asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to introduce legislation concerning cyclamates, as recommended in the report of the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee which reported in November, 1965.

My right hon. Friend is considering the Committee's report and the representations which have been made to him on its recommendations and will announce his decision as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Technology what work was done by research establishments and other agencies for which he is responsible in connection with the wreck of the "Torrey Canyon".

The function of Ministry of Technology establishments has been to support with expert knowledge and technical resources those departments having the responsibility for executive action.In dealing with the "Torrey Canyon" emergency, it was more important to apply existing proved methods with the maximum speed than to conduct research on new ones. These methods are the detergent technique and the placing of booms, and in each case immediate action was taken by the appropriate Mintech station.The work of the Warren Spring Laboratory in 1960–63 forms the basis of the whole of the detergent spraying operations.The results of Warren Spring Laboratory's work on cleaning oil from beaches were made available to all coastal local authorities in 1962, and much advice has been given since then. The Laboratory's report on the disposal of floating oil was made available to River Authorities and Harbour Boards in 1963.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give the size, and the proceeds of the sale, of the remainder of the land at Izmir, Turkey, referred to in Command Paper No. 3234 of March, 1967.

The area we propose to offer for sale is 2,100 square metres. I will let the hon. Member know the amount of the proceeds when the sale is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many male and female persons, respectively, died in prison in each of the last 10 years.

The number of deaths of persons in prison (excluding executions) in England and Wales in each of the last 10 years is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to introduce safety regulations governing the transport by road of dangerous chemicals such as phosgene and chlorine gases and liquid oxygen.

On the recommendations of the Standing Advisory Committee on Dangerous Substances, regulations have been prepared dealing with the conveyance by road of over 200 inflammable liquids, and I hope to make these soon. There is a wide range of substances to be considered, and the Committee has found it necessary to deal with them in an order of priority. The need for controls over the carriage by road of liquid and compressed gases will be considered, but I cannot yet say when regulations dealing with them may be made.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what were the Exchequer advances to the Commonwealth Development Corporation, setting out the total for each country, respectively, during the period 1945–46 to 1965–66.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Transport what plans there are to close either the whole or parts of the Cambridge-Ipswich railway line to passenger traffic.

As the hon. Member will have seen from the Network Map published on 15th March, the section of line between Cambridge and Newmarket does not form part of the basic network and the Railways Board are accordingly reviewing the passenger services on this section of the line.

asked the Minister of Transport what conclusions she has now reached on the proposals made to her by British Railways about the future of St. Pancras Station as a terminus for passenger services.

British Rail have made no proposals to my right hon. Friend. I understand that their study of the future of St. Pancras station is still in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to integrate long-term plans for technical and scientific education in this country with other European countries.

We are taking a full part in exchanges of information and co-operative studies in progress under the auspices of O.E.C.D. of the Committee for Higher Education and Research of the Council of Europe's Council for Cultural Co-operation and under professional auspices such as the Conference of Engineering Societies of Western Europe and the United States of America (E.U.S.E.C.). We also hope to participate in the Conferences of European Education Ministers under Council of Europe auspices at Athens next month and under U.N.E.S.C.O. auspices at Vienna next autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what amount of public funds devoted to education arises from grants to individuals; and how this figure approximately divides between universal benefits and those given after some selective tests.

Total public current expenditure on education in England and Wales in 1965–66 was £1,307 million of which £174 million represented grants to persons, including benefits in kind. School milk (£14 million) is provided free to all pupils taking it. Virtually all the other grants and benefits depend on parental income, but no pupils taking school meals (£66 million) pay more than is. With the principal exceptions of school maintenance allowances (£1 million), school meals and school milk, all the grants and benefits also depend on some non-financial selective test, e.g. admission to a university.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek power to enable him to satisfy himself that the selection of students for admission to those universities where admission depends in part on interview is carried out in an impartial manner.

No. I rely on the good sense and fair judgment of the university authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on progress with the open university; and when it will start.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer of 2nd March to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton). I hope to make a further statement before long.—[Vol. 742, c. 127.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the steps to be taken to implement the recommendation made in the Interim Report of the Working Groups on Manpower Promoters for Scientific Growth that further attention should be given to meeting demand in industry and the schools, at least in part, by redeployment from other sectors such as Government research establishments.

The recommendations of the interim Swann Report are being studied by my Department and by the Research Councils. The particular issues of demand for manpower in industry and the schools are being considered in detail with the Working Group on Manpower Parameters for Scientific Growth and I understand that they will make a further report in the autumn. I would ask my hon. Friend to await the final report of the Working Group which I understand will be based on a further study of these issues and more complete statistical data.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking either to sponsor or encourage the training of business executives and civil servants in modern marketing techniques.

The Board of Trade, through the British Productivity Council, supports the National Marketing Council which was set up specifically to promote a wider knowledge of marketing and the adoption of sound marketing practices throughout British industry. I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Doncaster on 2nd February, 1967, about the direct support we are giving in connection with the marketing courses being sponsored by the National Marketing Council later this year and about the activities of the London and Manchester Business Schools. I should also mention, though this is the province of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, that of the considerable number of courses in various aspects of management studies provided by universities and colleges for further education, many include marketing in their syllabuses.Before their first appointment to a commercial post overseas, all officers of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service now take an eight-week commercial course of instruction provided by the City of London College on behalf of the Board of Trade, one week of which is devoted to marketing techniques. Some senior officers also attend marketing courses run by private organisations. In the Board of Trade selected staff directly concerned with exports take part in courses on exporting and these include study of marketing techniques.—[Vol. 740, c.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will make a statement about the collapse of Pinnock Finance; and what consequential action he is considering under the Protection of Depositors Act.

Pinnock Finance Co. (G.B.) Ltd. suspended repayment of deposits and ceased taking new deposits as from 1st April, 1967.The Board of Trade are obtaining information about the state of the company's affairs to enable them to decide whether the interests of depositors would be likely to be served better by leaving the company to continue its efforts to agree with its creditors a scheme of arrangement, which would require the sanction of the Court under Section 206 of the Companies Act, or by the Board petitioning the Court for the winding up of the company under Section 16 of the Protection of Depositors Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will publish the report of the Welsh Economic Council and Planning Board on the effects in Wales of the measures of financial restraint announced by the Government last July.

No. Economic Councils and Planning Boards give their advice to Ministers on a confidential basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average delay at the present time between receipt of notice of appeal against decisions of local planning authorities and the publication of his findings on the appeal.

Over the last twelve months, the average time taken between the receipt of a planning appeal and the issue of a decision on the appeal was 33 weeks for those cases in which an inquiry was held and 28 weeks for those decided without an inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance he will give towards the reconstruction of Factory Bridge, Llanbadarn, in the county of Cardigan.

I have made a grant of £15,815 to the Cardiganshire County Council towards the £34,871 estimated cost of reconstructing Factory Bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance he will give towards the reconstruction of the Brandy Bridge, Merthyr Tydfil, which was destroyed by floods some time ago.

I have made a grant of £70,120 to the Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council towards the estimated cost of £136,940 of a new bridge.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give an assurance that neither the Newtown or Rhayader projects in mid-Wales will cause any diminution in the advance factory programme for the other towns in mid-Wales.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave him in reply to a similar Question on 8th December, 1966, and to my statement in the Welsh Grand Committee debate on 15th March, 1967. I shall continue to encourage industrial development at all suitable places in mid-Wales.—[Vol. 737, c. 344.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many revocation orders have been made by planning authorities in the Principality in the course of the last four years; and what is the total amount of compensation paid in each case.

Thirty-two revocation orders have been submitted for confirmation since April, 1963. Twenty-five were confirmed, two were not confirmed and five are under consideration.Planning authorities are not required to report to me the total amount of compensation which they pay. For depreciation exceeding £20 in the value of land, payments amounting to £18,760 have been made during this period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will sanction expenditure by the Camden Council under Section 136 of the Local Government Act, 1948, in connection with special publicity concerning modernisation of the Broad Street-Richmond line.

Yes. A letter is being sent to the Council giving them the necessary consent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on how many occasions in 1966 he refused loan sanction for the whole of a local authority housing scheme and referred it back to that local authority for further consideration; how many such local authorities have subsequently decided to finance their scheme out of revenue; and if he will list any such local authorities.

The circumstances in which schemes may be referred back for reconsideration are so varied that precise information is not readily available. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would write to me about it.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is the estimated annual expenditure on social benefits administered by her Department at the most recent convenient date; and how this figure approximately divides between universal benefits and those given after some selective test.

The estimated expenditure in the year 1966–67 on social security benefits in schemes for which my Department is responsible is £2,450 million. These schemes combine elements of universality and selectivity, but if the question relates to benefits which are subject to a test of resources, the estimated expenditure in respect of these benefits is £300 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated additional cost in foreign exchange if the travel allowance were to be raised from £50 to £100.

As my right hon. Friend has made clear in reply to earlier Questions, the basic allowance has been fixed for the present travel year. There are as yet too many unknown factors to make a firm estimate of the effect of any changes next year, but the additional cost in foreign exchange of increasing the basic allowance to £100 could well be in the region of £25 million a year.—[Vol. 740. c. 358.]

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are at present employed in public administration in Wales; and by how much this figure has increased over the last five years.

At mid-1966, the latest date for which estimates are available, there were in Wales 66,100 employees in employment in public administration (as defined in Order XXIV of the Standard Industrial Classification), 3,200 more than at mid-1961.

asked the Minister of Labour whether it is intended to publish a report on the investigation being carried out by the Committee for Wales of the Central Training Council on the problems of industrial training in mid-Wales.

It is not intended to publish the report but, on the recommendations of the Central Training Council, the report is being brought to the attention of the industrial training boards and the Welsh Joint Education Committee. It will also be made available to the mid-Wales Industrial Development Association.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated total number of computer programmers and systems analysts for whom proposed increases in income have been notified to his Department during the periods of standstill and severe restraint, respectively; how many were covered by applications which the Department endorsed and rejected, respectively; and what is the average percentage income increase of those notifications endorsed by his Department.

Separate figures for computer programmers and systems analysts are not available. The Ministry is in touch with several employers about the pay of workers amongst whom are included these occupations.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated number of computer programmers and systems analysts currently employed in the United Kingdom; and what is their estimated current level of weekly earnings.

The estimated numbers of computer programmers and systems analysts currently employed in the United Kingdom are about 13,000 and 9,000, respectively. I regret that information regarding their level of weekly earnings is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest estimated number of employees known to have received income increases since 1st January; what percentage of these are classified as salary earners; and how this figure compares with the estimated percentage of all employees who are classified as salary earners.

Between 1st January and 28th February, 1967 it is estimated that increases in full-time weekly rates of wages, or minimum entitlements, affected nearly 3½ million manual workers. About two-thirds of this total are in engineering where workers whose earnings are above the new minimum earnings level, established by the January changes, are not entitled to an increase under the provisions of the national collective agreement. The corresponding information about salary changes is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest estimated number of employees directly and indirectly affected by orders restricting income increases under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act; and what percentage of these are classified as salary earners.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the Chancellor of the Duchy to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills) on 17th March, 1967. Since that date two further orders have been made under Section 29 of the Prices and Incomes

asked the Minister of Labour what is the latest estimated number of employees designated directly and by implication in schedules of orders issued under Part IV of the Prices and Incomes Act; how many of these are trade unionists; and how these figures compare with the estimated percentage of trade unionists amongst all employees.

On the number of workers directly and indirectly affected by Orders restricting income increases I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer to his earlier Question. The Orders that have been made affect both members of trade unions and non-unionists. I do not have sufficient information available to provide an estimate of the number who are members of trade unions. The estimated percentage of trade unionists amongst all employees was about 41 per cent. in 1965, the latest year for which estimates of trade union membership are available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers in the building and construction industries were unemployed at the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will state the numbers unemployed in these industries at the same date in each of the last four years.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour why a grower of natural flowers only receives a refund of selective employment tax, whereas, if flowers are made of plastic, a producer receives a refund together with a premium.

Because the former is engaged in horticulture but the latter in manufacturing.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to complete the modification of existing stocks of high explosive bombs to permit their carriage and use at low level by high-speech aircraft, such as the Phantom and the F111K; and how much such modification will cost.

Modified bombs will come into service with these new aircraft, and modifications of all necessary stocks should be completed by 1971. These will cost about £600 per bomb.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much unburnt oil is still in "Torrey Canyon".

To the best of our knowledge, very little. Reports from aerial reconnaissance are that all oil tanks are breached and empty. A little seepage from the tanker has continued but the quantities involved are very small indeed.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will obtain a report from the Governor about movements of units of South African army regulars into Rhodesia.

I have been asked to reply. No, I have no evidence to suggest that such movements of troops have taken place.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what instructions he gave the Central Electricity Generating Board about the date of commissioning the two reactors in the second advanced gas-cooled reactor station, Hinckley Point B;(2) if he will set out a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT, giving details of any requests he has made to the Central Electricity Generating Board and the Atomic Energy Authority on the subject of postponing the nuclear reactor programme.

The reasons for the delay of one year in the start of Hinckley Point "B" were given by my right hon. Friend in a reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Mr. Kelley) on 28th February. Otherwise no requests to postpone the nuclear reactor programme have been made.—[Vol. 742 c. 66.]

asked the Minister of Power what estimate has been made of the amount of office accommodation square feet, required by the whole of the National Steel Corporation in London; and what the cost per annum of the accommodation will be.

The amount of office space the National Steel Corporation will need in London will depend upon the number of staff ultimately to be employed there. The cost of the accommodation will be a matter for commercial negotiation.

asked the Minister of Health what is the policy of his Department towards direct access pregnancy testing services which are advertised to the public; and if he will take steps, by legislation or otherwise, to control the qualifications required of advertisers.

I am advised that it is better for a woman who thinks she may be pregnant to consult her doctor. This could be particularly important where the symptoms are due to conditions other than pregnancy, when professional advice and treatment may be necessary. I have however no power to control these advertisements and am not satisfied that legislation for this purpose would be justified.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent there is danger of the outbreak of cholera in certain parts of Asia and the Eastern Mediterranean spreading to Western Europe; and if he will make a statement.

No country can be entirely safe from the importation of Cholera, but I am advised that the disease would quickly disappear in an area of high sanitary standards such as Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects completion of that part of the M8 motorway which will allow the A9 to be closed so that work can be begun on a new runway at Turnhouse Airport.

On present plans the New-bridge to Lathallan section of the M9 motorway should be opened to traffic early in 1972. It would then be possible to cut the A9 near Turnhouse, but I understand that this timing would not preclude an earlier start on construction of a new runway.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he is aware that showjumpers taking their horses to the Continent to compete in international competitions often meet with delays at frontiers before the horses are allowed through; and if he will make representations to have the causes of these delays removed.

I am not aware that showjumpers are experiencing such delays. If, however, the hon. Gentleman will provide me with full details of specific instances I will make inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what instructions he has caused to be given to the United Kingdom representative on the Co-ordinating Committee of Government Budget Experts for the Six Co-ordinated Organisations—the Council of Europe, the European Launcher Development Organisation, the European Space Research Organisation, the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and the Western European Union—with regard to the request of the staff associations of those organisations to be heard by the Co-ordinating Committee through their duly accredited representatives on the occasion of the consideration of any general salary revision relating to the personnel of the six organisations concerned.

No such request has been put to the Co-ordinating Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations were made to the United States Embassy to bring pressure on the owners of the "Torrey Canyon" to abandon the ship; and on what days such representations were made.

No representations were made on this subject to the United States Embassy.