asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the cost of introducing a slaughter policy with compensation for all flocks found to be infected with Arizona infection in the United Kingdom.

The nature of this infection makes it impossible to forecast what its incidence might be in Great Britain and consequently no estimate can be made of what it would cost to compensate for the compulsory slaughter of infected birds and their contacts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what steps he is taking to prevent the spread of Arizona infection in turkeys in the United Kingdom.

We have advised producers not to breed from turkeys of the strain in which this infection has been identified, or from birds that have been exposed to the risk of infection from such stock, to observe high standards of hygiene and to seek veterinary advice if infection is suspected.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the 162 local education authorities have now implemented or had approved plans for the reorganisation of secondary education along comprehensive lines in the whole or part of their areas; and whether he will publish the names of those authorities who have not had plans approved.

Of 163 local education authorities, 116 now have plans implemented or approved; 89 relate to the whole or greater part of the area and 27 to a smaller part.Of the remaining 47 authorities, 16 (Barking, Brighton, Burton-upon-Trent, Canterbury, Chester, Durham, Exeter, Halifax, Ipswich, Nottingham, Lincolnshire Kesteven, Redbridge, Southport, Sutton, Wigan and Wolverhampton) have a scheme under consideration by my Department; 7 (Bolton, Birmingham, Gloucester, Hillingdon, Harrow, Reading and Southend-on-Sea) have had proposals rejected and have not yet submitted revised schemes; 17 (Bath, Bexley, Bootle, Buckinghamshire, Derby, Leeds, Leicester, Norfolk, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Salford, Torbay, Stockport, Walsall, Warley, Warrington, and Yorkshire, N. Riding) have not yet submitted any formal scheme; and 7 (Bournemouth, Bury, Kingston-upon-Thames, Richmond-upon-Thames, Rutland, Westmorland and Worcester) have declined to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will arrange for an exhibition of Caribbean art to be held in the House of Commons.

Yes. It has been arranged with the authorities of the House for an exhibition to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from 4th to 14th November. The exhibition is being organised jointly by the British Caribbean Association and the Caribbean Artists' Movement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much was paid by his Department in grants during the financial year ending 31st March, 1968, to Great Britain in Europe, the College of Europe in Bruges, the European Schools Day, the Committee of Student European Associations, the European Atlantic Movement for Education, and other similar organisations; and how much he proposes to spend in the current financial year.

The following payments were made during the financial year ended 31st March, 1968:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to amend the maximum penalty for contraventions of the 1927 Auctions (Bidding Agreements) Act to a term of imprisonment with or without a fine of twice the proper value of the object sold.

I have been asked to reply. The maximum fine under this Act was raised by Parliament as recently as 1967. I shall, however, consider in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any further increase would be appropriate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the National Parks Commission have completed their study of the impact of caravans on the appearance of the countryside, with particular reference to the colour of caravans; and whether he is now in a position to make a statement on this matter.

The Countryside Commission have invited a consultant to study this matter and report to them, but they cannot tell me at present when their study is likely to be completed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, when he proposes to introduce legislation to deal with the uncertainty which has arisen in connection with the operation of Section 39 of the 1967 Leasehold Reform Act.

Legislation is being prepared and will be introduced at the earliest possible opportunity during the present Session of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what date he expects to publish the report of the inquiry into the disaster at Ronan Point flats.

I have received the report and will publish it as soon as printing can be completed. I cannot yet give a specific publication date.

asked the Postmaster General if he will provide a telephone kiosk in Church Langton, Leicestershire.

No. There is a kiosk within half a mile of the village and another one would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what are now his proposals for amending the law of Scotland in relation to the age of majority.

I have given very careful consideration, in consultation with the Lord Advocate, to the views which have been expressed to me on this question and I have decided that, notwithstanding the benefits enjoyed by minors in Scotland under the existing law, there is a strong case, on broad social grounds, for lowering the age of majority to 18.As indicated in the Gracious Speech, the Government intend to introduce legislation on this subject this Session, and I hope to bring before the House in due course a Bill which will amend the law of Scotland to the extent of substituting 18 for 21 as the age at which a person ceases to be a minor.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the effect of the setting up of the proposed New Town of Telford upon industrial development and the granting of industrial development certificates in the rural areas of Shropshire.

The main purpose of Telford new town is to lake population and industry from the West Midlands conurbation. I would not expect the recent decision to extend the area of the new town to affect industrial development in rural Shropshire. I will continue to consider sympathetically applications for industrial development certificates for projects suited to the needs and resources of these rural areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will investigate the extent to which the price of Italian-made washing machines exported to this country is affected by an element of export subsidy.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to him on 17th October. If the British washing machine industry apply, with the necessary prima facie evidence, for anti-dumping or countervailing duties, I shall be happy to examine the matters covered by the application.—[Vol. 770. c. 174.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what countries, other than the United States of America, compel transit passengers in British aircraft passing through their airports to submit to customs, immigration, and health procedures.

Australia. Malagasy Republic, Mexico, Poland and Thailand have notified the International Civil Aviaton Organisation that in this respect they are unable to comply with Annex 9 of the Convention. There are other countries, however, which have not formally notified I.C.A.O. of a difference but which, I understand, require some examination of transit passengers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority he has instructed the banks not to finance non-sterling area countries' trade.

Sections 5 and 6 of the Exchange Control Act, 1947.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to introduce further restrictions on private consumption in the remainder of 1968.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in view of congestion at peak traffic periods on the Menai Suspension Bridge, what plans he has for a second road crossing of the Menai Straits.

I am arranging a traffic survey to help me to decide when a crossing is likely to become necessary and where it should be sited.