asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give consideration to the claim of Llandudno, in view of its central position and the availability of development land and of clerical workers, to be the site of the administrative offices for the new county of Gwynedd proposed in the White Paper on Local Government Reorganisation in Wales.

No. The choice of administrative centres will be a matter for the new counties themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what part of the £340 million, which is the sum cost of the Ministry of Transport's current commitments on major works of road improvement, is to be expended in Wales.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer earlier today to the hon. Member for Barry (Mr. Gower).

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many different types of official form were used by his Department in Wales at the latest available date; and how many of them were published in the Welsh language or bilingually.

Approximately 160 forms are used by the Welsh Office for obtaining information from local authorities and the general public. But none of them has a circulation amongst the public at large and so far there has been no demand for having them printed in the Welsh language or bilingually.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ensure in all official documents for which he has responsibility that, where a place in Wales has both a Welsh and an English name, both names will be used with equal prominence.

The language of the document usually determines whether the Welsh or English version of place-names is used.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will take steps to co-ordinate the policy of all Departments of State in regard to the use in Wales of the Welsh language on Government buildings, vehicles and public notices.

There is a constant process of co-ordination on this matter but the final action is for the individual Departments concerned to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by how many he estimates the population of Wales will have increased by 1971 and 1981, respectively.

As indicated in the White Paper (Cmnd. 3334) published yesterday, the increases estimated by the Registrar General are 91,000 between 1966 and 1971, and a further 159,000 by 1981.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what help the Economic Planning Unit at the Welsh Office sought and received from different departments of the University of Wales in the preparation of the Economic White Paper.

I was glad to acknowledge in the Foreword to "Wales: The Way Ahead", that the White Paper has drawn on the views of members of the University. Members of the staffs of several of the Colleges contributed in one way or another to the final document.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the current restrictions on water consumption in many parts of Wales, he will introduce legislation to establish a Welsh Water Board.

Although a few localities have experienced shortages, most Welsh water undertakers have been able to maintain normal supplies throughout the dry spell. As to the formation of a Welsh Water Board I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 3rd November last.—[Vol. 735, c. 628–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why he proposes to deprive Merthyr Tydfil of its county borough powers, in view of its pioneering, inter alia, wholly free secondary grammar education, its housing and health service record, and the fact that Merthyr and Dowlais are in an advanced state of being rebuilt as modern towns.

I gladly acknowledge the active and conscientious way in which the council has carried out its duties, but I believe that its resources are too limited to enable it to continue to carry out in modern conditions the full range of county borough functions.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when the Report of the Inquiry of the Aberfan Tribunal will be published.

Lord Justice Edmund Davies, who has now resumed his judicial duties, handed me the Tribunal's report on Monday. It is now with the printer and I am arranging for it to be published as a Parliamentary Paper early in August. The scientific appendices will be published later.

asked the Prime Minister if he will establish a Royal Commission to investigate the desirability of establishing national elected bodies for Wales.

I have been asked to reply. No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many vacancies for teachers in schools in Redbridge have occurred during the past two years; and how many applicants there have been for these posts from colleges of education.

I am informed that there were 116 vacancies suitable for newly qualified teachers in Redbridge in 1966 and 171 applicants from colleges of education; in 1967 there were 130 vacancies and 290 applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that sufficient qualified teachers are available for the teaching of educationally subnormal children in special schools; and what is his estimate of the number of additional teachers required within this service.

Yes, and an increasing proportion of them have taken the special course giving them additional qualifications for this particular work; but although teachers are encouraged to take such courses the demand is well below the number of places available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average pupil-teacher ratio in local education authority schools for the educationally subnormal; what proportion of these teachers are qualified; and how these figures compare with equivalent independent schools for the educationally subnormal.

The average pupil-teacher ratio in maintained schools for educationally subnormal children in 1966 was 12·9; in the same year, 97·4 per cent. of teachers at these schools were qualified; corresponding figures for independent schools are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish a White Paper giving details of the proposals made by local education authorities in England and Wales to abolish the 11-plus examination and the consequent changes made by these authorities in their methods of selection of secondary education.

The presentation and approval of plans is a continuing process, but I will consider my hon. Friend's suggestion when that process is nearer completion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations have been received by him in the last three months on the provision of grants towards residential accommodation in voluntary colleges of education; and whether he will make a statement.

One which was conveyed to me by my hon. Friend last May. As I explained to him in reply the rate of capital grant to voluntary colleges of education was raised from 75 per cent. to 80 per cent. last July.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he expects to receive a report from the Public School Commission before the House reassembles after the Summer Recess.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will increase by £330,000 the allocation to the Cheshire County Education Committee for minor capital building works in the year 1967–68.

My right hon. Friend is considering the authority's request for this increase, but I am afraid he cannot hold out any hope of approving the full amount asked for.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many different types of official form were used by his Department in Wales at the latest available date; and how many of them were published in the Welsh language or bilingually.

Most of the 1,200 forms used externally by my Department are issued both in England and Wales. Four of them, dealing with teachers' pensions, are available in both English and Welsh versions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what sum his Department spent in 1966–67 on Press advertisements in the Welsh language.

Wherever necessary the Education Office for Wales, which is the Office in Wales of the Department of Education and Science, and local education authorities in Wales place advertisements in the Welsh language papers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of schoolchildren are being educated in post-war buildings in Carmarthenshire, Wales and England, respectively.

New places in primary and secondary schools provided since the war in Carmarthenshire, Wales and England amounted to 25, 44 and 60 per cent. of the respective school populations at January of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the future of the National Advisory Council on the Training and Supply of Teachers.

Yes. In March I invited the associations concerned to let me have their views on what kind of advisory body would be most appropriate. Not all of them have yet been able to reply. But it is already clear that there is a strong view, which I share, in favour of having a consultative body which would afford an opportunity for the regular exchange of views on these matters. I propose therefore to put detailed proposals to the associations shortly after the holidays and to consult them about the membership.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of the children who are pupils in the new Welsh medium schools started since 1945 is educated in post-war buildings.

New places in the new Welsh medium schools account for about 17 per cent. of the population of these schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans have been submitted to him by the local education authority for the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines in the county of Salop.

I have received and am considering plans for the districts of Oswestry, Wem, and Whitchurch and Ellesmere. The districts of Market Drayton, Bishop's Castle, and Dawley are already fully comprehensive.

TABLE 1
FINALLY ADJUSTED NUMBERS OF MURDERS KNOWN TO THE POLICE, AND NUMBERS OF OFFENCES REDUCED TO MANSLAUGHTER BY REASON OF DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY UNDER S. 2 OF THE HOMICIDE ACT 1957.
		Number of victims			Number per million of home population* of England and Wales
		Murder	S.2 manslaughter	Total	Murder	Murder and s.2 manslaughter
1931–40	Annual Average	130	—	130	3·2	3·2
1941–50		152	—	152	*	*
1951–55		137	—	137	3·1	3·1
1956		150	—	150	3·4	3·4
1957		151	21	172	3·3	3·8
1958		125	27	152	2·8	3·4
1959		141	20	161	3·1	3·5
1960		135	31	166	3·0	3·7
1961		130	29	159	2·8	3·4
1962		142	42	184	3·0	3·9
1963		133	56	189	2·8	4·0
1964		153	35	188	3·2	4·0
1965		151	50	201	3·1	4·2
1966†		143	60	203	3·0	4·2
* No figure for home population is available for the war years, since this represents persons actually living in the country at the time.
† The figure for murder includes one offence not yet disposed of by the courts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions there have been during the last convenient 12 months of insurance brokers who have accepted premiums for motor-car insurance and have failed to ensure the issue of the required policy; and in how many cases motorists, charged with lack of third party insurance, have pleaded a mistaken belief that an insurance broker has arranged insurance cover.

I regret that I am unable to supply this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now bring up to date to 31st December, 1966 the Table 1 and Table 6 published on 17th June, 1965 of the number of murders known to the police, distinguishing between those which were or would have been capital according to the law as it was before the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act.

Following is the information; it relates to England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children under the age of 16 years were known to the police to be the victims of murder or of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in each year between 1951 and the present time, and specifying those where the

Year			Murders known to the police of children aged under 15 including, from 1957, offences reduced to manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility*	Victims of parent or near relative	Victims of non-relatives	Victims of unsolved murders
1951	…	…	40	29	5	6
1952	…	…	52	49	1	2
1953	…	…	52	39	5	8
1954	…	…	51	44	2	5
1955	…	…	59	46	5	8
1956	…	…	47	41	2	4
1957	…	…	68	52	8	8
1958	…	…	45	33	6	6
1959	…	…	51	39	7	5
1960	…	…	49	37	7	5
1961	…	…	47	37	4	6
1962	…	…	53	43	4	6
1963	…	…	57	41	7	9
1964	…	…	52	36	3	13
1965	…	…	55	42	10	3
1966	…	…	58	45	8	5
* The defence of "diminished responsibility" was introduced under section 2 of the Homicide Act 1957, which came into force on 21st March, 1957.

The murder statistics do not contain the required information for victims aged under 16; the latest corrected figures for England and Wales for victims aged under 15 are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the murders known to the police and of manslaughter by reason of diminished responsibility in each year between 1951 and the present time were committed by persons under the age of 18 years at

LATEST CORRECTED NUMBERS OF MURDERS KNOWN TO THE POLICE AND OFFENCES DECIDED TO BE MANSLAUGHTER UNDER SECTION 2 OF THE HOMICIDE ACT 1957
				Age of Offender
Year				Under 18	18 and under 21	21 and over	Not known	Total
1951	…	…	…	—	7	103	14	124
1952	…	…	…	2	6	124	9	141
1953	…	…	…	—	4	126	10	140
1954	…	…	…	4	7	123	11	145
1955	…	…	…	1	5	113	14	133
1956	…	…	…	6	5	126	13	150
1957	…	…	…	2	8	145	17	172
1958	…	…	…	3	14	120	15	152
1959	…	…	…	2	11	138	10	161
1960	…	…	…	3	10	146	7	166
1961	…	…	…	4	6	138	11	159
1962	…	…	…	8	12	151	13	184
1963	…	…	…	3	12	156	18	189
1964	…	…	…	7	12	146	23	188
1965	…	…	…	2	16	168	15	201
1966	…	…	…	7	22	149	25	203

In cases where a person has been killed by two or more offenders from different age groups, the case has been placed in the age group relating to the majority of the offenders concerned in that case, and where there was no majority, the case has been placed in the group relating to the offender of the higher or highest age.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why on 28th June at about 3.30 p.m. a large number of police were holding up traffic at the approaches to Trafalgar Square, causing traffic congestion and preventing Members from reaching the House contrary to the Sessional Order; how many police were on duty; who paid for the extra number of police to those normally engaged; and whether he will ensure that Members have free passage in future.

Her Majesty The Queen and Her Majesty The Queen Mother attended a wedding at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church on the afternoon of 28th June and traffic was temporarily checked at the time of their arrival and departure. Forty-three police officers were present to control the spectators and traffic. These officers were employed in carrying out their duties in a public place, and the cost falls on public funds. Everything possible was done by the Commismissioner of Police to comply with the Sessional Order.

The information for England and Wales is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many search warrants for the enforcement of Statutory Instrument, 1966, No. 438, have been issued since April, 1966.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to increase support for the water safety activities of the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents by sufficient grants until they become self-supporting.

I propose to make a grant of £3,500 to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents in support of their water safety activities this year. The grant will be made on the understanding that these activities will become self-supporting as soon as possible, and I shall review it in the autumn in the light of the progress made by the Society towards this end.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what figures the Metropolitan Police have of the estimated population of gypsies and other travellers in their area at the last convenient date.

The Commissioner of Police does not keep such statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what provisions are made in prisons, borstals and detention centres for Welsh-speaking persons to have the same opportunity of using their own first language as English-speaking persons have of using theirs.

Welsh-speaking inmates of prison service establishments are free to speak Welsh to each other; and all institutions in Wales, and most of those near it, have Welsh-speaking members on the staff.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what approved school is available to a young offender now being educated at a Welsh-medium school, so as to continue his education through the medium of Welsh.

Such pupils are normally sent to approved schools where some of the staff speak Welsh. But the establishment of a Welsh-medium approved school would not be practicable as it would receive only about four pupils each year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were prosecuted in England for the offence of being accessory after the fact to felony in each of the last three years for which statistics are available.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what has been the result of the urgent industry-by-industry discussions designed to increase productivity and to eliminate over-manning and restrictive practices on 20th July 1966.

Several industries have made progress towards eliminating overmanning and restrictive practices. Efforts to raise productivity have been intensified, particularly through the Economic Development Committees.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that 1968 is the 800th anniversary of the first treaty between William the Lion of Scotland and Louis VII of France; and if he will issue a commemorative stamp to mark this occasion.

I am aware of this anniversary: it is on the list of subjects from which I will shortly select the 1968 special stamp programme.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what steps he will take to eliminate delays in the parcel post service between Great Britain and Northern Ireland;(2) what improvements have been made in the parcel post service between Great Britain and Northern Ireland in the last 12 months.

We are constantly trying to improve the parcel post services to Northern Ireland and we shall continue to do all we can in this direction. During the five months July-November, 1966, and including parcels posted in Northern Ireland, 87·8 per cent. of the parcels were delivered there by the next day but two after posting. For the first six months of this year the figures are 91·3 per cent.— a significant improvement.

asked the Postmaster-General how many different types of official form were being used by his Department in Wales at the latest available date; and how many of these were published in the Welsh language or bilingually.

The best estimate that can be made is that there are about 500 forms used by the Post Office in Wales which reach the public. Of these, four are printed wholly or partly in Welsh.

				Wales		Brecon		Radnor
			Year ended 31st March	Rural	Urban	Rural	Urban	Rural	Urban
Withdrawn	…	…	1965	6	15	—	1	—	—
			1966	11	9	—	—	—	—
			1967	3	8	—	—	—	—
Re-sited	…	…	1965	15	19	1	—	—	—
			1966	21	25	—	1	—	—
			1967	19	21	1	—	1	—

Some of the kiosks shown as "withdrawn" were reprovided on alternative sites at a later date: these cannot readily be identified.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will suspend the present plans to provide colour television in areas already receiving three television programmes until all residents in Scotland have one television service available to them; and if he will make a statement.

No. B.B.C. 1 is available to 99·5 per cent. of the population of the United Kingdom and 97·6 per cent. of the population of Scotland. For independent television, the percentages are 98 and 94·5. It would be wrong to deny the vast majority of viewers the opportunity to see colour television because a relatively small number of people are not within reach of either service.

asked the Postmaster-General what sum his Department spent in 1966–67 on Press advertisements in the Welsh language.

The total amount spent by the Post Office in advertising in eight Welsh language newspapers in 1966–67 was approximately £80.

asked the Postmaster-General how many rural and urban kiosks have been removed in the last three years in Wales; and what are the respective figures for Brecon and Radnor.

The figures are:

asked the Postmaster-General why none of the proposed local radio stations are located in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Only one town in Scotland registered with the B.B.C. an interest in the possibility of securing an experimental station. However the local support in prospect was not enough to justify choosing this town to the exclusion of other localities from which effective support would be forthcoming.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is now able to make a statement about radio and television licences for pupils at boarding schools about which the hon. Member for South-West Hertfordshire wrote to him on 5th July.

No. But I will do so as soon as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will discuss with the proprietors of Radio Scotland the possibility of using that radio station's facilities to provide a popular Scottish radio service after the Marine, &c., Broadcasting Offences Bill becomes law.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what change has been brought about in overseas expenditure as a result of the measures of 20th July, 1966.

Our aim was to achieve savings in 1967–68 compared with 1966–67. Decisions taken so far put us well on the way to achieving these savings though it is too soon for them to be fully reflected in the published statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost to the balance of payments of expenditure overseas on defence.

The figures are given in Table 4 of the quarterly article on the U.K. Balance of Payments published in Economic Trends in June, 1967. A copy is available in the library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent since 20th July, 1966 he has negotiated a settlement with the Federal Republic of Germany which eliminates the foreign exchange cost of United Kingdom troops there.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply of 8th May to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).—[Vol. 746, c. 162.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to supplement the measures of 20th July, 1966, in view of their failure to achieve redeployment.

None. It is clear that the measures of 20th July, 1966 have contributed substantially to the necessary redeployment of resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance in respect of price he will give to members of the public who are required to hand in Queen Elizabeth II gold sovereigns under Statutory Instrument, 1966, No. 438.

Members of the public holding post-1837 gold coins without permission must offer them for sale at a price not exceeding the current London market price. The actual price to be obtained for any given coin will depend upon a number of factors, including the state of the market and the condition of the coin. Advice should be sought from a bank or from a recognised coin dealer who has authority to deal in post-1837 gold coins.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek to arrange for members of the London Gold Market to make a return to his Department of the number of United Kingdom sovereigns sold to them each month by members of the public.

No. Members of the London Gold Market already make comprehensive returns of their gold transactions each month.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what date he will seek to enable receipts expressed as decimals to be given for moneys received in pounds, shillings and pence.

I am not sure that provision for this is necessary. The matter will be looked into and, if it is, provision will be made in the second Decimal Currency Bill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how far the Selective Employment Tax has altered the balance of taxation between services and manufacturing industry in Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Separate figures for Wales, relating to indirect taxation as a whole, are not available. The incidence of the Selective Employment Tax is shown by the approximate figures given in answer to the hon. Member's Question on 14th November, 1966, which still hold good.—[Vol. 736, c. 24.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in the light of paragraph 216 of the Report of the South-West Economic Planning Council, he will seek to amend the Selective Employment Payments Act to allow repayment to be made to the hotel and catering trades.

I read the Council's report with interest, but I see no reason to alter the Selective Employment Payments Act in this respect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates that the United Kingdom's balance of payments will be in surplus during the current calendar year; and whether, in view of his expectation of a balance of payments surplus in 1967, he will give an assurance that he will not take any further deflationary action until the full results of this year's trading surplus are made available.

On the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to the hon. Members for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) and Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills) on 18th July. With regard to the second part, any measures will be taken in the light of all relevant considerations.—[Vol. 750, c. 1695–6.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the French Government officially opposes the entry of Great Britain to the European Economic Community because of sterling's position as an international currency and has now proposed that the sterling balances should be funded; and if he will now take steps to do this and to wind up the reserve functions of sterling, and advise the French Government accordingly.

I am not aware that the position of the French Government is as stated by my hon. Friend. I have indicated my willingness to discuss the role of sterling as an international currency with the Governments of the Six.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to ensure that parental contributions to grants for further education remain eligible for Income Tax relief even after the marriage of the student.

Parental contributions towards further education grants are not eligible for Income Tax relief whether or not the student is married.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many copies of the White Paper on Local Government in Wales, Command Paper No. 3340, were available on Tuesday, 11th July; and what further quantity he has since ordered to be printed.

5,000 and 6,500, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent since 20th July, 1966, overseas Government expenditure on defence has been reduced.

The object of the measures announced on 20th July, 1966, was to make savings during 1967–68 over the previous year. It is too early to give a figure for savings arising in the current year but I have every expectation of achieving the target announced in Chapter I of the Statement on the Defence Estimates. (Cmnd 3203.)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many computers are to be supplied for the use of Polaris submarines and the Polaris Submarine School; and at what cost.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers given to him on 3rd August, 1966, and 22nd February, 1967.—[Vol. 733, c. 114; Vol. 741, c. 285–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the strength of the Army Reserve, by categories, in 1970.

The estimated strengths of the Regular Army Reserves in 1970 are as follows:

Regular Army Reserve of Officers	15,000
Regular Reserve	47,000
Long-tern Reserve	4,000

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the strength of Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve I, II, and III, respectively, in 1970.

The estimated strength of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve in 1970 is:

Category I	…	…	…	1,350
Category II	…	…	…	39,000
Category III	…	…	…	23,000

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many education authorities in Wales allow recruiting teams to visit schools.

Fifteen.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give instructions that the Red Dragon is to be flown at all military, naval and air establishments in Wales, whenever any other appropriate flag is flown and in a superior position.

No. The Armed Forces owe allegiance to the Crown, and wherever they are stationed they display the symbol of that allegiance in the Union Flag, the White Ensign or the R.A.F. Ensign.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the 220 persons employed in the Government's Arms Salesman's Department are engaged in sales missions overseas.

16 work full-time overseas.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what types of armaments the Government Arms Salesman sells.

All types of defence equipment that are sold on a Government-to-Government basis.

asked the Minister of Technology what have been the levels of radioactive fall-out in the United Kingdom over the last three years; and what he estimates this level to be as a result of the recent Chinese H-bomb explosion.

Long lived radioactive fallout was at a maximum in 1963. In succeeding years the levels have fallen by approximately 25 per cent, 60 per cent. and 40 per cent. of the previous year's figures.No fall-out attributable to the present Chinese tests has been detected in the United Kingdom up to the present.

asked the Minister of Technology who will serve on the new National Physical Laboratory Hovercraft Committee under Mr. M. A. L. Banks; and what steps will be taken to acquaint it with the practical operation of hovercraft.

Members of the Committee will be nominated by the National Research Development Corporation, the Ministries of Defence, Technology, and Transport, and the Hovercraft Policy Committee.There will also be members representing the hovercraft operators, and others from industry appointed by the Chairman in consultation with the Steering Committee of the National Physical Laboratory.

asked the Minister of Technology what assistance in terms of staff and money his Department devotes to improving the efficiency of electricity generating stations, coal fired and nuclear powered, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

None directly; but the Atomic Energy Authority has responsibilities for nuclear reactor development and my Department is generally concerned to promote the efficiency of the engineering industry—including that part of it engaged in manufacture of plant for power stations both coal fired and nuclear.

asked the Minister of Technology when he will announce his decision on the provision of a grant towards the development of spray steelmaking plant at Millom, Cumberland.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be in a position to make an announcement soon.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will estimate the effect on the operating costs of the Concord of banning supersonic flight over land.

Concord is designed to operate most economically at supersonic speeds just above Mach 2, and in so far as it is obliged to fly subsonically, there is bound to be some economic penalty.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is satisfied that the Concord will fulfil his criterion that every civil aircraft project must be likely to pay for itself; and if he will make a statement.

This depends on the number of aircraft sold and the size of development levy paid. All projects of this kind include financial risks.

asked the Minister of Transport what evaluation has been made, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police, of the possible reduction of road accidents that could come about in the Metropolitan area if the Terrell Plan for Road Safety, of which she has a copy, were adopted in legislation.

No evaluation of this kind has been made. Mr. Terrell's plan has been studied very carefully within the Department, but we have reached the conclusion that it does not offer a way of reducing road accidents. In particular we do not think it would be helpful to single out particular forms of careless driving in the way suggested, or to make the penalty dependent upon whether or not an accident had been caused.

asked the Minister of Transport how many different types of official form were being used in Wales by her Department at the latest available date; and how many of these were published in the Welsh language or bilingually.

Currently, 302. All are used by the department's Traffic Area Organisation and are common throughout England, Scotland and Wales. Where clear evidence of demand for a Welsh version of a form can be demonstrated and can be met reasonably in practical terms a bilingual version will be produced. So far we have issued one such form (application for a vehicle excise licence); we shall shortly add a second (application for a driving licence).

asked the Minister of Transport what sum her Department spent in 1966–67 on Press advertisements in the Welsh language.

Nil. But my Department had little cause to advertise specifically in Wales, and less than 1 per cent. of our total advertising expenditure in 1966–67 was in Welsh newspapers.

asked the Minister of Transport which local authorities in Wales grant concessionary fares for retirement pensioners.

As explained in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Stockport, North (Mr. Gregory) on 23rd June, we have no comprehensive information on this topic.—[Vol. 748, c. 352.]

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of United Kingdom motorways she plans for Wales, excluding Monmouthshire, by 1971; and what proportion for Scotland and England, including Monmouthshire.

Plans for motorways in Wales and Monmouthshire, and Scotland, are the responsibilities of my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Wales and Scotland respectively.Regarding plans for which my right hon. Friend is responsible, I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Worcester (Mr. Peter Walker) on 12th June.—[Vol. 748, c.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, before proceeding with widening the A1 road through Hampstead Garden suburb, she will give priority to widening the North Circular Road between the junction with the A1 and Colney Hatch Lane, in view of the greater urgency of this matter for traffic consideration.

We have in preparation, a scheme to provide dual three-lane carriageways on the North Circular Road from its junction with Falloden Way (A1) to High Road, Finchley (A1000). My right hon. Friend recently announced the letting of a contract in respect of the widening to dual three-lane carriageways of 1·6 miles of the North Circular Road between High Road, Finchley, and Bounds Green Road. This work will start shortly.We have other schemes in hand for the North Circular Road, of which I will send the hon. Lady full details.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the estimated population of gypsies and other travellers in each county at the last convenient date.

The latest comprehensive figures are those obtained by the census carried out in March, 1965. The population of gypsies and other travellers in each county in England and Wales at that date is given below. In addition, there were some 1,660 gypsies in county boroughs.

Northern Region
Cumberland	…	…	73
Durham	…	…	73
Westmorland	…	…	4
Yorkshire, North Riding	…	…	72
Yorkshire and Humberside Region
Lincoln, Parts of Lindsey	…	…	221
Yorkshire, East Riding	…	…	32
Yorkshire, West Riding	…	…	432
North-West Region
Chester	…	…	144
Lancaster	…	…	251
East Midland Region
Derbyshire	…	…	66
Leicester	…	…	201
Lincoln, Parts of Holland	…	…	27
Lincoln, Parts of Kesteven	…	…	71
Northamptonshire	…	…	137
Nottinghamshire	…	…	207
South-West Region
Cornwall	…	…	451
Devon	…	…	283
Dorset	…	…	247
Gloucestershire	…	…	405
Somerset	…	…	346
Wiltshire	…	…	260
West Midland Region
Herefordshire	…	…	459
Salop	…	…	201
Staffordshire	…	…	446
Warwickshire	…	…	157
Worcestershire	…	…	866

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total amount paid in grants under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 to owners of historic buildings in the United Kingdom.

Since the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act, 1953 came into force, £5,471,590 have been paid in grants to owners of historic buildings in England, Scotland, and Wales. This Act does not apply to Northern Ireland.