asked the Minister of Health how many people are on the waiting list for hospital beds for the mentally subnormal in the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board area; and what steps are being taken to make more beds available in the area.

451. By 1971, 766 new beds will have been brought into use, some of which are required to reduce over-crowding and to rehouse patients inappropriately accommodated.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now publish his plans for a postgraduate hospital centre in Chelsea.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if he will list the number of patients awaiting admission to Frenchay Hospital, Bristol, divided into categories of treatment required on 31st May, 1967.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken to relieve pressure on the Department of Plastic and Jaw Surgery and the Department of Gynaecology at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol; and what improvement can be expected to the waiting list position in these two specialities.

For plastic surgery the Regional Board are considering recruitment of additional staff and plans for redeployment of theatre time; no great improvement can be expected in the waiting list until the second regional unit is opened. Extra beds have just been made available for gynaecology for which the waiting list has shown a marked improvement since December, 1966.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the progress of introducing incentive bonus schemes for building trade operatives employed in the hospital service.

One experimental scheme has run over a year and is being evaluated; another has been running fully for over a month; the consultants' preliminary report on the third is being examined.

asked the Minister of Health why he cannot bring forward the date for building a new hospital in Clacton-on-Sea.

The North-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board consider that other schemes must be awarded a higher priority.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital beds are now occupied and on average for how long, by patients suffering from pneumonia, mastoids, tuberculosis and syphilis, as compared with 30 years ago; and to what factors he attributes the change.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will give an approximate date for the commencement of the building of the new District General Hospital to serve Great Yarmouth and Lowestoft.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question on 19th June, 1967.—[Vol. 748, c. 174.]

asked the Minister of Health what is the average length of stay of a mental patient entering a hospital or institution today, as compared with 30 years ago; and to what factors he attributes the change.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. In 1964, the latest year for which there are relevant figures, the average length of stay of patients discharged from mental illness hospitals or units was about 160 and the median about 40 days. No comparable figures are available for 30 years ago, but in 1949 the average and median figures were about 250 and 70 respectively. The factors include changed public attitudes leading to earlier and more effective treatment, the widespread use of physical methods of treatment, and improved systems of after care making earlier discharge possible.

asked the Minister of Health if he will delay the closure of Torrington Hospital as a maternity unit for at least 12 months after the completion of the new Barnstaple maternity unit; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give an assurance that Torrington Hospital will continue as a hospital for the use of local general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

The South Western Regional Hospital Board have no plans to close this hospital.

asked the Minister of Health how many alcoholics are at present receiving treatment in mental hospitals in England and Wales.

I regret that this information is not available centrally. When the last census was carried out at the end of 1963 there were 1,160 patients with a primary diagnosis of alcoholism or alcoholic psychosis in mental illness hospitals and units.

asked the Minister of Health what study he has made of the evidence about emigration of doctors contained in a survey conducted by the Junior Hospital Doctors Association, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

This survey was I understand undertaken in a single hospital region in order to obtain experience for a wider one and the results quoted can only be preliminary. I expect to publish shortly the results of my Department's work on the emigration and immigration of doctors during the period 1962 to 1964 which will describe in considerable detail the general features of this movement.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement about the availability of nicotinic acid from pharmacists in the United Kingdom in tablets carrying a sufficiently massive dose to meet the requirements of the Hoffer-Osmond treatment of schizophrenia.

500 milligram tablets of nicotinamide, which is a derivative of nicotinic acid used for preference where large dosage is necessary, for the treatment in question, are obtainable through pharmacists.

asked the Minister of Health what proposals he has for increasing the proportion of National Health funds to be spent upon mental research.

As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 21st June, I expect the provision made each year for medical research in the National Health Service to continue to increase, and psychiatric research will share in this expansion.—[Vol. 748, c. 298.]

asked the Minister of Health if he will co-operate in securing the widest benefit to the National Health Service from the Ninth International Congress of Audiology being held in Great Britain for the first time at the Royal College of Surgeons in September; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science and I have accepted invitations to be honorary Vice-Presidents of the Congress, which is to be held in September, 1968. I shall study the proceedings with interest.

asked the Minister of Health (1) why there is a delay by his Department in sending to the Coventry Executive Council a supply of medical cards;(2) when the Coventry Executive Council will receive the supply of medical cards which by the 25th May, 1967, had already been the subject of 15 telephone calls to his Department.

I regret the inconvenience caused to the Council by the delay in supplying stocks of medical cards, which mainly arose from the introduction of a new type of card. Supplies reached them on 21st and 26th June and a further large stock should reach them soon.

asked the Minister of Health when the Coventry Executive Council will receive the balance of the order for 6,000 forms EC 73 A, applications for vaccinations other than for smallpox, placed on 31st March, 1967, only 1,000 of which have so far been received, resulting in some general medical practitioners being out of supply for the last six weeks.

I am informed that the Coventry Executive Council received the balance of forms EC 73 A on 20th June, 1967.

asked the Minister of Health if his Department will be submitting evidence to the Board of Trade's inquiry into the working of the Patents Act; and if such evidence will be available in the Library.

I expect that my Department will submit evidence; but I understand that the Committee's programme and procedure still remain to be settled.

asked the Minister of Health how many children in receipt of social security benefits are entitled to free welfare foods; and how many are receiving them.

I assume my hon. Friend has in mind children in families receiving supplementary benefits. It is estimated that on 29th March, 1967, there were about 215,000 children under five in these families, of whom about 195,000 were receiving free welfare foods.

asked the Minister of Health how many children in families not in receipt of social security benefits are entitled to free welfare foods; how many are receiving them; and what steps he is taking to inform families of their entitlement.

I regret that information is not available as to the number of children entitled to free welfare foods in families not receiving supplementary benefits but on 29th March, 1967 about 4,800 children under five in these families were receiving free welfare foods. In reply to the last part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my predecessor's reply to her Question of 28th November. The publicity leaflet is being revised to bring out more clearly the conditions of free entitlement, and my right hon. Friend is considering what other measures may be useful.—[Vol. 737, c. 8.]

asked the Minister of Health what are the numbers and costs of prescriptions dispensed by chemists in the National Health Service for the latest available quarter; and how these figures compare with those for the same quarter in the previous year.

The figures for the quarter January to March are as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest unemployment figures for the Bridport area; and how this compares with a year ago.

At 12th June, 1967, and 13th June, 1966, the numbers registered as unemployed were 225 and 156, respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour how many shipbuilding and ship-repairing workers have become redundant during the last year; and how many have been placed back in the industry.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many proposals for altering pay or conditions have been reported to him by or on behalf of employers during the past six months; and approximately how many employees were involved in the total number of such proposals.

One hundred and twenty-five proposals involving about 2,800,000 employees.

asked the Minister of Labour how many proposals for altering pay or conditions have been reported to him by or on behalf of joint industrial councils during the past six months; and approximately how many employees were involved in the total number of such proposals.

Thirteen proposals involving some 223,000 employees have been reported by joint industrial councils.

asked the Minister of Labour how many redeployment and retraining schemes exist to help those women widowed before 50 years of age to re-establish themselves in the employment field; and what publicity is given to such schemes.

Opportunities for training, under both Government sponsored schemes and arrangements made by industrial training boards, are open to suitable women widowed under the age of 50, as they are to other suitable people. Publicity about Government schemes is available at my local offices and about Industrial Training Board arrangements from the Boards themselves. Ali the facilities for placing, resettlement and transfer provided through my Ministry's employment services are available to assist in redeployment.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of those registered as wholly unemployed at the latest convenient date in Scotland, Wales, each of the English regions and Northern Ireland, respectively, had been unemployed for longer than eight weeks; and what the comparable percentages were a year ago.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers in the administrative county of West Suffolk he estimates have been redeployed from service to manufacturing industries as a result of the Selective Employment Tax.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take whatever action may be necessary to ensure that, in the future, Members of Parliament with 20 or more years' service in the House of Commons are given at least an equal opportunity as those Members who have recently entered the House of Commons of attending the cocktail parties and receptions organised by his Department.

No such action is in fact necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will arrange for the collection and publication in his Gazette of the salaries and other emoluments received by television executives.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) to what extent the salaries and fringe benefits to be paid by those television companies recently awarded provisional contracts are consistent with Her Majesty's Government's prices and incomes policy;(2) by what means he informs himself that the salaries and other emoluments of television executives are consistent with the prices and incomes policy.

The provisions in the White Papers on the prices and incomes policy for the notification of proposed pay increases are of general application to employers in every industry. For the rest, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to my hon. Friends the Members for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) and Woolwich, West (Mr. Hamling) on 29th June.

asked the Minister of Labour what consultations he has had with officials of the Labour Party regarding the proposed 10 per cent. average increase in the salaries of the clerical, administrative and research staff at Transport House; whether this increase is in accordance with the prices and incomes policy; and if he will make a statement.

Although fewer than 200 employees are involved my Department has been notified of the proposed increases in salaries. A commitment to review pay existed before 20th July, 1966, but not with effect from a prior date. In accordance with the provisions of paragraph 34 of Cmnd. 3150 and paragraph 25 of Cmnd. 3225 the proposals could be implemented after 1st July, 1967, but not before then. The Labour Party has, accordingly been notified that approval of their request for backdating to the 1st January cannot be given but that increases can be paid from the end of the period of severe restraint.

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects the carcinogenic substances regulations to be made.

The Carcinogenic Substances Regulations 1967 were made on 8th June and will come into operation on 9th December.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is the number of women, widowed before reaching 50 years of age and now alive within the age ranges 30 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50 to 59 years of age, respectively, who are classified as unemployed at the present time.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is aware that many airline hostesses are employed without having any contract of employment; and what steps he intends to take in the matter.

There is no obligation upon employers to give employees written contracts of employment; but the Contracts of Employment Act requires employers to issue to employees written statements of the main terms of their employment.My officers have drawn the attention of certain airlines to the fact that the statements they have issued do not include all the information required by the Act. The companies have undertaken to repair the omissions.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make arrangements for the statues in St. Stephen's Hall, Westminster, to be cleaned as soon as possible.

The marble statues will be given their annual cleaning during the Summer Recess and the stone statues will be dusted down at the same time.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the average daily number of visitors to the Banqueting House, Whitehall, in February and July, respectively; and what is the total annual revenue from admission charges less the cost of collection.

Daily visitors averaged 63 in February, 1967, and 94 in July, 1966. Revenue from admission charges in 1966 totalled about £1,100, with a further £500 from the sale of publications. In the same period, wages of the custodians amounted to about £2,600. In the evening, the Banqueting House is sometimes used for Government Receptions or other suitable purposes such as concerts.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will specify which three monuments in Westmorland were recommended for scheduling by the Ancient Monuments Board of England during 1966.

The three monuments in Westmorland recommended for scheduling by the Ancient Monuments Board for England during 1966 were:

• A cairn half a mile East of Wetheriggs Pottery.
• Miller Bridge at Kendal.
• Simongate Bridge at Kendal.

asked the Minister of Labour what site has been acquired for the new training centre for Cumberland; when he expects work to commence for building it; and what is the probable date for completion.

I have been asked to reply.I hope to acquire land for this purpose shortly on the old Solway Ironworks site at Maryport. Building should start in December and be completed in the late Autumn of next year.

asked the Minister of Social Security what steps she is taking to ensure that the proposed increases in social security benefits are not automatically cancelled out by reductions in rent rebates, rate rebates and other welfare benefits which depend upon a means test.

As regards rent and rate rebates, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry of Housing and Local Government on 27th June. As regards welfare benefits generally, the effect will depend on the particular benefit.—[Vol. 749, c. 66–7.]

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will seek to increase the rates of supplementary pensions so that retirement pensioners at present receiving supplementary pensions get the full benefit of the proposed increase in retirement pensions.

No. The proposed supplementary pension increases, added to those which these pensioners received last November, will give them broadly the same improvement as other pensioners will have had since March, 1965.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will seek to provide an age allowance to war disabled pensioners of 65 years and above in cases where the disablement is assessed at 40 per cent. or less in the same way as an allowance is now paid to those pensioners whose disability is 40 per cent. or more.

No. To extend the present allowance in this way would be inconsistent with its purpose.

asked the Minister of Social Security what would be the cost, at the proposed new rates of giving the widow's pension to all widows over the age of 50 years who qualified for the widow's pension lost the right on remarriage were again widowed but no longer qualified because the second husband had not sufficient stamps; and how many widows are affected.

It is regretted that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she will amend the regulations for payment of war widows' pensions to enable her to consider claims from widows whose husbands died before 3rd September, 1939.

I assume the hon. Member refers to those widows who married a Serviceman of the First World War after the injury which caused his death, or in disease cases, removal from duty on that account. I am afraid I cannot hold out any hope of amending the law with regard to them at this late stage.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many widows are now alive in England and Wales who, as a result of their husbands having died before they had themselves reached 50 years of age, did not qualify for pension at the time of their husbands' death.

I regret that the precise information requested is not available, but it is estimated that there are now about 40,000 widows under age 60 in Great Britain who qualify for no pension because their husbands died (or their children ceased to be dependent on them) before they reached 50 years of age, and a further 75,000 such widows qualify for the widow's basic pension of 30s. a week.

asked the Minister of Social Security (1) what are the average earnings of those widows, now aged between 50 and 60 years of age and in employment, who did not qualify for pension through being under 50 years of age at the time of their husbands' death;(2) what proportion of those women who were widowed before the age of 50 years of age, and who are still alive within the ranges 30 to 39, 40 to 49, and 50 to 59 years of age, respectively, have subsequently remarried;(3) how many women, widowed before 50 years of age and now aged 60 years of age and over, have not qualified for the full rate of retirement pension as a result of failure to pay an adequate number of contributions during the years of their widowhood;(4) what proportion of the total number of women widowed before reaching 50 years of age during the 10-year period 1957–66, inclusive, died before reaching the age of 60; and what was the average number of years these deceased women had paid National Insurance contribu- tions following the deaths of their husbands.

I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Minister of Social Security what advice she has given employers in both private and public industry to engage women widowed when under 50 years of age, whose entitlement to full retirement pension depends upon them paying an adequate number of National Insurance contributions.

None.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many sick and unemployed persons, respectively, were affected by the wage standstill in each region at the latest convenient date.

On 28th March, 1967, the numbers of temporarily sick and unemployed people receiving supplementary benefit payments affected by the wage-stop were as follows:—

asked the Minister of Social Security what he estimates to be the cost of altering the earnings related supplement for unemployment so that two-thirds of earnings between £9 and £30 were payable in a year in which unemployment averaged 400,000.

About £15 million a year, on the assumption that there were no corresponding changes for sickness benefit and widows' allowance.

asked the Minister of Social Security what increase in earnings up to the end of October, 1967, was assumed by the Government Actuary for the purposes of his report on the financial provisions of the National Insurance Bill 1967; and what would be the further additional yield of graduated contributions in 1967–68 and 1968–69 if earnings rise after October, 1967, at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum.

An increase of 5·6 per cent. over the estimated average level for 1966–67, and about £2 million and £20 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the Paymaster-General expects to move into his new headquarters now in the process of building.

The building at Crawley is being erected for the banking and pensions work of the Paymaster-General's Office. The first section, which will house a computer, will be occupied this autumn; and the main office block should be ready by the end of 1968, when it will be occupied by staff now working in London or in temporary offices in Crawley. My right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General will not be moving out of London.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the limit of £50 upon expenditure on foreign travel.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) on 29th June, 1967.—[Vol. 749, c. 123.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual value of sales of the OFFICIAL REPORT in each of the last five years; and what has been the cost of its production and distribution.

The answer is as follows:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will state, since 1964, the increase in the number of civil servants stationed in the South-East of England and the increase in the number stationed in the development areas of the United Kingdom;(2) what is the percentage increase since 1964 of the number of civil servants working in the South-East of England and in the development areas generally.

The increases in the number of non-industrial Civil Servants, excluding the Post Office, between the 1st July, 1964, and the 1st July, 1966 (the latest date for which figures by location are available), are as follows:—

South-East England 9,000, or 4½ per cent. increase.

Development areas (approx.) 5,000, or 7½ per cent. increase.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take such action as may be necessary to ensure that, in the future, Members of Parliament with 20 years or more service in the House of Commons are given at least an equal opportunity of attending the various cocktail parties and receptions organised by his Department.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Departments or sections of Government Departments have, since 1st January, 1965, been designated for removal from

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now abolish purchase tax on boots and shoes.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received about the dust nuisance caused by vehicles using the FVRDE test track parallel to the Maultway, Camberley; and if he will make a statement.

There have been a number of representations made to the

The following is the information:Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment on this subject. Since then, the Establishment has kept the nuisance to a minimum.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated rent to be paid this year to Greenwich Hospital, by the Royal Navy for buildings lent to the Royal Naval College and by private organisations for dances and charity balls in some of these buildings.

This year, the Royal Navy will pay to the Greenwich Hospital Estate the sum of £18,940 for the use of all the buildings comprising the College.Private organisations with College, Naval or Service affiliations who are permitted to use Greenwich are not charged rent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by whom, and when, permission was given for the use of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, for private dances and charity balls; and which organisations in South East London can obtain permission for such private functions.

Permission for the use of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, for private dances and charity balls, is granted by the Admiral President. The use of R.N. Establishments generally for this purpose is at the discretion of the Commanding Officer or his Superior Flag Officer.Such private functions are restricted at Greenwich to organisations with College, Naval or Service affiliations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, who gave permission for the first private charity ball at the Royal Naval College, with tickets priced at four guineas, for Friday, 30th June, to an organisation which for several years has held this annual function at an hotel.

The Admiral President of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, quite properly gave his permission for the Navy League to hold its annual ball this year at Greenwich.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which buildings at the Royal Naval College are to be used for the private charity ball on 30th June; and what alternative accommodation is to be available for the staff and student officers.

The buildings used were the Painted Hall and the College mess reception rooms. The ball was specifically arranged for a Friday evening when the bulk of students would be away. It was unnecessary to provide alternative accommodation for those few remaining, who were not themselves attending the ball.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the public will be denied entry to the Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College on the afternoon of 30th June because of the private charity ball in the evening.

The public were not denied entry to the Painted Hall on the afternoon of 30th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the conditions under which buildings at the Royal Naval College are being hired for a private charity ball on 30th June; for how many guests; for what period of time; and what contract has been signed by the organisers.

Certain rooms and facilities were placed at the disposal of the ball sponsors without levying a charge. All other expenses were met from the proceeds of the ball. A thousand guests were invited. The ball took place from 9.15 p.m. until 2.15 a.m. The organisers were not required to sign a contract, but all arrangements for the conduct of the ball were made in full consultation with the College authorities. Indemnity insurance provision was made.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) in view of the confidential nature of some of the equipment and documents at the Royal Naval College, what additional security measures are to be taken as regards the large number of guests at the private charity ball on 30th June, some of whom will obtain admission simply by purchasing a ticket;(2) what additional security measures are to be taken at the Royal Naval College for the private charity ball on 30th June; to what extent private security men or college police will be employed; and what extra wages are to be paid to college police.

All college security arrangements were based on the fact that the general public had regular access to the college. A complete list of guests was held and their entrance to the college was checked by constabulary at the gates.Because of the size 9f the event five extra college Admiralty policemen were employed for an average of six hours at double pay, as a charge to the ball sponsors.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent private chauffeurs of guests, or chauffeurs of private hire cars, or any other private staff, are to be admitted to the Royal Naval College for the private charity ball on 30th June; and whether these civilians will be subject to security control.

Cars entering the college were checked in the normal way. Chauffeurs and private staff were subject to the usual security limitations on movement throughout their stay in the college.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what staff and numbers are to be employed for the private charity ball at the Royal Naval College on 30th June; to what extent they will be from private firms or college staff; and, for how long and what extra wages are to be paid to college staff.

Approximately 130 college staff were employed during the ball; none from private firms. Their employment was on a voluntary basis and they received double pay as a charge to the ball sponsors. Times worked varied according to the duties performed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College is to be used for the private charity ball on 30th June; and what insurance cover has been obtained against possible damage to this building and its national treasures.

As is customary when a ball is held at Greenwich, the Painted Hall was used for sitting out tables and

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many retired officers of the three armed services, including Indian armed services, are in receipt of

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the silver at the Royal Naval College is to be used for the private charity ball on 30th June; and what insurance cover has been obtained against possible theft or damage.

No College silver was used or even openly displayed. It is, in any case, insured against theft and damage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many widows of Regular officers are receiving widows' ordinary pensions under each of the nine retired pay codes; and in each case how many are over 70 years of age and, of the latter, how many are over 80 years of age.

The information is as follows:retired pay under each of the nine retired pay codes; how many of those officers retired under the 1919 code had their retired pay reassessed because of war service; and in each case how many are over 60 years of age and, of the latter, how many are over 70 years of age.

The information is as follows:—

asked the Minister of Technology what proportion of the total research and development expenditure on the Olympus 593 engine for the Concord is attributable to the TSR2 programme.

The design of the Concord engine was facilitated in its early stages by the experience gained in designing the TSR2 engine from which it was originally derived. Since then the Concord engine has been further developed. It is not possible to quantify the value of the original design.

asked the Minister of Technology when he hopes to receive the report on the training of systems analysts from the National Computing Centre; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the National Computing Centre will be publishing a report very shortly.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will take whatever action may be necessary to ensure that in future all Members of Parliament, including those with 20 years' or more membership, are given equal opportunity with those Members who have recently entered, of attending the various receptions and cocktail parties, organised by his Department.

Members of both Houses are invited to official functions whenever appropriate. Length of Parliamentary Service is not taken into consideration.

asked the Minister of Power whether, as the oil supplies are now flowing into this country in a satisfactory manner, he will give an assurance that the Government will refuse to allow an increase in the price of petrol or to institute a system of rationing.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement to the House, and my replies to supplementary Questions, on 29th June.—[Vol. 749, c. 765–8.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will state the values under Section 11 of the Iron and Steel Act, 1967, of the securities covered by any Order that has been made declaring that the values have been determined.

By an Order dated 29th determined. June, 1967, the values of the securities named below were declared to have been

asked the Minister of Power whether he will issue a general direction to the National Steel Corporation to devise, in consultation with the High Authority of the European Coal and Steel Community, a pricing policy for steel compatible with the rules of the High Authority.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to end gang warfare on pirate radio stations while such stations are in operation.

The Chief Constable of Essex is considering what action is called for following a recent incident at Rough Sands Tower.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will specify which local authorities and other interested bodies he intends to consult with a view to establishing a rural development board in the Northern Pennines.

In addition to the three Regional Economic Planning Councils in the north of England I intend to consult county councils and district councils in the general area which appears to be prima facie suitable for a Rural Development Board, and a wide range of public bodies and organisations representing the various interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to introduce a Bill reforming the law relating to agricultural holdings.

My Department is conducting a general review of the agricultural holdings legislation; but I am not at present in a position to say anything about the possibilities of new legislation.