asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library the transcript of his public statement at his Press conference on 11th July on the subject of the White Paper, "The Attack on Inflation".

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend did so on 14th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider erecting a public memorial to the late Clement Attlee to commemorate the services he rendered to the country, particularly during the war.

I have been asked to reply.

Yes. My right hon. Friend would be happy to do so. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment will be glad to discuss the possibilities with right hon. and hon. Members.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the objectives and policy of the Government's Special Counter-Inflationary Publicity Unit.

I have been asked to reply.

The Counter-Inflation Unit has been established to assist the Government as a whole in the presentation of its counter-inflation policies set out in the White Paper, "The Attack on Inflation" (Cmnd. 6151).

asked the Prime Minister if he will estimate the cost on an annual basis of the advice unit under Mr. Geoffrey Goodman which it is proposed to create.

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Thanet, East (Mr. Aitken) on 17th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that, before he discusses at a Heads of State meeting the Commission's Report on European Union, the House of Commons will be given an opportunity to endorse the Government's opposition to the proposals contained therein.

I have been asked to reply.

The Commission's report is not a formal proposal on which the Council of Ministers is asked to take a decision, and it is unlikely to be discussed at a Heads of Government meeting. The Belgian Prime Minister will take account of it in the report on European Union which he is preparing for submission to the Heads of Government.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Department of Energy and other Government Departments on energy conservation policies.

I have been asked to reply.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech to business men in London on 14th July which concerned economic affairs.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on the economy to business men in London on 14th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on economic matters to business men in London on 14th July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech made at the seminar on Middle East trade on 14th July on export-import matters.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on the economy to the seminar on Anglo-Middle East trade in London on Monday 14th July 1975.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on the economy to business men in London on Monday 14th July 1975.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will place in the Library a copy of his public speech on economic matters to business men in London on Monday 14th July 1975.

I have been asked to reply.

I refer the hon. Members to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Christchurch and Lymington (Mr. Adley).

asked the Prime Minister what meetings he has had with representatives of Caribbean countries since the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.

asked the Prime Minister what further discussions he has had with representatives of Caribbean countries since the Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference in Jamaica.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions, since the Commonwealth Heads of State Conference, he has had with representatives of the Caribbean countries.

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend received Dr. Carlos Rafael Rodriguez, Deputy Prime Minister of Cuba, on 22nd May, while he was in this country to conclude an Anglo-Cuban Agreement on Economic and Industrial Co-operation. The hon. Lyndon Prindling, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, was the guest of my right hon. Friend at the Queen's Birthday Parade on 14th June. On 21st July, my right hon. Friend was pleased to entertain Dr. the right hon. Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, to lunch during a short official visit to this country.

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

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit the East Midlands.

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend has at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he has any plans to visit West Germany.

I have been asked to reply.

As my hon. Friend will know, my right hon. Friend had talks in Hamburg with Chancellor Schmidt on 24th July.

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

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend is frequently in Kirkby, as my hon. Friend knows, but he has no plans at present for an official visit.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to visit the Northern Region.

I have been asked to reply.

My right hon. Friend visited Newcastle earlier this year but has no further plans at present to visit the Northern Region.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Secretary of State for Wales and the Secretary of State for the Environment in regard to water policy.

I have been asked to reply.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he has been invited to attend the next Trades Union Congress.

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit) on 24th July.

asked the Prime Minister when he next plans to meet the TUC.

I have been asked to reply.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, Central (Mr. Hamilton) on 22nd July.

asked the Prime Minister if he will again arrange an early meeting with Prime Minister Whitlam and Prime Minister Trudeau following his last discussion with them both in Jamaica.

I have been asked to reply.

Although my right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for doing so, he looks forward to following up the discussions which he had at Kingston on commodities and other matters with Mr. Whitlam and Mr. Trudeau and other Commonwealth Prime Ministers as the opportunity arises.

asked the Prime Minister whether it is proposed that gifts should be presented to the Government and Legislature of Papua, New Guinea, to mark the attainment of independence by Papua, New Guinea, on 16th September.

I am sure that the whole House will wish to send warm congratulations to Papua, New Guinea on her forthcoming independence and best wishes for the happiness and prosperity of her people. Her Majesty's Government will propose that this House should offer a parliamentary gift to the House of Assembly of Papua, New Guinea. To mark the occasion, Her Majesty's Government, for their part, have decided to offer the Government of Papua, New Guinea a gift of a replica in silver and enamel of Papua. New Guinea's national emblem—a bird of paradise.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to the islands of Bute, Arran and Cumbrae.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of those classified as unemployed receive ( a ) unemployment benefit and ( b ) receive only unemployment benefit at the latest date for which figures are available.

Of the total number registered as unemployed on 12th May 1975, 49.1 per cent. were in receipt of unemployment benefit and 37.3 per cent. were in receipt of unemployment benefit only.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement about the date of hear- ing for the tribunal dealing with the application for unemployment benefit by Mr. Clive Wilson in the industrial dispute involving the Birmingham Post and Evening Mail.

I have been asked to reply.

Mr. Wilson's claim to unemployment benefit was disallowed by the insurance officer who is the first of the independent adjudicating authorities on 24th July. Mr. Wilson has been notified of this decision and of his right to appeal to a local appeal tribunal. In the event of his exercising this right, a local tribunal hearing would be arranged as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of primary and secondary contributions in respect of an employed person is for the provision of unemployment benefit and industrial injuries benefit, respectively.

Ninety-three per cent. of the standard primary Class 1 contribution, and 91 per cent. of the secondary contribution, are paid into the National Insurance Fund. No specific proportions of these contributions are allocated to unemployment or industrial injuries benefits. The report by the Government Actuary on the Social Security Benefits Uprating Order 1975 (Command 6083), however, gives estimated benefit expenditure for 1975–76 analysed by individual benefits. On the basis of these estimates and allowing for associated costs of administration, about 7 per cent. of the outgo from the National Insurance Fund will be for unemployment benefit and 3½ per cent. will be for industrial injuries benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount paid in unemployment benefit to those under 21 years of age for the last period of 12 months for which statistics are available.

About £14 million in the 12 months ended 30th September 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are waiting for medical care at Northampton General Hospital; and if she will publish the numbers, length of time, and treatment awaited.

At 30th June 1975 the number of people waiting admission to Northampton General Hospital was as shown below. Urgent cases are admitted without delay. Waiting time for others is influenced by many factors but some 80 per cent. of those waiting are admitted within the time shown against each category below.

Numbers waiting at 30th June 1975 80 per cent. admitted within General Surgery … 956 8 months Ear, Nose and Throat … 390 12 months General Medicine … 15 2 months Ophthalmology … 142 6 months Dentistry … 109 9 months Gynaecology … 549 12 months

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the consultants at Northampton General Hospital are back to full-time work.

Yes. On 24th June the Medical Staff Committee resolved to return to normal working.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will detail those parts of the recommendations of the report on habitual drunken offenders that have been implemented; and what plans she has to introduce the others.

It was announced in 1972 that services for habitual drunken offenders would be provided as part of a comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation service for all alcoholics under the aegis of the Department. Circular 21/73 of May 1973 advised local authorities to assess local need, and, in consultation with voluntary organisations, to decide what range of facilities could be provided. From April 1973 a scheme for capital and revenue deficit funding has encouraged voluntary organisations to provide hostels for alcoholics, which the report listed as its highest priority. Grants have also been made to provide information services and other "contact" facilities for alcoholics, and towards specialised education for those working with alcoholics. There have been discussions with the bodies concerned with professional education. There has been a growth in the number of shelters and other experimental facilities for homeless single people. Better links have been created between community facilities and the health services, and bodies like Campaign for the Homeless and Rootless and Federation of Alcoholic Residential Establishments, with some financial help from the Department, work towards better co-ordination of voluntary effort. The work of some hostels and other facilities for alcoholics has been evaluated. An experimental hospital detoxification unit is being built in Manchester: a variety of other detoxification proposals are being considered elsewhere. Progress generally has been slower than I would have wished, but I have set up the Advisory Committee on Alcoholics with a special sub-group on services for the homeless alcoholics, including the habitual drunken offender, and I look to see such further progress as is possible given current resources constraints.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the criteria used to judge whether a charity organisation providing a service to the public is eligible for a grant by her Department.

I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Dartford (Mr. Irving) on 12th June.—[Vol. 893, c. 241. ] Under Section 64 of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968, my right hon. Friend is able to give grants to voluntary organisations in the health and social services field which are providing a service which she or a local authority must or may provide, or a similar service. We attempt to judge each case on its merits, in the light of departmental policies and objectives for the service concerned, and of available resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish a table on the same basic assumptions as in the reply given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 10th June 1975, columns 156–61, showing the net weekly spending power for a week's work after 39 weeks and when reduced to four-day working, with entitlement to benefit under the two days in six continuity rule, for a single person, for a married man with a wife and no children, and for a married man with a wife and one child, two children, three children and four children, assuming in each case gross weekly earnings of £20, £25, £30, £35, £40, £45, £50, £55, £60, £65 and £70 for a full week's work; and if she will show, in each case, for how many weeks the unemployed person will receive income tax rebates or the person claiming benefit.

The figure for a full week's work—except for normal weekly earnings of £50—were given in my replies of 10th June and 8th July to the hon. Member.—[Vol. 893, c. 156–64 ; Vol. 895, c. 109–112. ] I consider that the expenditure of the very considerable staff time needed to work out the additional figures now requested would not be justified in terms of the information which would be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, with reference to the Written Reply given to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North on 8th July 1975, columns 110–12, if she will also show, in each case, for how many weeks the unemployed person could receive income tax rebates.

When it came to my attention that the hon. Member had also wanted the information requested in this Question, I gave it on 21st July—[Vol. 895, c. 109–12. ]—in a reply pursuant to my reply of 8th July.—[Vol. 896, c. 92. ] I would, therefore, refer the hon. Member to the later of those replies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many old people were in receipt of ( a ) old person's pensions and ( b ) national insurance retirement pension at the end of 1974.

At 29th November 1974, the latest date for which figures are available, 99,370 pensioners were receiving old person's pensions and 7,972,150 contribu- tory national insurance retirement pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much extra the provision of a free family planning service by general practitioners will cost the National Health Service; whether GPs will receive remuneration for it; and, if so, at what rate.

The extra cost in 1975–76 will be about £9 million including supplies of drugs and devices. General practitioners will be paid annual fees of £3.50 per patient ordinarily or £10 for patients fitted with an intra-uterine device in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average waiting period for people in the Thanet area who need to see a consultant under the National Health Service; and if she will list the figures by type of consultancy.

Such information is not available routinely but it is estimated by the health authority that the current average waiting times for non-urgent consultant appointments in Thanet are: General medicine … … 10 weeks Chest diseases … … 2 weeks Gynaecology … … 6 weeks Diabetic … … 1 week Ophthalmology … … 17 weeks Paediatrics … … 2 weeks Dermatology … … 8 weeks Physical medicine … … 10 weeks Urology … … 1 week Neurology … … 6 weeks Psychiatry … … 2 weeks General surgery … … 4 weeks Orthopaedics … … 20 weeks Dentistry … … 16 weeks ENT … … 19 weeks Orthodontics … … 1 week

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what economies have been planned by her Department for the Thanet area; and if she will make a statement.

There have been no specific proposals by the Department but the search for economy in the National Health Service is a continuing one and I am assured that the Kent Area Health Authority and South East Thames Regional Health Authority will bear it in mind when planning services for the Canterbury Thanet Health District.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will take steps to ease the shortage of supplies of surgical boots, especially the brand as supplied to Queen Mary's Hospital, Carshalton, whose name has been supplied to her; and if she will make a statement.

I am not aware of a general shortage of supplies of surgical footwear. There has been local difficulty in obtaining a specific brand of children's footwear from Holland, but alternatives manufactured in this country are readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report details of those areas of work of her Department for which time cycles have been prepared covering the next 10 years or more; how far these have been budgeted for; what advice she has sought; and whether such planning has taken into account socioeconomic models and the experience of other countries.

My Department now undertakes annual long-term planning reviews of the health and personal social services in the light of all available information on present trends and likely future developments in the community's needs, and on the availability of resources. Specific plans for the allocation of resources for five years ahead are made within the context of the annual White Papers on Public Expenditure. We hope to publish later this year a consultative document which will enable us to take account of the views of health and local authorities and of professional and other interests in preparing guidance on future priorities.

As regards social security, the main area of current work for which long-term projections have been prepared is the new pensions scheme embodied in the Social Security Pensions Bill. Details of the cost implications over the first 30 years were contained in the report by the Government Actuary on the Financial Provisions of the Bill (Cmnd. 5928).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied with accounting procedures in the National Health Service relating to the supply and preparation of food.

Financial records relating to the supply and preparation of food in the National Health Service are regarded as generally satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what directions her Department has issued about the use of frozen food within the National Health Service.

It is for health authorities to decide the extent to which they wish to use frozen foods, or to include frozen food systems in their hospitals. Guidance on the safeguards to observe are contained in a pamphlet "Pre-cooked frozen foods", published by the Department in 1970, which is still current.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she expects to make a decision about the proposed Polygon Health Centre, in Camden.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 21st May 1975, since when the position is unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent proposals she has received from the Camden and Islington Area Health Authority about the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson Hospital; and if she can make a statement about the future of the hospital.

The Camden and Islington Area Health Authority (T) has informed my right hon. Friend of its proposal, which is subject to the North East Thames Regional Health Authority's agreement and her approval. They propose, given assurance of resources, to discuss with community health councils, appropriate local authorities and other interested bodies, retention of the hospital on its present site in a rationalised form but without a separate maternity home, until it can be incorporated within a future district general hospital development.

The implications of this proposal to commence discussions are now being carefully considered. No final decision will be taken by my right hon. Friend until the views of the regional health authority have been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is aware of the increasing number of students who are claiming supplementary benefit during vacations; and if she will make a statement.

Figures released last week by the Department of Employment show that in Great Britain on 14th July 92,000 adult students on vacation were registered for employment and a substantial number of these will be claiming supplementary benefit. The number of students claiming supplementary benefit in the vacations has increased very rapidly in the last two or three years and is placing a great strain on local social security, unemployment benefit and employment offices, particularly in the short vacations.

This is a matter which needs careful consideration and an inter-departmental working party has been set up to examine urgently the whole question of students' claims for unemployment and supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether she will make a statement on the tests currently being carried out by the General Medical Council for overseas doctors seeking temporary registration.

(2) if she will make a statement on the tests currently being carried out by the General Medical Council for overseas doctors seeking temporary registration.

Doctors seeking temporary registration in this country have to satisfy the standards of the General Medical Council and the Temporary Registration Assessment Board. The council invited the established examining bodies to constitute this board; the council's aim is to protect the quality of medicine and surgery and ensure an adequate command of the English language. These minimum standards and the recent General Medical Council decision on the registration of doctors qualifying in the future in certain overseas medical schools do not reflect in any way upon the quality of medical care given by the very many overseas doctors who are already working in this country. These overseas doctors, without whose skilled and devoted service the NHS could not have functioned so successfully, will undoubtedly continue to enjoy the full confidence of their patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the expected consequences for unemployment arising from the implementation of Cmnd 6151, "Attack on Inflation".

Success in reducing the rate of inflation will help to improve employment prospects by restoring business confidence, promoting investment and increasing export competitiveness. It will also enable the Government to employ effectively all the weapons at their disposal to bring down the present unacceptable level of unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the effect on unemployment in the winter of 1975–76 of the Government's proposals for attacking inflation.

The looked-for reduction in the rate of inflation is intended to improve the competitive position of British industry and improve employment prospects.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the current position regarding compensation by employers to employees who have brought a successful action against them for unfair dismissal.

No, but the provisions of the Employment Protection Bill, now before Parliament, represent a substantial improvement in the position relating to compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the functioning of the European Social Fund.

The operations of the European Social Fund are to be reviewed by the Commission next year. I have no doubt that we shall then put forward proposals for improvements to be discussed in the relevant committees and working groups of the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in order to facilitate grants from the Social Fund of the EEC to British companies to avoid unemployment, he will consider backing these applications by making such financial support through the Trading Services Agency of his Department.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to his Oral Question today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many requests he has received from companies seeking the support of his Department in their application for grants from the European Social Fund; how many he has turned down; and for what reason.

Seven applications have been received from companies in Great Britain; one has gained an allocation from the Social Fund; the other six have so far been unable to obtain the necessary support from United Kingdom public funds. The Training Services Agency, which is the appropriate agency of the Manpower Services Commission, has no funds available to support the operations concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what work is currently being undertaken by the Work Research Unit on job satisfaction; and if he will make a statement.

The Work Research Unit is currently in contact with a wide range of organisations in all sectors of industry and commerce. It is providing information and advice on the problems of job satisfaction; in an increasing number of instances it is assisting managements and trade unions in the planning and implementation of programmes of change. Other activities of the unit include arranging seminars and training courses, research and publishing reports and studies. The unit has been involved with the Tripartite Steering Group on Job Satisfaction, which I chair, in the preparation of a booklet "Making Work More Satisfying". This will be launched by the group tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what study he has made of the report Supplied to him by the Staffordshire Association of Trades Councils on major redundancies and the consequent increase in unemployment in the county; what steps he is taking to reduce the level of unemployment in Staffordshire; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has considered the report and is aware of the employment problems to which it refers.

The level of unemployment in the county as a whole is below the rate for the West Midlands and the country generally. Consequently, no special steps are being taken solely in relation to Staffordshire to reduce the level of unemployment.

The Manpower Services Commission, through its employment and training service agencies, will, of course, do all it can to assist workers affected by redundancy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ensure that the number of places to be allocated to school leavers under the recently announced Training Award Scheme is proportionate to the numbers unemployed in each respective area; and if he will make a statement.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the level of unemployment amongst young persons is one of a number of factors the industrial training boards will take into consideration when allocating places under the Training Award Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps have now been taken to ensure that more women and people from ethnic minorities are appointed to district manpower committees.

I have corresponded with the Manpower Services Commission about this question. It has informed me that the attention of the organisations concerned with the nomination of chairmen and members to serve on district manpower committees has been drawn to the importance of securing representation of all sections of the working population in the district covered by each committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many additional persons are estimated now to be seeking employment in Wales as a result of the advent of recent school leavers to the employment register.

On 14th July 3,535 school leavers were registered as unemployed in Wales. Statistics of unemployed school leavers do not define the date of leaving school, but most of these are known to be summer leavers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to help the employment prospects of school leavers in the Northern Region.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the employment prospects of school leavers for the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest position with regard to the employment and vocational training position of school leavers.

Prospects will be helped most of all by the Government's measures to maintain the highest possible level of employment which is consistent with the need to reduce the rate of inflation.

School leavers will receive all possible help in finding employment from the careers services of local education authorities. Those in the Northern Region, as in other areas, will also benefit from the new training plans announced on 2nd July by the Manpower Services Commission, and also from further measures which are under consideration as announced in the White Paper, "The Attack on Inflation".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers there are registered as unemployed in the Thirsk and Bedale area; and how the figures compare in each year since 1970.

I regret that separate figures for the Thirsk and Bedale areas are not available. The following table shows information for school leavers registered at the Northallerton Careers Office, which includes Bedale throughout the period and Thirsk from 1974.

UNEMPLOYED SCHOOL LEAVERS AGED UNDER 18: NORTHALLERTON Boys Girls July 1975* … … 12 15 July 1974* … … 3 1 July 1973 … … 1 1 July 1972 … … 3 — July 1971 … … 2 4 July 1970 … … 2 — * The statistics relate to a larger area which includes Thirsk.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what applications will be made to the European Social Fund for aid for schemes to help unemployed school leavers.

I regret that separate recently made an allocation in respect of the Community Industry Scheme. In addition, applications will be made under the new scheme which is expected to be published shortly, following the decision of the Council of Ministers on 17th June to assist the employment and geographical and vocational mobility of young people under 25 years of age who are unemployed or seeking employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many school leavers in Wolverhampton have obtained apprenticeships since leaving school in July and what are the prospects for the rest.

I regret that this information is not readily available since the regular statistics of young people placed do not define the type of employment entered. I understand that in Wolverhampton engineering apprenticeships are available in reasonable numbers but that the position in other industries is less satisfactory.

It is still too early to make reliable forecasts about general prospects, since the process of settling summer leavers into employment normally extends over the period July to November. But school leavers in Wolverhampton, as in other areas, will be helped by the special training plans announced by the Manpower Services Commission on 2nd July and by the further measures now under consideration following the undertaking given in the White Paper, "The Attack on Inflation".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will take action to increase training opportunities for young people leaving school who cannot get apprenticeship employment.

The Manpower Services Commission has announced plans to spend an additional £58.5 million over the next two years on special measures designed to combat the effects of the recession on training and employment generally. The bulk of these measures are aimed at increasing training opportunities for young people. They include the creation through a Training Award Scheme, operated by the industrial training boards, of additional craft and technician apprentice training places; special supplementary grants for employers in the construction industry, to stimulate the recruitment of apprentices; and measures to ensure that apprentices who are made redundant are able to continue their train- ing. The Training Opportunities Scheme is being expanded to provide training for an additional 4–5,000 unemployed school leavers and other young people in 1976. Through these measures the commission will be assisting the training of a total of some 25,000 young people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the percentages of summer school leavers who were unemployed in September of each of the past five years; and what is his estimate of the percentage of summer school leavers who will be unemployed in September 1975.

Information is not available in the precise form requested since statistics of unemployed school leavers do not identify the date of leaving school. The following table shows the total number of school leavers registered as unemployed in September in the years 1970–74 as a percentage of the estimated number of summer leavers in the same year: 1970 … … … … 4.7 1971 … … … … 7.7 1972 … … … … 9.4 1973 … … … … 5.0 1974 … … … … 6.4

The process of settling summer leavers into employment normally extends over the period July to November, and it is still too early to forecast reliably how many will be registered as unemployed in September this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will now increase the numbers employed by Community Industry.

My right hon. Friend is giving urgent consideration to the need for such an increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he will take to end discriminatory job advertisements in employment offices when the Sex Discrimination Bill becomes law.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that steps are being taken to remove all discriminatory job advertisements in employment offices other than those that will be permitted by the legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the numbers of males and females who are registered as unemployed at the Mexborough and District Employment Exchange, at the latest available date.

On 14th July, 1,107 males and 412 females were unemployed in the Mexborough employment office area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the criteria to be adopted for submitting disputed pay claims to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service for arbitration.

No such criteria have been laid down. As stated in paragraph 9 of the annex to the White Paper (Cmnd. 6151) the prior condition is that there should be agreement between unions and employers that there is a serious difficulty. Where both parties make a joint submission to the TUC and CBI the problem will be jointly examined and a determination made whether it should be submitted to the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service for arbitration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to combat the effects of unemployment; and if he will make a statement.

The Government accept the need for action to alleviate the effects of the current high level of unemployment during the period in which their measures to reduce inflation are taking effect. Details of measures in the manpower field already taken and under consideration are set out in the White Paper "Attack on Inflation".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he proposes to take to reduce unemployment in the fishing industry.

This is primarily a matter for the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. The services of the Employment Service Agency and the Training Services Agency are open to unemployed fishermen.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the financial impact of the Employment Protection Bill upon local authorities.

The employment practices of local authorities and the terms and conditions of employment of their employees generally meet the standards required by the Bill. No substantial increase in costs is therefore expected.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received regarding the practical difficulties in the operation of the Employment Transfer Scheme.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the progress made towards equal pay for women on 29th December 1975.

The Equal Pay Act comes into full operation on 29th December 1975. My Department has recently undertaken a further review of progress towards equal pay and I am encouraged to see that considerable progress has been made over the last year. I am, however, concerned that some employers still appear not to realise the full extent of their liabilities under the Act. Following is a table showing progress towards the removal of discrimination from collective agreements and wages orders at the end of March 1975:

SUMMARY OF REGISTER SHOWING MOVEMENTS TOWARDS EQUAL PAY IN COLLECTIVE AGREEMENTS AND WAGES ORDERS Number of agreements/orders Women's rates as a percentage of men's End of March 1970 End of March 1975 Number of agreements/orders discriminating at January 1970 under 70 per cent. 70–79 per cent. 80–89 per cent. above 90 per cent. 80–89 per cent. 90–94 per cent. 95–99 per cent. 100 per cent. Number of agreements/orders at end-March 1975 Agriculture, forestry, etc. 3 — 2 1 — 1 1 — 1 3 Mining and quarrying — — — — — — — — — — Food, drink and tobacco 18 2 15 — 1 1 1 10 4 16 Coal and petroleum products — — — — — — — — — — Chemicals and allied industries 10 — 10 — — 1 — 6 2 9 Metal manufacture, all engineering and vehicles 6 — 2 4 — — 1 3 — 4 Metal goods 11 3 3 4 1 — 2 2 3 7 Textiles 23 10 12 — 1 5 4 8 4 21 Leather, leather goods and fur 4 — 2 1 1 — 2 2 — 4 Clothing and footwear 10 1 7 2 — 1 1 8 1 11 Bricks, pottery, glass, etc 11 — 5 6 — — 5 1 5 11 Timber, furniture, etc 9 — 6 3 — 2 — 2 2 6 Paper, printing and publishing 12 — 11 1 — — 3 9 — 12 Other manufacturing 5 — 2 3 — — — 3 1 4 Construction 2 — — 1 1 1 — — — 1 Gas, electricity, water — — — — — — — — — — Transport and communication 1 — — — 1 — — — — — Distributive trades 26 1 19 4 1 — 2 11 13 26 Professional and scientific 1 — — — — — — — 1 1 Miscellaneous services 9 1 5 2 1 1 3 4 1 9 Public administration 6 — 3 2 1 — — 1 5 6 Total 167 18 105 34 9 13 25 70 43 151 Per cent, of Total 100 11 63 20 5 8 17 46 29 100

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what studies he is conducting into the prevalence of unemployment and low pay in certain regions.

My Department is not at present conducting any formal studies on the incidence of unemployment and low pay in different regions or the relationship between them but is continuing to monitor the situation closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many local authorities have co-operated in his Department's programme of industrial language training for immigrants.

Proposals by 24 local education authorities for schemes for language training at the place of work have been approved by the Government, and other authorities are considering the need for similar schemes. A small number of authorities whose schemes were approved have indicated, however, that they do not expect to introduce schemes in the current financial year, and I am keeping the position under close review.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what action he has taken to implement the recommendations of the 1972 reports on hard-core unemployment of the socially handicapped.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the discussion paper, "Resettlement Policy and Services for Disabled People", issued by my Department in July 1972.

Following the lines suggested in the paper, four resettlement service trials took place between April 1973 and December 1974 to test amongst other things, whether more profesisonal assessment facilities should be made more readily available to disabled and other disadvantaged people. These trials are now the responsibility of the Employment Service Agency which plans to make recommendations to the Manpower Services Commission in the late summer of 1976 following evaluation by means of interviews with clients six and 12 months after they have used the service. Interviews will continue until the end of 1975, and the final evalution will be ready by mid-1976.

No decisions on the development of a new service will be taken until the final evaluation. Meantime, other experiments to test alternative types of service for socially disadvantaged people are being carried out.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the current unemployment situation in Scotland.

The current unemployment rate for Scotland is 6 per cent. Although this figure marks considerable variations in different parts of the country, with some areas having unemployment rates below the average for Great Britain, the overall unemployment situation in Scotland is extremely serious.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what number of men have been discharged by the caravan industry since the announcement of the 25 per cent. VAT on caravans.

Comprehensive statistics are not available about employment in the caravan industry. My Department. however, knows of redundancies affecting 708 workers in that industry since 15th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are taken by his Department to monitor the extent of racial discrimination in employment.

The Department was associated with the preparation of the studies published last year by PEP on the Extent of Racial Discrimination and on Racial Disadvantage in Employment, and is itself supporting or keeping in close touch with other relevant research projects. Regular reports on all aspects of the employment of minority group workers, including evidence of racial discrimination, are made by the Department's race relations employment advisory service, which it is planned to expand shortly. The advisers also encourage employers to adopt and monitor equal opportunity policies which are designed to eliminate discriminatory practices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest unemployment percentage in the Nuneaton and Bedworth employment areas in relation to the latest West Midlands average and the national percentage, respectively.

On 14th July, the rate of unemployment for the Coventry travel-to-work area, which includes Nuneaton and Bedworth, was 5.9 per cent.; the rate for the West Midlands was 4.7 per cent. and for Great Britain 4.5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a progress report on the provision of regulations for the appointment of trade union safety representatives under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply he received on this subject on 1st July—[Vol. 894, c. 1174–6.] The Health and Safety Commission has this matter under urgent consideration, and the Government are awaiting its recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures he is taking to assist the unemployed find jobs in the Home Counties.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that all the facilities of the Employment Service Agency and the Training Services Agency are available to the unemployed.

These facilities include the placing service, advice on employment opportunities, occupational guidance, training under the Training Opportunities Scheme and grants and allowances under the Employment Transfer Scheme for those who wish to take up employment in other than their home areas and satisfy the eligibility conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he has had inquiries made as to the financial capability of industry to meet its liability for redundancy payments as they occur, in view of the Government's forecast of future unemployment, and the lack of growth anticipated; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to believe that industry is incapable of meeting its liability for statutory redundancy payments. However, in any case where an employer is unable to meet his liability, payment is made direct to the employee from the Redundancy Fund and attempts are then made to recover from the employer his share of the cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the monthly total of redundancy payments made during the last six months for which figures are available.

The following information relates to employees in respect of whom payments—including rebates to employers and guarantee payments—were made from the Redundancy Fund during the periods shown: Total received by employees concerned Number of employees £ December 1974 … 7,993,000 17,637 January 1975 … 11,935,000 24,526 February 1975 … 11,054,000 23,234 March 1975 … 10,127,000 22,897 April 1975 … 11,720,000 26,070 May 1975 … 11,557,000 24,212

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he can now estimate the number of people who will become unemployed as a consequence of the proposed cuts in public spending.

The cuts in public spend-announced in the Budget statement apply to the financial year 1976–77. By that time I expect that their effects will have been offset by the Government's measures against inflation. which should have raised business confidence, stimulated plans for investment and strengthened British competitiveness and so, with the anticipated recovery in world trade, have brought about an improvement in employment prospects.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new jobcentres will be opened in the next 12 months.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that it is hoped to open about 100 jobcentres in the next 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled live in Nottinghamshire; and how many of these were in employment at the latest date for which figures are available.

At the annual count in April, there were 11,782 people registered as disabled in Nottinghamshire,

UNEMPLOYED ON 9TH JULY 1975: MERSEYSIDE Total unemployed Number who last worked in Construction Number who last worked in Construction as a percentage of the total unemployed Ashton-in-Makerfield … … 558 89 15.9 Bebington … … 1,843 309 16.8 Birkenhead … … 6,695 1,364 20.4 Bootle … … 4,234 804 19.0 Crosby … … 2,821 548 19.4 Garston … … 5,040 816 16.2 Hoylake … … 723 83 11.5 Kirkby … … 4,851 814 16.8 Liverpool … … 13,574 2,391 17.6 Newton-le-Willows … … 729 76 10.4 Old Swan … … 6,336 1,475 23.3 Prescot … … 3,774 703 18.6 St. Helens … … 4,638 586 12.6 Southport … … 2,511 407 16.2 Wallasey … … 3,396 618 18.2 Walton … … 5,958 1,153 19.4

The figures are not adjusted to take account of amendments notified during the four days following the count.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further discussions he proposes to have with the TUC and the CBI about devising methods to create employment and training opportunities during the coming 12 months.

of whom 1,288 were unemployed. Most of the remainder were probably in employment but it is not possible to give a precise figure. Currently 1,550 registered disabled people are unemployed in Nottinghamshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest unemployment figures for each employment exchange area in the Metropolitan Merseyside districts; how many, and what percentage are registered unemployed building trade workers; and how many of these workers have signed the register for employment in their own trade for one, two, and three or more years, to the latest convenient date.

The total numbers unemployed and the numbers and percentage of the total who last worked in construction, in each employment office area of Merseyside, are set out in the following table. Information about the length of time unemployed is not available separately for building workers.

I am always pleased to receive suggestions about possible ways of creating employment and training opportunities from any source. Where these seem practicable, it is the regular practice to arrange for them to be discussed with the TUC, the CBI and of course with the Manpower Services Commission, on which both bodies are represented.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons employed in the wool and worsted textile industry have been made redundant in each month of the past year; and what proportion of the total number each month is still unemployed.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that the following numbers of people were recorded as having been made redundant in the woollen and worsted textile industry during the past year: 1974 July … … … … 40 August … … … … 250 September … … … … 220 October … … … … 410 November … … … … 790 December … … … … 470 1975 January … … … … 540 February … … … … 420 March … … … … 390 April … … … … 180 May … … … … 420 June … … … … 180 Total 4,310

Information about the proportion of those redundant workers who are still unemployed is not readily available and could be obtained only by a disproportionate charge on public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report details of those areas of work of his Department for which time cycles have been prepared covering the next 10 years or more; how far these have been budgeted for; what advice he has sought; and whether such planning has taken into account socio-economic models and the experience of other countries.

Projections of the labour force up to 1991 were published in the Department of Employment Gazette for April 1974. These projections are based upon long-term trends, and do not reflect the timing of economic cycles. Plans for the allocation of resources do not extend beyond the limits of annual White Papers on public expenditure. If my hon. Friend has advice to offer on the value of external experience, I shall be pleased to receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those groups of employees who have negotiated pay settlements under the social contract which are now subject to modification in the light of Command Paper No. 6151.

My Department does not operate a comprehensive monitoring system but I understand that pay settlements for employees in the electrical contracting and heating and ventilating industries and in retail multiple grocery will fall within this category.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy, in view of the recurring deaths of divers and other employees on oil rigs and platforms in the North Sea, and the overlap between those responsible for medical services, and health, welfare and safety, and the number of oil firms and sub-contractors involved, if he will consider, as a matter of urgency, the appointment of a working party to review the situation, to take evidence, to seek advice as to administrative and medical arrangements for health and safety in such oil exploration and production activities, both ashore and afloat, and to report.

I doubt whether such a working party could play any useful rôle at this stage, though I will bear the suggestion in mind. As I told hon. Members during the discussion in Committee of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipelines Bill, the Government have under close study the particular problem of responsibilities in the sphere of offshore safety. At present my Department is responsible for the safety, health and welfare of all personnel working on offshore installations in the United Kingdom sector of the North Sea, and the Department of Employment, through the Health and Safety Commission, is responsible for those working on land and in coastal waters. There is close co-operation between our two Departments and the commission on such matters.

The treatment of casualties on offshore installations is the responsibility of the operators, who use general practitioners' services available on site under private contracts. On shore appropriate facilities are provided by the National Health Service and the operators. These are kept under review by the Health Departments.

On the specific and important subject of the safety of divers, the Government have set up an inter-departmental working group to examine the feasibility of a common set of regulations, with a view both to harmonising standards and codes of practice, and to ensuring that adequate arrangements are made for the protection of the divers themselves. The Manpower Services Commission's Training Services Agency, which is part of the Department of Employment group, is pressing ahead with drawing up standards for training in this field, and the commission is setting up the Underwater Training Centre at Fort William to provide deep water diving training.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are his Department's estimates, for 1990 or the nearest convenient date, of the total electrical generating capacity of the United Kingdom, the proportion of that capacity depending on oil, coal, nuclear and other sources of energy and the total level of electricity consumption; and by what percentage in each case these figures would constitute an increase over the current situation.

Because of the uncertainties surrounding such estimates forecasts of the levels of total electrical generating capacity or of the levels of total electricity consumption are not published. Forecasts of total primary energy consumption in 1990 were given in the Department's evidence to the Select Committee on Science and Technology, Energy Resources Sub-Committee, and were published by it in Minutes of Evidence (155-vii). The forecasts, which covered a range of consumptions, implied power generation shares in 1990 based on primary fuel inputs as follows: … Per cent. Coal … 15–49 Oil … 17–49 Nuclear and hydro … 35–44 Natural gas … 0–1

Information about current plant capacity and electricity generation and consumption are given in the Department's Statistical Bulletin, Energy Trends.