asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he proposes to enter into discussions with the French Government about the possibilities of Anglo-French technical cooperation and joint targeting procedures in the field of nuclear defence.

We have made no arrangements for such discussions. This is not an immediate issue.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the anticipated date of completion of the Royal Navy's evaluation of the Harrier aircraft.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) earlier today.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what representations he has received from the United States Government on the negotiation of a licence agreement between Hawker Siddeley and McDonnell Douglas, for the manufacture of 54 Harrier aircraft in the United States of America, above the 60 Harrier aircraft, manufactured in Great Britain, ordered by the United States Government; and if he will make a statement.

Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd. has already negotiated a licence with the McDonnell Douglas Corporation for the manufacture of Harriers in the United States of America. Where remaining aircraft are to be built is a matter for the United States Government. We have not received any representations on this subject.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action he has taken in respect of the letter concerning the conduct of troops in Northern Ireland from Mr. P. D. McCarthy on 21st May, 1971, and Mr. McCormack on 7th June, 1971; and whether the Officer Commanding B Company of the Parachute Regiment reported complaints from Mr. P. D. McCarthy on 27th May.

Two of the letters to which I believe the hon. Member is referring and of which I have now received copies via the Home Office were addressed to the Northern Ireland Government. The third letter was addressed to the Officer Commanding B Company of the Parachute Regiment, who made no report of the letter addressed to him by Mr. McCarthy.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many units of the Army have had two or more tours of duty in Northern Ireland during the last 12 months.

One unit is currently serving its second four-months tour after a break of six months. This does not take account of the shorter periods of service in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Army units have served or are serving their second or third tours of duty in Ulster.

Since 1968 13 major units and five minor units have undertaken either two or three four-month tours of duty in Northern Ireland. These figures do not take account of the shorter periods of service in Northern Ireland that a number of units have undertaken for particular purposes.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will give the necessary protection by the Forces to enable the red slave station of the North British Decca chain at Clanrolla in Northern Ireland to operate again after last November's explosion.

This privately-owned property provides a navigational aid which is used primarily by fishing and other commercial vessels in the Irish Sea. Its need for protection has been carefully considered and the Army has already arranged for it to be covered by irregularly-timed routine patrols operating in the area.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the Government's plans to ensure the supply of suitable torpedoes for Her Majesty's Forces.

The Mark 24 submarine-launched heavy torpedo is in an advanced stage of development and is due to enter service in 1973. Arrangements have been made to meet our immediate lightweight torpedo requirements by a limited purchase of the American Mark 46 Mod 2 torpedo.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if, in estimating the economies of closing the Royal Naval Spare Parts Distribution Centre at Eaglescliffe, he has allowed for the redundancy payments and social security payments to be made to staff made redundant in County Durham and Teesside and for the cost of moving the stores; and what is his estimate of this expenditure.

There will be no redundancy at Eaglescliffe for the next two to three years and any employee who wishes to do so will be able to transfer to Hartlebury when the time comes on public interest terms. As the hon. Member knows, my right hon. Friend and I met a deputation from Teesside local authorities and we shall be considering social costs as part of our examination of their alternative proposals to concentrate these storage facilities at Eaglescliff. The cost of stock transfers from Eaglescliffe to Hartlebury is estimated at £130,000 and this sum was included in the relevant costings.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many men in the three Services are available at the present time for internal security duties in the United Kingdom, excluding Northern Ireland.

If so required, any member of the Armed Forces may be made available to aid the civil power.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the production of future long-range surface-to-surface missiles for the Royal Navy.

We intend to operate Exocet for a long period ahead and have no plans at present, therefore, for a long-range surface-to-surface missile.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why it was decided to exclude Commonwealth students, and students from countries with which the United Kingdom is allied, from courses at the National Defence College.

The new National Defence College course is to fit mid-career officers of high ability for key posts in the direction of United Kingdom defence, and is inappropriate for overseas students.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are the future plans for developing the Raglan Barracks site at Devonport.

The plan is to build married quarters for the Royal Navy on all or part of the Raglan site. It is however possible that about one-third of the site may be allocated to the Territorial Army.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are the Government's plans for organising and locating the Ordnance headquarters, including the Master General of the Ordnance's department.

The department of the Master General of the Ordnance now forms part of the Procurement Executive and there are no plans for relocating it.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many men of the Armed Forces will remain on the Island of Malta on 1st March, 1972.

Some 2,300 Service personnel and 100 United Kingdom based civilians will be in Malta on 1st March, 1972; on present plans, they will be withdrawn by 31st March, 1972.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement on the future of British defence facilities in Malta.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made on 15th February.—[Vol. 831, c. 254–9.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will provide a helicopter safety service for fishermen in North-East Scotland in view of the danger of this area for lifeboats.

Service helicopters based at Lossiemouth and Leuchars may always be called on to assist the civil authorities in an emergency. In addition my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry has made arrangements for B.E.A. helicopters at Aberdeen to assist in long-range rescues in the North Sea.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arrangements are being made concerning the future accommodation for the Territorial Army in Plymouth.

The Town Clerk of Plymouth recently notified my Department that the city had abandoned the proposal, which it made in 1966, to buy the various T.A. sites in the city and pay for equivalent reinstatement on the Raglan Barracks site. It is now necessary, therefore, to review thoroughly the accommodation requirements of the units in conjunction with the T.A.V.R. Association for Western Wessex.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the estimated period between the proposed scrapping of H.M.S. "Ark Royal" and the commissioning of the first of the command-through deck cruisers during which British shipping will be deprived of shipborne air defence or strike capability.

H.M.S. "Ark Royal" will remain in service until the late 1970s, by which time the new cruisers are planned to start entering service.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will consider the design of a small and economical type of aircraft carrier, for protection and surveillance of trade routes.

No.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether the extra fishery protection measures announced on 20th January, 1972 and the consequent naval procurement programme will involve a re-equipment and recruiting initiative to increase the effectiveness of the Royal Naval Reserve.

No. The increases announced on 20th January will be implemented by Regular naval forces. The Royal Naval Reserve is not employed in the fishery protection rôle.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will now authorise development and production funding for the Rolls-Royce Pegasus 15 aero-engine.

There are no immediate plans to develop the Pegasus 15 engine.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what steps he has taken to increase export orders for Nimrod aircraft.

Sales of this aircraft are primarily the responsibility of the manufacturer, Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd., but the Defence Sales Organisation is giving all appropriate assistance.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many widows of Servicemen do not, because of the qualifying date of 1958, receive a pension.

The qualifying date for entitlement under the 1952 Forces Family Pension Scheme was 1st September, 1950, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions including the completion of specified lengths of service. These conditions were eased in 1958.We have no means of assessing the number of widows who were not awarded pensions because their husbands did not satisfy those conditions in force before 4th November, 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the strength of the probation service on 1st January, 1972; and how many additional training places were provided between 1st July, 1970, and 31st December, 1971.

Three thousand six hundred and eighty-nine whole-time and 80 part-time officers were in post on 31st December, 1971. The answer to the second part of the Question is 122.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he is studying for regulating the entry into the United Kingdom of citizens of Eire.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much money will be spent in the financial year 1971–72 on research into the problems of drug addiction.

The estimated expenditure on research into drug problems by the Home Office is £24,531 in the current financial year. It is not possible to single out expenditure on research into drug addiction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of microdot LSD possession have been apprehended by the Metropolitan Police in the last three months.

The most relevant information available is that, during the three months ending 31st January, 1972, the Metropolitan Police Forensic Laboratory dealt with 21 cases of microdot or micro tablets of LSD.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what rules of confidentiality govern the files and dossiers collected on those interned in Northern Ireland; and whether he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Northern Ireland authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he took following receipt of the letter from the hon. Member for Blackley enclosing a letter from the mother of a non-Catholic social worker shot while carrying a white flag and complaining of the worsening relations since the introduction of the Paratroopers on 23rd August, 1971, further copies of which have been sent to him.

I replied to the hon. Member on 7th October, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department it he will seek powers to enable him to take over responsibility for the security of race courses.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now able to announce the results of the police investigation into the action of the police and demonstrators on the occasion of the march of the unemployed in London, and the alleged interference by the police with Members of Parliament interviewing their constituents; and whether he will make a statement.

The police investigation has not yet been completed, but my right hon. Friend expects to receive a report in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the recommendations contained in the Radcliffe Report, Command Paper No. 1681, 1962, apply to the police service.

The security standards recommended in the Radcliffe report are observed by the police service in England and Wales, in so far as they are applicable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is able to say, in view of Lord Crowther's death, when it is hoped that the Crowther Commission on the Constitution will be likely to report; and when it is hoped to appoint a new chairman.

It would still be my hope that the commission will be able to report before the end of this year. The appointment of a new chairman in succession to Lord Crowther will shortly be recommended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many girls under school leaving age are at present held in any part of Holloway Prison.

One girl, aged 14, who is in the prison hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when, in view of the fact that the report of the Parker Committee on interrogation techniques was presented to the Government on 31st January, he now expects to make the report public.

Shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the occupancy rate for places in Government training centres in the North East.

89 per cent. on 10th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of school leavers registered as unemployed in Sunderland at the latest available date, and the corresponding figure for the previous year.

In January, 1972, 198 school leavers were registered as unemployed in Sunderland as compared to 61 in January, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many places have been made available at retraining centres for unemployed workers in the West Midlands during the past three months.

Fourteen in the last three months but nearly 1,200 additional places are planned. A new centre will open at Dudley this summer and two more centres were announced by my right hon. Friend on 1st February.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will initiate special studies of industries where low pay is known to exist.

My right hon. Friend has no present plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies in Burntisland Shipyard have been notified to him at the latest convenient date; and what steps he intends to take to secure alternative employment for those skilled men.

Ten workers terminated at this Shipyard on Friday, 11th February. No redundancies have been notified to my Department since that date. My Department is continuing to do everything possible to help those made redundant to obtain alternative employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the unemployment rate respectively in the Oldham area and throughout the country quarterly since 1964.

Following is the information:

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE OLDHAM AND CHADDERTON, FAILSWORTH AND SADDLEWORTH TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREA, AND IN GREAT BRITAIN BASED ON THE TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED, INCLUDING THOSE WHO WERE TEMPORARILY STOPPED
	Oldham and Chadderton travel-to-work area	Great Britain
January, 1964	1·7	2·2
April, 1964	1·3	1·8
July, 1964	1·8	1·4
October, 1964	1·0	1·5
January, 1965	1·1	1·6
April, 1965	0·9	1·5
July, 1965	0·9	1·2
October, 1965	0·8	1·4
January, 1966	0·9	1·5
April, 1966	0·7	1·3
July, 1966	0·7	1·1
October, 1966	1·0	1·9
January, 1967	2·0	2·6
April, 1967	2·3	2·4
July, 1967	1·9	2·1
October, 1967	1·8	2·4
January, 1968	2·1	2·7
April, 1968	1·8	2·5
July, 1968	1·6	2·2
October, 1968	1·4	2·4
January, 1969	1·7	2·6
April, 1969	1·6	2·4
July, 1969	1·6	2·2
October, 1969	1·5	2·5
January, 1970	1·9	2·7
April, 1970	1·9	2·7
July, 1970	1·9	2'5
October, 1970	1·9	2·6
January, 1971	2·3	3·0
April, 1971	3·0	3·4
July, 1971	4·8	3·4
October, 1971	3·6	3·9
January, 1972	4·2	4·3

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many women are undertaking paid employment in their homes; what regulations are applicable to them; by what measures they are enforced; and how many contraventions were reported in the most recent year;

No statistics are available regarding the number of women undertaking paid employment in their homes.Home-workers employed under contract of service in wages council industries are covered by the appropriate wages regulation orders. As part of their general enforcement duties, wages inspectors examine employers' records of payments made to home-workers and all complaints are investigated. Nine cases of underpayment of statutory minima were found during 1971 and arrears of wages of £372 were paid by the employers concerned.No statutory minima are laid down for home-workers in trades or industries other than those covered by the Wages Councils Act, 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what forthcoming redundancies have been indicated to him for the North Lanarkshire constituency for 1972 and 1973, respectively.

Redundancies involving some 480 workpeople have been notified to my Department as due to accur in North Lanarkshire constituency during 1972. No notifications have as yet been received of any redundancies due to take effect in 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation which will extend the Factory Acts to include hazards arising from pollution at places of employment.

No. The present Act covers such hazards to the employed. So far as the general public is concerned, the responsibility lies with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment or with the local authority. The authority concerned co-operates in appropriate ways on particular cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list his powers to bring proceedings against firms whose works doctors have notified them of illness among employees arising from polluted or contaminated materials or atmosphere at the place of work.

There are no powers under the Factories Act to bring proceedings against firms as a direct result of the notification of illness among employees resulting from polluted or contaminated materials or atmosphere at the place of work. Sixteen industrial diseases are, however, notifiable to the Chief Inspector of Factories by virtue of Section 82 of the Factories Act. If, after receipt of notification of an industrial disease, there appears to the inspector to be a prima facie breach of legal requirements, consideration is given to proceedings under the relevant section of the Factories Act and regulations by virtue of Section 155 of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether the letters of invitation or acknowledgment to organisations or persons wishing to give evidence to the James Committee on teacher training indicated that evidence would be confidential; and if she will reproduce the relevant parts of the letters in the OFFICIAL REPORT;(2) if her decision to permit confidential oral evidence to the James Committee on teacher training was a response to a request from witnesses, the chairman, or the committee, or if she informed the persons concerned that she had made this decision;(3) if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of the individuals and organisations listed in Appendix 3 of the James Report on Teacher Education and Training who indicated their wish for their evidence to be confidential.

The James Committee rightly determined its own procedure without reference to me. I understand that it decided from the outset that discussions with oral witnesses, and during visits to institutions, would be more fruitful if they were informal and confidential. All such meetings were prefaced with an assurance that the proceedings would not be recorded verbatim and would be regarded by the committee as confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many temporary structural classrooms there are in the Mexborough and Staincross divisional education areas; and if she will take steps to have them replaced by permanent structures within the next two years' building programme.

The information asked for in the first part of the Question is not collected by the Department but may be obtainable from the local education authority. The resources available for the replacement of school buildings are being concentrated on primary schools built before 1903.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children were taking school meals in the Mexborough and Staincross divisional education areas on the last available date; what was the figure two months ago; and what was the figure 12 months earlier.

This information is not available in the Department, whose school meals statistics are normally collected annually and by reference to complete local education authority areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science is she will estimate the total current expenditure at 1971 survey prices over the five-year period 1971–72 to 1975–76 in primary schools, secondary schools, further education, and universities, respectively; and how much this represents for full-time or full-time equivalent pupil or student in 1975–76.

The estimated totals of expenditure for 1971–72 to 1975–76 are:

£m at 1971 Survey prices
Primary (England)	2,388
Secondary (England)	2,930
Further Education (England and Wales)	1,433
Universities (Great Britain)	1,794

The average costs obtained by dividing these totals by the number of pupils or students in the last year only would not be meaningful. But the averages based on the estimated expenditure in 1975–76

and the forecast number of pupils or students in that year are as follows:

	£
Primary pupil	103 (excluding loan charges, transport, etc.).
Secondary pupil	176 (excluding loan charges. transport, etc.).
Further Education student.	425 (including awards).
University student	1,340 (including awards).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she

£m at 1971 Survey prices
	1971–72	1972–73	1973–74	1974–75	1975–76
Primary	103·4	108·4	110·2	104·3	94·8
Average annual percentage change 1971–72 to 1975–76 -1·7
Secondary	154·8	146·3	128·8	107·2	89·3
Average annual percentage change 1971–72 to 1975–76 -10·6

The primary school population will begin to fall in 1973 and expenditure will accordingly decline after 1973–74, although the programme for replacing old schools will be maintained at a record level. Expenditure on secondary schools will decline as the special programme for raising the school leaving age is completed and the rate of increase in secondary school numbers falls. The calculation of the amount and incidence of the expenditure, which includes the purchase of land, furniture and equipment, as well as building costs, allows for the time required for construction, which can vary considerably, according to the size and complexity of the project.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will estimate the total capital expenditure at 1971 survey prices over the five-year period 1971–72 to 1975–76 in primary schools, secondary schools, further education and universities, respectively; and how much this represents per full-time or full-time equivalent pupil or student in 1975–76.

The estimated capital expenditure for the period 1971–72 to 1975–76 is:

£m at 1971 Survey prices
Primary schools (England)	521·1
Secondary schools (England)	626·4
Further Education (England and Wales)	275·2
Universities (Great Britain)	460·6

It is not meaningful to attribute capital expenditure in any year or period to the will estimate the capital expenditure at 1971 survey prices on primary and secondary schools, respectively, in each year from 1971–72 to 1975–76, and the average percentage rise a year.

The provisional breakdown of capital expenditure on primary and secondary schools in England included in Table 2.15 of Cmnd. 4829 is as follows:total number of pupils or students then current since the expenditure is related only to the prospective increase in numbers or to the rate of replacement of obsolete buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total cost of school meals for each month since the latest increase in cost and the same information for three months prior to the last increase, and in both cases income from payment for meals;(2) if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of school meals taken by children in each of the months since the last increase in the charge, and for each of the prior three months.

This information is not available. My Department does not collect information relating to the take-up or cost of school meals for individual months.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average salary paid to teachers in maintained secndary schools.

On 1st April, 1970, £1,789.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine and report upon the efficiency operation and control of the contemporary administration and organisation of central government.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the accumulated deficit of the National Coal Board; what proposals he has to keep it statutorily solvent; and, in view, of the losses incurred because of the national miners' strike, added to the last financial years' cumulative deficit, whether he will consider seeking to reduce its capital debt in his preparations for further temporary borrowings; and if he will make a statement.

It is too early to make a complete assessment of the position, but I have under active consideration the steps that may need to be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what arrangements have been made, and on what basis, for exploiting the patents purchased by the Government from Rolls-Royce Limited;(2) what arrangements have been made for paying the renewal fees on the patents purchased by the Government from Rolls-Royce Limited; and who is bearing the cost.

The Government have given Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. authority to use all the industrial property rights for the purposes of its undertaking and business and to grant licences, with departmental approval. Appropriate arrangements will be made either to assign or license the use of patents by the purchasers of the other Rolls-Royce assets. Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. is authorised to manage the patents on behalf of the Government and will bear the cost except for certain of the patents which are exclusive to parts of the undertaking not required by Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. and which are maintained and paid for by those undertakings.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the patents purchased by the Government from Rolls-Royce Limited are still registered in the British Register of Patents in the name of the company.

Approximately 1,500 patents and patent applications are involved in the assignment of Rolls-Royce's industrial property rights to the Government. The formalities of registration have been complex and have of necessity taken some time. These formalities are nearing completion and the assignment of the deeds should be effected shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will take steps to exempt telex machines from the ban on use of electricity for commercial purposes on off-days in view of the importance to exporters.

I have decided that an order exempting telex machines from directions under Regulation 17(2) should be made, because they are an important part of the country's communications system.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many new jobs are forecast to be created in the North Lanarkshire constituency in 1972 and 1973, respectively.

I regret the information in the form requested is not available. However in the employment exchange areas which most closely correspond to the hon. Member's constituency firms estimate 1,260 jobs to arise within the next four years in authorised new industrial buildings and in industrial buildings taken over by manufacturing firms. In addition over 2,500 jobs are expected to arise from projects in neighbouring areas which are likely to benefit the North Lanarkshire constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he is holding with interested bodies about the toll for using the Severn Bridge, and when he expects to announce a change in the present charge.

None. My right hon. Friend's review of tolls on the Severn Bridge is continuing but it may be some time before he is able to publish proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will extend the facility of the higher rate of improvement grants, at present limited to development and intermediate areas.

This additional financial assistance has been provided for the specific purpose of boosting activity in the development and intermediate areas, when improvement work was lagging behind the rest of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the progress of his regional bodies studying release of land for building; and if he will make a statement.

The consultations between the Department's regional officers, local planning authorities and developers to find solutions to specific local difficulties in the supply of land for house building are proceeding urgently. These consultations will be a continuing process to be acted upon as occasions arise, while problems of particular land shortages remain unsolved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the amount of building land released by planning authorities in Hampshire, Dorset and Devon, respectively, both in 1971 and 1972; and what estimate he has of the effect on land prices of such releases.

I would advise my hon. Friend to apply to the local authorities concerned for this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if employees of the Selnec Passenger Transport Executive will be eligible to be councillors of the proposed Greater Manchester Area Authority and the metropolitan district councils in which they live or work.

This is a subject which was recently discussed in Standing Committee and is for further consideration. As the Local Government Bill stands, employees of the Selnec Passenger Transport Executive will not be eligible for membership of the proposed Greater Manchester Area Authority. They will be eligible for membership of the metropolitan district councils within the area of that authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, as part of his consideration of the question, he will consider seeking powers to ensure that the registration books of vehicles which have been written off by insurance companies as a total loss are handed in to the licensing authorities and only reissued when the rebuilt vehicle has been certified as roadworthy by a competent vehicle inspector.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what criteria his Department employs in determining disposition of key sector capital expenditure between local authorities;(2) what methods his Department employs in communicating to local authorities any existing criteria for determining the disposition of key sector capital expenditure between local authorities.

Services which fall within the key sector are listed in the annex to D.O.E. Circular 2/70 (Welsh Office 116/70). Certain changes in these have been made which take effect on 1st April, 1972, and details are set out in Circular 66/71 (Welsh Office 138/71). The circulars grant consent to the borrowing of any sum required for a key sector purpose which has been approved by the relevant Secretary of State or Minister. The criteria adopted to determine whether such approval shall be given varies from Department to Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what evidence he has of the degree of implementation of the environmental safeguards stipulated by the inspector who conducted the public inquiry into the proposal to build the Rossington Coalite Plant as a precondition of recommending approval; and what steps he is taking to keep the matter under review.

The safeguards to which the hon. Member refers were recommended by the inspector and were reflected in the conditions imposed as part of the planning permission granted for the plant. The enforcement of these conditions is a matter for the local planning authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consultations he has had, and what conclusions he has come to, concerning the desire of the Government to extend the Compensation Code for acquisition of land, property and payment for remedial measures around construction of new roads and motorways and the terms of Regulation 2598/70, Annex I, of the European Economic Community.

None, since Regulation 2598/70 simply defines the items to be covered by an accounting system for transport infrastructure expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet decided upon a route for the motorway linking the proposed Maplin airport and London; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has appointed Messrs. Brian Colquhoun and Partners, consulting en gineers, to carry out a study into routes for the motorway across South Essex from the proposed Ringway 3 to the third London airport on Maplin Sands, which will be open by the time the airport is operational.The study will examine feasible alternative routes including the practicability of common corridors for the road and rapid transit link to the airport. It will take full account of environmental considerations and the emerging plans for future development in the South Essex area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received that specifically support his proposal to break up the unitary management of the canal system; and if he will state in the case of representative bodies the numbers of persons they represent and the names of the bodies concerned.

None, but that is neither unexpected nor indicative that the policy is wrong.

asked the Prime Minister how many employees of Her Majesty's Government have applied for family income supplement.

This information is not available.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to Coventry.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to the Consett Parliamentary Division of County Durham.

I have at present no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now appoint a Minister of State at the Home Office with special responsibilities for Northern Ireland.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for a further meeting with the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic.

I had discussions with Mr. Lynch in Brussels on 23rd January. We have at present no plans for a further meeting.

asked the Prime Minister what official contacts he has had with the European Movement in the past month.

I have regular contacts with members of the European Movement. I met the President, Professor Hallstein, and other leaders when I was in Brussels for the signature of the Treaty of Accession on 22nd January.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to take the chair at a meeting of the National Economic Development Council.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave on 9th November to a Question from the hon. Member for Dudley (Dr. Glbert).—[Vol. 823, c. 126.]

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Secretary of State for Employment at Bolton on 26th January on unemployment represents Government policy.

My right hon. Friend made no speech in Bolton on 26th January. The speech he made to to the Bolton Chamber of Commerce on 27th January represents Government policy.

asked the Prime Minister what economies in the use of electricity he has made at No. 10 Downing Street, so far as his official rooms are concerned, during the current state of emergency.

The general instruction to Government Departments to economise in the use of electricity during the emergency is being observed at 10 Downing Street.

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Government offices at Ayr Road, Cumnock.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it remains his assessment that the policy of competition will reduce food prices.

I am satisfied that effective competition among food manufacturers and distributors continues to be the best method of ensuring that price increases are kept to the minimum and that price reductions, such as those which followed the cuts in selective employment tax and purchase tax, are made wherever possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the differential in the price of feeding stuffs in Northern Ireland compared with Great Britain in 1970–71.

During the year ending 31st May, 1971, feeding stuffs in Northern Ireland cost £0·9 million less than the equivalent quantity and variety would have cost in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he has taken to extend the advice and assistance of the Commonwealth Development Corporation in strengthening the Ghana economy.

The corporation has investments in three projects in Ghana. It is primarily for the corporation in its commercial judgment to consider whether any further activities should be undertaken there.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements governing the remission to the United Kingdom of profits and dividends earned by British-based companies operating in Ghana; and if he will make a statement.

The position is not clear. The new Government made a unilateral announcement on 5th February about payment of short-term commitments which may affect the remission of profits and dividends. Her Majesty's Government are still studying this statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from British-based companies operating in Ghana concerning the conditions under which they operate; and what discussions he has had with the Ghana Government as a result.

None. We are however in close touch with representatives of British-based companies in Ghana, with which there is a regular exchange of views.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will raise at the United Nations Commission for Human Rights the question of the ill treatment of the Southern Sudanese by the Government of the Sudan.

This is a matter which is essentially within the domestic jurisdiction of the Sudan. The issue was in fact drawn to the attention of the Human Rights Commission at its annual session in March, 1971, by a representative of the Anti-Slavery Society. Talks between the Sudanese Government and the Southern Sudanese are going on in Addis Ababa, and representatives of eight United Nations and many voluntary organisations from various countries have been invited to a conference in Khartoum to discuss the rehabilitation of refugees.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list for Cornwall and the United Kingdom, respectively, the average personal pre-tax income, and the percentage that the former was of the latter, in 1950, 1960, 1965 and 1970 or the latest year for which figures are available.

The figures are:

	Average Income (£ per head of population) Cornwall	United Kingdom	Cornwall as percentage of United Kingdom
1949–50	—	158	—
1959–60	196	295	66
1964–65	278	399	70
1969–70	435	528	82

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current incidence of farmer's lung in Scotland.

There is nothing I can usefully add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services on 16th February.—[Vol. 831, c. 118.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he intends to make the new prisons to be built at Shotts industrial prisons; and what provision is proposed for the useful employment of prisoners.

Yes. Facilities will be provided for industrial employment and vocational and other training for some 80 per cent. of the prisoners.

Murray asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the estimated net charges on the Consolidated Fund for 1971–72 in connection with housing in Scotland other than for improvements, including payments towards rent, but not rates, made by the Supplementary Benefits Commission, on the basis that the Housing (Financial Provisions) (Scotland) Bill is not enacted.

About £55 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what studies have been made by him or any of his Government Departments into the causes, prevention, treatment and cure of farmer's lung.

My Department is supporting investigations into the disease farmer's lung which have been carried out by the Public Health Laboratory Service Board over a period of six years.The Medical Research Council is supporting various studies in farmer's lung. Its Pneumoconiosis Unit at Llandough Hospital, Penarth, Glamorgan, is coordinating field studies, one of which is being carried out at Machynlleth Chest Hospital.I am also aware of some work being undertaken by hospital authorities under the locally organised clinical research scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many applications from severely disabled people in Wales for the constant attendance allowance have been received; and how many have been successful, unsuccessful or are still under review.

Up to 8th February about 11,500 claims for the new attendance allowance had been received from people in Wales. Of those dealt with at the initial stage 4,500 had been successful and 4,800 unsuccessful. Separate figures are not available for Wales about applications for review or their results, but, if they were available, they would increase the former and reduce the latter figure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will ease the medical requirements for attendance allowance to bring in applicants who have mentally handicapped children; and if he will make a statement.

The medical requirements for disabled children already cover the mentally as well as the physically disabled. It is estimated that several thousand parents are now drawing the allowance for mentally handicapped children who need attention by day and by night or who need continual supervision to avoid substantial danger.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage increase in burial expenses since the national insurance death grant was last increased.

Information about burial expenses is not available but I understand that the usual charge for a funeral at minimum standard has increased by some 30 per cent. since 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will increase the national insurance death grant in cases of financial hardship; and if he will make a statement.

We have no proposal for varying the rate of death grant according to financial circumstances.

Area				Education	Social Work	Health	Roads	Total
				£000s.	£000s.	£000s.	£000s.	£000s.
County Boroughs:
Cardiff	…	…	…	234	304	10	105	653
Merthyr	…	…	…	210	70	—	19	299
Newport	…	…	…	—	—	—	20	20
Swansea	…	…	…	40	—	—	169	209
Counties:
Anglesey	…	…	…	83	79	15	80	257
Brecon	…	…	…	102	—	—	88	190
Caernarvon	…	…	…	183	193	42	144	562
Cardigan	…	…	…	386	95	—	125	606
Carmarthen	…	…	…	160	80	45	232	517
Denbigh	…	…	…	579	70	—	139	788
Flint	…	…	…	—	100	—	218	315
Glamorgan	…	…	…	1,112	539	103	171	1,925
Merioneth	…	…	…	26	—	—	323	349
Monmouth	…	…	…	164	163	40	522	889
Montgomery	…	…	…	105	—	—	107	212
Pembroke	…	…	…	234	—	—	138	372
Radnor	…	…	…	25	—	—	—	25
Hospitals	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	3,000
Locally determined schemes			…	—	—	—	—	6,500
Totals		…	…	3,643	1,693	255	2,600	17,691

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost of the additional projects submitted by Welsh local authorities in July, 1971, at the Government's request, as a measure to curb unemployment, and the estimated cost of the projects, for each authority and under each function.

The following table gives details, by county borough and county area except in the case of expenditure on hospitals and by local authorities on locally determined schemes, of the estimated cost of projects approved following the Government's announcement of the special infrastructure programme in July, 1971.