asked the Minister of Health how many regional hospital boards allow the Press to be present at their meetings.

All.

asked the Minister of Health why there is a six month waiting list for adenoidal operations in the Lancaster area; and what plans he has for improving the position.

In Lancaster as in the country as a whole the demand for this type of operation has increased more rapidly than the available resources. The Hospital Management Committee is reviewing its surgical services to see what improvements are possible.

asked the Minister of Health when the report of the Joint Working Party on the Organisation of Medical Work in Hospitals is expected.

I understand that the Working Party expect to make an interim report to me in about three months time.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of general hospitals and of mental hospitals in England, Wales, and Scotland which will make use of young volunteers provided by International Voluntary Service, Community Service Volunteers and similar organisations during 1967; and what action he will take to increase the number in 1968.

Voluntary work for individual hospitals is normally arranged direct with them, and the information for which my right hon. Friends asks is not available centrally. My Department has always strongly encouraged voluntary effort in the hospital service and will continue to do so.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is satisfied that, in hospitals and hospital groups where there is a sole pharmacist, arrangements are in all cases made to ensure that the requirements of the Dangerous Drugs Regulations and of the Poison Rules are nevertheless complied with; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that any difficulties can be overcome. Guidance was given to hospitals in the Report circulated with H.M.(58)17. I shall be writing to the right hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health to what extent he has taken into account the four new factories and increase of at least 500 young adults when deciding the future pattern of obstetrics in Torrington, North Devon; and if he will make a statement.

Any extra demands on obstetric accommodation arising from developments of this order could be met within the proposal pattern of service.

asked the Minister of Health what plans he has made to ensure that no hardship is caused to patients or their relatives by the closure of peripheral obstetric units in North and West Devon.

Although some patients and their relatives would have to travel further this will be outweighed by the advantages of a modern unit.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total grant made by his Department to the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board for new hospitals, improvements and maintenance for the West Midlands in 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966, respectively; and what percentage of these totals was allocated to the Shrewsbury Hospital Management Com- mittee for the hospital services in Shropshire for those years.

			Capital (new hospitals and improvements)		Revenue (maintenance)
Year			All hospitals in Region	Shrewsbury Hospital Management Committee Hospitals	All hospitals in Region	Shrewsbury Hospital Management Committee Hospitals
			£	per cent.	£	per cent.
1961–62	…	…	2,398,879	8·17	31,425,687	5·49
1962–63	…	…	2,953,760	4·15	33,479,569	5·47
1963–64	…	…	4,359,295	1·66	35,927,934	5·50
1964–65	…	…	6,923,418	2·62	38,826,489	5·43
1965–66	…	…	8,274,153	7·85	43,419,844	5·40
1966–67 (estimate)		…	7,451,442	4·46	47,805,000	5·33

asked the Minister of Health what improvements to hospitals serving Dawley new town have been carried out by the Shrewsbury Hospital Management Committee, and at what cost, for the

(1) TOTAL CAPITAL EXPENDITURE
Hospital			1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67 Estimated
			£	£	£	£	£	£
Copthorne	…	…	33,344	15,786	35,919	30,334	40,823	38,631
New Copthorne General Hospital			582	—	—	103,318	490,930	209,577
Wrekin	…	…	24,012	7,533	1,956	2,826	44,585	49,223
Wellington Cottage		…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Royal Salop Infirmary		…	8,886	11,464	2,248	2,056	16,818	4,151
Cross Houses	…	…	—	2,076	1,385	8,133	14,122	243
Monkmoor	…	…	—	—	—	489	1,613	—
Shelton	…	…	110,751	44,779	14,768	28,794	34,255	30,466
Eye, Ear and Throat	…	…	76	1,373	236	—	1,105	200
			177,651	83,011	56,512	175,950	644,251	332,491
					TOTAL		£1,469,866

(2) PARTICULARS OF SCHEMES COSTING £20,000 AND OVER
							Expenditure
Hospital			Scheme				1961–62 to 1966–67	1967–68 (proposed)
							£	£
Copthorne	…	…	Isolation block and children's wards	…	…	…	33,000	—
			X-ray department improvements	…	…	…	22,500	—
			Hostel unit, common discharge ward	…	…	…	20,000	—
			Engineering services	…	…	…	59,250	25,500
			Extension to pathology department	…	…	…	23,500	—
			Extension to main kitchen	…	…	…	10,000	10,000
New Copthorne General Hospital.			Maternity unit, nurse training school and boiler house				804,410	69,100
Wrekin	…	…	Out-patients department	…	…	…	26,200	—
			Maternity accommodation and lift	…	…	…	72,450	—
			Engineering centralization	…	…	…	11,000	14,600
Cross Houses	…	…	Centralisation of boiler plant	…	…	…	22,278	—
Shelton	…	…	Nurses home and training school	…	…	…	135,500	—
			Occupational therapy facilities	…	…	…	20,275	—
			Sanitary annexes	…	…	…	25,500	—
			Three lifts	…	…	…	4,372	31,500
			Additional laundry machinery	…	…	…	16,000	7,600

Following are figures of expenditure by financial years:years 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966, respectively and what improvements are now being made to the hospital buildings for 1967 and at what cost.

Total capital expenditure and particulars of principal improvements are as follows:—

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider retaining the general practitioner beds at Torrington and placing them under the supervision of the consultant obstetrician.

My right hon. Friend does not consider this would be justified when the new unit at Barnstaple is open.

asked the Minister of Health if he will retain a general practitioner maternity unit in the Bideford district with consultant supervision.

The Regional Hospital Board propose to continue to use the Grenville Nursing Home, subject to the normal periodic review.

asked the Minister of Health if he will consider transferring the maternity unit from the Grenville Nursing Home, Bideford, to a new site at the Bideford and District Hospital.

No. Beds in this home will continue to be used subject to periodic review of need.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of young persons under the age of 21 years in England and Wales who have both legs amputated; and what is the cost of supplying and servicing the artificial limbs supplied to them.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will authorise medical officers of health to permit the use of ambulances for the transport of patients to dental surgeries in order to bring the regulations in line with those applying to the transport of eye patients to medical eye centres.

Ambulance authorities already have a duty under the National Health Service Act, 1946 to secure that ambulances and other means of transport are available, where necessary, for both these purposes.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received urging that distribution of amphetamines in any but liquid form should cease; and what steps he has taken in this direction.

A recent letter from the Town Clerk of Peterborough conveyed the suggestion that if amphetamines were produced only in liquid form peddling might be more difficult and their social appeal less. My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary informed the hon. Member in reply to a Question on 27th April that he was studying a similar suggestion from the Chief Constable of Mid Anglia.—[Vol. 745, c. 321.]

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of health centres now operating in England, Wales and Scotland; and what plans he has to increase this number.

In England and Wales 44 are already in operation and 32 under construction. Eighteen more have been approved and 38 other are at the advanced planning stage. My right hon. Friend has recently issued a comprehensive circular of guidance on health centres to local health authorities, and present indications are that their revised forecast of 300 by 1976 may be greatly exceeded. Questions about health centres in Scotland are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, on whose behalf figures were given in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 5th April.—[Vol. 744, c. 229–30.]

asked the Minister of Health what was the medical evidence on which his decision not to include hemophiliacs in the category of those invalids to whom suitably conducted cars will be provided was based.

The opinion of my right hon. Friend's medical advisers is that the hæmophiliac has no greater claim to be provided with a car than other groups of disabled persons; and that a suitably powered tricycle individually modified as necessary presents no greater risk to the hemophiliac than a motor car.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage change there has been in the numbers of unemployed in Scotland and England, respectively, over the past six months.

Between 10th October, 1966 and 10th April, 1967, total numbers registered as unemployed in Scotland and England increased by 27·3 and 32·1 per cent., respectively. For wholly unemployed only, the corresponding increases were 31·4 and 44·0 per cent.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the numbers of wholly unemployed in Scotland and England, respectively, had been unemployed for eight weeks or more at the most recent date for which figures are available.

At 10th April, 1967, the percentages registered for more than eight weeks were 62·8 and 54·8 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour what parties affected by the Temporary Restrictions on Pay Increases (20th July 1966 Levels) (No. 5) Order 1967 were notified by his Department that extra payments could be made; and if he will state the manner and date of such notification.

Letters were sent to the Birmingham Corporation on 3rd April giving the Minister's consent to payment of the 7 per cent. increases applicable to local authority staffs and of certain promotion increases, and on 27th April giving his consent to payment of incremental increases. Letters informing them that these consents had been given were sent to the National and Local Government Officers' Association and to the Association of Supervisory Staffs, Executives and Technicians on 27th April. Prior telephone notification was given to the Corporation on 22nd March and to N.A.L.G.O. on 17th April.

asked the Minister of Labour what decision he has now taken on compulsory notification of vacancies.

I have nothing to add to the statement on this subject made in the House by my right hon. Friend on 30th November.—[Vol. 737, c. 466–7.]

asked the Minister of Labour when he proposes to revise the Factory Acts to require manufacturers to take precautions for the benefit of workers not employed by them, but whose work involves dealing with their products, such as asbestos board.

asked the Minister of Labour when he will introduce amendments to the Factories Act to ensure that all workers, either directly or indirectly dealing with asbestos products, are adequately protected.

This and other matters are being considered in connection with a revision of the Factories Act. I cannot say when legislation will be possible.Draft Regulation to give improved protection to workers exposed to asbestos dust have just been issued.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he is aware that the dispute between the Shipbuilding Employers' Federation and the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians' Association led to a lock-out of members of that Association as from Tuesday, 7th March; and if he will make a statement on his proposals for dealing with the situation.

The T.U.C. has informed us that the Finance and General Purposes Committee of the General Council discussed the position with representatives of the union on 3rd May, and following this, my right hon. Friend had an informal meeting with representatives of the union on 4th May. I am not at present in a position to report on further developments to the House, but we are keeping in touch with both sides.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of construction workers unemployed at the latest available date; if he will classify the number in each craft; and what are the figures for the Northern Region.

At 10th April, 1967, total numbers registered as unemployed who last worked in the construction industry in Great Britain and in Northern region were 97,189 and 11,177 respectively.The following table shows an occupational analysis of the numbers of wholly unemployed men aged 18 and over, the only category for which this information is available:

	Great Britain	Northern Region
Foreman and manager in civil engineering and contracting	427	25
Shutterers	215	4
Carpenter, joiner	3,968	335
Bricklayer	2,752	341
Mason, stone carver	191	15
Slater, tiler, thatcher, roofing felt fixer	485	35
Plasterer	934	61
Floor and wall tiler, layer, etc	357	18
Painter, decorator, signwriter	6,778	436
Hot water fitter, heating and domestic engineer	409	19
Plumber, gas fitter, etc.	1,972	183
Glazier	73	3
Pavior, road, etc., surface layer	233	16
Steel bender and fixer	708	84
Scaffolder	701	74
Miscellaneous building and civil engineering workers	4,812	387
Steel erector, sheeter	1,793	341
Electrician, etc.	1,970	199
Mechanical handling plant, etc., operator	1,141	123
Erector, millwright, maintenance fitter	560	75
Others	63,522	8,112
All wholly unemployed men	94,001	10,886

asked the Minister of Labour what action he is taking to find employment for, or otherwise assist, employees of Messrs. George S. Clayton Limited, of St. Ann's Street, London E.14, who were first notified on 21st April of an impending redundancy and then dismissed on 24th April.

I understand that the redundancy only involved four part-time pensioners and that they have not so far asked for our help in finding other jobs.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will direct the Construction Industry Training Board to make grants for on-site training of steeplejacks or to require no levy from firms of lightning conductor engineers which receive no benefit from any of the board's training courses.

We are currently considering proposals submitted by the Construction Industry Training Board to include in its Grants Scheme for 1967–68 provision for the payment of grants for approved on-the-job training in the industry. The proposals cover the on-site training of steeplejacks.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will supply figures for each of the regional areas in the United King-

NUMBERS OF YOUNG PERSONS AGED UNDER 18 WHO ENTERED AGRICULTURE AND HORTICULTURE AS THEIR FIRST EMPLOYMENT AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL AND PERCENTAGES THAT THESE FORMED OF ALL YOUNG ENTRANTS TO FIRST EMPLOYMENT
			1960		1961		1962		1963
			Numbers	per cent.	Numbers	per cent.	Numbers	per cent.	Numbers	per cent.
London and South Eastern		…	2,008	2·0	1,973	1·7	2,179	1·8	1,960	1·8
Eastern and Southern		…	3,831	5·8	3,658	5·2	4,102	5·0	3,621	5·0
South western	…	…	2,709	7·8	2,770	7·5	2,908	7·1	2,585	7·0
Midland	…	…	1,925	3·4	1,988	3·3	—	—	—	—
North Midlands	…	…	2,242	5·2	2,165	4·7	—	—	—	—
Midlands	…	…	—	—	—	—	3,685	3·4	3,237	3·5
East and West Ridings			1,345	2·8	1,411	2·8	—	—	—	—
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire			—	—	—	—	2,720	3·9	2,418	4·1
North Western	…	…	1,703	2·4	1,746	2·3	2,074	2·4	1,952	2·5
Northern	…	…	1,652	4·3	1,612	4·0	1,876	4·2	1,869	4·5
Scotland	…	…	3,108	5·0	2,861	4·4	3,237	4·5	2,862	4·5
Wales	…	…	1,450	5·4	1,448	5·0	1,539	4·8	1,518	4·9
Northern Ireland	…	…	584	3·3	560	3·2	530	3·1	478	2·8

				1964		1965		1966
				Numbers	Per cent.	Numbers	Per cent.	Numbers	Per cent.
London and South Eastern	…	…	…	1,863	1·7	1,463	1·5	1,300	1·4
Eastern and Southern	…	…	…	3,283	4·3	3,066	4·3	2,652	4·0
South Western	…	…	…	2,524	6·5	2,253	6·1	2,024	6·0
Midlands	…	…	…	2,865	2·9	2,921	3·1	2,661	2·9
Yorkshire and Lincolnshire	…	…	…	2,342	3·7	—	—	—	—
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	…	…	—	—	1,465	2·7	1,404	2·8
North Western	…	…	…	1,762	2·2	1,495	2·0	1,291	1·9
Northern	…	…	…	1,620	3·7	1,390	3·4	1,022	2·7
Scotland	…	…	…	2,536	3·8	1,970	3·2	1,725	3·0
Wales	…	…	…	1,248	4·0	1,159	3·9	1,088	4·0
Northern Ireland	…	…	…	452	2·6	452	2·6	420	2·6

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what future use is contemplated for the building at present occupied for the Royal Mint; and if he will give an assurance that, in view of its architectural merit, it will substantially be preserved.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Housing and Local Government to the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Sir R. Russell) on 28th April.—[745, c. 357.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why, in view of the fact that there are 971,000,000 building bricks in stock, deliveries of bricks from London to merchants and private builders in the city of Bristol is taking, on average, six to seven weeks.

The only delays are in deliveries of Fletton bricks. Because of the greater confidence among house-builders, Flettons are in high demand everywhere and, unless orders have been registered in advance, no stocks are available for immediate delivery. Other types of bricks are readily available.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he is taking, in consultation with the contractors, to combat the deterioration that is taking place after five months absence of work on the Horseferry Road site for the new Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

Steps taken to combat deterioration include sealing ducts and shafts, completing glazing as far as possible, cocooning electrical plant, and painting or spraying to prevent rusting.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will state the number of firms in the building industry employing more than 5,000 workers, and the value of work done by these firms in the first quarter of 1960 and 1965.

In March, 1967—the latest available date—there were thirteen construction firms which employed more than 5,000 workers, including those in administrative, professional, technical and commercial categories.In the first quarter of 1960 the value of all work done by these firms was £39 million (7·6 per cent. of total output) and in the first quarter of 1965 it was £68·3 million (9·9 per cent. of total output). These figures are given at Constant (1958) prices.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many times during the present reign have pits been dug in Parliament Square and The Mall to hold flag poles for ceremonial occasions; what has been the cost of these excavations; and whether he will devise a more permanent, up-to-date, yet aesthetically acceptable, method of holding these posts.

No pits have been dug during the present reign. The flag poles are inserted in permanent sockets which, when not in use, are capped by concrete slabs. For aesthetic reasons, the slabs are covered by soil and turf in Parliament Square and by hoggin in The Mall.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement concerning the new mint to deal with 9,000 million coins for decimalisation of the currency.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Members for Antrim, South (Sir Knox Cunningham) and Oxford (Mr. Luard) on 25th April, 1967.—[Vol. 745, c. 1330–7.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he proposes to take to ensure that the information he receives about the amount and the value of textiles being imported into this country is accurate.

The information given by importers is generally accurate, and is adequately checked by the Customs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the appeal on 16th April, 1966, against Rating Valuation Assessment No. 667 at the Valuation Office, Inland Revenue, Worcester, by W. J. Ashby, Esq., of Balleroy, Kemerton, Worcestershire, has not yet been adjudicated; and, having regard to the delay of 13 months which has caused hardship and inconvenience to Mr. Ashby, what action is to be taken to redress this grievance.

I am writing to the hon. Member to explain the circumstances of this case, which I hope will be settled shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many employees of the Paymaster-General's Department were housed in No. 10 Downing Street in March, 1966 and March, 1967, respectively.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many civil servants are at present employed in the Paymaster-General's Department.

At 30th April, 662 on banking and pensions work and 2 in the Minister's Private Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Paymaster-General will pay an official visit to the Midlands in order to investigate possible sites for his office in accordance with Her Majesty's Government's policy of dispersing Government departments.

The decision to disperse this Office to Crawley was made by the previous Government and announced on 24th March, 1964. The move is well advanced and about 300 staff are already working in Crawley.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a White Paper on the work of the Paymaster-General's Department.

No. The Paymaster-General's Office acts generally as a banker for government departments other than the Boards of Inland Revenue and Customs and Excise, and the Post Office, and is also responsible for the regular payment of many public service pensions including those of civil servants, teachers, and members of the National Health Service, as well as the retired pay and pensions of officers of the armed forces, their widows and dependents.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums were outstanding on 31st March in respect of payments due from the Federal German Government under the Anglo-German Offset Agreement which terminated on that date; whether such sums had been deposited in London; and what provision exists to carry them forward to count towards the new Tripartite Offset Agreement for 1967–68.

Due to the amount of detailed work involved, full information about accountable payments in respect of the Anglo-German Offset Agreement which terminated on 31st March 1967 will not be available before 15th June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the precise target figures for offsetting payments by the German Government for the defence and civil sectors, respectively, fixed in the Tripartite Offset Agreement to occur during the current financial year.

I would refer the hon. Member to Articles 2, 3 and 4 of the Anglo-German Offset Agreement, which will be published shortly and a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the whole of the £72 million offered towards the cost of British troops in Germany in 1967–68 will arise during the current financial year; and what he estimates to be the deficit falling to be paid in foreign exchange by Her Majesty's Government during the current financial year.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is Yes; and to the second part, therefore, roughly £10 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made with the United States Government regarding the offsetting of foreign exchange costs of United States air force units stationed in Great Britain included in the terms of the Tripartite Offset Agreement after the termination of that agreement.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State, Foreign Affairs, said last Tuesday, the three Governments concerned recognise that the balance of payments consequences resulting from stationing of forces abroad for the common defence continue to pose a problem for joint attention and we shall he discussing how to proceed with studying the long-term aspects; but these discussions have not yet been initiated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sum has been attributed under the Tripartite Offset Agreement to the foreign exchange earnings accruing in 1967–68 to the United Kingdom from the stationing of United States air force units in Great Britain; how this sum was arrived at; and what proportion it represents of total foreign exchange earnings accruing to the United Kingdom from United States air force units moved to Great Britain.

This figure is estimated at £7 million, which is the best estimate available at present from British and American sources. It represents the whole of the foreign exchange earnings accruing to the United Kingdom from additional U.S. air force units moving to Great Britain under present plans.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of additional defence purchases which the United States Government has undertaken to make in 1967–68 from the United Kingdom as part of the Tripartite Offset Agreement over and above the £12½ trillion purchases it undertook to make in November 1966.

£7 million.

asked the Minister of Transport, what is the composition of the inter-departmental working party on speed limit policy; how often it has met this year; and when it is expected to report.

The regular members of the Working Party include representatives of the Ministry of Transport and Road Research Laboratory, the Home Office, the Police, the Scottish Development Department and the Welsh Office. During their work they have also consulted and received comments, ideas and information from a wide circle of people both in this country and abroad, and some of these have attended meetings. The Working Party itself has met four times this year and aims to report this summer.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what local authorities, trade unions and other public bodies were consulted before she agreed to the removal of the railway track between Dumfries and Stranraer;(2) whether she consulted the South-West of Scotland Economic Planning Group before she gave permission to the British Railways Board to remove the track of the Dumfries—Stranraer line; and what was the effect of the Group's recommendations;(3) whether she will withdraw her permission to British Railways to lift the Dumfries—Stranraer railway track until the survey of the Scottish Tourist Board and Strathclyde University of the tourist potential of the region has been completed.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will withhold permission from British Railways to lift the track from Dumfries to Challoch Junction until she has received a report on the future development of Dumfries and Galloway from the South-West Scotland Economic Planning Consultative Group.

My right hon. Friend gave the Railways Board her agreement on 20th December last to the disposal of the track and formation of this line. Before doing so she consulted the Government Departments concerned. In particular the proposal was carefully considered by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Scottish Economic Planning Board. The South-West Consultative Group, which reports to him, had not been appointed when she made her consultations. In considering the proposal she took full account of all aspects, including tourism, and I do not think the proposed study on tourism, whcih is not expected to be completed until mid-1968, reflects on her decision.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will ensure that the motorway links of Merseyside and the M6, and Merseyside and Manchester are completed by the time that the new Seaforth Dock is operational.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers given to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Fortescue)—[Vol. 742, c. 96.] on 1st March, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Toxteth (Mr. Crawshaw)—[Vol. 742, c. 273.] on 8th March, relating to the South Lancashire Motorway, which is the only motorway link between Liverpool and the M6 for which a scheme is at present being prepared for inclusion in the programme. It will be some time before the date of construction can be fixed.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what information she has to show that the £5 penalty for breaking-down on the Severn Bridge has influenced motorists who wish to use the Bridge; (2) how many vehicles have incurred the £5 penalty for breaking down on the Severn Bridge; and what figures are available of the causes of these breakdowns.

We have no information as to whether motorists are influenced by the possibility of incurring the charges levied to pay for the removal services.Up to the end of last month, charges of £5 or more have been made for removal of 218 vehicles. The causes of breakdown were: mechanical 110, electrical 19, tyres 32, accidents 33, water 3, fuel 20, fire 1.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will invite local authorities to notify him if they appoint a local ombudsman, in order to obtain information relevant to future proposals for an increase in the scope of the Parliamentary Commissioner.

My right hon. Friend would certainly be glad to have details from any local authority who adopt this way of dealing with complaints from citizens, and news of the way in which their arrangements work out in practice.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much land he estimates will be lost to farming in North Bedfordshire through gravel working during the next 20 years.

I am afraid I cannot make a useful estimate. We can estimate, very roughly, how much sand and gravel is likely to be needed in South-East England over the next 20 years, but our information about reserves, including reserves under the sea, is increasing all the time, and I cannot predict how much of the demand will be met from particular places. Nor can I estimate how much land will be used for gravel working and then restored to farming.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much land he estimates has been lost to farming in North Bedfordshire through gravel working.

By the end of 1966 about 900 acres of land in North Bedfordshire had been used for gravel working. Of this figure about 140 acres have so far been restored to agriculture.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what estimates he has made of the workable reserves of gravel in the valley of the Great Ouse;(2) what percentage of the total gravel worked in England and Wales comes from the valley of the Great Ouse.

There are believed to be about 7,000 acres of workable gravel-bearing land in the valley of the Great Ouse. This area contributes at present about 2 per cent. of the sand and gravel worked in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rate rebates were given to persons living within the Huddersfield County Borough boundaries in 1966–67 under the Rating Act 1966.

In 1966–67 about 4,450 people in Huddersfield got rate rebates—most of them for the whole year but some for one half-year only.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total cost of the rate rebates given to persons living within the Huddersfield County Borough boundaries in 1966–67 under the Rating Act 1966.

In 1966–67 rebates to ratepayers in Huddersfield under the Rating Act 1966 came to about £28,600.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total amount for all purposes paid from national funds to assist the rates income in the county borough of Huddersfield for the years 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, and 1966–67.

The total sums paid to the county borough of Huddersfield in respect of general grant, rate deficiency grant, grants under Section 1 of the Rating (Interim Relief) Act 1964, specific grants in aid of revenue expenditure and housing subsidies are as follows:—

1961–62	…	…	…	£2,027,127
1962–63	…	…	…	£2,220,573
1963–64	…	…	…	£2,968,738
1964–65	…	…	…	£3,211,543
1965–66	…	…	…	£3,588,463

Comparable figures for 1966–67 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rents have been referred to the rent assessment committee in Hillingdon Borough; what proportion have been fixed at a higher level than the rent officer's suggested rent; and how many have been fixed at a level above that originally requested by the landlord.

Rents registered by the Rent Officer for Hillingdon have been referred to a rent assessment committee in 15 cases of which 10 have been decided. The rent determined by the rent officer was reduced by the committee's decision in 2 cases, confirmed in 1 and increased in 7. The rent asked by the landlord was reduced by the committee's decision in 9 cases and increased in 1; in this last case the rent fixed by the committee was lower than that suggested by the rent officer. The rent payable before the application was made was reduced by the committee's decision in 8 cases and increased in 2.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given to local authorities about the heating of old people's dwellings; and whether that advice has been modified by the new cost control arrangements announced by Circular 36/67.

The Department has on a number of occasions advised local authorities to provide a higher standard of heating than normal in accommodation designed specifically for old people. "Flatlets for Old People" (1958) and "More Flatlets for Old People" (1960) recommended full central heating. "Some Aspects of Designing for Old People" (1962) recommended that the central heating system should be designed to maintain a temperature of 70°F throughout the dwelling. This advice still stands. The new cost yardsticks announced in Circular 36/67 contain special additions for old people's dwellings which allow for the extra cost of heating to these very high standards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has further considered an increase in the magistrates subsistence allowance; how this compares with local authority allowances; and what steps he now proposes to take.

I have no proposals for increasing this allowance, which is on the same scale as that for local authority members.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the figures for convictions of drunkenness in the Metropolitan Police district during the calendar year 1966.

I regret that the figures given for the Metropolitan Police District in my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 10th March were inaccurate. The correct provisional figures are as follows:

Total	Under 18	18 and under 21
27,522	200	1,404

The total figure is still the lowest for some years, although the figures for the two younger age groups show a small increase.—[Vol. 743, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Consumers Association or home safety committees about inferior types of electric light bulbs which explode in a dangerous manner; and what reply he has sent.

None; but if my hon. Friend has a particular incident in mind and will write to me about it, I shall gladly arrange for inquiries to be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in future publications issued by his Department designed to attract industry to development areas, any Scottish schools illustrated will be typical of Scottish education and not English public schools as in the publication, Room to Expand.

The booklet does not aim to give a detailed picture of any one development area, but attempts to present a cross-section of life and work in them all.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many jobs in Edinburgh and Scotland, respectively, have so far been estimated to have been placed in jeopardy as a result of Edinburgh's exclusion from the Investment Incentive Scheme, which is available to the whole of the rest of Scotland and the north of England.

I have made no such estimates. A few firms have come to my notice, however, which have transferred work from Edinburgh to other areas in Scotland in greater need of employment. Firms in Edinburgh and Leith receive, of course, the normal investment grants payable in Great Britain as a whole outside Development Areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his latest estimate of the number of potential new jobs arising from industries which have indicated their desire to settle in the hinterland and reclaimed areas of Leith Docks, since the original announcement excluding Edinburgh from the Investment Incentive Scheme; and how many he estimates have been lost to this area through industry being repelled by the effects of exclusion.

Since January 1966, industrial development certificates have been issued for three new projects in the Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello area which, according to estimates made by the firms, will employ about 70 people. In addition, Ferranti Ltd. have announced that they intend to take over existing premises in the area to provide an additional 1,000 jobs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will itemise all long-term undertakings regarding access to the United Kingdom markets for Commonwealth foodstuffs producers currently in operation and give in each case the duration of the undertaking and details of any provision for earlier termination at the demand of either party.

The following are the particulars requested:

A. UNDERTAKINGS PROVIDING FOR ACCESS FREE OF QUANTITATIVE RESTRICTIONS:
Item	Undertaking to			Duration	Provision for earlier termination
Beef and veal, mutton and lamb.	Australia	…	…	Until 30th September, 1967	None.
Dairy products and meat.	New Zealand	…	…	Until 30th September, 1972	None.

B. OTHER UNDERTAKINGS REGARDING ACCESS:
Item				Undertaking to			Duration	Provision for earlier termination
Sugar	…	…	…	Sugar-producers parties to the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement.			Until 31st December, 1974	None.
Butter	…	…	…	Australia and New Zealand			For so long as existing butter quota arrangements remain in operation.
Wheat	…	…	…	Australia	…	…	Duration of the Trade Agreement.	Terminable on six months' notice.

C. UNDERTAKINGS RELATING TO DUTY-FREE ENTRY:

Trade Agreements with Australia, New Zealand, India and Pakistan provide for duty-free entry for a wide range of commodities; all of these agreements are of indefinite duration but subject to termination on six months' notice given by either party, except that the Trade Agreement with New Zealand continues until 1st January, 1970 and thereafter at six months' notice.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of substantial increases in the price of periodicals which have taken place in the last year; and whether he will ask the National Board for Prices and Incomes to investigate these increases.

I am aware that the prices of some periodicals have been increased over the last year. The circumstances of individual publications vary considerably, but, in view of increases in production costs and reductions in advertising revenue over this period, these price increases do not appear to be inconsistent with the policies the Government has been asking industry to follow in determining prices. I therefore do not feel it is necessary to ask the National Board for Prices and Incomes to investigate the prices of periodicals at this time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has fully examined both Stansted and Sheppey as alternative sites for a third London airport.

Yes, and many others.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will list the number of accidents resulting in injury or death in which British-owned civil aircraft have been involved in the last year for which figures are available, separating the figures for the British Overseas Airways Corporation, Britsh European Airways, and the private operators, respectively.

In 1966 there were five such accidents involving public transport aircraft. One of the aircraft was operated by the British Overseas Airways Corporation, one by an Associated Company of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, one by British European Airways and two by other operators.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number and types of aircraft operated by British-owned companies and the approximate total of miles flown in the last convenient year, listing separately the British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways, and the private operators.

The numbers and types of aircraft operated by United Kingdom airlines are listed below. Miles flown by aircraft of the British Overseas Airways Corporation, British European Airways and the private companies in 1966 were 68, 54, and 77 millions, respectively.

Airline	Aircraft in Service at 31st December, 1966
	Type		Number
B.O.A.C	Boeing 707	…	21
	V.C. 10	…	20
		…	41
B.E.A. (including B.E.A. Helicopters Ltd.)	Trident	…	21
	Vanguard	…	19
	Comet	…	13
	Viscount 800	…	37
	Argosy	…	5
	Heron	…	1
	D.C.3.	…	1
	S.61.N.	…	4
	S.55	…	1
			102
Independent Airlines	V.C. 10	…	3
	Britannia	…	45
	Comet	…	1
	D.C.7.	…	3
	Carvair	…	8
	D.C.6.	…	2
	D.C.4.	…	10
	B.A.C.1–11	…	15
	Herald	…	6
	Viscount 800	…	6
	H.S.748	…	9
	Bristol 170	…	15
	Viscount 700	…	16
	Ambassador	…	11
	Viking	…	4
	D.C.3.	…	25
	Heron	…	4
	Dove	…	5
	Cessna	…	2
	Aztec	…	1
			191
All U.K. Airlines		…	334

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how much money was allocated from central Government funds towards the school building programme in Huddersfield for the years 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66, and 1966–67, respectively;(2) how much has been allocated from central Government funds towards the school building programme in Huddersfield in 1967–68.

The following figures show the value of the work authorised in each of the years in question.

		Major Programme	Minor Programme	Total
		£	£	£
1961–62	…	450,353	13,000	463,353
1962–63	…	49,524	13,000	62,524
1963–64	…	—	15,000	15,000
1964–65	…	—	15,000	15,000
1965–66	…	376,611	51,000	427,611
1966–67	…	195,747	50,000	245,747
1967–68	…	155,873	45,000	200,873

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what are Her Majesty's Government's commitments to assist the defence of Kenya and, in particular, her frontier with Somalia.

We maintain close consultation with the Kenya Government on defence matters and are aware of the problems in this area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average size of farm holdings in Northern Ireland, England and Scotland, respectively.

The average size of all agricultural holdings exceeding one acre in extent in England and Scotland, and of one acre or more in Northern Ireland is as follows:

AVERAGE SIZE OF AGRICULTURAL HOLDINGS (June, 1966)
		Crops and grass	Crops and grass, including rough grazings
		acres	acres
Northern Ireland	…	31·7	40·2
England	…	81·9	88·2
Scotland	…	79·0	271·6*
* Includes area of deer forests.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of recent increases in the price of chocolates; and whether he will report them to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave on 23rd January to my hon. Friend the Member for Bethnal Green (Mr. Hilton).—[Vol. 739, c. 205.]

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will prepare comprehensive contingency plans for regional development in the event of Great Britain entering the European Economic Community.

The Government are steadily developing their regional economic planning policies and this process will continue whether or not we become a member of the Community.