asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what were the number of full-time and part-time employees of the National Economic Development Council on 1st November during the period 1961 to 1967; what was the annual total cost to public funds of wages and salaries during this period; and how much of this was refunded by private companies whose employees were seconded to the National Economic Development Council.

The numbers employed by the National Economic Development Office have been as follows:

	Full-time	Part-time
1st November, 1961	NIL	NIL
1st November, 1962	61	7
1st November, 1963	91	7
1st November, 1964	96	4
1st November, 1965	113	9
1st November, 1966	148	4
1st November, 1967	171	6

The total cost to public funds of wages and salaries in this period was:

Financial Year	Amount
1961–62	4,635
1962–63	95,685
1963–64	146,727
1964–65	183,810
1965–66	213,541
1966–67	290,077
1967–68	209,214
(to 31st October, 1967)

There has been no refund by private companies having employees on secondment to the Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what consultation he has had with the Northern Economic Planning Council about new development or special areas; and when he will make an announcement about such areas in the Northern Region.

The Northern Economic Planning Council have been asked for their views on the selection of special development areas. An announcement about these areas will be made when my right hon. Friend has completed his consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will further develop the Government's regional policies by undertaking to refer all future increases in electricity and gas board charges to the regional economic councils in addition to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what is the total amount paid annually in regional employment premiums and other measures to development areas.

Expenditure on the regional employment premium, the regionally differentiated element of investment grants, training grants to firms expanding in or moving to Development Areas, and assistance under the Local Employment Acts is estimated to be running at an annual rate of £190 million per annum.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied with the reception of British Broadcasting Corporation radio programmes in the Moray Firth area, following the recent changes.

The B.B.C. tell me that in the Moray Firth area reception of Radio 2, Radio 3 and Radio 4 is satisfactory on the VHF waveband, reception of Radio 1 and Radio 4 is satisfactory on the medium waveband, and reception of Radio 2 is generally satisfactory on 1500 meters provided a good outdoor aerial is used. Listeners requiring advice should contact the Post Office or the B.B.C.I greatly regret that some people are having special difficulty in receiving Radio 2 on 1500 metres. The B.B.C. are well aware that there are pockets of poor reception and they are carrying out tests to ascertain just what is their extent and whether more might be done to help the people affected.

asked the Postmaster-General when the hon. Member for Huddersfield, West can expect to be informed of the decision on the question of radio licences for students living away from home, which has been the subject of correspondence with the Department of Education and Science since April of this year.

I am sorry for the delay in replying to my hon. Friend. Providing their parents hold the appropriate Broadcast Receiving Licence I am now prepared to regard the use of portable sound radio sets by students who are living away at school or college as covered by that licence. I shall be changing the wording of the ordinary Broadcast Receiving Licence at the next convenient reprint to make this clear.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now give some indication as to the result of the two experiments being carried out with regard to pay television services; how many subscribers have been involved in each experiment and are taking the experimental services; what precise steps have been taken to ascertain their reactions; and when he expects to make an announcement about future policy in this field.

In Southwark and Westminster there are currently some 8,300 subscribers; and in Sheffield some 1,800. Their reaction is indicated by statistics including the average weekly rate of viewing per subscriber, which the operating company is required to supply. A period of two to three years for the experiment was envisaged by the White Paper on Broadcasting (Cmnd. 1893, December, 1962) and on this footing, the experiment could continue for more than another year; but, at the request of the operating company, I propose to review it in the near future.

asked the Postmaster-General, when the custom of requiring new telephone subscribers to pay one year's rental in advance is to cease and the period to be restored to the former three months.

My right hon. Friend has withdrawn the condition in respect of removing subscribers and, provided no engineering work is required, in respect of new customers taking over telephones that are already there. He has no plans for further relaxation at present. The position will be reviewed as and when circumstances permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much will be spent on raising the school leaving age to 16 years in the first year of this measure.

About £44 million in England and Wales in 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give details of the sums he is making available from public funds for North-East Scotland and the Isle of Wight, respectively, for physical education, and recreation, indicating the kinds of physical education and recreation in each with particular reference to swimming and sailing during each of the last five years.

The following are the capital grants offered in respect of sport and physical recreation projects in the Isle of Wight:

1962–63	Nil
1963–64	£1,600 for one cricket project
1964–65	£19,575 for three sailing projects
1965–66	Nil
1966–67	Nil

The question of grants for North-East Scotland is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Working Group on Migration—The Brain Drain, which affect his Department.

I have commended the Report to the University Grants Committee and I am discussing with my colleagues the recommendations affecting the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in what areas and in how many schools the number of immigrant children exceeds 30 per cent. of the total number of children attending.

In January, 1967, there were no local education authority areas in England and Wales in which the number of immigrant pupils exceeded 30 per cent. of all the pupils in the area. There were at that date 444 schools in 40 local education authority areas in which the number of immigrant pupils exceeded 30 per cent. of the school roll.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what requests he has received from the City of Sheffield in response to Circular 11/67 for grants for projects in educational priority areas.

I have received proposals for major projects costing £461,605 and for minor projects costing £153,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will detail the responsibility allowances payable to teachers; and if he will increase the remuneration of primary school teachers.

Teachers' remuneration is a matter for the Burnham Committee. Increased scales for teachers in primary and secondary schools, effective from 1st July 1967, which have only recently been settled by arbitrators under the Remuneration of Teachers Act, 1965, include the following responsibility allowances:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many men and women entered the teaching profession after completing courses at teachers training colleges during the most recently available 12 months period; and what percentage this represents of men and women, respectively, completing such courses.

The latest available figures show that 96 per cent. of a sample of successful students leaving general and specialist colleges of education in summer 1966 had entered the profession at home or abroad by April, 1967. Separate figures for men and women are not readily available. The sample covered more than three quarters of the leavers and is thought to be representative.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent the Special Fund for Overseas Students has proved large enough to meet all the legitimate requests for assistance submitted to it; and by how much it has been short of the necessary total.

It is too early to judge how far the £500,000 allocated for the Overseas Students' Special Fund for the academic year 1967–68 will prove adequate in practice. I am keeping in close touch on this question with the Advisory Board to the Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made with regard to purchase of land and the erection of buildings for the proposed Welsh College of Agriculture at Aberystwyth.

I understand that the Cardiganshire Education Authority who have agreed to act as agents for the Welsh Joint Education Committee in establishing the proposed College, are in negotiation for an area of about 40 acres near Aberystwyth which would provide a site for a building and a demonstration farm. The Cardiganshire Authority have applied to the Department for an allocation in a further education building programme to enable them to make a start with the building; but I am not yet in a position to make a firm commitment about an allocation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he will now take in view of the decision by Bedfordshire County Council to retain the principle of selection in the proposed plans for the reorganisation of secondary education in Bedfordshire.

I have recently asked the Bedfordshire Local Education Authority for further information on certain aspects of the scheme already submitted for the reorganisation of secondary education in their area. When this material is available I shall be able to consider my attitude to what they propose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated total public expenditure on grants for undergraduate and postgraduate studies, respectively, during the current year.

Total public expenditure in Great Britain during the current academic year on support for students in further or higher education is provisionally estimated at about £9 million for postgraduate students and about £120 million for students on first degree and lower level courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of men and women university students has failed to complete degree courses undertaken during each of the last seven available years.

The latest available information is in Appendix 2A of the Robbins Report on Higher Education and relates to those who fail to complete their course for any reason. Of undergraduates entering in 1957, 13·8 per cent. left without success; the figures do not distinguish between men and women.The University Grants Committee have recently undertaken a further survey, the results of which are expected to be available in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the proposal submitted to him for a new university on Tees-side; and if, in addition to the educational needs, he will take into account the growing industrial and commercial importance of the area and the contribution such a university would make towards the economic and social life of the North-East.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my right hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) on 26th October.—[Vol. 751, c. 531–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to improve the prison mental services.

Three consultants in forensic psychiatry were recently appointed in conjunction with the Leeds, Birmingham and Newcastle Regional Hospital Boards, and I hope there will soon be further similar joint appointments. I attach importance to the possession by prison medical officers of the Diploma in Psychological Medicine; they are encouraged to study for this qualification and are afforded financial and other assistance.I am considering the need for a second psychiatric prison on the lines of Grendon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the net figures of women and children, respectively, who have entered the United Kingdom since 1st July, 1962, from the West Indies, India, Pakistan, and East Africa.

The figures are as follows:

NET BALANCE OF ENTRANTS FROM 1ST JULY, 1962 TO 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1967
	Women	Children
West Indies	20,872	38,526
India	23,375	32,633
Pakistan	11,705	26,413
East Africa*	3,083	3,426
* Immigrants from Kenya, Malawi, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia who were subject to control under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for reports from chief constables as to the respective spheres of action of the police and university authorities following on violent or riotous behaviour by students.

I have received a report from the Chief Constable of the Mid-Anglia Constabulary on the recent incident at Cambridge, but it contains nothing to suggest that any general inquiry into the respective responsibilities of the police and university authorities is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to supply the Metropolitan Police Force with electric truncheons to maintain law and order.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will discuss urgently with the Commissioner of Metropolitan Police the question of authorising police officers to use water hoses when dealing with public demonstrations in defiance of law and order.

The view of the Commissioner of Police, with which I agree, is that the use of water hoses would not be consistent with the function of the police, which is not to suppress public demonstrations but to secure that they are conducted peacefully within the limits allowed by law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that two Metropolitan Policemen observed a Ford car No. XHX 74 parked in East Carriage Drive, Hyde Park, with no road fund licence; in view of the fact that it had been in a No Waiting area for five days, why no action was taken to remove this obstruction and to charge the owner; and what action has now been, or will be taken to enforce the law with regard to this and similar incidents being reported daily in London.

Police inquiries with a view to proceedings were begun before the car was removed and are continuing. The other points raised in my hon. Friend's Question were dealt with in replies I gave to his Questions yesterday. —[Vol. 753, c. 127–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions his office have issued to chief constables regarding the taking of breathalyser tests.

I have no authority to issue instructions to chief constables. I have, however, issued a circular to them which describes the provisions of the Road Safety Act, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department out of the 823 persons tested by breathalyser by the police in the Metropolitan area up to 29th October, how many showed positive results for alcohol on the breathalyser; how many at the police station proved positive by blood or urine tests; how many were charged under e Road Safety Act, 1967; and how many were charged for any other offences.

The roadside breath tests indicated that 299 of these persons had a blood alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit. The other information that the hon. Member asks for could not be obtained without laborious inquiries, and I must ask him to wait for further information until the special statistical returns for which I have asked begin to be collated towards the end of the year. I can, however, say now that of the specimens of blood and urine analysed at the Metropolitan police laboratory, about 70 per cent. provide acceptable evidence of alcohol concentrations above the prescribed limit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him about the circular sent to chief constables which relates to the possibiilty of making random breath tests on drivers under circumstances not specifically provided for in the Road Safety Act.

The Home Office received ten letters, seven of them critical, inspired by newspaper reports last August about a Home Office circular to chief constables which described the provisions of the Road Safety Act, 1967. The circular, a copy of which was put in the Library, did not suggest the use of breath tests in circumstances other than those the Act provides for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated number of persons of Asiatic origin who have entered the United Kingdom from East Africa since 1st July, 1962.

The hon. Member probably has in mind citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies resident in East Africa, and holding passports issued by the Government of the United Kingdom which exempt them from control under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1962. There are no statistics of entry to this country before 1st January, 1965. From that date until 30th September, 1967, 21,365 entered. Because they were not made subject to the 1962 Act, no record is kept of the outward movements of these categories of persons. The figures do not represent the net balance of those remaining here for settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Alcotest breathalyser tube, as made by Normalair in West Germany and used by the police in this country, will be available and on sale to the general public in this country.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 7th November to a Question by the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Bessell).— [Vol. 753, c. 86.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what stipulation was made on the part of Her Majesty's Government in the official negotiations with the manufacturers of the police breathalysers that this type of breathalyser should not be sold to the public.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many breathalysers he expects to be used by the police in the coming 12 months; what is the anticipated cost to the Exchequer; and from whom they are being purchased.

One million breath-testing devices are being obtained for the police from Draeger Normalair Ltd., at a contract price of £195,000, one half of which will be met by the Exchequer. It is too early to estimate how many devices will be used by the police in the next 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what guidance he has given the parole boards on the number of prisoners whose release on parole they are to advise; and if he will instruct them that each case is to be considered on merit alone, without reference to the total number of those released but bearing in mind the safety of the public, the record of each applicant for parole and the likelihood of his future good conduct, and the urgent importance of reducing overcrowding in prisons.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is "None". The guidance I have given reflects the considerations suggested in the second part of the Question, except that the reduction of overcrowding is not a relevant factor.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in the light of Russian anti-ballistic missile preparations, he intends to improve the credibility of the British strategic nuclear deterrent by increasing the size of the Polaris fleet and equipping it with multi-warhead missiles.

We have no intention of increasing the Polaris force beyond its present planned strength of four submarines. I have nothing to add to my reply on 5th July to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell) and the hon. Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger) about the missiles for the force.—[Vol. 749, c. 1794–96.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Polaris submarines will be able to operate in the Indian Ocean.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Answers to similar Questions yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what basis he calculated his reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Woking on 15th March, 1967, about the cost of bringing up to 1956 rates the retired pay and pensions of armed forces personnel who retired before 1956; and whether he is satisfied that this calculation was sufficiently broadly based.

I am obliged to the hon. Gentleman for the opportunity to express my regret that my Answer of 15th March over-estimated the cost. A more detailed calculation indicates that the samples previously used did not sufficiently represent the range of pensions in payment. The cost of bringing the retired pay and pensions of all Armed Forces personnel, excluding widows, who were retired or discharged before 1956 up to the current 1956 rates and awarding to those over 60 years the appropriate increases as if they had been discharged in 1956 is now computed as £3·3 million; the cost if this exercise were confined only to those over 60 years of age would be £1·88 million; and the increase in cost in each case due to the Pensions (Increase) Warrant 1965 is £·153 million. —[Vol. 743, c. 115.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why his Department refuses to supply the hon. Member of Parliament for Oldham, West, the terms and contract of enlistment of a boy of 15 years of age.

An individual's enlistment papers contain confidential information and for this reason I cannot make copies of them available to my hon. Friend. However, I have sent him blank copies of the same forms and these give details of the terms and contract of enlistment for Junior Soldiers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the statement of policy by Mr. E. S. Gibbons at Portsmouth Dockyard on Monday, 30th October, was made with his authority; and what level of redundancy he expects in Her Majesty's dockyards as that policy takes shape.

The reorganisation of Portsmouth Dockyard, including the inauguration of the Production Department on the 30th October, is most certainly proceeding with my full authority. This reorganisation is designed to increase efficiency. There is no intention, however, that the reorganisation in itself will lead to redundancy. Nor did Mr. Gibbons say this. I am sending the hon. Gentleman a copy of Mr. Gibbons' speech.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Service families returning from abroad from Aden and elsewhere have been rehoused; how many are on the waiting list or in temporary accommodation; and what is the total cost.

All the families who have returned from Aden have been rehoused in service accommodation, except for some 200 Army families who are awaiting the husbands' return to his country.Details are not readily available for R.N. and R.A.F. families returning from the Far East, because they are dispersed individually through units to stations; but all the Army families who have returned from this theatre have been rehoused.As far as total cost is concerned, I would refer the hon. Lady to the figures I gave in the House on 5th May.—[Vol. 746, c. 963–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the review of the pay of doctors serving in Her Majesty's forces will be made; and whether they will receive any back payment.

The hon. Lady will have noted that my right hon. Friend recently made a standing reference of Forces' Pay to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. I cannot anticipate what recommendations the Board will make on the pay of medical officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the policy of the British Government towards the proposal of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Defence Ministers' meeting in Ankara for putting atomic landmines along Turkey's frontier with the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The N.A.T.O. Nuclear Planning Group is making an examination of the possible use of atomic demolition munitions in the defence of the N.A.T.O. area. This examination is by no means complete and no decisions have yet been taken. Following is the communiqué published after the recent meeting of the Nuclear Planning Group in Ankara:

"The Ministers continued the discussion which they had started at their meeting in Washington in April of this year on the possible use of atomic demolition munitions in the defence of the Treaty area. While agreeing that conditions may vary in different areas, they recognised that in certain circumstances the use of atomic demolition munitions might have significant military advantages by creating obstacles as part of a comprehensive defence system. The Ministers reviewed various technical and military studies conducted since their previous meeting and gave directions for their continuance and further development for consideration at the next meeting of the Nuclear Planning Group".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the future proposals for the former Worthy Down airfield, near Winchester; and whether any part of it will be released for public use.

The future use of this land is under review. I will let the hon and gallant Member know as soon as a decision has been reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an undertaking that there will be no cuts in the naval shipbuilding programmes already announced by the Government.

The forecast of the future Fleet programme given in Chapter IV of the July White Paper represents new construction in the current year totalling some £75 million—an increase of 50 per cent. over the rate set by the previous Administration—and I do not propose to alter it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what were the circumstances that caused the deaths of two African officer cadets in the Okehampton district of Dartmoor while on an exercise; and if he will make a statement;

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Christopher Price). I will make a statement after the Army board of inquiry has reached its findings.—[Vol. 735, c. 111.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what further faults have now been determined in the Phantom aircraft ordered from the United States of America; what is his latest estimate of cost per aircraft; how many are to be bought; when delivery is to be given and completed; and what is the total cost of the Phantom programme.

For the first part of his Question I would refer the hon. Member

UFO STATISTICS—1ST JANUARY, 1959 TO 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1967
Year		Satellites and debris	Balloons	Celestial objects	Meteorological and natural phenomena	Aircraft	Miscellaneous	Unexplained (insufficient information)	Total
1959	…	1	3	1	7	4	2	4	22
1960	…	—	8	2	7	10	1	3	31
1961	…	16	11	8	20	9	5	2	71
1962	…	11	6	5	8	9	4	3	46
1963	…	18	6	4	4	10	7	2	51
1964	…	43	3	6	—	10	7	5	74
1965	…	27	3	3	2	7	—	14	56
1966	…	38	10	5	5	17	15	5	95
Total	…	154	50	34	53	76	41	38	446
1967 (TO 30.9.67)		30	33	7	18	58	1	32	179
Total	…	184	83	41	71	134	42	70	625

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has investigated the desirability of a more extended use of boats made from fibre glass roving for use by the armed forces.

Yes. We use glass reinforced plastic for Service craft wherever

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on unidentified flying objects sighted over Great Britain during the past two years.

From 1st January, 1966 to 30th September, 1967, 274 reports were received. 242 reports were found to have mundane explanations. The remaining 37 reports remain unexplained because the information provided was so inadequate that no conclusive investigation was possible. The detailed analysis of these reports against the background of reports since the beginning of 1959 is set out below.this gives the best result, and I am always ready to consider suggestions for possible new applications of this useful material.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what British Service personnel have been attached in any capacity to United States or other forces in South Vietnam.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer to similar Questions yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what future use is now intended for the buildings of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

I am still unable to add to my Statement of 3rd May.—[Vol. 746, c. 494–506.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what new arrangements have been made for practical help to enable those leaving the Services to find suitable employment in civil life.

The existing Forces Resettlement Service is being expanded and training facilities are being increased. I am in touch with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Labour about the training of ex-Servicemen for civil employment.

asked the Secretary, of State for Defence what discussions he has had with the United States Defence Department following the White Paper of July, 1967.

Only the normal continuing exchange of views on matters of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what aircraft it is now intended should replace the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft, as the core of Great Britain's defence policy.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to the statement that I made on 25th October in reply to the hon. Members for Banbury (Mr. Marten) and for St. Albans (Mr. Goodhew). Since the Anglo-French variable geometry aircraft was never the core of Great Britain's defence policy, there is no question of replacing it in this rôle.—[Vol. 751, c. 1726–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the reinforcement of the garrison in Hong Kong.

We shall keep the garrison at the level we consider appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the reinforcement of British forces in the Persian Gulf.

The plans which were announced in the Statement on the Defence Estimates are being implemented.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost of maintaining the Beira patrol, from its inception up to the latest convenient date.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Answers to similar Questions yesterday.—[Vol. 753, c. 1019.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received of changes in the power and defence policies of potential enemy Governments since January, 1967.

I doubt whether the hon. and gallant Gentleman expects me to disclose the information I receive.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what types of aircraft will be available for close air support for British troops in the Persian Gulf after mid-1968. and after 1971.

Hunters at the first date; Phantoms by the second.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to start a reduction in the number of staff employed in the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry of Defence has already been reduced by about 4 per cent. since October, 1964, excluding reclassified staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for making a new staging airfield in the British Indian Ocean territory.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Member to the Answers to similar Questions yesterday.—[Vol. 753, c. 1018–19.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which further regiments of the Army are to be disbanded.

I have nothing to add yet to the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy, 1967 (Cmnd. 3357).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has been made with the Naval surface-to-surface guided missile.

I refer the hon. and gallant Member to the answer I gave yesterday to the Members for Woolwich, West (Mr. Hambling), Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby), and Loughborough (Mr. Cronin). —[Vol. 753, c. 1014–15.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what weapons, equipment, and ammunition have been sold to the Australian Government for use in Vietnam in the past two years.

Britain is by tradition one of the main suppliers of Australia's needs, in military equipment as in other fields, and we do not lay down conditions for the use of what we sell to Australia.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about island staging posts East of Suez.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total sum of arms abroad by this country during the last year for which figures are available to Commonwealth countries, Arab countries and Israel, respectively.

It is not the practice to disclose information about arms sales to individual countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he took account of the effect on the transformer industry in the North-East in deciding not to refer the proposed merger between Associated Electrical Industries and the General Electric Company to the Monopolies Commission; and what assurances he obtained to prevent a reduction of work on Tyneside as a result of the merger.

In a merger of this magnitude, it would be impracticable at this stage to secure commitments about detailed deployment plans, and my decision was based on considerations of broad public interest for the country as a whole. The Companies concerned are well aware of the Government's policy for maintaining and increasing industrial activity in the Development Areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will state his plans for further industrial development in the North-East in order to reduce the number of unemployed persons.

The Government offer a wide range of inducements to firms to move to or expand in the development areas, including the North-East. These measures, together with the control over industrial development certificates in the more prosperous areas, will continue to encourage expansion in the development areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many foreign tourists visiting Great Britain from May to September 1965, 1966 and 1967 have been motor-campers or caravanners; and what proportion of total visitors they represented;(2) what foreign currency earnings for the periods May to September in 1965, 1966 and 1967 were attributable to motor-campers and caravanners.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will announce the location of new industrial estates; and if he is giving preference to the South Ayrshire coalfield, which is threatened by pit closures.

It is hoped to make an announcement within a few days.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she intends to place the proposed increase in rail fares in the Liverpool area, namely, Orrell Park, etc., to Liverpool Exchange, before the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and if she will make a statement.

The recent changes in certain rail fares in the Liverpool Area involve the raising of some sub-standard day return fares to bring them up to the level in force elsewhere. I see no case for referring to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, local adjustments of this kind.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether she is satisfied that the existing four lanes of the M.5 will be adequate for the extra traffic which will use the road when the M.1, M.6 and M.5 are linked and when more cars will be travelling into Birmingham from those areas which are chosen for the siting of 15,000 houses to take overspill from Birmingham;(2) what steps she is taking to ensure that adequate rail and road services will be available to take the heavier commuter traffic which will result from the siting of 15,000 houses beyond the Birmingham boundary to take overspill from that city.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave in reply to his Question yesterday.—[Vol. 753, c. 119.]

asked the Minister of Transport what are the estimated costs incurred in the improvement to the junction of the A.3 and A.272 north of Peters-field at Adhurst Hill, the cost of alteration to the Jolly Drover crossroads on the A.3 at Hill Brow, and the cost of the further improvements between Hill Brow and Liphook to the A.3.

The cost of these improvements is £46,000, £44,800 and £188,600 respectively. In addition a further scheme between Hill Brow and Petersfield is nearing completion at a cost of £31,000.

asked the Minister of Transport what further plans she has for the A.3 other than those alterations already begun.

Trunk road schemes to the value of about £14 million are programmed on the A3 for construction by the early 1970's. Of these the more important ones costing over £1 million each are:

• Kingston By-Pass:
• Malden Road interchange.
• Tolworth underpass.
• Esher By-Pass.
• Ripley By-Pass.
• Burpham—Ladymead Diversion

In addition the Horndean—Broadmarsh Diversion was announced earlier this year as having been included in the trunk road preparation pool at a cost of over £5 million.

PETROL SUPPLIED AT MOTORWAY SERVICE AREAS
Service Area						2 Star pumps	3 Star pumps	4 Star pumps	5 Star pumps
Aust	…	…	…	One sided	…	9	2	10	8
Charnock Richard		…	…	East Side	…	8	2	10	5
				West Side	…	8	2	10	5
Farthing Corner	…	…	…	North Side	…	8	1	6	6
				South Side	…	8	1	6	6
Forton	…	…	…	North East Side	…	7	1	7	5
				South West Side	…	7	1	7	5
Frankley	…	…	…	East Side	…	6	2	5	7
				West Side	…	7	2	5	6
Heston	…	…	…	North Side	…	6	2	8	4
				South Side	…	6	2	8	4
Keele	…	…	…	North Side	…	9	1	10	5
				South Side	…	9	1	10	5
Knutsford	…	…	…	East Side	…	8	1	5	6
				West Side	…	8	1	5	6
Leicester Forest East		…	…	East Side	…	7	3	13	7
				West Side	…	7	3	13	7
Newport Pagnell	…	…	…	North Side	…	9	1	9	6
				South Side	…	9	2	8	6
Strensham	…	…	…	East Side	…	4	2	7	4
				West Side	…	4	2	7	4
Toddington	…	…	…	East Side	…	10	0	6	5
				West Side	…	9	0	7	5
Trowell	…	…	…	North Side	…	9	2	9	5
				South Side	…	8	2	10	5
Watford Gap	…	…	…	East Side	…	4	0	8	4
				West Side	…	4	0	8	4

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made with the rebuilding of the hospital, the teachers' training centre and the prison in Tonga.

These matters are within the responsibility of the Tonga Government. However, as my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development informed the hon. Lady in answer

asked the Minister of Transport how many pumps of each of the star-grades of petrol are situated at each service area on motorways in the United Kingdom, broken down on each side of the road, at each service area.

My right hon. Friend is not responsible for motorways in Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland. In England the allocation of pumps by star grades is:to her Question on 29th June of this year, a C.D. & W. grant of £195,200 has been approved for the new hospital at Vaiola.Expenditure of £16,000 from local funds on the Teacher Training College, Tongatapu is included in the current Tonga Development Plan and is phased for 1969–70. Some provision for expenditure on gaols is also included in the Development Plan.I am seeking further information and will write to the hon. Member as soon as this is available.—[Vol. 749, c. 731.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate, for the latest financial year for which figures are available, of the total amount collected in taxation in Scotland and of the total of grants, subsidies and other financial assistance received in Scotland from the Exchequer.

In 1966–67 central Government expenditure in Scotland, so far as this can be separately identified, was about £770 million. But this figure does not include any apportionment of expenditure on military defence, external relations, railway deficit grant and other

			Dividends paid on ordinary shares*	Wages and salaries per head†	Retail price index	Production per person employed‡
1962	…	…	-½	+4½	+4½	+½
1963	…	…	+8	+4½	+2	+3½
1964	…	…	+20½	+6½	+3½	+4½
1965	…	…	+13½	+6	+5	+2
1966	…	…	-3½	+6	+4	+1
* No adjustment has been made for changes in the amount of ordinary capital, information on which is not available.
† Total wages and salaries divided by average of quarterly figures of numbers of employees in employment.
‡ Average of income, expenditure and output estimates of gross domestic product at constant prices related to average of quarterly figures of total employment, including armed forces.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the increase in Purchase Tax in 1966 on a pharmaceutical product retailed at 4s. 9d.

Approximately 1d.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what amounts of Government expenditure, which can be shown to be directly apportioned, are spent in England, Scotland and Wales; and what percentage of total Government expenditure these figures constitute.

Central Government expenditure (excluding debt interest) in Great Britain in 1966–67 was about £9,840 million. Of this, about £3,400 is for Great Britain services which cannot

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the variations by percentage for average dividends, wage and salary earnings, prices and productivity for each year from 1962 to date.

Percentage increases over the previous year are given in the table below:be apportioned directly. Of the balance of about £6,440 million, £5,670 million or 88 per cent. can be apportioned directly to England and Wales, and £770 million or 12 per cent. to Scotland. Separate figures for Wales are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will be ready to state by what percentage he intends that total public expenditure in 1968–69 shall exceed total public expenditure in 1967–68, valuing both years' expenditure on the same pay and price basis; and, for preliminary planning purposes, by what amount, computed at constant prices, total public expenditure in 1968–69 is to exced total public expenditure in 1967–68.

I cannot yet give a date.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the dangers of explosions occurring at coin-in-the-slot launderettes and the inadequate legal coverage of their customers, he will introduce legislation requiring them to be staffed in opening hours.

No. The safety of equipment and plant in launderettes would not be ensured by the presence of non-technical staff. I have recently issued a free advisory pamphlet "Prevention of Explosions of Water Heating Systems in Launderettes" which is being widely distributed to owners and occupiers of launderettes.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is now in a position to state whether or not the settlement for an increase of just less than 6 per cent. for draughtsmen employed by Swan Hunter with effect from 1st July was consistent with the prices and incomes policy for the period of extreme moderation after 30th June.

The wage settlement for draughtsmen employed by Swan Hunter Ltd. was considered to fall within the provisions of paragraph 25 of the White Paper "Prices and Incomes Policy after 30th June, 1967" (Cmnd. 3235).

asked the Minister of Labour what is the estimated increase in rates and earnings arising from the recent settlement between the Pressed Steel Company and the Draughtsmen and Allied Technicians' Associations; from what date the settlement will apply; and if the settlement is consistent with the Government's incomes policy in respect of either lower-paid workers or productivity.

The settlement provides for a 6 per cent. general increase in salaries of draughtsmen employed at Pressed Steel Fisher factories at Swindon, Castle Bromwich and Cowley. An agreement introducing job grading at Castle Bromwich will give a further 4·7 per cent. increase at that factory while a revision of merit payments at Swindon has led to an additional increase of 1·03 per cent.The general increase and the new grading scheme apply from 1st August, while the revised merit awards were paid from 1st October. My Department is examining the agreement in the light of the requirements of the productivity prices and incomes policy.

asked the Minister of Labour by what amount hourly wage rates and earnings are expected to rise as a result of the settlement of the railway guards dispute; how many are affected by these changes; and if the settlement is consistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

The settlement does not increase basic rates, but provides or increases mileage allowances for turns of duty (normally of 8 hours) which involve less than 148 miles travel. Nearly 10,000 such turns are worked each day; the increase in pay for these turns ranges from 7d. to 3s. 7d., and averages 3s. 0d.I am satisfied that the settlement is consistent with the Government's policy for productivity, prices and incomes. The cost of the new allowances will be more than covered by savings arising from changes in working practices accepted by the men concerned.

asked the Minister of Labour by what amount hourly wage rates and earnings are expected to rise as a result of the settlements of the London and Liverpool dock disputes, respectively; how many are affected by these changes; and if the settlement is consistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

The continuing dispute in certain sectors of the London docks is not concerned with wage rates or earnings.The interim settlement, directly affecting some 11,000 dockers in Liverpool, did not increase rates but guaranteed, under specified conditions, minimum piece-work or bonus earning of 2s. 0d. an hour over the time rate. The practical effect on earnings cannot yet be assessed, but this guarantee would offset the effect on earnings of a reduction in overtime through the elimination of time-wasting practices, pending a comprehensive review of the incentive payments system in the port. Such an arrangement does not conflict with the Government's policy for productivity, prices and incomes.

asked the Minister of Labour how many workers are receiving training in the engineering industry; how many centres there are; and what is the annual output of trained people.

According to the latest annual report of the Engineering Industry Training Board 307,500 people are estimated to have been under training in the industry at different levels of skill in October, 1965. By the end of this month the Board will have opened 20 training centres providing over 1,650 training places for craftsmen and technicians.In Government Training Centres 2,300 workers were being trained for engineering occupations on 9th October, 1967. There are now 38 such Centres. Their present annual output of engineering trainees is about 4,650 but this figure will increase rapidly as we extend our training facilities.

asked the Minister of Labour what time is lost through strikes and industrial disputes in a year compared with industrial accidents and industrial disease.

The number of days recorded as lost through stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in Great Britain in 1966 was 2,287,000. I am informed by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Social Security that in the twelve months 7th June, 1965, to 4th June, 1966, injury benefit or sickness benefit following the injury benefit period was paid for about 26½ million days and just over one million days, respectively, for incapacity for work caused by industrial accidents and by industrial diseases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the evidence of urgency submitted by the hon. Member for Oldham, West, he will now approve the Hawkesley Street No. 2 Compulsory Purchase Order, Oldham.

My right hon. Friend regrets that he is not yet able to give a decision on this Compulsory Purchase Order. The reason is that further information is needed from the Council in connection with undertakings given by them regarding certain properties. The department has been in correspondence with the Town Clerk and is writing to him again this week. The matter is somewhat complicated and I am writing to my hon. Friend about it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what applications he has received from the Southern Gas Board to discharge radioactive waste into Poole Harbour as part of a gas-making process involving depleted uranium; whether he will give an assurance that the amount of uranium in the condensate proposed to be discharged is well within the limits of safety; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the main conditions attaching to his Certificate of Authorisation.

The Southern Gas Board applied for and have been given an authorisation under Section 6 of the Radioactive Substances Act 1960 to discharge into Poole Harbour radioactive effluents arising from the use of a catalyst containing uranium oxide in the production of gas at Poole Gasworks. The more important conditions in this Authorisation are:—

• (1) that the solid waste is removed to the premises of the Atomic Energy Authority;
• (2) that the liquid waste is discharged into any drainage system of the Poole Borough Council used wholly or partly for the disposal of trade effluent from the gasworks;
• (3) that not more than 1·2 kilogrammes of natural or depleted uranium, at a concentration not exceeding 0·04 microgrammes per millilitre of effluent, are discharged each month.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I are satisfied that the radioactivity in the effluents will not cause any harm to public health or to marine life and the discharges are well within the limits recommended by the International Commission on Radiological Protection as acceptable in drinking water. (In this case the discharge is to sea water.)

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's foreign and economic policies in the Suez area.

Her Majesty's Government's policy is to work for a durable peace in the area. We wish also to do all we can to restore trade and navigation in the mutual interests of ourselves and our trading partners.

asked the Prime Minister if he will cause an inquiry to be held into attempts to cause disruption to the economy in the coming months.

No.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on the state of Great Britain's negotiations for membership of the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add to the speeches by myself and my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in the debate on the Address on 31st October and 2nd November.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for bringing the economy into fundamental equilibrium in advance of negotiations on the British application to join the Common Market.

The Government has already taken the necessary measures to strengthen the domestic economy and the balance of payments and these are now beginning to bear fruit. Their effects will be increasingly apparent in the period ahead so that by the time the obligations of E.E.C. membership are assumed the economy and the external balance will be much stronger.

asked the Prime Minister what study he has made of the facts given in the Atlantic Trade Study report, the Free Trade Area Option, published today, a copy of which was sent to him in advance; and if he will now consider further an Atlantic-based free trade area as an alternative to the United Kingdom's application to join the European Communities.

All relevant facts in this matter have been and will continue to be studied. As to the second part of the Question I have nothing to add to my reply to a Supplementary Question by the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 26th October.—[Vol. 751, c. 1885–6.]

asked the Prime Minister what recent conversations he has had with the German Chancellor and other heads of Governments of member countries of the European Economic Community concerning the entry of the United Kingdom into the Community; and whether he will make a statement.