Written Answers of 13 July 1971

SOCIAL SERVICES
  Departmental Review
  Departmental Review
  Maternity Grant (Deserted Wives)
  Maternity Grant (Deserted Wives)
  Pensions (Purchasing Power)
  Pensions (Purchasing Power)
  Mentally Handicapped Persons
  Mentally Handicapped Persons
  Home Helps (Charges)
  Home Helps (Charges)
  Pension Order Books
  Pension Order Books
  Food Poisoning
  Food Poisoning
  Dental Treatment (Cost)
  Dental Treatment (Cost)
  Montague Hospital, Mexborough
  Montague Hospital, Mexborough
  Geriatric Cases, Hull
  Geriatric Cases, Hull
  Ombudsman (Appointment)
  Ombudsman (Appointment)
  Hostel (Camberwell)
  Hostel (Camberwell)
  Medical Laboratory Technicians (Salary Claim)
  Medical Laboratory Technicians (Salary Claim)
  Family Expenditure Survey
  Family Expenditure Survey
  Private Nursing Homes (Confidential Information)
  Private Nursing Homes (Confidential Information)
  Nursing Staff Shortage
  Nursing Staff Shortage
  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970
  Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970
  Rent Allowance
  Rent Allowance
  Adult Training Unit, Corby
  Adult Training Unit, Corby

  Benefits (Costs and Charges)
  HEALTH AND PERSONAL SOCIAL SERVICES
  Dental Charges
  In the general dental services, charges for dental treatment (not including dentures) in the year ended 18th June, 1970, represented the whole cost subject to a maximum of £1'50. The rate of charge was reduced in 1971 to half the cost of the treatment, subject to a maximum of £10, with the result that the actual amount payable by patients can be lower or higher than in 1970. Charges for supply of dentures increased by about 25 per cent. in the year ended 18th June, 1970, but the change in charges in the subsequent year varied according to the type and cost of denture supplied : in many cases there was little change.
  Ophthalmic Charges
  In the general ophthalmic service, the charge for a single-vision lens increased by 17½p in the year ended 18th June, 1970, and by between 40p and £1·30, according to the strength of lens, in the year ended 18th June, 1971. The corresponding figures for a bifocal lens were 25p in the year ended 18th June, 1970, and between £1·20 and £2·25. The charge for the most popular National Health Service spectacle frame increased by 4p in the year ended 18th June, 1970; there was no increase during the year ended 18th June, 1971.
  Prescription Charges
  Charges for prescriptions, for elastic stockings and other elastic hosiery were not changed in the year ended 18th June, 1970. In the subsequent year they increased by 7½p, 37½p and 12½ respectively.
  Social Security
  Costs of social security benefits are not available for years ending on 18th June. As regards increases in benefits, national insurance and associated benefits were increased by about 11 per cent. and supplementary benefits by about 5 per cent. in the year ended 18th June, 1970. Supplementary benefits were increased by about 8" per cent. in the year tended 18th June, 1971. Additionally, in that year pensions were provided for the over-80s and benefits for widows were improved.

  Benefits (Costs and Charges)
  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Hospital Waiting Lists
  Emergency Treatment (Minor Complaints)
  Emergency Treatment (Minor Complaints)
  Council Tenants, Birmingham (Supplementary Benefits)
  Council Tenants, Birmingham (Supplementary Benefits)
  Health Visitors
  Health Visitors
  National Health Service (Lower-Paid Workers)
  National Health Service (Lower-Paid Workers)
  Geriatric Patients (North Staffordshire)
  Geriatric Patients (North Staffordshire)
  Family Income Supplement
  Family Income Supplement
  Hostel (Camberwell)
  Hostel (Camberwell)
  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work
  Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work
AGRICULTURE, FISHERIES AND FOOD
  European Economic Community
  European Economic Community
  Fertilisers (Price Increases)
  Fertilisers (Price Increases)
  Food Prices
  Food Prices
  Import Saving
  Import Saving
NATIONAL FINANCE
  Economic Situation
  Economic Situation
  President of the World Bank (Appointment)
  President of the World Bank (Appointment)
  Value-added Tax (Copyright Fees)
  Value-added Tax (Copyright Fees)
  Income Tax and Surtax
  Income Tax and Surtax
  Wages and Salaries
  Wages and Salaries
  Purchase Tax (Dental Hygiene Kits)
  Purchase Tax (Dental Hygiene Kits)
  Vehicle Excise Duty (Evasion)
  Vehicle Excise Duty (Evasion)
  British Diplomats (Car Sales)
  British Diplomats (Car Sales)
  Research
  Research
EDUCATION AND SCIENCE
  School Milk
  School Milk
  School Books (Expenditure)
  School Books (Expenditure)
  Teachers (Pay)
  Teachers (Pay)
  B.B.C. Training Orchestra
  B.B.C. Training Orchestra
ENVIRONMENT
  Rail Improvement (South-East England)
  Rail Improvement (South-East England)
  Greater London (Trunk Roads)
  Greater London (Trunk Roads)
  Tree Planting (Grants)
  Tree Planting (Grants)
  Public Health Inspectors
  Public Health Inspectors
  Local Government Reform (Association for Neighbourhood Councils)
  Local Government Reform (Association for Neighbourhood Councils)
  Housing Improvement Grants
  Housing Improvement Grants
  Dilapidation Schedules
  Dilapidation Schedules
  Leaseholders (Harassment)
  Leaseholders (Harassment)
  Train Drivers
  Train Drivers
DEFENCE
  New Basingstoke Canal Company
  New Basingstoke Canal Company
  Malta (41 Commando Group)
  Malta (41 Commando Group)
  RDX High Explosive
  RDX High Explosive
  Northern Ireland
  Northern Ireland
  Ulster Defence Regiment
  Ulster Defence Regiment
  PRIME MINISTER (CORRESPONDENCE)
  PRIME MINISTER (CORRESPONDENCE)
  EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
  EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
  HOSPITALS FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED
  HOSPITALS FOR THE MENTALLY HANDICAPPED
  LIVERPOOL
  LIVERPOOL
  EDUCATION (CO-ORDINATION OF DEPARTMENTS)
  EDUCATION (CO-ORDINATION OF DEPARTMENTS)
  THE NORTH-WEST
  THE NORTH-WEST
  SHOPLIFTING CASES
  SHOPLIFTING CASES
FOREIGN AND COMMONWEALTH AFFAIRS
  Hong Kong (English Langauge Schools)
  Hong Kong (English Langauge Schools)
  Anglo-Maltese Defence Agreement
  Anglo-Maltese Defence Agreement
  European Economic Community
  European Economic Community
EMPLOYMENT
  Strikes (Scotland)
  Strikes (Scotland)
  European Economic Community
  European Economic Community
HOME DEPARTMENT
  New Hall Detention Centre
  New Hall Detention Centre
  European Economic Community
  European Economic Community
  Irish Prisoners (Brixton)
  Irish Prisoners (Brixton)
  EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
  EUROPEAN ECONOMIC COMMUNITY
HOUSE OF COMMONS
  Refreshment Department (Prices)
  Refreshment Department (Prices)
POSTS AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS
  Local Radio
  Local Radio
SCOTLAND
  Hill Farms
  Hill Farms
  Foxhound Pack (Development Board Loan)
  Foxhound Pack (Development Board Loan)
  School Meals
  School Meals
TRADE AND INDUSTRY
  Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
  Upper Clyde Shipbuilders
  Cunard Steamship Co. Ltd.
  Cunard Steamship Co. Ltd.
  Research
  Research
  Pergamon Press (Report)
  Pergamon Press (Report)
  European Economic Community
  European Economic Community
  Short Brothers and Harland (Government Contracts)
  Short Brothers and Harland (Government Contracts)
  Price Increases
  Price Increases
  Gas Appliances (Conversion to Natural Gas)
  Gas Appliances (Conversion to Natural Gas)
  GIBRALTAR/UNITED KINGDOM POSTAL SERVICE
  GIBRALTAR/UNITED KINGDOM POSTAL SERVICE