asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will adjust closing times of all buildings in his care during the winter months following the adoption of Central European Time throughout the year.

I am considering the adjustment of closing times at ancient monuments and historic buildings in my care following the adoption of British Standard Time next year, but certain consultations have to take place before I can reach a decision.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will provide a car park for the many visitors to Chiswick House.

There is a car park in the north-east corner of the grounds, provided by the Borough of Hounslow, and additional facilities in roads adjoining the entrance. Although my responsibility extends only to the historic building; at Chiswick, I will undertake further discussions with the local authority, who are responsible for the grounds, if my hon. Friend has any evidence that parking facilities are inadequate.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why a temporary General Post Office sorting office in Woking remains in use after planning permission has expired; and why this building has been extended without consultation with the planning authority.

I understand that the Surrey County Council are not objecting to the temporary use of this site for a sorting office. I regret that by an oversight a further approach was not made to the council when the original period of five years expired. It is normal for reasonable extensions to be made to existing buildings without further consultation and the small extension in question here was dealt with accordingly. The future of the whole site is now under review.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will arrange for a box junction or other equally effective measure, to be established at Storey's Gate, St. James's Park, to prevent a stationary line of eastbound traffic in Great George Street and Birdcage Walk from blocking westbound traffic turning from Great George Street into Horse Guards Approach Road.

The police normally have an officer on traffic control duty at this junction during rush hour periods. I look to the police and the traffic authorities to advise me if they consider that any further traffic control measures are required.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what additional square feet of office space have been acquired since October, 1964 by each of the following Departments, namely, Treasury, Foreign Affairs, Privy Council Office, Defence, Home, Scotland, Education and Science, Board of Trade, Commonwealth Affairs, Economic

I cannot add to my reply to the hon. Gentleman on 6th November.—[Vol. 753, c. 44.]

asked the Minister of Social Security when she expects to receive the report of the Supplementary Benefits Commission on the wage stop.

I have just received it.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is the average percentage of claims for retirement benefits which are lost in any one year due to their being made more than three months and more than six months in arrears; and when she expects to receive the report from the National Insurance Advisory Committee following their review of certain provisions of the National Insurance Act, 1965.

I regret that the information asked for is not available. Although the time limits on payment of benefits which are under review involve the consideration of a complex of inter-related problems I am sure that the Committee will report to me as soon as they can.

asked the Minister of Social Security (1) if she will revise the Industrial Injury Regulations as a matter of urgency, so that they can be clearly understood by applicants themselves and by their trade union and legal advisers;(2) if she has considered the comments of the Court of Appeal made in the case of Regina

asked the Minister of Social Security whether having regard to the decision of the Court of Appeal in Regina v. Industrial Injuries Commission ex parte Cable, she will take steps to clarify the statutory provisions relating to claims for industrial injuries benefit.

I intend to make an amendment to these very difficult Regulations as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Social Security what representations she has received from trades unions to revise the wording of the Industrial Injury Regulations; and what reply she has sent.

I assume my hon. Friend has in mind the Regulations on which the Court of Appeal recently commented: no recent representations have been received from trade unions.

asked the Minister of Social Security from whom outside her Department she has taken advice on the possibility of introducing a system of negative Income Tax to replace, wholly or partially, the present system of family allowances.

Suggestions of this kind have been examined by my Ministry in consultation with the other Government Departments concerned.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she has decided to investigate the problems of widows and single women with domestic responsibilities as a special study, taking into account employment considerations and social security needs.

I am considering whether any special studies should be undertaken.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the delays in the hospitals' consultant service and of the priority being given to fee paying patients; and what action he proposes to ensure that priority is accorded strictly on medical grounds.

I am aware that there are some delays in obtaining appointments for non-urgent conditions at consultative out-patient departments and that it may sometimes be possible to obtain a private consultation more quickly. I have no evidence, however, that patients who require hospital treatment without payment after a private consultation are allowed any priority greater than that appropriate to their medical condition, but I shall be glad to look into any particular case my hon. Friend may have in mind.

asked the Minister of Health what facilities are available at Oakwood Hospital, Maidstone, for the treatment of male and female alcoholics.

Treatment for alcoholics is available but no special facilities are provided at this hospital.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors are employed in each grade as junior hospital doctors; and how many of each grade are on the Temorary Register.

The numbers at 30th September, 1966 were:

Grade	All staff	Staff on Temporary Register
Registrar	4,281	343
Junior Hospital Medical Officer	194	7
Senior House Officer	3,503	541
House Officer	2,374	150

asked the Minister of Health (1) what are the countries of initial medical qualification of doctors employed as junior hospital doctors; and how many come from each country;(2) what are the countries of initial medical qualification of junior hospital doctors who are on the Temporary Register; and how many come from each country.

I regret that the information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospitals he has transferred since October, 1964 from boards of governors to regional hospital boards; and how many beds in all have been so transferred.

Two; 127 beds.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospitals he has transferred in each of the last three years for which figures are available from regional hospital boards to boards of governors; and how many available beds each such hospital contained on the date of transfer.

The figures are as follows:

1965	…	3; 282, 258 and 37 beds
1966	…	2; 335 and 457 beds
1967(to date)	…	none

asked the Minister of Health how many part-time and full-time consultants, respectively, were appointed in each of the three latest years for which figures are available.

Excluding Senior Hospital Medical Officers with allowances specially regraded as Consultants, the number appointed were as follows:

Year ending 30th September			Full time	Part time
1964	…	…	131	193
1965	…	…	194	236
1966	…	…	190	222

asked the Minister of Health if he will undertake an investigation into the present and future use of the Spittlesea Hospital, Luton, with the aim of ensuring that the buildings and facilities are employed efficiently.

The use of this isolation hospital is under consideration and I expect to receive a report from the North West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board shortly.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of cervical cancer tests performed in the urban district council areas of Basildon and Brentwood in 1966 and up to the latest date in 1967.

Information for local authority areas is not available, but at the two hospitals which largely serve these areas the figures are:

			St. Andrew's Hospital	Harold Wood Hospital
1966	…	…	10,416	1,502
1967	…	…	11,204	2,232
	…	…	(to 9.11.67)	(to 31.10.67)

asked the Minister of Health what is the latest figure of women on the waiting list for cervical cancer tests in the urban district council areas of Basildon and Brentwood; and how this figure compares with those for the appropriate period in 1964, 1965 and 1966.

Details of waiting lists at local health authority clinics in the areas concerned, none of which was in operation before 1966, are as follows:

		Brentwood	Basildon
December, 1966	…	110	207
November, 1967	…	83	148

asked the Minister of Health whether he has yet received an assurance from the Dublin firm, whose name has been sent to him, that they have withdrawn from circulation the batch of drug labelled ampicillin but known to contain not ampicillin but penicillin V; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The firm disputes the reported analysis but has informed me that each purchaser has been asked to return remaining supplies of the batch concerned and that these are being sent to independent analysts.

asked the Minister of Health if comprehensive guidance to hospital and local authorities on the future development and co-ordination of medical and welfare services for epileptics on the recommendations of the Cohen Report has now been issued by his Department.

I am still awaiting the report of a joint sub-committee of my Standing Medical Advisory Committee and my Advisory Committee on the Health and Welfare of Handicapped Persons.

asked the Minister of Health if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a selected list of the more important working parties and committees still studying health service problems together with the dates on which they were established.

The following are some of the more important. Standing bodies are not included.

Working Party/Committee	Date established
Working Party on Intermittent Dialysis.	May, 1965
Sub-Committee on Non-Nursing Duties (Sub-Committee of the Standing Nursing Advisory Committee).	June, 1965
Working Group on the Development of Hospital Geriatric Services (Sub-Committee of the Standing Medical Advisory Committee).	March, 1966
Joint Working Party on the Organisation of Medical Work in Hospitals.	April, 1966
Committee on Gynaecological Cytology.	July, 1966
Working Party on the use of Radioactive Isotopes in the National Health Service.	July, 1966.
Committee on the Functions of the District General Hospital (Sub-Committee of the Central Health Services Council).	September, 1966.
Working Party on the Prevention of Cancer (Sub-Committee of the Standing Sub-Committee on Cancer).	February, 1967.
Sub-Committee on Health and Welfare Services for Epileptic People (Joint Sub-Committee of Standing Medical Advisory Committee and Advisory Committee on Health and Welfare of Handicapped People).	April, 1967
Medical Computing Language Committee.	September, 1967.

asked the Minister of Health if he will set up a cervical cytology clinic in Mid-Glamorgan.

The Glamorgan County Council have operated a clinic at Neath since June 1967, and will establish clinics in the Port Talbot and Bridgend areas very shortly.

asked the Minister of Health by what percentage and by what numbers the population has increased in the United Kingdom since 1945.

Between 1945 and 1966 the estimated total population of the United Kingdom rose by 11·6 per cent., from 49·2 million persons to 54·9 million persons.

asked the Minister of Health if he will circularise local health authorities recommending them to accept responsibility for the payment of repair and service charges to a commercial hearing aid in cases where the education department has accepted such responsibility up to the time of leaving school and a Medresco aid has proved inadequate subsequently.

No. I do not think there are grounds for any general recommendation to local health authorities to accept this responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs who will represent the views of the citizens of the island of Nauru, which is in process of obtaining independence, in the General Assembly of the United Nations.

For the purpose of discussions concerning Nauru in the current session of the General Assembly, I understand that representatives of Nauru will be included in the Australian Delegation. The manner in which the international relations of Nauru will be conducted after independence will naturally be for the Government of Nauru to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has had from the Govern- ments of Ethiopia, Liberia, Niger, Congo (Kinshasa) and the Cameroon Republic for aid to the projected mission of their heads of State to Nigeria; and what reply he has sent.

Neither my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary nor I have had any such request.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many terrorist attacks have been made in Hong Kong in the last six months; how many casualties have resulted; how many of those were killed and injured; and how many were Servicemen and women, and civilians, respectively.

No precise details are available as the attacks have varied greatly in their scale and form. During the period from 11th May to 8th November, 47 people have been killed and 781 have been injured. These totals are made up as follows:

	Killed	Injured
Police and other uniformed civil services	9	192
Military	1	25
Civilians	37	564
	47	781

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will send a junior Minister on an official visit to Aldabra Atoll in the Indian Ocean.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he has decided to make Sea Cadet units pay rent for the use of Defence Department premises; and if he will make a statement.

Although £410,000 is provided for the Sea Cadet Corps this year in Navy Department Votes this Corps is not a pre-service organisation. Provision and maintenance of its premises therefore does not rest with the Ministry of Defence but is the concern of Unit Committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the amount of money payable to his Department as a result of charging rent to Sea Cadet units.

The information is not readily available, but as soon as it has been obtained I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many sea cadets joined the Royal Navy or its training schools from Sea Cadet units in the last 10 years.

Records are available for the past eight years only. During that period 5,821 members of the Sea Cadet Corps entered the Royal Navy as ratings on regular engagements. No record is maintained of officers with previous service in the Sea Cadet Corps.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will rescind the decision to disband the Cameronians.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on his proposals for the future development of Specialist Committees of the House.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made when opening the Procedure Debate on Tuesday, 14th November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present value of the exports currently being held up because of the unofficial strike at the Royal Docks.

No close estimate of the value of exports held up is available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give further details of the proposals for advance factories in South Ayrshire.

We are now proceeding with the acquisition of land in South Ayrshire in the places indicated in the statement of my right hon. Friend on Tuesday, 14th November last [HANSARD, 14th November, c. 84–6]. We shall in due course consider a further programme of advance factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factory buildings are at present under construction in the North West, specifying those in development areas and those outside them, respectively.

I am collecting this information and I will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates have been granted in the current year in the North West, specifying the number granted in development areas and the number granted in areas outside the development areas, respectively, and in each case stating the size of the development.

In the period January—september 1967, 486 industrial development certificates for 9·0 million sq. ft. were issued for the North West (excluding the Furness Peninsula which for statistical purposes is included in the Northern. Development Area). Of these 174 for 4·3 million sq. ft. were for the Merseyside development area and 312 for 4·7 million sq. ft. for the areas outside the Development Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates he has granted to firms, with existing factories in the North West, for factories outside the North West since 1st January 1965.

I regret that the information is not available and could not be obtained without undue expenditure of time and money.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many textile mills have closed in the North-West since 1st January 1967; and how many jobs were represented by such closures.

The Textile Council—who have the latest figures—estimate that 69 mills have closed since the 1st January 1967, representing a loss of 7,630 jobs.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total square footage of factory floor space in Wales in respect of which industrial development certificates have been issued in the first nine months of 1967.

4,379,000 sq. ft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the total factory development in the United Kingdom in respect of which industrial development certificates have been issued in the first nine months of this year is the total factory floor square footage allowed in Wales during that period.

6·3 per cent. of the total factory development in Great Britain for which industrial development certificates were issued. The industrial development certificate control does not extend to Northern Ireland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will allow all company annual returns registered after 27th October, 1967, but which returns are in respect of a year ended before that date, to be at the old registration fee of 5s. rather than the new fee of £3; and if he will make a statement.

No. Companies had three months' notice of the increase in fees.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many people per day have visited the Registrar of Companies to see company files since 27th October, 1967; and what has been the daily average in each of the past five years.

The numbers of people visiting the Registry of Companies each day to search the files of companies are not recorded regularly. The numbers of searches of these files made each day since 27th October, 1967, are as follows:—

27th October	…	…	4,438
30th October	…	…	4,777
31st October	…	…	4,720
1st November	…	…	4,416
2nd November	…	…	4,721
3rd November	…	…	4,521
6th November	…	…	4,752
7th November	…	…	4,621
8th November	…	…	4,500
9th November	…	…	4,488
10th November	…	…	4,422
13th November	…	…	4,591
14th November	…	…	5,140
15th November	…	…	5,060
16th November	…	…	4,815
17th November	…	…	4,602

The average numbers of searches per day for each of the past five years are as follows:—

1963	1964	1965	1966	1967 (so far)
3,238	3,754	3,871	4,022	4,335

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make representations to the United States Government in respect of the United States quota investigation being carried out on mink imports, in view of the fact that the United States enjoys a tariff free export of mink pelts to this country, and that a value ratio of four to one in favour of the United States operates in this commodity.

The Board of Trade is assisting the Fur Breeders' Association in the preparation of evidence on behalf of British mink breeders for submission to the United States Tariff Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to reduce the dependence of the city of Bradford upon the textile industry by encouraging new industries to come to the city.

The growth of other manufacturing industries and of the service trades in the area has already lessened the dependence of Bradford on the textile industry. Moreover, of the 55 industrial development certificates for 1·3 million sq. ft. issued for the Bradford area since the beginning of 1964, 45 for 1·0 million sq. ft. were for industries other than textiles. The development areas must still have priority, but we will continue to take account of the needs of the area in considering applications for industrial development certificates in Bradford.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates have been granted in the city of Bradford in each of the past five years; and whether he envisages any increase in the numbers granted.

The numbers of industrial development certificates granted in the Bradford Employment Exchange Area which covers Bradford C.B., and parts of Queensbury and Shelf U.D.C. and Bingley U.D.C. in each if the past five years were

	Number	Area Thousand square feet
1962	8	127
1963	16	334
1964	16	341
1965	10	365
1966	14	337
1967 (January—september)	15	246

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total square footage of factory floor space in respect of which industrial development certificates have been issued in Mid-Wales in the years 1964, 1965 and 1966.

The total area of factory floor space for which industrial development certificates were issued in the counties of Merionethshire, Montgomeryshire, Cardiganshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire in the years 1964, 1965 and 1966 is given below:

Number of industrial development certificates.		Area Th. sq. ft.
1964	7*	55
1965
1966	12	153
* Annual figures cannot be given for 1964 and 1965 separately because of the risk of disclosing details of individual projects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total square footage of factory floor space in respect of which industrial development certificates have been granted in Mid-Wales in the first nine months of this year.

The total area of factory floor space for which industrial development certificates were issued in the counties of Merionethshire, Montgomeryshire, Cardiganshire, Radnorshire and Breconshire in the first nine months of 1967 is 87,000 sq. ft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total square footage of floor space of advance factories built in Mid-Wales since October, 1964; and what was the total built in Mid-Wales in the 10 years preceding that date.

50,400 sq. ft. and 10,000 sq. ft. respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that nylon producers in this country are selling yarn to Portuguese underwear garment manufacturers at prices 20 to 30 per cent. below those prevailing in this country; and if he will take the necessary steps to end this practice which is harmful to British underwear manufacturers.

United Kingdom producers are not the major suppliers to Portugal and their prices in that market must therefore reflect the prices charged by other suppliers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the imports of knitted underwear garments from Portugal have increased by 290 per cent. in the first six months of this year compared with 1966; and if he will take steps to protect the British underwear manufacturing industry.

Much of the increase in imports classified as knitted underwear relates to knitted shirts. These imports must be viewed in relation to the substantial domestic production and their future level will be affected by devaluation. I am watching the situation carefully but see no case for protective action.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he estimates to be the approximate annual cost of vaccinating all cloven footed farm animals in the United Kingdom against foot-and-mouth disease.

The cost of vaccinating all susceptible animals with trivalent vaccine once a year would be about £10–15 million. In the first year of vaccination at least, it would be necessary to vaccinate twice a year at a cost of £20–30 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the current cost of anti-foot-and-mouth disease vaccine compares with 1954 when the Gowers Committee reported.

It is difficult to compare the current cost of vaccines with the cost at the time of the Gowers Committee Report. Trivalent vaccines are now used, whereas I understand that Gowers Committee estimate was based on univalent vaccines.The current cost is estimated at approximately 3s. a dose.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the value of agricultural investment grants in a full year.

The value of agricultural investment incentives in the United Kingdom is given in the Civil Estimates for 1967–68 as £9·6 million. This figure does not, however, include the cost of investment incentives for horticulture or the higher initial allowances for agriculture and horticulture.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the statement in the Yorkshire and Humberside Planning Council's Review that the problem of the Yorkshire coalfield was expected to remain a shortage rather than a surplus of men was made with his authority.

No. The Council, whose view was expressed in the Review in November last year, is an independent advisory body and does not need my right hon. Friend's authority for stating its views on such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures giving the number of pupils in the various independent schools in England and Wales being assisted financially by the State, and the cost to the State of such assistance in the case of each school.

This information is not available, but I understand that some of the facts asked for by my hon. Friend are being collected by the Public Schools Commission and will no doubt be published in its Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action has followed the decision to set up a Yorkshire Association of the Arts, announced by the Government on 21st December, 1966; and if he will make a statement.

Action to bring this Association into being must depend on local initiative and good will. Although proposals to establish the Association have found wide acceptance in principle, I understand that the difficulties to which I referred in my reply to the hon. Member on 5th June, 1967 have not yet been overcome.—[Vol. 747; c. 143.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what help is being given to smaller orchestras, compared with 1964.

Grants made by the Arts Council to chamber orchestras in 1966–67 totalled £43,000 compared with £30,000 in 1964–65. Grants made so far in 1967–68 total over £63,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what what date he expects the first performance to be given at the new National Theatre.

Any expectation must be highly speculative until building work is started.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will ensure that the implementation of the agreed arrangements for the new National Theatre is not delayed by the consideration of the representation that has been made by the Greater London Council.

This is a joint enterprise of the Government and the G.L.C. A decision to proceed requires the agreement of both of us. The architect's detailed plans are now being studied and, for my part, I am anxious to reach an early decision once these studies are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the estimated annual expenditure of public funds on research into foot-and-mouth disease during each of the past five years.

Research on foot-and-mouth disease is concentrated at the Animal Virus Reseach Institute, Pirbright, where it constitutes approximately three-quarters of the work of that Institute. The grants from the Agricultural Research Council to the Institute for the last five financial years have been as follows:

Year			Total
1962/63	…	…	536,587
1963/64	…	…	248,863
1964/65	…	…	390,462
1965/66	…	…	499,379
1966/67	…	…	522,821

Net expenditure and hence the size of grant needed varies with variations in revenue from the sale of vaccines overseas, which in turn depends on outbreaks of the disease overseas.

asked the Minister of Education and Science if he will state the names of the Scottish members of the Planning Committee for the Open University.

Members from Scotland are Professor Lord Ritchie-Calder and Mr. Roderick MacLean.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further grants are to be made for preschool nursery groups and associations.

No further grants are contemplated in addition to those being made to the Pre-School Playgroups Association and the Save the Children Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to increase the number of residential places available for mentally retarded and handicapped children.

Projects included in Special Schools Major Building Programmes for 1967 to 1970 will increase the number of residential places available in special schools and hostels for handicapped children by 1,023 places. This figure includes 271 places for educationally subnormal children.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when it is expected that the new Cadet Section House in The Mall, Kingsbury, N.W.9, will be completed and in use; and what was the original estimated date for opening.

It is now expected that this Section House will be in use by February, 1968, a year later than originally estimated. I understand from the outside architect handling the project that the delay is due to a number of factors, but mainly to difficulties experienced by the contractor in the recruitment of adequate labour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the original estimate for the cost of building the new Cadet Section House in Kingsbury, N.W.9; and what is now the revised estimate.

The original estimate for this fixed-price contract was £297,000. The revised estimate is £324,000: this covers variations of the original plans and the incidence of Selective Employment Tax.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to provide that time one hour ahead of Greenwich Mean Time shall be described as Advanced Greenwich Mean Time and shorten it to A.G.M.T.

There will be opportunities to discuss nomenclature when the British Standard Time Bill comes before the House.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an assurance that adequate water supplies and sewerage services will be available in whatever areas are chosen for the siting of 15,000 houses to take overspill from Birmingham.

It will be for the water undertakers and sewerage authorities concerned to provide these services when needed. The cost of doing so, and the time required, will be among the factors influencing the choice of sites.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what extent the figure of 353,000 houses started in the first nine months of 1967 includes starts made before 6th April 1967, to avoid liability for Betterment Levy, but on which development has now stopped.

It is estimated on the basis of returns from a sample of local authorities that, at the end of September, work was stopped on about 9,000 dwellings which are included in the figure for starts in 1967 and which had been started early because of the betterment levy. In addition to these dwellings, there were many others on which certain preliminary development work had been undertaken but which had not reached the stage which for statistical purposes is defined as the start.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give figures for the number of people who have taken advantage so far of the option mortgage scheme.

According to information from nine of the largest building societies, during September and October one new borrower in ten has been taking an option mortgage. Existing borrowers from a few building societies had to decide by 30th September whether to switch to option mortgages, and about 5 per cent. of these have done so. Most existing borrowers have until 31st December to make their choice.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many dwellings in the city of Bradford are without an inside water closet, inside bath and piped hot water, respectively; and what is the proportion of the combined total of such houses to the total number of dwellings in the city.

It is estimated, on the basis of the 1966 Census of Population and Housing, that in April, 1966, there were in Bradford about 28,800 dwellings lacking an inside W.C., about 20,600 dwellings without a fixed bath or shower (information on inside baths is not available), and about 13,100 dwellings without piped hot water; approximately 30 per cent. of the total number of dwellings, about 30,200, lacked at least one of these amenities.

asked the Minister of Labour how much finance he has provided for training to incoming firms to Scotland; and if he will set out a table in the Official Report showing which Scottish firms have benefited; what grant has been given; and what has been the potential available grant.

The following tables relate to the grant available to firms mov- ing into or expanding in the Scottish Development Area to assist them in training workers for new jobs:—

OFFERS OF ASSISTANCE TO FIRMS IN SCOTLAND
Number of offers made during period—
1st September, 1964 to 31st December, 1964	12
1st January, 1965 to 31st December, 1965	77
1st January, 1966 to 31st December, 1966	116
1st January, 1967 to 31st October, 1967	186
Total	391

PAYMENTS MADE TO FIRMS IN SCOTLAND
	To nearest £100
Period—
1st September, 1964 to 31st March, 1965	600
1st April, 1965 to 31st March, 1966	32,100
1st April, 1966 to 31st March, 1967	225,100
1st April, 1967 to 31st October, 1967	176,900
	£434,700

Up to 31st October 1967, 358 of the 391 offers of grant had been accepted; these firms expected to provide 28,000 new jobs in Scotland. In accordance with normal practice, information about individual firms is regarded as confidential.The amounts of grant paid depend on the extent to which new jobs are actually provided and the amount of training which has to be given. The doubling of the rates of grant for training starting on or after 16th October 1967 should substantially increase payments to firms under this scheme.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average weekly grant per head to Government training centres in Scotland.

Average payments per head for trainees in Government Training Centres in Great Britain amount to 12 12s. 11d., including dependants' allowances, earnings-related supplement and daily fares, where these are appropriate. Separate figures for Scotland are not available, but they are unlikely to differ materially from those for Great Britain as a whole.

asked the Minister of Labour, what proportion of those undertaking retraining in one of the retraining centres in Scotland, obtain employment in the trade for which they were trained without unreasonable delay.

During the year ending 11th September, 1967, 86 per cent. of all tainees at Government Training Centres in Scotland were placed in employment in the trade for which they were trained, either at the time of leaving the centre or shortly afterwards.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of retraining centres in Scotland and the number of places available; how many applications for entry were received in the past year; whether there is a waiting list for entry; a ad how many persons completed training in the past year.

At the end of October, Scotland had eight Government training centres and 1,053 training places. During the year ended 11th September, 1967, 6,396 people in Scotland applied for training. The current waiting list is 1,152. The number of people who completed training at Scottish centres in the year ended 11th September, 1967, was 1,445.

asked the Minister of Labour how many inquiries have been dealt with by his occupational guidance centre in Scotland in each quarter since it was opened; and whether he will establish further centres.

Since it opened in March, 1966, the Occupational Guidance Unit in Glasgow has dealt with inquiries as follows:—

March—June 1966	…	…	179
July—september 1966	…	…	240
October—December 1966	…	…	339
January—March 1967	…	…	345
April—June 1967	…	…	321
July—september 1967	…	…	261
Total			1,685

A second occupational guidance unit for Scotland was opened on 25th October, 1967, in Edinburgh. Next year I hope that guidance officers from the Glasgow unit will periodically visit Aberdeen and guidance officers from Edinburgh will visit Dundee.These developments in Scotland are part of the general expansion of the occupational guidance service announced to the House on 17th July, 1967.—[Vol. 750, c. 180.]

asked the Minister of Labour how the average weekly earnings of adult male workers in the Eastern Region compare with those in other regions.

The following table sets out the figures of average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and in the administrative regions of England. The former Eastern Region was merged with Southern Region in 1958.

ALL INDUSTRIES AND SERVICES COVERED BY THE MINISTRY'S HALF-YEARLY INQUIRY INTO THE EARNINGS AND HOURS OF MANUAL WORKERS
AVERAGE WEEKLY EARNINGS OF ADULT MALES IN APRIL, 1967
Region		Average weekly earnings
		£	s.	d.
London and South Eastern	…	21	12	3
Midlands	…	21	1	2
Eastern and Southern	…	20	12	5
Northern	…	20	1	5
North Western	…	20	1	0
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	19	12	0
South Western	…	19	2	11
Wales	…	20	8	3
Scotland	…	19	14	4
Northern Ireland	…	17	11	0
United Kingdom	…	20	11	7

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total number of men and women, respectively, in full-time insured employment in Wales at the present time; and what were the comparable figures for the autumns of 1966 and 1965.

The estimated numbers of employees in employment in Wales at March 1967, the latest date for which information is available, were 945,000 (634,000 males and 311,000 females). The corresponding figures for September 1966 were 980,000 (657,000 males and 324,000 females), and for September 1965–990,000 (670,000 males and 320,000 females). The employment estimates are based on counts of National Insurance cards which do not distinguish between full-time and part-time workers.

asked the Minister of Labour how many applications have been received for places in the Government training centres in Scotland during the last year; and how many have been refused.

6,035 applications have been received, of which 2,389 have subsequently been withdrawn and 557 rejected.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the men, which his Department estimated to have become unemployed during the most recent year for which complete figures are available, has undergone retraining in Government-sponsored establishments.

This information is not available. In any period, the numbers taking up courses at Government Training Centres would form only a very small percentage of the total number of men becoming unemployed. A high proportion of these are only out of work for short periods.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what percentage of the men who have undergone retraining in Government-sponsored establishments has qualified in new skills;(2) what percentage of the men who have qualified in new skills in Government-sponsored training establishments has been absorbed into employment in which these skills are required.

Nearly 80 per cent. of those who take courses in Government Training Centres qualify in new skills. In the past two years 95 per cent. of those qualifying have been placed in employment in their training trades, either immediately at the end of their course or shortly afterwards.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate he has made of the percentage of retrained men offering themselves for employment in occupations for which they have received retraining in Government-sponsored establishments who have been prevented from taking up such employment because of official or unofficial opposition from trade unions.

No estimate has been made, because the percentage is known to be very small.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage of the numbers of men likely to become unemployed for technological reasons in the years 1967, 1968 and 1969 is likely to be retrained in Government-sponsored establishments and be re-employed thereafter in the occupations for which they have been retrained.

Training at Government training centres is available to all men who want and are suitable and eligible for such training irrespective of whether they are employed or unemployed. It is not possible to estimate how many men becoming unemployed for technological reasons will apply to be accepted for such training, but I anticipate that it will only be a small proportion of the total, as most retraining must be done in industry itself, not in Government Training Centres.

asked the Minister of Labour what estimate his Department has made of the numbers of men likely to become unemployed for technological reasons in the years 1967, 1968 and 1969, respectively.

It is not possible to make estimates of this kind. My Department has, however, published studies of the metal industries and of the use of computers in offices, which have dealt with some of the employment implications of technological change, and other studies are in train.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the percentage rise in wage rates and earnings likely to arise from the proposed settlement following recent negotiations between the British Footwear Manufacturers Federation and the National Union of Boot and Shoe Operatives; to what extent the settlement relates to movements in the cost of living; and to what extent increases on account of movements in the cost of living index fall within the criteria for income increases during the period of extreme moderation.

The proposed settlement restricts increases to the lowest paid workers. Rises for men will taper from 6·4 per cent. to nothing: those for women from 7·8 per cent. to nothing—estimated in all to add up to ½ per cent. of the wage bill. These increases are not related to movements in the cost of living. Increases of that kind would not fall within the current criteria for incomes policy.

asked the Minister of Labour how many persons were recorded as being in employment in Scotland in each of the years between 1945 and 1966.

Following is the information for the years 1948 to 1966:

Estimated number of employees in employment in Scotland
				(Thousands)
Mid-1948	…	…	…	2,046
Mid-1949	…	…	…	2,039
Mid-1950	…	…	…	2,053
Mid-1951	…	…	…	2,069
Mid-1952	…	…	…	2,053
Mid-1953	…	…	…	2,069
Mid-1954	…	…	…	2,095
Mid-1955	…	…	…	2,116
Mid-1956	…	…	…	2,122
Mid-1957	…	…	…	2,119
Mid-1958	…	…	…	2,078
Mid-1959	…	…	…	2,088
Mid-1960	…	…	…	2,106
Mid-1961	…	…	…	2,116
Mid-1962	…	…	…	2,134
Mid-1963	…	…	…	2,102
Mid-1964	…	…	…	2,132
Mid-1965	…	…	…	2,139
Mid-1966	…	…	…	2,143

Estimates for years from 1956 have been calculated on a slightly revised basis and are not strictly comparable with those for years between 1948 and 1955.Comparable estimates are not available for years prior to 1948.

asked the Minister of Labour how many transport undertakings have been affected by the overtime banning in the past three weeks; what local settlements have been made following industrial action; what percentage increase in rates or earnings is expected to arise from such settlements; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that at least 50 undertakings have been affected by an overtime ban. No settlements have so far been reported to my Department. Any settlement would of course be subject to the Government's incomes policy.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the progress of voluntary negotiations in industry to ensure that workers on short-time are adequately provided for, before their entitlement to unemployment benefit lapses in March 1969.

The purpose of the six days' suspension rule introduced by the National Insurance Act, 1966, was to concentrate higher unemployment benefits on the wholly unemployed. Full implementation of this rule was postponed for three years, until March 1969, to provide a transitional period during which industries could enter into arrangements on a voluntary basis to ensure that workers laid off on short time should enjoy a financial provision to replace that previously provided by social security benefits. I have urged both sides of industry to enter into voluntary negotiations and repeat that it is very desirable that they should do so without delay. I propose to review the position at the end of the year with a view to deciding whether voluntary agreements have adequately covered the ground or whether it will be necessary to introduce legislation for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Labour what number of men are available on his Department's technical register for work as qualified electrical engineers and safety engineers.

On 15th November there were 714 professionally qualified electrical engineers on the Professional and Executive Register. Only 241 were unemployed, the rest were in employment but seeking a change of work. On the same date there were seven qualified engineers seeking posts as safety officers.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of the latest trade figures and the consequent weakness of sterling, he will now use the troops to clear the docks and get the exports flowing.

No. Less than 20 per cent. of London's registered dock workers

29th April	…	British Bridges	4d, 9d., 1s. 6d., 1s. 9d.
1st June	…	British Anniversaries:
		(i) Centenary of Trades Union Congress	4d.
		(ii) 50th Anniversary of Votes for Women	9d.
		(iii) 50th Anniversary of the founding of the Royal Air Force	1s. 0d.
		(iv) 200th Anniversary of Captain Cook's first voyage of Discovery.	1s. 9d.
12th August	…	British Paintings	4d., 1s. 0d., 1s. 6d., 1s. 9d.
25th November	…	Christmas Stamps	3d., 9d., 1s. 6d.

In addition the following definitive series of postage stamps will be issued:

5th February	…	½d., 1d., 2d., 6d.
1st July	…	5d., 7d., 8d., 10d.
9th September	…	(High Values) 2s. 6d., 5s. 0d., 10s. 0d., £1.— [Vol. 751, c. 225.]

asked the Minister of Power how many pits have been closed in the North-West since October, 1964; how many jobs for miners were available at October, 1964; and how many are now available.

13 collieries have closed in the National Coal Board's North-Western Area since October, 1964. 37,437 men were on colliery books at the end of October, 1964 compared with 28,362 at the end of October, 1967.

asked the Minister of Power what has been the total amount of compensation paid to date to the former owners of the coalmines; and if he will give the amount for each coalfield, respectively.

The amount paid in compensation for vested assets, other than mineral rights acquired from the Coal

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now give full details of his 1968 stamp programme.

I have since reviewed my special stamp programme which I announced on 27th July in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-upon Tyne, West (Mr. Bob Brown). The details are now as follows:Commission, was £309,653,176 divided as follows among the various valuation districts prescribed under the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act 1946.

District	Amount £
Northumberland	17,341,539
Durham	41,615,096
Cumberland	1,633,905
Lancashire and Cheshire	14,408,225
North Wales	2,452,918
Yorkshire	66,931,574
North Derbyshire	22,611,168
South Derbyshire	4,087,600
Nottinghamshire	29,287,847
Leicestershire	4,821,802
Shropshire	875,318
Cannock Chase	7,543,559
North Staffordshire	8,517,163
South Staffordshire and East Worcestershire	1,138,490
Warwickshire	10,069,935
Forest of Dean	942,512
Somerset	894,743
Kent	1,961,301
Bristol	31,904
South Wales and Monmouth	36,535,509
Scotland	35,951,068
TOTAL	£309,653,176