her Department possesses on the number of national insurance Class 1 contributors and Class 2 contributors deferring retirement beyond retirement age.

It is estimated that about 150,000 Class 1 contributors and 50,000 Class 2 contributors are currently deferring their retirement beyond minimum pension age.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what evidence she has of staff shortages in the physiotherapy teaching profession; what assessment she has made of the likely consequences of the Halsbury pay recommendations on the relative attractions of chemical and teaching physiotherapy; and if she will make a statement.

Recent evidence suggests that the number of physiotherapy teaching staff in post is approximately 20 per cent. short of the number that health authorities as a whole would like to employ. The recommendations of the Halsbury Committee of Inquiry, which would result in substantial increases for both service and teaching grades, are currently under consideration by the Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what discussions are taking place with the Government of Canada on a reciprocal agreement on social security.

Discussions took place in April last year between officials of both Governments on the possible extension of the existing reciprocal agreement. A number of problems are still being considered by both sides.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the Government have any plans for the setting up of detoxification centres for alcoholics, as envisaged in the Home Office report "Habitual Drunken Offenders" 1971; and if she will make a statement.

The building of an experimental detoxification centre at Withington Hospital, Manchester has started and is likely to be open in 1976. Consideration is being given to the possibility of setting up centres in London and Birmingham. The setting up of detoxification centres for alcoholics will be one of the matters to which the Advisory Committee on Alcoholism, shortly to be set up, will be asked to give particular attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much per week is paid for all the additional facilities at the disposal of the paying patient under the National Health Service.

The normal statutory charge is based on the average cost of all services provided for NHS patients except the cost of consultant services. The charge also includes a small addition for extra catering costs and, where appropriate, for the use of a single room. If private patients are provided with further additional services not needed on medical grounds, they pay the full cost of these. I am afraid I have no precise information of the charges made in practice for these extra facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the average real costs per week of an ordinary bed and a pay bed in a National Health Service hospital, including the cost of nursing but excluding the cost of surgical or medical care.

Beds occupied by private patients in National Health Service hospitals are not costed separately from those occupied by National Health Service patients. In 1972–73, the latest year for which national figures are available, the average total running costs per week—exclusive of consultants' salaries—of all beds occupied in National Health Service hospitals varied, according to hospital classification, from £27·87—RHB psychiatric hospitals—to £116·64—London teaching hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her policy towards doctors in rural areas being able to dispense their own prescriptions.

The policy is that contained in the National Health Service Act 1946.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she plans to establish a health centre for Saddleworth, Greater Manchester.

No plans for the establishment of a health centre in Saddleworth are included in the health centre building programme approved to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she plans to establish a health centre for Denby Dale, West Yorkshire.

It is for the Kirklees Area Health Authority, in consultation with all interested local bodies, to consider the need for a health centre in Denby Dale. To date no recommendation has been made to the Department concerning the need for this scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many students are currently undergoing training as speech therapists; what steps she is taking designed to increase this number; and when she expects to reach the operational number as recommended by the Quirk Report.

The number of students currently undergoing training as speech therapists in England and Wales is 639.I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science to consider possible ways of increasing the number of speech therapists. Schools have been encouraged to increase the number of students in training and several are in the process of doing so. In addition, the university of Newcastle-upon-Tyne provides a BSs in Speech, and last year the university of Manchester began a course leading to a BSc in Speech Pathology and Therapy. The university of Reading has proposed a course leading to a BA in Linguistics and Language Pathology to start this year.It is not possible at present to predict when the target of 2,500 full-time speech therapists, as recommended by the Quirk Report, will be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the loss in contributions from self-employed persons to the Newcastle-upon-Tyne provides a BSC in of persons who would have their contributions reduced if class 2 contributions were treated as advance payments of a class 4 contribution defined as 8 per cent. of earnings between the lower limit for class 2 contributions and £3,600 a year.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 22 January 1975; Vol. 884, c. 393], circulated the following information:If there were liability to an earnings-related contribution of 8 per cent. of earnings between £675 and £3,600 a year and the class 2 contribution were treated as a provisional payment on this account, with a right to refund when the liability turned out to be less than £2·41 a week, about 1½ million people would pay lower contributions and the loss of contribution income would be of the order of £90 million a year. Such a system would, however, be impracticable as well as inconsistent with the treatment of employed earners whose contributions are assessed on all earnings up to the maximum, and not just on those above the threshold. If there were no refunds of the class 2 contribution, about 1 million people would pay lower contributions and the

Financial Year					Medical Research Council (MRC)*	United Kingdom contribution to International Agency for Research on Cancer (through MRC)*	Health and Hospital Authorities, excluding equipment
					£million	£000	£000
1971–72	…	…	…	…	2·546	100·5	309
1972–73	…	…	…	…	2·929	105	401
1973–74	…	…	…	…	3·737	100	606
* Funded from my Department's Science Budget.

Further cancer research supported by public funds is carried out in the universities and medical schools. Details of expenditure by voluntary cancer research organisations, of which the major bodies are the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the Cancer Research Campaign, are to be found in their annual reports.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to pay an official visit to Guadeloupe.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Thornaby.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what talks he has had with heads of foreign Governments since Parliament rose for the Christmas Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much money was spent on cancer research in each of the past three years; and what was the percentage contributed from Government funds and private sources, respectively.

I have been asked to reply.Identifiable public expenditure on cancer research in each of the past three financial years has been:

None. I continued my talks with the Australian Prime Minister, Mr. Whitlam, and I also met Mr. Barrow, Prime Minister of Barbados, on 7th January.

asked the Prime Minister if he will arrange that each Government Department affected by EEC matters shall issue a factual statement of the consequences of remaining a member of the EEC and of leaving it in advance of the test of opinion on EEC membership that it is proposed to hold.

I refer my hon. Friend to my statement on these matters today.