asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the current percentage connection failure rate estimated by the Post Office on subscriber trunk dialling.

The Post Office Report and Accounts showed the percentage of calls ineffective due to the system as 8·7 per cent. in 1970–71. I am told that the current rate is about 1 per cent. lower.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many issues of stamps commemorating anniversaries had been issued since 1945.

Excluding Christmas stamps there have been 22 such issues, some marking more than one subject.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to reduce telephone rental charges for retirement pensioners.

It would not be right to impose welfare responsibilities on a business organisation like the Post Office.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will give a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to put telephone wires underground in all areas.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is satisfied with the present internal mail facilities for Members; and if he will increase the number of letters which Members are allowed to post by this method above the POSTS AND permitted number of six at a time.

I am not aware of any general dissatisfaction among Members, and experience has shown that the letter board could not accept larger numbers of letters without risk to the handling of urgent traffic, which is, of course, its main purpose.

asked the Lord President of the Council what is the practice to be followed in retaining papers from previous years in the Vote Office.

In view of the increase in the number of non-parliamentary papers now being made available to Members by the Vote Office, a return to the pre-1966 practice of holding only two Sessions' papers must be made. Earlier papers will, of course, continue to be obtained for Members by the Vote Office on request.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to instruct the Select Committee on Procedure to examine ways of improving the methods of dealing with Private Members' Bills.

Such matters are already within the terms of reference of that Select Committee.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will place before the Services Committee a proposal to stop the issuing of notices of time and date of Standing Committees to Members of Parliament, in view of the sitting of Standing Committee E on Monday, 28th February when notices of the Standing Committee had not been despatched to Members in time for the meeting.

Notices are sent to Members of Standing Committees of the time and date of the next meeting as soon as they are known. Normally notices are sent out not later than Thursday morning for meetings in the following week. In the case mentioned by the hon. Member, the decision to sit on Monday, 28th February, was taken at 5.40 a.m. on Friday, 25th February, and notices were sent out on the same day.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of preservation orders made on trees or groups of trees in Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds, respectively, up to 31st December, 1971; and how these figures compare with 31st December, 1970.

The number of tree preservation orders in force at 31st December, 1971, in Birmingham, Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds was 104, 75, 4 and 10 respectively. These compare with the corresponding figures of 79, 45, two and 10 for 31st December, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what instructions his Department sent to the motor taxation departments of the county councils in December, 1971, concerning the withdrawal of licences to drive motor cycles already issued.

The councils were instructed to call in any licence which had been post-dated to take effect from the applicant's 16th birthday if this fell on or after 16th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for releasing derelict land in the Green Belt for house building.

None. Green Belts are designed, amongst other things, to prevent the outward growth of large built-up areas or the coalescence of neighbouring towns. Although some land in a Green Belt may be derelict or unsightly it does not necessarily follow that it should be released for house building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the fact that it is necessary for a weekly tenant to be provided with a rent book and thus be enabled to ascertain the name of his landlord, if he will seek to extend this right to other tenants.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) on 16th February.—[Vol. 831, c. 410–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now approve planning permission for the re-building of East Croydon Station.

I am arranging urgent discussions on this matter with the parties concerned. I will be in touch with my hon. Friend shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recommendations his Department has made to local authorities and other house builders on the use of ceiling boards containing foam plastic.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average ratio of fair rents to gross value for dwellings for which fair rents of under £312 per annum have been determined.

The information is not available in the precise form requested by the hon. Member, but for registered rents determined during the first nine months of 1971 the ratio of registered rent to gross value in England and Wales was on average about 1·96.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received regarding the absence of a right of appeal against the assessment of fair rents.

My right lion. Friend has received a number of representations, nearly all of which have failed to mention the right conferred on council tenants by the Housing Finance Bill to make representations to their authority about the assessment of their rent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the powers available to local authorities for preventing the parking of large lorries and haulage vehicles in residential roads.

The appropriate powers are contained in Section 1 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act, 1967 or Section 6 for Greater London. Section 9 of the Act enables restrictions to be applied experimentally. There are also powers under certain local Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the amount of money spent out of the Government's Hospitality Fund for entertainment at No. 10 Downing Street; and how much was spent during the period of 18th and 19th February on purchasing food and drink for the miners.

During the financial years 1966–67 to date the disbursements from the Government Hospitality Fund for entertainment at No. 10 Downing Street have been as follows: —

1966–67	£5,079·31
1967–68	£5,264·81
1968–69	£4,068·88
1969–70	£8,287·04
1970–71 April-June	£1,565·17
July-March	£1,740·79
April, 1971–January, 1972 inclusive	£5,903·55

Since discussions continued throughout the evening of 18th–19th February refreshments were provided for the representatives of the National Coal Board and the National Union of Miners. These were not a charge against the Government Hospitality Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many acres of land are owned or leased by British Rail as occupational land and as non-operational land;(2) what planning regulations apply to the commercial development by British Rail of non-operational land in classified areas.

Details of the acreage of British Rail's operational and non-operational land are not readily available. The development of its non-operational land requires normal planning permission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of public uncertainty as to the purpose of the flashing green man phases of Pelican pedestrian crossings, he will take steps to abolish the flashing phase and extend the steady green man phase sufficiently to allow elderly or disabled people to cross the road in safety; and if he will make a statement.

No. This is an essential feature.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will obtain a report as to the safest type of pedestrian crossing and take steps to abolish the rest; and if he will make a statement.

No. Different sites call for different types of crossing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the amount of money granted to the West Riding County Council during each of the past three years; and what is the figure for the current year.

Government grants in 1968–69 were £60·5 million, including £56·6 million rate support grants; in 1969–70 £65·7 million, including £63·3 million rate support grants; and in 1970–71 £76·2 million, including £72·6 million rate support grant.In 1971–72 rate support grants are estimated at £83·9 million. An estimate of other grants is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the saving of public funds from cuts in heating and lighting in the Palace of Westminster during the power restrictions.

The main heating of the Palace of Westminster is independent of electricity but there will be some small savings on lighting and lifts which I cannot yet quantify. I am grateful to hon. Members for their co-operation in securing these economies and to the London Electricity Board for its ready assistance in very difficult circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress his Department has made in looking into the problems of the completion of the Norwich inner ring road; and if he will expedite these plans having studied the letters from Norwich-based industries forwarded to him by the hon. Member for Norwich, South.

A scheme for Stage III of the Norwich Inner Ring

NUMBERS EMPLOYED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND IN POLICE FORCES: ENGLAND
				June 1970		June 1971
				Police forces (including Metropolitan Police)	Others	Police forces (including Metropolitan Police)	Others
Males
Full-time	…	…	…	84,454	785,737	86,512	797,240
Part-time	…	…	…	—	102,998	—	107,283
Females
Full-time	…	…	…	3,416	503,869	3,576	523,465
Part-time	…	…	…	—	556,250	—	585,308
Total males and females			…	87,870	1,948,854	90,088	2,013,296
Source: Employment and Productivity Gazette, November, 1970.
Department of Employment Gazette, November, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the widespread public interest in the matter, he will send an observer to the forthcoming Bolton conference on hypermarkets and out-of-town shopping centres.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) which planning authority in the North-West Region spent most on restoring derelict land in 1971, where the costs of acquisition and restoration are expressed

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will tabulate the latest figures for local government employees, giving separate figures for the police forces and compare these figures with those for one year previously.

The information is as follows:as a percentage of the authority's rateable income;(2) if he will name the local authorities in the North-West Region which failed to reach their land clearance targets for 1971, as given in the 1970 Derelict Land Survey;(3) how many acres of derelict land were restored by Bolton, Farnworth, Turton, Little Lever, and Westhoughton in 1971; and what percentage of the total acreage justifying treatment this represents in each case;(4) how many acres of derelict land were restored by Blackrod, Horwich and Kearsley in 1971; and what percentage of the total acreage justifying treatment this represents in each case;

The information is not yet available. Figures of land restored in 1971 form part of the 1971 survey on which local authorities are currently engaged. Particulars of expenditure will not be available until the local authority accounts for the current financial year are closed.

		1963	1968	1970
		£	£	£
Gross revenue	…	1,781,000	2,209,000	2,178,000
Profit before central charges and interest	…	65,789	257,164	181,200
Profit after central charges and interest	…	Not available	Not available	46,200

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the dates and places of his consultations will the full Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council; and what are the Government's policies to ensure that the natural resources of the Council's area are fully developed in order to prevent the migration of labour from this region.

My right hon. Friend is in frequent consultation with the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council on a variety of regional planning matters aimed at making the best use of the natural resources of the council's area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will issue a general direction to British Rail to improve the lairage facilities for the transport of horses on sea crossing routes.

No. It is a matter of management for the Railways Board to decide what facilities to provide in consultation as necessary with the Departments concerned with agriculture.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the proportion of dwellings for which fair rents have been determined where such rents exceed two-and-a-half times or are below one-and-a-half times the gross value.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the operating profit and the total financial turnover, respectively, of the British Waterways Board, Freight Services Division, for each of the years 1963, 1968 and 1970.

I am informed by the board that results for its freight services for these years were:

An analysis of about 22,000 registrations for which case records reached the Department between January and September, 1971, showed that the proportion of dwellings for which the fair rent exceeded 2·5 times gross value was 10 per cent. and that the proportion for which the fair rent was less than 1·5 times gross value was 9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of dwellings for which fair rents have been determined which exceed twice the gross value of the property concerned.

An analysis of about 22,000 registrations, for which case records reached the Department's computer between January and September, 1971, showed that in 9,980 cases the fair rent was equal to, or exceeded, twice the gross value of the dwelling concerned, but in nearly half of these—4,659 cases—the fair rent was less than 2·2 times the gross value.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now introduce legislation to control the rents and conditions on caravan sites of all types; and if he will make a statement.

Physical conditions on caravan sites are controlled under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act, 1960. My right hon. Friend has no proposals for controlling rents on caravan sites, since it is far from clear that this would be in the best long-term interests of caravan dwellers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on the provision of public funds for the purchase of the Town Docks in Hull by the city council.

Hull Corporation has asked for agreement in principle to the payment of derelict land grant towards the cost of acquiring and reclaiming the Town Docks. A decision will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those trade unions which he has invited to his Department since 18th June, 1970, to meet him for general discussions about the problems of their respective industries.

I have had many discussions with trade unionists as representatives on various organisations, including the economic planning councils.I have also had a series of informal talks with a number of trade unions whose members are directly concerned with the activities of my Department, and met many trade unionists on visits to various parts of the country. I have also endeavoured to make clear to the trade unions that I would always welcome discussions with them on topics concerning their members which relate to my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he now has to permit the use of unqualified teachers as instructors in Scottish day schools.

Education authorities who wish to employ instructors in the schools are asked to observe the limitations set out in my Department's Circular No. 680 issued on 6th May, 1968. I am sending the hon. Gentleman a copy. Previous employment as an unqualified teacher is not a relevant consideration.

asked the Secretary of of State for Scotland whether unregistered teachers are eligible for employment in special schools providing further education; and what plans he has for using them in further education.

Unregistered teachers may hold temporary appointments in special schools subject to the approval of the reference panel until 31st July, 1973. The appointment of teachers in further education is governed by the Further Education (Scotland) Regulations 1959. Registration is not at present required.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many telephones have been installed since October, 1971, in the homes of retirement pensioners in Scotland, paid for by the State or local authorities.

Information about assistance by local authorities is not at present available. I understand that the Supplementary Benefits Commission, which may assist in certain limited circumstances has given help in two cases since October, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to legislate for the appointment of a Health Service Commissioner for Scotland.

As my noble Friend the Minister of State announced in another place last week, the necessary provisions for the appointment of a Health Service Commissioner for Scotland will be tabled by the Government when the National Health Service (Scotland) Bill is before this House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why it is proposed that matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Mental Welfare Commission should be excluded from the remit of the proposed Health Service Commissioner for Scotland.

To avoid an overlap of functions which would not be in the interest of those wishing to have complaints investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what matters falling within the jurisdiction of the Mental Welfare Commission he intends to exclude from the remit of the proposed Health Service Commissioner; and how many complaints have been made to the Mental Welfare Commission, in the last year for which details are available, in respect of such matters by patients, patients' relatives and other persons, respectively.

All such matters will be excluded. The commission is an independent body and I have no details of the complaints made to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received regarding the proposal of Glasgow Corporation to abolish the selective schools in the city; and what percentage of the letters have, in general, supported and opposed these proposals.

2,836 by 29th February; only two letters have supported the reported proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has received from Glasgow Corporation regarding the future of its selective schools; and if he will make a statement.

None; and I am not therefore in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, before approving proposals for educational reorganisation, he will take steps to ensure that local authorities have had adequate consultation with parents of children affected by proposals to reorganise schools in their areas.

It was made clear in Circular No. 760 that I would expect the authority concerned, before submitting proposals for reorganisation to me, to consult both the teachers in the schools concerned and the parents of the pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland and South Ayrshire, respectively, will be affected by the Government's decision to require certain categories of invalids to surrender invalid vehicles on cessation of full-time work; and what are the estimated savings from this measure.

It is difficult to say with any accuracy until individual cases are reviewed how many will be affected by this change, the effect of which will be to treat in the same way present vehicle users and fresh applicants who qualify for a vehicle only if they are in employment. But I would expect the figure to be about 25 persons a year in Scotland, with a saving of about £20,000. No estimate for smaller areas can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the relationship between the excess consumption of alcohol and crimes of violence, he will appoint a committee of inquiry into this problem to make recommendations.

I do not think that setting up a committee of inquiry into this subject would be a useful approach to the problem.I shall continue to support criminological research on this subject and also the present health education campaign on alcoholism.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet received proposals from the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum in respect of raising the school leaving age.

Yes. The publication "Raising the School Leaving Age: Suggestions for Courses" was published on the recommendation of the Consultative Committee on the Curriculum in 1966. Since then, more specific advice in the fields of modern studies, science, community work, art, English and home economics has been given in curriculum papers Nos. 3, 7, 8 and 9, in Bulletin No. 3 of the Central Committee on English and in the publication "Co-ordinated Courses for Girls" respectively. A further curriculum paper on technical education will be published shortly."Raising of the School-leaving Age: Organisation and Development of Courses", a general survey with practical illustrations, was published in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many coal-fired power stations in Scotland, with adequate supplies of coal, were operating at less than full capacity on Monday, 21st February, 1972;(2) how many coal-and oil-fired power stations, respectively, in Scotland were operating at full capacity on Monday, 21st February, 1972;(3) what is the full load capacity of the electricity transmission lines from Scotland to England; and if these lines were being used to full capacity on Monday, 21st February, 1972.

One coal-fired station and four oil-fired stations were operating at full load on 21st February. No coal-fired station with adequate supplies of coal was operating at less than its full available capacity on that day.The practical capacity of the transmission lines between Scotland and England is 1,000mW. Power can flow in both directions and on 21st February transfers varied from 500mW from Scotland to England to 100mW from England to Scotland. The effective capacity of the lines at any time depends on the internal capability of either country's system to accept transfers.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will investigate why three letters to Army officers, copies of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Blackley, concerning the conduct of troops in Ulster were not received by his Department.

We have not received from the hon. Member copies of three letters to Army officers concerning the conduct of troops in Northern Ireland. If the hon. Member wishes to send me copies of these letters, I will see that he has a reply.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action the Army took on Sunday, 27th February, when a crowd of people from the Irish Republic tried to fill in a cratered road at Rosslea, Northern Ireland.

At about 4.45 p.m. on 27th February troops near Rosslea were attacked by a crowd of about 150 persons throwing stones and other missiles. Nineteen rubber bullets and a baton charge were used to disperse the crowd. The crowd had dispersed south of the Border by about 6.30 p.m.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action the Army took in Armagh after the Irish Republican Army's murder attempt on the life of Mr. John Taylor, Member of Parliament, Minister of State at Stormont for Home Affairs; and what arrests were made.

The shooting was reported to the Army within about 10 minutes. Road blocks were set up within the next 10 minutes to close all routes out of Armagh, and extensive searches were made. The Army made a number of arrests in Armagh on 26th February and I understand that two of the arrested men have assisted the Royal Ulster Constabulary with its inquiries into the shooting. The inquiries are continuing and other arrests have since been made by the police.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances troops at Flushtown Bridge, near Strabane, were fired on from the Irish Republic on Sunday, 27th February; how many shots the Irish Republican Army terrorists fired; what sort of gun was used; whether the fire was returned; and with what effect.

At about 6.20 p.m. on 27th February a joint Army/R.U.C. patrol stopped to investigate smoke rising from Flushtown Bridge. As is stopped, 10 high velocity rounds were fired at it from a position south of the Border. It is thought that the terrorists were using M1 carbines. Troops fired four rounds in return. No hits were recorded.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances soldiers were fired upon on Sunday, 27th February, at Toomebridge, County Antrim, Northern Ireland; whether the fire was returned; and what arrests were made.

Shortly after 10 p.m. on 26th February, two pistol shots were fired at a foot patrol south-east of Toomebridge. Four rounds were returned. The troops sustained no casualties. No terrorists were seen to be hit and no arrests were made at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the date of the last arms search by the Army in the Bogside and Creggan Estate, Londonderry; what streets were searched; and with what result.

The most recent major search operations were conducted in the Creggan area on 10th December, 1971, involving houses in Fanad Drive, and in the Bogside area on 30th December, 1971, involving houses in Lacky Road and Meenan Square. Nothing was found on those occasions, although earlier searches had been successful.On 6th December in the Creggan area a search in Creggan Broadway and Leenan Gardens uncovered 4 carbines, 1 rifle, 1 shotgun and 169 rounds of ammunition hidden in the garden of one house.In the Bogside area, a search in Stanley's Walk and Elmwood Street on 28th December revealed 5 nail bombs and a detonator.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was forced by a group of women to free a boy gunman with a loaded carbine on Sunday night, 27th February, at the Divis flats, Belfast; what arrests were made; and what age the Army estimates the boy to be.

Shortly after 10 p.m. a foot patrol searched a youth, estimated to be between 12 and 14 years of age. He was found to be in possession of a carbine and 14 rounds of ammunition, all of which were seized. The carbine was loaded, with a round in the breech. During the search, a crowd of 20 to 25 women gathered and obstructed the patrol, enabling the youth to escape. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances a patrol of the 12th Light Air Defence Regiment was fired on in the Suffolk area of Belfast on Monday, 28th February; what damage resulted; what sort of weapon the Irish Republican Army terrorists used; whether the fire was returned; with what result; and what arrests were made.

At about 5 a.m. six high velocity shots were fired by two men at a mobile patrol at the junction of Suffolk Road and Glen Road, Belfast. The troops returned ten rounds but, in closing on the gunmen's position, had 10 pistol shots fired at them. A further round was returned. The troops sustained no casualties. No terrorists were seen to be hit and no arrests were made at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to a public house in Donaghadee, County Down, Northern Ireland, on Sunday, 27th February, after it had been damaged by a bomb; how the bomb was constructed; what weight of explosives it contained; how it was detonated; and what arrests were made.

At about 9 p.m. an explosion caused moderate damage to the Tivoli Bar, Manor Street, Donaghadee. Army ammunition technical officers estimated that the explosion had been caused by about 15 to 20 lb. of explosive, although they were unable to assess how the device had been constructed and detonated. No arrest were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to the Monarch Laundry on the Donegal Road, Belfast, on Sunday, 27th February, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion; at what time the bomb exploded and how long after the Army arrived; how the bomb was constructed; what weight of explosives it contained; how it was planted; how it was detonated; and what arrests were made.

At about 9.35 a.m. two men threw a bomb into the Monarch Laundry, and it exploded about five minutes later, damaging some fittings and clothes. The first troops were quickly on the scene and Army ammunition technical officers arrived by 9.55 a.m. They estimated that the bomb had contained 5 to 10 lb. of explosive, although they were unable to assess how it had been constructed and detonated. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will state the numbers of British military personnel seconded to the armed forces of other countries, by country, in those cases where such secondment is not based on a secret agreement.

Although the agreements are published the numbers of personnel are the subject of confidential arrangements made from time to time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, for 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965, 1970, 1971 and 1972 he will publish details of the average number of Service personnel stationed within Portsmouth, the average number of civilian employees working for his Department within Portsmouth, the total number of acres utilised for residential and recreational purposes by his Department within Portsmouth and the proportion of all Service land within Portsmouth utilised for residential and recreational purposes.

The information in respect of 1971 is as follows:

(a) Average number of service personnel stationed within the city limits of Portsmouth—6,412.

(b) Average number of civilian employees working for the Ministry of Defence within the city limits of Portsmouth—14,074.

(c) 63 acres are used for residential and 113 acres for recreational purposes, these figures representing respectively approximately 4·5 per cent. and 8 per cent. of the total land held by the Ministry of Defence within the city limits of Portsmouth.

The information in respect of 1972 and for the years prior to 1971 is not immediately available and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about future plans for the depots of the Prince of Wales's Division.

The plans for the reorganisation of infantry depots announced two years ago recognised two exceptions to the general rule that there should be a single depot for each division of infantry. One of these exceptions was the Prince of Wales's Division for which it was considered appropriate to retain a second depot in Wales iself, at Cwrt-y-Gollen, in addition to the depot at Lichfield. Accordingly it was planned to close the third depot of Exeter at he end of 1972.These plans have now been thoroughly reviewed in the light of the latest circumstances and of representations made to my right hon. Friend and myself. To maintain three depots in the division in the long term would give rise to extra costs in money and manpower which we could not justifiably incur; but, to allow adequate time for reorganisation, the closure of the Exeter Depot has been deferred for two years until the end of 1974, when the site will be required for other purposes. It would also be more expensive to restrict training at Cwrt-y-Gollen to Welsh recruits only and we have decided therefore not to alter previous plans in this respect. Local arrangements at the depot will, however, be made so as to maintain its Welsh character.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will have discussions with the University Grants Committee and local education authorities concerning the expansion of student numbers and the related expansion of student accommodation from 1973 onwards.

Details are now being settled of residential and other projects to start in 1973–74 and to come into use from 1974 onwards. I have already invited local education authorities to submit proposals for further education projects to start in 1974–75 and expect to receive very shortly the University Grants Committee's advice on the development of the universities up to 1977.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the relevant professional qualifications and experience of the individuals who gave oral evidence to the James Committee on Teacher Education and Training as named in Appendix 3 of the Report.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will issue an order to all local authorities recommending them to appoint a fully qualified librarian to all schools where the number of pupils exceeds 1,000.

No. This is a matter for the discretion of the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what information his Department has about the real earnings and fringe benefits of those employed in all the main industries and services in the public and private sector; and if he will publish this information.

I would refer the hon. Member to the extensive information on gross cash earnings in the main industries and services obtained from the New Earnings Survey and other surveys of earnings which is published regularly in the Department of Employment Gazette and to the booklet "Labour costs in Great Britain 1968" published in December, 1971, which gives the most recent information available about employers' expenditure on additional items such as occupational pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what instructions and guidance about the need for confidentiality in handling information are given to conciliation officers of his Department.

All officers of my Department, including conciliation officers, have been informed of the provisions of Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act, 1911, whereby it is a criminal offence for any person having in his possession any document or information to which he has access as an official, to communicate it to any unauthorised person other than a person to whom it is, in the interest of the State, his duty to communicate it.These provisions are amplified in instructions to staff which specifically state that officers must not disclose confidential official matters to anyone outside the office or in such circumstances as to incur a risk of their being made public.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of the number of strikes in the United Kingdom in each year since 1945 took place in. respectively, Scotland and Wales.

Following is the information available:

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES IN SCOTLAND AND WALES AS PERCENTAGES OF TOTAL FOR UNITED KINGDOM
Per cent.
	Scotland	Wales
1945	*	10
1946	*	12
1947	*	16
1948	*	18
1949	*	16
1950	35	15
1951	37	10
1952	37	13
1953	41	14
1954	40	16
1955	38	17
1956	35	16
1957	36	16
1958	38	12
1959	32	13
1960	26	17
1961	28	17
1962	22	19
1963	20	19
1964	19	15
1965	21	12
1966	18	13
1967	18	12
1968	17	9
1969	17	7
1970	15	8

Data for 1971 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has to encourage training for those entering the agriculture industry.

The responsibility for encouraging training for those entering the agricultural industry rests with the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Training Board. The board fulfils this responsibility by the operation of its new entrant training scheme and other forms of assistance to newcomers in the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what changes he proposes to make in his Manpower and Productivity Service, in the light of the provisions of the Industrial Relations Act and the Code of Industrial Relations Practice.

The service will continue to concentrate on manpower and industrial relations functions within the framework provided by the Code of Industrial Relations Practice. The service is also being strengthened to enable it to carry out its new conciliation functions under the Industrial Relations Act. It will in future be known as the Conciliation and Advisory Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the firm assurances which Her Majesty's Government have received relating to Wales as specific exemptions to the general prohibitory provisions of the Treaty of Rome and the Treaty of Paris.

There are none.Her Majesty's Government negotiated and signed the Treaty of Accession on behalf of the United Kingdom, taking into account the interests of the entire country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to negotiate for the Principality of Wales a protocol to be annexed to Great Britain's Treaty with the European Economic Community in similar terms to that granted to the Republic of Ireland.

In the negotiations leading to signature of the Treaty of Accession, and bearing in mind the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Government decided that such a request on behalf of regions was inappropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which organisations have already been consulted by him on the subject of the Maxwell Stamp Report on London taxicabs; and which organisations still remain to be consulted.

Informal consultations have already been held with all the organisations known to have a direct interest in the recommendations in the Report; in particular:

• The British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association.
• The Car Hire Operators' Association Limited.
• The Harrow Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association.
• The Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association.
• The London Motor Cab Proprietors' Association.
• The Motor Cab Owner-Drivers' Association (now merged with the Licensed Taxi Drivers' Association).
• The National Radio Car and Private Hire Association.
• The Owner-Drivers' Society.
• The Royal British Legion (London Taxi Branch).
• The Transport and General Workers' Union (Cab Section).

In addition the proposals are being discussed with the Greater London Council, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis and the British Airports Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were recommended by the Parole Board for early release in 1969, 1970, and 1971.

1,835, 2,210 and 2,971, exclusive of life sentence cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those who had been released on parole were recalled to prison in 1969, 1970 and 1971.

90, 138 and 227, exclusive of life sentence cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people on parole committed offences in 1969, 1970 and 1971; and what percentages of those on parole these figures represented.

73, 168 and 285, exclusive of life sentence cases; approximately 4 per cent 8 per cent. and 9 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people live within 140 miles of Foulness.

The estimated number in England is about 25½ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people live within 140 miles of the Welsh Grounds in the Bristol Channel.

The estimated number is about 35 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has approved of the scheme to build an aged persons' home at Tibshelf in the Bolsover constituency as submitted by the Derbyshire Social Services Committee.

I approved the scheme in principle last October.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will give an assurance that disabled drivers' vehicles, issued to people with some walking ability if they need them to get to full-time work, will not be withdrawn if the driver is temporarily unemployed; and if he will consider the criteria of employability potential, certified by the local office of the Department of Employment, as the yardstick in deciding whether the vehicle can be kept.

There is no intention to withdraw a vehicle from a person who is temporarily unemployed when there are reasonable indications of the likelihood of his resuming work. I am not prepared to tie myself to the precise machinery for determining this until some experience of operating the provision has been acquired.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the cost assistance for garaging a disabled driver's vehicle will continue for existing drivers even if they change their vehicle.

Yes—providing the vehicle continues to be kept in a garage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in addition to the new £100 per annum allowance for a disabled driver running his own vehicle, the £90 adaption grant is still payable.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether existing users of three-wheeler disabled drivers' vehicles will continue to receive the £5 per annum petrol allowance.

Yes: while they continue to have a petrol-driven three-wheeler.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether mothers with young children who qualify for a disabled driver's car will be able to keep the car as long as the child is still at school or in full-time education; and if he will make a statement.

No. The purpose ct this provision is to ensure that mothers who have children so young that they must be taken about with them can take them. Mothers with a child under 14 years of age will qualify. The vehicle will not be withdrawn immediately the youngest child reaches that age, but a replacement car will not thereafter be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will arrange for the immediate payment of all outstanding medical practices compensation due to general practitioners.

About £7½ million of medical practices compensation is still outstanding for Great Britain out of the original total of £66 million in 1948. The Government have decided to introduce legislation at the earliest opportunity to permit payment of all outstanding amounts to the 3,400 doctors who have not yet received their compensation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he proposes to take to combat the accidental poisoning of children in Leicester, having regard to the number of children admitted to hospital in Leicester as a result of such accidental poisoning having more than doubled in the past year.

The Health Education Council is carrying out research into the

		Number of i.d.c.s. approved	Additional Employment*	Refusals by number as a percentage of approvals Per cent.
1st February, 1970—31st January, 1971	…	59	780	1·7
1st February, 1971—31st January, 1972	…	32	335	No refusals
* As estimated by the applicants when the projects are complete and fully manned.

During both periods nearly one-third of the i.d.c.s approved were for the bricks, pottery, glass and cement industries. The remaining two-thirds in each case were for a wide range of industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has studied the recent report by the Confederation of British Industry, a copy of which is in his possession, which calls for the establishment of a commission for regional development to assist unwieldy development areas such as Wales and Scotland; and what action he proposes to take.

Yes. The C.B.I.'s views are amongst those we are taking into account in our study of regional policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were issued in North Staffordshire for the latest 12-month period; how this compares with the previous corresponding period; how many jobs will be provided and in which industries; and what percentage of industrial development certificate applications were refused in the same two periods.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the British percentage of total world tonnage of ships launched in 1970 and 1971, according to information available to him from international sources.

For the years 1970 and 1971, 5·7 per cent. and 5·0 per cent. respectively of the world gross tonnage was launched by the United Kingdom shipbuilding industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when it is expected that he will make an announcement on future governmental support for the computer industry.

The Government are still considering the Report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology in the general context of Government policy towards the computer industry, and it is expected that an announcement will be made shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what requests he made for revision of the draft official report from the Spanish authorities on the Dan Air Comet crash on 3rd July, 1970; in what respects the report was revised; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether, in considering the official Spanish report on the Dan Air Comet crash on 3rd July, 1970, he satisfied himself that it covers all relevant factors, in addition to those matters which he has already accepted.

During the compilation of this report from the mass of evidence collected, it passed through many drafts which were the subject of frank discussion between the Spanish and British investigators. The hon. Member will appreciate that it is the end result which counts. The present report has been prepared in the recommended I.C.A.O. format and covers the relevant factors appropriate to the investigation. As to the conclusions and recommendations, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 22nd February.—[Vol. 831, c. 290]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if accident investigators from his Department had the co-operation of the Spanish authorities in securing access to all necessary witnesses of the Dan Air Comet crash in Spain on 3rd July, 1970; and if he will make a statement.

As set out in Annex 13 to the Convention on International Civil Aviation, which deals with accident investigation, participation of an accredited representatve from the State of registry is subject to the procedures of the State conducting the investigation. Permission was sought from the magistrate conducting the initial judicial investigation for my inspectors to examine the Spanish witnesses, but this request was not granted. However, copies of witnesses' statements were subsequently made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he now expects to publish the Marshall Report on the aircraft industry.

This is an internal inquiry and its report will not be published. I have already undertaken to consider making a statement when I have received and considered the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about the progress of the British Export Board.

In accordance with the decision which my right hon. Friend announced to the House on 11th May, 1971, the British Export Board was formed on 1st January, 1972, to direct the export promotion activities of the Department of Trade and Industry. The Chairman is Lord Thorneycroft. The following have been appointed as members—Sir Peter Allen, Mr. W. J. Bird, Mr. J. R. A. Bottomley, Mr. G. V. K. Burton, Mr. G. R. Denman, Mr. D. J. Ezra, Mr. R. Fell, Sir Cyril Kleinwort, Mr. J. A. Lewando and Mr. B. F. W. Scott. The Secretary of the Board is Mr. J. R. Cross of the Department of Trade and Industry.The board has decided that its first task should be to study existing Government support of export promotion—which accounts in total for resources which, including staff costs, amount to £28 million a year—in order that it can decide on objectives and lay down a strategic plan for the board's future activities. This study, which is being carried out by a task force headed by Mr. G. V. K. Burton will take account of the several reviews recently undertaken of particular parts of the export promotion field and will involve discussions with trade associations and chambers of commerce and with a range of firms on the use which they make of Government services, their views on existing promotional activities and any changes which they consider necessary.In the course of its initial review the board concluded that the title "British Export Board" did not fully express its activities. While its executive responsibilities will remain concerned with export promotion, the board will naturally wish to take into account in the discharge of this function wider aspects of our overseas trade. I have accordingly agreed that it would be appropriate for the board to be renamed the British Overseas Trade Board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if in his proposals regarding value-added tax, he will seek to ensure that the incidence of value-added tax on purchases made by the nationalised industries and the Post Office will not increase the cost of these industries' products and the services of the Post Office to the consumer.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take into account in his study of value-added tax the concern of trade organisations regarding the estimated cost of £1,500 to £2,000 for check-out equipment in some shops when the tax is introduced: and if he will make a statement.

I will bear the hon. Member's point in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate revenue from income tax as a percentage of personal incomes in the financial year 1971–72: and how this compares with the comparable figure for 1970–71.

Income tax payments in 1970–71 were about 13·6 per cent. of total personal income as defined for the purposes of the national income accounts. An estimate for 1971–72 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many people in Wales have purchased prescription charges season tickets since they were introduced.

12,935 six-monthly and 14,306 yearly tickets have been issued since 1st November, 1968. These figures include renewals.