asked the Minister of Social Security whether she is considering providing for the same age of retirement for men and women.

The Government's comprehensive review will cover all aspects of the National Insurance scheme, but it is not possible at this stage to say what decisions will be reached on any particular issue.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she will arrange for the proposed increase in retirement pension to be paid for British citizens resident abroad, or, alternatively, whether she will seek to make reciprocal arrangements with other countries to ensure that a person living in retirement is able to withstand increases in the cost of living abroad.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that there are good reasons for the rule we have followed in the past, namely, that the new rates of retirement pension do not apply to people who have already qualified for their pensions and taken up residence abroad before the date of the increase. My right hon. Friend is always glad to consider whether there is any scope for an amendment of this rule in the reciprocal agreements we negotiate with other countries.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she is considering allowing married women insured in their own right to be entitled to the full rate of unemployment and sickness benefit.

This is only one of the problems which arise from the special position of married women in National Insurance. Along with others it is being examined during the general review.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she is satisfied that all offices at the local branches of her Department can now deal with the full range of inquiries about both contributory and supplementary benefits; and if she will make a statement.

Arrangements have been in operation since the Ministry was set up in August 1966 for inquiries over the full range of contributory and non-contributory benefits to be dealt with at all our local offices and in general they are working satisfactorily.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether, in view of the fear that when a person is receiving a supplementary pension this might be so reduced as to offset any benefit under the option mortgage scheme, she will issue an assurance, covering this point, as an addition to the explanatory booklet.

In assessing the requirements of a claiment for Supplementary Benefit the Supplementary Benefits Commission can only take account of mortgage interest which is actually being paid. If, therefore, the mortgage interest payable by a claimant is reduced, because he has chosen an option mortgage, his Supplementary Benefit normally must necessarily be correspondingly adjusted. Were this not done there would be double provision from public funds for part of the mortgage interest. Arrangements are being made with the Minister of Housing and Local Government for a paragraph about the position of borrowers receiving Supplementary Benefit who choose an option mortgage to be included in the next version of the booklet dealing with the Option Mortgage Scheme.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will amend page three of form BF 11W to include the words "retirement pension" in addition to the word "pension".

No. The existing words "insurance benefit or pension" in form BF 11W (which is a form for claiming an increase of sickness or injury benefit for a wife) are I think adequate and my right hon. Friend would be reluctant to add any specific reference which might appear to limit their general application.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is her estimate of what the average rate of family allowance per child would be, compared with what it is now, if all the present Income Tax and Surtax child allowances were divided equally per child.

The extra tax yield resulting from the abolition of the present tax allowance for children would finance a further payment of 17s. 3d. a week by way of family allowance for each child, including the first.

asked the Minister of Social Security what estimate she has made of the margin of real benefit left by the October increases in National Insurance and supplementary benefits after the increases in fuel costs have been taken into consideration with the increases of cost of living.

It is estimated that, when known increases in fuel charges will have taken effect, assuming no other changes in the Retail Prices Index, the increase of 10s. to be made in the standard rate of benefit will still be 3s. 0d. more than would be necessary to restore the value of the current rate.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she has a comprehensive policy for co-operation with voluntary social welfare organisations; and what advice in this respect she has issued to local offices of her Department particularly concerning those voluntary organisations with which they should and should not co-operate.

It has not been necessary to limit the field of such organisations with which the staff of the Ministry should co-operate so far as they can. But if my hon. Friend has any particular case or organisation in mind I will gladly make inquiries if he will let me have details.

asked the Minister of Health if any of his medical advisers who recommend that he shall not co-operate with the National Kidney Centre have visited the Centre and studied the work carried out and the results achieved.

As I have repeatedly stated I am advised by a group of experts that dialysis in the home should have the backing of a hospital with full supporting facilities. This group is fully aware of the work carried out at the National Kidney Centre and of the results achieved, and at least one member has visited the Centre.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will discuss with local authorities their arrangements for the registration of the names and addresses of disabled persons living in their areas, with a view to ensuring that these persons receive adequate help from the health and welfare services.

Registration reflects the numbers of handicapped people who at any time are seeking and receiving help, and I am sure that local authorities fully recognise their responsibility to offer any necessary services.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities exist in Hillingdon borough for regular cervical cancer tests; and how this provision compares with the position in 1964.

Facilities for regular cervical cancer screening, apart from tests undertaken at hospital gynaecological clinics, are provided for the London Borough of Hillingdon at hospital ante and post-natal clinics, the Local Health Authority clinics, the Family Planning Clinic and through the General Practitioners. The waiting time for smears to be taken at Local Health Authority clinics is about two weeks. In June 1967 the hospital laboratories serving the area were examining cervical cytology smears from all clinics at an annual rate of about 19,000 i.e. over three times the rate in 1964.

asked the Minister of Health if he will reconsider the present lower age limit of 35 for women having cervical smear tests; when he is reimbursing general practitioners for these tests; and if he will make a statement.

I am at present considering whether the cervical cytology service should be extended to women under the age of 35. The payment to general practitioners of a fee for taking smears from such women is dependent on the outcome of this consideration.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what are the terms of reference of his Department's survey of the younger chronic sick; who is carrying out this survey and where; and what attention is being given to the different problems arising in thinly and densely populated areas;(2) if he will set up a survey in depth of a densely populated urban area and a sparsely populated rural area of roughly equal population to establish the numbers of the young chronic sick being cared for at home, and the problems confronting patients and families to ensure that they shall continue to be cared for at home.

The Government's plans for a survey of disabled people living at home are described in my right hon. Friend's reply today to a Question from the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell). Any special problems arising from differences in density of population would no doubt emerge from the proposed survey.

asked the Minister of Health how many young chronic sick between the ages of 16 to 60 are registered with local authorities, and being maintained by local authorities in part three accommodation, respectively; and how many of those in part three accommodation are housed with the aged.

I regret that this information is not available; but the number of people aged 16–64 registered with local authorities as permanently and substan- tially handicapped (other than those with handicaps of sight or hearing) at 31st December, 1966, was 92,443, and the number aged under 65 classified as "physically handicapped" in Part III accommodation at the same date was 4,532.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the public concern at the increase in drug addiction, he will consider making regulations which require medical practitioners to see patients personally each time habit-forming drugs are prescribed.

I do not regard this as a suitable method of tackling drug addiction. Prescribing is part of a doctor's professional responsibility and it is for him to decide in each case whether it is clinically necessary to see a patient before prescribing. I have no evidence that addiction to habit-forming drugs has increased through doctors prescribing without seeing the patients concerned on each occasion.

asked the Minister of Health what approximate percentage of Britain's doctors and nurses, respectively, are immigrants; what is the approximate additional annual number of immigrant doctors and nurses, respectively, in recent years; and what is the approximate annual number of our doctors and nurses who emigrate.

In 1964, the latest year for which full information about doctors is available, approximately 18 per cent. of all fully and provisionally registered doctors in Great Britain were born outside the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. On the migration of doctors generally I would refer my hon. Friend to my answer of 24th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Wandsworth, Central (Dr. David Kerr).At 31st December, 1966, 20,713, or approximately one quarter of those training as nurses and midwives in Great Britain were immigrants. The numbers at 31st December, 1965 and 1964 were 19,432 and 19,106, respectively. Information is not available for trained nurses or midwives or on the numbers who emigrate.—[Vol. 751,

asked the Minister of Health what progress he has now made regarding the control of advertising or other methods of promoting cigarette smoking.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Dr. John Dunwoody).

asked the Minister of Health whether he will now take steps to compel all cigarette manufacturers to print on their packaging and advertising a warning of the danger to health.

Not at present.

asked the Minister of Health what steps will be taken to implement the recommendations of the Sainsbury Committee on drugs; and what action he intends taking to have discussions with the trade unions and workpeople in the drug and pharmaceutical industry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Dr. John Dunwoody). I have no plans at present for such discussions but I shall take into account any views that are put to me.

asked the Minister of Health if he has now considered the Sainsbury Committee Report on Drugs; when he intends to implement its recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Dr. John Dunwoody).

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet reached conclusions on the views relating to suggested transfer of responsibility for the ambulance service from local authorities to regional hospital boards, expressed to him by the Royal Commission on Local Government in England, the County Councils Association, the Association of Municipal Corporations and the Greater London Council.

I have decided to defer a decision on this matter until the Royal Commission has published its recommendations on the future structure of local government.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will consider establishing in England and Wales a body similar to the Mental Welfare Commission of Scotland.

No.

asked the Minister of Health when he intends to introduce legislation to implement the proposals in the White Paper, Command Paper No. 3395, with regard to the safety, quality and description of drugs and medicines and, for the purpose of implementing the Sainsbury Report, Command Paper No. 3410, whether these matters will be dealt with in a single Bill or two Bills; and what steps will be taken to consult professional bodies and trade associations concerned before the drafting is completed.

Legislation to implement the Government's proposals in connection with the safety, quality and description of drugs and medicines will be introduced as soon as possible. I am considering the implications for this legislation of certain of the recommendations in the report of the committee of enquiry into the relationship of the pharmaceutical industry with the National Health Service and have invited the views of the pharmaceutical industry, the British Medical Association and the Pharmaceutical Society.

asked the Minister of Health how many people between the ages of 16 to 35, 36 to 50, 51 to 60, respectively, disabled in motor accidents, are at present in geriatric wards.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health how many young chronic sick units are functioning in each Regional Hospital Board area; and for what age groups they cater.

In April, 1967, the number of units accommodating 10 or more chronic sick patients in the age range 15 to 59 was:

Regional Hospital Board area	Number of units	Age groups catered for
Newcastle	3	All
Leeds	1	Under 45—over at Consultant's discretion
Sheffield	3	2—All 1—Up to 40—over for short stay
East Anglia	0	—
North-West Metropolitan	1	Up to 45 only
North-East Metropolitan	2	All
South-East Metropolitan	1	All
South-West Metropolitan	2	All
Oxford	2	All
South-Western	3	2—All 1—Up to 50 only
Birmingham	2	All
Manchester	0	—
Liverpool	1	All
Wessex	0	—
Wales	1	All

asked the Minister of Health if he will take steps to ensure that sufficient places are kept open at spa hospitals to treat all rheumatic and arthritic patients until such time as new medical remedies replace spa treatments.

Only a small proportion of rheumatic and arthritic patients are treated in spa hospitals.It is for regional hospital boards to decide whether the facilities available in National Health Service hospitals for the treatment of such patients, which include in many cases facilities comparable to those provided in spa hospitals, need to be supplemented by contractual arrangements with such hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospitals still strip patients of their spectacles, dentures and hearing-aids; and whether he will seek assurances that this practice will now cease.

I have no evidence that any hospitals are acting contrary to my advice that mentally disordered or elderly confused patients should be allowed to retain such aids and other personal belongings, and that where it is necessary, exceptionally, to remove them, this should only be done on medical advice.

asked the Minister of Health how many non-psychiatric geriatric patients are at present housed in mental hospitals.

Statistics are not available. Psychiatry and geriatric medicine overlap in some clinical conditions and many elderly patients are borderline cases for different forms of care.

asked the Minister of Health how many mental hospitals are at present overcrowded above their originally intended number of cases.

The information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of mental hospitals at present in use which were built more than 50 years ago, together with their date of construction, the number of patients for which they were designed and their present number of patients.

This information is not available centrally and would be difficult to obtain.

asked the Minister of Health what advice he has given to hospitals about the policy to be followed when patients come closely in touch with teaching procedures; and whether he will make a statement.

All Teaching Hospitals are aware of my policy that when a patient comes closely in touch with teaching procedures his co-operation should be sought and an explanation given on the spot of what may be involved; should this fail to overcome any hesitation he may feel I would deprecate any effort to make co-operation in teaching a condition of treatment.I have also asked all Teaching Hospitals to see that notices are issued both to in-patients and to out-patients giving an explanation of the forms that teaching is likely to take.

asked the Minister of Health what proportion of expectant mothers within the City of Portsmouth are able to have their babies in hospital; what categories of mothers this represents; what is the proportion for the country as a whole; and whether he will make a statement.

Sixty-two per cent. in 1966; women requiring hospital confinement on medical or obstetric grounds or those needing it for social reasons; seventy-two per cent. in 1966. With the additional beds now being brought into commission at St. Mary's Hospital, the percentage should rise to about the national average.

asked the Minister of Labour what further progress he has made in finding jobs for the 14 workers who have been made redundant by the Royal Air Force at Faldingworth and who desire alternative employment.

Only four workers remain registered, of whom two are under consideration for jobs.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give the number employed in the shipbuilding and ship- repairing industries at the latest available date and the corresponding figures for 1963, 1964, 1965, and 1966.

It is estimated that in Great Britain at August, 1967 (the latest date for which provisional estimates are available) there were 150,900 employees in employment in the shipbuilding and ship-repairing industries. The estimates for earlier years are August, 1966, 151,900 (provisional); August, 1965, 153,000; August, 1964, 149,100; and August, 1963, 153,200.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will give what figures are in his possession to make a comparison between the numbers of official and unofficial strikes, and the number of days lost thereby, in this country and other major industrial nations.

Over the seven years 1960–66 inclusive, the number of stoppages known to have been official averaged under five per cent. of all stoppages but caused about 40 per cent. of the total number of days lost.Separate figures for official and unofficial strikes and the number of days lost thereby in other major industrial nations are not available but figures for 1966 supplied by the International Labour Office and due to be published in the

asked the Minister of Labour what action he has taken, or intends to take, in the present trade disputes in this country, in particular those connected with the docks.

I am taking, and shall continue to take, such action as is appropriate in the particular circumstances of each case.In the case of Liverpool docks I have appointed Mr. A. J. Scamp to undertake an inquiry into the locally determined aspects of the system of payment and earnings opportunities of dockers. At my suggestion, Mr. Scamp has had discussions with representatives of the employers and workers with a view to finding in advance of his report a basis for a resumption of work. I understand that the agreement reached in these discussions is to be considered at a meeting of the men on Wednesday.The unofficial stoppages in parts of the London docks raise different issues and I am keeping closely in touch with the continuing efforts of the employers and unions to secure a resumption of normal working.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were unemployed in Scotland at the latest available date, and how many vacancies were unfilled; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous four years.

Following is the information:

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED IN SCOTLAND
		Total registered Unemployed	Unfilled Vacancies
October, 1967*	…	83,761	14,649
October, 1966	…	67,280	18,448
October, 1965	…	59,586	20,447
October, 1964	…	71,248	16,645
October, 1963	…	90,752	10,988
* Provisional figures.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment position.

The registered unemployed on 9th October totalled about 561,000 or 2·4 per cent. 522,000 were wholly unemployed excluding school leavers and, seasonally adjusted, this represented a fall between September and October of over 20,000. The seasonally adjusted figures fell in all regions. I here were 9,000 unemployed school leavers and thus this group is being satisfactorily absorbed in most areas. The seasonally adjusted figures of adult vacancies showed increases in October as well as in September.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to break down regional unemployment statistics to show what proportion, in percentages, and how many, in absolute figures, are classified as unemployable.

No registered unemployed persons are classified as unemployable. Monthly figures are available of those unemployed registered disabled persons who are so severely incapacitated that they are unlikely to obtain work except under sheltered conditions and who are excluded from the basic unemployment statistics.

asked the Minister of Labour what representations he has received from the Confederation of British Industries concerning the minimum pay scales now recommended by the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians' Association; what answer he gave; and if he will make a statement.

I have received no representations from the C.B.I. concerning these scales.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people in the London Borough of Hillingdon are employed in engineering now; and how this compares with the comparable month of each year from 1960 to 1966.

The information requested is available only for the Greater London Area as a whole, and is as follows:

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES (EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED) IN ORDERS VI TO IX OF THE STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION
(Thousands)
		Males	Females	Total
June, 1960	…	515	196	711
June, 1961	…	524	201	726
June, 1962	…	523	196	718
June, 1963	…	517	193	709
June, 1964	…	497	191	688
June, 1965	…	464	183	648
June, 1966	…	453	183	636

Due to boundary changes arising out of the establishment of the Greater London Council, the estimates for years up to 1964 are not strictly comparable with those for subsequent years.Owing to roundings, the components do not necessarily add to the totals.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the numbers of men, women, boys and girls unemployed, and the percentage unemployment rate

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE AREAS COVERED BY BRECHIN, MONTROSE, STONEHAVEN AND BANCHORY EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
			Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total	Percentage rate
BRECHIN
9th October, 1967	…	…	68	—	38	1	107	2·6
10th October, 1966	…	…	44	—	24	2	70	1·7
11th October, 1965	…	…	38	1	17	—	56	1·3
12th October, 1964	…	…	28	—	13	2	43	1·0
14th October, 1963	…	…	46	3	24	10	83	1·9
15th October, 1962	…	…	38	6	20	3	67	1·5
16th October, 1961	…	…	22	3	13	1	39	0·9
10th October, 1960	…	…	26	2	18	3	49	1·1
12th October, 1959	…	…	70	3	13	5	91	2·0
13th October, 1958	…	…	38	1	29	—	68	1·5
14th October, 1957	…	…	36	—	17	1	54	1·2
MONTROSE
9th October, 1967	…	…	188	2	57	5	252	3·5
10th October, 1966	…	…	115	4	30	4	153	2·2
11th October, 1965	…	…	135	4	34	4	177	2·5
12th October, 1964	…	…	136	3	25	3	167	2·2
14th October, 1963	…	…	119	2	34	2	157	2·0
15th October, 1962	…	…	86	1	31	—	118	1·6
16th October, 1961	…	…	178	3	20	2	203	2·8
10th October, 1960	…	…	163	3	29	1	196	2·7
12th October, 1959	…	…	222	5	46	12	285	4·0
13th October, 1958	…	…	202	7	18	3	230	3·1
14th October, 1957	…	…	151	4	35	2	192	2·6
STONEHAVEN*
9th October, 1967	…	…	49	1	13	—	63	2·0
10th October, 1966	…	…	40	—	12	—	52	1·9
11th October, 1965	…	…	45	—	11	—	56	2·1
12th October, 1964	…	…	32	2	8	2	44	2·5
14th October, 1963	…	…	39	—	1	—	40	3·0
15th October, 1962	…	…	34	—	—	2	36	3·0
16th October, 1961	…	…	37	—	4	—	41	2·9
10th October, 1960	…	…	55	—	4	—	59	2·8
12th October, 1959	…	…	68	—	5	—	73	3·6
13th October, 1958	…	…	35	—	7	—	42	3·6
14th October, 1957	…	…	29	1	2	1	33	2·4
BANCHORY
9th October, 1967	…	…	61	3	18	3	85	2·9
10th October, 1966	…	…	62	5	15	3	85	2·9
11th October, 1965	…	…	48	3	17	2	70	2·4
12th October, 1964	…	…	52	6	10	2	70	2·2
14th October, 1963	…	…	42	2	11	3	58	1·8
15th October, 1962	…	…	33	2	21	4	60	1·7
16th October, 1961	…	…	38	—	15	2	55	1·5
10th October, 1960	…	…	46	1	10	2	59	1·7
12th October, 1959	…	…	66	2	12	6	86	2·3
13th October, 1958	…	…	49	1	14	3	67	1·8
14th October, 1957	…	…	52	—	17	4	73	2·0
* Stonehaven forms part of the Aberdeen "travel to work" area which comprises Aberdeen, Inverurie and Stonehaven. Percentage rates can be calculated for the area as a whole but not separately for its constituent parts.

asked the Minister of Labour how many employees have transferred from service to manufacturing em-

Following is the information:ployment in Scotland and the Highlands, respectively, since the introduction of Selective Employment Tax.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many income settlements have been notified to his Department which involve back payments covering all or part of the period of severe restraint; and how many employees are involved.

Twelve since 1st July, 1967 involving about 117,000 workers. These did not involve breaches of incomes policy.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will issue a general directive to employment exchanges to give priority to local residents, rather than to students entering the area during the holiday period.

No. Our aim is to provide an employer, as far as possible, with a reasonable field of registrants from which he can select, the criterion being suitability for the particular job. I have no reason to believe this policy results in students from other districts being commonly placed in jobs for which equally suitable local residents are available.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the change since the start of Selective Employment Tax in the number employed in those employments classified as service and manufacturing for purposes of Selective Employment Tax, respectively.

Provisional estimates of employees in employment in manufacturing industries in Great Britain show a decrease of about 390,000 between September, 1966, and August, 1967. Comparable estimates are not available for the service industries. Final estimates for each industry and service in the Standard Industrial Classifications are made in respect of June each year, June, 1967, estimates will become available early in 1968.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will institute, in the interests of industrial safety, an investigation into the use of carbon tetrachloride in industry as an electrical maintenance and industrial cleaning solvent.

A great deal is already known in my Ministry about the use (and the hazards associated with the use) of carbon tetrachloride. Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate encourage the use of safe substitutes wherever possible, but where this is not practicable, suitable precautions in the use of carbon tetrachloride can be required. I do not think that any special investigation is necessary, but if my hon. Friend has any particular instance of its use in mind and will give me the details, I will have it investigated.

asked the Minister of Labour what steps he intends taking to secure the transferability of pension rights within all kinds of occupational schemes, particularly in view of the difficulties encountered by many people in securing employment because of their ineligibility due to age to join a new firm's pension scheme.

Transferability of pension rights at present exists within the state social security scheme and between certain occupational schemes. Whether special provisions should be made for the preservation of pension rights under all occupational schemes will need to be considered in the light of the future of the State social security scheme, which is at present under review.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the number of totally unemployed, the estimated number on short-time, and the number who have lost overtime working in the last twelve months.

At 9th October 1967 there were in Great Britain 531,647 persons registered as wholly unemployed and 29,052 temporarily stopped. These figures are provisional.Short-time and overtime statistics are available for operatives in establishments with eleven or more employees in manufacturing industries, excluding shipbuilding and shiprepairing. During the week ended 19th August 1967, 76,800 were on short-time and 1,717,700, that is 118,000 fewer than in August 1966, worked overtime.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of disabled persons on the disabled register; and how many persons so registered are at present unemployed.

On 17th April, 1967, there were in Great Britain 655,379 persons on the Disabled Persons Register. On 11th September, 1967, 59,125 persons so registered were registered as unemployed.

asked the Minister of Labour what further consultations are taking place about the low wages for those in full-time employment in view of the recent report on family poverty.

None. Provision for low paid workers is included in the Government's incomes policy and the increases in family allowances and other measures already announced will also help families with low incomes.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the total accommodation in square feet now occupied by Government Departments; how this compares with the figure on 15th October, 1964; and what is the annual increase in cost.

Government Departments other than the Post Office occupy about 40 million sq. ft. of offices compared with about 34 million sq. ft. in October, 1964. The annual cost of the additional accommodation is about £10 million including rates, maintenance and services.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many square feet of extra office space have been occupied in Greater London by Departments of Her Majesty's Government since October 1964.

The increase is about 1·3 million square feet, excluding the Post Office; 600,000 square feet is in Central London.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works for what period of time the special surcharge of two shillings per ton on cement will be imposed and what safeguards have been agreed to ensure that it is in due course removed.

It was agreed with the cement industry that a special surcharge of 2s. per ton could be introduced from 16th August on account of the oil surcharge, on the understanding that this would be withdrawn as soon as the additional cost to the industry had been fully recovered. I am satisfied that this understanding will be honoured.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the cost to public funds of the installation of a ventilation fan in Room 404a in Bridge Street, in material and in labour; how many men were employed; and how many man hours were taken.

The cost, including departmental overheads, of materials was £10 10s. and of labour £9 12s. One electrician and mate and one glazier and mate were employed for a total of 12 man hours.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many square feet of office space are occupied in Greater London by the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

About 30,000 sq. ft.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will now declare Mr. Simbule persona non grata; and whether Mr. Simbule has made any apology for repeating his former public insult to Great Britain.

The present position is as follows:—Mr. Simbule was reported to have made further derogatory remarks about Her Majesty's Government in London and Nairobi on 12th and 13th August in the course of his return to Zambia for a conference. We have asked the Zambian Government for clarification of these reported remarks and I will consider whether any further action is necessary in the light of their reply when I receive it.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether, since the last by-election in Gibraltar showed that there is considerable support for integration with Great Britain, the possibilities of such integration with Great Britain will be included in the terms of reference of the coming constitutional talks.

As already agreed the Integration with Britain Party will be able to participate in the forthcoming discussions and express their views. But Her Majesty's Government do not themselves favour integration, which would present formidable difficulties both for Gibraltar and for Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether the British Government will now hold a constitutional round-table conference for Gibraltar.

If by roundtable conference the hon. Gentleman means a conference including represen- tatives of all parties in Parliament, I see no occasion for such an exceptional arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will undertake to ascertain whether any ceding of sovereignty over British Honduras to Guatemala is acceptable to the people of the colony as a whole, before taking any steps to that end.

I have been asked to reply.As the House is already aware, the proceedings of the United States mediator (Mr. Webster) are confidential and he has not yet presented his final proposals.I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by the then Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Mr. Stonehouse) to the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) on 11th August, 1966 (Vol. 733, c. 1854–55) and to the statement made by him on 12th August, 1966 (Vol. 733, c. 2057).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will introduce measures to prohibit the subsidiaries of British companies from illegal trading with Rhodesia;(2) whether he will take steps to include lithium in the list of prohibited Rhodesian goods;(3) whether he will take steps to include all Rhodesian exports, including nickel, in the embargo against the illegal régime.

The Commonwealth Sanctions Committee at its meeting on Thursday 28th September, established a Working Party of Commonwealth representatives to consider possible measures for making the sanctions policy against the illegal regime more effective.It would be undesirable to give the illegal regime advance warning of the further measures which may result from the Working Party's discussions or from our own initiatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) what action he is taking over the violation of sanctions against the Rhodesian regime by the British owned firm of Allen, Wack and Shepherd;(2) what action he is taking over the violation of sanctions against the Rhodesian regime by the Manica Trading Company.

Information I have hitherto had about the activities to which my hon. Friend refers has indicated that these activities have been carried on by companies that are incorporated outside the United Kingdom. I am advised that a company incorporated in a foreign country is not liable to penalties under United Kingdom criminal law for things done in such a country. Investigations are now being made into the question whether any company incorporated in the United Kingdom or any other person in the United Kingdom is involved in the activities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking over the help at present being given to the violation of sanctions against the illegal Smith régime by Rhodesia House in London.

With the agreement of the British Government, the staff of Rhodesia House carry out certain limited functions, mainly of a consular nature. I have no evidence to support the allegation that they are giving help in the violation of our sanctions legislation against the illegal regime in Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking over the loopholes of sanctions against Rhodesia in asbestos and other materials, details of which have been sent to him.

I understand that the Question refers to a report of evasions of sanctions contained in a recent television programme.In the case of the companies concerned in the export of asbestos, the information that I have had hitherto about their activities has indicated that these have been carried on by companies that are all incorporated outside the United Kingdom. I am advised that a company incorporated in a foreign country is not liable to penalties under United Kingdom criminal law for things done in such a country. Investigations are now being made as to whether any company that is incorporated in the United Kingdom is involved in the activities concerned.In the case of oil supplies passing to Rhodesia from Mozambique, measures to reduce these supplies are at the forefront of our considerations at present.Finally, the transactions involved in the despatch of a back-axle to Rhodesia are being investigated by the appropriate authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what information he has regarding the extent to which the Chinese Republic is trading with Rhodesia; and if he will make a statement.

We have no evidence that the Chinese Republic is trading with Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his discussions with representatives of the Scottish Trades Union Congress on the economic position in Scotland.

Members of the S.T.U.C. Economic Committee came to see my right hon. Friend on 29th September. Questions of special current importance to the Scottish economy were discussed, including the level of unemployment, the disaster at Michael Colliery, the problems of the shipbuilding industry, and the importance of training. My right hon. Friend made it clear to the S.T.U.C. that its views and constructive suggestions on matters of this kind were welcomed by and were helpful to the Government in their task of promoting economic development and growth in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the saving in Exchequer grants to local authorities in Scotland consequent on the recent legal decision that intensive livestock buildings are to be fully rated.

There will be no saving, because the total rate support grant is fixed: but the apportionment between local authorities of the resources element of the grant will reflect any above-average increase in rating resources in areas where these buildings are situated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of policemen employed in Scotland at the most recent date for which figures are available; what was the total of the authorised establishments of Scottish police forces on the same date; and if he will give the comparable figures for the same month in each of the past five years.

At 30th September, 1967 the actual strength of all Scottish forces was 10,232 and the authorised establishment 11,201. Comparable figures for the same month in each of the past five years are:

Year			Strength	Establishment
1962	…	…	9,607	10,081
1963	…	…	9,853	10,190
1964	…	…	9,993	10,718
1965	…	…	10,300	11,051
1966	…	…	10,244	11,131

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the shortage of teachers in Scotland at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what was the shortage in Glasgow on the same date.

Estimates for the current session will be available about the end of the year. Meantime the latest figures are those which I gave the hon. Member on 15th June.—[Vol. 748, c. 134–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet decided whether to approve and implement the recommendations of the Roberts Committee on the Distribution of Teachers in Scotland.

I expect shortly to constitute the new salary negotiating body under the Remuneration of Teachers (Scotland) Act, and I propose thereafter to put detailed proposals to the management side as a basis for the negotiation of a scheme of supplementary payments on the lines of the Roberts Committee Report to take effect from 1st April, 1968 as part of the revision of salaries due from that date. I have set out my position in a letter sent today to the local authority associations, the text of which is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were committed for trial in Scottish courts on charges of murder, culpable homicide and assault, respectively, in the first nine months of 1967; and what were the comparable figures for the first nine months of 1966, 1965, 1964, 1961 and 1956, respectively.

I regret this information is not available.