asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what would be the effect on (a) the retail prices of butter, cheese, beef, bread, and sugar, (b) the average level of food prices and (c) the cost of food per week of a family of three of (i) a 5 per cent. devaluation of the green pound (ii) a devaluation of the green pound to the average Common Market rate so as to eliminate United Kingdom monetary compensatory amounts, and (iii) a harmonisation of

ESTIMATED RETAIL FOOD PRICE EFFECTS OF CERTAIN GREEN POUND CHANGES*
	(i)	(ii)	(iii)
	5 per cent. devaluation of the green pound	Full, 22·9 per cent. devaluation of the green pound	Harmonisation of United Kingdom support prices with those existing now in Germany†
Butter, p lb.	3½ (+5%)	19½ (+30%)	30 (+46%)
Cheese, p lb.	3 (+4%)	17 (+23%)	25 (+35%)
Beef, p lb	2 (+2%)	11 (+8%)	17 (+12%)
Bread, p loaf	⅓ (+1½%)	2 (+74%)	3 (+11%)
Sugar, p kg.	1½ (+4%)	7½ (+25%)	11 (+35%)
Overall effect on food prices	up to1%	+5−6%	+8−9%
Approximate additional food cost for a family of 3 (per week)	17p	£1·00	£1·50
*The estimates are based on the existing pattern of food consumption and the percentage increases on the present level of food prices.
†This could be achieved by a full devaluation of the green pound plus common price increases of about 12 per cent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present levy on milk under EEC regulations; and what is the proposed levy.

At present the EEC co-responsibility levy on milk is set at 0·5 per cent. of the target rate. As part of its proposals for the fixing of agricultural prices for 1979–80, the EEC Commission has proposed, from 1 June 1979, a variable co-responsibility levy. This would be calculated every four months at the rate of 1 per cent. of the target price for every ½ per cent. increase in the total United Kingdom food prices with those currently existing in Germany.

The information requested under the three support price assumptions is given in the table below. A 5 per cent. devaluation of the representative—green—rate for the pound would raise United Kingdom support prices of products subject to monetary compensatory amounts by 5·3 per cent. A full devaluation of 22·9 per cent. sufficient to eliminate existing United Kingdom monetary compensatory amounts, would raise support prices by 29·7 per cent. whilst harmonisation of United Kingdom support prices with those currently existing in Germany would involve increases of 45 per cent.volume of milk delivered to dairies in the EEC over the average of the levels in the corresponding periods in the previous two years, subject to a minimum rate of levy of 2 per cent. The exact rate of levy to be applied under the proposals will therefore depend on the level of production in the Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about current EEC proposals relating to milk surplus levy, his attitude to the proposals and their likely effect on dairy farms in the United Kingdom.

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his reply of 15 February to my right hon. Friend the Member for Anglesey (Mr. Hughes), he regards direct action on the level of support prices as being the most effective way to secure a balanced market in the EEC milk sector, and would in any case be opposed to the exemptions which the Commission has proposed for the co-responsibility levy as these would discriminate against our own larger, more efficient producers—[Vol. 962, c. 607–8.] It is not possible at this stage to say precisely what effect the levy would have on those dairy producers in the United Kingdom who were not exempt from it, but the arrangement proposed would clearly reduce significantly their average net margin.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the annual amount by which he estimates that future grants in aid to the proposed Republic of Kiribati will be reduced because of the interest earned by revenues accruing to the Gilbert Islands revenue equalisation reserve fund from Banaban phosphates.

Interest contributions from the fund of A$4·25 million per annum have been taken into account in determining the levels of grants in aid in 1980, 1981 and 1982.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has agreed to meet future deficits in the budget in the proposed Republic of Kiribati by grants in aid; and, if so, for how many years.

Yes; from 1980 to 1982, when consultations will take place to examine the position beyond that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the total sum at present in the Gilbert Islands revenue equalisation reserve fund.

The fund was valued at approximately A$56 million in August 1978, the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what agreement has been reached, in the light of the United States of America's claim to sovereignty over the Phoenix and Northern Line Islands, at present part of the Gilberts, to transfer these islands to the United States of America before the granting of Gilbertese independence.

No such agreement is contemplated. We propose that the Gilbert Islands should become independent with its territory as at present constituted.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his recent estimate of the resident population of Rhodesia, divided as between (a) patrial citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies, (b) other citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies, (c) other British subjects, (d) British protected persons, and (e) aliens.

We estimate that there are some 80,000 citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies in Rhodesia, most of whom are probably patrial by virtue of their birth or their father's birth in the United Kingdom. Few United Kingdom citizens are likely to be non-patrial. We believe that there are in addition, some 6·5 million citizens of Southern Rhodesia, all of whom are British subjects. The number of British protected persons in Rhodesia is not known.The number of aliens is not available. There are thought to be some 90,000 residents of Rhodesia who are citizens of, or have a right to citizenship of, a country other than Rhodesia or the United Kingdom. We do not know how many of these people are also British subjects, citizens of Southern Rhodesia; and it is possible that a few may be United Kingdom citizens.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise in the United Nations Security Council as a threat to world peace the massing of Chinese troops on the Sino-Vietnamese border.

We are in close touch with individual Western and other members of the Security Council about the whole situation in Indo-China. The question of a Council meeting is being considered by Council members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many convictions for soliciting there were in the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978 or until the latest available figures.

The available information is given in the following table:

PERSONS FOUND GUILTY OF OFFENCES AGAINST SECTION 1 OF THE STREET OFFENCES ACT 1959 AND SECTION 32 OF THE SEXUAL OFFENCES ACT 1956: ENGLAND AND WALES
Number of persons
	Street Offences Act 1959 section 1 (female loitering or soliciting for purposes of prostitution)	Sexual Offences Act 1956 section 32 (man soliciting or importuning in a public place for immoral purposes)
1970	…	451*
1971	2,856	532
1972	3,084	556*
1973	2,972	540
1974	2,959	545*
1975	3,289	614
1976	3,791	519
1977	3,836	509
… Not available.
* Magistrates' courts only. The figures for the Crown court are not available but are likely to have been small.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prostitutes were sentenced to imprisonment in the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977 and 1978; and what was the average length of sentence and the cost of keeping a prisoner in prison in each year.

Information on the number of females who were given a suspended sentence of imprisonment or who were sentenced to immediate imprisonment by magistrates' courts for offences of prostitution is published annually in "Criminal Statistics, England and Wales" under offence classification 166—offences by prostitutes, tables 1(a), page 160, and table 2, page 264, of the volume for 1977, Cmnd. 7289. Information for 1978 is not yet available. To calculate accurately the arithmetic average length of sentence in each year would involve disproportionate cost and would not show the variation which occurs; the published tables include the distribution of the lengths of sentences of immediate imprisonment.The average cost of keeping a female in custody in each financial year is published annually in the "Report on the work of the Prison Department"—Appendix 4, page 85, of the volume for 1977, Cmnd. 7290. Before 1972–73 the costs of detaining females were not separately recorded. The average cost in the financial year 1977–78 was £6,585 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum amount per year which the Commission for Racial Equality is permitted to spend on advertising campaigns; and what guidelines are issued by him to the Commission for Racial Equality with respect to advertising contracts.

In the current financial year the Commission for Racial Equality may spend up to £184,000 on publicity and information services. The division of that budget between advertising campaigns, the production of leaflets and library facilities is a matter for the Commission to determine. The budget for the next financial year has not yet been approved.I have issued no guidelines on advertising contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of the committee of inquiry into the prison services in the United Kingdom.

Mr. Justice May, the chairman of the committee of inquiry into the United Kingdom prison services, informs me that, because of the number and complexity of the problems facing the prison services which have become apparent to the committee during an intensive programme of visits to all types of prison establishments throughout the United Kingdom, and which have been extended and amplified in the large amount of evidence already submitted to the Committee, it will not be possible for the inquiry to do full justice to the task which it has undertaken in time to report by March. The committee hopes to report in the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the incidence of hydatid disease in sheep in the Isle of Skye in each of the last five years.

As hydatid disease is not notifiable, precise figures of its incidence in sheep in the Isle of Skye are not available. It is estimated, however, that about 10 per cent. of the sheep killed at Portree slaughterhouse are infected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has delayed in answering a letter of 14 November 1978 from the hon. Member for Dundee, East regarding proposals to merge the history and geography departments at Dundee college of education.

ROADS
£ million 1978 survey prices
	1976–77	1977–78	1978–79	1979–80
Local Authority New Construction
Planned	72·1	59·9	51·8	53·1
Actual/Estimated	57·1	42·7	51·8*	53·1*
Percentage shortfall (—)	−21 per cent.	−29 per cent.	—	—
* Estimated; actual not yet available.

The planned figures for each year are based on the relevant figures in Cmnd. 6393, Cmnd. 6721, Cmnd. 7049 and Cmnd. 7439. The 1978–79 estimate is based on later information than the corresponding Cmnd. 7049 figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in the talks with representatives of Orkney and Shetland over a subsidy on

There is no record of such a letter having been received, but I refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dunbartonshire, East (Mrs. Bain) on 29 November 1978.—[Vol. 959, c. 229] As a result of subsequent discussion, it has been decided that a wider review should be instituted of the promoted post structure within Dundee college of education; and, pending the outcome, the governors have—with my Department's agreement—made a temporary appointment to the vacant post of head of the history department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many janitors were employed by State schools at the latest available date and 10, 20 and 30 years ago, respectively.

This information is not available to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table showing actual or estimated expenditure in Scotland and the expenditure planned, all at 1978 survey prices, and the shortfall or excess as a percentage of the planned budget for local authority road construction for 1976–77, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80.

The details are as shown in the following table:freight; and if he will take into account the urgency of the problem as illustrated by the recent increase in the price of cement in the islands.

Discussions have taken place between my Department and the Orkney and Sheltand Islands councils. I am aware of the urgency of the problem and I hope to put specific proposals to the councils in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the latest figures on homelessness.

The statistics for the period 1 April to 30 September 1978 are being published today. Copies are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current estimate of the cost of the Tornado plane.

The current estimates of the unit production costs of the Tornado are £9 million for the interdiction strike version and £10·7 million for the air defence variant, at September 1978 economic conditions. It is not the practice to release development costs.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will make a statement setting out an estimate of the proportion of the adult population financially eligible to receive legal aid when the scheme was first introduced in 1948, the proportion financially eligible now, and the proportion which will be financially eligible on the passage of the Legal Aid Bill recently introduced in the House of Lords.

It is not possible to make reliable estimates because legal aid limits are based on the "disposable" income and capital which is available after deductions have been made for dependants, debts and necessary expenses, including income tax, national insurance and other matters. A special study in 1973 estimated that in 1950, when the scheme began, over 80 per cent. of the population was eligible on income grounds alone. In 1973, this figure had fallen to about 40 per cent. and has probably remained at about that level.The improvements in the financial limits for legal aid which my noble Friend proposes to make by regulations under the existing legislation and by the Legal Aid Bill will increase the proportion of the population eligible for legal aid to the approximate level at which it stood when the scheme began.

asked the Attorney-General if he will list in the Official Report (a) the number of persons who have been refused an injunction under section 1 of the Domestic Violence and Matrimonial Proceedings Act 1976, (b) the number of injunctions granted with a power of arrest and without a power of arrest, (c) the number of injunctions granted in matrimonial proceedings with power of arrest attached, (d) the number of existing injunctions to which a power of arrest has been attached in matrimonial proceedings and under section 1 of the Act, (e) the number of arrests made under section 2(5), those where directions were sought out of office hours, and those where directions were sought during office hours and (f) the number of persons committed to prison; and if he will give statistics by region.

Provisional figures for June to December 1977 were published in the Judicial Statistics for 1977—Cmnd. 7254. The final figures for that period are set out in table 1 below. Provisional figures for 1978 are set out in table 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to reduce unemployment on Merseyside and in Kirkby, especially amongst young people.

Following discussions which I have held with the careers officers and the staff of the Manpower Services Commission's special programmes division in Merseyside, urgent consideration is being given to increasing the staffing of the careers service in the area. Following representations, the community industry national management board has approved an increase in the number of community industry places available for Liverpool from 200 to 450, for Knowsley from 115 to 300, for St. Helens from 60 to 100, and a new unit at Sefton of 50 places.The youth opportunities programme currently provides some 10,500 opportunities on Merseyside—of which there are 760 in Kirkby. It is to be expanded nationally and will have a target of 100–120,000 filled places to be reached toward the end of 1979. The MSC has undertaken to ensure that no young person aged under 19 who leaves school in the course of the school year 1978–79 should remain unemployed by Easter 1980 without the offer of a suitable place in the programme and the Commission will also aim to offer by 31 March 1980 a suitable place in YOP to every young person unemployed for a year or more. I believe these measures will be especially beneficial to areas such as Merseyside which suffer particularly high levels of youth unemployement.Additionally, we have tried to meet the needs of Merseyside by introducing new funding arrangements for training workshops, project-based work experience schemes and community service schemes under YOP and for special temporary employment programme schemes. These should encourage more sponsors to come forward. Transport can now be provided for school leavers still awaiting an offer in YOP who otherwise could not travel to an area where suitable opportunities are available.On 17 November 1978 I visited Liverpool and was able to announce an MSC grant of £2·8 million to the city to provide jobs for the long term unemployed—on projects to assist in the rehabilitation of property in the city's ownership and to help improve the amenities and appearances of parks and other public land.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, further to his reply to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North [Official Report, 31 January 1979; Vol. 961, c. 467], why it is that earnings figures are collected for men aged 21 years and over and for women aged 18 years and over; and whether, in order to simplify analysis, he will consider standardising the information.

These traditional age group limits are used to maintain full comparability with statistics for earlier years, and, particularly in relation to manual male workers, to obtain statistics from which most of those not on full "adult" rates of pay are excluded. This practice has been reviewed from time to time and a further review is envisaged later this year in consultation with CBI and TUC. Year of birth of employees is obtained in the new earnings survey and this permits flexibility in the analyses compiled. A wide range of results of that survey is available using common age-group limits. Unfortunately such results were available for only one of the two replies to the hon. Member on 31 January.—[Vol. 961, c. 439 and 467.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will compare the figures given in reply to the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie) [Official Report, 18 January 1979; Vol. 960, c. 853], showing wages and salaries per unit of output in manufacturing in selected countries, with similar figures for agriculture; and if he will include as many European Economic Community member States as possible.

The latest available data for agriculture, which correspond as closely as possible to those given for manufacturing in my previous reply to the hon. Member for Chertsey and Walton (Mr. Pattie) are provided in the following table. The figures are not strictly comparable owing to differences in national definitions and methods of compilation.

LABOUR COSTS (AT NATIONAL PRICES) PER UNIT OF OUTPUT IN AGRICULTURE
Indices 1970 = 100
	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977
United Kingdom	100	106	121	137	164	206	229	230
France	100	114	112	124	146	170	185	201
Germany (F.R.)	100	103	105	104	104	107	112	114
Irish Republic	100	…	…	130	127	126	154	156
Netherlands	100	102	114	123	128	140	156	166
United States	100	93	99	110	126	126	132	137
Canada	100	92	103	121	144	152	165	…
Japan	100	101	102	109	120	130	…	…
… Not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will instruct the Health and Safety Executive to withdraw the film John Davies, Factory Inspector, until the consultations about its contents, requested by the Showmen's Guild of Great Britain, have been held.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that this film is an important tool in familiarising the public with the work of the Health and Safety Executive's inspectorate and in the promotion of attitudes towards accident prevention, and he sees no reason to withdraw it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment which leaflets have been approved under the abrasive wheels regulations; how many approved leaflets have been withdrawn; if approved leaflets are readily available for persons wishing to become trained under the regulations; and, if not, how long the approved leaflets have been withdrawn.

The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that two leaflets, training advisory leaflets 1 and 2, have been approved under the abrasive wheels regulations 1970 and that neither has been withdrawn. Adequate stocks of both leaflets are held by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, but leaflet no. 2 was out of stock during

asked the Secretary of State for Employment who is responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at tyre fitting premises; and what action the Health and Safety Commission is taking following the decision of the industrial tribunal in Birmingham on 15 September 1978 in the case brought by Warwick District Council against Central Tyre Co. Ltd.

The Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977 make local authorities responsible for the enforcement of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 in shop premises where tyre fitting is the main activity. The chairman of the Health and Safety Commission informs me that no action by the Commission following the tribunal decision is being taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received concerning the wording of paragraph 1 of the first schedule to the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977; and what advice, if any, has he given.

My right hon. Friend has received no such representations.I am advised by the chairman of the Health and Safety Commission that one

local authority has raised the question whether shop premises are included in the class of premises assigned to local authorities by schedule 1 part 1 paragraph 1. The authority was advised that such premises come within the terms of paragraph 1 of the schedule unless specifically excluded by sub-paragraphs (

asked the Secretary of State for Employment who is responsible for enforcing the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 in shop premises; and if he is satisfied that the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977 give sufficient power to local authorities to enforce the Act.

In reply to the first part of my hon. Friend's question, the local authorities are the proper enforcing authority for the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 as regards the majority of shop premises.In reply to the second part of the question, the Health and Safety (Enforcing Authority) Regulations 1977 do not in themselves give local authorities power to enforce the Act. They set out to define classes of premises in respect of which local authorities shall exercise powers conferred on them by the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act sections 18(4) and 19(1). I am satisfied that those provisions confer sufficient power on local authorities to enforce the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many disabled people were unemployed in January 1978, and at the latest available date.

I am informed by the Manpower Services Commission that, in January 1978, there were 148,688 disabled people unemployed. In January 1979, the number of unemployed disabled people was 139,745. The decrease in the numbers unemployed of 8,943 is a welcome indication of the effectiveness of the measures being taken to improve employment opportunities for disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment under what circumstances a worker who takes voluntary redundancy may be prevented from being re-employed when his former firm takes on extra workers, or be prevented from being employed by another firm.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 20 February 1979; Vol. 963, c. 111], gave the following information:There are no legislative provisions governing this situation, and particular circumstances preventing a formerly redundant worker from being employed are a matter for speculation. Re-engagement of such a worker will depend, among other things, on the employer's normal selection from applicants, or on any previous understanding with the worker, or on an agreement with a trade union.

asked the Secretary of Slate for Employment what special provision is made for young deaf people seeking apprenticeships whose educational problems require them to apply later than the usual age.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 16 February 1979; Vol. 962, c. 673], gave the following information:No special provision is made for apprenticeships for young deaf people. However, although in practice the majority of apprenticeship places are offered to 16–year-old school leavers, most apprenticeship schemes have provision for entry at ages 16, 17 and 18 to accommodate, for instance, those staying longer at school for further qualifications. The facility extends to disabled young people. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind, I hope he will write to me about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry what proposals the Government have for the National Enterprise Board to take a holding in Dunlop Ltd. as part of any scheme of Government aid to that company's tyre business; and whether he will make a statement

Discussions have taken place between my Department and Dunlop on possible Government assistance. These are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Industry whether the National Enterprise Board holds any shares through the Bank of England Nominees Ltd.

This is a matter for the NEB.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will list those countries having a top rate of tax on earned income in excess of 80 per cent., and indicate the approximate level of income at which these top rates are reached, converted to £ sterling at the current exchange rate.

The information available is given in the table below:

	Top rate of tax (Percent.)	Approximate level of income at which reached(£)
Japan	83·7	230,000
Libya	93·5	250,000
Portugal	94·0	18,000
Sweden	85·0	17,700
Tanzania	95·0	14,500
Tunisia	83·5	13,000
United Kingdom	83·0	25,735

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the existing £15,000 starting figure for the payment of stamp duty on house purchase would need to be increased to take account of inflation since it came into operation on 1 May 1974.

Davies: The £15,000 threshold would need to be increased by £13,900 to allow for the movement in the General Index of Retail Prices between May 1974 and January 1979. If the movement in average house prices is adopted as the measure of inflation, the increase would be some £9,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated cost in a full year of allowing income tax relief on domestic rate payments.

As there is no reliable estimate of how receipts from domestic ratepayers are allocated between those who are liable to pay income tax and those who are not liable it is not possible to give a precise estimate of the proposal.If, however, all those paying domestic rates were also liable to pay income tax at the basic rate, the estimated full year cost for 1978–79 would be approximately £800 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the identifiable public expenditure in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, expressed in £ million and in £ per capita, on Government lending to the nationalised industries during each of the last three years, analysing the expenditure by each industry.

The table below shows figures of identifiable public expenditure on Government lending to nationalised industries in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, in £ million and £ per head, for 1975–76 to 1977–78. The figures are consistent with those given in the answer to my hon. Friend the member for Gravesend (Mr. Ovenden) 17 January 1979.—[Vol. 960, cc. 781–94.] Total Government net lending to nationalised industries is allocated to countries, industry by industry, pro rata to their identifiable capital investment, and the amounts attributed to each country fluctuate from year to year because of the variability both of the aggregate lending figures and of the incidence of expenditure on large capital projects in particular countries. Not all of the industries' investment, and therefore not all Government lending to them, is allocated to particular countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the present rates of pay of surveyors employed by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise.

Customs and Excise surveyors belong to the general Civil Service grate of senior executive officer and are paid on an annual incremental salary scale of six points from £5,937 to £7,032. London weighting is payable in addition where appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish tables for each year since 1945–46, showing for each of a single person, a married couple, a married couple with one child aged 14 years, a married couple with two children aged 17 years and 14 years, a married couple with three children aged 17 years, 14 years, and 10 years and a married couple with four children aged 17 years, 14 years, 12 years and 10 years, tax

TAX THRESHOLD AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE EARNINGS
Year	Single person	Married couple	Married couple with 1 child under 11	Married couple with 2 children under 11	Married couple with 3 children (2 under 11, 1 between11 and 16)	Married couple with 4 children (2 under 11, 2 between 11 and 16)
1978–79	22·7	35·4	39·5	43·4	47·9	52·1

I regret that figures for families with children of other combinations of ages could only be provided at disproportionate cost.In the answer referred to, account is taken both of family allowance and child benefit. The thresholds represent the amount of income which may be received before liability to tax arises—income here includes family allowance or child benefit where appropriate. When these are expressed as a percentage of earnings, the earnings figures include family allowance or child benefit as was noted in the Answers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will restore to the National Land Fund the £50 million extracted from the fund in 1957, establish independent trustees for the fund

The reply to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Thames (Mr. Lamont)—[Vol. 961, c. 211–14]—shows the actual thresholds and the thresholds at 1945–46 prices for a single person, a married couple and couples with one and two children under 11, for three children—one aged 11, two aged 11–16—and for four children—two under 11 and two aged 11–16. Figures for the tax threshold as a percentage of average earnings for these family groups for most of the years required were given in the replies to the hon. Member for Norfolk, North (Mr. Howell) on 20 July 1977.—[Vol. 935, c. 579–81]—and on 19 June 1978—[Vol. 951, c. 37–8.]The figures for 1978–79 based on the October 1978 survey of the earnings of manual workers, the results of which are now available are:and ensure that the money is used for protecting and restoring ancient buildings, for the protection of beautiful landscapes and, if necessary, to stop the constant flow of the United Kingdom's art heritage being sold to go abroad.

The White Paper "A National Heritage Fund"—Cmnd. 7428—published on Tuesday 13 February, contains the Government's proposals for the future of the National Land Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effects on employment of the increase in minimum lending rate to 14 per cent.

No quantitative estimate has been made. Higher interest rates represent increased costs to borrowers and in general one would expect there to be some adverse impact on expenditure and hence employment. However, since the change in MLR merely brought it into line with other market rates, any effect on employment would be negligible. Indeed, other short-term rates are now lower than they were on 8 February. There would be much greater risk to output and employment if monetary control were to be weakened and the struggle against inflation relaxed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, further to his reply, Official Report, 5 February, column 54, to the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Short) he will publish figures showing company taxation, including rates, as a percentage of total taxation, both central and local, for as many of the following countries as figures are available: Japan, the United States of America, France, West Germany, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government's expenditure plans 1979–80 to 1982–83, Cmnd. 7439, are consistent with the reduction of the annual rate of inflation to 5 per cent. or less by February 1982.

As I said on the occasion of publication of the White Paper on 17 January, the plans in Cmnd. 7439 were drawn up on the basis that inflation is kept under control. The agreement reached between the Government and the TUC will contribute to this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a revised version of his written answer to the hon. Member for Hitchin (Mr. Stewart), Official Report, 7 February, columns 211–12, concerning income tax, on the assumption (a) that the lower rate band is abolished and (b) that the higher rates apply above a threshold equivalent on real value to the April 1973 threshold.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will update the tables of personal accounts provided in the written answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. MacGregor) Official Report, 15 December 1978, columns 519–20, and to the hon. Member for Blaby, Official Report, 19 January columns 969–70, to include the figures for December 1978 and using January 1979 prices throughout.

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

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the tax revenue that would be lost if all overtime and bonus payments were made free of income tax.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19 February 1979; Vol. 963, c. 35], gave the following information:As it is not possible from Inland Revenue sources to distinguish the amount of overtime and bonus payments included in total earnings a precise cost cannot be given.Information derived from the new earnings survey shows that in April 1978 overtime and bonuses, including piece work bonuses, represented about 12 per cent. of earnings on average. If this proportion applied to earnings in 1978–1979 as a whole and if all overtime and bonus payments were liable to tax at the basic rate, the loss of revenue if they were exempted from income tax would be of the order of £3,500 million for 1978–79.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set out in tabular form the year-on-year increases and the year-on-year percentage increases in the single and married allowances and age allowances, single and married, since 1973–74.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19 February 1979; Vol. 963, c. 35], gave the following information:The figures are as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current rate of inflation, as defined by the use in the retail price index in the three months to January 1979, as expressed as an annual rate.

The increase in the retail price index over the last three months for all items, expressed as an annual rate, is 12·7 per cent.: for all items excluding seasonal foods, on the same basis, the figure is 10 per cent. Neither measure is generally regarded as a reliable indicator of the current trend, because both place a heavy weight upon particular monthly increases which may have been caused by exceptional factors. For this reason, the generally accepted indicator of the current trend is the figure for the last six months, excluding seasonal foods, expressed on an annual basis. In January 1979, this figure stood at 8·8 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of reducing the level of value added tax on petrol from 12½ per cent. to 8 per cent.

About £100 million in a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government's proposed committee of inquiry into the relative pay of public servants and their differentials will be able to deal with the salary scales of the BBC and hon. Members; and whether this committee's report will be accepted by the Government or subject to amendment.

The Government's general approach was explained in the statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in the House on 16 January. The pay of members of Parliament is currently being dealt with by the Review Body on Top Salaries. The Government are committed to accepting the recommendations made by existing review bodies in the field of public services pay unless there are clear and compelling reasons to the contrary, though they have reserved the right to determine the timing for implementing these recommendations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is normal practice for firms to agree with the Inland Revenue at the beginning of the financial year as to whether or not they will make tax rebates to striking employees during the strike period; and whether, if so, a firm can alter these arrangements during the course of a financial year.

, pursuant to his reply [Official Report, 19 February 1979; Vol. 963, c. 34], gave the following reply:No. It is rare for tax repayments to employees on strike to be made by the Revenue. The PAYE regulations provide for repayments by the Revenue only where the employer has given notice that he does not intend to make repayments. Since this notice has to be accompanied by particulars about the employees who are absent from work, the notice cannot be given before a strike has commenced.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what circumstances wives of United States nationals living and working in the United Kingdom in oil-related industries are entitled to draw child benefit.

Citizens of the United States working in this country are not exempt from United Kingdom income tax under the enactments specified in regulation 9 of the Child Benefit (General) Regulations, although there may be some reduction in the tax payable where the person is employed by a concern which is not resident in the United Kingdom. As they are liable to United Kingdom income tax, their families would qualify for child benefit, like other families from abroad, for their children living in this country, subject to the conditions of the Child Benefit (Residence and Persons Abroad) Regulations 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current waiting list in the hospitals in Thanet for each category of operations.

The number of persons on the waiting lists for operations at hospitals in Thanet on 31 January 1979 were:

Royal Sea Bathing hospital
1. Orthopaedic	601
2. Urology	167
Isle of Thanet Margate wing
1. General Surgery	285
2. Opthalmic	425
3. ENT	212
4. Dental	17
5. Gynaecology	398

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the sources for the frequent statement in his Department's publications that women who are late in booking for antenatal care are five times more likely

	Infant mortality: deaths under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births	Perinatal mortality: stillbirths and deaths under 1 week of age per 1,000 total births
England	13·1	15·4
Regional health authority
Northern	14	18
Yorkshire	14	16
Trent	13	15
East Anglia	10	13
North-West Thames	13	14
North-East Thames	15	15
South-East Thames	13	15
South-West Thames	12	14
Wessex	12	13
Oxford	12	13
South-Western	12	15
West Midlands	13	17
Mersey	13	16
North-Western	14	18

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the actual expenditure to date by regional health authorities on the provision of interim secure units and regional secure units.

I would refer the hon. Member to my replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Ormskirk (Mr. Kilroy-Silk) on 30 November 1978 and 4 December 1978.—[Vol. 959, c. 286–8; Vol. 959, c. 490–2.] I hope to have information on expenditure in 1978–79 on regional secure units and interim facilities at the end of the financial year.

This statement is based on the 1959 perinatal mortality survey which, amongst other things, examined pre-natal care and the number of prenatal visits. The survey showed that perinatal mortality was five times the overall national figure when there were no prenatal visits and four times when there was only one.