asked the Minister of Labour what forecast he has made of the likely impact of computerisation upon the demand for labour in the various sectors of manufacturing and service industry in the next 10 years; and what plans he has to combat the prospect of technological unemployment in the foreseeable future.

A study of the impact of computerisation in offices was published by my Department's Manpower Research Unit in 1965. This showed that the likely effect of computers in the next 10 years will be to offer some relief from a growing shortage of office manpower.My Department is studying the problems of forecasting the likely demands for labour over the whole economy in the next 5 and 10 years, taking account of all foreseeable technological changes, of which computerisation is only one. Training and retraining policies will be framed and adjusted in the light of these forecasts.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will seek to amend the Redundancy Payments Act so that redundancy pay is not payable to men transferred from one company to another within the same ownership, and who have continuity of employment.

Redundancy pay is not payable when a man is re-engaged by an associated company within the meaning of the Act. My right hon. Friend has no present plans for amending the Act in this respect.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will seek to amend the Redundancy Payments Act so that redundancy pay is not payable where employees who have been discharged are re-employed by the same firm within a short time.

No. It would be a departure from the basic principles of the Act to deny compensation to em- ployees who are dismissed due to genuine redundancy.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation to provide for a minimum qualifying period of unemployment before redundancy benefit becomes payable.

No. The Redundancy Payments Act was designed to provide immediate compensation for the loss of security which redundancy almost always entails, irrespective of whether this leads to any unemployment. The principles upon which the Act was based were accepted during the passage of the Bill, and I can see no reason for departing from them now.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will seek to take power to pay redundancy benefit out of the Redundancy Fund when an employer is faced with the choice of paying redundancy pay to his employees or bankruptcy.

My right hon. Friend is already empowered to pay redundancy compensation direct from the Fund when an employer is unable to meet his obligations under the Act. An employer likely to find himself in this position would be well advised to consult his local employment exchange.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will set up machinery to safeguard the interests of the public with regard to the payment of redundancy benefit by agreement between employer and employee.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave earlier this afternoon to a similar Question from the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. John Page).

asked the Minister of Labour what were the average weekly earnings of dockers in London and Liverpool, respectively, before decasualisation; and what they are expected to be now.

Daily dock workers averaged £23 1s. 10d. in London and £20 12s. 9d. in Liverpool for the quarter ending 1st July, 1967.The 1966 Devlin Report estimated that after dccasualisation if the volume of work d id not diminish dock workers would average nationally £25 or more. Post-decasualisation figures for London and Liverpool are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will now take steps to introduce a minimum wage.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation to establish a minimum wage throughout the whole of the country, in view of the low wages that are paid in many industries; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick) on 10th April of this year.—[Vol, 745, c. 710–11.]

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will now instruct his special investigator to open an inquiry into the dispute at the Roberts-Arundel factory, Stockport.

There have been exchanges between the company and the unions and progress has been made. The major outstanding issue is I understand the rate at which the company feels able to take back the men on strike. In the circumstances, an inquiry into the dispute would not in my view help towards a settlement. I am keeping in touch with developments.

asked the Minister of Labour what effect the Selective Employment Tax has had in moving labour from service to manufacturing industry.

It is not possible to distinguish, in the short run, between the employment effects of S.E.T. and the changes in employment patterns resulting from other Government economic measures.

asked the Minister of Labour why farmers and horticulturists from the Midlands have no representation on the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Industry Training Board.

Since it was set up the Board has included two members from the Midlands who are farmers and horticulturists.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the labour figure in total numbers and percentage for unemployment in the South West in the last available month; and how these compare with the corresponding month in 1962.

The figures were 33,115 and 2·4 per cent. in October, 1967, and 24,256 and 1·9 per cent. in October, 1962.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest available figures, in total numbers and percentages, of unemployed persons in Wales; and how these compared with the corresponding period in 1962.

The figures were 39,833 and 4·0 per cent. in October, 1967, and 32,911 and 3·4 per cent. in October, 1962.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the latest available figures, in total numbers and percentages, of unemployed persons in Glamorgan and in Barry, respectively; and how these compared with the corresponding month of 1962.

The figures for Glamorgan were 20,824 and 4·2 per cent. in October, 1967, and 15,888 and 3·3 per cent. in October, 1962.Numbers unemployed at Barry at these dates were 893 and 848, respectively, and the corresponding percentage rates for the Cardiff travel-to-work area, which includes Barry, were 3·3 and 2·7.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the percentage increase in unemployment in the South-West Region between July, 1961 and October, 1962, and between July, 1966 and October, 1967, respectively.

Total numbers registered as unemployed in South Western region increased by 90 per cent. between July, 1961 and October, 1962 and by 101 per cent. between July, 1966 and October, 1967. Corresponding figures for those registered as wholly unemployed were 93 per cent. and 100 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour what are his proposals to supply employment for the 951 and 315 unemployed registered at the

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES IN COUNTY OF MIDLOTHIAN
		June, 1967		July, 1967		August, 1967		September, 1967		October, 1967
		Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females	Males	Females
Dalkeith	…	165	77	213	93	217	82	210	74	201	84
Edinburgh	…	2,172	361	2,525	407	2,515	416	2,564	404	2,495	394
Leith	…	588	80	643	76	568	82	650	68	663	62
Loanhead	…	177	85	191	59	182	71	175	62	162	70
Musselburgh	…	220	89	279	69	248	83	259	98	269	81
Portobello	…	261	37	271	37	287	38	270	44	276	53
West Calder*	…	74	46	75	44	89	39	85	35	74	34
* Includes the sub-office of East Calder.

asked the Minister of Labour what he estimates the cost would be of paying the regional employment premium to those firms qualified to receive it, if Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello were included in the development area.

About £3½ million a year.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation to impose penalties on those responsible for the recent unofficial strikes which have damaged the national economy.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour how many disabled persons are now on the unemployment register in Cheltenham; and by how much this has increased since 5th September 1966.

My local officers are doing all they can to help those unemployed to find other work and to offer training facilities to suitable applicants.

asked the Minister of Labour what was the total number unemployed, listing male and female, in all exchanges in the county of Midlothian during the months of June, July, August, September, October and to the nearest date in November.

A table showing the figures requested for June to October, 1967 is given below. Later figures are not yet available.

On the 9th October 1967 there were 106 registered disabled persons registered as unemployed in the Cheltenham Employment Exchange area compared with 95 on 12th September 1966.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons on the Disabled Persons Register are unemployed in the constituency of Midlothian; and what were the comparable figures for 1966.

On 9th October 1967 there were 534 registered disabled persons registered as unemployed at Employment Exchanges in the area of the Midlothian constituency. On 10th October 1966 the comparable figure was 521.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will take steps to promote closer co-operation between the individual training boards for cotton and allied trades, wool and synthetic fibres.

The Joint Committee of Industrial Training Boards for the Textile Industries was set up last year to foster such co-operation.

asked the Minister of Labour what new Government training centres are to be established in the Northern Region; how many places for training they will provide; and when he expects they to be open for training.

A new centre at Maryport with 100 places is expected to open for training during the last quarter of 1968. Two more centres are to be set up at Darlington and near Durham. They will have 200 and 350 training places respectively, and are planned to start training by the end of 1969. The three new centres will have an annual output of approximately 1,100 trainees.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons are at present undertaking courses in Government training centres in the Northern Region; and what were the corresponding figures for 1964, 1965 and 1966.

On 9th October, 1967, 548 people were attending courses in Government Training Centres in the Northern Region. The corresponding figures for 1964, 1965 and 1966 were 308, 580 and 624 respectively.

asked the Minister of Labour which Government training centres are situated in, or near, the Nottinghamshire coalfield; and how many places are available in them.

There is one Government Training Centre in the Nottinghamshire coalfield area, that at Long Eaton. It has the capacity to train approximately 450 men each year.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Government training centres are situated in Yorkshire; and how many persons are being trained in them.

There are three Government training centres in Yorkshire, their 573 training places, producing an estimated annual output of nearly 1,000 trainees. Work on building a fourth centre near Wakefield will start during the financial year 1968–69. When it is fully operational and the existing centres have been expanded, there will be nearly 1,000 training places at the four Yorkshire centres, with an estimated annual output of 1,700 trainees.

asked the Minister of Labour what he proposes to do to provide work for 130 men and 50 women who have been declared redundant at the paper mill at Caldercruix.

Arrangements have been made to interview and register the workers this week. Everything possible will be done to help them find other employment.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take to find jobs for 460 men who will be made redundant after Christmas by the closure of the Associated Electrical Industries factory at Petershill, near Glasgow.

We are already interviewing workers at the factory and have made special approaches on their behalf to employers in the Glasgow area. The response has been encouraging so far.

asked the Minister of Labour what reply he sent to the request by the union concerned to intervene in the dispute between the union and Ready Mixed Concrete Limited, which operates 140 plants, over the question of the refusal of the right of employees to brief the union to present their case.

Following a request from the union, the company was approached by an official of my Ministry. The company took the view that the men concerned were self-employed and they were not prepared to discuss the men's remuneration with the union. The unions were informed accordingly.

asked the Minister of Labour what progress he has made in his talks with trade unions on the acceptance of workers who have been retrained as tradesmen in their new skills suitable for employment.

As I have previously stated in the House I have the co-operation at national level of all the unions concerned in the acceptance of men trained at Government Training Centres. The long-standing difficulties with some trades in the Manchester area, on Tyne side and in Scotland still remain, and there are sometimes temporary problems in other areas. I have recently initiated talks with the C.B.I., T.U.C., and Nationalised Industries which I hope may assist to secure wider acceptance of adult trainees, both those trained in industry by upgrading and those trained in G.T.Cs.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will cause an inquiry to be made into the effects of United States control of British companies and particularly with regard to trade union relations, conditions, pay and security of employment.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour what has been the rate of creation of new jobs since 1951 in the North-West Region, the Northern Region, the West Midland Region, the East Midland Region and the South-East Region, respectively.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will take steps to bring to the notice of local education authorities and school careers masters the condition under the training allowances scheme, that those who stay at school until they are over 18 years of age must apply for allowances and take up their employment within three months of leaving school.

Youth Employment Officers give information about the training allowances scheme when visiting schools where pupils may be affected. I am also arranging for a note, mention- ing the age limits, to be included in the Careers Bulletin prepared by the Central Youth Employment Executive, which is circulated to all schools.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of workers have had wage and salary increases in the period since July, 1966; and what was the total sum involved with the various categories concerned.

The figures for manual workers are as follows:

CHANGES IN BASIC WEEKLY RATES OF WAGES OR MINIMUM ENTITLEMENTS DURING THE PERIOD 1ST AUGUST, 1966 TO 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1967
	Basic full time weekly rates of wages or minimum entitlements
Industry group	Approximate number of workers affected by net increases	Estimated net amount of increase
		£
Agriculture, forestry, fishing	425,000	140,000
Mining and quarrying	60,000	40,000
Food, drink and tobacco	385,000	240,000
Chemicals and allied industries	65,000	45,000
Metal manufacture	245,000	100,000
Engineering and electrical goods	2,215,000	1,740,000
Shipbuilding and marine engineering	195,000	190,000
Vehicles	95,000	50,000
Metal goods not elsewhere specified	175,000	80,000
Textiles	380,000	120,000
Leather, leather goods and fur	30,000	25,000
Clothing and footwear	265,000	115,000
Bricks, pottery, glass, cement, etc	135,000	55,000
Timber, furniture, etc.	135,000	40,000
Paper, printing and publishing	40,000	15,000
Other manufacturing industries	110,000	75,000
Construction	1,540,000	1,200,000
Gas, electricity and water	230,000	145,000
Transport and communication	535,000	465,000
Distributive trades	1,410,000	730,000
Public administration and professional services	880,000	915,000
Miscellaneous services	355,000	160,000
	9,905,000	6,685,000

Virtually the whole of these changes occurred during the last nine months of the period. In the case of engineering, the estimated amount is an over-statement to the extent that it includes not only general increases which affect all workers, but also increases in certain minimum earnings levels which would not affect all workers.Corresponding information for administrative, technical and clerical employees is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour if he is satisfied that the number of employment exchanges in Scotland is adequate, and that these are suitably placed and spaced.

Yes. And the position is kept under constant review and facilities are provided as necessary.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what were the numbers employed in Lancashire in each of the

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN NORTH-WESTERN REGION
			(Thousands)
	Based on 1948 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification		Based on 1958 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification
	1951	1959(a)	1959(b)	1960	1966
Textiles	411	299	299	283	222
Manufacturing industries (including Textiles)	1,506	1,441	1,372	1,399	1,364
Coal Mining	56	53	53	46	29
Railways	68	57	57	45	40
Non-Manufacturing Industries (including Coal Mining and Railways)	1,422	1,459	1,532	1,545	1,634

asked the Minister of Labour from what bodies has written evidence been received by the Phelps-Brown Committee; and which of this evidence has been published.

Organisations which have so far submitted written evidence to the Committee are listed below. Evidence has also been received from Government Departments and from a number of individuals. None of the evidence received has been published by the Committee but it has in some cases been released to the Press by the organisations themselves.

• National Federated Electrical Association
• Langley London Ltd.
• National. Federation of Building Trades Operatives.
• Amalgamated Slaters, Tilers and Roofing Operatives.

Employment estimates for counties are not available either in total or for separate industries and those for Lancashire could not be produced without excessive cost in staff time.The following table shows estimates for the North-Western Region, which covers Lancashire, Cheshire and the High Peak district of Derbyshire. The estimates for 1951 are based on the 1948 edition of the standard Industrial Classification; those for 1960 and 1966, the latest date for which information is available, are based on the 1958 edition. In order that the 1951 figures may be compared with estimates for later years, estimates for 1959 on both bases are also given.

asked the Attorney-General if he is yet in a position to make a detailed statement on the assessment and payment of damages caused by the wreck of the 'Torrey Canyon' to persons in the seaside places affected thereby.

No. I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. and learned Friend on 23rd October.—[Vol. 751, c. 1337.]

asked the Attorney-General what proposals he has for introducing legislation to revise the powers of trustees of private estates and to introduce a system of appeal against the decision of such trustees; and if he will make a statement.

I have no proposals of this kind, but I shall be glad to consider any detailed suggestions from the hon. Member.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will seek to amend the Redundancy Payments Act to provide for automatic legal aid for applicants where solicitors have advised them to appeal before the Industrial Tribunal.

No, Sir. If Legal Aid were to be made available in proceedings before Industrial Tri- bunals, it should be by way of extension of the Legal Aid and Advice Act 1949. My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has asked the Legal Aid Advisory Committee to consider to which Tribunals Legal Aid should be made available under that Act when financial circumstances permit, and what the priorities should be, both as between those Tribunals themselves and in relation to other possible improvements of the Legal Aid and Advice Schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the member Governments of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development regarding the 27 per cent. officially recorded overall increase in their exports to Rhodesia during the first five months of this year; and with what results.

We are in regular touch with many Governments, including the members of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, about the enforcement of United Nations sanctions. Such exchanges are, of course, confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Portuguese Government regarding the 89 per cent. officially recorded increase in Portuguese imports from Rhodesia during the first seven months of 1967 compared with the average level for 1966; and with what results.

As my hon. Friend the Minister of State told my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 23rd October, representations have been made to the Portuguese Government about various breaches of sanctions. Such exchanges are of course confidential.—[Vol. 751, c. 366.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now place in the Library the terms of the note of protest sent to the South African Government concerning the presence of South African police in Southern Rhodesia.

No. It would be contrary to normal practice to publish the text of confidential diplomatic exchanges with other Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the German Government regarding the 20 per cent. officially recorded increase in German exports to Rhodesia during the first seven months of this year; and with what results.

The honourable Member will be aware that, although Germany is not a member of the United Nations, the Federal Government have taken certain action in order to implement the sanctions ordered by the Security Council. We are in touch with the Federal Government, as with other Governments, about the enforcement of sanctions. Such exchanges are, of course, confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, before granting independence to the South Arabian Federation, he will obtain an assurance from the Government of Saudi Arabi that there will be no interference in the affairs of the Federation; and whether the concept of a United Nations presence in Aden and in the Federation during the next 12 months is still part of the Government's policy.

This is unnecessary. We have been in constant touch with the Government of Saudi Arabia and they are well aware of our views.On the second part of the Question, our policy has been to work closely with the United Nations in accordance with the General Assembly Resolution of last December for as long as we have responsibility for South Arabia. The question of a United Nations presence after independence must be one for the South Arabian Government and the United Nations as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what arrangements have now been made for the safety of British lives and property in South Arabia after the departure of British forces.

There is little I can add to what my right hon. Friend said on 7th November and what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said on 8th November. Our Embassy will be responsible for the protection of British subjects in the normal diplomatic sense and, will assist them, should the need arise, to leave the country in accordance with plans which have already been prepared.—[Vol. 753, c. 840; c. 1009–10.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on our relations with the United Arab Republic.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said in the debate on the Address on 2nd November.—[Vol. 753, c. 344–61.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on negotiations for the reopening of the Suez Canal.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said in the debate on the Address on 2nd November.—[Vol. 753, c. 343–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to African countries about over-flying rights between Ascension Island in the Atlantic and Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean; and with what result.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what communication he has received from the United States Government on the question of alternative sites to Aldabra for a base or staging post in the Indian Ocean; and what reply he has sent.

Consultations with the United States Government are continuing, but no decision has yet been taken to construct an airfield. All the information at present available to us and the United States Government indicates that only Aldabra is suitable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will now take steps to dissociate the United Kingdom from the military intervention by the United States in Vietnam.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's statement on 2nd November during the debate on the Address.—[Vol. 753, c. 333–35.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs (1) by what criteria Her Majesty's Government grants recognition to a foreign country's choice of capital;(2) under what circumstances Her Majesty's Government establish embassies in locations outside the capital of a foreign country rather than in the capital itself.

It is not normal for Her Majesty's Government to have any view on another country's choice of capital, nor is it possible to generalise about the circumstances in which Her Majesty's Government might establish an Embassy outside the capital of a foreign country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what proposals he has for renegotiating the Nassau agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position of the proposals to renegotiate the Nassau Agreement and to create an Atlantic Nuclear Force.

As my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State informed the House on 30th January, it is our intention to renegotiate the Nassau Agreement with the United States Government at the appropriate time.With regard to the Atlantic Nuclear Force, I have nothing to add to what was said by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State on 27th February in reply to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker).—[Vol. 740, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what are the latest reports he has received about the extent of the use by the Egyptians of gas, contrary to subsections five and six of the Geneva Convention of 1925, in the Yemen.

The last reports we received were in July, when the indications were that poison gas was used on several occasions. We have no information that it has been used since.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what information he has regarding the working of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Agency since the conflict in the Middle East in June this year; and whether he will make a statement.

Despite damage to installations and equipment the services of the Agency to Arab refugees suffered only the briefest interruption and it continues to operate in all the territories in which it operated before the war began. A full account is contained in the annual report of the Commissioner General for United Nations Relief and Works Agency (Reference No. 13 (A/6713)) a copy of which is in the Library of the House. I should like to express my admiration, not only for the vigour and resource with which the Agency has overcome the formidable difficulties facing it after the war but also for the way in which the Agency extended its services to those newly displaced as a result of the war who were not previously registered with the Agency.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what consideration has been given to the fact that the present Greek Government is failing to fulfil its commitments under the Statute of the Council of Europe, especially the requirements of Article 3; and whether, in view of this infringement of the Statute. Her Majesty's Government will initiate appropriate steps within the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe with a view to action being taken under Article 8 of its Statute.

The Committee of Ministers have taken note of the resolution passed on 26th September by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe in which the Assembly declared itself ready to make a declaration at the appropriate time on the possibility of the suspension of Greece from the Council of Europe. We do not think that further action is called for in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on his discussions with the Wet German Federal Chancellor, Dr. Kiesinger, during his visit to this country.

The discussions which my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and Foreign Secretary had with the German Chancellor are confidential. But I can say that there were most useful talks on the main issues confronting us.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the prospect of improving British relations with China.

The present state of our relations with China is still highly unsatisfactory. Members of the British Diplomatic Mission in Peking and some other British subjects in China are not being allowed to leave the country; and the normal functioning of the Mission is being inhibited by the restrictions placed on the movement of members of the staff. In the message my right hon. Friend sent to the Chinese Foreign Minister on 31st August he sought his co-operation to bring the situation back to normal and to set both countries on a better course in their relations. We stand ready to do everything possible to improve relations if the Chinese on their side are ready to co-operate with us on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to prevent the deliberate violation of British territorial waters off Gibraltar by Spanish warships.

Under international law Spanish and other warships enjoy the right of innocent passage through Gibraltar's territorial sea. Exercise of this right is subject to compliance with the local regulations and with normal navigational practice. If Spanish warships did not comply with these, objection would be made to the Spanish authorities, or action would be taken by the Royal Navy, as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation 502 on persons wishing to engage in paid employment after retirement, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 28th September, 1967; and whether he will instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

This Recommendation has been transmitted to the Governmental Social Committee and the European Public Health Committee. Their views are now awaited before the Committee of Minister discuss the matter again.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation 504 on the political, social and civic position of women in Europe, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 28th September, 1967; and whether he will instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

This Recommendation is now being studied both by Governments and in the Social Committee, in preparation for discussion by the Committee of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation 505 in reply to the 15th Report on the activities of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 28th September, 1967; and whether he will instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

The Protocol to the 1951 Convention on the Status of Refugees will have lain before the House for twenty-one sitting days on the 20th of November. Her Majesty's Government will accede to it as soon as possible thereafter.Her Majesty's Government fully support the assistance programme of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to which we have been the second largest contributor.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Opinion No. 48 on the Budget of the Council of Europe for 1968, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 28th September, 1967; and whether he will instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

The proposals made in Opinion No. 48 are under study by the Departments concerned with a view to discussion by the Committee of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation 500 on relations between Europe and the developing countries within the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 27th September 1967; and whether he will instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

Her Majesty's Government agree that aid and trade policies towards the developing countries are among the most pressing problems facing European and other developed countries at the present time. They attach great importance to a proper co-ordination of policies before the next United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in New Delhi. They consider, however, that the most suitable forum for the appropriate industrialised countries to concert their policies on aid and trade is in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, the Ministerial Council of which will be discussing these questions later this month. Her Majesty's Government understand that no member Government of the Council of Europe dissents from this view. Other consultations are in progress at various levels between O.E.C.D. member countries, and will of course continue up to the time of the Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Resolution 353 on the enlargement of the European Communities, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 27th September 1967; and what action he has taken or plans to take on it.

I would refer the honourable Member to my right honourable Friend's statement in the House on 26th October on our application to join the European Communities.—[Vol. 751, c. 1894–1904.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation 499 on the scientific and technological aspects of the extension of the European Communities, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th September 1967; and whether he will instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

We welcome the recommendation, are in broad agreement with its terms and will act accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation 498 on the General Policy of the Council of Europe, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th September 1967; and whether he will instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

This Recommendation deals with a wide range of subjects. It is being studied with a view to further discussion in the Committee of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation 495 on European Space Policy, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 23rd June 1967; and what action has been taken on this recommendation.

At the European Ministerial Space Conference in Rome last July my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Ministry of Technology agreed with his colleagues on steps to give the Conference a formal status and to set up an Advisory Committee on Programmes to make recommendations about future joint European Space activities. The United Kingdom is playing a full part in the work of the Advisory Committee and further progress towards a European space policy must depend on its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will now embark upon the ratification procedure of the European Code of Social Security and Protocol thereto, signed by 10 member countries of the Council of Europe whereof three countries have ratified so far.

The European Code of Social Security will have lain before the House for twenty-one sitting days on 22nd November. The Government will then proceed with ratification as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the Government will now embark upon the ratification procedure of the European Convention on Establishment, which was signed by 15 member countries of the Council of Europe whereof seven have ratified this Convention so far.

While seven countries have ratified this Convention, these ratifications are subject to a number of restrictions and reservations. The attitude of Her Majesty's Government has not yet been decided.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what steps are being taken to safeguard the personal effects and property of civilians who are not Government servants who have been evacuated from Aden since April 1967; and if he will make arrangements to remove this property from Aden without further delay.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which he received on 25th July from my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State. The High Commissioner's arrangements to protect and ship civilians' property have continued and a large amount has already been removed with the co-operation of the Service authorities.—[Vol. 751, c. 105–6.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) for what purpose Nos. 11 and 12 St. James's Square, S.W.1, are to be used:(2) what will be the cost of conversion for Government use of Nos. 11 and 12 St. James's Square.

I have nothing further to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mrs. Lena Jeger) on 26th October, except that the estimate for the cost of conversion is £30,000.—[Vol. 751, c. 564.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is to be the annual rent of Nos. 11 and 12 St. James's Square.

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

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many acres of land have been purchased by his Department in connection with the development of the British Museum Library in Bloomsbury and at what cost; and if he will give a breakdown of the year by year purchases of such land.

About 3½ acres at a cost of just over £2 million by voluntary agreement. The annual rate of acquisition was:

1952	76,000
1961	886,000
1963	290,000
1964	303,000
1965	377,000
1966	68,000
1967	76,000

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what estimate he has made of the cost of constructing a taxiway parallel to the runway at Aldabra;

It is not customary to publish estimates of the cost of defence projects before a decision has been made and before contractual arrangements have been completed.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what comparison he has made between construction problems on sandy atolls such as Gan, based on solid rock, and atolls such as Aldabra of elevated honey-combed rock.

My officials have considerable experience of building at Gan and elsewhere, and have taken this into account in considering the construction problems which would arise at Aldabra. They recognise the differences arising from geological formations and other factors.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has made of the comparative costs of submarine quarrying at Aldabra and Cosmoledo, respectively.

None.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what survey he has done of the East Channel on Aldabra; and with what results.

Earlier information and soundings, supplemented by inspection during the 1967 visit, have indicated the feasibility of constructing berthing facilities in the East Channel.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what study he has made of underground caves on Aldabra, which could create an unpredictable airfield surface.

The test borings which have been taken on the airfield site do not indicate the existence of such voids in the platin coral as would cast doubt on the feasibility of constructing a stable airfield surface

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what research he is doing into the cost of building an airfield on Platin Rock at Aldabra; and if he will make a statement on the estimated costs.

Test borings have been taken, pits have been opened by explosives and rock samples have been analysed. These, and many other factors, have been taken into account in formulating the order of cost. It is not customary to publish estimates of cost of defence projects before a decision has been made and before contractual arrangements have been completed.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will announce the membership of the Construction Research Advisory Council.

The terms of reference and membership of the Construction Research Advisory Council, which will hold its first meeting on 14th November, are as follows:To survey the national need for construction research, to review existing facilities, to consider measures necessary to encourage the expansion and more effective deployment of available resource, and to advise on the dissemination of research results.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether, in view of the growing proportion of elderly, but often still active and healthy, men and women in the total population, she will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine the implications of abandoning the statutory retirement principle.

No. This question is being considered along with all other relevant matters in the Government's major review of the National Insurance schemes.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she will alter the regulations, whereby a contributor who has fallen short of the requisite number of stamps prior to retirement, has his retirement pension permanently reduced; and whether, under her regulations, such pension may be paid in full provided the contributor has paid up three times the value of any sums which may be in arrears.

The Answer to both parts of the Question is, "No" Ours is a contributory system and the rate of retirement pension depends on the yearly average of contributions paid. People with contribution deficiencies qualify for a pension for life payable at an appropriately reduced rate. Generous time limits are prescribed in regulations within which arrears of contributions may be paid.But I am considering this question in preparing the new wage-related scheme, and in reviewing existing provisions.

asked the Minister of Social Security how much an unemployed man aged 40 years of age, with a wife and two children and who had been previously earning £20 a week, will receive in unemployment benefit and supplementary benefits and redundancy payments, assuming he had been employed at the same wages for 10 years; and what benefits would have been payable in November 1964.

Subject to the usual conditions he would receive unemployment benefit of £13 7s. a week for the first 6 months. Earnings-related supplement would then cease but flat-rate unemployment benefit of £9 8s. a week would continue for a further 6 months. At November, 1964, the same man would have received unemployment benefit of £7 1 s. a week. Entitlement to supplementary benefits depends on the level of individual requirements and resources.The question of redundancy payments is a matter for my right hon. Friend, the Minister of Labour.

asked the Minister of Social Security how much has been paid in supplementary allowances to dockers and their families during the recent unofficial strike at Liverpool.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Hertfordshire, South-West (Mr. Longden) on Thursday, 9th November 1967.—[Vol. 753, c. 179.]

asked the Minister of Social Security why she will not increase the rates of supplementary pensions in order that retirement pensioners receiving supplementary pensions get the full benefit of the increase in retirement pensions.

Because, for Supplementary Pensioners, this is the second instalment of the increase. Supplementary Pension rates were raised in November last year at a time when Retirement Pensions stood still. When the two increases are taken together, Supplementary Pension householders have had a total increase virtually equivalent to the single increase received by Retirement Pensioners this year. The essential difference is that Supplementary Pensioners had half of their increase almost a year ago.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she is aware that it is possible for an old-age pensioner who received a 10s. increase to be left with only 2s. after deduction of Social Security contributions; and if she will amend her regulations to enable such pensioners to retain a higher proportion of the increase.

I understand my hon. Friend has in mind the Supplementary Pensioner who lives as a member of someone else's household. In general this class of Supplementary Pensioners has benefited proportionately rather more than others from the improvements made in recent years and the modified increase in their total income in October was made in order to restore a better relationship with other Supplementary Benefit rates. National insurance contributions play no part in this situation.

asked the Minister of Health how many Commonwealth immigrants and aliens, respectively, were employed in hospitals, maternity homes and similar establishments in England and Wales as doctors, nurses, student nurses, and domestic assistants, respectively, on the latest date for which figures are available; and whether he will state in relation to each category what percentage those persons were of the total numbers employed in each category.

At 30th September, 1965, there were about 6,150 doctors,

		Pre-registration Student Nurses		Pupil Nurses		Pupil Midwives
Place of birth		Number	Per cent of total	Number	Per cent of total	Number	Per cent of total
Irish Republic	…	2,771	5	827	6	251	5
Commonwealth	…	8,845	17	4,326	30	1,454	29
Elsewhere	…	1,187	2	258	2	179	4

Information about domestic assistants is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of hospital beds per 1,000 head of population in Wales; and what is the comparable figure for England.

9·8 in both countries in mid-1966.

asked the Minister of Health if, in view of the fact that bacteria may acquire and subsequently inherit resistance to antibiotics and that they may transfer this resistance to other species of bacteria, including those which are dangerous to both man and animals, he will take steps to reserve exclusively for human use those antibiotics which are especially efficacious in the treatment of human infections.

There is at present no power to prohibit the use of such antibiotics in animals, but the implications for public health of this use is a matter to which the review body recommended by the Netherthorpe Committee will be asked to give early attention. The Government's proposals for new medicines legislation would provide powers under which use in animals could be prohibited if desired.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated proportion of disabled people entitled to apply for invalid tricycles who actually apply for them.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what is the estimated number of disabled drivers who would apply for four-wheel cars if they were offered instead of tricycles; what would be the estimated cost; and if he will make a statement.

Roughly 100,000; the capital cost would be about £38 million and maintenance cost about £10 million a year. I would refer the hon. Member to my statement of 15th February, 1967.—[Vol. 741, c. 523–31.]

asked the Minister of Health whether he proposes to redefine the qualifications for entitlement to Ministry vehicles for the disabled.

Not at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is satisfied with the general roadworthiness and safety of Ministry invalid tricycles for disabled drivers in bad weather conditions.

I have been asked to reply. Yes.

asked the Minister of Health what action he is taking as a result of a resolution sent to him by the Medway and Gravesend Division of the British Medical Association on the shortage of medical manpower in that division; and if he will make a statement.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of my reply to the Resolution. On the measures being taken to encourage general practitioners to practise in the areas of greatest shortage, I would refer him to the reply on 6th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short).—[Vol. 753, c. 609.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what level of unemployment is now acceptable to Her Majesty's Government.

The Government's target is full employment. The pace of achieving this is limited by the need to safeguard the balance of payments and prevent inflation.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will instruct the Severnside Study to examine the implications of the proposed barrage across the Severn.

The unit engaged on the study of Severnside as a possible area for accommodating a large additional population will take due account of all relevant proposals for the further development of the Severnside area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total of Selective Employment Tax paid in Wales since its inception; how much has been repaid; and how much has been paid out in selective employment premiums in Wales.

Up to 30th September refunds and premiums paid under the Selective Employment Payments Act were about £15½ million and £16¾ million respectively. I regret that it is not possible to provide comparable figures of the amount of tax paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give detailed figures of Scotland's total contribution to the Exchequer through taxes and Customs and Excise duties, based upon the latest available figures.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given on 9th November to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell), and on 13th November to the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Jopling).—[Vol. 753, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give figures of Scotland's contribution to the balance of payments in terms of total exports, imports, and invisible trade.