Written Answers To Questions
Friday, 22nd January. 1971
Agriculture
European Economic Community
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement showing what proposals Her Majesty's Government now have for protecting hill farmers in the United Kingdom in the event of the United Kingdom entering the European Economic Community.
I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on this subject during the debate on the European Economic Community yesterday.—[Vol. 809. c. 1332–3.]
Tinned Fish (Contamination)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has of contamination of tinned salmon by methyl mercury.
The examination in December of 30 samples of tinned salmon by the Laboratory of the Government Chemist showed that no tin had a mercury content higher than 0·1 parts per million, which is a very low figure. A number of tins had no measurable mercury residue. Tinned salmon will be included in the monitoring arrangements which I announced in the House on 19th January.—[Vol. 809, c. 712–14.]
Defence
Nato (Film)
asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will now authorise the showing of the Tyne Tees Film on the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.
My right hon. and noble Friend and I are looking into this matter. I will write to my hon. Friend.
Surplus Land
asked the Minister of State for Defence, in how many instances his Department has licensed surplus or redundant Ministry of Defence land to outside bodies or persons in the past 10 years; how landlords' delegations are treated in such cases; and how rent or other payment is calculated.
The detailed information required is not available. All such lettings are for short periods; the terms of each letting depend on the circumstances but in all cases a fair market rent is charged for the facility offered.
Education
Primary Schools, Derbyshire
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she now has to increase the primary school replacement allocation for Derbyshire County Council Education Committee in the year 1972–73 as a result of her meeting with Derbyshire county education representatives on 6th January.
I am still considering the various matters which the Derbyshire deputation raised with me in Buxton on 6th January. I told the deputation that I would consider carefully the County's allocation for the 1973–74 programme in the Spring.
Open University Students
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has received representations from the Open University about the effects of the Post Office strike upon the assessment of students' written work and the progress of courses; and whether she can take measures to minimise the ensuing difficulties.
I understand that the Open University are pursuing various means of conveying course material to their students and are making announcements in their radio and television programmes. The assessment of written work is inevitably being delayed.
Employment
Unemployed Persons (Bexhill, Hailsham And Rye)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males and females were registered
| NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT 11TH JANUARY, 1971 (PROVISIONAL) | |||||||||
| Aged 18 to 54 | Men Aged 55 and over | Total | Aged 18 to 54 | Women Aged 55 and over | Total | ||||
| Bexhill | … | … | 150 | 232 | 382 | 36 | 12 | 48 | |
| Hailsham | … | … | 103 | 172 | 275 | 15 | 6 | 21 | |
| Rye | … | … | … | 88 | 74 | 162 | 13 | 4 | 17 |
Conciliation Machinery
asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of his Department's conciliation officers have been made redundant since 18th June, 1970.
None. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr.
| ANNUAL NUMBER OF WORKING DAYS LOST PER 1,000 PERSONS EMPLOYED IN MINING, MANUFACTURING, CONSTRUCTION AND TRANSPORT | |||||||||
| Country | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | ||||
| Australia* | … | … | … | … | 390 | 340 | 300 | 440 | 810† |
| Belgium | … | … | … | … | 40 | 320 | 90 | 230 | 100† |
| Canada | … | … | … | … | 790 | 1,570 | 1,200 | 1,670 | 2,550† |
| Denmark‡ | … | … | … | … | 400 | 30 | 20 | 20 | 80† |
| Finland | … | … | … | … | 20 | 150 | 410 | 250 | 200† |
| France | … | … | … | … | 100 | 240 | 430 | (a) | 200† |
| Germany (F.R.)§ | … | … | … | — | — | 30 | — | 20 | |
| India | … | … | … | … | 470 | 890 | 1,270 | 1,150 | 1,100† |
| Ireland | … | … | … | … | 1,720 | 1,420 | 520 | 920 | 2,170† |
| Italy | … | … | … | … | 540 | 1,710 | 580 | 930 | 4,110† |
| Japan | … | … | … | … | 360 | 170 | 100 | 160 | 200 |
| Netherlands | … | … | … | 30 | 10 | — | 10 | 10 | |
| New Zealand | … | … | … | 50 | 230 | 320 | 310 | 300 | |
| Norway | … | … | … | … | — | — | 10 | 10 | — |
| Sweden¶ | … | … | … | … | — | 110 | — | — | 30 |
| Switzerland | … | … | … | — | — | — | — | — | |
| United Kingdom | … | … | … | 220 | 170 | 210 | 360 | 510 | |
| United States║ | … | … | … | 860 | 880 | 1,430 | 1,600 | 1,390 | |
| Notes: | |||||||||
| * Including electricity and gas. | |||||||||
| † Preliminary figure. | |||||||||
| ‡ Manufacturing only. | |||||||||
| § Excluding West Berlin. | |||||||||
| ¶ All industries included. | |||||||||
| ║ Figures cover also electricity, gas and sanitary services. | |||||||||
| (a) Figures not yet available. | |||||||||
| Where no figure is given the number of days lost per 1,000 persons employed is 5 or less. | |||||||||
| Source: International Labour Office. | |||||||||
as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham and Rye Employment Exchanges on 16th January, 1971; and how many of these were over 55 years of age, under 18 years of age, and school leavers, respectively.
The following table shows, by age group, the numbers registered as wholly unemployed:Sillars) on 21st January, 1971.—[Vol. 809; c. 321–322.]
Lost Working Days
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, from sources available to him, he will publish information showing international comparisons of statistics relating to the number of working days lost per 1,000 employees due to industrial disputes, industrial injury, and unemployment in each of the years 1965 to 1970.
The figures for the industrial disputes are given below. I am afraid that similar figures for industrial injury and unemployment are not available.
Service Increments
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the categories of workers and professions with annual service increments.
| Industry | Categories of Worker | Duration | |||||||
| Merchant Navy | … | … | Ratings | … | … | … | … | Five year scale (subject to efficient service). | |
| Post Office | … | … | … | Postmen higher grade | … | … | Seven-year scale. | ||
| Certain engineering grades | … | Four-year scale. | |||||||
| Civil Air Transport | … | … | Certain engineering and maintenance grades. | Three-year scale. | |||||
| Prison Services | … | … | … | All grades | … | … | … | Three to nine year scales according to grade. | |
Non-Manual Workers
Comprehensive information is not available about the conditions of service of non-manual workers. The salaries of such workers in the private sector are not usually determined by national agreements but are commonly the outcome of arrangements at individual establishments. However there are nationally agreed age-scale for certain workers such as engineering draughtsmen. There are also one or two other national agreements which provide for up to five annual increments for office workers over 21 years of age.
In the public sector it is usual for office workers in the basic grades to be on age-scales, often extending beyond 21 years of age. There are also incremental progressions for mature recruits to the basic grades and also for workers promoted to higher grades.
| MODAL RANGES OF SHIFT PREMIA FOR MANUAL WORKERS IN A SELECTION OF ABOUT 100 MAJOR AGREEMENTS | |||||||
Premia expressed as percentage of basic rate
| Premia expressed in sterling
| ||||||
Shift
| Modal range Percentage
| Agreements in modal range Number
| Modal range d. per hour
| Agreements in modal range Number
| |||
| Double-day | … | … | … | 17·0–20·0 | 4 out of 11 | 6·0–9·0 | 6 out of 13 |
| Three-shift | … | … | … | 19·0–21·5 | 4 out of 11 | 8·5–12·0 | 8 out of 17 |
| Alternating two-shift | … | (a) | (a) | 6·5–8·5 | 5 out of 12 | ||
| Night work only | … | … | 25·0 | 17 out of 40 | 8·0–12·0 | 4 out of 9 | |
| (a) Only four instances, each of a different premium, occur (i.e., 12·5, 16·3, 33·3 and 50·0 per cent. respectively). | |||||||
| Source: DEP, Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Work, April 1970 | |||||||
Holiday Entitlements
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list the categories of workers and professions
Following is the information:
Manual Workers
National collective agreements in the following industries provide for annual service increments:
Additional Shift Entitlements
asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list those industries that pay additional shift entitlements for working unsocial hours at a rate of time and one-fifth and above.
166 industry agreements covering manual workers and concerned with shift working are listed in my Department's publication "Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Work", April, 1970 edition. Premium payments are shown to be based on a fixed supplement or on a percentage increase in the hourly rate. A copy of the publication is available in the Library of the House of Commons.An analysis of 100 of the agreements by the N.B.P.I. in their report No. 161 "Hours of Work, Overtime and Shift-working" gives the following information about the range of premia paid for the various types of shiftworking.with annual holiday entitlements of three, four and more weeks.
Details of the holiday entitlements of manual workers in different industries are published as an appendix to the annual official volume "Time Rates of Wages and Hours of Work", and some and some analyses for a sample of employees in professional occupations are given in the publication "New Earnings Survey 1968". I am sending copies to the hon. Member.
Redundancies (Wales)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of redundancies announced by firms in Wales in the months October, November and December, 1970, and to date in January, 1971.
As all redundancies are not notified to my Department the relevant information is not comprehensive. However, records show that redundancies involving the following numbers of workpeople were notified in Wales:
| October, 1970 | 700 |
| Novermber, 1970 | 1,400 |
| December, 1970 | 400 |
| 1st to 20th January, 1971 | 1,500 |
Environment
Sunday Rail Services
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give a general direction to British Rail to augment and expand their inquiry and information services about Sunday train timetables and alterations.
No.
Local Autonomy (Council Of Europe Recommendation)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the Government accept Recommendation No. 615 on the Declaration of Principles on Local Autonomy which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25th September, 1970; and whether they will instruct their representative in the Committee of Ministers to vote in favour of the proposal in paragraph 6 of the recommendation.
Recommendation No. 615 is now before the Committee of Ministers' Deputies, who have not yet completed their consideration of it. The Declaration of Principles as expressed in paragraph 6 of the Recommendation is very widely drafted, and it is desirable that it should be elucidated by discussion in the Committee.
Housing Revenue Accounts (Rate Fund Contributions)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set out in tabular form the total amount of rate fund contributions to housing revenue accounts made by local housing authorities in England and Wales for each of the last 10 years.
Information for the last ten years for which figures are available is as follows:
| England and Wales | Total net contributions from the general rate fund to housing revenue accounts |
| £m. | |
| 1959–60 | 15·5 |
| 1960–61 | 17·5 |
| 1961–62 | 20·8 |
| 1962–63 | 19·8 |
| 1963–64 | 20·8 |
| 1964–65 | 25·2 |
| 1965–66 | 34·1 |
| 1966–67 | 36·9 |
| 1967–68 | 38·0 |
| 1968–69 | 44·0 (estimate) |
Rates
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the overall rate increases for all years from 1960 onwards as they affected domestic hereditaments in percentage terms; and if he will give an assurance that the 1971 increase will be no greater than in past years.
Average domestic rate poundages in England and Wales were:
| Year | Average Domestic Rate Poundage | Percentage increase over previous year | |
| s. | d. | ||
| 1960–61 | 19 | 10 | — |
| 1961–62 | 20 | 9 | 4·6 |
| 1962–63 | 22 | 6 | 8·4 |
| 1963–64 | 9 | 0 | * |
| 1964–65 | 9 | 6 | 5·6 |
| 1965–66 | 10 | 7 | 11·4 |
| 1966–67 | 11 | 8 | 10·2 |
| 1967–68 | 11 | 8 | — |
| 1968–69 | 11 | 9 | 0·7 |
| 1969–70 | 12 | 3 | 4·3 |
| 1970–71 | 12 | 9 | 4·1 |
| * A direct comparison with 1962–63 is not possible because of revaluation. | |||
Railway Lines (Closure)
asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the railway lines closed since 1959, with the mileage involved in each case and the date of closure.
| Date of Closure | Passenger Route Mileage Closed | ||||||||||
| Harrogate-Crossgates via Wetherby | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 1.64 | 27½ | ||||
| Church Fenton-Wetherby | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | ||||
| Middlesbrough-Guisborough | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2. 3.64 | 4 | |||
| Kidsgrove-Etruria | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2. 3.64 | 7¼ | |
| Stoke-on-Trent-Silverdale | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2. 3.64 | 3¾ | ||
| Kemble-Cirencester | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 4.64 | 11½ | |
| Kemble-Tetbury | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||
| Porth-Maerdy | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 6½ | |
| Cardiff General-Cardiff Clarence Road | … | … | … | … | … | 16. 3.64 | ¾ | ||||
| Barry-Bridgend | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 19 | |
| Abercynon-Aberdare | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 16. 3.64 | 7¼ | ||
| Caerphilly-Senghenydd | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 3¼ | ||
| Sheringham-Melton Constable | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 4.64 | 11½ | |||
| Swansea High Street-Milford Haven/Neyland (part closure—Neyland branch only) | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 1 | |
| Selby-Goole | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 8½ |
| Carlisle-Silloth | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 20¾ | |
| Sunderland-Durham-Bishop Auckland | … | … | … | … | … | 4. 5.64 | 23 | ||||
| Sunderland-West Hartlepool | … | … | … | … | … | … | 4. 5.64 | 1½ | |||
| Swaffham-Thetford | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 18½ | |
| Salisbury-Fordingbridge-Bournemouth | … | … | … | … | … | 4. 5.64 | 40¼ | ||||
| Brookenhurst-Ringwood-Bournemouth | … | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| Taunton-Yeovil Pen Mill | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 20 | ||
| Langholm-Riddings Junction-Carlisle | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 7 | ||||
| Ayr-Dalmellington | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 4.64 | 11 | |
| Kilmarnock-Darvel | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 4.64 | 7½ | |
| Elgin-Lossiemouth | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 4.64 | 5¾ | |
| Craigendoran-Arrochar | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 11½ | ||
| Fraserburgh-St. Combs | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3. 5.65 | 5 | ||
| St. Boswells-Berwick-upon-Tweed | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 33¾ | ||||
| Kilmarnock-Ardrossan | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 4.64 | 5¾ | ||
| Wivenhoe-Brightlingsea | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 5 | ||
| Dereham-Wells-next-the-Sea | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.10.64 | 21½ | |||
| Northampton Castle-Peterborough | … | … | … | … | … | 4. 5.64 | 37¾ | ||||
| Northampton Castle-Wellingborough Midland Road | … | … | … | ||||||||
| Leeds-Pudsey-Bradford Exchange | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 3 | ||||
| Crowhurst-Bexhill West | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 4½ | ||
| Walsall-Dudley | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 7.64 | 6¼ | |
| Swan Village-Dudley | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 7 | ||
| Dudley-Old Hill | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||
| Banbury-Woodford Halse (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | 15. 6.64 | — | |||||||
| Worcester-Bromyard | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 10¾ | ||
| Stirling-Perth | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 15. 6.64 | 14 | |
| Southport Chapel Street-Preston | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 16 | |||
| Southport Chapel Street-Crossens | … | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| Audley End-Bartlow | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 7¼ | ||
| Gleneagles-Crieff-Comrie | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 7.64 | 14¾ | ||
| Banff-Tillynaught | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 7.64 | 6 | |
| Edinburgh Princes Street-Kingsknowe (withdrawal of local service) | … | 6. 7.64 | — | ||||||||
| Stafford-Wellington | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 18¾ | |
| Wellington-Shrewsbury | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | ||||
| Wolverton-Newport Pagnell | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 4 | |||
| Bradford Exchange-Wakefield via Batley | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 15 | |||||
| North Walsham-Mundesley-on-Sea | … | … | … | … | … | 5.10.64 | 5½ | ||||
| Derby Friargate-Nottingham Victoria | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 17¾ | ||||
| Edinburgh-Musselburgh | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 2¼ | ||
| Glasgow Queen Street-Kirkintilloch | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 1¾ | ||||
| Gloucester-Hereford | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2.11.64 | 30 | ||
| Bristol Temple Meads-Portishead | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 9½ | |||
| Dumfries-Stranraer | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 14. 6.65 | 67½ | |
| Romsey-Andover | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 15 | |
| Manchester Victoria-Middleton | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 1 | |||
| Wigan Central-Glazebrook | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2.11.64 | 12¾ | |||
| Coatbridge-Dumbarton | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.10.64 | 24½ | ||
The full information requested is not readily available. The following details relate to the closure of lines to passenger trains from 6th January, 1964 to 31st December, 1970:
Date of Closure
| Passenger Route Mileage Closed
| |||||||||
| Buckingham-Bletchley | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 4½ | |
| Aberdeen-Fraserburgh | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 4.10.65 | 40¾ | |
| Maud-Peterhead | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3. 5.65 | 13¼ |
| Lanark-Muirkirk | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.10.64 | 20 |
| Newcastle-Newbiggin | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2.11.64 | 19½ | |
| Newsham-Blyth | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | ||
| Monkseaton-Blyth-Newbiggin | … | … | … | … | … | … | ||||
| Leicester London Road-Burton-on-Trent | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 29¼ | ||||
| Hull-Hornsea | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 19.10.64 | 15½ |
| Hull-Withernsea | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 19.10.64 | 18¼ |
| Witham-Maldon East | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 9.64 | 5¾ | |
| Berkeley Road-Lydney Town | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2.11.64 | 3 | ||
| Harrow and Wealdstone Belmont | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.10.64 | 1¼ | ||
| Tiverton-Tiverton Junction | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.10.64 | 4 | ||
| Widnes Loop | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.10.64 | 5½ |
| Leeds Central-Castleford-Pontefract | … | … | … | … | … | 2.11.64 | 7 | |||
| Manchester Exchange-Tyldesley-Wigan North Western (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2.11.64 | — |
| Leek-Uttoxeter | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 4. 1.65 | 14¾ |
| Bristol Temple Meads-Avonmouth Dock | … | … | … | … | 23.11.64 | 8¼ | ||||
| Bristol Temple Meads-Patchway-Pilning | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| Bristol Temple Meads-Clifton Down-Pilning | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| Nottingham Midland-Worksop | … | … | … | … | … | … | 12.10.64 | 32 | ||
| Bristol Temple Meads-Gloucester Eastgate | … | … | … | … | 4. 1.65 | — | ||||
| Gloucester Eastgate-Worcester Shrub Hill | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| (Withdrawal of local service) | ||||||||||
| Aberdeen-Inverurie (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | 7.12.64 | — | |||||
| Aviemore-Inverness-Elgin (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | 3. 5.65 | — | ||||||
| Glasgow Central-Carlisle (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | 4. 1.65 | — | |||||
| Ruabon-Barmouth | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 18. 1.65 | 54½ |
| Bala-Bala Junction | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | ||
| Whitechurch-Welshpool | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 18. 1.65 | 34 | |
| Llanfyllin-Llanmynech | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 18. 1.65 | 8¾ | |
| Caernarvon-Afon Wen (Consent refused to Bangor-Caernarvon) | … | 7.12.64 | 18¾ | |||||||
| Bangor-Amlwch | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7.12.64 | 17¾ |
| Ballinluig-Aberfeldy | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3. 5.65 | 8¾ | |
| Darlington-Barnard Castle-Middleton-in-Teesdale | … | … | … | 30.11.64 | 25¼ | |||||
| Carmarthen-Aberystwyth | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 22. 2.65 | 56¼ | |
| Glazebrook-Stockport (Tiviot Dale) | … | … | … | … | … | 30.11.64 | 11¾ | |||
| Walsall-Rugeley (Trent Valley) | … | … | … | … | … | … | 18. 1.65 | 15¼ | ||
| Birmingham New Street-Walsall via Penns | … | … | … | … | 18. 1.65 | 12¼ | ||||
| Wolverhampton High Level-Burton-on-Trent | … | … | … | … | 4. 1.65 | 23½ | ||||
| Nuneaton-Coventry-Leamington Spa Avenue | … | … | … | … | 18. 1.65 | 14½ | ||||
| Lostwithiel-Fowey | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 4. 1.65 | 5½ |
| Leeds City/Bradford-Ilkley-Skipton | … | … | … | … | … | 22. 3.65 | 17½ | |||
| Leeds City-Shipley-Bradford | … | … | … | … | … | … | ||||
| Leeds City/Bradford-Keighley-Skipton | … | … | … | … | … | |||||
| (Part withdrawal of local services—part closure of line) | ||||||||||
| West Drayton and Yiewsley-Staines West | … | … | … | … | 29. 3.65 | 6¾ | ||||
| St. Margarets-Buntingford | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 16.11.64 | 13½ | |
| Taunton-Barnstaple | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3.10.66 | 44 |
| Malton-Whitby | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 8. 3.65 | 58¾ |
| Whitby-Scarborough | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||
| Aviemore-Craigellachie | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 18.10.65 | 33½ | |
| Halwill-Torrington | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1. 3.65 | 20½ |
| Sunderland-South Shields | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 14. 6.65 | 1½ | |
| Southport-Pool Hey Junction via Blowick | … | … | … | … | 14. 6.65 | 1¾ | ||||
| Bradford (Exchange)-Mirfield-Huddersfield | … | … | … | … | 14. 6.65 | 7 | ||||
| Bradford (Exchange)-Halifax-Huddersfield | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| (Closure of certain intermediate lines) | ||||||||||
| Dunstable North-Hatfield | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 26. 4.65 | 17¾ | |
| Dumfries-Kirkcudbright | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3. 5.65 | 10¼ | |
| Thornton Junction-Dundee (Tay Bridge) | … | … | … | … | 6. 9.65 | 28 | ||||
| Barnstaple-Torrington | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 4.10.65 | 14¼ | |
| Eridge-Hailsham | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 14. 6.65 | 16 |
| Selby-Driffield | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 14. 6.65 | 31¼ |
| Christ's Hospital-Guildford | … | … | … | … | … | … | 14. 6.65 | 15½ | ||
| St. Helen's Shaw Street-Earlestown-Warrington Bank Quay | … | … | 14. 6.65 | 2 | ||||||
| Aviemore-Forres | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 11.10.65 | 36 |
| Hamilton-Strathaven/Coalburn | … | … | … | … | … | … | 4.10.65 | 18½ | ||
| Ulverston-Lakeside | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 9.65 | 4 |
Date of Closure
| Passenger Route Mileage Closed
| ||||||||||
| Oxford-Bletchley-Bedford-Cambridge | … | … | … | … | … | 1. 1.68* | 77 | ||||
| Glasgow (Buchanan Street)-Stirling-Oban | … | … | … | … | 1.11.65 | 40¼ | |||||
| Earby-Barnoldswick | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 27. 9.65 | 13¼ | ||
| Farnley Junction-Spen Valley Junction via Heckmondwike | … | … | 2. 8.65 | 13½ | |||||||
| Pye Bridge-Kirkby in Ashfield East | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 9.65 | 5 | ||||
| Killin Junction-Killin | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1.11.65 | 4¼ | ||
| Chippenham-Calne | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 20. 9.65 | 5¼ | |
| Ryde (Pier Head)-Cowes | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 18. 4.66 | 11¾ | ||
| Shanklin-Ventnor | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||
| Rosegrove-Todmorden | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1.11.65 | ½ | ||
| Manchester Victoria-Horwich | … | … | … | … | … | … | 27. 9.65 | 1 | |||
| York-Hull | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 29.11.65 | 31 |
| Glasgow St. Enoch-Dumfries-Carlisle | … | … | … | … | … | 6.12.65 | 1 | ||||
| Lincoln Central-Barnetby | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1.11.65 | 20 | ||
| Lincoln Central-Grantham | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||||
| Aberdeen-Ballater | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 28. 2.66 | 43 | |
| Lancaster Castle/Lancaster Green-Ayre-Heysham | … | … | … | 3. 1.66 | ½ | ||||||
| Yeovil Town-Yeovil Pen Mill | … | … | … | … | … | … | 29.11.65 | ½ | |||
| Yeovil Junction-Yeovil Town | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3.10.66 | 2 | |||
| Leeds-Skipton-Morecambe-Heysham | … | … | … | … | … | 3. 1.66 | 18½ | ||||
| Bristol Temple Meads-Bath Green Park | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 3.66 | 94 | ||||
| Bath Green Park-Bournemouth West | … | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| Highbridge-Evercreech Junction | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||||
| Seaton Junction-Seaton | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 3.66 | 4 | ||
| Axminster-Lyme Regis | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 29.11.65 | 6¾ | ||
| Shoreham-by-Sea-Christ's Hospital | … | … | … | … | … | 7. 3.66 | 16½ | ||||
| Manchester Victoria-Rochdale-Todmorden (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3. 1.66 | — |
| Cheltenham Spa (Malvern Road)-Cheltenham (St. James) | … | … | 3. 1.66 | ½ | |||||||
| Crewe-Chester (General) (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | 18.4.66 | — | ||||||
| Derby Midland-Nottingham Midland (withdrawal of local service) | … | 14. 2.66 | — | ||||||||
| Rugby-Peterborough East | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 6.66 | 51 | ||
| Seaton-Stamford | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||
| Leicester London Road-Peterborough | … | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| (Part closure) | |||||||||||
| Sidmouth Junction-Sidmouth | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 3.67 | 8 | |||
| Tipton St. John's-Exmouth | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 3.67 | 11 | |||
| Halwill-Wadebridge | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3.10.66 | 30 | ||
| Okehampton-Bude | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3.10.66 | 45 | |
| Southampton-Fawley | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 14. 2.66 | 9½ | ||
| Royton-Royton Junction | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 18. 4.66 | 1 | ||
| Glasgow St. Enoch-Dalry-Kilmarnock | … | … | … | … | … | 27. 6.66 | 10 | ||||
| Barrhead-Kilmarnock (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | 7.11.66 | — | ||||||
| Tayport-Newport East | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 31. 3.66 | 2½ | ||
| Connel Ferry-Ballachulish | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 28. 3.66 | 28 | ||
| Croxley Green-Bushey and Oxhey | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 6.66 | 1 | ||||
| Dearne Junction-Mexborough West | … | … | … | … | … | 5. 4.65 | 1 | ||||
| Swinton Junction-Mexborough No. 1 Signal Box | … | … | … | 25. 7.65 | ½ | ||||||
| Mexborough No. 1 Signal Box-Mexborough No. 3 Signal Box | … | 5. 4.65 | ¼ | ||||||||
| Sheffield Victoria-Aylesbury Town and Woodford Halse-Banbury (except Sheffield Victoria-Woodhouse and Nottingham Arkwright Street-Rugby Central) | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5. 9.66 | 73½ | ||
| Yatton-Clevedon | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3.10.66 | 3½ | |
| Okehampton-Bere Alston | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 5.68 | 23 | ||
| Callington-Gunnislake | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7.11.66 | 5 | ||
| Saxmundham-Aldeburgh | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 12. 9.66 | 8 | ||
| Workington-Penrith (part closure) | … | … | … | … | … | 18. 4.66 | 21 | ||||
| Gobowen-Oswestry | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7.11.66 | 2½ | |
| Patney and Chirton-Holt Junction (line closure) | … | … | … | 18. 4.66 | 20 | ||||||
| Manchester (Victoria)-Bury (Bolton Street) and Ramsbottom-Accrington | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.12.66 | 8¾ |
| Manchester Victoria-Bury-Bacup via Clifton Junction and Heywood (includes Rochdale-Bacup)† | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.12.66 | 11¾ | |||
| Manchester-Chinley-Derby (withdrawal of local services) | … | … | 6. 3.67 | — | |||||||
| Buxton Midland-Millers Dale | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 3.67 | 5½ | |||
| Wakefield-Goole | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2. 1.67 | 6 | |
* Varied to permit closure of Oxford-Bletchley and Bedford-Cambridge sections. Rail services continue Bletchley-Bedford at present. | |||||||||||
| † Decision reserved on single service each way between Bury-Rochdale. | |||||||||||
Date of Closure
| Passenger Route Mileage Closed
| ||||||||||
| Nottingham Midland-Sheffield Midland | … | … | … | … | … | 2. 1.67 | — | ||||
| Derby Midland-Sheffield Midland | … | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| (Withdrawal of local service) | |||||||||||
| Harrogate-Northallerton | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 3.67 | 25¼ | ||
| Appledore-New Romney | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 3.67 | 13½ | ||
| Bodmin Road/Bodmin North-Padstow | … | … | … | … | … | 30. 1.67 | 18¼ | ||||
| Three Bridges-Groombridge | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2. 1.67 | 16½ | |||
| Shelford-Marks Tey | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 3.67 | 31½ | ||
| Cambridge-St. Ives-March (part closure) | … | … | … | … | 6. 3.67 | 18¾ | |||||
| Stanley Junction-Forfar-Kinnaber Junction | … | … | … | … | 4. 9.67 | 44½ | |||||
| Killamarsh Junction-Pyewipe Junction | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 9.64 | 40½ | ||||
| Tuxford West Junction-Tuxford North Junction | … | … | … | ||||||||
| Shirebrook Junction-Warsop Junction | … | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| London (St. Pancras)-Nottingham (Midland) (Diversion of the remaining express services from Nottingham and St. Pancras via Oakham to the route via Wellingborough and Leicester (London Road)) | … | 1. 5.67 | 33¾ | ||||||||
| Arkleston Junction-Renfrew Wharf | … | … | … | … | … | 5. 6.67 | 3½ | ||||
| Netherfield and Colwick-Nottingham Victoria | … | … | … | … | 3. 7.67 | 2¾ | |||||
| Woodburn Junction-Aldwarke Junction | … | … | … | … | … | 4. 9.67 | 6½ | ||||
| Leeds-Doncaster (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | … | 6.11.67 | — | |||||
| Grendon Underwood Junction-Ashenden Junction | … | … | … | 5. 9.66 | 6 | ||||||
| Leeds City-Cudworth-Sheffield Midland (withdrawal of local service) | 1. 1.68 | — | |||||||||
| Trowell Junction-Long Eaton Junction | … | … | … | … | … | 13.11.67 | 6 | ||||
| North Erewash Junction-Trent Station | … | … | … | … | … | ||||||
| North Junction | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||
| Leicester London Road-Wellingborough Midland Road (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1. 1.68 | — | |
| Aberdeen-Keith-Elgin | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 5.68 | 66 | ||
| Newcastle-Alnwick-Berwick | … | … | … | … | … | … | 29. 1.69 | 3 | |||
| Alnmouth-Alnwick | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||
| Castlehill Junction-Parkhouse Junction | … | … | … | … | … | 1. 1.68 | ½ | ||||
| Corstorphine-Edinburgh (Waverley) | … | … | … | … | … | 1. 1.68 | 1½ | ||||
| Tyldesley-Springs Branch | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1. 1.68 | 5½ | ||
| Birmingham (Snow Hill)-Wolverhampton (Low Level) (section of line north of Wolverhampton and south of Birmingham) | … | … | 4. 3.68 | 1½ | |||||||
| Scotswood Junction-West Wylam Junction, Northumberland | … | … | 11. 3.68 | 6¼ | |||||||
| Larbert-Alloa | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 29. 1.68 | 6 | |
| Stratford-upon-Avon-Gloucester (part closure, part modification) | … | 25. 3.68 | 20¼ | ||||||||
| Grangemouth Branch Junction-Grangemouth | … | … | … | … | 29. 1.68 | 3 | |||||
| Penarth-Cadoxton | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 4. 5.68 | 5¼ | |
| Stevenson Junction-Montgomerie Pier Station | … | … | … | … | 6. 5.68 | 3½ | |||||
| Chester Northgate-Hawarden Bridge | … | … | … | … | … | 9. 9.68 | 6½ | ||||
| Carnforth-Carlisle (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | … | 1. 7.68 | — | |||||
| Matlock-Chinley North Junction | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1. 7.68 | 23¾ | |||
| Denton Junction-Droylsden Junction | … | … | … | … | … | 1. 7.68 | 2½ | ||||
| Dereham-King's Lynn | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 9. 9.68 | 26½ | ||
| King's Lynn-Wisbech East | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 9. 9.68 | 7½ | ||
| March-Wisbech | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 9. 9.68 | 7½ | |
| Methley Junction-Cutsyke Junction | … | … | … | … | … | 7.10.68 | 2½ | ||||
| Hailsham-Polegate | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 9. 9.68 | 3 | |
| Manchester-Southport (section of line between Dobbs Brow Junction-Horwich Fork Junction) | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 9. 9.68 | 3½ | ||
| Dunfermline Lower-Stirling | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7.10.68 | 23½ | |||
| Ayr-Heads of Ayr | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 9. 9.68 | 3¾ | |
| Edinburgh-Hawick-Carlisle | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 1.69 | 98¼ | |||
| Leuchars South Junction-St. Andrews | … | … | … | … | … | 6. 1.69 | 5 | ||||
| Barrow Shipyard Station and lines, St. Lukes Junction-Locomotive Junction | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 7.10.68 | 2 |
| Salthouse Junction-Locomotive Junction, Locomotive Junction-Barrow Shipyard Station | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||||
| Dundee-Newport-on-Tay East | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5. 5.69 | 2¾ | |||
| Uckfield-Lewes and Ashurst Junction-Groombridge Junction | … | 5. 5.69 | 9 | ||||||||
| Stratford-upon-Avon-Worcester | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5. 5.69 | 8¼ | |||
| Chester Northgate-Mickle Trafford Junction | … | … | … | … | 6.10.69 | 3¼ | |||||
| Kilmarnock-Ayr | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3. 3.69 | 7¾ | |
| Eastleigh-Romney | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5. 5.69 | 7¼ | |
| Darlington-Richmond | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 3. 3.69 | 10 | ||
| King's Lynn-Hunstanton | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5. 5.69 | 15¼ | ||
| Nottingham-Rugby Central | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5. 5.69 | 43½ | ||
| Eccles Junction-Kenyon Junction via Tyldesley | … | … | … | … | 5. 5.69 | 10½ | |||||
| Wymondham-Dereham | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6.10.69 | 11½ | ||
| Yate South Junction-Bristol East Junction | … | … | … | … | 29.12.69 | 10 | |||||
Date of Closure
| Passenger Route Mileage Closed
| |||||||||
| Lowestoft Central-Yarmouth South Town | … | … | … | … | 4.5.70 | 10¼ | ||||
| Pemberton Junction Signal Box-Hindley No. 2 Signal Box | … | … | 14.7.69 | 3 | ||||||
| New Mills-Hayfield | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.1.70 | 3 |
| Rose Hill-Macclesfield | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.1.70 | 10 | |
| Thornton Junction-Leven | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6.10.69 | 6 | |
| Crewe-Preston (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | … | 6.10.69 | — | ||||
| Wembley Stadium Loop Line | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1.9.69 | 1¼ | ||
| York-Normanton-Wakefield-Manchester | … | … | … | … | 5.1.70 | 8¼ | ||||
| Kidderminster-Bewdley-Hartlebury | … | … | … | … | … | 5.1.70 | 8 | |||
| Bangor-Caernarvon | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.1.70 | 7 |
| Cowdenbeath-Kinross-Perth | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.1.70 | 23½ | ||
| Skipton-Carlisle (withdrawal of local service) | … | … | … | … | 4.5.70 | — | ||||
| Peterborough-Boston, Firsby South Junction-Grimsby, Firsby-Firsby East Junction (Refusal to Boston-Firsby South Junction-Skegness) | 5.10.70 | 103 | ||||||||
| Willoughby-Mablethorpe | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | |||
| Lincoln Central-Bellwater Junction | … | … | … | … | … | |||||
| Cleethorpes-Immingham Dock | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6.10.69 | 6½ | ||
| Ormskirk-Preston | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 6.10.69 | 1½ |
| Colne-Skipton | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 2.2.70 | 11 |
| Barnstaple Junction-Ilfracombe | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.10.70 | 15 | ||
| Cambridge-St. Ives | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.10.70 | 12½ |
| High Wycombe-Bourne End | … | … | … | … | … | … | 4.5.70 | 5 | ||
| Kirkham-Fleetwood | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 1.6.70 | 5½ | |
| Bolton-Bury-Rochdale | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 5.10.70 | 10 | |
| Bridgend-Treherbert | … | … | … | … | … | … | … | 14.12.70 | 17½ | |
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
European Economic Community
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will publish a White Paper on the advantages and disadvantages to the pottery industry of Great Britain joining the Common Market;(2) whether he will publish a White Paper on the advantages and disadvantages to the computer industry of Great Britain joining the Common Market;(3) whether he will publish a White Paper on the advantages and disadvantages to the steel industry of Great Britain joining the Common Market;(4) whether he will publish a White Paper on the advantages and disadvantages to the coal industry of Great Britain joining the Common Market;(5) whether he will publish a White Paper on the advantages and disadvantages to the electrical equipment manufacturing industry of Great Britain joining the Common Market.
No. Her Majesty's Government believe that entry into the European Communities would be beneficial to British industry generally. At this stage of the negotiations it is not possible to be more precise about individual industries, the effects on which will, in any case, depend on their response to the wider opportunities.
Multiple Nationality (Council Of Europe Convention)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will now embark upon the ratification procedure for the Council of Europe Convention on the reduction of cases of multiple nationality and on military obligations in cases of multiple nationality; and whether he will now make an explanatory statement.
As its title implies, the Convention has two objects; to reduce cases of multiple nationality and to ensure that persons possessing the nationality of more than one country are required to perfom compulsory military service in one of those countries only.The British representatives made it clear during the negotiations of the Convention that the United Kingdom would not be able to adhere to the former provisions since they were incompatible with British nationality law but saw advantage in the latter provisions.Article 7 of the Convention permits States to declare that they will apply the provisions relating to military service only. The United Kingdom availed itself of this option and signed the Convention on 6th May, 1963. It is hoped to ratify the Convention in the near future.
Arbitration (Council Of Europe Convention)
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will sign the Council of Europe Convention providing a uniform law on arbitration; and whether he will now make an explanatory statement.
No. Her Majesty's Government do not intend to sign this Convention because the Uniform Law conflicts fundamentally with the law and long-established practice in the United Kingdom.
Scotland
Housing Revenue Accounts (Rate Fund Contributions)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will set out in tabular form the total amount of rate fund contributions to housing revenue accounts made by local housing authorities in Scotland for each of the last 10 years.
The figures are as follows:
| Year | Rate Fund Contributions |
| £'000 | |
| 1960–61 | 15,030 |
| 1961–62 | 17,448 |
| 1962–63 | 15,691 |
| 1963–64 | 16,338 |
| 1964–65 | 20,676 |
| 1965–66 | 23,542 |
| 1966–67 | 27,985 |
| 1967–68 | 31,292 |
| 1968–69 | 36,922 (estimate) |
| 1969–70 | Not yet available |
Wright V V Ramiglioni And Son
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the case of Wright v. V. Ramiglioni and Son which was fixed for hearing at Wigtown on 10th March, 1970, when the parties and their witnesses attended, but the sheriff was absent; and whether, in view of the expense incurred, he will authorise an ex gratia payment out of public funds.
This case has not previously been drawn to my attention, and I will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.
Licensing Laws (Under-Age Drinking)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for each of the last three years at any convenient date, how many prosecutions took place under the licensing laws concerning under-age drinking; how many cases were reported to the police; and in how many cases were the prosecutions successful.
The following table sets out, for each of the years 1967 to 1969, the number of cases made known to the police, the number of persons proceeded against and the number of persons convicted or found guilty of (1) selling excisable liqour to persons under 18, (2) purchasing excisable liqour when under 18 and (3) purchasing excisable liquor for consumption by a person under 18.
| Number of cases made known to the police | |||
| Sale of excisable liquor to persons under 18 | Persons under 18 purchasing excisable liquor | Purchasing excisable liquor for consumption by a person under 18 | |
| 1967 | 72 | 613 | 142 |
| 1968 | 109 | 644 | 138 |
| 1969 | 109 | 835 | 134 |
| Number of persons proceeded against | |||
| Sale of excisable liquor to persons under 18 | Persons under 18 purchasing excisable liquor | Purchasing excisable liquor for consumption by a person under 18 | |
| 1967 | 43 | 460 | 84 |
| 1968 | 69 | 576 | 95 |
| 1969 | 72 | 724 | 105 |
| Number of persons convicted or found guilty | |||
| Sale of excisable liquor to persons under 18 | Persons under 18 purchasing excisable liquor | Purchasing excisable liquor for consumption by a person under 18 | |
| 1967 | 25 | 398 | 75 |
| 1968 | 53 | 522 | 93 |
| 1969 | 48 | 664 | 100 |
Convicted Criminals
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to amend the law of Scotland so that convicted criminals at first thought to be mentally defective and then found not to be so are transferred to a normal prison to serve the rest of the appropriate sentence passed at the trial.
If a case has been disposed of by hospital order, no sentence has been passed. I am considering the problem raised by the recent case which the hon. Member probably has in mind.
Hospital Authorities (Fuel Consumption)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the total oil consumption of hospital authorities in Scotland in the years 1965 to 1970 and the total financial outlay involved each year; and if he will provide the figures for coal consumption.
This information is not available.
Ayr Bypass
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of converting the third stage of the Ayr bypass to dual carriageway.
About £450,000 at present prices.
Hospitals (Fire Prevention)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent reports or recommendations he has received from regional hospital boards on the issue of fire prevention in hospitals.
None.
Local Authorities (Rent Collecting)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a list of local authorities in Scotland who offer facilities for rent collecting on a weekly basis indicating in which cases this facility is freely open to all local authority householders.
I have no information about the rent collection arrangements of particular local authorities. This is entirely a matter for the authorities themselves.
Social Services
Social Welfare Benefits
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what statutory authority he is making available retirement pensions and other social welfare payments as paid from post offices payable two weeks in advance; what happens in the event of a recipient dying within a few days of drawing payments in advance so far as these advance payments are concerned; and whether he will make such facilities of advance drawing permanently available after the ending of the Post Office workers' dispute.
There are powers under the relevant regulations and Royal Warrants which enable advance payments of retirement pensions and other benefits to be made. In the event of a recipient dying within a few days of such a payment, repayment would not normally be sought. The special arrangements made recently would not be appropriate in normal conditions.
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in line with the Government's incomes policy as detailed by the Treasury in their document submitted to the Wilberforce Committee on 13th January, 1971, agreeing that a 10 per cent. increase in salaries is reasonable, he will now apply a 10 per cent. increase to all social welfare benefits.
No. And I cannot accept the implication behind the hon. Member's Question.
Homes For The Elderly Mentally Infirm (London)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the list of homes specially designated for the elderly mentally infirm maintained by London boroughs.
This information is not available centrally, and it would be liable to be misleading. Wherever possible, elderly mentally infirm people are accommodated not in specially designated homes but in ordinary old people's homes, either individually or in small groups, since this frequently assists in improving their mental condition or at least in preventing deterioration.
Central Middlesex Hospital (Porters)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the basic weekly rates for the 77 porters employed at the Central Middlesex Hospital, showing the number employed in each category.
The basic weekly rates (from 13th December, 1970) are:
| 511s. | 1 | Head Porter. |
| 391s. | 16 | Porters. |
| 380s. | 43 | Porters. |
| 369s. | 14 | Porters. |
| 360s. | 3 | Porters. |
Retirement Pensioners
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of retirement pensioners at the latest convenient date; how many of them were also receiving supplementary benefit; and how many were receiving rent allowances.
In Great Britain there were over 7½ million retirement pensioners (including widows aged 60–64 receiving national insurance widow's pension) in December, 1970. 1¾ million (excluding about 330,000 wives of male pensioners) of them were receiving supplementary benefit, and virtually all of these—1·7 million recipients—received an addition for rent and household outgoings.
Pensions And Allowances (Post Office Strike)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in areas where all post offices are closed if he will make provision for his offices to be able to pay pensions and family allowances.
It will usually be possible to obtain payment of pensions and allowances at sub-post offices, which will remain open, and at the main post offices which are opening specially on certain days for this purpose. If it becomes impracticable to obtain payment at a post office, payment will be made at local social security offices and Employment Exchanges.
Rent Increases (Supplementary) Benefit Additions)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many additional payments have been allowed to persons drawing supplementary benefit to provide for rent increases during 1970; and what was the average increase allowed.
I regret that the information requested is not available. The average amount added by way of rent allowance in the assessment of requirements for all recipients of supplementary benefit increased from £1 17s. in February, 1970 to £1 19s. 6d. in November, 1970.
Hospitals Patients (Correspondence)
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether special arrangements will he made for correspondence from hospitals to ensure that patients expecting a call from a hospital for a bed or treatment will receive such information when sent by post.
We have asked hospital authorities to make their own arrangements locally for delivery of letters calling in patients, but some inconvenience is inevitable.
Trade
Lightsticks
asked the Secretary of Trade and Industry what representations he has made to suitable firms in Great Britain about the desirability of manufacture of lightsticks, a cold light system based on the phenomenon of chemi-luminescence, in view of its use as a source of emergency lighting in explosive concentrations of gases or fumes and under water.
None. The specific meaning of the term "lightsticks" is not clear, but I understand that at least one manufacturer in Great Britain is already exploring the commercial viability of chemi-luminescent devices.
Nationalised Industries (Sale Of Assets)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make it a condition of the sale of any assets of the nationalised industries that no purchase shall be permitted by interests based in member countries of the European Economic Community.
The conditions would need to be settled nearer the time in the light of the particular circumstances.
Hall-Marking Legislation
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the changes which would be required in hall-marking legislation governing precious metals in the event of the United Kingdom entering the Common Market.
Until it becomes clear what the policy of the E.E.C. on trade in precious metals will be, no such estimate is possible.
Low-Cost Automation Centres
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he proposes to continue support for the establishment and operation of low-cost automation centres.
I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Carter) on 14th December, 1970.—[Vol. 808, c. 245.]
North Western Gas Board (Right Of Entry)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give a general direction to the North Western Gas Board to forbid their officers to enter upon private land without the permission of the occupier, in cases where they are not properly authorised by duly confirmed compulsory purchase orders.
No. This is a matter between the Board and the occupier. If the Board should make an entry which is not properly authorised the owner has remedies at law.
Timber And Processed Timber (Imports)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total value of timber and processed timber, including pulp and paper, imported in 1970; and what is his estimate for 1971 and 1972.
Figures for 1970 will not be available until later this month when I shall make a further reply. I prefer not to venture estimates for 1971 and 1972.
Consumer Council (Alternative Organisations)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the alternative organisations to which he referred in his announcement of 27th October last as doing the work of the Consumer Council; if he will give their functions; and if he will seek, in the public interest, to give greater publicity to their existence and aims.
The announcement did not state that other organisations were doing the work of the Consumer Council, but that, taking other developments into account, an adequate advancement and presentation of the consumers' interests no longer requires a Government-sponsored Consumer Council.
Advance Factories, Scotland
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new tenancies of advance factories in Scotland were negotiated between January and the end of October, 1970; how many since then; and how many remain to be let.
Seven advance factories provided under the Local Employment Acts were allocated between January and October, 1970. Two more were allocated by the end of the year. Nine completed factories await allocation, and 14 more are under construction or authorised.
Display Flying
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many accidents have occurred in connection with acrobatic and stunt display flying in close formation in each of the years from 1960 to 1970.
During the period in question there have been two accidents to British registered civil aircraft flying in close formation in connection with displays but neither involved aerobatic flight. The first occurred in 1962 and the second in 1970.
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are the regulations governing acrobatic and stunt display flying, particularly in close formation; and what limits are imposed over populated areas.
General provisions concerning civil aircraft participating in exhibitions of flying are contained in Rule 5 of the Rules of the Air and Air Traffic Control Regulations, 1970 while those concerning the avoidance of collisions are contained in Rule 18. Rule 19 of the same instrument among other matters prohibits aerobatic manoeuvres by civil aircraft over the congested area of any city, town or settlement.
Linesman Mediator
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total amount of public expenditure so far on Linesman Mediator; and what are the principal companies involved.
The Linesman air defence system is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence. So far £20 million has been committed on the Mediator air traffic control system, the principal companies involved being Plessey, Marconi and Cossor.
Supersonic Aircraft (Effects At Airports)
asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what discussions he has had with the United States Federal Aviation Administration about the problems of lateral noise and smoke pollution at major or international airports by supersonic aircraft; and if he will make a statement.
Both direct and through the International Civil Aviation Organisation we have close contacts with the Federal Aviation Administration on the airport noise of supersonic aircraft. We are also aware of their approach to the problem of smoke pollution by all types of aircraft.
Wales
Ministry Offices, Aberystwyth
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what reductions in staff he estimates will take place at the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food's offices at Aberystwyth in consequence of the White Paper published on 18th January, 1971 by the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food.
I cannot at this stage add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 18th January about changes in the work of his Department wherever it is performed and about staff reductions. The changes will take place over three years and for the reasons given in the White Paper it is impracticable yet to estimate their effect at a particular location.
Hill Farmers (Grants And Subsidies)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total amount of grants and subsidies paid in 1970 to hill farmers in Wales; and what percentage of net earnings the total of such sums represented.
I regret that this information is not available.
Primary Schools
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will issue a fresh circular to education authorities in Wales requesting them to give the fullest consideration to social effects of the closure of rural primary schools in addition to considering educational factors.
As I said in my reply of 25th November, 1970 to the hon. Member, the Gittins Report carefully considered these problems before recommending the adoption of area schools. This Report, together with Wales Circular 3/69 provide adequate guidance for Education Authorities. The issue of a fresh circular is therefore not necessary.—[Vol. 807; c. 163.]
asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many pre-1903 primary schools in Wales he expects to be replaced under the proposals announced by Her Majesty's Government last autumn, which would be additional to the average number of new primary schools which were built annually during the last five years.
The number of new primary school projects included in the annual major school building programmes for the period 1966–67 to 1970–71 were as follows:
| 1966–67 | 1967–68 | 1968–69 | ||
| 25 | 38 | 26 | ||
| 1969–70 | 1970–71 | |||
| 24 | 27 |
asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many new primary schools he expects to be built in Cardiganshire in the next three years; and how many of these would replace pre-1903 schools.
Within the framework of the major school building programmes for 1970–72, two primary schools will be built both of which will replace pre-1903 schools. I cannot say whether the Authority plan to build any replacement schools from their minor works allocations in this period.
asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many schemes for the building of new primary schools within the next five years have been submitted to his Department by Cardiganshire Education Committee.
Proposals for three new primary schools were considered for the major school building programme related to starts in 1971–72. One of these was withdrawn by the Authority, the other two have been included in the announced programme.No primary school proposals were submitted by the Authority for the 1971–72 design list (starts 1972–73). I await the Authority's submission for the programme which will be related to starts in 1973–74.
Pembrey Gunnery Range
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is aware that the proposed gunnery range at Pembrey is in direct line with and within a few miles of that part of the Gower coast designated as an area of outstanding natural beauty; and, in view of the Government's intention to protect the countryside and coastal areas by the recent appointment of the Nugent Committee, if he will now accept the inquiry inspector's recommendation opposing the Pembrey scheme.
I am aware of the location of the proposed gunnery range in relation to the Gower coast. I am still considering the Inspector's Report. In the meantime the hon. Member should not speculate on the contents of that Report.
Transport Board
asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in order to achieve a fully integrated public transport system in Wales, he will take steps to establish a Transport Board for Wales.
No.
National Finance
European Economic Community
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if Her Majesty's Government envisages that discussions with the European Economic Community on the international position of sterling will be concluded before a final report on the current entry negotiations is submitted to Parliament.
The discussions on sterling are expected to be completed before a final report on the negotiations is submitted to Parliament although they do not form part of the negotiations.
Schedule E Deductions
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the grounds on which the subscriptions to some trade associations, trade unions, professional organisations and other associations of workers are an allowable deduction for Schedule E income tax purpose, whilst some are disallowed; and if he will make a statement.
Because the allowable subscriptions satisfy the conditions laid down by Section 192, Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1970, whereas the others do not.
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost of allowing all subscriptions to trade unions as a deduction for tax purposes.
Of the order of £10 million.