asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has any plans to meet the Chairman of the Advisory Council on Energy Conservation.

Not at present. Meetings with the Chairman are arranged as occasion arises. But as the Minister specifically charged with responsibility for energy conservation I maintain close contact with the Chairman of the Advisory Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will issue a general direction to the National Coal Board to present him with proposals to reorganise management on industrial common ownership principles.

No. It is for the mining unions and the Board to consider the best way forward, and I understand that discussions are proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is his latest estimate of the effect on electricity prices of bringing forward by two years the proposed Drax B coal-fired power station.

As my right hon. Friend informed my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Thomas) on 10th January, we have been advised that the effect on prices could range from negligible to about 4 per cent. depending on the rate of growth of electricity demand and other factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he has approved any application by the National Coal Board for support from Community sources in respect of the stocking of coal during 1977; and by what amount stocking was supported during 1976.

At present, aid for coal stocking is not available from Community funds but the Commission has a scheme in preparation.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will make a statement on his proposals for a national energy policy.

My Department is continuing to work towards an integrated approach to energy policy. Last year's national energy conference and the establishment of an energy commission, to which I referred in answer to a previous Question, are examples of our approach. It is of course essential to get this policy right. It will take some time yet, but the public debate—to which the work of the Select Committee which my hon. Friend chairs is actively contributing—has been an important part of this process.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what plans his Department has for research and development into the utilisation of wind energy; and if he will make a statement.

The Advisory Council on Research and Development set up by my right hon. Friend is considering this matter and will be reporting to him shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy when the Nuclear Installations Inspectorate's report on pressure water reactor safety will be published.

The Nuclear Installations Inspectorate expects to submit a summary report to my right hon. Friend in June which we will arrange to have published shortly thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the comparative costs per unit of energy derived from coal, gas, oil and nuclear sources; and to what extent these differences are reflected in prices charged to the consumer.

Statistics are not available on a comparable basis. In general, prices charged to the consumer reflect the cost of production and distribution of fuels. The best available figures are:

Estimated prices to domestic and industrial consumers converted to pence/therm for each fuel are as follows:
			Domestic
Coal	…	…	10·9–16·1(2)
Gas	…	…	15·4(3)
Electricity(6)	…	…	60·1(3)
Oil	…	…	23·5(4)
			Industrial(1)
Coal	…	…	6·4
Gas	…	…	5·7
Electricity(6)	…	…	41·8
Oil	…	…	10·0(5)

(

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the latest estimates available for the proportion of electricity which is generated by coal, nuclear fuels and oil, respectively; what plans he has for reducing the proportion produced by oil and hence increasing the proportions produced by coal and nuclear fuels; and if he will make a statement.

Information on the use of primary fuels for electricity generation by the public supply system is published monthly in Table 9 of Energy Trends, which is available in the Library of the House. The proportion of fuels used is kept under regular review with the industries and unions concerned. The proportion of oil has fallen significantly over the past two years, while the proportion of coal and nuclear has increased. We are seeking powers in the Coal Industry Bill to assist in appropriate cases the sale of coal to the generating boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what percentage of the North Sea offshore pipeline market is supplied by British companies.

In 1975, the latest year for which figures are available. United Kingdom companies supplied 5 per cent. by value of the pipe required for North Sea development. In addition, the United Kingdom supplied 69 per cent. of the well casing pipe required. At present United Kingdom producers have no capacity to manufacture the large diameter high grade pipe now being specified for subsea pipelines. British Steel Corporation has recently decided to enhance the Hartlepool pipe mill to provide such capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he has now reached a conclusion on his Department's study of the recent CPRS report into the power generating industry.

The CPRS report is still under active consideration. I am discussing its conclusions with the management and unions in the electricity supply industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what research has been and is now being undertaken into energy sources other than nuclear energy and fossil fuels; and what financial provision is being made for this research over the next five years.

My Department has announced a £1·01 million two-year programme on wave energy, a three-year programme on geothermal energy totallying £0·84 million and a four-year programme on solar energy totalling £3·6 million. New programmes will be drawn up as technological options are revealed by the research and studies under way.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he is satisfied with current oil refining policy.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what is the total invested in new mining and reconstruc- tion schemes in the South Wales coalfield since 1974.

Expenditure on new mining and construction schemes in the South Wales coalfield between March 1974 and December 1976 was approximately £17 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy how many new power stations will need to be built to meet expected electricity requirements over the next five years.

The CEGB expects that existing plant and power stations currently under construction will meet electricity requirements over the next five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he will list the names of all those whom he intends to invite to serve on the Energy Commission.

I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which trade union representatives have been approached about membership of the proposed Energy Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy which seven industries have been approached about membership of the proposed Energy Commission.

I would refer the hon. Members to the answer which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for the Isle of Wight (Mr. Ross).

asked the Secretary of State for Energy if he intends to invite a representative from the United Kingdom Offshore Operators' Association to join the Energy Commission.

No decisions have yet been taken on the composition and functions of the proposed Energy Commission. I hope that it will be possible for organisations with an interest in aspects of energy policy like the United Kingdom Offshore Operators' Association to make a contribution to the commission's work.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what proportion of the United Kingdom's oil demand he expects to be met by home production on 1st April 1977 and on the first day of each quarter following to 1st October 1978.

Daily production is at present equivalent to about one-third of United Kingdom daily oil demand. I cannot forecast the proportion for specific dates in the future, but I expect production to build up steadily towards net self-sufficiency in 1980.

asked the Secretary of State for Energy what are the specified circumstances in which he may sanction, under the Nuclear Industry (Finance) Bill, repayment of sums advanced to British Nuclear Fuels Limited under the terms of agreements entered into by British Nuclear Fuels Limited requiring it to perform services.

The purpose of Clause 1(2) of the Nuclear Industry (Finance) Bill is to empower the Government to guarantee advance payments made to BNFL under contracts for the performance of services. There is no question of the Secretary of State sanctioning individual repayments contracted by the company. The Government guarantee would be called only in the unlikely event that BNFL were unable to meet a contractual liability to repay any part of the advance payments in cash.I am advised that such a contractual liability on BNFL could arise only in the following kind of circumstances:

asked the Secretary of State for Energy whether he proposes to refer conflicting issues between the Republic of Ireland and Great Britain over the Continental Shelf to international arbitration.

The Government of the Republic of Ireland have been informed that Her Majesty's Government accept the Irish proposal to refer the delimitation of the Continental Shelf to an independent settlement disputes procedure through some form of third party settlement of a judicial nature, subject to reaching agreement with the Government of the Republic of Ireland on the chosen tribunal, its composition, its terms of reference and other related matters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why a representative from his Department was not present at the 4th Annual Conference of the Tree Council held in London last week.

As Forestry Minister for England my right hon. Friend was represented at this conference by three officials of the Forestry Commission, one of whom is Forestry Commissioner.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food under what EEC regulations officers acting for his Department may board and inspect vessels fishing within the United Kingdom 200-mile limit.

The Council of the European Communities has so far adopted two regulations, relating to the conservation and management of fishery resources, which require member States to take measures to ensure as far as possible the enforcement of the regulations within waters under their jurisdiction. Necessary inspection action by officers of my Department is taken in accordance with the provisions of appropriate United Kingdom legislation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide a summary of the report undertaken by the Civil Service Department on his behalf on the activities of the Covent Garden Market Authority; and if he will make a statement.

This report contains many references to the work of named individuals and it would be inappropriate to give more than a very general summary.I should emphasise that the study was not intended to be a comprehensive investigation of all the activities of the authority but, in accordance with the terms of reference, was concerned primarily with the costs of directly employed manpower. My right hon. Friend's purpose in calling for the study was to satisfy himself that there was no significant over-manning or general inefficiency in the authority's operations. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that the report provides him with the assurance he sought. As was to be expected from any investigation of this sort, the report made a number of proposals on staffing and organisation for further consideration by the authority. The authority is giving serious attention to all of them.The report deals with the activities of the authority under three main heads. First, in regard to administration staff, the report points out that the transition to the new site required a great deal of detailed planning and posed many problems. The organisation and execution of the move with the minimum of disturbance to traders and buyers reflected great credit on the members and officers of the authority and their organisational structure. The report suggests revisions to the organisational structure for the running of the market under established conditions which could reduce administrative costs. The author- ity will consider these in greater detail when tasks arising from the move and the financial reconstruction have been completed and such established conditions are nearer at hand.Secondly, the report deals with market staff employed by the authority. Because of the singular nature of some of these posts it was not possible in all cases to find precise functional Civil Service equivalents but appropriate levels of responsibility were identifiable in many cases and in these the levels of remuneration seemed roughly appropriate. One or two areas where levels of manning could be more closely examined were indicated and my officials are examining these with the Authority.Thirdly, in respect of work contracted out, the report contained no firm recommendations for change. It compared relative advantages and disadvantages of contract and directly employed labour which could serve as a basis of a more precise costings than was possible in the time and with the resources immediately available.At the beginning of the CSD review the authority employed 41 staff in its administration and 69 market staff—a total of 110.Staff numbers—including two part-time employees—reported to me by the authority are currently as follows:

Administrative, technical and clerical staff	37
Market staff (Beadles, Entry Control Clerks and Flower Market Carrying-in Staff, Commissionaires etc.)	68
Total	105

The authority is keeping its staffing under constant review in the light of changing requirements. It has made certain staff reductions, as indicated above, and is examining the possibility of achieving further economies. My officials are being kept closely informed. The authority will, I know, welcome suggestions by the market traders and users for economies in the provisions of services.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Council of Ministers has yet received any proposals for the future of the Fonds Européen d'Oriéntation et de Garantie Agricole grants to the fishing industry; what representation he has made; and if he will make a statement.

The new Processing and Marketing Regulation agreed by the Council on 14th–15th February will relate to certain projects now falling within the FEOGA Individual Projects Scheme. The Commission has made no proposals affecting other projects still covered by the scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out in the Official Report the mechanism and conclusions he referred to in reply to the hon. Member for Southampton, Test (Mr. Gould) on 16th February together with his estimate of the overvaluation of the EEC agricultural unit of account.

Monetary compensatory amounts are now determined by reference to the Community currencies in the European Joint Float. I think that my hon. Friend wishes to know what would be the result if instead they were determined by reference to the European unit of account. The European unit of account is a basket unit in which the currencies of all the Member States of the European Community are represented.The exchange rate used for determining this week's sterling monetary compensatory amount is £1=1·28912 units of account. The equivalent sterling EUA exchange rate is £1=1·52889 European units of account. If the European unit of account were used in the calculation of monetary compensatory amounts, there would be changes in the current monetary compensatory amounts, unless the numerical value of common prices was adjusted to take account of the change in system. Furthermore, those countries which, because they are members of the joint float, now have fixed monetary compensatory amounts, would have variable monetary compensatory amounts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average number of consecutive weeks for which the average unemployed person got a tax rebate in 1975–76; and what was the average weekly amount.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. Tax refunds for basic rate taxpayers depend on their tax allowances and the week of the tax year in which they become unemployed. The following figures show the approximate weekly rate of rebate which would have been received in 1975–76 by an unemployed person whose taxable income did not exceed the weekly equivalent of £4,500 a year, but who had paid sufficient tax during the year to qualify for the maximum rate of rebate:

	Approximate weekly rate of rebate £
Single person	4·60
Married man	6·45
Married man with 1 child not over 11	8·10
Married man with 2 children not over 11	8·80
Married man with 3 children not over 11	9·55
Married man with 4 children not over 11	10·30

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at how many different levels the tariff on tobacco products imported from developing countries has been during the past 12 months.

Four

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding the sales of shares in BP.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's statement to the House on 15th December 1976.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what discussion have been held by his Department about the proposed sale by the Government of part of its holdings of shares in BP.

My right hon. Friend is in close consultation with the Governor of the Bank of England about the arrangements for the sale of part of the public sector's holding in BP.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give further consideration to the publication of a Scottish budget.

National expenditure policies are determined on the basis of needs, and national public expenditure allocations reflect the Government's commitment to particular economic and social priorities. Similarly, the level and incidence of taxation are determined by fiscal, not territorial, considerations. In view of this, the time and expense involved in preparing and publishing a separate budget for Scotland cannot be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total of corporation tax collected in each financial year since, and including, 1972–73.

The figures for net receipts of corporation tax are as follows:

				£million
1972–73	…	…	…	1,533·1
1973–74	…	…	…	2,262·4
1974–75	…	…	…	2,858·7
1975–76	…	…	…	1,995·6

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy on the parity of the £ sterling, why the £ sterling was allowed to fall below $2 on 30th March 1976, with no attempts being made to hold it at these levels; and what new consultation took place about these matter.

The pound fell below $2 on 5th March not 30th March. It is not the practice to publish details of exchange market policy or the scale of day-to-day intervention. I always keep in close touch as necessary with ministerial colleagues and others concerned with these matters.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in terms of loss of revenue to the Exchequer during the 1977–78 tax year of reducing the basic rate of income tax firstly from 35p to 25p in the pound and secondly from 35p to 20p in the pound in (a) the first £1,000, (b) the first £1,500, and (c) the first £2,000 of taxable income, assuming taxable income limits for higher rates of tax remain as at present.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost in terms of loss of revenue to the Exchequer for the 1977–78 tax year if (a) the single personal allowance were raised by £150 per annum, and (b) the married man's allowance and the wife's earned income allowance were raised by £150 per annum.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the extent of deferred taxation in each financial year since, and including 1972–73.

The reduction in net payments of corporation tax due to stock relief has been estimated as approximately £720 million in 1974–75, £1,465 million in 1975–76 and £815 million in 1976–77. It is not possible to make reliable estimates of other deferred taxation, such as that resulting from the excess of first-year capital allowances over commercial depreciation provisions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how his Department calculates the amount of deferred taxation allowable to individual companies.

I assume that the right hon. Member has in mind, in particular, the calculation of tax deferred as a result of stock relief. This is determined for each year on the basis of the increase in the value of a company's stock during the year, less 15 per cent. of its trading income for the corresponding period, after deduction of capital allowances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to collect the deferred taxation due to his Department.

I assume that the right hon. Member has in mind, in particular, tax deferred as a result of stock relief. In particular cases this may be payable when the level of stock and work in progress is reduced. For most companies, where stock levels are maintained or increased, the deferral should extend indefinitely.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of national industrial production achieved in February 1975, February 1976 and in the latest month for which figures are available, expressed as a percentage taking February 1974 as 100.

When the index of industrial production is expressed on the basis of February 1974 equals 100, the index numbers, seasonally adjusted, for February 1975, February 1976 and December 1976 are 101·3, 98·9 and 99·0, respectively. Adjusting for the effect on the index of stock movements, it is estimated that the level of national industrial production in February 1975 was some 2¼ per cent. higher than in February 1974, whilst in February 1976, and—on the basis of provisional estimates—in December 1976, production was at much the same level as in February 1974.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, pursuant to his reply of 16th December 1976, he will now update the table he then published in the Official Report in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Chingford which showed changes in the real take home pay of an average worker.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to ensure that parents with children over the age of 19 years in full-time education who are not entitled to the child benefit allowance should not have their child tax allowance reduced.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 18th February 1977; Vol. 926, c. 386], gave the following information:The proposed reductions in child tax allowances are to apply to these parents as to others, but as announced in the statement by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury on 16th November 1976, adjustments are to be made for the academic year commencing September 1977 (and subsequent years) in the parental contribution scales for student grants to take account of the reductions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will confirm that a consignment of 400,000 1b of tobacco now held in a bonded warehouse in Manchester originated from Rhodesia, and has been imported in defiance of United Nations sanctions; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 14th February 1977; Vol. 926, c. 100], gave the following information:A quantity of tobacco, amounting to 370,518 lb, was seized on 15th July 1976 under Section 44

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the increase in total debt per head of the United Kingdom population through internal and external borrowing which has been incurred since 31st March 1974.

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

asked the Minister for Overseas Development how much his Department has spent in the last 12 months in educational aid to underdeveloped countries.

In the calendar year 1975 estimated identifiable expenditure on education and training was about £57 million, but there is in addition a large and unquantifiable element of education and training not separately identifiable.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what assistance he is giving to alleviate the situation in citrus fruit production and distribution in Belize.

Her Majesty's Government are providing technical cooperation in connection with the control of premature fruit drop in citrus in Belize at a cost of £19,500 over the period 1975–78. No other request for assistance to the Belize citrus industry has been made by the Belize Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that 70 per cent. of more than 2,000 primates used annually by the vaccine industry are wasted, if he will take steps to reduce this destruction of animal life.

I understand that the wastage in question arises from the impossibility of determining in advance which animals are unsuitable for experiments or as donors of tissue because of viral and other infections. My right. hon. Friend's powers under the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876 do not enable him to deal with such a matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list for each of the last 10 years the number of offences committed by prisoners during their release on parole.

Information is not available in the form requested. Listed below is information relating to parolees recalled in each year where the commission of further offences was the primary reason or subsequently came to light. The parole scheme became operative on 1st April 1968 and comparable figures are not available for that year.

Year		Number of prisoners granted parole	Revocations of licences where the commission of further offences was the primary reason	Number of cases in which further offences disclosed after recall for other breaches of licence conditions
1969	…	1,835	37	12
1970	…	2,201	61	24
1971	…	2,956	110	24
1972	…	2,915	107	27
1973	…	3,328	109	29
1974	…	3,502	119	29
1975	…	4,029	114	37
1976	…	4,590*	163	40*
* Estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of each of the following newspapers are purchased every day by his Department in order to keep himself and senior civil servants informed on Scottish affairs: The Scotsman, The Glasgow Herald, the Press and Journal, the Daily Record, the Scottish Daily Express and the Dundee Courier and Advertiser.

20, 14, nil, nil, nil and nil, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many copies of each of the following newspapers are purchased every week by his Department in order to keep him and his senior civil servants informed on Scottish affairs: the Sunday Post, the Sunday Mail and the Scottish Sunday Express.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he refuses an entry visa to Gemman Santana Boza, a political refugee from Chile who applied for entry on 10th June 1976 and who was provisionally released from prison in Valparaiso on condition he left that country by 15th January.

There is no record of an application dated 10th June 1976 having been received in the Home Office.When he first applied in 1975 Mr. Santana-Boza had been detained but not sentenced, and it was not known whether he would be released to leave Chile.In December last we were informed that he had been sentenced and were asked to revive his application. This was done and a letter of consent for him to come here was recently authorised.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how long the police flats in Huntley Street, London, W.C.1, have remained unoccupied; what he intends regarding the future of these flats; and what action he intends to take regarding the occupation of the flats by squatters during the weekend of 12th-13th February.

These flats are no longer owned by the Receiver for the Metropolitan Police District. They were sold in February 1976 to the North East Thames Regional Health Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that some policemen receive family income supplement as a result of low pay, if he will make a statement of his policy on future levels of police pay.

Discussions on the current police pay claim are continuing and I hope that a solution to the present difficulties will soon be found. It would be premature to speculate on what will follow at the end of the present phase of pay policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the usual period of delays in obtaining a pathologist's report for the purposes of inquest on the death of baby children in Wales.

This information is not readily available. In the Member's constituency I understand that unless histological or microscopic investigations are necessary, the coroner normally receives the pathologist's report within four days, and often within 48 hours. If police inquiries are involved, forensic tests may be necessary, which may take somewhat longer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that coroners have the necessary powers to obtain pathologists' reports for inquests on the death of baby children within a reasonable time after the death of the child.

Coroners have adequate powers under Section 21 of the Coroners Act 1887 and Sections 21 and 22 of the Coroners (Amendment) Act 1926 to require post-mortem or special examinations to be made in any case reported to them, whether or not they decide to hold an inquest. The nature of the examinations that are carried out, and the time taken to complete them, are matters for the professional judgment of the consultants concerned, on which we cannot comment. Coroners generally are acutely aware of the distress caused to parents and other relatives by delays and always endeavour to restrict them to a minimum.

asked the Secretary State for the Home Department how many pathologists' reports for inquests into the death of baby children before 1st October 1976 are still awaited by coroners in Wales.

This information is not readily available. The coroner for Gwent is not aware of any such case in his area, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and gives me details, I will make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that he has complied with the section of the Helsinki Final Act which requires that any journalist who is to be expelled shall be informed of the reason for his expulsion.

Although the Helsinki Final Act refers to accredited journalists, none the less the answer is "Yes".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average amount paid in compensation to widows of murder victims by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board.

In 1976, the average award—over 12 cases—was £13,984. But the average should not be looked upon as the norm. Compensation is related to the loss of income suffered by the widow in consequence of her husband's death and can range widely according to such factors as his income when alive, the extent to which she was dependent, their respective ages and the amounts of any pensions or social security benefits payable following his death. Compensation is not payable for grief or bereavement except in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to relax licensing laws on bank or public holidays.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give directions so that when the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administration and the Health Service Commissioner for England recommend that an individual should be

						1973	1974	1975	1976
Total						167,149	163,117	140,521	127,904
National Health Service						55,637	55,859	51,825	50,046
Approved places managed by registered charities						24,873	32,791	30,480	77,858*
Other approved places						86,639	74,467	58,216

* The analysis of this figure is available only for the first three quarters of the year and is:
Approved places managed by registered charities	…	…	…	…	…	22,376
Other approved places	…	…	…	…	…	36,676

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as the analysis of the final quarter's figures is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what propor- made an ex gratia payment following an investigation into a specific failure of the National Health Service, such a payment shall be made; and if he will give such a direction in the case of a constituent of the hon. Member for Worthing, details of which have been sent to his Department.

I expect health authorities to treat reports by the Health Service Commissioner very seriously and to consider his findings and any recommendations he makes with the utmost care. In the particular case to which the hon. Member has drawn my attention it appears from the information available to me that the health authority concerned has given full and careful consideration to the Commissioner's report. It would be inconsistent with the Commissioner's advisory rôle and would derogate seriously from the management responsibilities on health authorities for me to direct that health authorities should automatically follow the recommendations of the Commissioner. I am not prepared, therefore, to give directions as proposed in the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many legal abortions were performed in 1973, 1974, 1975 and 1976, respectively; how many of these were performed in the National Health Service; how many in the commercial private sector; and how many in approved places managed by registered charities.

The numbers of abortions notified as carried out in England and Wales on resident and non-resident women are as follows:tion of women counselled by the Pregnancy Advisory Service and the British Pregnancy Advisory Service, respectively, in 1975 and 1976 were referred for termination of pregnancy; and what information he has concerning the propor- tion of women whose pregnancies were too advanced for termination.

The Pregnancy Advisory Service (PAS) and British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) are not required to notify this information to my Department. However, I understand that information on the numbers of women counselled who went on to have an abortion with the organisations concerned is published in "Abortion Today" by BPAS and is available on request from both organisations. I understand that the figures in 1975 were 90 per cent. (PAS) and 94 per cent. (BPAS). The information

ABORTIONS PERFORMED AT 20 WEEKS GESTATION OR OVER ON WOMEN USUALLY RESIDENT IN ENGLAND AND WALES
				Statutory grounds
Year			Total	1 alone or with 2 to 4	2 alone	3 alone or with 2 or 4	4 alone or with 2	5 or 6
1968 (Part)	…	…	699			Not available
1969	…	…	1,172
1970	…	…	953
1971	…	…	847	37	592	157	54	7
1972	…	…	846	28	642	122	49	5
1973	…	…	975	32	731	146	61	5
1974	…	…	903	30	707	106	57	3
1975	…	…	971	25	778	90	75	3
1968–75	…	…	7,366

Later figures are not yet available.Statutory grounds as listed in Schedule 2 of the Abortion Regulations 1968:—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, further to the reply given to the hon. Member for Sowerby (Mr. Madden), Official Report, 22nd November 1976, c. 1000–4, whether it is possible to show how many families in each category were unemployed.

Information relating to the unemployed cannot be presented in the same form as that given to my hon. Friend the Member for Sowerby (Mr. Madden) on 22nd November because it would not be statistically valid.—[Vol. 919, c. 1000–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many disabled women with children at present have asked for in the last part of the hon. Member's Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have taken place at more than 20 weeks' gestation since the Abortion Act came into force; and on what grounds these were performed; how many abortions took place at more than 20 weeks' gestation in 1975 and 1976, respectively; and on what grounds these were performed.

Available figures are as follows:vehicles provided through his Department; and what effect his policies will have on future provision for disabled mothers.

The number of women with children among the 21,000 holders of invalid tricycles is not available. About 1,400 disabled women hold four-wheeled cars issued to them under the old vehicle scheme, instead of a tricycle, because they had sole charge of a child under 14. Under the new scheme, disabled mothers who are within the age groups which have been phased in can now establish their entitlement to the mobility allowance, whether or not they are drivers, and so can disabled children. I know my hon. Friend will be pleased to learn that we are now spending far more on mobility help for disabled mothers and children than ever before.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provisions he will make for disabled people who at present drive an invalid tricycle to get to hospital for regular treatments or checks, after he has phased out the invalid tricycle.

For the drivers of tricycles issued under the pre-1976 vehicle scheme we expect to be able to provide not only spares but replacement tricycles as they wear out, at least up to 1981. If they so wish, they will also have the alternative choice of the mobility allowance regardless of age limit and without further medical test. The Government accept that whatever further increase in the mobility allowance may be possible, there will be people who will still need a specialised vehicle when their tricycles can no longer be replaced. As my right hon. Friend has made clear to the House, the Government will be looking at what is available on home and world markets to help such people. In addition to these arrangements for personal transport, ambulance authorities have a duty to arrange for patients to be transported to and from hospital where this is medically necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what effect he expects the phasing out of the invalid tricycle to have on enrolments for Hereward College of Further Education for Disabled People, in Coventry, South-West constituency.

It should not have any significant effect. I understand that nearly all the students are resident, and local education authorities provide transport as necessary between home and college. Only a minority of the students have tricycles at present, and I have indicated in another reply to my hon. Friend today the Government's intentions to safeguard their position. In future the mobility allowance, payable from the age of 5 onwards, should help more potential students to choose the form of mobility help best suited to their individual needs. The vehicle scheme gave no mobility help to people too young to drive, and we are now spending very much more on mobility help for disabled young people than ever before.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has made any estimate of the number of disabled people who will have to cease employment when he has phased out the invalid tricycle, and of the probable loss of taxation revenue which will result.

It can be strongly argued that, far from reducing employment opportunities for disabled people, the present mobility scheme will substantially increase them. As I have explained to my hon. Friend in another reply today, for the drivers of tricycles issued under the pre-1976 vehicle scheme we expect to be able to provide not only spares, but replacement tricycles as they wear out at least up to 1981. Moreover, a disabled person who was given a tricycle for employment purposes now no longer risks losing all mobility help if he loses his job. This is an important step forward and will help many disabled people in seeking further employment. Under new legislation which the Government have introduced, it will be open to "old scheme" tricycle holders to switch to the mobility allowance. The allowance is already bringing mobility help to some 30,000 new beneficiaries and will be helping many of them to obtain employment or to continue in their present jobs. Apart from this, the travel-to-work scheme run by the Employment Service Agency can provide additional help to registered disabled people, whether beneficiaries of the mobility allowance or not, who are too disabled to use public transport and who, if not helped under the scheme, would suffer undue financial hardship through the cost of travelling to work. Again, we have made it clear that we shall be looking on home and world markets for specialised vehicles for those who still need them when their tricycles can no longer be replaced. As my right hon. Friend has made clear in a letter to disabled drivers, our aim is to make sure that no one who is now mobile is made immobile by the phasing-out of the tricycle.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has any estimate of the number of persons denied an invalidity vehicle between December 1975 and December 1976 who are now entitled to receive the mobility allowance.

Invalid tricycles were available until the end of July 1976 for people who were found eligible for mobility allowance and opted for a tricycle instead or who were not in an age-group reached by the mobility allowance phasing-in programme but were likely to be medicaly eligible for the allowance. The latter group are still able to get a tricycle for the first time. The number of people awarded mobility allowance since July who would have preferred a tricycle is not known. Nearly 38,000 awards of mobility allowance have now been made. The hon. Member may like to know that the numbers of invalid tricycles issued to new applicants in the years immediately before 1976 were between 2,500 and 3,000. He will, however, appreciate that the mobility allowance was not then available as an alternative to the invalid tricycle.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will investigate the reason why Ross Auto Engineering is unable to obtain spare parts for the Department's three-wheel invalid car within six months; how many disabled people resident in St. Helens, and the North West in general, lose their machines for long periods awaiting repairs; and what steps he is taking to improve the situation;(2) if he will make a statement on the availability of spare parts for the three-wheel car issued by his Department, to date; and what arrangements are made to continue a spare-part service to cover the life expectancy of existing three-wheel vehicles.

A delay of this order would be a rare occurrence and if my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind I shall be glad to have it thoroughly investigated. Some parts are bought in by approved repairers themselves but the majority—over 2,100 items—are held in the Department's central store. Despite unpredictable fluctuations of demand and delivery delays on the part of suppliers and transport agents, only five of the items stocked by the Department are temporarily in short supply at present and this is being rectified. It will never be possible without wasteful overstocking to ensure that every item is immediately available but this is no reason to fear abnormal difficulty. When a vehicle has to be taken off the road for repairs the usual practice is to replace it either temporarily or permanently. My Department is currently discussing with suppliers future purchases of spare parts to ensure adequate supplies for the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has studied mobility provision for disabled people in Holland; and whether he will make a comparative statement on British and Dutch provisions.

I am aware of the arrangements in Holland, which include extensive adaptations to cars to suit individual disabled drivers. There is much to admire in what the Dutch are prepared to do to help disabled people to drive, but our priority is to give mobility help to disabled people regardless of their ability to drive. Our objective is to provide such help as fairly as possible for drivers and non-drivers alike, and my Department is now in the process of trebling its spending on mobility help for the disabled. Differences in the pattern of funding health, social services and social security provisions in general, would render it difficult to make meaningful comparisons of particular benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list those districts which have health care planning teams for the disabled; what encouragement he is giving to local and health authorities to set up these vital teams; and if he will make a statement.

Current information is not held centrally on the planning teams of various kinds operating in health districts. The numbers and types of teams vary according to the local assessments of resources available and priorities for planning. Some teams deal explicitly with services for the disabled; but others are also concerned with the needs of the disabled, such as, teams dealing with rehabilitation, services for the younger chronic sick, and services for children. My Department is considering the comments received on the consultative circular HC(76)18, on joint care planning, joint financing and planning teams in health districts. A revised circular will be issued as soon as possible and my Department will seek information as necessary on planning team arrangements as part of the general monitoring of NHS planning procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of home help cases in Walsall aged 65 and over per 1,000 of the population over 65 years of age in 1975.

For the year ended 31st March 1976 there were 97·4 home help cases in Walsall aged 65 and over per 1,000 population of the same age group.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage of all residents in homes for the elderly provided or paid for by the Walsall Council as compared with the national average.

In 1975 all residents in homes for the elderly in Walsall were supported by Walsall Metropolitan District Council, as compared with the national average of residents supported by local authorities of 80·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many households were provided with telephones, telephone rentals and other communication aids in Walsall per 1,000 population over 65 years of age in 1975 as compared with (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

Numbers of households assisted with telephone installation, rentals and other communication aids during the 12 months ended 31st March 1976, expressed as a rate per 1,000 population aged 65 and over, were as follows:

Walsall Metropolitan District	5·4
West Midlands Metropolitan County	14·3
All London Boroughs	29·0
England and Wales	13·5

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of places in residential homes for the elderly provided or paid for by the local authority per 1,000 people over 65 years of age in 1975 as compared with (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

In 1975 Walsall Metropolitan District Council provided or paid for 17·2 residential places per 1,000 elderly people as compared with averages of 18·2, 21·6 and 18·7 for authorities within West Midlands County, the London boroughs, and England, respectively. The service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage of the population over 65 years of age who received local authority mealson-wheels during one week in Walsall in 1975 as compared with (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

During a typical week in 1975 1·9 per cent. of the elderly population in Walsall received meals-on-wheels as compared with averages of 1·0 per cent., 2·1 per cent. and 0·8 per cent. for authorities within West Midlands County, the London Boroughs and England respectively. The meals-on-wheels service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage of all meals provided by voluntary agencies in Walsall in 1975 as Compared with (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

During the year ending 31st March 1976 46 per cent. of the meals in Walsall were provided by voluntary agencies as compared with averages of 63 per cent., 19 per cent. and 49 per cent. for authorities within West Midlands County, the London boroughs, and England, respectively. The service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of domicilary meals and meals provided by Walsall Council and voluntary-agencies per head of population over 65 years during 1975 compared with (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

During the year ending 31st March 1976 the ratio for Walsall was 6·2, compared with average ratios of 5·1, 12·9 and 6·2 for authorities within West Midlands County, the London boroughs, and England, respectively. The service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of residents per staff member, namely, care staff, matrons, wardens, deputies and care assistants, excluding maintenance, clerical and domestic staff, in Walsall Council-run homes for the elderly as compared with, (a) the average for authorities within the West Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

In Walsall Council old people's homes in 1975 there was one member of staff with a caring function per 3·29 residents as compared with averages of 3·15, 3·15 and 3·17 for authorities in West Midlands County, the London boroughs, and England, respectively. The service in Wales is the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of home helps and home help organisers in Walsall in relation to the elderly population.

At 30th September 1975, which is the last date for which figures are available, there were in Walsall, 165 home helps and four home help organisers or assistant organisers—both expressed as whole-time equivalents—these figures represent 5·9 and 0·1 per 1,000 population over 65 years of age, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of home help cases divided by the number of home helps in Walsall in 1975 as compared with (a) the average for authorities within the west Midlands County Council, (b) the average for London boroughs and (c) the average for England and Wales.

The number of home help cases in the year ending 31st March 1976 divided by the number of home helps, excluding organisers, at 30th September 1975 was as follows:

Walsall	…	…	18·5
West Midlands	…	…	16·8
London	…	…	16·2
England	…	…	15·4

These rates are not strictly comparable, because of possible seasonal variations between authorities in the use of home helps.Home helps in Wales are the responsibility of my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the number of exceptional needs payments made for rent and rate arrears in 1975; what percentage of all exceptional needs payments these represented; and what was the average amount paid;(2) what was the number of exceptional needs payments made for travel warrants, namely, for journeys to seek work, in 1975; what percentage of all exceptional needs payments these represented; and what was the average amount paid.

I regret that the information is not available. There are thought to be few such payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what proportion of (a) exceptional needs payments, (b) all exceptional circumstances additions and (c) exceptional circumstances additions for heating were made to householders and non-householders in 1975;(2) what proportion of exceptional needs payments were paid to households with children; and what was the average amount paid in each year from 1970 to 1975.

I regret that the information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in each year from 1970 to 1975 what proportion of exceptional needs payments were paid to (a) pensioners, (b) the unemployed, (c) the

			Pensioners		Unemployed		Others
Year			Average amount	Percentage of total ENPs	Average amount	Percentage of total ENPs	Average amount	Percentage of total ENPs
			£		£		£
1970	…	…	6·91	32	6·12	19	7·11	49
1971	…	…	8·00	30	7·66	22	8·54	48
1972	…	…	9·12	28	9·04	27	10·12	44
1973	…	…	10·89	32	10·80	23	12·30	45
1974	…	…	12·74	31	13·08	21	14·91	48
1975	…	…	16·09	28	17·78	26	19·68	46
ENPs=Exceptional needs payments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services under what circumstances his Department pays for debts in respect of mortgage interest; on how many occasions in the last 12 months for which figures are available this has occurred; and what has been the cost to public funds.

Supplementary benefit is awarded very exceptionally to meet arrears, for example, where there is no other way of preventing homelessness resulting from debts which accrued while a mortgagor was eligible for but not receiving benefit. Information about numbers is not collected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many building operatives were employed by the area health authorities in England and Wales at the most recent convenient date; and what was their craft breakdown;(2) how many building chargehands were employed by the area health authorities in England and Wales at the most recent convenient date; and what was their craft breakdown;(3) how many building foremen were employed by the area health authorities in England and Wales at the most recent convenient date; and what was their craft breakdown;

The information requested is not available separately for the sick or disabled, national insurance widows or one-parent families. The available information is as follows:(4) how many building general foremen were employed by the area health authorities in England and Wales at the most recent convenient date; and what was their craft breakdown.

Information about the numbers of operatives in each of the building trades who are employed specifically by area health authorities is not available. The total number of building operatives employed in the NHS in England and wales on 30th September 1975, classified by pay category, were:

Grade			Full-time	Part-time
Labourers	…	…	1,748	27
Craftsmen	…	…	5,529	13
Chargehands	…	…	564	—
Foremen	…	…	639	—
General Foremen	…	…	225	1
All Building Trades Operatives:			8,705	41

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will confirm that clothes allowances are paid by his Department for teenagers in work who are in local authority care; and if he will make a statement on the amounts paid compared with earnings received, the cost of community care and family financial support.

My Department has no responsibility for the payments of clothes allowances to teenagers in local authority care who are working. Local authorities have a responsibility to provide accommodation and maintenance, including clothing, for all children in care. Usually, when a child in care starts to work, he is initially outfitted with clothing suitable for his job. After that, whatever the child earns, he keeps from his earnings a weekly sum fixed by the local authority to cover pocket money and clothing. The amount of this allowance varies with different authorities. As my Department does not collect details of these allowances or of the earnings of working children in care, I regret that I am unable to make the comparison for which the hon. Member has asked. If, however, the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and will send me details, I will look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state in the Official Report the assumptions on which the number of families subject to the 75 per cent. marginal rate of taxation are based.

The main assumptions are that the marginal rate of taxation includes income tax, national insurance contributions and loss of means-tested benefits corresponding to a £1 rise in gross earnings; that tax and benefits are adjusted immediately the earnings rise—though this will not happen in practice for the great majority of cases as some benefits, for example, family income supplement, free school meals and free milk, are awarded for periods of 52 weeks; and that no account is taken of changes in tax allowances and the income limits for benefits. For these reasons, the figures given must be regarded as theoretical only and as liable to mislead if quoted without qualification.

PERSONS USUALLY RESIDENT IN AND ENUMERATED IN THE AREA AT CENSUS BY BIRTHPLACE AND SEX
						Percentages
	Great Britain		West Midlands County		Walsall North Constituency
Place of birth	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
All areas	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0	100·0
United Kingdom	93·9	94·3	89·9	92·2	96·2	97·3
Irish Republic	1·3	1·3	2·8	2·5	0·4	0·4
Old Commonwealth	0·2	0·3	0·1	0·1	0·1	0·1
New Commonwealth	2·4	1·9	5·8	4·0	2·9	1·7
Other European countries	1·1	1·2	0·7	0·7	0·3	0·3
Other foreign countries and not stated	1·0	1·0	0·7	0·5	0·1	0·1
Total number ('000) (&=100 percent.)	25,484	27,091	1,363	1,389	50	51

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what latest estimate he has made of the average cost of keeping a child in local authority care.

The latest available information relates to 1975–76, when the average weekly cost was £32. This figure excludes administration and field social work costs, which cannot be allocated to specific services, and no account has been taken of parental contributions. In making this calculation, the number of children on whom little or no expenditure was incurred, for example, children living at home, has been excluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services taking the latest census figures available, if he will show the percentage breakdown for comparison purposes for the United Kingdom, the West Midland County Council and the Walsall, North parliamentary division, respectively, of an abbreviated breakdown of the population by age, sex and place of birth, an abbreviated breakdown of the active and retired population by socio-economic groups and the number of private households owning cars.

The following analyses are available from the 1971 Census of Population: