asked the Minister of Health what is the time lag between the completion of the first stage, and the start of the second stage of the new hospital now being built at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire.

This is not yet known. The first stage is due to be completed in autumn 1968, planning of the second stage is proceeding.

asked the Minister of Health why he gave the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board only three weeks, from 23rd August to 15th September, to prepare comments on his proposals to cut down the number of pay beds in the area; and if he will extend the time so that the public can make their objections known.

The hon. Member has been misinformed. After consideration of the report submitted by the Board on their review of pay beds my Department wrote to them on 18th August raising a number of points and the Board replied on 5th October. I have now conveyed my decisions to the Board.

asked the Minister of Health why he has decided to overrule the proposals of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board that there should be three pay beds at East Birmingham General Hospital, six at Solihull Hospital, six at East Birmingham Chest Hospital and two at Hollymoor Hospital, and proposes instead that there should be no pay beds at East Birmingham General Hospital, East Birmingham Chest Hospital and Hollymoor Hospital and only three at Solihull Hospital; and if he will reconsider his proposals in the light of the demand for such beds in the area.

The hon. Member is misinformed. I have in fact authorised four pay beds at East Birmingham General Hospital and four at Solihull Hospital, an increase of one and a decrease of two, respectively, from the numbers before the review. The other two hospitals mentioned had no pay beds and I did not consider provision was justified. In arriving at these decisions I took into account all factors relevant to the demand for beds for non-paying and for private patients.

asked the Minister of Health what guidance he has given to hospital boards in development areas regarding obtaining supplies, including capital equipment, from local manufacturers; and what guidance he has given as to the extent to which local tenders may be higher than those obtained from elsewhere, and still be accepted.

All hospital authorities in England and Wales have been asked to observe the Government's arrangements for giving general preference in the award of public contracts to firms in development areas. These arrangements require that, where other things are equal, including price, quality and delivery date, contracts shall be placed in the qualifying areas in preference to those elsewhere. Hospital authorities are not expected to give preference to development area firms if on price grounds alone extra expense would be entailed.The application of these preference arrangements to the wider development areas introduced by the Development Areas Order 1966 (S.I. 1966, No. 1032) was brought to the attention of all hospital authorities in November, 1966.

asked the Minister of Health, what is the average length of time a patient has to wait in the Leicester area before admission to hospital for the treatment of sinus complaints.

Statistics relating to patients suffering from sinus complaints are not separately collected.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate provision will be made for hospital facilities in those areas which are chosen for the siting of 15,000 houses to take overspill from Birmingham;(2) what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate provision will be made for maternity services in those areas which are chosen for the siting of 15,000 houses to take overspill from Birmingham;(3) what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate provision will he made for hospital casualty services in those areas which are chosen for the siting of 15,000 houses to take overspill from Birmingham.

As soon as a decision has been taken on the siting of these houses the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board will consider how the necessary hospital services can best be provided.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to announce detailed plans for the new hospital at Frimley Park, Camberley.

Assessment of the requirements to be met by the new district general hospital at Frimley has now been completed and good progress is being made with the preliminary planning and design w ark. Responsibility for announcing details will rest with the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board who should be in a position to make an announcement before the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Health what steps have been taken to relieve pressure on the Department of Plastic and Jaw Surgery at Frenchay Hospital, Bristol; what is the present waiting list in this speciality; and whether this has increased or decreased in the last six months.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that general practitioners are sufficiently aware of the provisions of the Human Tissue Act 1961; and if he will make a statement.

My Department gave general practitioners guidance on the provisions of this Act in a memorandum issued in September, 1961 and I have no reason to believe that this has been generally overlooked. I am, however, glad to take this opportunity of again drawing attention to this guidance.

asked the Minister of Health whether in connection with his proposed legislation to limit the advertising of cigarettes, with a view to reducing their consumption, he took into account the fact that sales of Scotch whisky in France have advanced over recent years despite the fact that the advertising if imported whisky in France is totally banned.

No. The two situations are not comparable.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in seeking to reduce unnecessary expenditure on the prescription of drugs, he will investigate the reasons for regional differences in the average cost of prescriptions.

Several studies have been made to try to identify the causes of these differences, but with little success. An investigation based on an approach not previously tried is at present in progress, but it is too soon to say how productive it will be.

asked the Minister of Labour why the Employees in Employment in Great Britain statistics for September 1967, issued by his Department on 1st November, 1967, does not disclose that there has been an increase of 2,000 in the number employed in gas, electricity and water since September 1966, and puts a blank instead.

The figures issued on 1st November compare the provisional estimates for September 1967 with the estimates for September 1966, as revised in February of this year and published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette Table 103. For this industry group, the estimates are 426,200 for both September 1966 and September 1967. The first estimate for September 1966 issued a year ago was 424,200 and was revised subsequently to 426,200.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number of registered persons in employment in Scotland in September 1967; and what has been the percentage change since June 1964.

At March 1967, the latest date for which information is available, it is estimated that there were 2,108,000 employees in employment in Scotland, 1·1 per cent. fewer than in June 1964.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number of registered persons in employment in the county of Angus, and the city of Dundee, respectively, at mid-1964 and mid-1967; and what was the percentage change between the two dates.

Estimates for mid-1967 are not yet available. On the basis of counts of national insurance cards exchanged in the areas, the available estimates of the numbers of employees in employment are:

		(Thousands)
	County of Angus	Dundee (including Broughty Ferry)
Mid-1964	121·5	90·6
Mid-1965	121·9	92·1
Mid-1966	121·1	91·3

asked the Minister of Labour how many people, in the latest convenient period, who were unemployed, were removed from the unemployment register because they turned down jobs offered to them which were suitable in the opinion of the employment officer.

None. A person is not removed from the unemployment register because he has refused suitable employment, although disallowance of unemployment benefit for a period not exceeding 6 weeks may be imposed by the independent statutory authorities.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the expected rise in income rates and earnings arising from the proposed Vauxhall pay settlement; how these are related to highest and lowest income rates and earnings currently being paid; and what means he has of determining that the proposed increases in productivity are consistent with the Government's incomes policy.

The recent productivity agreement at Vauxhall Motors Ltd. will give pay increases ranging from 9d. per hour to 1s. per hour spread over two years representing increases of 9·8 per cent. and 10·8 per cent. on the highest and lowest rates respectively. Average earnings are expected to increase by 8·5 per cent. over the same period. The parties have provided my Department with detailed information about all aspects of the agreement.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will list those cases where an increase in incomes has been permitted notwithstanding the decision of the Trades Union Congress vetting committee that the increase fell outside the Government's prices and incomes policy.

I am unable to provide this information for the reason given to the hon. Member in my reply of 5th July, 1967.—[Vol. 749, c. 269.]

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the estimated change in employment in industries covered by the Index of Production between July, 1966, and the latest convenient date, both in actual and seasonally adjusted numbers.

Provisional estimates of employees in employment in industries covered by the Index of Production show a decrease of about 433,000 between July, 1966 and September, 1967. Seasonally adjusted estimates are not available. The provisional September, 1967, estimate is about 427,000 lower than the provisional September, 1966 estimate.

asked the Minister of Labour how many male employees were estimated to be at work in England in June, 1964, June, 1965, March, 1966, and March, 1967.

Following is the information:

Estimated numbers of male employees in employment in England
	(Thousands)
June, 1964	12,584
June, 1965	12,701
March, 1966	12,630
March, 1967	12,301

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a further statement on the extent to which training centres are contributing to the solution of the problem of quantity and quality of the skilled labour force required in the North-East to meet the requirements of existing firms to expand and incoming firms to satisfy their skilled labour needs.

During the last three years nearly 2,900 trainees have completed courses at the three Government training Centres in the North-East. A fourth centre was opened at Killingworth on 16th October. In 1969 two more centres are to open at Darlington and near Durham. When these centres are fully operational and the existing centres have been expanded, Government Training Centres in the North-East will be able

NUMBERS OF YOUNG PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT GATESHEAD YOUTH EMPLOYMENT OFFICE
		Boys aged under 18	School-leavers included	Girls aged tinder 18	School-leavers included
9th October, 1967	…	119	50	42	15
11th September, 1967	…	192	104	68	39
14th August, 1967	…	342	271	179	151

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further proposals he has to meet the objections of the French Government to Great Britain's application to join the Common Market.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's speech on 2nd November in the Debate on the Address.—[Vol. 753, c. 327–33.]

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the latest unemployment position in Gateshead and the Northern Region.

On 9th October, 1967, the total number of persons registered as unemployed in Gateshead was 1,874 (1,636 males and 238 females). In the Northern Region as a whole the total was 55,155 (45,227 males and 9,928 females). The percentage rates were 4·3 per cent. for the Tyneside group of local offices which includes Gateshead, and 4·1 per cent. for the Northern Region. These rates compare with 4·3 per cent. and 4·2 per cent., respectively, on 11th September, 1967, and 2·9 per cent. for both areas in October, 1966.

asked the Minister of Labour how many young persons, male and female, were registered unemployed in Gateshead at the latest date for which figures are available, stating the number of school-leavers included, and how these compare with the two previous months.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the total cost to public funds of the recent visit to London, arranged by his Department, of a party of French journalists in connection with the application to join the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement about the results of the visit.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the group of 15 journalists whose tour lasted from 10th to 12th October. The cost of this was £945. During their visit the journalists had the opportunity of discussing our application to join the European Economic Community with Ministers, Members of Parliament and leading figures in both sides of industry and the academic world, and were free to acquire a full picture of the British point of view.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of hon. Members and other persons who have been on speaking tours of France sponsored by his Department in connection with the application to join the European Economic Community; what was the total cost to public funds with details of the expenditure; if he will cite the precedents for such tours; and what representations he has received from the Government of France concerning their effect.

As part of its Overseas Information activities the Foreign Office sponsors a number of lecture tours in all parts of the world. During the last few months such engagements in France have been undertaken by the noble Lord, Lord Bessborough, and by the hon. Gentlemen the Members for Monmouth (Mr. Anderson), Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose), and Berwick and East Lothian (Mr. Mackintosh). The cost to public funds of travelling expenses cannot yet be finally assessed. No representations have been received from the French Government concerning these speaking engagements.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what new proposals have been made by his Department to the Egyptian Government for the opening of the Suez Canal.

My right hon. Friend has made no new proposals to the United Arab Republic Government concerning the opening of the Suez Canal, except that, as the House is aware, he has suggested that the southern end of the Canal might be cleared to enable the ships blocked in the Great Bitter Lake to leave.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what conditions have been communicated to him by the Egyptian Government which are required to be met before steps are taken to open the Canal.

My right hon. Friend has received no formal communications from the United Arab Republic Government about conditions that would have to be met before steps could be taken to open the Suez Canal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what action has been taken by Her Majesty's Government about the failure of some member countries of the United Nations to implement the resolution by the United Nations on sanctions against Rhodesia.

As I made clear to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 17th July, it is for the Security Council to decide whether any Member State has failed to meet its obligations in accordance with Article 25 of the United Nations Charter.—[Vol. 750, c. 1531.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government support the application filed with the European Commission of Human Rights against the Greek Government under Article 24 of the Convention on Human Rights.

Her Majesty's Government are wholly in sympathy with the motives of the Scandinavian and Netherlands Governments in filing their applications with the European Commission of Human Rights. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead on 26th October, no action is called for at present by Her Majesty's Government.—[Vol. 751, c. 538.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will support the application to raise the Greek situation before the European Commission of Human Rights.

We are wholly in sympathy with the motives of the Scandinavian and Netherlands Governments in filing their applications with the European Commission of Human Rights. But as I told my hon. Friend on 26th October, no action is called for at present by Her Majesty's Government.—[Vol. 751, c. 538.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent the United Kingdom is supplying arms to Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Syria or Iraq.

It is established practice not to disclose information about the export of arms to individual countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will give an assurance that diplomatic relations with Egypt will not be resumed following the sinking of the Israeli destroyer "Eilath".

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish a revised and up-to-date version of Command Paper 2282, 1924–5, issued in 1924.

I doubt whether this would be worth while. There are now so many more independent states and information about their constitutional methods is published. But I shall be glad to try to provide my hon. Friend with any specific information he may want.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give every assistance and aid to Squadron Leader Hindle James when the latter applies for a visa for his return to Egypt to settle his affairs there;(2) whether he will approach the Egyptian Government with a view to facilitating the temporary return of Squadron Leader Hindle James to Cairo.

Certainly. The Government of the United Arab Republic have, however, just informed us that they are not prepared to allow Squadron Leader Hindle James to return to Egypt for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the working and progress of the Government's recent missions to Egypt and Rhodesia, respectively, sent to achieve a solution of Great Britain's political complications with each of those countries.

On Sir Harold Beeley's mission to Cairo, I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said in the debate on the Address on 2nd November.My hon. Friend's Question about Rhodesia is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs.—[Vol. 753, c. 344–61.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what survey work his Department have carried out on the Indian Ocean Island of Aldabra.

Following an aerial survey of the island a preliminary visit was made in 1962. The information then gained was supplemented by further visits in 1966 and 1967 by senior Ministry officials with experience of airfield and marine engineering.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has made of the volume of rock required for projected work on the Indian Ocean Atoll of Aldabra; what is the approximate cost of quarrying; and what acreage of ground will be despoiled by the removal of such rock.

The construction of berthing facilities in the East Channel would require the excavation of about 3½ million cubic yards of coral, which would be used in the construction of the airfield and associated facilities. The cost of excavation cannot at present be estimated as a separate item. Large-scale quarrying on land would not be necessary.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate his Department have made of the cost of a dam, 600 yards long and at least 40 feet deep, necessary to create an anchorage for 20,000 ton tankers at Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean.

None. No such dam will be necessary.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many borings his Department has done to test bedrock during the Aldabra expedition of 1966 and 1967; and at what level soft rock has been reached.

19 borings were made during a survey conducted in 1962 and 2 pits were opened by blasting in 1967. The surface coral is hardened by weathering. Below it is generally softer, but with some harder layers.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what research he has done into the properties of Aldabra coral rock, in relation to its use for road material.

Samples of coral rock have been brought back from the island and tested in my Department's laboratories. My Department is satisfied that the rock is suitable for road making.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what study he has made of the problems facing 20,000 ton tankers navigating the 150 yards wide channel at Aldabra.

My Department has been in touch with leading tanker operators who have said that they would be prepared to operate 20,000 ton tankers in the East Channel, which would be widened to give access to the proposed berthing facilities.

asked the Minister of Public Buildings and Works how the additional 6 million square feet of office space acquired since 15th October 1965 is allocated by Departments.

The 6 million square feet of additional office space referred to by the hon. Member has occurred since October 1964, and not October 1965 as he states.The additional office space has been calculated by buildings, many of which house one or more Departments. The figures asked for by the hon. Member are not immediately available.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why he gave permission under the Parks Regulation Acts for a number of passenger motor vehicles to drive into St. James's Park on the afternoon of Thursday, 2nd November and along the footpaths in that park to the inconvenience of users of the park.

No permission was given for these vehicles to drive into the Park and they did so without authority; the matter has been taken up with those concerned.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the cost of the object deposited on the grass in Abingdon Street Gardens; what was the cost of putting it there; who recommended that it should be put there; and if he will take steps to remove it.

Since I am not clear what the hon. Member is referring to, I am unable to answer his Question.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what experience is available to his Department of large-scale quarrying operations on Indian Ocean atolls such a Aldabra; and what machinery he plans to use in such operations.

The Ministry has extensive experience of extracting coral for construction on the Indian Ocean island of Gan. Decisions have not yet been taken on the precise types of machinery which would be used on Aldabra.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the cost of providing the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with a residence in Brussels; and what is the estimated annual cost.

It is not my policy to publish details of rents paid for Government accommodation.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many Government functions have been held at the Savoy Hotel in each of the years 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1967; and what was the cost to public funds in each year respectively.

The number of Government Hospitality Fund functions held at the Savoy Hotel and the cost to public funds are as follows:—

1963	39 Functions	£2,077
1964	41 Functions	£3,382
1965	44 Functions	£5,729
1966	31 Functions	£3,550
]967 (January–September)	19 Functions	£1,591

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she is aware that many pensioners have suffered a reduction in their supplementary allowance at the same time as their pensions have been increased; and whether she will take the necessary action to ensure that they receive the full benefit of the increased pension.

Supplementary Pensions are designed to bring other resources up to the level guaranteed by the Ministry of Social Security Act. The guaranteed income level was increased in November of last year, though national insurance retirement pensions stood still at that time. Taking last November's increase and the recent one together, the increases in supplementary pension are virtually the same as the single recent increase in retirement pension. The only difference is that supplementary pensioners have had about half of the total increase for nearly a year longer than retirement pensioners who have no supplementary pension.

asked the Minister of Social Security what plans she has for liberalising or abolishing the wage stop.

asked the Minister of Social Security when the examination of possible ways of relieving hardship arising from the wage stop will be completed; and what interim proposals she has for the coming winter.

As I have already said, the Supplementary Benefits Commission, with my full support, have been making a very thorough review of this matter and I hope that the results will be available shortly.

asked the Minister of Social Security when she proposes to introduce legislation to deal with the application of wage related benefits and redundancy payments to the shipbuilding and ship repair industries.

The scheme for earnings-related supplements to sickness and unemployment benefit introduced last year makes no distinction between one industry and another. I have therefore no proposals to modify its effect in relation to the shipbuilding and ship repair industries. The redundancy payments scheme is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether any further progress has now been made towards providing a solution to the problem of employees suffering from non-prescribed diseases not caused by accident which, on the balance of probability, have arisen out of and in the case of employment.

An expert and authoritative Committee under the chairmanship of Mr. F. W. Beney, Q.C., examined this problem as part of a comprehensive review of the diseases provisions of the Industrial Injuries Act, 1946, but concluded that there was no practical alternative within the existing framework to the present method of prescribing industrial diseases. There have been no developments since which offer any solution to this problem.

asked the Minister of Social Security when a new official booklet on social security benefits will be published to replace the out of date Everybody's Guide to National Insurance.

A new booklet entitled Everybody's Guide to Social Security is to be published tomorrow.

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 relatives	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	…	…	38	25	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.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the danger of severe shock from imported electrical appliances having a colour code different from the British Standard, he will take steps to ban the sale of such appliances in Great Britain.

As the greatest risk arises when the earth core is wrongly connected, I propose to make regulations very shortly prescribing that only the British Standard colours should be used for this core in flexible leads attached to domestic electrical appliances. These

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has any further statement to make about the figures which he gave on 20th July 1967 about the child victims of murders under the age of 15 years.

I very much regret that two incorrect figures were included, in the first and second columns for 1966, in the table in my Answer to the Question by the right hon. and learned Gentleman on 20th July. These show a considerable overstatement of the numbers of child murders. The following is the correct version of the table (which relates to England and Wales):regulations will apply to all appliances offered for sale in Great Britain, irrespective of their country of origin. I am studying the need for further regulations dealing with the live and neutral cores in the light of an agreement on the colours to be adopted for these cores which has recently been reached by the European standards body concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the provision for fully-qualified psychiatric treatment available at Strangeways Prison, Manchester.

A member of the full-time medical staff holds the Diploma in Psychological Medicine, and the services of a qualified visiting psychotherapist are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now announce the names of members of the Parole Board.

I announced last month that Lord Hunt had accepted my invitation to be chairman of the Parole Board. The other members will be:

• The Hon Mr. Justice Roskill (Vice-Chairman).
• Mr. Stephen Brown, Q.C.
• Mr. Anthony Dumont.
• Mr. R. D. Fairn.
• Mr. C. R. Hewitt.
• Mrs. P. J. Jacobson.
• The Hon. Mr. Justice James.
• Miss M. M. Jordan.
• Mr. R. D. King.
• Dr. A. D. Leigh, M.D., F.R.C.P.
• Dr. M. A. Partridge, D.M., F.R.C.P., D.P.M.
• Mr. W. H. Pearce.
• Mr. P. E. Russell.
• Mr. Henry Scott, Q.C.
• Mr. Reginald Webb.
• Dr. D. J. West, M.D., Ch.B. D.P.M.

The size of the Board takes account of the fact that it will be empowered to meet in panels.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what representations have been made to him by the Magistrates' Association to the effect that the criminal courts should have power, where a defendant is convicted of two or more offences arising out of the same incident, or substantially the same transaction, to impose concurrent fines, so that the total payable, other than costs, should be that of the largest fines imposed; and what reply he has sent;(2) what representations have been made to him by the Magistrates' Association with regard to the need to impose a total penalty for all motoring offences arising from the same incident; and what reply has been sent.

The Magistrates' Association sent a resolution to my Department in the sense indicated in my hon. Friend's Questions and were informed that their suggestion would be carefully examined. I recognise the attractions of the suggestion, but it raises certain technical problems, for example in relation to appeals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that notwithstanding the Government's freeze on wages and salaries, the salaries of Metropolitan magistrates were increased last year; that this increase has now been cited in support of a claim for a rise in salary from £4,000 to £4,400 for London coroners with retrospective effect to July 1967; and as this is contrary to the Govenment's policy of severe restraint why he has agreed to these increases.

The salaries of Metropolitan magistrates were increased before the introduction of the Government's standstill on prices and incomes. In the absence of any dispute between the parties, the fixing of coroners' salaries is entirely a matter for the council by which the coroner is appointed. My agreement is not therefore required to the increase referred to by my hon. Friend. I understand that it takes effect after the ending of the period of severe restraint.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the Report of the Seebohm Committee on Local Authority and Allied Personal Social Services.

Early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why, in calculating grants for students, account is taken of the pensions and allowances for widows and widowed mothers, while married women maintained by their husbands are regarded as having a nil income and are therefore eligible for full grants.

A grant is made to a student to ensure that she is not prevented from following her studies by inability to maintain herself and her dependants. A student with other income has less need for support from the grant; and the income, subject to certain deductions, is accordingly taken into account in assessing the amount of the grant. The income of a spouse is not counted for this purpose following a recommendation of the Anderson Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that the annual report of the Rhondda Borough Medical Officer and School Medical Officer shows that in the last 12 months, owing to shortage of qualified medical staff, it has not been possible to carry out B.C.A. tests on school children; and what steps he is taking to remedy this shortage.

Additional staff has been recruited, and these tests are now under way.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what representations he has received from ornithological bodies on the need to preserve Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean; and what reply he has sent;(2) what representations he has had from the Royal Society on the need to preserve the unique natural habitat of Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean; and what reply he has sent.

Early this year, the concern of scientists, not confined to the United Kingdom and including ornithological interests among many others, about the possibility that an air-staging post might be established on Aldabra was brought to the notice of my predecessor both by the Royal Society and by the Natural Environment Research Council. At his request, these bodies and the British Museum (Natural History) provided him with their agreed assessment of the probable consequences of such development for the ecosystem and scientific interest of the atoll, and my Department is maintaining close contact with them. No representations have been made to me by other bodies. As the bodies concerned have been assured, this advice will be an important factor to be taken fully into account, with other factors lying outside my departmental field when a decision is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the extent of the shortage of teachers of the deaf.

I cannot say what is the total deficiency of teachers of the deaf, but the number of posts in schools for the deaf and partially hearing filled by teachers lacking the special qualification for teaching deaf children was 191 in January of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many persons were recognised as qualified teachers in 1964, 1965 and 1966, respectively, on the basis of approved qualifications in needlecraft or domestic subjects awarded by the City and Guilds of London Institute, together with two years' satisfactory teaching or other suitable service.

An answer to this Question cannot be given without an undue amount of time and labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the form of the regulation referred to in the letter of 1st August 1967 from the Under-Secretary of State for the Army to the honourable Member for Oldham, West, under which a soldier who has been banned from obtaining his discharge from age of 18 to 21 years of age can have his application for discharge deferred for a further 12 months when his unit is warned for overseas service; when the regulation was made; and where it was published.

The regulation referred to is paragraph 507 of Queen's Regulations for the Army; it has been in force since 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether a site has yet been selected for the Royal Air Force Museum.

I am pleased to be able to say that with the approval of the Ministry of Defence and the Council of the London Borough of Barnet, the Trustees of the Royal Air Force Museum have selected a site for the Museum on the former Hendon airfield. Preliminary planning for the Museum is in hand; and the aim of the Trustees is to present their plans for the R.A.F. Museum publicly next year in association with the celebration of the 50th Anniversary of the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the numbers of United States and South Vietnamese troops and policemen who have undergone training at the British Jungle Warfare School, Johore, Malaya, since 1964, showing separately the number currently in training, their nationality, the cost to the British taxpayer, and indicating what information regarding physical torture is given as part of the training course.

The information is as follows:

	United States Troops	South Vietnamese Troops
Numbers since 1st January, 1964*	240	1,035
Numbers currently in training	48	45
Cost to British Taxpayers	Nil	£132,364
* Excluding those currently in training.

No United States or South Vietnamese policemen have undergone training at the Jungle Warfare School. No instruction in physical torture is given.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to the Royal Air Force of accidents resulting from bird-strike in 1965 and 1966; and if he will give a break-down of the figures.

Approximately £1 million in each year, of which about £300,000 is in respect of bird strikes on or near airfields and about £700,000 in respect of strikes away from airfields. In these years the number of R.A.F. flights was 685,000 and 678,000 respectively. A breakdown of the cost figures is given below:

	1965 £	1966 £
Cost of Bird Strikes on or near Airfields
Major incidents including engine damage	232,000	217,000
Minor damage to airframes and equipment	70,000	70,000
Cost of Bird Strikes away from Airfields
Major incidents including engine damage	566,000	640,000
Minor damage to airframes and equipment	130,000	70,000
	998,000	997,000

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to reply to the letter dated 30th October sent to him by the General Secretary of the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives concerning his decision to dispose of 800,000 pairs of surplus army boots.

As soon as I have discussed the issues involved with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will survey Cosmoledo, as an alternative to a staging post or base at Aldabra, and do a costing operation.

No. The Cosmoledo Group has had to be ruled out primarily because, apart from other difficulties, even the largest island in the Group would be too small to accommodate a runway with an acceptable alignment and the facilities needed. A survey would therefore serve no useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for a second runway for the staging post or base at Aldabra; and what is the cost.

If it were decided to build an airfield at Aldabra, we would adopt the normal practice of constructing the taxiway parallel to the runway, to specifications which would enable it to be used in emergency for take off and landing. There are no plans for a second runway.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what provision he has made for extra footage to the main runway on Aldabra Atoll and why.

If a decision is taken to build an airfield on Aldabra the length of its runway will be related to the requirements of the aircraft which will use it. There will be nothing extra.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the report of Mr. Ernest N. Wright of the Ministry of Agriculture Infestation Control Division Laboratory, made on his return from Aldabra, showing how thousands of frigate birds can be destroyed to avoid bird-strike.

Information provided by Mr. Wright on the ornithological aspects of the bird strike problem is being examined in relation to other factors affecting bird strikes. I will consider whether it will be appropriate in due course to publish an assessment of the problem. Mr. Wright's report does not take the form indicated in the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what evidence he has that Assumption Island is unsuitable for a base or staging post; and when any Ministry of Defence personnel landed on Assumption Island.

The positive evidence is derived from special photographic reconnaissance, and from maps, geographical surveys and hydrographic charts, as well as from a visit by personnel of the Ministry of Public Building and Works and the Ministry of Defence during the recent expedition.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the present situation in Hong Kong.

The number of bomb incidents has fluctuated during the past ten days and showed a temporary increase at the end of October. There have been minor disturbances in the town and urban areas.The border area has remained comparatively quiet apart from sporadic stoning incidents and a civilian demonstration at the frontier road bridge at Man Kam To on 27th October.Food supplies from China have been coming forward without interruption. As my right hon. Friend said on 24th October, the colony continues its normal energetic life.—[Vol. 751, 1489–91.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had from the Kenyan Government about a British/United States base or staging post at Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean; and what reply he has sent.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek to make an appropriate contribution to the funds of the Rhodesia Action Association whose objective is to represent in the Rhodesian Courts those affected by such discriminating legislation as the Municipal Amendment Act and the Property Owners' Residential Bill.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when a decision will be given on the proposal to enlarge the present Dawley New Town by the incorporation of Wellington and Oakengates to form a triple town.

My right hon. Friend hopes to announce the Government's decision on this proposal shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what percentage of domestic ratepayers in Newark and in Nottinghamshire received rebates in 1966–67; and what action is being taken to publicise the availability of rate rebates.

5·9 per cent. In the borough of Newark; 5·8 per cent in Nottinghamshire as a whole.A fresh series of advertisements appeared in the national press recently, to reinforce earlier publicity by Press, radio, television and leaflets. My right hon. Friend is considering further national publicity for next spring.Local efforts too are very important in bringing the scheme to the attention of potential recipients and I urge all local authorities to consider what further steps they can take.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many ratepayers in the county borough of Gateshead have received rebates since the introduction of the Government Rate Rebate Scheme; and what was the average benefit per head;(2) what is the total number of applicants in 1966–67 for rate relief under the Rate Rebate Scheme in the county borough of Gateshead, and to what proportion of these relief has been granted.

Rate rebates were introduced in April, 1966.1,666 ratepayers in the county borough of Gateshead received rebates in the first half of 1966–67 and 1,839 in the second half; the average amount of rebate for the year as a whole was £12 15s. It is too soon to have firm figures for 1967–68.I have no information about the number of persons who applied for rebates. But the qualifications for rebate are defined by statute and a local authority cannot reject an application which satisfies them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total amount for all purposes paid from national funds to assist the rate income of the county borough of Gateshead for the year 1966–67.

The total amount paid to the county borough of Gateshead in respect of general grant, rate deficiency grant, grants under Section 1 of the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, grants under Section 9 of the Rating Act, 1966, specific grants in aid of revenue expenditure and housing subsidies for the year 1966–67 is £3,365,162.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to be able to bring into operation the provisions of the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.

On 1st January, 1968.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has for informing the public or their rights under the Leasehold Reform Act 1967.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he will now take to inform leaseholders of their rights to enfranchisement under the Leasehold Enfranchisement Act.

Supplies of a free booklet explaining the rights of leaseholders and landlords in relation to enfranchisement and the extension of long leases will be made available to the public through local authorities and citizens' advice bureaux from the middle of this month. In addition there will be notices in national and local newspapers directed particularly at those leaseholders and former leaseholders who can and would be well advised to take action straightaway.The new Act also extends the Rent Act 1965 to cover long leases at full market rents and statutory tenancies which succeed long leases at ground rents. This extension will be explained in a free leaflet which will be available to the public from local authorities, rent officers and citizens' advice bureaux. A new edition of the booklet "Houses held on Ground Lease", which deals with these statutory tenancies, will also be on sale.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of beef cattle which entered the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland in the months of August and September, 1967; and

IMPORTS FROM IRISH REPUBLIC
(Head)
			1966		1967
			August	September	August	September
Fat Cattle	…	…	9,597	21,290	252	1,386
Store Cattle	…	…	39,373	27,487	67,878	60,567
TOTAL BEEF CATTLE	…	…	48,970	48,777	68,130	61,953

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total number of in-calf heifers which entered the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland in the months of August and September of this year; and what was the corresponding figure for the same months last year.

The Trade and Navigation Accounts figures do not show separately imports of heifers in first calf into the United Kingdom from the Republic of Ireland. Unofficial figures suggest, however, that imports were of the order of 1,300 head in the two months of August and September, 1966 and that imports in the same two months of this year were at much the same level.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that on four occasions during the past 22 years the Kitchen Committee have declared that tipping in the Members' Dining Rooms, etc., will cease; and what action he proposes to take, different from that taken in the past, to ensure the ending of tipping.

I am aware that several previous attempts have failed to solve this problem. This time, however, the contract of employment specifically states that the acceptance and retention of a tip terminates an employee's contract.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will state the number of cancellations that have been received for the hiring of dining rooms, etc., for private functions since the announcement of increased charges; whether he is aware that the charges are now so high as to prevent all but the

The figures are as follows:wealthiest of organisations from booking dinners in the House of Commons on Friday and Saturday evenings; and whether he will take steps to reduce the charges.

At the end of the past Session there had been 20 cancellations out of about 450 bookings. The increases will shortly be reviewed.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the need for a public telephone kiosk in or near Weekley Glebe Road, Kettering; and when he expects to be able to install one.

My right hon. Friend does not propose to install a kiosk in Weekley Glebe Road as there are already two within half a mile. He will however keep it under review.

asked the Postmaster-General which post offices are still using certificates of posting showing the unrevised rates.

My right hon. Friend is sorry that some Post Offices have been using out-of-date certificates of posting. These will now be withdrawn.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor-General on the accounts of the Atomic Energy Authority, he will in future, when quoting costs per unit sent out from Magnox nuclear power stations, adjust them to allow for the £24 million royalties to the Atomic Energy Authority which have been waived.

No. It would be impracticable and misleading to include additional costs which the operator is not in fact having to incur. For the Second Nuclear Power Programme, however, it is our present practice to include the agreed royalty of 0·014d./kWh in quoting estimates of A.G.R. costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultations he has had during the last year with the Scottish Economic Planning Council about rail closures; and what were the railways involved.

During the past year the Scottish Economic Planning Council has had referred to them seven proposals for the withdrawal of rail passenger services, involving the following lines:

• Ayr-Kilmarnock.
• Aberdeen-Keith-Elgin.
• Grangemouth Junction-Grangemouth.
• Larbert-Alloa.
• Edinburgh (Waverley)-Corstorphine.
• Edinburgh (Waverley)-Hawick-Carlisle.
• Dunfermline (Lower)-Stirling.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many individual protests he has received from teachers about the setting up of a General Teaching Council for Scotland.

Such letters as I have received have been confined to questions regarding the membership and functions of the Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an estimate of the numbers of option mortgages applied for in Scotland.

Under the arrangements made for operating the scheme through lending institutions, it will not be practicable to give separate information about applicants resident in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the total value of British aerospace product exports for the year ended 31st August last, with the totals for civil and military exports; and what was the value of exports to each of the countries concerned.

U.K. aerospace exports from 1st September 1966 to 31st August, 1967 amounted to £203·9 million, including £61·9 million in respect of new aircraft (of which £13 million was military) and £10·2 million in respect of guided weapons. No civil/military breakdown is available for aero engines or for parts of aircraft and engines.A breakdown by countries is not readily available, but an analysis by currency areas, prepared by H.M. Customs and Excise, is given below:

	£ million
Sterling area	55·5
North America	60·4
Latin America	12·9
E.E.C.	42·7
E.F.T.A.	13·6
U.S.S.R. and Eastern Europe negligible
Rest of the World	18·8
Total	203·9

asked the Minister of Technology what research he is doing into the extent to which coral rock such as that at Aldabra is soluble in sea-water, the extent to which coral rock can be undermined by the sea, and the probable consequences of heavy air traffic on such champignon substrata, in relation to subsidence.

The Ministry of Defence are interested in the coral atoll of Aldabra, and they have been advised by the Ministry of Public Building and Works that it is not necessary to build an airfield on champignon substrata, but that such an airfield could be built, at a cost, on platin rock which exists at one end of the island.

asked the Minister of Technology what action he is taking as a result of the current recruiting drive of British nuclear scientists from the Atomic Energy Authority by a team of senior technical staff from Westinghouse Electric Corporation's Advanced Reactor Division; and what communication he has sent to directors of Atomic Energy Authority Establishments at Dounreay, Culham, and Winfrith.

This is a matter for the Atomic Energy Authority.

asked the Minister of Technology what negotiations have taken place for the purchase of the Harrier vertical take-off and landing aircraft; and whether firm orders have yet been placed for their supply for use by British forces.

Negotiations are proceeding with Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd. and Bristol Siddeley Engines Ltd. on incentive contracts for development and supply of the Harrier, and I hope they will soon be brought to a successful conclusion. The Government is determined to achieve agreement on prices which promise a fair reward whilst avoiding any risk of excessive profits. In the meantime both firms have been given the necessary authority to proceed with the development and production programmes so that the in-service date of the aircraft will not be prejudiced.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the potential European use of the Airbus; and when details of the airbus sales consortium may be expected.

There is an estimated market for some 250 airbuses in Europe and the market outside Europe and the United States could add over 100 to this figure. A joint sales company for the European airbus is expected to be formed during the current first phase of the project.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultation he has had with tanker owners on the enforcement of the regulations governing the discharge of oil supplies at Indian Ocean atolls, such as Aldabra; and if he will make a statement.

None. Any such regulations would be a matter for the local administration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the recommendation of the Working Party of the Economic Development Council on the movement of exports on the need for a freight airport in the North of England, what studies are being undertaken into the potential and existing facilities available at Tees-side Airport for such a development.

Provision of facilities for air freight at Tees-side Airport is primarily the responsibility of the Tees-side Airport Authority who are, I know, anxious to do all they can to develop this traffic.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultation he has had with the International Air Transport Association about the provision of approach markers in the sea to airfields on Indian atolls, such as Aldabra and if he will make a statement.