asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the total number of central and national advisory councils; what is their total membership; and how many service each Department.

A list of such advisory bodies is prepared annually on the basis of departmental returns. A copy of this list, as at 1st July 1975, is now available in the Library of the House and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy. Total membership numbers, which often fluctuate, are not available centrally.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consultations he has had with British fishing interests over the proposed extension of Icelandic fishing limits.

Negotiations with the Icelandic Government are now taking place about arrangements for British fishing off Iceland when the present interim agreement ends on 13th November. As on previous occasions, we are keeping in constant touch with representatives of our industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the sale of subsidised EEC wine to countries outside the Common Market.

In the present state of the wine market short-term measures, such as export refunds, are necessary to relieve surpluses, but in the longer term the Government are seeking to achieve a better balance between production and utilisation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the achievement to date of the aims of the White Paper "Food from our own Resources".

The White Paper laid down a strategy for agriculture, and agricultural policy into the 1980s. Despite setbacks, that strategy remains valid, and provided the basis for the action which my right hon. Friend announced last week as well as for the other measures we have taken in recent months. I hope that we shall soon begin to see more encouraging trends in the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from which bodies representing agriculture he has had representations recently concerning the problems facing the agriculture industry.

A wide range of bodies concerned with agriculture including producers, workers, consumers, processors and agricultural trade organisations have expressed views to my right hon. Friend recently about the state of the industry. A number of meetings have been held with representatives of the industry over the last few months at both ministerial and official level. We consider it important to keep in close and continuing touch with all sections of the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are regulations governing or restricting the amount of animals killed at the same time in any one abattoir.

There is no direct legislative restriction, but the need to comply with the requirements as to prevention of cruelty to animals and to hygiene imposes an indirect limitation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there is a Government ruling on standards of hygiene and humane killing in all abattoirs.

These standards are laid down in legislation. The chief provisions are in the Slaughterhouses (Hygiene) Regulations 1958, as amended, SIs 1958/2168 as amended by 1959/1543, 1962/1287 and 1966/1318; the Meat Inspection Regulations 1963, as amended, SIs 1963/1229, 1965/1497, 1971/1179 and 1975/654; the Slaughterhouse Act 1974; the Protection of Animals Act 1911; the Slaughter of Animals (Prevention of Cruelty) Regulations 1958, as amended, SIs 1958/2166 and 1959/1493.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if there are regular and unannounced Government inspections of all abattoirs.

The local authorities, which are responsible for the enforcement of the law, determine the frequency and type of inspections they carry out. Ministry veterinary officers also visit slaughterhouses and make prior arrangements solely with the officers of the enforcing authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is compulsory in all abattoirs for food animals to be pre-stunned before slaughter.

Yes, with the sole exception of slaughter to meet the religious requirements of Jews and Mohammedans. Whatever the method of slaughter, the law requires it to be done without inflicting unnecessary suffering.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if it is permissible for cows in calf to be sent for slaughter.

The law does not prohibit such animals being sent for slaughter; but with these as with other animals the law requires that unnecessary suffering shall not be inflicted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reconsider the new procedures for collecting information on rodent infestation and eliminate spot checks on private properties, chosen at random, in view of the amount of time these involve.

No. These new procedures, which were drawn up in consultation with local authority organisations concerned, will provide more reliable statistical information upon which to determine the most effective allocation of resources in both central and local Government.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has reviewed the rates of temporary aid to be granted to the fishing industry for the last quarter of this year.

The Government have reviewed the rates of grant and have decided as follows:

Vessel Length	Daily Rates
	£
135 ft and over	50
110–134·9 ft	35
80–109·9 ft	30
60–79·9 ft	15
50–59·9 ft	10
40–49·9 ft	5

These grants will not be renewed after this period. The cost for the last quarter is expected to be about £1 million. The EEC Commission is being informed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the state of the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.

Quayside prices for the main species are following their usual seasonal pattern and are showing increases which in part offset the steeply rising costs falling on the industry. Further, the Government's policy of temporary aid has enabled the industry to begin adjusting itself to a new balance of costs and prices. But my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Scotland are keeping in very close touch with the industry about its economic circumstances.The rate of temporary aid to be granted for the last quarter of this year was announced by my right hon. Friend earlier today in a Written Reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. Johnson).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conversations he has had with the CBI about the working of the Government policy to curb inflation.

My right hon. Friend met representatives of the CBI on 17th July at their request to discuss their considered reaction to the Government's counter-inflation measures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of tax allowances at 1st April for each year since 1964 for a married couple with two children and for a single parent with two children; and if he will give the real value of such allowances based on 1964 prices.

The figures are as follows:

Date	Married couple with two children not over 11		Single parent with two children not over 11
	Allowances	Value at 1964 prices	Allowances	Value at 1964 prices
1st April:	£	£	£	£
1964	736	736·0	633	633·0
1965	736	707·4	633	608·4
1966	733	672·8	630	578·3
1967	733	648·8	630	557·6
1968	733	633·7	675	583·5
1969	687	563·0	629	515·5
1970	724	564·4	699	544·9
1971	840	610·5	789	573·4
1972	943	627·1	891	592·5
1973	1,116	692·9	1,065	661·3
1974	1,115	627·0	1,065	598·9
1975	1,293	616·6	1,233	588·0

The allowances shown are those effective for the tax years ending on the following 5th April. Allowance has been made for the effect both of earned income relief and of the family allowance deductions where appropriate. The price index used is the General Index of Retail Prices for the same years taken from Table 1 of "The Internal Purchasing Power of the Pound" published by the Press and Information Service of the Central Statistical Office in July 1975.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in the Official Report the rate of interest on borrowing for industrial investment which currently applies in each of the nine member countries of the European Economic Community.

The rates at which major banks lent to industrial prime borrowers at mid-October are given in the table below. These rates are subject to the conditions my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary set out in the answer he gave to a Question by my hon. Friend on 13th October.—[Vol. 897, c. 582.]

Country	Rates applying as at 15th October
	Per cent.
United Kingdom	12
Germany	7·25
France	10·85
Italy	12·5
Netherlands	7
Belgian-Luxembourg	8·5
Ireland	10·75
Denmark	11·5

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will bring forward proposals to give first-time buyers exemption from stamp duty on the purchase of a home.

I have no such intention in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer resulting from a reduction of value added tax on the service and repair of domestic appliances from 25 per cent. to 8·2 per cent.

It is estimated that the loss of revenue from reducing to the standard rate the 25 per cent. rate of VAT on repairs, servicing and spare parts for domestic electric appliances, radio and television sets, etc.—Groups 1 and 2 of the Higher Rate Schedule—would be around £30 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost of excluding widow's pension from all income tax and from the standard rate of income tax, respectively.

I regret that the information on which to base a precise calculation is not available, but it is estimated that the cost for 1975–76 of exempting the widow's State pension from income tax would be about £70 million. A little over £1 million of this represents tax at rates higher than the basic rate. These figures include the tax on the national insurance retirement pensions of widows between the ages of 60 and 65, but it is not possible to distinguish this in the costs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer where full details of the EEC Budget for 1975 are made available.

The 1975 Community Budget was published in the Official Journal of the European Communities on 28th February (No. L 54.)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates are made of EEC expenditure for the three years ahead; and by what method is such expenditure arrived at.

Forecasts of expenditure by the European Communities in the three years 1976 to 1978 were included in Volume 7 of the 1976 preliminary draft budget which was circulated as R/2145/75. The forecasts are prepared by the Commission, and distinguish between expenditure on policies already agreed by the Council, expenditure which would result from proposals submitted to the Council but not yet approved, and expenditure which would result from proposals under consideration by the Commission which have not so far been submitted to the Council.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what methods the Council of Ministers and the Commission take into account the views of the Assembly in relation to the EEC Budget.

Article 203 of the Treaty of Rome provides that the draft budget, after it is established—i.e. approved—by the Council, should be sent to the Assembly for its consideration. The Assembly has the right to propose modifications in expenditure provided for in the draft budget which results necessarily from the Treaty (obligatory expenditure) and to make amendments to the provision for other expenditure (non-obligatory expenditure). Amendments adopted and modifications proposed by the Assembly are then considered by the Council; if the Council does not accept the amendments or modifications the draft budget is again sent to the Assembly for its consideration. When this procedure is completed the President of the Assembly declares that the budget has been finally adopted.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consideration he is giving to the EEC budgeting and expenditure and revenues for 1975–76.

The European Communities' financial year is on a calendar year basis. As regards the Community Budget for 1976 I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashfield (Mr. Marquand) on 15th October.—[Vol. 887, c. 714–6.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further progress has been made towards economic and monetary union in the EEC by 1980.

Although economic and monetary union (EMU) remains an ultimate Community objective there is general acceptance that earlier detailed plans for full EMU by 1980 have been overtaken by events.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the total amount of (a) direct and (b) portfolio investment made by residents of the United Kingdom in other countries of the EEC from 1st January 1973 to the latest convenient date;(2) what was the total amount in £s sterling of (

The available information relating to direct and other—portfolio, oil and miscellaneous—investment in 1973 and 1974 is published in Table 44 of the Pink Book, "UK Balance of Payments 1964–74", a copy of which has been placed in the Library. An explanation of the major conceptual problems and practical difficulties which accompany these estimates can be found on pages 56–58 of the same publication. Further details of the pattern of direct investment in 1973 are available in the Business Monitor series M4, "Overseas Transactions 1973"; a copy of this has likewise been placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what transfers were made, and what amounts were received by the United Kingdom, in respect of the EEC in June 1975.

Transfers made by the United Kingdom to the European Communities in June 1975 totalled £41·5 million. Receipts in the same period amounted to £27 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of revenue collected in tax on food in the years 1972, 1973 and 1974, respectively.

The amounts of revenue collected in taxes on food in the years 1972, 1973 and 1974 were:

£ million
	1972	1973	1974
Import duty	44·2	38·2	61·8
Purchase tax	129·6	63·3	—
VAT	—	—	50·0*
Total	173·8	101·5	111·8
* Estimated figure, excluding VAT on food supplied in the course of catering and on alcoholic drink.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total revenue obtained from Customs and Excise duties on spirits for the three years 1971, 1972 and 1973, the revenue from Customs and Excise duties for 1974–75, and the value added tax revenue.

Receipts of spirits duty were:

	£ million
1971	395·5
1972	450·7
1973	485·0

VAT receipts in 1973 from spirits are estimated at £60 million.Receipts from duty and estimated receipts from VAT on spirits in 1974–75 were £554:8 million and £100 million respectively.Total Customs and Excise revenue in 1974–75 was £7,425·6 million, before adjustments due to the Isle of Man, of which VAT yielded £2,509·5 million. Figures for previous years can be found in Table 24 of "Financial Statistics", a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many traders in the United Kingdom have now registered for VAT.

The approximate number of persons registered for VAT

SIC Order	VAT Group	Trade Group			Approximate number of registered persons
		Primary Industries
I	01	Agriculture, forestry and fishing	…	…	185,300
II	02	Mining and quarrying	…	…	1,400
		Manufacturing Industries
III	03	Food, drink and tobacco	…	…	9,700
VII	04	Coal and petroleum products	…	…	200
V	05	Chemicals and allied industries	…	…	3,000
VI	06	Metal manufacture	…	…	2,500
VII	07	Mechanical engineering	…	…	18,400
VII	08	Instrument engineering	…	…	2,100
IX	09	Electrical engineering	…	…	5,800
X	10	Shipbuilding, boatbuilding and marine engineering	…	…	1,800
XI	11	Vehicles	…	…	1,100
XII	12	Metal goods not elsewhere specified	…	…	14,000
XIII	13	Textiles	…	…	5,900
XIV	14	Leather, leather goods and furs	…	…	2,300
XV	15	Clothing and footwear	…	…	10,900
XVI	16	Bricks, ceramics, glass, cement etc.	…	…	2,200
XVII	17	Timber furniture	…	…	9,000
XVIII	18	Paper, printing and publishing	…	…	15,200
XIX	19	Other manufacturing industries	…	…	10,700
		Construction
XX	20	Construction	…	…	184,300
		Utilities
XXI	21	Gas, electricity and water	…	…	200
		Transport and Communications
XXII	22	Transport and communications	…	…	54,300
		Distributive Trades
XXIII	23	Wholesale distribution	…	…	52,900
XXIII	24	Retail distribution	…	…	290,000
XXIII	25	Dealers	…	…	25,000
		Services
XXIV	26	Insurance, banking and business services	…	…	36,000
XXV	27	Professional and scientific services	…	…	48,000
XXVI	28	Miscellaneous services	…	…	229,700
XXVII	29	Public administration and defence	…	…	1,900
		Total	…	…	1,223,800

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are now made for ensuring that there are no irregularities in the EEC funds within individual member States of the Community; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide an analysis of how many categories of firms in the United Kingdom are registered for VAT broken down into the categories of the Standard Industrial Classification.

The latest analysis of firms registered for VAT relates to 31st March 1975 and is as follows:

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to him on 19th June—[Vol. 893, c. 491.]—and to the answer which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 17th October.—[Vol. 897, c. 828–9.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what has been the increase in the standard of living on the basis of real disposable income per head, between 1st January 1970 to the latest available quarter:

PERSONAL DISPOSABLE INCOME—SEASONALLY ADJUSTED
				Total at current prices	Per head of total population at 1970 prices
				£million	£	Percentage increase over preceding quarter
1970—
First quarter	…	…	…	8,225	152	−0·7
Second quarter	…	…	…	8,628	157	+3·6
Third quarter	…	…	…	8,825	158	+0·7
Fourth quarter	…	…	…	8,944	157	−0·5
1971—
First quarter	…	…	…	9,191	158	+0·3
Second quarter	…	…	…	9,470	157	−0·1
Third quarter	…	…	…	9,791	160	+1·8
Fourth quarter	…	…	…	10,039	163	+1·4
1972—
First quarter	…	…	…	10,252	163	+0·5
Second quarter	…	…	…	11,002	173	+5·6
Third quarter	…	…	…	11,115	171	−1·0
Fourth quarter	…	…	…	11,701	176	+3·2
1973—
First quarter	…	…	…	12,062	178	+0·9
Second quarter	…	…	…	12,592	181	+2·0
Third quarter	…	…	…	12,914	182	+0·4
Fourth quarter	…	…	…	13,300	182	+0·3
1974—
First quarter	…	…	…	13,719	180	−1·2
Second quarter	…	…	…	14,201	178	−1·2
Third quarter	…	…	…	15,288	185	+3·6
Fourth quarter	…	…	…	15,993	187	+1·2
1975—
First quarter	…	…	…	16,945	189	+1·0
Second quarter	…	…	…	17,873	183	−2·8

Between the first quarter of 1970 and the second quarter of 1975 real personal disposable income per head of population increased by 21·1 per cent. The statistics of personal disposable income are published in "Economic Trends".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing the distribution of personal incomes in numbers and amounts, before and after tax, to the latest available date.

I refer my hon. Friend to Table 28 of "National Income and Expenditure 1964–74" (HMSO 1975) which gives the distribution of income of households from all sources for 1972–73, the latest year for which this information is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the Inland Revenue is

The following table shows the figures requested:asking subcontractors to supply photographs when applying for subcontractor's tax certificates; and if he will make a statement.

There appears to have been some misunderstanding about the Inland Revenue's request for subcontractors to supply photographs when they apply for sub-contractors' tax certificates, and I am glad to have the opportunity to explain why these photographs are required.As the House is well aware, there has been widespread concern about the extent of tax evasion in the construction Indus try by certain self-employed subcontractors—mostly those commonly called the "lump". The previous Government took the first step towards stopping this evasion by introducing in 1972 a special tax deduction scheme for the industry. Under that scheme, a contractor has to deduct tax from any payment he makes to a self-employed subcontractor, unless the subcontractor holds a Revenue certificate. The intention was, of course, that certificates would be held only by responsible subcontractors who could be relied upon to pay their tax at the end of the year.Experience has shown certain weaknesses in the original scheme. In particular it has proved to be very easy to forge or alter the certificate, and since it does not contain adequate identifying information, very often a contractor cannot tell whether a certificate presented to him is genuine and relates to the individual presenting it. As a result, the deduction scheme is not achieving its purpose; there is a heavy loss of tax by the use of certificates—some forged, some stolen—by dishonest subcontractors, who subsequently disappear. Apart from the loss of tax itself, this is a situation which encourages organised criminal activity.The certificate is, therefore, being completely redesigned so that it cannot easily be used by anybody but its proper owner. Obviously the best way to enable the contractor to check that a certificate has been presented by the right person is by having a photograph on it, as is done for many security and privilege passes. The photograph will thus serve as a protection both for the authorised holder of the certificate and for the contractors who have to inspect it.I would like to emphasise that this purpose of identification is the sole reason for the photograph. Applicants for certificates are asked to supply two copies, one for use in preparing the certificate, the other for comparison. The photograph will remain the property of the Inland Revenue and is not, and will not be, available for inspection by anyone else or for any other purpose than tax.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to whom should members of the public address their comments and observations on the report of the Sandilands Committee on Inflation Accounting.

The Sandilands Committee reported jointly to my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Secretary of State for Trade and comments may be addressed to either of them. The Government hope to be able to make a statement early in the next Session of Parliament on the main recommendations for a form of current cost accounting for published company accounts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she has yet completed her review of national insurance contributions for 1976–77.

Yes. I am required under the Social Security Act 1975 to review each year the general level of earnings in Great Britain and to consider what changes in national insurance contributions need to be made in the light of movements in earnings and other relevant factors. In fulfilment of this obligation I have today laid a draft order, which requires the approval of both Houses, setting out revised rates and earnings limits to take effect from 6th April 1976. They are set out in detail below.The Government are committed to put up pensions and other benefits at least once in each year. They have been up-rated twice in 1975. The second of these increases is due to come into force next month. The money has to be found to pay for these increases. It is also necessary to take into account the prevailing high level of unemployment, which reduces the income from contributions and increases the amount paid in benefit. These factors make substantial contribution increases for 1976–77 inescapable.The upper limit of earnings on which contributions are paid by employees and employers is at present £69 a week. In view of the increase of about 30 per cent. in the general level of earnings in the period of 12 months up to April 1975, which is the period covered by the review, and in order to keep the National Insurance Fund soundly financed, the upper limit is being raised to £95.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why certain tenants in England and Wales have received sums of money as rent repayments in cases in which central funds were used for rents or portions thereof; what steps are taken to recover is being held at its present level of £1,600 a year while the upper limit is being increased from £3,600 to £4,900 a year in line with the increase in the upper limit for employed contributions. The rate of Class 4 contributions is not being increased. The effect is that there will be no increase in the total amount of contributions payable by a self-employed man on any particular level of profits or gains up to £3,600 a year. For those with profits or gains in excess of £3,600 the additional contribution will be 8 per cent. of the excess, subject to the new upper limit of £4,900 a year.As a result of these changes, the proportion of flat-rate element in the contributions of the self-employed will be reduced and a higher proportion will come from earnings-related contributions. The changes are thus a further step towards the Government's objective of earnings-related pensions in return for corresponding contributions for the self-employed. I announced earlier this year that I was putting in hand a detailed examination of the problems involved in establishing such an arrangement. Work on this study is proceeding, but it is a major undertaking to overcome the practical difficulties which have in the past ruled out such a system.the sums; and what are the total number of households involved and the total amount of central funds involved, broken down into local authorities;(2) what authority there is to recover local rent advances from certain council tenants in England and Wales who have had sums paid to them by local authorities as rent refunds.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to rent refunds made under the Housing Rents and Subsidies Act 1975 and the situation will not recur. The Department, since there was no misrepresentation or failure to disclose a material fact, has no power to recover these sums. Information is not available centrally about the number of households or amounts of money involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps she is taking in her review of the level of capital expenditure upon the health service for 1976–77 and subsequent years to ensure that the Trent Regional Health Authority will get a share of available national resources more commensurate with its population and health needs.

30th September
Rate			1971*	1972	1973	1974	1975
Higher rate	…	…	50,000	85,000	103,000	115,000	123,000
Lower rate	…	…	†	†	35,000	65,000	84,000
Total	…	…	50,000	85,000	138,000	180,000	207,000
* Attendance allowance first became payable on 6th December 1971.
† The lower rate attendance allowance was introduced in stages during 1973

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, as compared with the originally estimated figure, is the current estimate of the number of people receiving attendance allowances.

As at 30th September 1975 there were 123,000 people in receipt of attendance allowance at the higher rate as compared with the figure originally estimated in 1970 of 50,000. The equivalent figures for the lower rate allowance are 84,000 and 250,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether she has any proposals for providing health centres for merchant seamen as suggested by the World Health Organisation.

The Government are aware of the World Health Organisation recommendation that there should be special medical facilities for seamen. Such occupational health services are the responsibility primarily of employers. The Government have no plans to provide

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) on 20th October. We expect a further report from the Resource Allocation Working Party on arrangements for years beyond 1976–77 early next year. [Vol. 898, c. 43–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish figures showing the number of persons in receipt of attendance allowance for each 12-month period since the scheme was introduced.

The number of persons in receipt of attendance allowance at 30th September 1975 and at the end of the years 1971 to 1974 is as follows:special facilities for merchant seamen, since seamen ordinarily resident in this country or serving on British ships are eligible to use the full facilities of the National Health Service, and emergency treatment under the National Health Service is available to the others.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps she is taking to review or end the eligibility of students for unemployment benefit during vacation periods.

As my right hon. Friend made clear in announcing the setting up of the working party to which my reply of 15th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Bennett) referred, the remit of that working party covers students' claims as a whole.—[Vol. 897, c. 732.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients in Inner London have been removed from general practitioners' lists at the request of the doctor during each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.

The information is as follows and relates to the year ending 31st March in each case:

1965	4,253
1966	6,796
1967	6,163
1968	6,270
1969	6,517
1970	8,694
1971	6,423
1972	6,163
1973	5,306
1974	5,479

On 1st April 1974 the area of the former Inner London Executive Council was split between seven family practitioner committees, some boroughs being grouped with boroughs outside the Inner London area. An Inner London figure for any period after that date could not therefore be obtained without undue labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish the guidance or code of conduct proposed to deal with sterilisation of children under 16, in the light of the recent High Court judgment on a Sheffield girl.

In my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 15th October I said that we were preparing a discussion paper on the need to issue guidelines on the sterilisation of children under 16, and my right hon. Friend will inform the House and will arrange for a copy to be placed in the Library of the House when it is sent out to professional and other organisations concerned for their views.—[Vol. 897, c. 731.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the amount of public expenditure now spent on the salaries of staff in social service departmentse of local authorities in England and Wales, and of the proportion of this cost falling on central Government funds.

It is estimated that for 1975–76 the expenditure will be £430 million. This expenditure is included in the total of relevant expenditure on which the Government pay grants of 66·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what would be the cost of reducing the qualifying age for men to be entitled to the national retirement pension to 60 years so as to provide for equality with women; and why there is at present an age disadvantage for men.

An estimated additional £1,560 million a year at the pension rates to be introduced next month.Prior to 1940 the pension age for both men and women was 65 but there were no provisions then, as there are now, to enable a man to receive an increase of his pension in respect of a wife who was under pension age. This resulted in cases of hardship, particularly where, before retirement, the man had been receiving an increase in unemployment benefit for his wife, and it was decided to alleviate this hardship by reducing the pension age for women to 60.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the total establishment of tuberculosis visitors in Rochdale, Huddersfield, Bradford, Newcastle upon Tyne, Manchester, Leeds and Coventry, respectively;(2) what are the numbers of tuberculosis visitors in possession of the health visitors certificate in Rochdale, Huddersfield, Bradford, Newcastle upon Tyne, Manchester, Leeds and Coventry, respectively.

In Coventry there is an establishment of three full-time and one part-time tuberculosis visitor, and these posts are all filled; none of these tuberculosis visitors possesses a health visitors certificate. In the other places named, there is no set establishment of tuberculosis visitors, though in Bradford there is in post one full-time tuberculosis visitor with a health visitors certificate; tuberculosis visiting is undertaken by health visitors as part of their general duties.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many school nurses are in possession of the health visitor's certificate in Coventry, Manchester, Bradford, Huddersfield, Newcastle upon Tyne, Rochdale and Leeds, respectively;(2) what are the total establishments of school nurses in Coventry, Manchester, Bradford, Huddersfield, Newcastle upon Tyne, Rochdale and Leeds, respectively.

In the places named, there are set establishments (given in whole-time equivalents) of school nurses only in Newcastle (35, of which 34·5 posts are filled), Manchester (85, of which 54·2 posts are filled) and Coventry (6·75, all filled). In the other places named, there is no separate establishment for school nurses, school nursing being undertaken as part of the work of health visitors; figures for numbers of health visitors engaged in school nursing are not available, except for Bradford where there are nine health visitors engaged whole-time on this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision is being made for the enlargement and development of the Neo-natal Intensive Care Unit at University College Hospital, London.

The North-East Thames Regional Health Authority is expected by the end of the year to consider plans for 1976–77 in relation to priorities and resources. Until these are known, it is not possible to say when individual schemes can proceed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations she has received from the Disabled Drivers Association regarding the new mobility scheme; and what proposals she has for meeting these objections.

I recently met the association's chairman, who drew my attention to what he regards as shortcomings of the mobility allowance scheme. The essence of the association's comments is that the allowance should be at once very much higher and available to many more people. I have explained that the mobility allowance scheme represents, particularly in the present economic situation a significant increase in public expenditure.It is estimated that the Department will be trebling its expenditure on mobility help for disabled people, when the scheme is in full operation, and that we will be giving mobility help for the first time ever to an extra 100,000 people, including severely disabled children. The right hon. Gentleman may wish to know that the new mobility scheme has been welcomed as an important step forward by many representatives of disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now consider the introduction of an international element into the maintenance of law and order in Northern Ireland while the present case-fire holds.

No. Responsibility for law and order in any part of the United Kingdom must remain with Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether he will set up a committee to study the advantages to County Fermanagh which would follow from the extension of the motorway from Dungannon to Enniskillen and to advise on such a decision.

No. Following detailed consultations with the district councils concerned I am satisfied that the needs of County Fermanagh for a good standard of roads communications can be fully met without further motorway construction in the foreseeable future.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many doctors in private practice have ceased to practice for any reasons since 1973; and how many of these have been replaced by new doctors;(2) whether he has any plans to ensure that there will be an adequate number of doctors to undertake private practice in the Province.

I have no responsibility for, or information on, the provision of doctors for private practice outside the health service.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what steps he proposes to take to arrest the decline in agricultural production; and if he will make a statement.

The measures announced on 15th October by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will, I hope, increase the confidence of farmers in Northern Ireland as in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what was the output of trained doctors from Queen's University, Belfast, Medical School in each of the last five years; and what are the numbers planned for the next five years.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) what is the estimated total cost to public funds of training doctors at Queen's University, Belfast, and the teaching hospitals, who have left Northern Ireland in each of the last five years after qualifying;(2) how many doctors, who have been trained at Queen's University, Belfast, in each of the last five years, have obtained employment as doctors (

The information is not available, but a study is about to be undertaken with Government support by the Medical Faculty of Queen's University on the subsequent employment of its medical graduates.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland whether the Report of the Layfield Committee of Inquiry into local government finance will include Northern Ireland.

The terms of reference of the Layfield Committee do not include Northern Ireland, but I will study its report carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement about the house building programme, including his latest estimates of the total number of people lacking adequate housing accommodation.

It is estimated that about 9,000 houses will be completed in Northern Ireland in 1975. I am examining the public housing programme for the next five years and will make a statement soon.It is not possible to estimate the number of people lacking adequate housing accommodation since waiting lists provide only the broadest indication of housing neeed. However, the 1974 House Condition Survey showed that about 38 per cent. of the housing stock needs positive remedial action, and the Housing Executive's current waiting list totals about 30,000 families.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will extend the life of the Northern Ireland Convention when its present term expires on 8th November 1975; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to Questions from the hon. Members for Harborough (Mr. Farr) and Epping Forest (Mr. Biggs-Davison).

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the security situation in Northern Ireland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made earlier today in answer to Questions by the hon. Members for Esher (Mr. Mather), Beckenham (Mr. Goodhart), and Newbury (Mr. McNair-Wilson).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive recommendations from the Law Commission relating to the law concerning squatters.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to a Question from the hon. Member for Brentwood and Ongar (Mr. McCrindle) on 16th October.—[Vol. 897, c. 1576–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many television licence holders applied for a partial refund of the licence fee on changing from colour to mono chrome in the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and in 1975 to the latest date for which information is available.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of publishing the booklet D/d099213 Pro4605; how many numbers were issued; and what was the cost of circulating these.

Nine million copies of this edition of the booklet "Protect Your Home" were printed at a cost of £121,000 and are being distributed to households in northern England at an estimated cost of £144,000. Two earlier editions of the same booklet were distributed to households in other parts of England and Wales in 1973 and 1974. The total cost of printing was £250,000 and the total distribution cost will be about £239,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a special report on the psychiatric condition of David Anslow and Walter Probyn who have been held for extended periods in the special units at Wakefield Prison and Wormwood Scrubs.

My right hon. Friend has recently received a report from the principal medical officer of Wakefield Prison on David Anslow, who is in the control unit there. The report says that Mr. Anslow was considered to be in satisfactory physical and mental health on admission to the unit on 22nd May, that he has made no medical complaints since then and that, contrary to various Press reports, there is no evidence of any change in his physical or mental health.Walter Probyn left Wormwood Scrubs prison in January 1973 and was released from imprisonment in March 1974. Mr. Probyn had therefore left the prison before the building work necessary to create the proposed control unit at Wormwood Scrubs had begun; and he had finished his sentence five months before the Wakefield control unit was opened. The Wormwood Scrubs unit was never, of course, brought into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report on the discussions between Dr. Harold Merskey, Professor Alex Jenner, the Director of Prison Medical Services and the Medical Officer of Wakefield Prison concerning the psychiatric effects on prisoners held in the special control unit; and if he will make a statement on the future of this unit.

My right hon. Friend has received reports on the separate discussions about the control unit at Wakefield Prison which Dr. Harold Merskey and Professor Alex Jenner have had with the Director of Prison Medical Services. As to the future of the unit, my right hon. Friend intends to make a statement shortly at the conclusion of the review he referred to in answer to my hon. Friend's Question on 14th July.—[Vol. 895, c. 315.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider proposing allowing police to advise councillors on the criminal records of applicants for licences to drive taxis, currently prohibited by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act.

My right hon. Friend does not consider it desirable to use police information for this purpose. The principle in question is not affected by the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the discussions on the payment of undermanning allowances in the police force have been concluded; and if he will make a statement.

The present system of undermanning allowances is still under review by a sub-committee of the Police Council.

asked the Attorney-General what is the estimated cost to public funds of the proceedings recently brought against The Times Newspapers Limited and the executors of the estate of the late Mr. Richard Crossman.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Mr. Trotter) on Tuesday 21st October.—[Vol. 898, c. 997.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will take action to see that firms supplying goods under Ministry of Defence contracts are paid within the time limits agreed.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary gave to his question on the subject of payments to Government contractors on 21st October. But if he has specific cases in mind I would be glad to look into them.—[Vol. 898, c. 163–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the concessions which are of financial benefit or which specially improve the quality of life in Northern Ireland for members of Her Majesty's Forces serving there, to which he referred in his Written Answer to the hon. Member for Eastbourne on 14th October 1975.

The measures introduced are listed below. Where voluntary and official effort are both involved this is indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what types of weapons are allocated to the British Army in Northern Ireland; and in what numbers.

The Army in Northern Ireland has the range of weapons necessary to carry out its task there. It would not be in the interests of security to disclose details of weapon holdings.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the comparative cost of a RAF aircraft trooping from the United Kingdom to Hong Kong via Gan and a charter aircraft trooping to Hong Kong via Colombo.

It is difficult to make a direct comparison of these costs since the cost of chartering aircraft would of course depend on the outcome of competitive tendering. A comparison is also made more difficult by the fact that the civil aircraft currently suitable for this type of charter task has a greater passenger carrying capability than the RAF VC10. However, on a passenger carrying basis, it is estimated that the cost per head is broadly comparable.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, and when, it is intended to introduce the AT105 armoured vehicle for service in Northern Ireland and elsewhere.

There are no plans to introduce the AT105 into British Army service. The current types of wheeled armoured personnel carriers will continue to be employed in Northern Ireland and elsewhere, modified and improved as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of the Ulster Defence Regiment are Catholics.

At present about 3 per cent. of the members of the Ulster Defence Regiment are Catholics.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what types of weapons are allocated to the Ulster Defence Regiment; and in what numbers.

The Ulster Defence Regiment has the range of weapons necessary for its task in Northern Ireland. It would not be in the interests of security to disclose details of UDR weapon holdings.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will confirm that Mr. Burnside was dismissed from the Ulster Defence Regiment because of the nature of his political views and not because of being actively involved in politics.

As I explained to the hon. Member on 21st October, Mr. Burnside was discharged from the Ulster Defence Regiment because of his continued active involvement in politics.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of a delay of three months, if Mr. Burnside can now expect a reply from the Defence Council in the near future in respect of his dismissal from the Ulster Defence Regiment.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the recent Naval Equipment Exhibition at Greenwich was not open to the public on certain days as had been the case in previous years; and whether he will arrange for public open days in future years.

The public was not admitted to the exhibition this year because it was not considered cost effective to do so. Instead a second trade day was included. The question of public attendance is normally considered when plans for exhibitions are made.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is taking any disciplinary action following the publication of photographs of guardsmen in the homosexual magazine Him; and whether he will make a statement.

This matter is currently under investigation and the report on the investigation will be studied by the appropriate military authority when they have been completed. The decision whether or not to bring a soldier to trial depends on evidence as to whether offences have been committed, and rests with the commanding officer and the appropriate convening officer, acting on legal advice, within their powers under the Army Act 1955. It would be improper for me to comment at this stage on matters which may be the subject of legal proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had on the question of British arms sales to Saudi Arabia during the recent visit of Crown Prince Fahd.

The details of Her Majesty's Government's discussions with foreign Governments must remain confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many man-hours were lost in the Hull docks by official and unofficial strikes, respectively, in the years 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974 and the first six months of 1975, respectively.

The available information is given in the table below. Loss of time due to industrial disputes is measured in terms of working days lost. There are separate figures for stoppages known to be official; it is not known whether all the remainder were unofficial but the majority would be in that category.

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES: PORT OF HULL
	Working days lost in all stoppages in progress in period
	Total	Of which due to stoppages known to be official
1971	52,000	—
1972	54,000	35,000
1973	17,000	—
1974	6,000	—
January-June 1975*	11,000	—
* Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what number of insured male workers there were in Wales in each of the years between 1963 and 1975; and what is the current number.

The following table shows the estimated numbers of employees in employment and the numbers unemployed. The most recent figures of the total numbers of employees in employment relate to March 1975 and are from the new quarterly employment series.

NUMBERS IN EMPLOYMENT AND UNEMPLOYED IN WALES: MALES
	Employees in employment	Unemployed
June 1963	669,000	20,569
June 1964—
(a)	672,000	14,474
(b)	673,000	14,474
June 1965	670,000	15,770
June 1966	664,000	16,315
June 1967	640,000	27,418
June 1968	629,000	28,970
June 1969—
(a)	618,000	29,185
(b)	620,000
June 1970	608,000	27,584
June 1971—
(a)	603,000	32,957
(b)	629,000
June 1972	630,000	36,457
June 1973	636,000	26,706
June 1974	621,000	27,765
March 1975	613,000	38,952

The estimates for June 1964(

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many were employed in Wales in agriculture, iron and steel and coal mining, respectively, in each of the years 1955 to 1975.

Following is the available information.Data for the industries as requested are available up to June 1974. Later information, relating to June 1975, but for the somewhat broader group of activity represented by orders of the Standard Industrial Classification, is available from the new quarterly employment series, and comparable figures for this broader coverage are also shown for earlier years. Statistics are shown from June 1959, the earliest date for which figures based on the 1958 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification are available.

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN WALES
			Agriculture, Forestry, Fishing	Of which, Agriculture and Horticulture	Mining and Quarrying	Of which, Coal mining	Metal Manufacture	Of which, Iron and steel (general) and Steel tubes
June 1959	…	…	26,100	21,000	121,800	113,800	82,700	68,200
June 1960	…	…	24,100	19,400	111,700	104,200	89,200	74,000
June 1961	…	…	22,900	18,400	106,700	99,500	91,100	75,100
June 1962	…	…	21,700	17,500	103,100	96,300	87,300	71,500
June 1963	…	…	21,900	17,600	101,300	94,700	90,500	74,500
June 1964—
(a)	…	…	19,200	15,300	96,700	90,200	95,000	77,900
(b)	…	…	19,300	15,300	97,000	90,400	95,300	78,000
June 1965	…	…	16,800	12,900	90,200	84,100	94,400	77,100
June 1966—
(a)	…	…	16,900	13,200	81,200	75,200	93,600	76,600
(b)	…	…	16,300	13,100	81,800	75,200	94,200	77,000
June 1967	…	…	15,900	12,400	75,200	69,400	92,000	75,100
June 1968	…	…	14,000	10,900	66,100	60,700	91,800	75,100
June 1969—
(a)	…	…	13,800	10,900	59,100	54,000	93,300	76,100
(b)	…	…	13,800	10,900	59,000	53,900	93,400	76,100
June 1970	…	…	12,800	10,100	53,900	49,000	91,100	75,900
June 1971—
(a)	…	…	11,400	8,900	48,400	44,300	85,900	71,300
(b)	…	…	27,700	25,700	50,000	46,400	89,600	74,000
June 1972	…	…	26,500	24,700	47,800	44,300	84,900	71,600
June 1973	…	…	28,000	26,200	45,200	41,700	84,100	70,700
June 1974	…	…	27,200	25,500	42,700	38,800	83,100	69,100
June 1975	…	…	25,800	—	42,700	—	81,500	—
The estimates for June 1964(b) and later dates are based on a revised method of calculation.
Between June 1966 and June 1967 the industrial classification of many establishments were corrected. The estimates for June 1966 are shown on both bases, that is (a) excluding and (b) including the effects of reclassifications.
The estimates for June 1969(a) and earlier dates are based on the 1958 Edition of the Standard Industrial Classification and those for 1969 (b) and subsequent dates on the 1968 Edition.
The estimates for June 1971(a) and earlier dates are based on counts of National Insurance Cards. The figures from June 1971 (b) are from the Annual Censuses of Employment and the New Quarterly Series. From June 1971 the mid-year figures for Agriculture are from the censuses of agriculture and will include some workers e.g. family workers, not covered by the estimates for earlier dates.
The figures for June 1975 are provisional.