asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what decisions he has reached on the outstanding issues concerning artificial insemination of cattle.

On the question of farm storage of bull semen and its use by farm personnel there is a number of relevant considerations. These include the need to avoid the spread of disease; the need to ensure that AI remains available to as many farmers as possible; the maintenance and, if possible, expansion of progeny testing schemes; and the cost and convenience to all concerned. Taking all these considerations into account my right hon. Friends the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Scotland have decided that the best course would be to permit farm storage of semen from approved bulls, provided that the storage arrangements are approved and that the semen is distributed through the existing AI Centre network. Full records of do-it-yourself inseminations will have to be kept by the farmer himself, and all semen supplied under these arrangements will be for use only on his own farm.Amendment of the existing regulations will be necessary before these changes can be introduced, and operational procedures will have to be worked out in detail. I hope, however, that it will be possible to bring the new arrangements into full effect this autumn.The other outstanding issue concerns Government involvement in the quality selection of AI bulls. At present the number of young bulls put forward for progeny testing is too great for the testing resources available, and while this remains the case some screening by the Agriculture Departments ensures that these resources are used for the young bulls most likely to achieve proven sire status. However, the present arrangements whereby breeders are permitted to test young bulls of their own choice outside the official scheme will be extended to allow not less than five nor more than 10 breeders to co-operate in their own arrangements. Widespread use of semen from proven bulls will continue to be subject to approval, but the criteria applied will be the minima necessary to ensure continued genetic improvement of the national herd.Details of the quality standards applicable to AI bulls will be made available to all concerned as soon as they have been finalised.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many official handbooks to ancient monuments and historic buildings are published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office; how many copies were sold during the most recent year for which figures are available; how much revenue these sales produce; and if this revenue covers the full cost of producing these books.

202 official handbooks to ancient monuments and historic buildings are published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. Some are sold in official bookshops, but most are distributed by the Department of the Environment and sold to the public on site. Total figures of sales to the public are, therefore, not readily available, but during 1975 the total number of copies printed was 2,323,000. The handbooks are normally priced to cover the full cost of production, publishing and selling; but some losses were incurred during the period of Government price restraint.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) which of the 29 special advisers to Ministers have not been positively vetted for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act;(2) whether it is the practice, before Ministers appoint special advisers, for such persons to be vetted for the purposes of the Official Secrets Act.

Special Advisers are subject to the Official Secrets Acts in the same way as are other civil servants. Positive vetting is part of the Government's security procedures and is not related to the Official Secrets Acts.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many of the remaining 28 special advisers receive a salary in excess of the £14,000 a year paid to Professor Lord Kaldor, special adviser to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

None.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will list the special advisers to each Minister.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Northampton, North (Ms. Colquhoun) on 14th January.—[Vol. 903, c. 171.] There have been no changes since that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the average annual expenditure on defence of the Warsaw Pact and of NATO, respectively, during each of the last 15 years.

Precise comparisons between NATO and Warsaw Pact expenditure are complicated by the different economic and pricing systems of the alliances, the covert nature of Pact policy, and the lack of realistic exchange rates for Pact countries. Figures for the Warsaw Pact are not readily available over 15 years. Total NATO expenditure, and subject to the above limitations that for the Warsaw Pact over the last five years, are:

	NATO	Warsaw Pact
	$ million	$ million
1971	105,000	99,000
1972	113,500	104,000
1973	121,600	110,000
1974	135,100	116,400
1975	149,300	125,700

Average expenditure per country over the same period ranges from $7·5 billion to $10·7 billion for NATO, and $14·1 billion to $18·0 billion for the Warsaw Pact.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he had with other NATO defence Ministers before the announcement of further defence cuts was made in the White Paper on Public Expenditure published in 19th February.

I informed our allies that the annual review of public expenditure covered all expenditure programmes but that I would not agree to cuts in defence expenditure that would impinge upon the effectiveness of our contribution to the Alliance. I consider that the new defence expenditure targets set out in Cmnd. 6393 honour that pledge. I also promised to inform the Alliance of the outcome for defence. I have now done so and invited their views.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy (1) what progress has been made by the Central Electricity Generating Board since May 1974 in planning arrangements for the SGHW nuclear reactor power plant; and if he is satisfied with that progress;(2) what discussions he has had with the Chairman of the Central Electricity Generating Board concerning SGHW nuclear reactors; and if he is satisfied with the direction being given to that programme.

I am in regular touch with the Chairman of the CEGB as with all parties concerned in the SGHWR programme, and am satisfied with the direction being given to the programme. The CEGB is working closely with the Nuclear Power Company. They are determined to ensure that the design of the SGHWR is well established before construction is started. I agree with the need for careful planning, and I have told the parties that I would not wish to see them try to cut corners.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether it is intended that the BNOC should enter refining within the next decade, either through direct equity participation or through paying a commission fee on the refining of the Corporation's throughput.

The BNOC will be formulating its disposal policy for crude oil in due course. To refine petroleum itself it would require my consent under Section 2(4)(b) of the Petroleum and Submarine Pipe-lines Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the exact terms of reference of the tripartite committee formed to assist the oil and gas platform contractors.

The terms of reference of this committee were agreed at the inaugural meeting on 24th February 1976, as follows:

(i) The committee should consider ways of improving the UK offshore supplies competitive capability having regard particularly (a) to the desirability of securing an adequate level of ordering thus helping to ensure continuity of employment and adequacy of training; and (b) to the problems arising from cost escalation;

(ii) The committee should seek means of improving the capability and the level of UK content in the orders placed by operators on the UK Continental Shelf whilst encouraging industry to take advantage of the scope for exports;

(iii) The committee should identify and examine in depth such problems as might be raised by any member or outside source and monitor any action recommended;

(iv) The committee should establish a close relationship with other bodies such as the Offshore Supplies Office and the National Economic Development Office to avoid any duplication of effort or overlap in study or research into problems identified by the committee; and to co-ordinate their efforts with the Government's broader industrial strategy.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the United Kingdom total oil consumption in the most recent year for which figures are available was used by road transport and by British Railways, respectively.

Statistics on deliveries of oil to road and rail transport and to other users are published in the "Digest of United Kingdom Energy Statistics" Table 45. In 1975 the percentages were about 27 per cent. and 1 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now introduce legislation to extend the rent allowance system to occupiers of mobile homes.

Subject to certain conditions the rent allowance scheme already extends to people who rent mobile homes as their normal residence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects work to commence on the M54.

Subject to the satisfactory completion of the remaining statutory procedures and to the availability of funds, work on the section of the M54 between Telford and the M6 could start about the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the level crossing accident at Rainham, Essex, on 20th February 1976, involving a train and a car.

At 07.00 on Friday 20th February, in damp foggy conditions, the 06.35 electric train from Liverpool Street to Southend ran through the gate at Rainham Mudland Manor Way level crossing, striking and severely damaging a private motor car that was using the crossing. I regret to say that the crossing keeper, who was preparing to close the gates against road traffic, was seriously injured and that the car driver was taken to hospital; but he was not detained. British Railways have reported the accident to the Department and are holding an internal inquiry, the findings of which will be made available to the Railway Inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give details of sums to be allotted by the Government for the Olympic Games and of the sums allotted to the last Olympic Games and break these figures down among the various sports.

The British Olympic Association received a net sum of £6,738 in Government grants for travel costs, freight charges and out-of-pocket expenses in respect of the 1972 Olympic Games at Munich. Sports Council grants to be offered to the British Olympic Association for the Games in Montreal this year are expected to amount to some £107,000, subject to need based upon the results of their own appeal.Grants to the governing bodies of Olympic sports totalled £710,175 in the four years before the Munich Games, and are expected to amount to £1,928,380 for the four years before Montreal. These grants cover all the work of the governing bodies concerned and international training and participation are only part of their responsibilities. Details are as follows:

Sport	1968–72	1972–76
	£	£
Archery	13,285	25,434
Association Football	22,608	25,250
Athletics	155,373	282,284
Boxing	26,385	62,324
Canoeing	54,343	119,676
Cycling	28,682	55,173
Fencing	51,633	102,800
Gymnastics	29,392	128,738
Handball	1,358	12,512
Hockey	28,091	79,916
Judo	20,837	67,975
Modern Pentathlon	7,994	34,580
Riding	37,871	117,405
Rowing	46,909	227,100
Sailing (see note)	44,977	157,994
Shooting	23,574	99,713
Swimming	69,461	170,498
Volleyball	9,823	43,340
Weightlifting	25,666	85,639
Wrestling	11,913	30,029
TOTAL	710,175	1,928,380

Includes grant for non-Olympic classes; as block grants have been made covering Olympic and non-Olympic classes, it is not possible to provide an accurate breakdown.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what expenditure on road works of any kind within the London borough of Hounslow is planned by his Department between now and 1980.

So far as can be foreseen at present the expenditure on trunk roads in Hounslow between now and 1980 will be about £2·5 million for improvements and about £1·75 million for maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has given to planning authorities in respect of the landscaping of industrial plants such as power stations which are sited in residential areas.

None. This is not an area in which detailed guidance would be useful. The landscape treatment needed to lessen the adverse effect which any development may have on residents in its vicinity is a matter best left to the discretion of local planning authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what advice he has offered to those inner London boroughs granted designation under the Caravan Sites Act 1968 about the desirability of moving on travellers seeking to camp on publicly owned land in their areas.

None of the four inner London boroughs which have been granted designation has sought such advice. If they were to do so, I should ask them to consider the consequences carefully before taking such action, in consultation with neighbouring authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has received any representations about the travellers whose caravans are currently sited on public land in the London borough of Greenwich; and if so, what reply he has given.

No. Such representations would in any case be inappropriate unless the land were held by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the major costs in road expenditure announced in the White Paper, he intends to cancel the proposed Kirkhamgate to Dishforth motorway.

No. The development of proposals for the improvement of this important trunk road link will continue within the financial constraints obtaining over the next few years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost to his Department of taking the Under-Secretary of State for the Environment the hon. Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks), by special train on an official visit to Manchester, the cost of services provided on the train, staffing of the train and the cost of the entertainment and accommodation which the party enjoyed at Birmingham.

The cost to the Department was confined to overnight accommodation at Birmingham, totalling £45·34. The other costs were met by the British Railways Board, at whose invitation the visit was made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, during the recent water survey, the acidity/alkalinity ratio was measured at the time samples were taken; and, if so, if these will be published.

In the recent lead in water survey various chemical characteristics including pH and alkalinity were recorded. These will be given and commented on in the report of the survey.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has yet received the conclusions of the review of the implications of a reduction

		Number of Staff		Cost of Salaries
		Full-lime	Part-time		£
1968	…	61	—	1968–69	130,000
1969	…	63	—	1969–70	135,000
1970	…	64	1	1970–71	140,000
1971	…	64	—	1971–72	184,000
1972	…	62	—	1972–73	181,000
1973	…	60	—	1973–74	200,000
1974	…	68	3	1974–75	234,000
1975	…	68	2
1976 (1st January)	…	65	4

Similar information for the years before 1968–69 is not readily available.

I hope to announce the Government's conclusions during the forthcoming debate on the proposals of the Commission of the European Communities for the control of lead pollution.

asked the Attorney-General if he has yet received the White Paper on unmet legal services; and when he proposes to publish it.

My noble Friend has now received the report which he asked his officials to prepare on the unmet need for legal services, and he is studying it as a matter of urgency. The report is not in a form suitable for publication, but my noble Friend hopes to be able to make a statement with regard to it at an early date.

Lewis asked the Prime Minister what was the total number of staff employed in his Department for each of the past 15 years and the salaries paid on an annual basis for that period; and to what extent the Government's proposed economy cuts will reduce these numbers and financial costs.

The number of staff employed in my office at 10 Downing Street on 1st April of each of the years 1968 onwards and the annual cost of the salaries for each financial year from 1968–69 to 1974–75 are as follows:My office is staffed by the Civil Service Department and the proposed economy measures will be considered in relation to the Department as a whole. The precise effect of the measures is being examined but cannot yet be quantified in terms of staff and financial savings. My office will of course co-operate to the fullest extent necessary to achieve the Department's share of the Government's target for the reduction in size and cost of the Civil Service.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a transcript of his interview on Government policy in the "Analysis" programme on Radio Four on 19th February.

I did so on 20th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of the Government subsidy which Logan-air Limited is receiving from him under Section 21 of the Scottish Development Agency Act 1975; and for which services such subsidy is being provided.

Loganair is currently receiving Government subsidy for its services from Glasgow to Tiree and Barra, and from Glasgow to Skye. The amount involved for the current financial year is £95,824.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many meetings she has had in the last year with representatives of claimants unions.

I met representatives of the claimants' union recently.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of recipients of national assistance/supplementary benefit in the following categories in each year since 1948 in Great Britain, England, Scotland, Wales and the English regions: (a) retirement pensioners and national insurance widows aged 60 years or over, (b) others over pensionable age, (c) unemployed without national insurance benefit, (d) unemployed with national insurance benefit; (e) sick and disabled with national insurance benefit, (f) sick and disabled without national insurance benefit, (g) women under 60 years of age without dependents, (h) national insurance widows under 60 years of age and (i) others.

I regret that the collation of all the available information in the form requested would involve a disproportionate expenditure of staff time. Much of it is published in the tables of the annual reports of the former National Assistance Board, the former Ministry of Social Security and the Department of Health and Social Security, and in "Social Security Statistics" 1972 to 1974, copies of which are in the Library. As far as the figures for Great Britain are concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Pembroke (Mr. Edwards) on 10th December 1975. The provisional December 1975 figures for Great Britain are given in the table below. Regional information for years before 1962 could only be provided at disproportionate cost. Regional information for the years between 1962 and 1965 is available in the annual reports of the National Assistance Board, Appendix 4, but is not all in the precise form requested. For information on England and Scotland in selected years I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my right hon. Friend the Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Stonehouse) on 9th February and to my reply to the hon. Member for Clackmannan and East Stirlingshire (Mr. Reid) on 10th February.—[Vol. 902, c. 217–8; Vol. 905, c. 80–2, c. 184–6.]—For information on the English regions in 1974 I would refer the hon. Member to Table 34.34 in "Social Security Statistics 1974", and to parallel tables for earlier years in the publications mentioned above. Prior to 1967 the English regions were not all defined in the same way as they are now. Information for Wales in selected years is as folows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list in the Official Report the percentage increase in net income over supplementary benefit rates which could be gained by a lone woman with two children, aged 5 and 11 years, by working

PERCENTAGE BY WHICH AVERAGE NET EARNINGS* EXCEED SUPPLEMENTARY BENEFIT† FOR A LONE WOMAN WITH TWO CHILDREN AGED 5 AND 11
Year (October)					Normal Supplementary Benefit		Long-Term Supplementary Benefit §
					Female Earnings	Male Earnings	Female Earnings	Male Earnings
1970‡	…	…	…	…	11·4	85·2	7·0	77·8
1971	…	…	…	…	12·8	85·5	8·8	78·9
1972	…	…	…	…	18·7	94·0	14·2	86·5
1973	…	…	…	…	26·1	107·7	18·5	95·2
1974	…	…	…	…	21·7	88·8	10·5	71·4
* Estimated average earnings of full-time male and female manual workers in manufacturing industries based on the Department of Employment's October enquiry, plus family allowance less tax and National Insurance contributions.
† Includes average rent addition.
‡ SB rates used for 1970 are those introduced in November.
§ Including the long-term addition before 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will update

Family type in figure 5.11				Family allowances	Net earnings	Means-tested benefits	NI benefits	Total weekly net income
				£p	£p	£p	£p	£p
1	…	…	…	1·50	—	22·22	—	23·72
2	…	…	…	1·50	—	4·49	34·40	40·39
3	…	…	…	1·50	28·12	4·56	—	34·18
4	…	…	…	1·50	43·23	—	—	44·73
5	…	…	…	1·50	20·99	—	24·80	47·29

Figures for the combined average earnings of men and women are not available, nor is information yet available for 1975. The available information in relation to female earnings and male earnings separately is as follows:date the information in figure 5.11 (page 263) in the Finer Report.

The information requested is given below:A family where the mother is a widow with a widowed mother's allowance and is in full time work on earnings of £34·18. National insurance contribution is assumed to be at the reduced rate."Net income" is the sum of earnings after deduction of tax, national insurance contribution and an arbitrary amount of £1 per week for other working expenses; family allowances; appropriate national insurance benefits at the standard rate; supplementary benefit entitlement, family income supplement entitlement; appropriate rate rebate and appropriate rent rebate or allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the value of family income supplement for a one, two, four and six child family as a percentage of (a) gross and (b) net average industrial earnings for each year since 1971.

						Average FIS payment as % of gross earnings
Calendar year					Average gross earnings† (October)	Families with
						1 child	2 children	4 children	6 children
1971*	…	…	…	…	£30·93	6·2	5·0	5·0	6·3
1972	…	…	…	…	£35·82	6·3	5·2	5·2	6·1
1973	…	…	…	…	£40·92	6·2	5·6	6·0	6·9
1974	…	…	…	…	£48·63	6·1	5·6	6·3	7·3
1975	…	…	…	…	£59·58	6·3	6·0	6·5	7·0
* Average payments are the average of a calendar year. For 1971, the averages are based on the last quarter only
† Average gross earnings are those of male manual workers aged 21 and over covered by the Department of Employment's regular annual October enquiry into earnings and hours of manual workers

The following table shows, FIS average payments as a percentage of net income—earnings plus family alowances net of

	1 Child Family		2 Child Family		4 Child Family		6 Child Family
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)
Calendar	Average net income	Average FIS payment as percentage of (2)	Average net income	Average FIS payment as percentage of (4)	Average net income	Average FIS payment as percentage of (6)	Average net income	Average FIS payment as percentage of (8)
	£		£		£		£
1971	24·38	7·9	25·85	6·0	29·30	5·3	32·38	6·0
1972	28·51	8·0	29·98	6·2	33·43	5·6	36·52	6·0
1973	31·86	8·0	33·30	6·9	36·91	6·7	39·73	7·1
1974	36·67	8·0	38·47	7·1	42·65	7·2	46·37	7·6
1975	43·48	8·6	45·72	7·8	50·67	7·7	55·15	7·5

The figures for net income are based on the assumptions that the families have gross earnings as shown in table 1; are receiving basic tax allowances only; consist of man and wife with:1 child: aged under 11.2 children: both aged under 11.4 children: 2 aged under 11,2 11–15.6 children: 4 aged under 11, 2 11–15.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she expects to receive the report of the inquiry into ECT methods and use.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the inquiry set up by the South-East Thames Regional Health Authority to inquire into the allegations about the care and treatment of patients at St. Augustine's Hospital, Chartham, Down, near Canterbury, contained in two documents "A Critique Regarding Policy" and "A Critique Regarding Policy Part II—The Evidence" by Mr. Olleste Etsello, RMN, and Dr. William B. Ankers, PhD. I understand that the report of the inquiry is expected to be

The table below shows, annually, FIS average payments as a percentage of average gross earnings since 1971:tax and national insurance contributions. Family allowances are included because they affect the amount of tax payable.received by the Regional Health Authority next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will publish in the Official Report the average rent for (a) supplementary pension and (b) supplementary allowance recipients for both the private and council sectors (i) before and (ii) after claiming rent rebates.

In August 1975 the average weekly rent including rates for supplementary pensioners was £3·39 in the private sector and £5·38 in the public sector. For supplementary allowance recipients the respective figures were £5·37 and £6·13. Rent rebates and allowances are not granted to recipients of supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when she hopes to be able to announce her acceptance or otherwise of the recommendations of the Committee of Inquiry into procedures for appointing locum medical staff.

The Report of the Committee of Inquiry set up by the South-East Thames Regional Health Authority was received by the Authority on 12th February. It is now being studied by other local interests and my Department is also considering its implications.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if she will list the family circumstances, single, married, number and age of children, of those whose entitlement to social security and national insurance benefits would of itself make them liable to income tax.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 29th January 1976; Vol. 904, c. 333], circulated the following information:The following categories of social security beneficiary in receipt of the benefits shown throughout the 1975–76 tax year would be liable to income tax by reason of that benefit alone:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is her estimate of the number of recipients of non-contributory invalidity pension who are drawing supplementary benefits; and what proportion these are of the total;(2) what is her estimate of the number of recipients of non-contributory invalidity pension who were formerly receiving supplementary benefit but whose incomes have now been raised beyond the level of the supplementary benefit allowance.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 553], gave the following information:It was originally estimated that about 135,000 people receiving supplementary benefit would become eligible for the non-contributory invalidity pension from 20th November 1975, and that about 10,000 of these potential recipients would have their incomes raised above the level at which they would be entitled to supplementary benefit.About 56,000 people who were receiving supplementary benefit had claimed a non-contributory invalidity pension by November 1975. We do not know how many of these have had their incomes raised above the supplementary benefit level, although it is a reasonable supposition that the 10,000 with a prospect of a net cash gain would be most likely to claim. At least part of the income of all of the recipients, of course, became free of any means-test and this in itself is a welcome development.If it is assumed that 46,000 people are drawing supplementary benefit and the non-contributory invalidity pension, this represents about 38 per cent. of the approximate total of 120,000 non-contributory invalidity pensioners as at November 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many recipients of non-contributory invalidity pension receive a net weekly gain in respect of their personal entitlement of (a) over £7 per week, (b) £6 to £6·99, (c) £5 to £5·99, (d) £4 to £4·99, (e) £3 to £3·9, (f) £2 to £2·99, (g) £1 to £1·99 and (h) under £1.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 553], gave the following information:I regret that information is not available in the form requested. The figures which are available stem from our original estimates, and from assumptions about the income of the supplementary benefit claimants to the new benefit. On this basis, it is estimated that, out of the total of 120,000 recipients of the non-contributory invalidity pension as at November 1975, 8,000 have received a net weekly gain of over £7 a week in their personal entitlement; 5,000 have received a net weekly gain of £3-£6·99, and 61,000 have received a net weekly gain of under £3. The 61,000 with a net weekly gain of under £3 include 56,000 long-stay patients in mental hospitals, now eligible for the full £2·65 personal allowance, who had hitherto received only discretionary allowances for personal requirements from hospital funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average net weekly gain to each recipient of the non-contributory invalidity pension; and what the average net weekly gain would be if the non-contributory invalidity pension was raised to the level of the full invalidity pension with invalidity allowance payable where appropriate.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 553], gave the following information:I must emphasise that the figures can only be broad estimates based on the most reasonable assumptions that can be made. On this basis, the average net weekly gain to each recipient of the non-contributory invalidity pension is between £1·50 and £2 a week. It is estimated that if the non-contributory invalidity pension were raised to the level of the contributory invalidity pension, with invalidity allowance where appropriate, the average net weekly gain would roughly double. These estimates take account of the fact that the maximum personal benefit for the long-term hospital in-patient without dependants is £2·65 a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is her estimate of the number of recipients of non-contributory invalidity pension who are currently drawing supplementary benefits but whose total income would exceed the supplementary benefit needs allowance if the rate of non-contributory invalidity pension were raised to that of invalidity pension with invalidity allowance paid where appropriate.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 553], gave the following information:If the rate of non-contributory invalidity pension were raised to that of invalidity pension, with invalidity allowance where appropriate, it is likely that many of the recipients of supplementary benefit who last year decided not to claim a non-contributory invalidity pension would choose to do so. As a result, perhaps something like 100,000 people in all who were receiving supplementary benefit at 20th November 1975, might have their incomes raised above the supplementary benefit level.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if she will express the attendance allowance at both rates for a single person as a percentage of: (a) average gross male industrial earnings, (b) net personal disposable income per head, and (c) average final income per head, as established in the Family Expenditure Survey for households, divided by the average size per household, for each of the years from 1971 to 1975;(2) if she will express the long-term supplementary benefit for a single person as a percentage of: (

pursuant to his replies [Official Report, 16th February 1976; Vol.'905, c. 553, 554 and 555] gave the following information:The following tables set out the information requested for the years 1971 to 1974 inclusive. Similar information for 1975 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimate of the numbers of chronically sick and disabled people aged under 15 years, over 15 years and under pensionable age and over pensionable age, respectively, who are (a) receiving supplementary benefits, (b) with incomes below supplementary benefit level and (c) with incomes no more than 10 per cent. above the supplementary benefit levels.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16th February 1976; Vol. 905, c. 554], circulated the following information:I regret that information is not available in the form requested. People under age 16 do not qualify for supplementary benefit, and chronically sick or disabled people over pensionable age are not separately identified. At November 1974, the most recent date for which reasonably comprehensive information is available about supplementary allowance beneficiaries under pensionable age, over 200,000 recipients who were classified as sick or disabled had been in receipt of supplementary allowances for at least six months. There were, however, unknown numbers of sick and disabled people amongst other groups of supplementary allowance recipients, for example, among widows. Further, the numbers will have been affected by benefit changes since November 1974.The Family Expenditure Survey for 1974 suggested that the net incomes of 20,000 families in which the head of the family had been sick or disabled for at least three months were below supplementary benefit level; and the net incomes of another 20,000 families were estimated to be above supplementary benefit level but within 10 per cent. of it. These estimates are subject to large sampling error; and the situation will in any case have been affected by subsequent changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Chilean students there are in the United Kingdom who are a charge upon public funds; and how much they cost the taxpayers and ratepayers.

334 Chilean students are studying in universities and further education institutions at a cost in the financial year 1975–76 of £643,000 to the Ministry of Overseas Development. In addition Her Majesty's Government contribute towards the total cost of educational provision through grants to the universities and other institutions and to local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the salary increase from £38,636 to £58,125 received by Sir Richard Dobson, Chairman of British-American Tobacco, last September falls within the Government's current counter-inflation policy; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that this increase in salary was received prior to the introduction of the current pay policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what number of employees employed by public sector corporations and nationalised industries, and by local government, respectively, belong to TUC-affiliated trade unions.

I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the Official Report a table showing the number of individuals employed in the vehicle production and associated supply industries in the Coventry travel-to-work area.

This Department's employment estimates are analysed according to the Minimum List Headings (MLHs) of the Standard Industrial Classification. There are separate MLHs for the manufacture of vehicles but not for associated supply industries. At June 1974, the latest date for which figures are available, there were 64,000 employees in employment in the manufacture of vehicles (MLHs 380–385, inclusive in the Coventry travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in view of the fact that the 1946 Fair Wages Resolution provides for a Government contractor to pay rates of wages not less favourable than the general level of wages observed by other employers whose general circumstances in the trade or industry in which the contractor is engaged are similar, what steps he proposes to take to see that the Newton Derby Company fulfils its obligations under the Fair Wages Resolution, as a Government contractor to the Ministry of Defence.

The Association of Professional, Executive, Clerical and Computer Staff has made a formal complaint against the company under the Fair Wages Resolution. The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service is seeking to help the parties to reach a settlement. Should a conciliated settlement not prove possible I shall refer the matter to the Central Arbitration Committee for a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will seek advice from those EEC countries which operate or are planning to operate restrictions on overtime working as a means of alleviating some unemployment, with a view to introducing such measures in the United Kingdom.

Unemployment is a problem we have in common with other EEC countries and it will clearly be advantageous to profit from their experience in dealing with it. For the present, however, I regard the reduction of overtime in Britain against a background of high unemployment as an objective to be pursued by agreement between managements and workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimate of the increase in departmental staff which would be required to deal with the extra work generated if the statutory restrictions on overtime working applying to females were applied to males.

I am informed by the Chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that it is not possible to estimate accurately the increase in departmental staff which would be required to deal with any extension of the statutory restrictions under the Factories Act 1961 on overtime working to include males. Her Majesty's factory inspectors normally enforce the restrictions on the hours of employment of women and young persons at the same time as they carry out inspections, and no record is kept of what proportion of their time is spent on this subject or of what time is spent by clerical staff maintaining overtime records.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to commence publication of overtime statistics on a regional basis.

Statistics of overtime in manufacturing industries on a regional basis will be published in the Department of Employment Gazette within the next month or two.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit to the United Kingdom of the Honourable George C. Price, Premier of Belize.

The Honourable George C. Price, Premier of Belize, visited London from 2nd to 8th January for talks about the future of Belize and the negotiations with the Guatemalans due to start on 9th February, but postponed following the earthquake in Guatemala. He also discussed British aid to Belize.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he proposes to authorised the transfer of his Department's shareholdings to the National Enterprise Board.

I have consented to the transfer to the National Enterprise Board of the Government shareholdings in British Leyland Ltd., Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd., Brown Boveri Kent Ltd., Cambridge Instruments Ltd., Dunford & Elliott Ltd., Ferranti Ltd. and Herbert Ltd., and I have laid statements to that effect before each House of Parliament today in accordance with Section 5 of the Industry Act 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry when he intends publishing the draft guidelines for the National Enterprise Board.

I propose publishing the guidelines in draft form on Monday 1st March. Copies will be available in the Libraries of both Houses, in the Vote Office, and in the Printed Paper Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps are being taken to bring the collection of excise duties on wines and spirits into line with the practice followed by other members of the EEC, whereby the trade is not obliged to pay taxes on goods before they are sold to the consumer, and thus before the revenue is received with which to pay these taxes.

Draft EEC directives for the harmonisation of the structure of the excise duties were put forward for consideration in 1972, and envisage deferments of this nature. Pending agreement on these proposals, which raise other important issues, and on which little progress has so far been made, the United Kingdom is under no obligation to vary its long-established arrangements.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what countries of the European Community VAT is imposed on natural gas used for domestic consumption; and what are the rates prevailing in each case and the yield.

Information is not available about the yield of VAT on natural gas used for domestic consumption in those countries of the European Economic Community which charge a positive rate, and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. The rates of VAT prevailing in each case are as follows:

Belgium	6 per cent
Denmark*	15 per cent
Germany	11 per cent
France	17·6 per cent

Ireland	zero
Italy	6 per cent
Luxembourg	5 per cent
Netherlands	4 per cent
United Kingdom	zero
* If supplies of gas are made in connection with the letting of a house or premises they are not taxable

The Danish standard rate of VAT—15 per cent.—has been temporarily reduced to 9·25 per cent. until 29th February 1976.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what countries of the European Community VAT is imposed on electricity used for domestic consumption; and what are the rates prevailing in each cost and the yield.

Information is not available about the yield of VAT on electricity used for domestic consumption in those countries of the European Economic Community which charge a positive rate, and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. The rates of VAT prevailing in each case are as follows:

	Per cent.
Belgium	14
Denmark*	15
France	17·6
Germany	11
Ireland	zero
Italy	6
Luxembourg	5
Netherlands	16
UK	zero

TAX THRESHOLD AS PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE EARNINGS
Year					Single person Per cent.	Married couple Per cent.	Married couple 2 children not over 11 Per cent.
1956–57	…	…	…	…	31·0	51·9	93·4
1957–58	…	…	…	…	29·4	49·1	88·4
1958–59	…	…	…	…	28·9	48·3	86·8
1959–60	…	…	…	…	27·4	45·7	82·2
1960–61	…	…	…	…	25·5	42·6	76·6
1961–62	…	…	…	…	25·6	41·6	73·8
1962–63	…	…	…	…	24·7	40·2	71·4
1963–64	…	…	…	…	32·8	50·5	84·5
1964–65	…	…	…	…	30·4	46·7	78·1
1965–66	…	…	…	…	27·8	43·0	71·9
1966–67	…	…	…	…	26·8	41·5	69·4
1967–68	…	…	…	…	25·5	39·4	66·0
1968–69	…	…	…	…	23·7	36·6	57·4
1969–70	…	…	…	…	25·4	37·4	56·1
1970–71	…	…	…	…	28·6	41·0	57·6
1971–72	…	…	…	…	26·0	37·2	58·6
1972–73	…	…	…	…	31·8	41·4	59·9
1973–74	…	…	…	…	28·0	36·4	52·4
1974–75	…	…	…	…	24·7	34·2	51·1
1975–76	…	…	…	…	21·8	30·8	44·6

Average earnings have been taken as the annual equivalents of average weekly earnings of full-time manual males aged 21 and over in manufacturing and certain other industries at October of each yearThe tax threshold used takes account where appropriate, of the effect of earned income relief and of the family allowance deduction ("clawback"). For years up to and including 1964–65 account has also been taken of the relief given for national insurance contributions.

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* If supplies of electricity are made in connection with the letting of a house or premises they are not taxable

The Danish standard rate of VAT—15 per cent.—has been temporarily reduced to 9·25 per cent. until 29th February 1976.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is established practice in EEC countries to place VAT on electricity and gas used by commercial and industrial undertakings.

All EEC countries charge VAT, at either the zero rate or a positive rate, on supplies of electricity and gas to commercial and industrial undertakings. Any VAT charged to such undertakings is, of course, deductible as input tax according to the rules prevailing in each country. In Denmark supplies of electricity and gas made in connection with the letting of a house or premises are not taxable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the tax threshold on income tax expressed as a percentage of average earnings for each of the last 20 years.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the increase in tax revenue which would follow from raising the standard rate of income tax by (a) 2p and (b) 6p at current levels of income and with no changes in the income tax allowances and rates.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to modify the confidentiality rule in the Inland Revenue Department in cases where it is clear to the Department

			1974	Average Annual Increase 1974–79
			£ million	£ million	Per cent.
Private investment:
Fixed investment	…	…	4,800	250	4·7
Stockbuilding	…	…	−100	240	—
Nationalised industries investment:
Fixed investment	…	…	1,250	45	3·4
Stockbuilding	…	…	50	5	—
Other public investment:
Fixed investment	…	…	2,270	−65	−3·0
Stockbuilding	…	…	30	−5	—

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish growth triangles on the same pattern as those in Economic Trends for October 1975 tables 122 et seq for 1953 to 1974 for (a) private investment as defined in table 1.1 of the Public Expenditure White Paper, and excluding stock building, (b) imports and exports of goods, at constant prices, (c) imports and exports of goods and services at constant prices, and (d) that substantial corruption is taking place and a prima facie case of a criminal act exists.

I have no proposals in relation to this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish separate estimates of capital expenditure and Stockbuilding for all the entries in lines B1(a) and (b) and C1(b) of table 1.1 of Command Paper No. 6393.

The table below shows the information requested. A similar breakdown for cases I and III is not readily available for line B1(a). For the other two lines asked for the breakdown is the same in all three cases.gross and net investment in manufacturing industry.

No suitable figures are available in 1970 prices for private investment and for imports and exports of goods prior to 1962. Unlike the figures shown in table 1.1 of the Public Expenditure White Paper, Cmnd. 6393, the growth triangles have been provided at 1970 market prices rather than 1970 factor cost prices; a breakdown by factor cost prices is not available.