asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much he estimates imports of dairy products and eggs will cost during 1967.

It is not possible to quantify imports for the last three months of 1967 but it is estimated that for January-September, 1967 imports of dairy products cost £144,873,000 and imports of eggs cost £1,951,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what immediate plans he has to support the catching section of the fishing industry.

I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland what special rates of subsidy should be paid for the remainder of the year ending 31st July next.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his review of the fishing industry and announce plans for its future.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to make his statement about the review of the fishing industry.

As I said in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson) on 25th October, I hope that the review will be completed by the end of the year.—[Vol. 751, c. 504.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy with reference to the expansion of the inshore fishing fleet.

Since 1961 it has been the policy of successive Governments that Exchequer assistance should not result in an expansion of the inshore fishing fleet. Future policy is being considered in the current Review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimates he has made of the effects of the devaluation measures upon the fishing industry.

It is too early to make precise assessments of increases in costs, but the industry's share of the domestic market should increase and its exports should become more competitive in overseas markets.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what help he is giving the fishing industry to assist their export trade, particularly in the light of the situation following devaluation of the £ sterling.

By giving exporters higher returns in terms of sterling for sales in overseas markets, devaluation will itself assist the export trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what machinery exists within his Department to seek the views of consumers in relation to food policy.

There are regular arrangements for consulting bodies representing consumers on food standards, food additives and related subjects. My Department is always ready to discuss with such bodies as the Consumer Council any matters on which they wish to express a consumer view. There is also statutory machinery for making known the views of consumers on products covered by Agricultural Marketing Schemes and by the Meat and Livestock Commission.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what he attributes the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.

So far, we have been quite unable to discover the source of the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Oswestry. The virus has been typed as O₁.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what reappraisal he has made of the efficacy of inoculation against foot-and-mouth disease in view of the heavy cost of the present epidemic.

Vaccination does not always confer complete immunity, and regular vaccination would be very expensive. I therefore still think that a slaughter policy is the best one for this country; I am in close touch with the Animal Virus Research Institute at Pirbright which has the efficacy of vaccines constantly under review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the total cost of the present outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease compares with the average annual value of exports of British livestock.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the cost so far of slaughtering stock infected by foot-and-mouth disease.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the estimated cost so far of claims in connection with the present outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease; and what amount of money has been spent upon research into a cure for the disease.

So far I have paid just over £2 million in compensation, but the total cost will be much in excess of this. It is too early, in the middle of the epidemic to estimate the total cost.The average value of livestock exports from Great Britain has been estimated to be about £14 million per year over the last three years.Research is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science. About £450,000 was spent on research at Pirbright against foot-and-mouth disease last year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now review the slaughter policy in connection with outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease; and whether he will make a statement.

Every effort is being made to contain and eradicate the disease by the most vigorous application of measures which have been applied successfully in the past. I am keeping the situation under continuous review, but I am not convinced by anything that has happened in this epidemic so far that we should change our policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the financial hardship caused to farmers by his Department's Infected Area Order in Shropshire; and what financial and other help he is prepared to give where loss and damage occurs but slaughtering has not been ordered.

I appreciate the financial hardship caused to farmers not only in Shropshire but throughout Great Britain. I regret that it is not possible to compensate for such consequential losses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has from the Food and Agriculture Organisation about the system under which foot-and-mouth disease is controlled in other countries, including the United States of America; and what evidence is in his possession that large scale outbreaks of the disease have been prevented by the rigid control of imported meat.

In general, those countries where the disease is not endemic, and which are not contiguous with other countries where the disease exists, rely entirely on the slaughter policy if outbreaks should occur. The United States of America is one such country. These countries either prohibit the importation of meat or permit it only from countries that are free from foot-and-mouth disease. I have no evidence that the absence of large-scale outbreaks is attributable to the rigid control of meat imports but it must obviously be a material factor.Other countries control the disease either by vaccination and movement controls, or by a combination of vaccination and slaughter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will revert to the previous practice by which meat from abroad was imported into this country off the bone.

Meat from abroad was imported into this country off the bone during the war in order to economise in shipping space, and not as a disease control measure. Even if the hon. Member's suggestion were adopted, there would still be a risk from the foot-and-mouth disease virus, which can survive several months in parts of chilled and frozen carcases other than bone marrow.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the procedures for the inspection of chilled or frozen meat coming into this country from abroad; and if he will make a statement.

Chilled and frozen meat imported into this country comes only from approved overseas establishments where both post-mortem and ante-mortem veterinary inspections are carried out. The exporting countries are either those known to be free from the more virulent animal diseases or those where safeguards are practicable and have been agreed to by the authorities there. Meat from countries in this second category has to be accompanied by veterinary certification.Her Majesty's Government are considering whether these safeguards are adequate.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the present epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease and the recommendation of the veterinary officers to farmers that no farmers' meetings be held even in unaffected parts of England till the epidemic is controlled, he will now recommend the cancellation of the Smithfield Show.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave yesterday to the hon. and learned Member for Montgomery (Mr. Hooson).—[Vol. 755. c. 70.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the average delay between veterinary diagnosis of foot-and-mouth disease in cattle, his department's confirmation, and the final slaughter of the affected beasts during the present outbreak.

In most cases confirmation is given immediately on the telephone and affected animals are slaughtered as quickly as possible thereafter, usually in a matter of hours.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what stocks of foot-and-mouth disease vaccine are held in this country; and if he will estimate how long it would take to acquire vaccine sufficient to vaccinate all cloven-footed animals in the country.

There are about 1 million doses of all types in this country. The answer to the second part would depend upon any vaccination policy that was decided upon. But, as I said in reply yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Farnworth (Mr. Thornton), I have taken steps for a sufficient supply of vaccine to be acquired and stored in this country to enable a vaccination programme to be adopted as a second line of defence should this become inevitable.—[Vol. 755, c. 70–1.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how soon after vaccination an animal acquires an immunity to foot-and-mouth disease.

The immunity given by modern vaccines increases up to 14 days after vaccination when a satisfactory level of protection is established. But this is subject to several qualifications. Young calves are not protected; in other cattle immunity may vary between individual animals and in differing conditions such as weight of virus challenge; vaccinated animals which have contact with the virus may become symptomless carriers; in pigs vaccination is less effective; and vaccine prepared from one type of virus will not protect against another.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has established that there is any link between all the most recent epidemics of foot-and-mouth disease; and whether they were all of the same type.

The virus in the outbreak in Northumberland in 1966, and in Hampshire and Warwickshire this year were of the same type as in the current epidemic. The time that has elapsed between these outbreaks is such that any link is impossible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the result of his inquiries into the main causes and agencies by which the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease was spread.

An epidemiological study of the current epidemic has been in progress for some weeks and I await the findings.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration he has given to the proposal that, upon an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, immediate vaccination of all beasts within an area of 20 miles shall take place to create an epidemic break.

This has been examined in the past, but a simple slaughter policy has been found in general more effective. Nothing that has happened in the present epidemic so far has caused me to change my view that a slaughter policy is most effective.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what comparison he has made, from international sources, of the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain in recent years with those of other European and Western countries, including Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

The number of outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease in Great Britain as compared with those in other countries during recent years is as shown below:—

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps by legislation or otherwise to provide for the grading of fruit and vegetables before retailing.

Not at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the proportion borne by processed swill to all other forms of feedingstuffs used in the production of pigmeat; and whether, in view of the risk of foot and mouth disease, he is satisfied that no unprocessed swill is being fed.

It is estimated that on a starch equivalent basis the quantities of swill used amount to about 2 per cent. of total requirements.Swill has to be boiled before being fed to farm livestock. Enforcement is the responsibility of local authorities, and I have recently reminded them of the importance of strict enforcement. If the hon. Member has any evidence of contraventions I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the additional cost to farmers of the recent increases in the price of electricity.

About £21 million in a full year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the annual cost to Great Britain of accepting the two-pre-negotiation conditions for entry into the Common Market officially proposed by France, namely, that Great Britain must accept the Market system of levies on cheap food imports from outside and that France must be guaranteed 90 per cent. of the levies received.

I am not aware that France has attempted to set these as pre-conditions for a negotiation. However, I have previously estimated the cost to the balance of payments of accepting the E.E.C.'s agricultural arrangements as they stand at £175 million-£250 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will circularise all statutory bodies whose officials have rights of entry to farm land or buildings, and advise them of the national importance of not exercising such rights except by agreement with the farmer during outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease and any similarly contagious diseases.

My officials have already been in touch with the statutory bodies mainly concerned. They have agreed to defer all but essential and urgent work in infected areas, and to take all reasonable precautions in controlled areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names and descriptions of the experts who advised him about the safety of cyclamates; and whether he will place their reports in the Library.

Yes. My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health are advised by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee and the Pharmacology Sub-Committee, and the names and descriptions of the members are given below. Copies of the reports on cyclamates have been placed in the Library.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the statement issued by the British Diabetic Association that diabetics should not consume more than three grams of cyclamate sweeteners a day, a copy of which has been sent to him, he will take steps to ensure that the amount of cyclamate sweetener used in any solid or liquid foodstuff is clearly indicated on the label.

No. The Food Additives and Contaminants Committee took full account of the position of diabetics. My right hon. Friend is satisfied that there are no grounds for treating cyclamates differently from other permitted food additives in regulations about labelling.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the procedure followed by his Department in assessing the safety of cyclamates and other food additives, both in isolation and in relation to each other.

Yes, I have so arranged. The details are as follows:—1. It is the practice of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and my right hon. Friend, when wishing to have an appraisal of the possible toxicity of any additive used or proposed for use in food, to seek the advice of the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee.2. That body in conjunction with the Pharmacology Sub-Committee then examines all the data which are available both in this country and internationally on the use of the substance, taking into account both the need for such a substance to be used in food, the extent to which research into its possible toxicity has been carried out and an evaluation of such research and its findings. In due course the reports by the two bodies together with their recommendations are made to the Minister of Health and my right hon. Friend and to their colleagues responsible for such matters in Scotland and Northern Ireland. The reports and recommendations take into account the total use of the additive and its possible interaction with other additives and constituents of the human diet. A detailed description of the procedure is contained in the "Memorandum on Procedure for Submissions on Food Additives and on Methods of Toxicity Testing" published by H.M.S.O. in 1965.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many dogs were in quarantine during 1966–67; and how many of these dogs developed rabies whilst under observation.

During 1966, 3,365 dogs passed through quarantine. In the first ten months of 1967 about 3,200 dogs have been placed in quarantine. None developed rabies whilst in quarantine.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now take steps to reduce the period of quarantine for cats and dogs from six months to three months.

No. The present arrangements have kept the country free from rabies for 40 years and should be maintained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he will extend beyond 28 days the time within which a farmer must register a claim for repayment of Selective Employment Tax following the employment of a farmworker;

There is no specified period during which a farmer must register. Our divisional offices have discretion to back-date a registration for 28 days. Two hundred and twenty applications for back-dating for longer than 28 days, involving some £10,000, have been refused.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what research laboratories' resources are now available to the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 15th February.—[Vol. 741, c. 596.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what will be the additional costs to Ulster agriculture due to the Government's economic measures announced on 18th November;(2) if he will estimate the extra bank charges which will be incurred by the agriculture industry in Northern Ireland in a full year as a result of the eight per cent. Bank Rate.

The increase in Bank Rate might raise the cost of bank credit to agriculture in Northern Ireland in a full year by about £270,000, of which about £130,000 would be on credit for current farming purposes. It is too soon to assess how the other economic measures announced on 18th November will affect agricultural costs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the problem of the damage done by deer in West Surrey; and what steps he is taking to control the deer population in the area.

Damage resulting from wild deer straying on to enclosed land is increasing, largely because of the growth in afforestation, but is still generally slight and is not thought to be any heavier in West Surrey than in other parts of south east England. A deer control society fully equipped to undertake control is active in the area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Meat and Livestock Commission had their first meeting; and what recommendations have been made to him.

The Commission announced on 10th October that their first meeting had been held that day. They have not yet made any submissions to Ministers, but the Commission are independently responsible for most of their functions and it is only in specified cases that the Act provides for such submissions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what revision he estimates should be made, in view of the devaluation of sterling, in the figure of £175 million to £250 million a year given by him in column 1413 of the Official Report for 9th May, 1967 as the cost to the United Kingdom balance of payments of higher food import prices and levy payments to the European Economic Community, in the event of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community.

It will not be possible to make any reliable revised estimate of this cost until the implications of devaluation for the levels of world commodity prices and for agricultural production and the pattern of food consumption in the U.K. become more clear.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussion he is having regarding the introduction of a statutory minimum price scheme for white fish; and what Government financial support is being considered.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 21st June or the accompanying statement in the Official Report.—[Vol. 748, c. 1693–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how soon he will be able to publish details of the proposed plan for the expansion of Great Britain's agriculture necessitated by devaluation.

As I said today in reply to the hon. Members for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills), Dumfries (Mr. Monro), and Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton) the Government are considering the implications for agriculture of the new situation following devaluation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what effect the devaluation measures will have upon the import of fish into the United Kingdom.

Devaluation will tend to discourage imports of fish because it will result in lower returns to the exporters in terms of their own currencies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what he estimates will be the effect of the devaluation of the £ sterling upon the fishmeal industry.

It is too soon to say, but in so far as devaluation increases the price of imported fishmeal, which accounts for about 80 per cent. of our total supplies, the home industry should benefit.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take regarding the recent rapid rise in the wholesale price of New Zealand lamb; whether he is satisfied that stocks are sufficient to avoid a shortage; what are the total stocks of meat now in store; how many days supply this represents; whether price controls have recently been considered; and whether h will make a statement.

The price of some commodities, of which lamb is one, rises and falls with changes in supply and demand; apart from any other considerations a fixed price would not normally be to the advantage of buyers. Usually any shortage of New Zealand lamb before new season's shipments arrive in mid-December is scarcely noticed because home-killed lamb is then plentiful. This year, however, the dock strike delayed and added to the transport costs of imports, and disease precautions have now made the procurement and transport to abattoirs of our own stock more difficult and expensive.Stocks of lamb in public cold stores on 24th November were about 8,000 tons and I am satisfied that with imports still to be unloaded and home-killed lamb supplies running at over 5,000 tons a week demand will be met.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that supplies of Irish meat to this country are to be stopped, due to lack of containers arising from the foot-and-mouth epidemic; and what action he proposes to take to remedy this.

I understand that there is no such hold-up in supplies of meat from the Irish Republic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the Scottish electricity boards will be able to supply power at a competitive price to enable the proposed aluminium smelter to be sited in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 21st November.—[Vol. 754, c. 317.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will take to deal with the increase in crimes of violence in Scotland.

I believe that the powers and discretions of the judiciary and the police are generally adequate, although I always willing to consider suggestions on this subject. It is not possible within the scope of a Parliamentary answer to deal adequately with my responsibilities for such matters as police strength, prison training and social services. A major Bill to be introduced this Session will enable local authorities to deal more effectively with the social factors contributing to crime and delinquency in the community; and I hope to encourage further experimentation in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many changes there have been in the Management Committee of the Scottish Special Housing Association during the last five years; and what criteria are applied when making such appointments.

Five of the seven persons who were members in 1962 have since given place to others. In choosing new members the criterion is their potential contribution to the work of the Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps his Department has taken to advise the Scottish Special Housing Association that domestic solid fuel appliances should have fair consideration in their housing programmes, particularly in mining areas.

None. The Association takes account of all relevant considerations in determining the most appropriate form of heating for any housing development.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct the Scottish Development Department to undertake a comprehensive study of the reasons for the current acceleration of unemployment in Scotland above the national trend.

Since July, 1966 unemployment in Scotland has risen at a much less rapid rate than the national total and over the past three months the seasonally corrected trend has been downward.

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

The following are the capital grants offered in respect of sport and physical recreation projects in North-East Scotland (Aberdeen City and the Counties of Aberdeen, Banff, Kincardine, Moray and Nairn):1962–63£1,900 for 2 sports pavilion projects.1963–64£500 for 1 playing field project.1964–65£925 for 1 golf project.1965–66£8,538 for 3 golf projects.£510 for 1 angling project.1966–67£3,125 for 2 bowling projects.£1,000 for 1 cricket project.—150 for 1 playing field project.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made, and is being made, through central and local government action, in extending and improving the facilities for sport and recreation in Scotland.

Between 1964–65 and 1966–67 Government grants to national and local voluntary bodies and district councils for sport increased from £137,000 to £291,000 and for recreation from £213,000 to £291,000. In the same period capital expenditure by education authorities and local authorities on sport and recreation increased from £3·1m. to £3·5m.The Sports Council for Scotland was set up in 1966 to promote a properly balanced improvement and extension of facilities for sport and physical recreation to meet local and Scottish needs. In co-operation with the Sports Council it will advise the Government on how further progress can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he will take to assist the development of the tourist industry in Scotland, in view of the extra costs to the industry arising from the measures connected with devaluation.

Devaluation will increase the relative attractiveness of holidays in Scotland both to our own people and to visitors from abroad. The Government are making a grant of £300,000 towards the cost of the British Travel Association's special "Holiday-in-Britain" campaign this winter; the Highlands and Islands Development Board is also mounting a campaign; and the Scottish Tourist Board is fully associated with both.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to assist the tourist industry, in view of the additional costs of touring abroad.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. G. Campbell).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now review the procedure for holding licensing veto polls in Scotland, in view of their potential damage to the tourist industry; and whether he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the additional cost to agriculture in Scotland of the higher prices to be paid for imported fertilisers resulting from devaluation of the £ sterling.

It is not yet possible to estimate with any degree of precision how devaluation might affect the prices paid by farmers for fertilisers or the additional cost to agriculture in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the additional costs to Scottish agriculture of the Government's economic measures announced on 18th November.

I cannot yet estimate how far overall costs to Scottish agriculture will be affected by the measures announced on 18th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he will take to offset the higher costs to the fishing industry in Scotland caused by the measures connected with devaluation.

While the industry may face some further rise in fuel costs, devaluation should increase the home fishing industry's share of the domestic market and should help the industry to export its products.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken since 25th October to provide a subsidy to the Scottish trawler fleet to offset the cost of the surcharge on oil prices as requested by the Scottish Trawlers Federation on 1st July, 1967; and when the subsidy will be paid.

A claim recently submitted by the Scottish Trawlers Federation for supplementary subsidies for Scottish trawlers is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage increase in the cost of Scottish houses he estimates will take place, on account of the price rise of imported timber used in their construction, as a result of devaluation of the £ sterling.

About 1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of house completions for 1967; and how this figure compares with those of 1957 and 1963.

There are over 55,000 houses under construction, and I cannot say precisely how many will be completed by the end of December: but up to the end of October this year 31,311 houses have been completed by all agencies, compared with 25,851 and 21,366 in the same periods of 1957 and 1963, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will in future notify his decisions on planning appeals to the Member of Parliament in whose constituency the locus of each appeal lies.

Not in all cases, but I will continue to notify hon. Members of decisions on appeals in cases about which they have approached me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farms in Scotland over 1,000 acres have been sold in 1967 and at what price.

I regret that information for 1967 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the effect on the estimates of local authority expenditure for 1968–69 of the Government's latest financial measures.

No. Much relevant information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the £5 million scheme by his Department for extensions to secondary schools in Scotland was given to an English firm without giving Scottish local contractors, particularly contractors in development areas, an opportunity of tendering for the work and without giving Scottish professional men, technicians and workmen an opportunity of carrying out the work.

I am writing to my hon. and learned Friend about the allocation of the services contract for this programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of all the buildings in Edinburgh that are officially listed as being of historic or architectural merit and which to his knowledge either have been or still are the subject of planning applications for major structural alteration or demolition for site redevelopment.

The information requested is as follows:

• 21–22 St. Andrew Square and 1–5 North St. David Street.
• 32–35 St. Andrew Square.
• 2 and 3 Queen Street and 2–12 North St. David Street.
• 82–84 George Street.
• 114–116 George Street.
• 107 George Street and 37 North Castle Street.
• 139–143 George Street.
• 64 Princes Street.
• New Club, Princes Street.
• Life Association Building. 81–83 Princes Street.
• 15–16 Abercromby Place.
• Warriston House.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the Association of Teachers of Russian, Scottish Branch, regarding the teaching of Russian in comprehensive schools; what reply he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the letter of 20th November from the Scottish Branch of the Association of Teachers of Russian asking for further facilities by his Department for the teaching of the Russian language; and what steps he plans to take in that direction on the recommendations of the Annan Committee Report 1962.

I have received representations from the Scottish Branch of the Association of the Teachers of Russian about the teaching of languages in comprehensive schools. The Association fears that French will be the only language taught in the early years of comprehensive schools. I have told the Association that it is not my view that the only foreign language to be taught in the first two years of the school course should be French. My Department will continue to do what it can to encourage the teaching of Russian.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps he intends to take to get more technical teachers into the colleges; what he intends lo do about training teachers of technical subjects; and if he will make a statement;(2) if, in view of the difficulties in getting technical teachers, he will implement the recommendation of the Scottish Council Working Party report on the future training of technical teachers; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering the recruitment and training of technical teachers in the light of the Working Party report and of the diverse comments I have had on it from the various interested bodies. The problem is a complex one, and I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what provision is being made for the teaching of Russian in the first and second years in comprehensive secondary schools.

It is for education authorities (and other managers of schools) to decide what subjects shall be taught in their schools and at what stage they shall be introduced. My Department will continue to do what it can to encourage the teaching of Russian.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the provision of new sewage plants is being delayed by the inability of small local authorities to meet the capital expenditure involved; and whether he will seek powers in future legislation to enable voluntary combination of separate drainage authorities.

Powers of combination for this purpose are available tinder the Public Health (Scotland) Act, 1897 and the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947. If my hon. Friend has any particular difficulty in mind, perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he has completed his review of the costs of British defence staffs, including attaches and assistant attachés, other staff and scientific staff in British embassies and High Commission offices throughout the world; and what saving he estimates will be made in this item of expenditure by 1969–70.

These costs are always under review. My right hon. Friend hopes to save some £100,000 by 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is to be the future of H.M.S. "Victorious".

As I have already announced, H.M.S. "Victorious" will be paid off as soon as possible and disposed of for scrap.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what notice is required to be given before troops can be available for work in the docks.

It depends on circumstances, but not more than a few days notice would usually be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the decision to cancel, or postpone, the construction of a military staging post on Aldabra island was taken after consultation with the United States, and in agreement with them; and if the decision has been taken on military, economic or scientific grounds.

The Answer to the first part of the question is "Yes"; the Answer to the second is that the decision was taken on a combination of grounds, in which the economic factor was predominant.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is now the outstanding cost, showing interest separately, of United States arms and military equipment on order, showing in tabular form the years in which repayments are due to be made with comparative figures immediately before devaluation.

The outstanding cost to my Department of United States military equipment on order at the time of devaluation totalled £615 million. Of this sum about £32 million is due to be paid in the current financial year. Figures for interest are respectively £103 million and £3 million. These figures at pre-devaluation rates are respectively £527 million, £28 million, £88 million and £2·6 million. I am not prepared at this stage to give figures for 1968–69, or for subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates to be the total cost of each of the three Polaris submarines, other than the "Resolution".

£52 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reconsideration he has given to the decision to purchase F111 and other military aircraft from the United States of America in the light of the increased dollar cost of this aircraft, and of the rapid withdrawal of this country from commitments East of Suez, the strategic area for which the aircraft was intended.

The broad lines of our defence policy remain as set out in the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy, 1967 (Cmnd. 3357) and, apart from the Chinook helicopter, which has been cancelled, no change is being made in our purchases of United States aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the large scale redundancies of Royal Air Force pilots expected in the course of the next few years.

Some 300 pilots, just over two thirds of whom are officers and almost all of whom are volunteers are expected to become redundant in the period from publication of the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy, 1967 up to the end of 1968. This is rather more than half the total number expected to become redundant in the whole period from July, 1967 to April, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made in the investigation of the deaths of two officer cadets from Mons on an exercise on Dartmoor; and whether he will now make a statement on what precautions he will take to ensure that such an incident does not occur again.

I expect to receive soon the report of the Army board of inquiry. After considering it, I will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what rate resources will arise from the site at Caerwent taken over by the United States Air Force.

The amount is not yet known, but I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the difficulty of finding suitable job opportunities for young people locally, he will make provisions for a limited number of school-leavers to be given apprenticeships to serve the skills required on the site at Caerwent taken over by the United States Air Force.

This is a matter for the U.S. authorities, but I will make sure that the point is drawn to their attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the changes of Government policy in respect of offering land no longer required for defence purposes back to the original owners.

In accordance with the policy announced by the then Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries in the House of Commons on 20th July, 1954, each case is considered on its merits. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the price paid to Gesamtherstellung Möseler Wolfenbüttel in Germany for printing the illustrated pamphlet concerning 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards which has been distributed for recruiting purposes in Wales.

The cost was £30; the pamphlet is a reprint of one printed at regimental expense by the same firm several years ago when the unit was stationed in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why United States personnel are trained at the British Jungle Warfare School in Johore, Malaya; and whether such training is for the Vietnam war.

There is a long-established and mutually beneficial practice of co-operation between the British and United States services in the defence field, including attendance at each other's training courses. Jungle warfare training is provided for a small number of United States personnel who subsequently serve in Vietnam.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of the short courses arranged at universities and any other assistance given to Royal Air Force candidates for the qualifying examination for the Staff College in the period of 12 months prior to the establishment of the Individual Studies School, Bracknell, Berkshire and what was the cost to public funds of the Individual Studies School at Bracknell for the last convenient period of 12 months.

For the period 1st January, 1965 to 31st December, 1965, the cost o public funds of the university courses arranged for Royal Air Force candidates for certain parts of the qualifying examination for the Staff College was approximately £51,700, of which some £42,000 represented the cost of the pay, allowances and travelling expenses of the officers detached to these courses. For the 12 months ending 31st October, 1967, the cost of the Individual Studies School was £45,000. In addition to preparing officers for entry to the Staff College, this school also prepares officers for staff appointments and will ultimately provide the basis of selection for the Staff College.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what estimate she has made of the size of vessel now to be used for the supply of bulk grain to European ports;(2) what plans she has to develop grain terminals in the United Kingdom to receive vessels in excess of 200,000 dead weight tons.

My right hon. Friend has no powers to initiate port development; this is the responsibility of port authorities in consultation with users. The new grain terminals which my right hon. Friend has authorised at Tilbury and Liverpool (Seaforth) are designed to handle vessels up to 65,000 dwt. but as stated in the reply given to the hon. Member on 27th April my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food will be glad to consider any further views about the future pattern of the trade which the major grain importers wish to put forward.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the effects of the Road Safety Act on private motorists, she will introduce emergency legislation to prevent public transport undertakings making complete withdrawal, which would be against the public interest, of public service vehicles on Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

No. Holiday services are a matter for the management of each public transport undertaking to decide in the light of their local knowledge. But operators have been reminded that the demand for such services may be higher this year than previously.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) on what date she wrote to British Railways indicating that the St. Boswells-Kelso bus service should be discontinued; and why she did not inform the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles, whose constituents will be adversely affected, of her decision;(2) whether in future she will notify any Member of Parliament concerned when she takes a local transport policy decision directly affecting the interests of his constituents.

My right hon. Friend gave her consent to the withdrawal of the Monday to Friday rail replacement bus service on 26th October because it was hardly used. The normal Saturday service is unaffected. We have since received suggestions that a service might be needed on one other weekday, and have told the hon. Member that we will see if this can be given a trial.It would not, I am afraid, be practicable to notify hon. Members of every transport decision affecting their locality, though we try to do so whenever a particular interest has been expressed. The Transport Users Consultative Committee have, I understand, followed their normal practice of notifying the principal objectors to the original rail closure proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will introduce legislation, in the interest of road safety, to make it compulsory for all vehicles to be fitted with windscreen washing systems.

Draft regulations have been considered by interested organisations and the regulations will shortly be made.

asked the Minister of Transport when, in view of the size of the tourist population in Swanage and Corfe and the already inadequate transport conditions in that area, she proposes to announce her plans for improved transport by rail or by road for the travelling public.

Rail services to Dorset have recently benefited from the electrification of the line as far as Bournemouth. Dorset County Council is responsible for road improvements in the area, and my right hon. Friend has recently agreed to the inclusion in the announced principal road preparation list of a £1 million by-pass for Wareham.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will state the number of members of the British Railways Board from Scotland on 1st November, 1963 and 1967, with the reason for any increase or decrease.

Six in 1963 and three in 1967. The membership of the Board is decided on various grounds, and no specific reason can be given for any particular variation.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will state the number of members of the British Railways Board and each regional railways board with trade union experience as at 1st November, 1963 and 1967, with the reason for any increase or decrease.

For the British Railways Board, the figures are two in 1963 and three in 1967.Each Regional Board had one such member on both dates, except for the then North Eastern Region in 1963 and the Eastern Region in 1967.The membership of the Boards is decided on various grounds, and no specific reason can be given for any particular variation.

asked the Minister of Transport if on the retirement of Mr. Frank Donachy from the British Railways Board on 3rd December it is her intention that he should be succeeded by another Scottish trade unionist.

Mr. Donachy's term of office expires on 31st December. In making new appointments my right hon. Friend will of course comply with Section 1(3) of the Transport Act, 1962, but my hon. Friend will understand that there is no statutory requirement to appoint to the Board any particular number of either Scots or Trade Unionists.

asked the Minister of Transport. following the recommendations of the Joint Steering Group for the composition of the new British Railways Board, which have been accepted by Her Majesty's Government as stated in the White Paper on Railway Policy, what proposals she has regarding the specific provision in the 1947 and 1962 Transport Acts for the appointment of members with trade union experience and a knowledge of Scottish interests; and to what extent this provision will be affected by the proposal to abolish regional railways boards.

None. The proposal to abolish Regional Railway Boards will not affect the provisions relating to the main Board.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the inquiries made of Mr. N. J. Macmillan, during the visit of the Parliamentary Secretary to Canada, as to whether he would consider accepting the position of Chairman of British Rail.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave him on 23rd November when I described the purpose of my hon. Friend's visit.—[Vol. 754, c. 432.]

asked the Minister of Transport from how many persons and bodies living in the Isle of Purbeck she has received representations consequent upon the issuing of advance notice of the proposed closure of the Wareham—Swanage branch line.

We have received letters from seven bodies in the area. The hon. Member knows of the resolution passed at a public meeting in Swanage of which he sent us a copy. We have noted the contents.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the position of railway superannuitants in view of the proposals contained in the White Paper on Railway Policy.

It will be for the British Railways Board to decide, in the light of the proposals in the White Paper, whether to make any change in their present policy for supplementing railway superannuation benefits.

asked the Minister of Transport if the persons proposed to her by the British Railways Board to replace Sir Thomas Yates and Mr. James Haworth as members of the regional railways boards on their retirement on 3rd December, 1967 have experience of organisation of workers.

The present terms of these members expire on 31st December, 1967, and there have been no proposals from the Railways Board about new appointments.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will make a statement on the future of the Thames lighter-age industry arising from the projected Regional Ports Authority.

In a working document on ports reorganisation which my right hon. Friend circulated for comments in July, she proposed that, whilst lighter-age and towage undertakings, other than those owned by port authorities, should not be included in the initial scheme of nationalisation, the regional port authorities should have a duty to review lighter-age and towage arrangements and requirements and be empowered to propose the takeover of lighterage and towage assets so far as required for the efficiency of their ports. My right hon. Friend is now considering the comments she has received on these proposals.

asked the Minister of Transport how many sheep are killed each year on unfenced roads in England and Wales.

This information is not available.