asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will give seasonally adjusted estimates of output per head for the industries included in the Index of Production, namely, Order II-Order XVIII of the Standard Industrial Classification, 1958, for each month from January, 1955 to the latest month, based on 1958 equalling 100.

No monthly seasonally adjusted estimates of industrial production per head are available. The table below shows quarterly indices.

INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTIVITY, 1955–1966 OUTPUT PER HEAD IN STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION ORDERS II-XVIII
1958=100, Seasonally Adjusted
1955	Q1	96·9	1961	Q1	109·7
	Q2	97·6		Q2	110·2
	Q3	98·5		Q3	110·2
	Q4	99·6		Q4	109·3
1956	Q1	97·8	1962	Q1	109·5
	Q2	97·9		Q2	111·5
	Q3	97·5		Q3	112·9
	Q4	97·9		Q4	111·3
1957	Q1	99·1	1963	Q1	111·2
	Q2	99·9		Q2	115·3
	Q3	100·4		Q3	118·6
	Q4	99·0		Q4	120·6
1958	Q1	101·4	1964	Q1	122·3
	Q2	99·5		Q2	123·7
	Q3	99·1		Q3	123·4
	Q4	100·2		Q4	124·2
1959	Q1	101·8	1965	Q1	125·6
	Q2	104·6		Q2	124·8
	Q3	105·8		Q3	125·5
	Q4	109·0		Q4	126·1
1960	Q1	110·1	1966	Q1	127·0
	Q2	109·6		Q2	126·5
	Q3	109·6		Q3	127·9
	Q4	109·9

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a further statement on his proposal to ask scientific experts to consider the problems arising in connection with the rare occurrence of a human case of foot-and-mouth disease.

Yes, I am glad to say that Professor J. W. Howie, Director of the Public Health Laboratory Service, and Sir William Weipers, Director of Veterinary Education and Professor of Veterinary Surgery, Glasgow, have agreed to consider and report to my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Health and me on the problems which I referred to in the debate on the Adjournment on 18th January, namely whether the rare occurence of a human case of this disease presents any problems on diagnosis, or necessitates any additional precautions to prevent spread of infection.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now make a statement on smoking in public places.

The Government have considered the suggestions which have been made by many hon. Members and others that steps should be taken to restrict smoking in such places as cinemas, theatres, restaurants, shops and offices. There is no doubt that many non-smokers feel great discomfort among people smoking in confined places. Breathing smoke-laden air may also aggravate the symptoms of people suffering from certain disabilities such as asthma or bronchitis, in some cases to the extent that they are forced to avoid places or situations in which high concentrations of tobacco smoke might occur, e.g. in cinemas. Also, people who have given up smoking, or are trying to do so, are subjected to strong group pressure towards smoking if they sit for any length of time in the vicinity of those who are smoking. The number of non-smokers has increased substantially in recent years and they now constitute about 46 per cent. of the adult population. Surveys have also shown that even among smokers a substantial minority favour a ban on smoking in cinemas, restaurants and theatres.The Government feel that it would not be appropriate to seek powers for compulsory restrictions on smoking in such places, but that the proprietors should consider the interests and wishes of their clients and customers in the light of the considerations which I have mentioned, and act accordingly. "No Smoking" notices have been displayed and respected by the public on a voluntary basis for many years in some big department stores, most concert halls and many theatres. The Government urge other proprietors to consider extending this practice by asking the public not to smoke on their premises, or by setting aside parts of large premises, such as restaurants, for non-smokers. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I are writing to the main trade associations asking them to draw these considerations to the attention of their members. We are ourselves drawing them to the attention of the public transport authorities, and of hospital and local authorities. Government Departments are considering what action each should take in relation to their offices which are open to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will refer the financial position of football clubs and proposed amalgamations in regard to this to the Committee of Inquiry into Association Football.

These matters are already covered by the terms of reference of the inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps, as recommended by the Plowden Committee, to end corporal punishment in schools.

I will consider this further when I have the comments on the recommendations of the Plowden Committee for which I have asked bodies representing the Local Education Authorities and the teachers.

asked the Postmaster-General what reduction in demand has resulted from the decision to charge a full year's rent in advance to telephone subscribers who move house.

As I told my hon. Friend in reply to his Question on 19th January, it is not practicable to derive this information from our statistical records. The best I can do is to say that over the five months August—December, 1966, the total demand from subscribers who moved house—at approximately 50,000—was very roughly 2,000 less than might have been expected on the basis of trends prior to July, 1966.—[Vol. 739, c. 121.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in tabular form the main direct and indirect taxes levied in the United Kingdom and in the Common Market countries, giving the estimated yield of each and expressing each as a proportion of the national income of the respective country.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Reply to a Question by the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish) on 19th January. The figures then given were taken from information supplied by O.E.C.D. which does not give details for the individual taxes within the general categories of "direct" and "indirect".—[Vol. 739, c. 122.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations he has received from trade organisations regarding the proposed introduction of decimal currency; if he will publish a list of these bodies, indicating their views on the subject; and if he will make a further statement on the Government's intentions in this matter.

I am having this list prepared and will publish it in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further reductions in public expenditure for 1967–68 will be made to reach the total of £150 million announced on 20th July last, apart from the reductions already announced on 25th July last; and what reductions are being made to meet the promised reduction in public expenditure overseas of £100 million.

Reductions totalling approximately £150 million have been made in public investment programmes for 1967–68 as they stood at 20th July, 1966, in accordance with the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister that day. [Vol. 732, c. 632]. As to the saving of £100 million in overseas Government expenditure I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply which I gave to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 24th January [Vol. 732, c 1259–61].

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the status of the employee at Chatham Dockyard who was deemed to be responsible for the fire there in July;(2) whether the fire in Chatham Dockyard in July last year was the result of an accident, carelessness or deliberate arson;(3) what were the findings of the board of inquiry into the fire at Chatham Dockyard with regard to the adequacy of the fire precautions in the yard for old buildings; and what steps are being taken to ensure that proper fire-fighting equipment is available for old buildings at other Royal Navy dockyards.

The fire at Chatham Dockyard on 12th July was the result of careless action by an apprentice.The Board of Inquiry considered that additional precautions should be taken for old buildings with a high fire risk,

and as stated in my Reply on 20th January the arrangements at other old buildings are now under review.—[Vol. 739, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of recent developments in the case of Able Seaman Cliff Field, he will now reconsider his previous decision and release Able Seaman Field, while there is still time for him to pursue an effective career in the boxing ring.

I have reviewed this matter again but I can find no grounds for changing the decision given in reply to the hon. Member on 30th June, 1966.—[Vol. 730, c. 323.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will now announce the results of the investigation of the conduct of the three security officers mentioned in the Bowen Report.

I cannot yet add to the Reply given to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs on 20th January. —[Vol. 739, c. 163.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to require insurance companies to have a certain minimum amount of ascertained free assets.

The Insurance Companies Act, 1958, contains such requirements in relation to companies which carry on general insurance business, including motor vehicle insurance business. The Companies Bill contains provisions designed to strengthen these requirements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied he has sufficient powers to ascertain the adequacy of insurance and other companies' free assets; and which insurance companies at present have inadequate assets in comparison with their liabilities.

No. The Companies Bill contains provisions to improve the Board of Trade's powers. I cannot properly comment on the second part of the Question.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he will take to enable motorists to insure against motoring risks only with reliable insurance companies.

The Companies Bill now before Parliament contains provisions to strengthen greatly the supervisory powers of the Board of Trade over insurance companies. It would be unfortunate if recent failures give rise to any impression that the great majority of insurers operating in this country are not completely reliable. But I advise anyone who is offered insurance at what appears to be a cheap premium to seek advice from, for instance, such bodies as the British Insurance Association, Lloyd's, the Corporation of Insurance Brokers, the Association of Insurance Brokers or Lloyd's Insurance Brokers Association.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement concerning the 15-mile patch of oil seen floating in the English Channel on 17th January this year. which has caused pollution of South Coast beaches.

I am deeply concerned at the suffering to birds and the damage to beaches caused by this incident. Unfortunately there is no clear evidence of the source of this pollution and therefore no action can be taken against the offender. Reports received by coastguards were conveyed at once to the local authorities concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action is taken to deal with oil patches before they reach the beaches.

When coastguards receive information about oil patches offshore, they immediately notify local authorities Whose beaches may be affected so that they may consider what action can be taken. Local authorities are assisted in dealing with offshore pollu- tion by the Services as the resources of the latter allow.My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government recently announced that a Joint Working Group to find the most efficient and economical means of combating oil pollution on beaches had been set up by the Institute of Petroleum and the local authority associations. The Group will consider all aspects of the problem, including the dispersal of offshore oil, and will report to a Standing Committee composed of representatives of Government Departments, the local authority associations and the Institute of Petroleum.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent the introduction of financial penalties to discourage firms from closing down branches in development areas would discourage the initial transfer.

The introduction of direct financial penalties would be likely to act as a considerable discouragement. There are of course already provisions for the repayment of all or part of assistance under the Local Employment Acts given by way of building grant if the closure takes place within five years of the assistance being given, and of any outstanding loans. Investment grants made at the higher rate for development areas will also be repayable in whole or in part if the assets concerned cease to be used, are disposed of. or are moved out of development areas with in three years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many firms have closed branches in development areas in 1966; and whether it is possible to make a comparison with closures occurring from development districts in previous years;(2) how many firms have closed down in development areas in 1966; and whether it is possible to make a comparison with closures occurring from development districts in previous years.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what assistance Her Majesty's Government is making towards getting Mrs. Derrick Sington compensation for severe damage to her health while imprisoned at Nazi concentration camps.

Mrs. Derrick Sington has not asked for any assistance and Her Majesty's Government have no standing to intervene in a matter which is before a Federal German Court.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will pay compensation to Adeni citizens who have been found to have been wrongfully injured by any member of the British security or military forces.

Although it is open to a person to seek redress through the courts, claims are normally dealt with and settled by the appropriate authorities directly with the person concerned. Compensation has been paid ex gratia in certain cases where injury to persons or damage to property has resulted from security operations in Aden; any further cases would be considered on their merits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that his High Holborn office is receiving 10,000 letters a week, thus delaying replies for months, what action he is taking to reduce the volume of this correspondence, or alternatively to deal with it more speedily.

While I do not accept that delays of months in the Immigration and Nationality Department are normal, I am aware that correspondence has been held up for longer than I would wish: and I had already put a review in hand to see how the constantly mounting volume of work can best be tackled.

asked the Minister of Transport when the long-term plan for London, being prepared by the Transport Council for London, will be announced.

The plan which I think the hon. Member has in mind is the transport element of the Greater London Development Plan, which the Greater London Council is preparing for submission to the Minister of Housing and Local Government by the end of 1968. The work is being done in close cooperation with the Working Groups of the Transport Co-ordinating Council for London. I understand that there is as yet no precise timetable for the transport element of the Plan. But a third report of the London Transportation Study, expected during 1967, should enable further progress to be made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is satisfied with the present and proposed arrangements for public transport between Hayling Island and Havant; and if she will make a statement.

The provision of services is in the first instance a matter for the transport operators. Bus services are subject to the approval of the South Eastern Traffic Commissioners. I understand that the Commissioners have received certain representations from the local authority about the bus services, and that the bus company, at the Commissioner's invitation are undertaking a passenger survey.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will amend her regulations so as to permit double white lines where the carriageway is less than 20 feet wide and a traffic hazard is presented by a bend in the road or any other factor ignored by motorists crossing the centre of the carriageway.

No. The Traffic Signs Manual recommends that they should not be laid on roads narrower than 20 feet because, if they were, drivers of buses and other wide vehicles might be unable to negotiate the bend without straddling the lines and thereby committing an offence. Consideration is being given, however, to means of improving the effectiveness of the single dotted warning lines used at bends on these narrow roads.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the proposals for X-way crossings.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement very shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport, if she is aware that more than 400 children of constituents of the honourable Member for Harrow, East, face danger from an almost constant stream of traffic when crossing Edgware Road at Stonegrove on their way to and from Hebrew classes and a youth club; and if she will take immediate action designed to assist these children and

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AND YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICES IN FLEETWOOD AND THORNTON CLEVELEYS ON 9TH JANUARY 1967
			Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total	Temporarily Stopped included in total
Fleetwood	…	‖	650	18	210	18	896	89
Thornton Cleveleys	…	‖	472	—	158	—	630	50

Following is the information for those aged 50 and over which relates to the wholly unemployed and excludes casual workers and those temporarily stopped:

WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT 9TH JANUARY 1967
				Men 50 and over	All Men	Women 50 and over	All Women
Fleetwood	…	…	…	232	586	35	186
Thornton Cleveleys	…	…	…	281	451	42	125

asked the Minister of Labour how many unfilled vacancies there are in Fleetwood, Thornton Cleveleys, Garstang and Poulton-le-Fylde; how Many are for clerical work; how many other constituents of the Honourable Member who wish to cross this road in safety.

Two central refuges, one near the entrance to Regents Court and the other near the entrance to Prang-bourne Drive, with associated carriageway markings are to be provided for a trial period.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what was the latest percentage figure of unemployment for the Fleetwood-Thornton Cleveleys area;(2) what was the last percentage figure of unemployment in the Poultonle-Fylde and Garstang areas.

At 9th January, 1967, the rate of unemployment in the Fleetwood-Thornton Cleveleys area, which includes Poulton-le-Fylde, was 8·1 per cent. Separate information for Garstang is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were unemployed at the last count in Fleetwood and Thornton Cleveleys; how many were men, women, boys and girls, respectively; and what Number was over the age of 50 years.

:in the service industries; and how many in manufacturing industries.

Poulton-le-Fylde is in the area covered by the Thornton Cleveleys Employment Exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the percentage unemployment figures in development areas.

On 9th January, 1967, percentage rates of unemployment in development areas were:—

Development Area	Per cent.
South Western	6·1
Merseyside	3·3
Northern	3·9
Scottish	4·3
Welsh	4·8

asked the Minister of Labour what evidence he has on the extent of short-time working and redundancies occurring in firms with branches in development areas compared with their branches located outside the development areas; and where this information is not available, whether studies are being undertaken with a view to obtaining it.

Comprehensive information is not available and its collection would involve a considerable amount of work which could not be justified in present circumstances. The available evidence suggests, however, that recent redundancies have not been concentrated in the development areas but have been spread fairly evenly over the country.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give seasonally adjusted estimates of total employment in the Index of Production industries, for

No. Seasonally adjusted employment estimates are not yet available except for the quarterly series of the total in employment in all industries and services, as published in Ministry of Labour Gazette.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will list the twenty areas with the highest rate of unemployment.

Following is the information for 12th December, 1966, the latest date for which unemploymnt percentage rates for local areas are available:

Bedworth.	Oxford.
Brixham.	Penzance.
Camelford.	Porthcawl.
Gunnislake.	Portree.
Helston.	Rothesay.
Ilfracombe.	Sanquhar.
Lerwick.	Stornoway.
Lesmahagow.	Stranraer.
Newton Stewart	Thurso.
Oban.	Wick.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give an estimate of the number of persons employed in the living theatre for whom Selective Employment Tax is liable to be paid and the number of such persons in respect of whom the tax will be refunded either because the employer is a charitable organisation or is a society supplied with public funds through the Arts Council.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health why improvements to the maternity unit at the Patrick Stead Hospital, which were included in last year's estimates with A priority, have been dropped from the estimates altogether and given no priority.

Schemes of higher priority have had to take precedence.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that a close and effective scrutiny is being kept by Great Britain upon all oil supplies passing into Rhodesia.

I have been asked to reply. A close scrutiny is kept.

asked the Prime Minister what is the approximate average daily total of refined petroleum spirit currently entering Rhodesia.

I have been asked to reply. I prefer to say nothing which might reveal the extent of our knowledge of the regime's complicated and expensive methods of procurement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will issue grants to local authorities to help clear 'be South Coast beaches from the recent serious oil pollution.

No. Specific grants are not available for this purpose but local authorities qualifying for rate deficiency grant will receive grant on any work they carry out.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in how many cases, during the last 12 months or other convenient period, planning appeals in England and Wales have been successful.

1,982 out of 9,035 appeals decided in 1966 were successful.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the amendment to the Building Regulations, 1965 (Commercial Glasshouses), proposed in his Department's Circular No. 3/66 of 1st June, 1966, will be introduced.

My right hon. Friend is in consultation with the Building Regulations Advisory Committee and bodies representative of the interests concerned and he hopes that an amendment may be brought into operation this summer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in how many cases, during the last 12 months or other convenient period, planning consent to build a dwelling house in England and Wales has been refused.

Numbers of houses for which planning permission was refused are not available; but 42,908 applications for residential development were refused by local planning authorities in 1965 and 4,556 appeals were dismissed by the Minister.

asked the Minister of Social Security what percentage of those in employment received injury benefit in 1965–66 in Wales, Scotland and England, respectively.

For the period from June, 1965, to May, 1966, the average number of men and women claimants receiving injury benefit in respect of incapacity caused by industrial accidents or prescribed diseases is estimated to have represented 0·9 per cent. of the total number of persons insured for injury benefit in Wales. The corresponding figures for Scotland and England were 0–5 and 0.3 per cent.

asked the Minister of Social Security what benefit a married woman who is employed for half a day obtains from her employer's weekly contribution of 14s. 4d.

The benefit for which a married woman qualifies under the National Insurance Acts depends on the contributions paid by her and her husband and not upon the employer's contribution. As far as the employer is concerned, if a woman is employed for eight hours or less in a week the only contribution payable in respect of her is the Industrial Injuries contribution of Is. Id. made up of 6d. by the woman and 7d. by the employer.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will ensure that her Department's offices that are re-sited are retained in the centre of cities, convenient to the users, not in inaccessible suburbs.

We always do our best to suit the convenience of the public, by locating main offices where they will be readily accessible, and, where this proves impossible, by providing caller offices at or near focal points.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that Glasgow police force is more than 10 per cent. under their establishment and that increasing acts of vandalism are taking place in Scotland, highlighted by two particular acts of vandalism in Fife on 22nd January, he will now initiate an inquiry into the manning of police forces in Scotland.

No. I am, however, proposing to have early discussions with the Police Advisory Board for Scotland on police manpower, operational efficiency and equipment. In these discussions account will, of course, be taken of recent developments including, for example, the reports of the English working parties on these subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence he has to the number of sheep killed on unfenced roads in Scotland; and what mileage of trunk roads in Scotland is without fencing.

I have very little information about the number of sheep killed on unfenced roads and no record of the mileages of trunk roads which are unfenced.