asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animals were the subject of experiments by his Department in the last financial year.

In the course of agricultural research and development work the Ministry conducted experiments during the last financial year involving about 99,000 animals, ranging from cattle to small mammals and birds. The main objectives of this experimental work are the improvement of the health, welfare and productivity of farm animals and the control of disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present level of milk production as compared with one year ago.

In the four weeks to 22nd November sales of milk off farms in the United Kingdom are provisionally estimated at 956 million litres, 7.9 per cent. more than in the corresponding period of 1974.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on discussions on the European Economic Community stock-taking document.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Jopling) on 21st November. The European Council this week took note of the report from the Council of Ministers (Agriculture) and invited the Council to continue its detailed examination of the issues raised.—[Vol. 901, c. 9–10.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to ensure that brewers produce beer with a minimum guaranteed amount of traditional ingredients.

The Food Standards Committee is at present carrying out a full review of the composition and labelling of beer. The nature and extent of any action that needs to be taken will be decided in the light of the Committee's report and representations made about its recommendations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many civil servants are employed exclusively on administering agricultural levies; what is the estimated annual cost of administering these levies; and what is their estimated gross yield for the current financial year.

I have been asked to reply.The administration of the agricultural levies is carried out by Customs and Excise staff as part of their general work in the control and collection of import duties and associated activities. The estimated annual cost of administering import duties—estimated to yield £530 million in 1975–76—and associated activities, which include agricultural levies and considerable non-revenue work, is £44·5 million. The estimated yield for the agricultural levies is £40 million.

asked the Attorney-General what is the estimated increase in revenue which will accrue in the present financial year as a result of the increased charges for services provided by the Land Registry.

The recent increases in the fees for office copies, searches and other preliminary items relating to registered and unregistered land are expected to produce additional revenue of approximately £1·35 million for 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much money his Department expects to pay the University of Wales in the current financial year for research undertaken relative to weaponry.

The Ministry of Defence expects to pay the University of Wales about £100,000 in the current financial year for research work largely concerned with the properties of materials and related investigations based on new techniques.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how long Service men serving in Northern Ireland will have to buy their own night sights, which are needed for patrolling at night.

Soldiers are issued with all the equipment they need to carry out their tasks in Northern Ireland, as elsewhere. The operational use of privately purchased equipments, such as weapon sights, is prohibited.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when night sights are going to be provided for British Service men serving in Northern Ireland.

British soldiers serving in Northern Ireland have, for several years, been issued with weapon sights which are effective at night.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the daily average of head-checks, random checks of people in the streets (P checks), screening operations and searches carried out by the 3rd Brigade in Northern Ireland in the three months before and after 10th February 1975.

Figures in respect of head-checks, P checks and screening operations are not available. I will publish the numbers of searches in the Official Report in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian personnel are currently employed at each of the Royal Ordnance factories; and what was the corresponding figure one year ago.

Total numbers of civilian personnel employed at each of the Royal Ordnance Factories, together with the corresponding figures one year ago, are:

	1.11.74	3.11.75
ROF Birtley	1,673	1,904
ROF Bishopton	1,983	2,351
ROF Blackburn	2,291	2,366
ROF Bridgwater	764	792
ROF Chorley	2,655	2,850
RSAF Enfield	1,216	1,230
ROF Glascoed	1,945	2,091
ROF Leeds	2,224	2,280
ROF Nottingham	1,743	1,787
ROF Patricroft	1,387	1,494
ROF Radway Green	1,942	2,355
ROF Ranskill	19	—

ROF Ranskill, which was maintained on a care and maintenance basis, was closed on 9th May 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he accepts that within Great Britain's overall defence requirement the rôle of both the regular and TA parachute brigades is vital; and if he will give an assurance that no further defence cuts are contemplated which would in any way impair the ability of these formations to operate at maximum efficiency.

As was announced in the Defence White Paper, the concept of the United Kingdom Joint Airborne Task Force of two battalions and their support is to be abandoned, but a limited parachute capability is to be retained within the United Kingdom Mobile Force.So far as further defence cuts are concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit) on 26th November.—[Vol. 901, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilian personnel are currently employed at each of Her Majesty's dockyards, maintenance units and similar establishments in the United Kingdom; and what was the corresponding figure a year ago.

The numbers of Navy Department civilian personnel currently employed, and those employed a year ago, at each of Her Majesty's Dockyards, maintenance units and similar establishments in the United Kingdom are set out

	1st November 1975	1st November 1974
H. M. Dockyards
Chatham	6,237	6,280
Devonport	12,336	11,925
Portsmouth	8,387	8,491
Rosyth	5,977	5,873
Aircraft Yards and Workshops
Royal Naval Aircraft Yard, Fleetlands	1,169	1,127
Royal Naval Aircraft Yard, Wroughton	206	195
Royal Naval Aircraft Workshops, Perth	321	335
Royal Naval Air Radio Workshop, Copenacre	31	33
Other Maintenance Units
Port Auxiliary Repair Unit, Portland	183	185
Clyde Marine Services and Base and Machinery Support Services, Greenock	105	100
Engineering Services and Module Repair Calibration, Faslane	822	748
Miscellaneous	82	73

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he intends to increase the price of paraffin in the near future.

Following upon the notification in November by the oil companies to the Price Commission of their intention to increase prices of oil products mainly in consequence of higher costs of imported crude oil, the Government have received proposals from the companies for increases in the maximum retail price of paraffin. Representations have also been made by the organisations representing retailers and hardware dealers that, in fixing the new maximum retail prices for paraffin, allowance should be made for a bigger margin so that they can recover the increased costs which they have experienced since the present price of paraffin was set 12 months ago.After careful consideration, the Government have decided that the increase in the maximum retail price should be limited to 6p a gallon. This takes account of an increase in the wholesale price limited to 4½ p a gallon and an additional 1½p a gallon margin to the retailer. The 4½p increase is less than the general increase in the wholesale prices of other below. In the years covered by the Defence Review, total civilian strengths will be reduced, as far as possible through natural wastage, as a result of reductions in the Front Line.heating oils and the weighted average increase in price of all oil products notified to the Price Commission.The new maximum retail price increase will be effective from midnight Sunday 7th December and I am amending the maximum retail price order accordingly.I regret any increase in the price of paraffin which I know is of special importance to low income users, but the present increase is unavoidable to ensure that supplies will be forthcoming, and the number of retail outlets is maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of dwellings in the ownership of local authorities is designated for single per-sons, excluding retirement pensioners.

The information is not available centrally, as my Department does not collect information about the categories of tenant to whom each local authority allocates their accommodation. Our Circular 24/75 emphasised the importance of making more accommodation available for small households; and we shall shortly be publishing new standards and yardsticks for public housing for single people of working age.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he can give an estimate of the numbers of applicants for local authority houses earning between £2,600 and £3,800 per annum.

The information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what were the aggregate premium payments received in respect of the office buildings surrendered by the Property Services Agency during the period 1st April 1974 to 30th September 1975 in (a) London and (b) in the remainder of the United Kingdom.

Premium payments received in respect of office buildings surrendered by the Property Services Agency in the United Kingdom during the period 1st April 1974 to 30th September 1975 amounted to £4,550. It is not possible to give separate figures for London and elsewhere without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated total number of (a) public sector tenants, (b) private sector tenants and (c) owner-occupiers in England and Wales for the financial year 1974–75.

The estimates at 3lst March 1975 are as follows:

	Households (millions)
Rented from a council or new town	5·0
Rented unfurnished from a private landlord or housing association, rented furnished or not stated	3·0
Owner-occupiers	9·2

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the estimated total amount of housing subsidy given to (a) public sector tenants for rent rebates and (b) private sector tenants for rent allowances in England and Wales for the financial year 1974–75.

Rent rebates granted to public sector tenants and rent allowances granted to private sector tenants in England and Wales in the financial year 1974–75 are estimated to have totalled £228 million and £49 million, respectively, at 1975 Public Expenditure Survey prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how mans licensed caravan sites there are in England and Wales; and how many of these are located in areas designated as green belt, of outstanding national beauty or national parks.

This information is not available centrally. The licensing of caravan sites is carried out by local authorities. They keep registers of the licences issued in their areas, which are available for inspection by the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statistics concerning local authority housing which are recorded and maintained centrally by his Department.

Returns which provide regular statistics on English council housing are:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied that local authorities' housing management costs are at a satisfactory level; what is the average percentage of rent revenue represented by housing management costs; and whether his Department has offered any advice to local authorities on ways of reducing housing management costs.

Housing management costs vary widely between authorities and are affected by many factors, such as age and type of the housing stock. It is difficult, therefore, to form a judgment about the appropriate level of expenditure. Currently, it is estimated that in England the average percentage of re-bated rent revenue represented by housing management costs is 28 per cent.No comprehensive advice has yet been given about ways in which local authorities might reduce management costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now issue, as appropriate, advice or general directions to public corporations for which he is answerable in Parliament, when making decisions about major purchases, to buy British rather than foreign equipment whenever terms are comparable.

These industries already look first to British suppliers where possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to publish the Government's response to the Strategic Plan for the North West.

The response will be published on 8th December. Copies will be placed in the Library and will be sent to all members whose constituencies are in the North West.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a circular to local authorities advising them to impose a stricter limitation on rent arreas; and what data he receives on a regular basis from local authorities on this matter.

The Department will consider, as part of the review of housing management practice, what advice should be given to local authorities on rent arrears.A total figure for arreas is collected as part of the financial information provided annually by individual housing authorities same four or five months after the end of each financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take following the House of Lords judgment on the Daymond case.

The House of Lords has upheld, by a majority of three to two, the High Court ruling earlier this year that the Water Act 1973 does not empower a water authority to levy a charge for sewerage and sewage disposal on properties which are not connected to the sewers. The judgment has serious and wider implications and brings into question the validity of the statutory basis for water authoriites' charges. The Government are urgently studying this problem and I will make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the effect of Dutch elm disease on the countryside, he will now seek to amend the present law relating to felling licences so as to include trees under 825 cubic feet.

I have been asked to reply. The limitation in Section 9(3)(b)(ii) of the Forestry Act 1967 ensures that almost all fellings on a commercial scale are subject to control, and the extent of other felling under Section 9(3)(b)(i) is unlikely to be great, though it may be of significance in specific localities. We therefore have no plans to amend the exemption limits at present.However, we recognise that further action to discourage unnecessary felling might have a part to play in maintaining tree cover in the countryside in the longer term, alongside measures to encourage conservation and new planting. This is something my right hon. Friend will need to consider carefully together with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment when the expected reports from the Countryside Commission and the Tree Council are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with other EEC Governments concerning the provision of a Common EEC passport; and if he will make a statement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for Meriden (Mr. Tomlinson) and the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 4th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will have discussions with the Government of the Republic of Ireland concerning the extradition of people wanted in the United Kingdom for terrorist offences.

Her Majesty's Government are in frequent touch with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on matters of mutual interest affecting the enforcement of the criminal law. We consider that the first priority now should be the enactment and implementation of the reciprocal legislation which has been agreed between our two Governments for extending extra-territorial jurisdiction over fugitive offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people are now in prison as a result of non-payment of debts.

On 10th November 1975, there were 349 persons in prison for failure to make payments—other than fines—ordered by the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a request was made to the Government of the Republic of Ireland for the extradition of Margaret McKearney, alleged to be linked with explosives offences in Southampton; and if he will make a statement.

The Chief Constable of Hampshire tells me that no warrant has been sent to the Irish authorities for the return of Margaret McKearney under the backing of warrants procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many complaints have been received in the last 12 months in relation to the administration of the Television Licensing Office at Bristol; and if he will take steps to protect television licencees from constant demands for form filling returns when a current licence is already held;(2) what steps have been taken within the last 12 months to tighten up the liaison between the Television Licensing Office at Bristol and post offices throughout the country where licences are issued.

We received 50 complaints in the 12 months up to 30th November. This is a small figure in relation to the 17 million letters sent by the National Television Licence Records Office at Bristol, but I should like to assure the hon. Member that every effort is made to ensure that the public are not troubled more than is necessary with inquiry letters, and that the effectiveness of the liaison between the Bristol office and post offices is kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what percentage of timber used in the United Kingdom is imported.

It is estimated that in 1974 about 87 per cent. of the timber used in the United Kingdom was imported.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what effect he estimates the Concorde programme should have on manning levels in BAC Commercial Air-craft Division between now and next May.

The manning levels at British Aircraft Corporation's commercial aircraft division are primarily a matter for the judgment of the company, in the light of the work available.I understand that virtually the whole of the reduction in the commercial aircraft division workforce which the company is considering is accounted for by the diminishing requirements of the Concorde development and production programme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the Public Expenditure White Paper quantitative information about the financial transactions of the Government over the next five years, in particular the acquisitions of assets, payment of debt and accrual of profit to and amongst public authorities arising from the Community Land Bill, the extension of public ownership of industry and the activities of the British National Oil Corporation, the National Enterprise Board and the Development Agencies for Wales and Scotland.

To the extent that the transactions referred to fall within the definition of public expenditure, they will be included in the White Paper on Public Expenditure.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish estimates of the contingency reserve and shortfall in money terms as well as demand terms in the next White Paper on Public Expenditure.

We shall consider the hon. Gentleman's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish the most recent figures available for public expenditure per head by county in the United Kingdom, expressed as a percentage of expenditure in England, on the basis previously given in the Kilbrandon Report, Table 15.1 and in a Parliamentary Answer on 12th November 1973, column 56.

I regret that the information is not available.For estimates of identifiable public expenditure per head in each country of the United Kingdom, on a slightly broader definition than those referred to by the hon. Member I would refer him to the reply I gave to the hon. and learned Member for Dover and Deal (Mr. Rees) on 1st December.—[Vol. 901, c.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of total public expenditure in Wales and Scotland, respectively, will be represented by the expenditure earmarked for the two national assemblies outlined in Command Paper No. 6348.

Total public expenditure on devolved services in Wales would have amounted to rather more than half of identifiable public expenditure in Wales in 1974–75. In Scotland the proportion would have been nearly three-fifths. These estimates are given in paragraphs 223 and 99 of the White Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his estimates, approximate if need be, of total wages and salaries, numbers employed, actual and in full-time equivalents, and wages and salaries per full-time equivalent in central Government, local government, nationalised industries, the Armed Forces and the whole economy for each of the financial years 1968–69 to 1975–76.

The following tables show income from employment and employees in employment for each of the years 1968 to 1974. Employment totals are consistent with the series "Employees in Employment: Great Britain" published in the Department of Employment Gazette. Reliable estimates of part-time employees and consequently of total employment in terms of full-time equivalents

INCOME FROM EMPLOYMENT £m
		1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974
Central Government—
(a) Civilians	…	1,707	1,855	2,099	2,441	2,766	3,047	4,227
(b)Armed Forces	…	664	669	799	911	1,040	1,138	1,314
Local Authorities	…	2,442	2,610	2,945	3,478	4,127	4,812	5,688
Public Corporations	…	2,630	2,759	3,067	3,394	3,863	4,318	5,470
Total economy	…	25,357	27,082	20,261	33,500	37,476	43,161	52,001

EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT
						Thousands (June each year)
		1968	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974
Central Government—
(a) Civilians	…	1,488	1,487	1,537	1,561	1,590	1,610	1,753
(b) Armed Forces	…	400	380	372	368	371	361	345
Local Authorities	…	2,445	2,505	2,556	2,647	2,756	2,885	2,830
Public Corporations	…	2,078	2,041	2,011	1,978	1,894	1,859	1,938
Total economy	…	24,845	24,876	24,739	24,400	24,427	25,002	25,113

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the distinction between announced policy changes and other changes used in successive White Papers on Public Expenditure; and whether he proposes to clarify the distinction in his next White Paper on that subject.

Yes. But we shall consider whether further clarification is necessary in the next White Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are employed exclusively in administering car tax; what is the estimated annual cost of administering this tax; and what is its estimated gross yield in the current financial year.

It is estimated that in total the equivalent of 10,850 staff is employed on the control and administration of value added tax and car tax, which are administered together and estimated to yield £3,445 million in 1975–76, at an annual cost of just over £70 million. The estimated yield for car tax in 1975–76 is £170 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the percentage shares of gross domestic product at factor cost of (a) current expenditure on goods and services, (b) investment, (c) subsidies, debt interest and transfer payments and (d) other expenditure between 1960 and 1974 and his estimates for 1975.

The hon. Member is presumably referring to public expenditure. The following table shows the information for the years 1960 to 1974.

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GROSS DOMESTIC PRODUCT
					Current expenditure on goods and services	Investment	Subsidies, Current grants, Capital transfers Debt interest	Net lending to private sector and overseas
					(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)
1960	…	…	…	…	18·7	7·2	15·0	0·6
1961	…	…	…	…	18·9	7·6	15·5	0·5
1962	…	…	…	…	19·4	7·8	15·7	0·6
1963	…	…	…	…	19·2	7·9	15·8	0·5
1964	…	…	…	…	18·8	8·9	15·2	0·7
1965	…	…	…	…	19·3	9·0	16·0	1·0
1966	…	…	…	…	19·8	9·7	16·0	0·7
1967	…	…	…	…	20·8	10·7	18·1	0·6
1968	…	…	…	…	20·6	10·2	19·6	0·6
1969	…	…	…	…	20·5	9·5	19·8	0·4
1970	…	…	…	…	21·0	9·7	19·2	0·6
1971	…	…	…	…	21·2	9·5	18·4	0·8
1972	…	…	…	…	21·5	8·7	19·0	0·9
1973	…	…	…	…	21·2	9·2	19·2	1·5
1974	…	…	…	…	22·9	10·1	21·7	2·6

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland (1) how many crimes have been committed in South Armagh by IRA terrorists since 10th February 1975; how many persons have been made amenable for these crimes and what were their sentences; how many persons have been charged with these crimes; and how many persons are awaiting trial for these crimes;(2) how many of the crimes attributable to IRA terrorism in the South Armagh area have as yet no arrests recorded against them and remain un-solved;(3) how many persons have been murdered in South Armagh since 10th February 1975;(4) how many murders of civilians in South Armagh have not been solved;(5) how many murders of UDR personnel and how many murders of other Army personnel are unsolved;(6) how many murders of RUC personnel are unsolved;(7) how many murders of RUCR personnel are unsolved;(8) how many persons have been charged with the offence of obstructing the security forces in the execution of their duties;

I shall reply to the hon. Member's Questions as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will now announce the result of his inquiry into the murder of the three soldiers in South Armagh by the IRA operating from the Republic of Ireland.

I have not ordered an inquiry into the murders. Police inquiries are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Prices and Consumer Protection when she expects to complete her inquiries regarding the buyer's commission at Messrs. Christie's and Sotheby's auction sales; and whether she will make a statement.

The Price Commission is inquiring into how the buyer's commission stands under the Price Code. The matter raises complex legal questions which have not yet been resolved. I have asked the Chairman of the Price Commission to let my hon. Friend know the outcome.

asked the Prime Minister whether he intends to make any changes in his practice on the grouping of Questions.

Yes. My practice since July 1974 has been to group Questions of a similar kind tabled on the first available day only when they appear within the top 10 Questions on the Order Paper. While this was, I believe, of some help to the House, its value has been largely negatived by large-scale syndication of Questions. To ensure that a wider range of Questions is reached orally, and in fairness to hon. Members with Questions high on the Order Paper, I have therefore decided not to group Questions in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the estimates of net migration between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom and overseas for each of the last five years.

ESTIMATED NET MIGRATION, SCOTLAND, 1969–74
Period				Between Scotland and rest of United Kingdom	Between Scotland and overseas	Total
Year to June 1970	…	…	…	−7,600	−12,500	−20,100
Year to June 1971	…	…	…	−11,200	−10,500	−21,700
Year to June1972	…	…	…	−14,800	−12,800	−27,600
Year to June 1973	…	…	…	−4,000	−6,700	−10,700
Year to June 1974	…	…	…	+5,000	−7,000	−2,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total Government expenditure in Scotland on outdoor mobility help for the disabled in the first full year preceding 28th February 1974 and in the most recent full year, respectively.

Expenditure, excluding the cost of routine servicing and

The estimates for the five years to June 1974, the latest year for which figures are available, are given in the table below.The estimates of migration between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom are based on the registration of patients on doctors' lists, as recorded by local health authorities and subsequently by the National Health Service Central Registers. It has recently become apparent that, because of National Health Service reorganisation, delays occurred in the procedures for recording and counting new registrations, though the extent of these delays cannot be precisely measured.This affects estimates already made, because it produced understatement of the numbers moving from Scotland to England and Wales in the second half of 1973 and first half of 1974. I regret that the estimate of net gain of 7,800 from the rest of the United Kingdom and overseas for the year to June 1974, which I gave in my Answer to my hon. Friend, the Member for Glasgow, Queen's Park (Mr. McElhone), on 19th December 1974, requires to be revised.The best revised estimate that the Registrar General for Scotland is now able to make is that the year to mid-1974 should show a net loss of 2,000, as in the table printed below. This is the lowest net loss for any year since the war.repair of invalid tricycles and wheelchairs, which cannot be separately identified, was £620,000 and £862,000 in the financial years 1972–73 and 1974–75, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the £2·5 million set aside for help to areas affected by oil-related development has been allocated to the Cowal area of Argyll.

The £2·5 million special assistance to local authorities for expenditure in 1975–76 on oil-related infrastructure includes the following sums—

Strathclyde Regional Council	£24,666
Argyll and Bute District Council	£10,521

The case for special assistance to these particular authorities was based largely on infrastructure needs arising from oil-related developments in the Cowal area. The grants relate to estimated current expenditure including loan charges on capital works, and are calculated after taking account of any other Government assistance receivable by the authorities in respect of the expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list, as a percentage of the maximum combined

Date	Profits or gains of self-employed person
	Below £1,150	£1,150	£1,600	£2,500	£3,600	£4,900
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
1st January 1974	30	30	30	30	30	30
5th August 1974	29	29	29	29	29	29
6th April 1975 (unimplemented figures as contained in 1973 Social Security Act—excluding Reserve Scheme contributions)	27	27	34	49	49	49
6th April 1975 (actual rates under Social Security Amendment Act (1974)	25	25	25	39	57	57
6th April 1976	18	18	18	28	40	55

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she is satisfied that sufficient copies of the Department's leaflet OC2 on Help with Heating Costs, are available for the public over the next few months.

This leaflet is printed in batches of 100,000. There are stocks to meet immediate needs, and a further reprint will be undertaken as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will make early in 1976 a £10 bonus payable to pensioners and others on long-term benefits for increased fuel costs.

The following table lists for the appropriate dates and levels of profits or gains the maximum—that is, male person's—Class 2 contribution, combined where appropriate with the Class 4 contribution, expressed as a percentage of the maximum combined Class 1 contribution—that is, the contribution payable at the full standard rate on ceiling earnings:—

As my right hon. Friend explained to the House on 22nd May, when announcing last month's increases in social security benefits, a bonus payment is bound to be somewhat arbitrary in coverage and to exclude many deserving groups. We have just completed a general uprating of benefits which is a fairer method of distributing the resources which are available.—[Vol. 892, c. 1623–36.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she expects to lay before the House regulations governing the Employment of Children Act 1973.

The regulations have been delayed by the need to consider whether there are adequate resources available to local authorities to implement them at the present time of financial restraint. Local authority associations have been consulted, and their views on the practicability of staged implementation of proposed regulations are currently being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if there are any plans to review the weekly amount of pocket money paid to patients in mental hospitals.

Pocket money was increased on 20th November 1975. There are no plans at present for further review.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of administrative staff for each of the former regional health boards or authorities in England prior to reorganisation on 1st March 1974; what is the total number of administrative staff for each of the new regional health authorities after reorganisation at the latest possible convenient date; and if she will give the grand total for each at the two separate dates.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many wage and salary earners are now estimated to be made poorer by any increase in earnings due to the effect of their increase on their entitlement to family income supplement, rent and rate rebates, free school meals and free welfare milk, and on their income tax liability.

It is estimated that at August 1974, the latest date for which figures are available, about 50,000 families with children where the head of the family was in full-time work could theoretically have been worse off after a pay rise of £1. More up to date figures are expected to become available shortly.NOTES:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has caused the delay in reaching a decision on the current dispute at the Digmoor Health Centre, Skelmersdale.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the representations made by the Lancashire Family Practitioner Commmittee in relation to one of the doctors practising at the Health Centre that his continued inclusion in any list of doctors undertaking to provide general medical services would be prejudicial to the efficiency of those services. The sequence of events has been as follows:19th December 1974.—The Lancashire FPC decided to make representations to the Tribunal.31st December 1974.—The Clerk to the Tribunal gave notice to the doctor of the Tribunal's intention to hold an inquiry.21st February 1975.—The FPC submitted a detailed statement of complaint to the Tribunal.25th February 1975.—The Clerk to the Tribunal sent the statement of the complaint and a list of documents to the doctor.9th April 1975.—The Clerk to the Tribunal received from the doctor a request for further and better particulars.6th and 12th May 1975.—Having obtained these particulars from the FPC's solicitors, the Clerk to the Tribunal sent them to the doctor.20th August 1975.—After consultation with the parties, the Clerk to the Tribunal issued formal notices of the time, date and place of the hearing.17th to 19th September 1975.—The hearing was held in Liverpool.27th October 1975.—The Tribunal issued its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much financial assistance was given in 1974–75 to the

					£per capita
					Wales	United Kingdom
Social security	…	…	…	…	150·7	127·5
Education, libraries, science and arts	…	…	…	…	102·9	101·6
Health and personal social services	…	…	…	…	85·3	85·9
Housing	…	…	…	…	64·8	74·4
Other environmental services	…	…	…	…	36·6	33·7
Law, order and protective services	…	…	…	…	17·7	23·8

The Sports Council for Wales grant-in-aid to the Football Association of Wales in 1974–75 was £7,000. It is estimated that £18,000 will be granted in the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the level of public expenditure per head in Wales and the United Kingdom average expenditure per head, at the latest date for which figures are available, in each of the following categories: social security, education, libraries, science and art, health and personal social services, housing, other environmental services, and law, order and protective services.

The information, for the latest year available, 1974–75, is shown in the following table.