asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now take steps to authorise the replacement of St. Michael's Infants School, Lyme Regis, which is inadequate for the number of children attending and is situated at a spot where the children are exposed to danger from traffic accidents.

No. The Dorset Local Education Authority do not regard this school as the most urgent of several needing replacement, and it has not therefore been included in their school building proposals submitted for our approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he will now take to amend his regulations concerning religious education and assemblies for religious observance in schools wholly maintained by public funds.

We have no proposals for any change in the existing statutory requirements concerning religious instruction and collective worship in county and voluntary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek powers to make the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge susceptible to modern social needs in their selection of students.

No. These and other universities are constantly studying how to improve the efficiency and impartiality of their admission procedures.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage increase in capital expendi- ture on secondary education has been approved for this year compared with 1963–64.

A strict comparison cannot be made. A substantial part of the 1963–64 major programme was applied to the reorganisation of all-age schools. This straddled primary and secondary provision and separate information is not available. For primary and secondary schools taken together, the 1967–68 programme is 50 per cent. higher than 1963–64.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made by the London and South-East Sports Council in its preliminary survey of existing facilities; and what assessment has been made about the need for swimming baths in the Harrow area.

I understand that the report of the Greater London and South-East Sports Council on its preliminary survey will be published in January. I cannot, of course, anticipate the publication of the report, but I understand that the survey includes swimming pool provision throughout the Region.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it will be open to the new committees set up to consider the best structure for the British national libraries to recommend that the National Library should be on the original Bloomsbury site.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the terms of reference to Dr. Dainton's Committee will enable it to consider the desirability of locating the proposed National Library in whole or in part on the Bloomsbury site.

The Committee will be free to make recommendations about the size and function of that part of the National Library which they consider should be in central London; it will be for the Government to decide how and where the needs may best be met. The Committee will know, as I have already announced in the House, that the Bloomsbury site is not available.—[Vol. 751, c. 1904.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what facilities are available, in institutions for which he has responsibility, for the training of arts administrators.

A one year full-time course, organised in conjunction with the Arts Council, started in September at the Polytechnic, Regent Street. Seventeen students are taking this course which leads to examinations for the award of the Polytechnic Certificate in the Administration of the Arts.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will send a circular to local education authorities asking them to ensure that complete lists of local suppliers of school uniforms are made available to all parents of new pupils.

No. Matters relating to the provision of school uniforms, including the choice of local suppliers, are best dealt with locally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why Timothy John Robinson of Maidstone, who has four A level passes in the General Certificate of Education, two of them at grade A, and is studying at Southampton University has no financial assistance from the State, as he is virtually without means, his mother only earns a small salary and he has no father.

Mr. Robinson has started on two previous courses of higher education and any award from his local education authority for this third course would therefore be discretionary. I understand that the authority have decided, in the light of all the information available to them, not to offer an award for this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he is doing to encourage the formation of further Regional Arts Associations.

There are now seven regional arts associations and further developments are being discussed. I give every encouragement and my officers are always ready to advise and help—but the initiative must first come from the region concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the Conference of European Ministers of Education held in Vienna in November.

Yes. The Conference, on the subject of access to higher education, was convened by U.N.E.S.C.O. and attended by ministerial and other representatives of 28 European Member States and many observers from other countries and from international organisations. My hon. Friend the Minister of State (Mrs. Shirley Williams) had the honour to lead the U.K. delegation.Discussion centred on the means of making higher education more widely available to young people from all sections of the community, and on meeting the needs of society without interfering with the freedom of choice of studies. There was a most valuable and friendly exchange of information and of ideas on these topics, and the Conference invited U.N.E.S.C.O. to arrange for further studies to be undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many grammar school teachers are involved in the Teachers Exchange Scheme in the English-speaking world, giving the number of male and female teachers separately; whether he is satisfied with the working of the experiment; and if he will make a statement.

18 men and 15 women. Exchange with the Commonwealth began in 1919 and with the United States in 1924. I am satisfied that these schemes are of great value, and I know that this view is shared in the other countries concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much information obtained from the United Kingdom Science Research Council's Skylark upper atmosphere research rocket project at Woomera, has been made available to British universities and to British industry.

A lot of information is gained by universities in preparing and conducting the research experiments carried in Skylark rockets, and by industry in developing and constructing the rockets, their instrumentation and scientific equipment.Techniques and results are described in joint Royal Society/Science Research Council annual reports, in scientific and technical journals, and at conferences.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the cost and progress of the United Kingdom Science Research Council's Skylark upper atmosphere research rocket project at Woomera, Australia.

On cost, I refer my hon. Friend to the Answer to his Question on 30th November.On progress, valuable scientific data has been obtained and much more accurate attitude control developed. 41 rockets have been launched, carrying 154 experiments devised by 12 United Kingdom research groups.—[Vol. 755, c. 630–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has not increased the capitation grant payable to direct grant schools, in view of the recent rise in teachers' salaries.

As I stated in reply to a Question on 23rd October, I have asked the Public Schools Commission to advise me on methods by which direct grant schools can participate in the movements towards comprehensive reorganisation, and to review the principle of central Government grant to these schools. It seemed right not to change the basis of grant in advance of the Commission's report.—[Vol. 751, c. 387–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many places in universities are allocated to students studying arts subjects, as against scientific, technological and engineering subjects in the current year; what percentage each category represents of the total number of students; and what estimates he has made of total numbers and percentages for each of the next three years.

The selection of students is a matter for individual universities. Of the total university population of just over 184,000 full-time students in Great Britain in 1966–67 the most recent year for which full figures are available, about 81,300 (44 per cent.) were in arts, social studies and education, while the remainder about 103,000 (56 per cent.) were in Science-based departments.The Government have recently made financial provision for an estimated total of between 220,000 and 225,000 university students in 1971–72. In making their financial allocations for the quinquennium, the University Grants Committee have, in view of the present "A" level trends, assumed that the student load in science-based departments will rise by about 16 per cent. compared with 27 per cent. in arts based subjects. The actual student distribution in 1971–72 will depend on a number of factors, but the rough percentage split may be about 54 per cent. in science-based subjects and 46 per cent. in arts-based subjects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the detailed information relating to uncompleted courses by university students contained in Table 26 of the Statistics of Education 1966, Volume 5, is not already available.

Information on the results achieved by students holding full value awards has been published in "Statistics of Education" in as much detail as it has been collected by my Department from local education authorities. There are practical limits to the degree of detail which it is possible to include in this type of questionnaire addressed to local education authorities. The results of the survey by the University Grants Committee which I mentioned in my Answer to the hon. Member on 28th November are not yet available because the time limit for answers to the questionnaire sent to universities only expired on 30th November and these answers have still to be analysed.—[Vol. 755, c. 77–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many staff are employed at the village school at Airmyn, near Goole; how many children are attending this school; and what is the estimated cost of its maintenance.

In January, 1967, there were two full-time teachers and one part-time teacher at this school, which had 26 pupils. The total running costs in 1966–67 were about £4,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the continued shortage of nursery schools, if he will now set up training courses to qualify people to run play groups.

The provision of such courses is a matter for local education authorities. There are already a number of courses in existence in colleges of further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will withdraw Circular 18/60 in relation to nursery schools, and encourage local authorities to make this provision in the light of their particular facilities.

No. In view of other pressing claims on our resources and the continuing teacher shortage, which is most critical in the infants schools, we do not feel able to relax the present restrictions on nursery education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will accelerate the provision of permanent buildings for the Hayling Secondary School.

A project to provide 300 additional places at the school is included in Hampshire's building programme for 1969–70. My right hon. Friend cannot bring it forward to an earlier programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special arrangements he proposes to make to help immigrant teenagers, entering this country as dependants, to learn English.

A number of local education authorities make special arrangements for this purpose as part of their school or further education provision and my Department will play its full part in helping to extend these arrangements wherever the need arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additional costs will be increased by his Department as a result of devaluation.

The effect of devaluation on Government expenditure is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make available to this House the report of the economic consultants called in by the Working Group of the Council for Scientific Policy concerned with the possible European 300 G & V nuclear machine.

Yes. I am intending to publish it very soon, together with other relevant material.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to publish the report of the Exploratory Group on the Support of University Science referred to in the second report of the Council for Scientific Policy; and when the report of the Joint Working Group on the same topic may be expected.

No. The Exploratory Group, whose report was for the Council's own guidance, recommended the formation of a Joint Working Group to study the support of scientific research in the universities. The Joint Working Group has been set up but I cannot yet say when it will report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he had with local authorities before issuing his circular to parents drawing their attention to their children's entitlement to free school meals for which local authorities are financially responsible.

The broad lines of publicity for free school meals were discussed with the Joint Working Party representing local authorities and the Department at the end of July. Drafts of a leaflet for parents and a circular to L.E.A.s were sent in late August to members of the Working Party and to the local authority associations, and their comments led to a number of amendments. I also personally saw representatives of the Association of Municipal Corporations in late October.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what authority local education authorities withhold free school milk from children at independent schools; if he will seek to amend the regulations to end this discrimination against one class; and if he will make a statement.

There are no regulations governing this matter. Local Education Authorities have full discretion under Section 78(2) of the Education Act, 1944.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what general advice he has given to local education authorities on the desirability of establishing co-educational secondary schools.

None. This is for local education authorities to consider in the light of local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what percentage of each type of secondary school was co-educational in 1964, 1965, and 1966;(2) what percentage of state secondary schools in each local education authority, listed separately, were co-educational in 1966;(3) what percentage of the total number of children attending state secondary schools in each local education authority, listed separately, was attending co-educational schools in 1966;(4) what percentage of the proposed and established comprehensive secondary schools under those authorities, listed separately, whose schemes for comprehensive secondary reorganisation have already been approved by his Department, is co-educational; and what percentage of the total number of secondary schoolchildren attending the same schools in those authorities, listed separately, will be or are attending co-educational schools.

This information is not all available, but I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware of the fact that Scottish universities admit a substantial number of English undergraduates while comparatively few Scots find university places south of the border; and if, in view of the number of Scottish young people who are unable to obtain admission to a university, he will make inquiries into this anomaly.

Universities on both sides of the border make their own arrangements for the admission of suitably qualified candidates. I have no reason to think that an inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what support he is giving to the proposal for a big new European particle physics machine.

The Government are considering whether this country should participate in this project.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the recent intergovernmental discussions in Amsterdam on arrangements for exchange visits by scientists between the United Kingdom and Europe.

The recent meeting in Amsterdam was not an intergovernmental meeting. It was the third in a series of meetings between representatives of the Royal Society and other European academies of science and corresponding organisations to discuss the Royal Society European Programme which seeks to promote the interchange within Europe of scientific research workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has given local education authorities regarding the education and safety of children who are unable, as a result of current disputes in municipal bus undertakings, to reach school other than by lengthy walks or by accepting lifts from motorists.

None. Local education authorities have adequate powers to provide transport themselves if circumstances should justify this.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he has now taken to safeguard the future of the Transport Museum at present at Clapham.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 17th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Norwood (Mr. John Fraser), to which I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 754, c. 202.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why a large sum of money has been set aside for an engineering workshop at Rickmansworth Grammar School, in view of the fact that at George Stephenson College in Watford there is under-use of the existing engineering workshop facilities.

I understand from the local education authority that the engineering workshops of the George Stephenson College are too heavily used for them to be made available to the school.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that non-inflammable nightdresses for children are almost impossible to obtain at ordinary price levels; and what steps he proposes to secure the implementation of his Department's regulation of 1964 compelling flame-proof materials.

The relevant Regulations apply to all children's nightdresses offered for sale and I have no reason to think that they are not being implemented. I understand that nightdresses made of treated materials may be in shorter supply than nightdresses made from flame resistant synthetic materials but both are in accordance with the Regulations. I have no power to control prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the Board of Visitors of Buckley Hall have completed their investigations into allegations of brutality at the centre; and whether he will make a statement.

The Board, to whom I am most grateful, have completed a full and detailed inquiry into the allegations of brutality at the centre. They interviewed all the ex-inmates concerned, members of the staff, and other witnesses. They found that the serious allegations against officers of the centre were unfounded, although disciplinary proceedings under the code of discipline for prison officers were instituted against an officer in respect of one incident. The charge was dismissed through lack of evidence; only one of the ex-inmates who had given evidence to the Board attended the disciplinary hearing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake to provide in the 1967 return of offences relating to motor vehicles a special statistical table in a form acceptable to the interested organisations, giving details of the enforcement of the drink and driving law contained in Part 1 of the Road Safety Act, 1967.

It is too early to settle the exact form of presentation, but I can give an assurance that the Return of Offences relating to Motor Vehicles for the current year will take account of the Road Safety Act, 1967.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development who will lead the United Kingdom delegation to the International Symposium on Industrial Development; and what benefits are expected to result from this three weeks' conference.

Sir Eric Bingen, a former Deputy Chairman of Imperial Chemical Industries, is leading the Delegation. The Symposium is primarily for the benefit of developing countries, who will be able to explain their problems, and to learn the views of industrialised countries on such matters as preconditions for industrial investment.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will publish the report made by his Department for Peru's Ministry of Agriculture on the subject of the vicuna.

The report to which I assume my hon. Friend refers is concerned with the conservation of wild life and the establishment of national parks and reserves in Peru. It deals only marginally with vicuna. This report was made to the Government of Peru and it is for that Government to decide whether it should be published.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if the review of the Commonwealth Development Corporation's financial arrangements with the Government which it was proposed in 1961 should be held in 1964 has been undertaken; and if he will make a statement.

A review was initiated in 1964 but it was deferred pending the overall consideration of aid policies following the establishment of the Ministry. Meanwhile my predecessor announced on 21st June, 1965, a concession under which Exchequer advances for certain types of projects qualifying as having special developmental significance would be free of interest for up to seven years.A further review has now taken place.Administrative procedures have been reviewed and made more flexible. It has been decided that in future part of the Exchequer advances to the Corporation within the annual aid programme should be interest free for seven years. The amount which is interest-free will be settled annually in discussion with the Corporation in the light of the extent to which they plan to undertake qualifying projects and of past experience of disbursements in respect of such projects.The 1961 formula under which part of the Corporation's profits was used towards the discharge of the Corporation's deferred liability has been revised in the Corporation's favour.These changes have been welcomed by the Board of the Corporation.—[Vol. 714, c. 1196–1200.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what new proposals he has for the Hartlepool and Tees-side area arising from the visit made by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.

My visit was essentially of a fact-finding nature, but I undertook to pursue a number of points with the Departments concerned. This is now being done.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he expects to receive the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on pay and productivity in the municipal bus industry.

My right hon. Friend has been assured by the Board that he will receive their Report on "Productivity Agreements in the Bus Industry" before Christmas.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether, as part of the plans for remedying the imbalance in regional industrial development he will initiate proposals to free from toll charges all bridges, tunnels and trunk roads within or adjacent to development areas.

No. It has been the policy of successive Governments to impose tolls only where facilities are provided at great expense and offer great savings in time and fuel consumption. These facilities promote both national and regional development.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will put a telephone kiosk in or near Stevenson Drive, Shrewsbury.

No. The houses in Stevenson Drive are within ¼ mile of the kiosk in Rocke Street.

asked the Postmaster-General what instruction he gave to the British Broadcasting Corporation or any other broadcasting authority con- cerning the appearance in a broadcast of Mr. Peter Jay.

None, whether to the British Broadcasting Corporation or any other broadcasting authority.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the number of extra staff, male and female respectively, to be taken on for the Christmas period in the Hull area, and the numbers from the employment exchange.

About 850 extra full-time staff and 200 part-time staff are required in the Hull postal area. Of the full-time staff being recruited 630 are male and 220 female. We expect about 235 of these (200 men and 35 women) to come through the Employment Exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will place in the Library of the House of Commons the United Nations document A/6858 of 10th October, 1967, being the Report of the Secretary-General on the effects of the possible use of nuclear weapons, and on the security and economic implications for steps for the acquisition and further development of these weapons.

One copy of the Report was placed in the Library on 23rd October and four further copies on 29th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will state the capital cost of buildings and all other items treated as capital, respectively, which have been handed over by Her Majesty's Government to the People's Republic of South Yemen.

No precise calculation has been made but a rough estimate of the present day depreciated cost value of the non-military capital assets transferred is less than a quarter of a million pounds.As regards military capital assets, this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Minister of Technology what action the Government will be taking to prevent the pirating of advanced British technologies by certain United States firms.

I agree with the conclusion of the Working Group on Migration that no solution to the brain drain will be found in attempting to restrict the activities of foreign recruiting agencies. Government policies aim to promote a scientific and technological climate offering challenging opportunities in this country for engineers, technologists and scientists. The Working Group advocated this as the main solution to the brain drain.

asked the Minister of Social Security, in view of the fact that the seven-week-old unofficial dock strike is mainly responsible for the £107 million trade deficit for October, and for the continued weakness of sterling, if she will introduce emergency legislation to prevent unofficial strikers and their families from receiving welfare payments from the State their unofficial action is harming.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave him on 27th November. I do not think we can contemplate allowing the wives and children of unofficial strikers to suffer severe hardship.—[Vol. 755, c. 4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of the plan to stimulate farm production.

I would refer the hon. Member to what I said in the debate on Agriculture on Monday, 4th December.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has concerning the possibility of danger to humans or animals from the arsenical, antibiotic, and hormone content of certain animal feeding-stuffs.

Provided these compounds are used properly there is no evidence of a hazard to human beings or animals. My right hon. Friend receives advice from various scientific bodies on these matters. Most antibiotics are subject to regulation under the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1956, and like arsenical and hormonal substances, to notification under the Veterinary Products Safety Precautions Scheme. There are also other safeguards under the Fertilisers and Feeding Stuffs Act, 1926, and under the Food and Drugs Act, 1955.A Joint Committee of the Agricultural and Medical Research Councils has recommended that an appropriate body should consider the evidence about the use of antibiotics in animal husbandry and veterinary medicine and its implications for public health. This recommendation has been accepted in principle.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will appoint a Minister from his Department to co-ordinate efforts made by various bodies to combat foot-and-mouth disease.

No. My veterinary service have had most admirable help from a number of other services and organisations and this has been co-ordinated by my senior officers. This help I have on a number of occasions most gratefully acknowledged.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies have been undertaken of the possibility of the transmission of foot-and-mouth infection via field streams and rivers used for the watering of cattle.

The present epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease is being fully studied and the possibility of transmission via field streams and rivers is included in this. My veterinary advisers have not so far found any pattern in the spread of the disease which would indicate that the virus carried in streams or rivers has caused an outbreak.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to encourage the cessation of all sporting and social activities in districts affected by the outbreak of foot-and-mouth, until the disease has been brought under control.

In my broadcast statement made on 29th November I appealed to the public not to go into infected areas unless their visits were essential and to keep off farmland, if they did so; and I also appealed to all ramblers, climbers, anglers and other sportsmen to follow this rule in or near infected areas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which are the countries where foot-and-mouth disease is endemic and from which we import meat; what was the value and quantity of imports from each of those countries in each of the past five years; in each year, what proportion these imports were of total meat imports and of total meat supplies; and what was our balance of trade with these countries in each year.

In the countries from which imports are temporarily suspended following my statement on 4th December, foot-and-mouth disease is either endemic or occurs sporadically. It is difficult to separate these two categories of suppliers. In the circumstances, without any implication that the disease is regarded as endemic in all the countries concerned, I am giving the requested figures for all these overseas suppliers. The table is of some size and complexity and I am therefore sending it separately to the hon. Member.Questions about our balance of trade with individual countries, are for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will provide an estimate on the effect, to the latest convenient date, of the current foot-and-mouth epidemic on the balance of payments.

In order to provide such an estimate, assumptions would have to be made about the effects of the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic on such matters as the supply of home produced and imported meats, market values, and requirements of imported food; and these effects would have to be distinguished from changes due to entirely different factors. In a situation which is changing almost from day to day, a meaningful estimate cannot be provided.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what statistical investigation is being carried out into the relationship between rainfall and the persistence and magnitude of foot-and-mouth outbreaks; what level of positive correlation has been established; and if he will consider a precautionary local inoculation programme after abnormally long periods of wet weather.

Experts from my Department and the Animal Virus Research Institute at Pirbright are at the moment carrying out an epidemiological survey which includes a meteorological investigation.I have nothing to add on vaccination to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Farnworth (Mr. Thornton) on 28th November.—[Vol. 755, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many prosecutions have been initiated in the last 10 years under the provisions contained in the Diseases of Animals (Waste Foods) Order, 1957; what charges were made against those persons concerned; and what sentences and fines were imposed;(2) how many prosecutions are at this moment pending under the provisions contained in the Diseases of Animals (Waste Foods) Order, 1957.

Prosecutions are normally undertaken by local authorities, and the information for which the hon. Member has asked is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation, similar to that contemplated by the Secretary of State for Scotland, to give greater security for the near relatives of tenant farmers in England and Wales.

I will consider the case for a similar change in England and Wales in the course of the review of agricultural holdings legislation which is taking place with the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has now had with the Australian Government with a view to increasing the supply of Australian beef to the United Kingdom market.

My Department regularly discusses forecasts of imports and of home production with representatives of all our main overseas suppliers of meat, including Australia. The extent to which additional supplies are likely to be attracted to our market during the temporary suspension of imports from many other sources will be discussed within the next few days.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which provision so far not published in the loan deal recently announced requires part of the International Monetary Fund standby credit to be earmarked against the United Kingdom short-term debt to the central banks; arid if he will make a statement.

There is no such provision in the arrangements made for the standby credit with the I.M.F. or the Central Bank facilities announced on 18th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total overseas borrowings still outstanding incurred between the periods 26th July, 1945 and 25th October, 1951 and 16th October, 1964 to date; and what is the total still outstanding for the period 26th October, 1951 and 15th October, 1964.

The amounts outstanding on 30th November in respect of overseas loans to H.M. Government in the periods referred to at current rates of exchange are as follows:—

26th July, 1945 to 25th October, 1951 and 16th October, 1964 to 30th November, 1967—£2,084 million.

26th October, 1951 to 15th October, 1964—£52 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will specify, in detail, the measures he proposes to reduce home demand by £150 million to £800 million additional to the £460 million itemised in the annex to the letter of intent sent by his predecessor to the International Monetary Fund on 23rd November, 1967.

In addition to the measures specified in the Annex to the letter the rise in import prices consequent on devaluation will also contribute to the reduction in home demand. Further measures will he taken as necessary.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what representations have been made to him regarding the repercussions on the commodity exchanges of the Nigerian decision not to devalue, and similar decisions by other countries; and what reply he has sent.

Representatives of various trade interests have been in touch with us; the Nigerian Authorities have also been in touch with us both by correspondence and through representatives in London. We are considering the complex questions involved as urgently as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fresh instructions to cut public expenditure in the light of the devaluation of the £ sterling he has given to all Government Departments.

I refer the hon. Member to the statements made by my right hon. Friend on 20th and 22nd November, to which I have at present nothing to add.—[Vol. 754, c. 935–9 1438–9.]

asked the Minister of Transport what communication she has received from Edinburgh Corporation concerning the impending closure of the Edinburgh-Corstorphine railway line; and what reply she has sent.

The Corporation wrote to the Department on 26th November asking for passenger services to be retained on the Edinburgh-Corstorphine line until the results of the East-Central Scotland Land Use/Transportation Study were known. They have been told that my right hon. Friend considers that the retention of the formation of the line is a sufficient safeguard and that she could not reasonably ask the Railways Board to continue running the services at a considerable loss.

asked the Minister of Transport how many of the 206 derailments of freight trains in the first nine months of 1967 took place on lines on concrete sleepers; and what percentage of the total route mileage of British Railways has concrete sleepers.

The only figures readily available relate to the 109 derailments of four-wheeled freight vehicles, 12 of which I understand from the Railways Board occurred on lines laid on concrete sleepers. 13·5 per cent. of the total track mileage has concrete sleepers.

asked the Minister of Transport what explanation she has sought and obtained from British Railways regarding the substantial increase in the number of freight train derailments.

The Chief Inspecting Officer of railways has had discussions with the Railways Board on the reasons for the trend in freight train derailments which has become apparent in recent years. The results of these discussions are reflected in paragraphs 12–15 and particularly 25–28 of his Report on the Safety Record of the railways in 1966 which was published on 31st October last. I am sending the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport if she is aware that the report of her Department's chief inspecting officer in 1958 on the Lewisham train disaster recommended that super-bright tail lights be fitted to trains; and how many trains are now fitted with these lights.

The report to which the hon. Member refers did not in fact include a recommendation in these terms. An improved tail light was however approved by the British Transport Commission in 1960, but the number of these lights now in service is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Transport what general directions she has given to British Railways on the question of safety track maintenance following the inquiry into the Hither Green disaster; and if she will make a statement.

The safety of railway operations is a statutory responsibility of the Railways Board, and a general direction is neither necessary nor appropriate. The Chief Inspecting Officer's report on the Hither Green accident will however cover the question of track maintenance.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements she has made to be consulted before catering prices charged by British Railways are raised.

Apart from notifications required under Early Warning procedure (Cmnd. 2808), it is for the Railways Board to satisfy themselves that any increases in catering prices are justified in terms of Prices and Incomes criteria.

asked the Minister of Transport what representation to British Railways, Southern Region, management was made by trade union representatives concerning the state of track, including the Hither Green area, two months before the train crash on 5th November.

Such representations would be a matter between the Regional Railways Board and the unions, but the Chief Inspecting Officer is taking evidence from all concerned in this accident and I would ask my hon. Friend to await his report, which will be published.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in considering the report of the Central Transport Consultative Committee on the closure of the downside entrance to Oxford Station, she was satisfied that it had given public notification of its meeting on 3rd October and had received evidence from members of the public who use the station, as had the East Midlands Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee.

The Central Transport Consultative Committee is not required to give public notice of its meetings. In considering the recommendation sent to it by the Area Committee, the Central Committee had before it a record of the evidence submitted to the Area Committee; it includes the Area Chairman among its members.

asked the Minister of Transport why, in considering the report of the Central Transport Consultative Committee on the closure of the down-side entrance to Oxford Station, she ignored the contrary recommendations submitted by the East Midlands Area Transport Users' Consultative Committee.

Under Sections 56(4) and (6) of the Transport Act 1962 recommendations reach my right hon. Friend directly only from the Central Transport Consultative Committee, or from the Area Committee for Scotland or that for Wales and Monmouthshire. The recommendation of an English Area Committee to the Central Committee is a preliminary stage in this statutory process.

asked the Minister of Transport why yellow kerbside lines were painted on 22nd November last in the Parade, Sutton Coldfield, when the latest date for lodging objections to a no waiting order was 24th November; and what procedure she has for taking account of objections in such circumstances.

These lines relate to the existing restrictions imposed on this length of the road by the Borough of Sutton Coldfield (Traffic Regulation) (No. 2) Order, 1948, and are being laid because the Traffic Signs Regulations, 1964, require that if these restrictions are to remain enforceable after the end of this month they must be indicated by yellow lines.This action will in no way prejudice consideration of objections to new proposals for a different length of the Parade which were advertised on 3rd November.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, under her new policy of permitting monopolistic or solus operation of motorway service sites by petrol companies, she proposes to permit monopoly of petroleum products other than fuel, such as lubricants, in view of the recommendation of the Monopolies Commission to the contrary.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps she has taken to inquire into the unanimity with which petrol companies refused to tender for the concession at Woolley Edge, M1, on a multi-brand basis; what evidence she has found of an agreed policy in this matter; how many, and which, firms have now responded to her renewed invitation to tender on the monopolistic or solus basis.

We have no evidence to support these allegations. As to the Second part of the Question, the tendering period does not expire until 14th December.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the wording of the form of notice LVP 17/1, and especially the use of the word "appoint" is misleading and if he will take early steps to amend it so that ratepayers understand their right to ask someone else, who need not be a professional person, to appear on their behalf at a local valuation court.

The form tells the ratepayer that he may state his case himself or appoint some other person to do so on his behalf. The other person need not be professionally qualified and use of the term "appoint" does not imply that he must be.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) why, in his consultations about a convenient date for the Bewl Valley Reservoir Inquiry, he has made no approach to the Bewl Valley Protection Association; and if he will confer with the residents before a date is finally fixed;(2) if, in view of the eight years of uncertainty about the proposals for a reservoir in the Bewl Valley, he will now take early steps to reach a decision, so that the farmers can plan for the future, and in particular obtain loans from the banks, necessary maintenance can be done to houses and farm buildings, and other essential decisions made by the residents.

I can trace no approach from the Bewl Valley Protection Association in connection with this proposal, but if they can satisfy me that they represent a number of local residents or of objectors to the proposal I will see that they are consulted before a date is fixed. As I said in my Answer on 30th November, no firm arrangements can be made until legislation removes a doubt that has arisen in connection with Section 27 of the Water Resources Act, 1963.—[Vol. 755, c. 155.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress he is making in his discussions with the Building Societies Association as to the possibility of using structural survey reports as valuation reports; and whether he will make a statement.

The possibility of having combined structural survey and valuation reports has been examined. Although the field work involved could sometimes be done concurrently, there would be no saving in the time and work involved in writing the two reports which would still be necessary. My right hon. Friend does not therefore consider that the case has been made out for making the arrangement general.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will reconsider the grant of public funds in relation to the Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh in 1970, in view of the economic situation which has arisen since his original decision to make financial support available.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the fact that the measures being taken by local authorities in the Border Counties to combat the risk of foot-and-mouth disease spreading from England are in the interests of the whole of Scotland, he will take steps to reimburse them from public funds for the costs they incur.

I have looked into the matter but I regret that I have no powers to do this.

asked the Prime Minister when he expects to receive the report on the biological effects of the "Torrey Canyon" disaster.

I hope that an official report on the scientific and technological aspects of the disaster, including the biological effects, will be available for publication soon. I also understand that the Marine Biological Association hope to publish next year a comprehensive report on the biological effects of the disaster.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the progress of the inter-party talks on House of Lords reform.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to a Supplementary Question by him on 14th November.—[Vol. 754, c. 216–7.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will now state what plans he has for the establishment of publicly-owned industries in development areas.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers I gave to Questions by him on 30th November.—[Vol. 755, c. 635.]

asked the Prime Minister what response he has had from the Governments of the Six to his recent proposals for increased technological co-operation in Europe.

The proposals have been widely welcomed throughout Western Europe, both by Governments and by industry and I will arrange for a summary of public statements and Press comments to be placed in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give instructions to the Minister of Housing and Local Government, the Minister of Public Building and Works and the Minister of Labour with a view to an immediate increase in house building and, at the same time, a reduction in the pool of unemployed.

No, the number of houses under construction has been at or near record levels for some months and the housing programmes of local authorities taken as a whole are running at the highest figure for at least ten years. The scope for further early increases is thus small. I would also remind my hon. Friend of the changed outlook for employment which I described on 5th December in an answer to a Supplementary Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Southall.—[Vol. 755, c. 1129.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will arrange joint discussions between the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, the Secretary of State for Scotland, the President of the Board of Trade and Scottish bankers with a view to devising new methods of exempting the Scottish economy from the deflationary measures, including high Bank Rate, that are specifically designed to affect those geographical regions that are the source of an overheated economy.

No. The measures introduced on 18th November have already had regard to the special problems of development areas, and in one important case—the change in Selective Employment Tax—provide a positive new incentive to industrial expansion in the development areas. The interpretation of the guidance on bank lending, including the request to pay regard to Government policies on regional development, is being discussed by the Scottish banks with the Bank of England.

asked the Prime Minister what action he has taken to stop the brain drain; and when he estimates that his policy in this matter will be successful.

The report and recommendations of the Working Group on Migration are now being considered by the Ministers concerned in consultation with other interested bodies.

asked the Prime Minister whether Ministers are positively vetted for security purposes.

The position is precisely the same as in previous Administrations, namely that while the particular procedures of inquiry known as positive vetting have never been thought appropriate for Ministers, the Prime Minister of the day satisfies himself as to the suitability of those whose names he submits to Her Majesty.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library of the House a copy of his public speech referring to Captain Thain made at Manchester on 3rd December.

I spoke without notes, and so far as I am aware no full record exists.

asked the Prime Minister whether the television broadcast by the Minister of Labour on Sunday, 3rd December, on the railways dispute represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many newly-built houses have been purchased for the accommodation of members of the services during the first 10 months of this year.

Some 6,800 houses are in the process of purchase, nearly all of which are of new construction; of these more than 1,800 were completed by the end of October.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the current cost to Great Britain of the TF30 engine for the Royal Air Force version of the F111.

Installed engines are covered by the agreed ceiling price of the aircraft. The price of spare engines is under negotiation between the United States Department of Defense and the manufacturers.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the decision was taken to withdraw all land forces from Malaysia by 1971.

No such decision has been taken.

asked the Prime Minister what fresh initiative he proposes to take to extend the 1963 Partial Nuclear Test Ban Treaty to include underground tests.

The main obstacle to a comprehensive test ban treaty remains the problem of verification. Our scientists, in conjunction with those of our allies, are very actively investigating the technical possibilities of progress. We have repeatedly urged the Soviet Union to join us in this.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will arrange for facilities to be provided in Welwyn Garden City for the repair of hearing aids, in view of the fact that the nearest repair service is in St. Albans and this is a cause of inconvenience.

The North-West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board will shortly be reintroducing arrangements at the Queen Elizabeth II Hospital for replacement of hearing aids in need of repair.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of the importance of the Government's regional policy, he will publish figures of employees in employment in various industries in the various regions more often than once a year.

Regional industrial analyses of employees in employment are compiled annually from counts of National Insurance cards. Supplementary information giving the total number of employees in each region is provided from quarterly counts, but it is considered that the cost of compiling a full industrial analysis each quarter would be too great.The Ministry does publish monthly estimates of employment in the production industries for Great Britain as a whole. These figures are based on returns from a sample of employers. This is large enough to provide estimates for the country as a whole but not for individual regions.

asked the Minister of Labour why he no longer publishes a breakdown of regional employment by industries in as great detail as was formerly given in the tables relating to employment and unemployment in Great Britain; and whether he will now do so.

The publication "Tables relating to employment and unemployment in Great Britain", which showed industrial analyses of regional employment estimates and unemployment figures, was last published in 1951 after which it was discontinued for reasons of economy.Regional estimates of employees, in employment for mid-1966, analysed industrially, but not by sex, were published in the March, 1967 issue of the Ministry of Labour Gazette. Corresponding estimates for the years 1959 to 1965, and industrial analyses of regional unemployment figures, have not been published because of limitations of space but are available on request.

asked the Minister of Labour what are the estimated annual costs of the selective employment premiums to be paid in respect of each of the development areas.

For 1968–69 I estimate that the clost of selective employment premiums (i.e. refund of selective employment tax plus the additional amount, but excluding regional employment premium) in each of the development areas will be as follows:

Scottish development area—£43 million.

Northern development area—£30 million.

North-Western development area—£19½million.

Welsh development area—£13 million.

South-Western development area—£1·7 million.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give details of the dislocation of services experienced by municipal bus undertakings during the period since the trade unions' side terminated the National Agreement and withdrew from the National Joint Industrial Council.

I understand that of the 91 municipal bus undertakings in membership of the Federation of Municipal Passenger Transport Employers, 17 have been affected by strikes and 10 still are. A high proportion of the undertakings have been affected by bans either on overtime or on carrying standing passengers or on both. 46 undertakings are at present affected by such bans.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will give details of the action he has taken, and proposes to take, to help resolve the current difficulties in the municipal bus industry.

Since the Trade Union Side withdrew from the National Joint Industrial Council for the Road Passenger Transport Industry on 12th October, efforts have been made to find a basis of settlement. The Ministry's Chief Conciliation Officer had separate meetings with the trade unions and the employers on 17th and 23rd October and joint meetings on 3rd and 9th November. I also had meetings with the Federation on 23rd and 30th November and with the trade unions on 28th November. I am meeting the trade unions again today.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will publish the terms of his reply to the Federation of Municipal Passenger Transport Employers, who, in a resolution sent to him on 17th November, sought his good offices to help re-establish national negotiating machinery in the industry.

No written reply was sent but the resolution and the current difficulties in the industry were discussed when I met representatives of the Federation on Thursday, 23rd November.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will set up a working party to examine general variations in the cost of living and in the price of food in Wales as compared with the rest of the United Kingdom.