asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the size of the British Armed Forces stationed in the United Kingdom, following reductions made overseas.

On 1st April, 1967, there were 245,000 Regular personnel of the three Services stationed in the United Kingdom compared with a total of 230,000 at the end of 1965. The increase is largely the consequence of redeployment from overseas. It is some indication of our success in achieving the relief of overstretch, which was one of the major aims of the Defence Review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the eventual replacement of the Buccaneer aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my speech on 1st May.—[Vol. 746, c. 123.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has in hand to encourage service personnel to undertake regular civil community service at home and overseas, and to make reasonable use of service facilities in order to do so.

As I said in the Army Estimates Debate, in elaboration of the Statement on the Defence Estimates, the scope for developing further the peaceful use of military forces is being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will announce details of the new deal for Royal Navy dockyard employees.

I cannot say. We are still negotiating with the trade unions concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated total annual cost, and initial cost, of establishing lectureships and in readerships for higher defence studies at British universities contemplated or planned by his Department.

About £3,000 this financial year, and £36,500 by 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will cancel the naval visit to South Africa unless he receives an undertaking from the South African Government that there will be no discrimination against coloured sailors in the visiting party.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers that I gave to similar Questions this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were his reasons for approving the proposed visit of units of the Royal Navy to ports in the Republic of South Africa.

Visits such as this are an important part of our naval cooperation with South Africa in accordance with the terms of the Simonstown Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent, under naval regulations, Royal Navy personnel are separated or distinguished on the basis of race, creed, or colour; and if he will cancel the proposed visit of Royal Navy units to the Republic of South Africa.

There is no discrimination within the Royal Navy on the basis of race, creed or colour. The proposed visit to South Africa will proceed as planned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions in the last 2½ years Royal Navy ships have visited South African ports; and what special arrangements were made to protect the rights of coloured crew members.

In addition to the visits made by the Royal Navy frigates based on Simonstown under C-in-C S.A.S.A.'s command, Her Majesty's Ships have visited South African ports on six occasions in the past 2½ years. No separate record is kept of coloured personnel serving in the Royal Navy, and it is not known how many coloured personnel were in these ships. However, the practice then was that coloured personnel who did not have strong personal reasons for going to South Africa were normally transferred from their ships. It has been usual for multi-racial entertainment to be organised during the course of these visits.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions have now been reached on the number of ground forces to be withdrawn from Europe and cast of Suez, respectively.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs explained in his Statement to the House on 2nd May, proposals involving the redeployment from the Continent of Europe of one brigade group have been put to our allies in accordance with the normal procedures of N.A.T.O. and W.E.U. As regards the latter part of the Question I would refer to the Answers I have given to similar Questions this afternoon.—[Vol. 746, c. 332.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made with the Australian and New Zealand Governments for defence.

We keep in close touch with the Australian and New Zealand Governments on defence matters in a number of ways, and have some joint planning arrangements with them. They, like we, are members of S.E.A.T.O.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of his Department's refusal to permit Bandsman R. Webster to serve overseas, he will refund the sum of £200 paid by his mother to secure his discharge from the service.

No. I am afraid that there were no compassionate grounds which might have justified a reduction or waiving of the discharge price.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he has taken to reinforce the British forces stationed in Hong Kong.

No request to reinforce our troops in Hong Kong has been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Household Brigade will be incorporated in the new Guards Division.

The Secretary of State for Defence explained to the House on 11th May that, as part of the reorganisation of the Infantry, The Brigade of Guards will in due course be renamed The Guards Division. The Household Cavalry, which is also part of the Household Brigade, is not affected by these changes to the Infantry, and will not form part of the Guards Division.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his talks with the French Government on an Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to agree the specification for the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft.

I would refer to the Answer which I gave earlier today to the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to reduce the nuisance of low flying over the Studland area.

Low flying is an essential part of operational training but no more is done than is strictly necessary. We are very conscious of the need to cause the minimum disturbance, consistent with operational and safety requirements. Each flight has to be authorised in writing and carried out no lower than is necessary for the particular training being undertaken. Pilots are briefed to avoid flying over towns below 2,000 feet. I very much regret any disturbance that may occur from time to time in the Studland area. It is not, however, practicable for low-flying aircraft completely to avoid all inhabited areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what further progress has been made on the study of special social, welfare and psychological problems which confront wives of Royal Navy personnel; and whether he will make a statement.

The Family Welfare Working Party has now reported and a number of recommendations about the special problems which confront naval wives are being studied. I will write to the hon. Member as soon as our examination is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in the planning and development of a nuclear-powered surface vessel for the Royal Navy.

Good progress is being made with the necessary studies, but I have nothing at present to add to what I said during the Navy Estimates debate on 15th March, 1967.—[Vol. 743, c. 616.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the regulation under which married soldiers under the age of twenty-one years are not entitled to Army married accommodation and whose wives are not entitled either to official quarters or to travel at public expense; and if he will make a statement on the number of families affected.

No; the number of families affected is 2,422.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present composition and deployment of the Commonwealth Brigade.

The Commonwealth Brigade is made up of Australian, New Zealand and British units and is stationed at Malacca in West Malaysia.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many different types of aircraft will be in service in the Far East Air Force in June 1967; and how many of these will still be in current production.

Fifteen and Two respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many anchors are now held at Singapore compared with the 127 which were held in March, 1966.

One hundred and forty-nine, of which 23 are awaiting return to the United Kingdom and 11 are in course of local disposal. This will leave a net holding of 115 anchors in Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make known the results of his inquiry into the recent deaths of two boys caused by high explosives on Lulworth ranges.

The deaths of the two boys were caused by the explosion of a 3.5 inch rocket, which had failed to go off during practice firing. They had apparently found it when trespassing on the range. Instructions provide for all types of unexploded ammunition to be located and destroyed: but the complete disposal of these missiles had not been carried out before the accident. The Range Standing Orders have accordingly been revised. The arrangements for warning members of the public against trespassing on the range are satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made for new items of British military equipment to be tried under combat condition in Vietnam; and if he will give examples of such equipment.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements he has made to learn from United States experience in Vietnam lessons applicable to the design of British military equipment.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer today to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Dorking (Sir G. Sinclair).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value of exports arranged by the Arms Salesman during the financial year 1966–67; and to which countries these arms were exported.

Figures for the financial year 1966–67 are not yet available but the provisional estimate for the export of defence equipment for the calendar year 1966 is £146 million. It is contrary to normal practice to disclose details of arms exports to individual countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the diving accident in Caw-sand Bay on 9th April, 1967.

I regret to say that during aqualung diving training by members of the Expedition Diving Club of H.M.S. "Fisgard" in Cawsand Bay on 9th April an accident occurred which resulted in the deaths of Instructor Lieutenant F. Anton, who was in charge of the party, and of Artificer Apprentice J. T. Phillips. They failed to respond to signals instructing them to surface after a dive of normal duration and when hauled from the water unconscious, could not be revived despite attempt at resuscitation. The exact cause of their deaths has not been established. I extend my deepest sympathy to the relatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he has given details of the intention of the 1959 to 1964 administration with regard to the numbers of TSR2s required in breach of the normal convention.

The size of the Conservative Administration's TSR2 programme has been public knowledge for over two years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to maintain the required numbers of doctors and dentists in the services, in the light of the British Medical Association's recently published decision to withdraw co-operation in the recruiting field as a result of pay negotiations with Her Majesty's Government.

My right hon. Friend explained on 12th April, 1967 in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) that the British Medical Association proposed that, in addition to the 10 per cent. already agreed by the Government, a further increase of 8 per cent. should be awarded to Service doctors and dentists. The British Medical Association also proposed that any new pay structure should be excepted from the terms of the White Paper on Prices and Incomes (Cmnd. 3235). The Government could not accept these proposals as being within the terms of the incomes policy; and I regret that the British Medical Association could not accept our invitation to join us in evolving a system for determining the pay of doctors in the Services which would satisfy all interests and which my right hon. Friend could commend to his colleagues. They have since declined to assist in the recruitment of doctors for the Armed Forces.

As I told the House on 30th January, we are fortunate to have Armed Forces medical services which are second to none. Their officers are fulfilling a vital role in each of the three Services, and they have brought the standard of medical attention enjoyed by servicemen and their families to an extremely high level. We are anxious to have a full complement of medical and dental officers in the Services; and we are therefore continuing to make every effort to recruit all the doctors and dentists we need. I hope that those members of these professions who are at present serving with the Armed Forces will accept my assurance that H.M.G. will do everything possible to find a satisfactory solution in this matter as quickly as possible.—[Vol. 740, c. 52–120; Vol. 774, c. 1193–4. ]

asked the Minister of Transport when she will publish the White Paper on Transport.

I cannot yet give a precise date because I may find it convenient to publish two or three White Papers on various aspects of policy that will be covered by the Transport Bill. They will be published in time to give the House an opportunity of studying the details before legislation is introduced.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will take steps to ensure that when vehicles are re-exported from the Channel Islands to this country the normal requirement that vehicles be tested within three years of first registration is not nullified by ignoring earlier registration outside this country.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the provisions of Clause 4 of the Road Traffic (Amendment) Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps she has taken during the last three months in North-East Scotland to implement the Transport policy plans set out in 1966 White Paper on Transport Policy (Command 3057).

The implementation of most of the proposals in the White Paper will require legislation and we are making good progress with its preparation. As a consequence, the whole country should get better transport services and North-East Scotland should share in the benefits from these. A map has already been published of the basic railway network for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give topographical details of the scheme she has received during the last three months from the Scottish Economic Planning Council relating to the co-ordination of road, rail and air transport in North-East Scotland, in view of the fact that these details are essential for industrialists availing of advance factory plans and other plans of Her Majesty's Government for the industrial development of North-East Scotland.

We have received no such scheme from the Council. I would suggest that industrialists interested in development in North-East Scotland should first discuss their detailed requirements with the transport operators, including British Railways, who provide services in the area.

asked the Minister of Transport what action is taken when reports are received of unlicensed vehicles being used on the road, to see that during the period before the renewal of the road fund licence such vehicles had Ministry of Transport road test certificates; and what system is used, other than production of such test certificates, on renewal of road fund licences to ensure that vehicles on the road have been properly tested.

A retrospective check is not practicable. On the second part of the Question, the police are empowered to require production of a test certificate in respect of any vehicle to which the test requirements apply. Drivers can be and are asked at roadside checks to produce test certificates.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate of road traffic to the proposed new airfield at Stansted has been made by her Department for the year 1973.

The volume of potential road traffic to Stansted in any given year will depend on the rate at which the airport is developed, about which it is too early to be precise.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate of rail traffic to the proposed new airfield at Stansted has been made by her Department for the year 1973.

The volume of potential rail traffic to Stansted in any given year will depend on the rate at which the airport is developed, about which it is too early to be precise.

asked the Minister of Transport if she has received the report of the Lighting Working Party on the use of Reflective Number Plates; and if she will make a statement.

My Lighting Working Party have agreed that there is no objection to permitting the use of reflective material on vehicle number plates; I refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-Under-Lyme (Mr. Swingler) during the Second Reading of the Road Transport Lighting Bill this morning.

asked the Minister of Transport what further action she has taken to co-ordinate university research in transport studies with similar research in her Department.

In developing my research programmes I take into account relevant research at universities and elsewhere. When appropriate, contracts are placed with universities for specific research. Universities are represented in the membership of my two main research advisory bodies, the Advisory Council on Road Research, and the Urban Research and Development Group. The Science Research Council and the Social Science Research Council consult with my Department on all research grant applications from universities with transport relevance. To make knowledge and experience of survey work as widely available as possible, I have recently established a Central Index of Traffic and Transportation surveys.

With the aim of informing universities of the objects of my economic research programme, a one-day symposium was held in April. The Road Research Laboratory is to hold a two-day conference in July to consider with university representatives ways of developing further co-operation between the laboratory and universities.

asked the Minister of Transport if the Consultants' Report mentioned in paragraph 9 of the London Transport Board's Annual Report for 1966 has been completed.

Yes. It is now being considered by the Directing Group in charge of the Joint Review.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list all the goods vehicle testing stations that are being prepared, giving in each case the expected date of completion and the expected date that each will come into operation.

Goods Vehicle testing stations are being prepared at the following places:— England Berwick. Peterborough. Newcastle. Wolverhampton (Featherstone). Carlisle. Darlington. Birmingham (Garrett's Green). Scarborough (Seamer). York (Walton). Royston. Skipton. Worcester. Beverley. Ipswich. Leeds (Rothwell). Luton. Preston (Kirkham). Gloucester. Huddersfield. Bicester. North of Manchester (Heywood). Chelmsford. Edmonton. South of Manchester (Bredbury). Purfleet. Yeading. Grimsby. Mitcham. Doncaster Newbury. Liverpool (Simonswood). Canterbury. Gillingham. Sheffield. Guildford. Wallasey. Battle. Stoke-on-Trent (Swynnerton). Southampton (Botley). Northampton (Weedon) Lancing. Isle of Wight. Sleaford (Spitalgate). Bristol. Nottingham (Watnall). Calne. Salisbury. Derby (Alvaston). Taunton. Shrewsbury. Exeter. Norwich. Bournemouth (Poole). Leicester. Downham Market. Plymouth. Camborne. Scotland Inverness. Edinburgh (Livingston). Aberdeen. Perth. Glasgow. Kilmarnock. Wales Wrexham. Pontypool. Ammanford. Llantrisant.

Part-time facilities will be provided where the vehicle population is insufficient to warrant a full-time station and discussions are taking place with interested organisations on the siting of these facilities.

It is expected that most of the full-time stations will be completed between January and June, 1968, so that testing and plating of the heavier goods vehicles can start nationally in July, 1968. When testing stations are ready for occupation before this date, they will be staffed so that operators may voluntarily bring their vehicles for test and gain experience of the standards of testing applicable to vehicles being tested and plated.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate she has made of the amount of coal to be carried on British Railways in the 1970s when deciding to stabilise the railway network at 11,000 miles.

In deciding on the proposed railway network, full account was taken of the likely future output of coal and of the amount of coal likely to be conveyed by rail. The estimates used were those quoted in the National Plan brought up to date.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will hasten her decision on the future of Snow Hill Station, Birmingham.

My right hon. Friend will decide this important passenger closure proposal as soon as she can, but not before she has fully considered all the factors involved.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the income obtained from the tolls paid by users of the Severn Bridge since it was opened.

£400,000.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the fees charged for the removal of broken-down vehicles from the Severn Bridge will cover the costs of providing this service.

It is too early to say.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the numbers of broken-down commercial vehicles, private cars and motor cycles which have been removed from the Severn Bridge since it was opened; and what are the sums recovered in respect of the fees for this service.

Between 8th September, 1966 and 12th May 1967, 62 commercial vehicles, 167 private cars and four motor cycles were removed from the bridge. Charges amounting to £1,194 are being recovered.

asked the Minister of Transport when the fees for the recovery of broken-down vehicles from the Severn Bridge will be reviewed; and what arrangements she plans to make if the income from the fees is less than the cost of providing the recovery service.

It is proposed to review the charges as soon as there has been sufficient experience of the incidence of break-downs under the varying conditions on the bridge. I cannot anticipate the outcome of this review.

asked the Minister of Transport why she has disbanded subcommittees A, B and C of the Road Safety Advisory Council.

I would like the National Road Safety Advisory Council to concentrate on the broader issues of road safety, rather than on the technical details. These can best be studied in the Road Safety organisation of my Department which has frequent and regular contacts with a wide range of outside experts. I very much hope that the specialists who joined in the work of the subcommittees will continue to help us through such contacts.

asked the Minister of Transport what restrictions are placed on the right of the Road Safety Advisory Council, as constituted, to criticise Government proposals.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the computer for the Road Research Laboratory has yet been installed.

The English Electric System 4/70 computer ordered by the Ministry is due to be installed at the Road Research Laboratory at Crowthorne in the summer of 1968.

The Laboratory is at present equipped with a Pegasus computer.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will inquire into the accident rate in the village of Withington, Salop; and what steps she proposes to take to reduce this rate.

Four accidents, involving one serious and three slight injuries, have occurred at Withington since February, 1964. The highway authority for the road is the Shropshire County Council, who would be responsible for carrying out any necessary improvements, but the accident reports do not indicate any particular defect in road conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will state how much money has been paid out by her Department as a result of compulsory purchase, and the average amount in each individual case in each of the last five years.

I regret that the information requested is not readily available, and the cost of obtaining it would be excessive.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of Britain's application to join the Common Market and the need for vehicles to drive on the right-hand side of the road, what action she has taken or intends to take to implement this policy; and what is the estimated cost involved in bringing about this change on the roads and on road vehicles conversion.

Britain's application to join the Common Market does not necessarily involve a change to driving on the right. But this is certainly one of the factors we shall consider in the studies we are making of the advantages and disadvantages of such a change. As I told the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 19th April, the preliminary estimates show that the cost could be in the region of £350 million if 10 years warning were given.—[Vol. 745, c. 586.]

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the fact that it has now been decided that the contract for the remaining section of M5 between Quinton and Great Barr cannot be laid until late this year, to what extent her previous estimate that the work would be completed before the end of 1969 must now be modified.

There are three outstanding contracts on this section, two of which are expected to be completed in 1969 and the third by the spring of 1970.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the longest, the shortest, and the average distance between traffic signals in Western Avenue; and what is the distance from the Green Gate to Aldborough Road on Eastern Avenue.

Including Peak Hour and Pedestrian-operated signals Excluding Peak Hour and Pedestrian-operated signals Longest distance … 1¼ miles 1¼ miles Shortest distance … ⅛ mile 9/16 mile Average distance … ¾ mile 1 mile

The distance from the Green Gate to Aldborough Road on Eastern Avenue is ¾ mile.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in her consultations with local authorities about the D ring road in North-West London; and whether she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend wrote to interested authorities in April seeking their comments, before the Summer Recess, on the alignment suggested by the G.L.C. Some authorities (including the London Borough of Harrow) have asked for an extension of time to formulate their views, and my right hon. Friend is now considering these requests.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what difficulties her Department has met in attracting suitable tenders for the Woolley Edge motorway service area; and how many tenders have so far been received;

(2) what was the original closing date for tenders for the Woolley Edge motorway service area; and whether a new closing date has been fixed.

The tender period was extended from 28th November, 1966 to 16th January, 1967, at the request of certain tenderers who considered that the economics of the catering facilities would require a connecting bridge between the two sides. There are strong engineering, local amenity and financial objections to the provision of a bridge. In the event no tenders were received. We are revising the conditions of tender and will be re-advertising shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will commission a study of the volume of Scottish exports shipped from English ports, enumerating the reasons for the shipments where high inland freight charges resulted.

Tables published by the National Ports Council in their Digest of Port Statistics show that in 1964, out of 1.5 million tons of dry cargo exports other than coal which originated in Scotland, only some 250,000 tons were shipped through English seaports.

Additional light may be thrown on the general influence of such factors as overall transport costs and shipping service availability and frequency by some of the studies now in progress; we do not think a special survey of this small percentage of Scottish exports would yield results proportionate to its likely cost.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been taken to follow up proposals made at the last United Nations Conference for Trade and Development to help achieve real progress when the Conference reconvenes.

Since the First U.N.C.T.A.D. Conference in 1964 there have been regular meetings of the Trade and Development Board, the main permanent organ of the Conference, and of its four main subsidiary bodies.

There has been detailed discussion of the problems of the developing countries, the nature of which is now more widely appreciated. In particular, the United Kingdom/Swedish proposal for Supplementary Financial Measures to assist countries suffering unexpected disruption of their export earnings has been worked out in a report by the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and is now under examination by Governments. The international agreement for tin has been renewed and the United Kingdom has been active in the attempts to negotiate new agreements for cocoa and sugar.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the official figures given for the rise in food prices and cost of living of Great Britain's entry into the Common Market and on the basis of wage and salary scales rising to compensate workers for these price increases, by how much he estimates this would cause a rise in the price of manufactured goods in general; and how these price increases would affect Great Britain's exports so far as costs are concerned.

It is not possible to give exact quantitative estimates, because results must depend on the terms of any agreement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list of the main trades and industries which would be greatly benefited and seriously affected in an adverse manner on Great Britain entering the Common Market.

No, since the results of entry must depend on the terms of any agreement reached.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will invite representations from interested organisations, after he has decided on the guide lines to his proposed inquiry into advertising, but before he proceeds to commission the execution of the project.

Before commissioning this work, I shall seek the advice of any organisation which seems to me able to contribute usefully towards settling the scope of the research and the best method of conducting it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will defer any decisions regarding the form of his proposed research into advertising, until the Advertising Association publishes the findings of the survey it commissioned from an independent research company.

I hope to see the report on this survey within the next few weeks; it will be some time later before details of the research I intend to commission can be settled.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a list of the organisations and companies he intends to consult before he institutes his proposed study of the functions of advertising in the economy.

What consultations would be helpful and appropriate will emerge as the formulation of this research project develops; it would not therefore be practicable to publish a list.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the latest figures available show an import figure of almost £4 million on the one-armed bandits, fruit machines, juke boxes, etc., mainly from the United States of America and Australia; whether he will give a breakdown of these figures; to what extent entry into the Common Market will permit an unrestricted flow of these types of machines from Italy and Germany; and to what extent this will affect the trade with Australia.

This figure relates to imports of all coin or disc-operated amusement machines and parts thereof in 1966. An analysis of this total by type of machine is not available. If the United Kingdom enters the Common Market, tariffs on this type of machinery imported from other member states including Italy and Germany would eventually be removed. It is not possible to predict the extent to which this would affect the trade with Australia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what records are kept of the number and type of animals imported for vivisection purposes.

Animals for vivisection purposes are not separately distinguished in the trade statistics. The following is the record of licences issued in 1966 for the importation for research purposes of certain kinds of animals listed in the Schedule to the Animals (Restriction of Importation) Act, 1964. The import licences were not necessarily fully used: Callithricidae (Primate) … 1,062 Cebidae (Primate) … 1,855 Cercopithecidae (Primate) … 19,389 Lguanidae (Reptile) … 65 Pongidae (Primate) … 2

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the difficulties in interpreting the relevant provision in the Weights and Measures Act, 1963, he will make an Order making it clear that prepacked natural cheese other than Cheddar or Cheshire need not be sold by weight.

As the Act is sufficiently clear on this point, I do not consider that an amending Order is needed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish the Report of the Scottish Council (Development and Industry) in its amended form dealing with the suggested roles of Abbotsinch and Prestwick Airports.

No, but it is open to the Scottish Council to publicise its views if it so wishes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that British European Airways will be in a position to meet its forecast requirements for seats during the 1970s with British aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

This is one important aspect of the complex of problems before the Government in connection with B.E.A.'s re-equipment proposals. My right hon. Friend will make a statement as soon as he is able.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make public the assurance given in his letter to the hon. Member for Wandsworth, Putney, of 9th February, 1967, that he has no intention of relaxing the limitation on the number of night jet flights next summer at Heathrow, so that the permitted number will be 3,500 or less.

I confirm that we have no intention of relaxing the limitation of night jet movements at Heathrow to 3,500 in respect of the summer of 1967.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the grants and loans in respect of fishing vessels will he adequately protected on entry into the Common Market.

The European Economic Community has not yet formulated a common fisheries policy but we have at present no reason to suppose that assistance of this kind could not continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give a general direction to the South of Scotland Electricity Board, that they should, wherever possible, conduct their advertising business through a Scottish based agent.

No. This is a matter of day-to-day management for the Board's commercial judgment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of those rivers known to be infected with the salmon disease.

The Scottish rivers from which fish showing symptoms of the disease have been taken in varying numbers are: Tweed. North Esk. Spey. Annan. Nith. Dee (Kirkcudbright). Doon. Border Esk.

In addition one fish with typical symptoms has been examined from the Aberdeenshire Dee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to speed up the process of confirming the presence of fish disease in Scottish rivers, in view of the harm caused by delay.

The arrangements for scientific examination of diseased fish found in rivers have been working well, and I am not aware of any avoidable delay in conveying the findings to district fishery boards or in advising them on appropriate action to try to control the spread of disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many university women graduates there were in Scotland for each of the years from 1960 to the latest convenient date.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many university women undergraduates there were in Scotland for each of the years from 1960 to the latest convenient date.

The numbers of women studying for first degrees and diplomas at Scottish universities for the years 196061 to 1964–65 are given in the following table: First Degree Diploma Total Session 1960–61 … 4,569 165 4,734 1961–62 … 4,882 145 5,027 1962–63 … 5,249 149 5,398 1963–64 … 5,699 136 5,835 1964–65 … 6,495 655* 7,150 * This figure includes students attending diploma courses in the University of Strathclyde which had previously been conducted in the Scottish College of Commerce.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many full-time women graduate teachers there were in Scotland in each of the years from 1960 to the latest convenient date.

The figures for teachers in service are as follows: Autumn of Year Certificated Un-certificated Total 1960 … 8,196 150 8,346 1961 … 8,287 157 8,444 1962 … 8,357 166 8,523 1963 … 8,374 177 8,551 1964 … 8,368 170 8,538 1965 … 8,303 211 8,514 1966 … 8,383 227 8,610

NOTE: The figures relate to the education authority and the grant-aided sector of the education service and include schools, further education and administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ask the South-West Scotland Economic Planning Consultative Group to consider the economic effect on the area of a barrage across the Solway.

No. The advice of the Water Resources Board was that, as far as water conservation was concerned, further study of the Morecambe Bay project should be given priority over Solway. It is recognised that a feasibility study of the Solway project may be required in the light of a programme of large scale growth in the area, but I see no case for further study at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken or proposes taking to make legal aid available to those Scottish land court litigants who fulfil the necessary statutory conditions.

None at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the amount of sea traffic passing through the Kyle of Lochalsh, what consideration has been given to the construction of a tunnel rather than a bridge to Skye; and what estimate he has made of the cost of a tunnel.

None, but a tunnel would probably be more expensive than a bridge both to build and to maintain.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the effect of high ferry charges on the cost of living on the island of Skye and the inconvenience caused by delays particularly in the summer months; and if he will now state when it will be possible to establish a permanent land link between Skye and the mainland.

Cost of living statistics are not available for Skye, and I am unable to estimate the effect of ferry charges. An analysis of delays on the Kyle of Lochalsh/Kyleakin ferry was made by the Highland Transport Board, which has recommended in its final report that a further study should be made of the type of vessel and jetty requirements; I have invited comments on this report from the local authorities and other interests concerned. The Board did not recommend the construction of a permanent land link between Skye and the mainland, and I have no plans for this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the approximate cost of building a bridge from the mainland at Kyle of Lochalsh to the island of Skye.

A rough estimate is £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the approximate cost of building a bridge from the mainland at Glenelg to the island of Skye including the cost of road improvements from Shiel Bridge to Glenelg and Kyleakin to Broad-ford.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will issue a White Paper on industry and employment in Scotland in time for it to be debated before the end of this session.

No. The former annual White Paper on Industry and Employment in Scotland was discontinued by the previous administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of principals in general practice in Scotland at the latest available date; and what change this represents compared with the number in October, 1964.

There were 2,603 principals in general practice in Scotland at 1st May, 1967. This represents a reduction of 81 compared with the number at 1st October, 1964 but an increase of 6 compared with the number at 1st October, 1966 when the new contract for the family doctor service was introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many days the roads between Shiel Bridge and Glenelg and Shiel Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh, respectively, were blocked by snow in each year since 1960.

The following is the information requested:— NUMBER OF DAYS BLOCKED* BY SNOW Year Shiel Bridge to Kyle of Lochalsh Shiel Bridge to Glenelg 1960 … … 1 5 1961 … … 3 1 1962 … … 2 2 1963 … … — 1 1964 … … — 2 1965 … … — 5 1966 … … — 1 1967 … … — — Total … … 6 17 * "Blocked" is used here to mean impassable to vehicles with chains.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Housing Rent expressed as a percentage of estimated net income Gross earnings per week 1967–68 1968–69 1969–70 1970–71 1971–72 £10 … … … 6 6 6 6 6 £12 … … … 7 7 7 7 7 £15 … … … 8 8 8 8 8 £20 … … … 8 9 10 10 10 £25 … … … 7 8 9 11 11

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the joint arms control certification exercise Cloud Gap 15 to be held in Britain during 1968; and if he will invite senior observers from the other nuclear powers, Russia, China and France, to attend this exercise.

Return for Scotland for the first quarter of 1967 will be published.

The Return is being published today. The main figures are now being given in the Housing Summary which is presented to Parliament each month. I have made some changes in the quarterly Return so that it is now more informative: in particular it gives more detailed local statistics showing the progress made in each area. In future it will be published sooner after the end of the quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement about the prices of school meals.

The charge for school meals is kept under review, but I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing, under the proposed rent scheme for Glenrothes, what proportion of net income will be paid in rent in each of the next five years by a man, with two children, earning respectively £10, £12, £15, £20 and £25 a week.

Assuming that he occupies a standard four-apartment house, the approximate figures are as follows:

As already announced, Her Majesty's Government and the United States Government have decided to hold a joint arms control verification exercise in the southern part of England in 1968. The purpose is to test possible means of verifying compliance with a hypothetical international agreement limiting conventional land and air forces. The detailed arrangements, including the possibility of inviting visits by observers from other countries, are still being worked out. But we intend to arrange for visits by observers from our North Atlantic Treaty Organisation allies; and there may be opportunities to invite observers from other countries as well.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will seek to reduce the United Kingdom's treaty commitments in pace with the planned reductions in her military establishment.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister made clear on 9th May, our aim has been to review our commitments, deployment and weapon expenditure in the interests of the best defence policy for this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply he has received from the terrorist organisations to his offer to end the state of emergency in Aden and to release detainees.

I assume that the Question refers to my noble Friend Lord Shackleton's broadcast of 16th May calling upon all political groups to come forward and talk and to end violence. So far there has been no positive response to this broadcast from either of the two main terrorist organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give an assurance that British troops will not be withdrawn from Aden until law and order have been restored.

British troops will remain in Aden until independence. Responsibility for law and order in Aden will then fall to the successor authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in view of the fact that terrorist intimidation in Aden makes it impossible to obtain a conviction from any jury, whether he will authorise magistrates to pass sentence without juries.

Chief Magistrates in Aden, sitting without a jury, may pass sentences of up to four years' imprisonment. Last December these powers were extended in respect of offences under the Arms Ordinance to allow sentences of up to seven years' imprisonment.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recommendations have been made by the United Nations Mission following its visit to Aden; and whether the United Nations have offered any further assistance in the solution of the problems of South Arabia.

The Mission remains at work, but has not yet made any recommendations. The United Nations have not offered any further assistance.