asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the weekly wage rates, before and after overtime, of the catering staff in the Palace of Westminster.

I have been asked to reply.Following is a list of the basic weekly wage rates of most types of staff in the Refreshment Department of the House of Commons. Individual rates vary within most of these types of staff, and I have set out in these cases the appropriate range of pay:

asked the Lord President of the Council what arrangements are being made to provide a typewriter maintenance engineer paid by the Commons for Members and their Secretaries.

None. Typewriters used by Members and their secretaries are their own property and should be maintained by them.

asked the Minister of Technology whether the sonic boom heard in the London area on 17th July was comparable in noise, effect and decibel measurement to that which can be expected from the Concord.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the proposal to put A.538 with dual-carriageways in a tunnel beneath the proposed runway extension at Ringway Airport, she will give consideration to early completion of equally necessary roadworks in the form of improved road access to the Airport itself.

The proposals for Princess Parkway Extension and the link to the Airport have been published. Subject to satisfactory completion of the statutory procedures, the works are expected to start in 1968–69.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will consider seeking powers to ban heavy lorries from using the main roads between 11 a.m. and 11 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays during the holiday season in the West Country.

My right hon. Friend already has power to prohibit classes of vehicles on trunk roads, and local authorities have similar powers subject to her confirmation in respect of other roads. The extent to which it is appropriate for my right hon. Friend or local authorities to use these powers depends upon local circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the subscriptions currently being paid by the Bank of England to outside bodies.

No. This is a domestic matter for the Bank.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total increase of money being spent on the social services this year, compared with 1964 and 1966.

The total increase of money spent in Great Britain on the social services, as defined in the National Income Blue Book, is estimated at £1,715 million (or 36 per cent.) for 1967–68 over 1964–65 and £565 million (or 10 per cent.) for 1967–68 over 1966–67.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that, taking the £ sterling as having a purchasing value of 20s. in 1914, it had fallen to 3s. 11d. in 1965; and what is the latest estimate of the decline of the £ sterling's purchasing value since the 3s. 11d. value in 1965.

Yes. The corresponding estimate for June, 1967, is 3s. 7d. This estimate is based on changes in the consumer price index for the years 1938–66, linked to changes in the cost of living index for earlier years and brought up to date by reference to the retail price index.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was paid by the regional hospital boards and private hospital establishments, respectively, in the first full year of the selective employment tax.

It is estimated that the regional hospital boards will pay approxi- mately £24 million in a full year. This sum is borne on Votes and therefore met by the Exchequer. I regret that a comparable figure for private hospitals is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will appoint a committee to make proposals concerning the definitive extent of police powers of arrest, search and questioning.

I intend to institute a comprehensive review of police powers and procedures. Preparatory work, involving consultation with the police, is already under way; and the Criminal Law Revision Committee is now reviewing the law of criminal evidence, a subject which impinges closely on police powers of questioning.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many British subjects ordinarily resident in Aden have been refused admission into the United Kingdom as visitors since 1st January, 1967.

Between 1st January and 30th June, 1967, four Commonwealth citizens who held passports issued in Aden and claimed to be admitted to the United Kingdom as visitors were refused admission under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962. Two were found to be coming here to seek employment without having Ministry of Labour vouchers, and two did not have sufficient means for their proposed visits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether an immigration officer at London Airport has authority to return a British subject to Aden and to refuse him admission into the United Kingdom without reference to a Minister in his Department.

The position is covered by my "Instructions to Immigration Officers" (Cmnd. 3064). Under these instructions, the power to refuse admission under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962 is not to be exercised by an immigration officer acting in his sole discretion: the authority of a chief immigration officer or immigration inspector is always to be obtained (paragraph 43). In particular cases of doubt or difficulty the senior officer at the port is to consult higher authority in the Home Office (paragraph 2).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the outcome of his inquiry into the circumstances in which Mr. Shahid Ali was refused admission to the United Kingdom on 21st May.

Mr. Shahid Ali claimed to be admitted as a returning resident, saying that he had lived here continuously since 1962. But his anwers to questions, and other relevant evidence, did not seem to the immigration officer to be consistent with this claim, and he was refused admission.I have carefully considered a full report on this case and I am satisfied that, on the evidence before him, the immigration officer was justified in refusing Mr. Shahid Ali admission.Subsequently, further evidence was produced in support of Mr. Shahid Ali's claim, and he was admitted on 23rd June. Enquiries into this evidence necessarily took some time, but should not have taken as long as they did. Iregret this delay.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many psych- iatric social workers in the calendar year ended 31st December left the hospital service to work for local authorities and other organisations, respectively; and how many, in the same period, joined the hospital service from local authority services, from other sources and on first employment as such, respectively;(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number, on the latest convenient date, of psychiatric social workers employed, respectively, in child psychiatry units, in the adult psy- chiatric hospital service, in teaching posts both in universities and in colleges of further education, in local authority health, welfare and children's departments, and the movement of psychiatric social workers between these employments in the previous calendar year.

Numbers employed in hospitals and in the local health and welfare services in terms equivalent to whole-time staff were 231 and 265 respectively at 30th September, 1966. I regret that the other information asked for is not centrally available.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the relative salaries of psychiatric social workers of comparable qualifications and seniority in child psychiatry, the adult psychiatric hospital service, teaching posts both in universities and in colleges of further education, local authority health, welfare and children's departments, respectively.

Salary ranges in the hospital and local health, welfare and children's services are as follows;

(a) Hospital Service (from 1st August, 1965):

• Social Worker: £995 (age 27) by 5 increments to £1.170.
• Senior Social Worker: (3 years' experience after qualification) £1,055 by 7 increments to £1,340
• Head Social Worker: (5 years' experience after qualification) £1,190 by 7 increments to £1,555.
• Head Social Worker: (in larger departments) extension by 3 increments to £1,745.

(b) Local Health, Welfare and Children's Services (from 1st February, 1967):

• Social Welfare, Mental Welfare and Child Care Officer, £1,060 by 9 increments to £1,435.
• Grading of higher posts at discretion of employing authority.

I understand that staff in teaching posts in colleges for further education and universities are graded according to their academic responsibilities and that in most departments senior posts are normally held by staff with academic qualifications higher than the professional qualification of psychiatric social worker. Their grades and salary scales cannot be related specifically to persons holding a psychiatric social worker qualification.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will assist philatelists by making first day covers of commemorative stamps available unspoilt by an address and, if possible, in convenient bundles.

No. I will be writing to the hon. and gallant Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ascertain the number of miners over 50 years of age made redundant by pit closures during the past six years, with a view to determining the extent to which alternative employment for them should be provided in the development areas.

I am aware of the problems created for elderly miners by pit closures. Alternative employment for them is best provided as part of the employment opportunities we are seeking to create in the development areas to match the overall needs of those areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average annual gross investment by British airlines in new aircraft and other equipment in 1965 and 1966; and what is the anticipated annual average for 1967 to 1969, inclusive.

Average annual gross investment by United Kingdom airlines in the United Kingdom in the financial years 1965–66 and 1966–67 is estimated to have been £49 million. It is estimated that in the years 1967–68 to 1969–70 investment might average about £90 million a year, but there are still some uncertainties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the average annual investment by central and local government in airports and air navigation facilities in 1965 and 1966; and what is the anticipated annual average for 1967 to 1969, inclusive.

The average annual investment by central and local government and by the British Airports Authority in civil airports and air navigation facilities in 1965 and 1966 was approximately £18 million. On current forecasts investment in 1967 to 1969 will average about £26 million per annum.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will pay to the Teesside Airport Authority the grant of £150,000 which was arranged in 1962–63 that it should receive on completing certain conditions which have now been fulfilled; and whether he will make a statement.

A grant of £150,000 was offered to the Teesside Airport authority in May, 1964, on condition that a joint consortium should be formed with the Newcastle Airport Authority to run the two aerodromes in co-operation.The two authorities have recently reported progress towards co-operative working; this is being examined and we are now considering whether the grant can be paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations have been received from the Harlequin Ballet Trust in relation to their future commitments and the grants provided by the Arts Council; what reply has been given to the approaches made by the Harlequin Ballet Trust; and what future action is contemplated.

I have received representations from the Harlequin Ballet Trust but, as I am sure my hon. Friend appreciates, decisions about grants are entirely within the discretion of the Arts Council. The Council's support was withdrawn only after repeated warnings to the company that its artistic standards were too low to justify the indefinite continuation of support from public funds.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give the estimated cost to his Department of providing the expected supply of North Sea gas to the consumer; and what proportion of the total cost will be met by the various firms and companies engaged in extracting gas from the North Sea.

The only costs borne by my Department are those incurred in the issue of licences and related administrative work. Up to the 30th June, 1967, these costs were about £48,000. Receipts from licensees by way of application fees and other payments have been about £2,750,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he received the Report of the Grant Committee on Sheriff Courts; and when he proposes to publish it.

I received this Report in March of this year. It will be published on 26th July.I am grateful to Lord Grant and the other members of the Committee for their comprehensive review of the jurisdiction, organisation and procedure of the Sheriff Court. I propose to study the large number of recommendations that they have made in consultation with the organisations principally concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the work of the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee in making sanctions against the Rhodesian regime effective.

The Commonwealth Sanctions Committee was established, following the Lagos meeting of Commonwealth Prime Ministers, to review regularly the effect of sanctions and also the special needs which may from time to time arise in honouring the Commonwealth's undertaking to come to the support of Zambia as required; to recommend the re-convening of the Prime Ministers' meeting when it judges this necessary and to advise the Prime Ministers if it considers action by the United Nations is called for.The Committee met on fifteen occasions in 1966 and again on 13th March, 1967.It made a report on the progress of sanctions to Commonwealth Prime Ministers on 26th August, 1966, which was considered by the Commonwealth Prime Ministers when they met in London in September, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the proposals in Command Paper No. 3357 will mean the abolition, inter alia, of the Durham Light Infantry.

The Light Infantry Brigade, which comprises four regiments including the Durham Light Infantry, intends to form a large regiment, the regimental identity of each of the four regiments thereby becoming merged. The Durham Light Infantry as the junior Regiment will become the fourth battalion of the new large regiment, and as such will disappear when the time comes to make the reduction. But through the formation of the large regiment the identity of the D.L.I. will be preserved, to the same extent as that of the other three regiments.

asked the Prime Minister if he is now in a position to make a further statement on the reform or aboliton of the Honours System.

As the House knows I have, since taking office, been undertaking a comprehensive and continuing review of all aspects of the Honours System and I have from time to time reported my conclusions to the House. The House will now wish to know that a further stage of the review has been completed and my conclusions on it.This stage relates to the award of honours to State servants whch have been commonly criticised in the past on the grounds that the proportion of honours going to members of the Home Civil Service, the Diplomatic Service and the Defence Services is higher than that which normally goes to those in other walks of life. Particular criticism has related to the alleged lack of balance between the number of such awards and those given for the achievement in industry and export on the one hand and to members of other public services, such as local authorities, the National Health Service and the police on the other hand. The reasons for the present pattern of distribution are largely historical and I need not trouble the House with them now. The House will, however, wish to know that in agreement with those of my colleagues concerned I have decided that the proportion of honours awarded to State servants should be reduced over a period.So far as the Home Civil Service is concerned, there have, of course, already been substantial reductions over recent years. Nevertheless, further cuts can I think be justified. The effect will be that the number of knighthoods awarded each year will remain about half, the number of C.B.E.s will be reduced to little more than one-quarter, of O.B.E.s to considerably less than a half and of M.B.E.s to less than two-thirds of the levels ruling ten years ago.Corresponding reductions will be made over a period in the awards to the Defence Services and the Diplomatic Service.These reductions will enable an increase to be made in the number of awards for other worthy citizens and I shall pay special attention in my recommendations to achievement in industry or export and to public and voluntary service outside the fields of central government employment.If hon. Members will study the recent Birthday Honours List they will find that it already reflects these decisions; future honours lists will, by stages, implement them in full.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will ascertain the number of miners over 50 years of age made redundant by pit closures during the past six years, with a view to determining the extent to which training facilities are required to rehabilitate those affected in the various development districts.

I regret that figures are not available for the whole of the six year period. In the three years ending March, 1967, a total of 6245 miners aged 50 and over became redundant through closures and re-organisation of collieries. This figure includse 4,222 men aged 60 and under 65 and 36 men aged 65 and over. On 12th June, 1967, 2,384 ex-miners aged 50 and over were registered at employment exchanges as unemployed. Redundant miners who want and are suitable for training for skilled occupations may attend any of the 33 Government Training Centres, 14 of which are in or near development areas; a further six Government Training Centres will be opened in such areas before the end of 1968. Redeployment can also be assisted by the Ministry's Industrial Rehabilitation Service which is establishing four new units in areas affected by pit closures in addition to the eight units already in or near development areas.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has considered the representations from the Secretary of the West Ham Trades Council about rent officers in the London Borough of Newham basing rents of slum and other properties on scarcity values, and, as this is contrary to the Rent Act, 1965, what action he proposes to take; and what was the nature of his reply to this communication.Mr. MacColl: Under Section 27 of the Rent Act, 1965 rent officers are required to deduct any value created by scarcity when fixing a fair rent. My right hon. Friend has no reason to believe that rent officers are not complying with this provision. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the reply to the letter he mentions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the effect the new cost controls for local authority housing will have on the standard of housing in London.

The new cost control arrangements announced in Circular 36/67 allow higher cost yardsticks for Greater London than for the rest of the country, and should permit authorities using Parker Morris standards to obtain subsidy on the whole cost of schemes which are designed from now on with the new cost limits in mind and with reasonable regard to economy. Authorities wishing to incorporate standards higher than Parker Morris will be able to do so up to a cost limit of 10 per cent. above the yardstick, although subsidy will not be payable above the yardstick. The operation of the cost yardstick for London is being considered by a joint working party from the London authorities and the Department.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make an examination of the agreements signed by caravan dwellers on private sites, with a view to introducing legislation to give security of tenancy to caravan dwellers living on long-term caravan sites.

My right hon. Friend is studying this problem in the light of the Consumer Council's report.