asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the public speech of Vice-Admiral Mackenzie on the occasion of the commissioning of the Polaris submarine "Resolution" at Barrow on 2nd October on the subject of building a fifth Polaris submarine was made with his authority; and if he will give an assurance that there will be no expansion of the Polaris programme.

Vice-Admiral Mackenzie made no public speech on this occasion: in his capacity as Chief Polaris Executive he answered questions from members of the Press at a briefing arranged by the shipbuilders in conjunction with my Department. The decision not to proceed with the construction of a fifth Polaris submarine, of which I informed the House on 15th February, 1965, is unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the work now in progress on military buildings and installations in Bahrein and Sharjah, costing £12½ million, is for the use of British forces and to what extent for the United States Middle East force.

It is for the use of British forces. No facilities are being built for United States forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what firms in Scotland receive defence contracts.

We do not keep a central record of firms in Scotland who receive defence contracts. The information requested could only be provided by an extensive search of numerous records held by Purchasing Branches of the three Service Departments. The time and effort which would be involved in such a search could not be justified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the light of Her Majesty's Government's decision to devalue sterling, he will scrutinise strictly attempts made by United States financial, industrial and business interests to take over British firms in order to prevent undue interference in the development of British long-term economic policies.

As the then Chancellor of the Exchequer stated on 12th July last year, our general policy is to welcome inward investment in this country by United States and other foreign companies; cases involving the take-over of existing companies which by their size or their nature constitute a vital part of British industry will continue to be considered on their merits. In considering these cases we shall naturally take account of all relevant circumstances.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will hold discussions with the Uruguayan Government, as a matter of urgency, to preserve British exports to that country now threatened by the ban on imported meat;(2) if he will hold discussions with the Argentine Government, as a matter of urgency, to preserve British exports to that country now threatened by the ban on imported meat.

The Argentine and Uruguayan Governments have shown understanding of our difficulties resulting from the foot and mouth epidemic, and I have no reason to think that exports generally will be materially affected because of the measures which we have had to take and which apply equally to imports from most other countries. Her Majesty's Government have been and will continue to be in close touch with the Argentine and Uruguayan Governments about all aspects of the problems which arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in publishing statistics about landings on the various runways at London Airport, Heathrow, he will in future make allowance for such artificial interferences in normal patterns as those brought about by the closure of runways for repairs.

These statistics are not published but I will consider whether the figures given regularly to my hon. Friend can be qualified in the way suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will open a full inquiry into the case of Mr. Aubrey Wilson, the details of which have been submitted to him by the hon. Member for Richmond, Surrey.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the working of the associated status agreement between the United Kingdom and West Indian islands, in view of the experience with St. Kitts and Anguilla; and whether it is proposed to extend it to other territories.

Yes, As I informed the hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dame Joan Vickers) on 24th October—[Vol. 751, c. 403.]—Her Majesty's Government regard Associated Statehood as one possible eventual status for those of our dependent territories which either are not able to sustain or do not want independence.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many personnel in the United Kingdom High Commission in India are exclusively concerned with United Kingdom aid and development programmes; and how many are concerned on a part-time basis with these programmes.

The total number of staff employed full-time on aid and development work at the High Commission in New Delhi and the offices in Calcutta, Bombay and Madras in India is nine. In addition 37 staff are engaged on this work on a part-time basis.

asked the Minister of Social Security what total weekly amount is payable in unemployment benefit, wage-related benefits, family allowances, etc., to a man and wife with three children where the man formerly earned an average weekly wage; and how this sum compares with that paid in October, 1964.

£15 4s. compared with £8 11s. in October, 1964. The amounts are made up as follows:—

	December, 1967			October, 1964
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.
Unemployment benefit
(a) flat-rate	10	5	0	7	13	0
(b) earnings-related supplement*	4	1	0		—
Family Allowances		18	0		18	0
	15	4	0	8	11	0
* Since October, 1966 earnings-related supplement has been payable after 12 waiting days for up to six months. It is based on gross earnings in the previous tax year and the amount of £4 1s. shown for December, 1967 assumes constant earnings at the October 1966 average of £20 6s. 1d. a week throughout the 1966–67 tax year.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many women should be in receipt of maintenance allowances; and what is the outstanding debt in contributions towards their court orders.

I regret that this information is not available. However, in June, 1967 about 141,000 separated wives and divorced women were receiving Supplementary Benefit. About 70,000 of these women had maintenance orders, of which some 31,500 were being complied with regularly. A further 17,500 had out-of-court agreements, of which some 13,000 were being paid regularly.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will make arrangements to reimburse old age pensioners resident in areas affected by municipal bus strikes for the extra costs incurred by them in making necessary journeys.

No. We have no evidence of special difficulty arising for old people generally as a result of these disputes. If such difficulties did arise, I would expect that help would be forthcoming from local welfare organisations in the form of services; but the Supplementary Benefits Commission could help old people living at Supplementary Benefit standards with, for example, increased expenses to attend hospital and to make emergency journeys.

asked the Postmaster General (1) if he is satisfied with the resurfacing of roadway in the Heaton Chapel area of Stockport by his Department following cable-laying operations, particularly near to No. 44 Heaton Moor Road, where there have been successive excavations at the frontage of this property leading to operations radiating in three directions; and whether such road surfacing is now of a permanent and finished construction, as referred to in correspondence sent to him by the hon. Member for Stockport, North

Date			Great Britain (including London)		London only
			Increase	Decrease	Increase	Decrease
1st October, 1963	…	…	—	102	—	556
1st October, 1964	…	…	1,227	—	823	—
1st October, 1965	…	…	4,013	—	1,238	—
1st October, 1966	…	…	744	—	—	327
2nd October, 1967	…	…	—	547	—	474

(Includes auxiliary postmen allowance deliverers and other part-time staff counted as one-half.)

Reinstatement has been done in two stages to allow for any settlement. Final resurfacing should be finished very soon, apart from the road crossings. I regret any inconvenience that has been caused.Other works are in progress or will be needed in the Heaton Chapel area, and I am writing to my hon. Friend. Residents will be notified if access to their premises will be temporarily impeded.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the rise in the price of postage stamps and telephone charges since October, 1964.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer to his Question on 7th November, 1967, and to the tariff indices published in Appendix 5 of the Post Office Report & Accounts which is presented to Parliament, and of which I sent him copies.—[Vol. 753, c. 99.]

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the net increase or decrease of postmen anually in the last five years in Great Britain and London, respectively.

The following table shows the changes:

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing, by areas, including districts in London, the

Region			Authorised Establishment of full-time posts as at 1.11.67	Number of Uncovered Vacancies after allowing for temporary and part-time staff	Uncovered Vacancies as percentage of Establishment
London Postal Region Districts
Eastern Central	…	…	1,849	128	6·9
Western Central	…	…	801	58	7·2
Western	…	…	1,671	117	7·0
Paddington	…	…	1,408	102	7·2
South western	…	…	1,818	130	7·2
Battersea	…	…	1,057	49	4·6
South Eastern	…	…	2,483	58	2·3
Eastern	…	…	1,746	93	5·3
Northern	…	…	1,588	47	5·3
North Western	…	…	1,589	99	6·2
Remainder of Region	…	…	10,894	652	6·0
London Postal Region (Total)	…	…	26,904	1,533	5·7
Eastern Region	…	…	5,827	212	3·9
South Eastern Region	…	…	7,544	258	3·4
Midland Region	…	…	10,776	608	5·6
North Eastern Region	…	…	10,025	143	1·4
North Western Region	…	…	10,840	289	2·7
South Western Region	…	…	7,926	106	1·3
Wales and Border Counties	…	…	4,888	80	1·6
Scotland	…	…	8,587	97	1·1
Northern Ireland	…	…	1,786	Nil	Nil
Total	…	…	95,103	3,326	3·5

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to refer to Mr. Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law the subject of the abolition of the business vote in local government.

The Government have this particular matter under consideration: but do not think it appropriate to extend the terms of reference of Mr. Speaker's Conference so as to cover the field of local government electoral law.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if she will give a direction to the Transport Holding Company to ensure that the recently nationalised bus companies which were formerly part of the British Electric Traction group,

:remove all anti-Government and anti-Passenger Transport Authority stickers from their buses;(2) if she will give a direction to the Transport Holding Company to ensure that the recently nationalised bus companies which were formerly part of the British Electric Traction group dissociate themselves completely from the British Omnibus Companies Public Relations Committee, and its campaign against her proposals for the creation of passenger transport authorities;(3) if she will give a direction to the Transport Holding Company to ensure that the recently nationalised bus companies, which were formerly part of the British Electric Traction group, dissociate themselves completely from the Passenger Vehicle Operators Independence Committee campaign against the creation of passenger transport authorities;(4) if she will now ensure, through a direction to the Transport Holding Company, that no staff at executive level of the recently nationalised bus companies which were formerly part of the British Electric Traction group, will continue to serve on the executive committee of the Passenger Vehicle Operators Independence Committee or any other action groups throughout the country formed to defeat her proposals for the creation of passenger transport authorities.

Although the Transport Holding Company have reached agreement with the British Electric Traction Co. Ltd. on terms for the acquisition of their shares in the bus companies in the B.E.T. Group, the offer is conditional upon the enactment of the Transport Holding Company Bill to extend the borrowing powers of the Transport Holding Company which was introduced yesterday. Until this acquisition is completed the Transport Holding Company will not have a controlling interest in these companies. A direction would accordingly be inappropriate.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give a direction to the Transport Holding Company to dissociate itself completely from the various political and anti-passenger transport authority campaigns now being conducted, in the same way that they have previously dissociated themselves from the Road Haulage Association's campaign against her new licensing proposals.

As some of the Transport Holding Company's principal road haulage subsidiaries are special contract members of the Road Haulage Association, the Company thought they should make it clear they were not associated with the Road Haulage Association's campaign against certain aspects of the proposals for carriers' licensing. In the case of the Transport Holding Company bus companies, none in which they at present hold a controlling interest is in any way connected with the campaign concerning the proposals for Passenger Transport Authorities and a direction is therefore unnecessary. The position of the Transport Holding Company in relation to other bus companies in which they have an interest was explained in the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short) on 7th November.—[Vol. 753, c. 104.]

asked the Minister of Transport what is the date by which she estimates the Victoria underground line will be operative between Victoria and the West End.

I understand from the London Transport Board that they hope to open the Victoria-Warren Street section of the Victoria Line early in 1969.

asked the Minister of Transport, of the travelling public in Scotland, England and Wales using public transport, what percentage in the respective countries uses passenger road transport and what is her estimate of the profit or loss; what percentage in the respective countries uses passenger rail transport, and what is the profit or loss; and if she will give an identical summary for the respective countries from the year 1960.

I regret that information on the required lines is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour whether he will make a statement on the situation created by the result of the British European Airways pilots' strike ballot.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to the right hon. Member for Mitcham (Mr. R. Carr).

asked the Minister of Labour what plans he has to introduce legislation concerning the control of fee-charging employment agencies in place of the Bill introduced last Session in the name of the hon. Member for Putney and others.

The idea of legislation has not been abandoned, but I do not feel able to introduce a Bill this Session, because of the great pressure of legislative business, Meantime I intend to take steps to secure further information about the activities of employment agencies.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were employed by English and Welsh local authorities at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what was the comparable total in the same month of each of the previous five years.

Following is the information.

NUMBERS EMPLOYED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES AND IN POLICE FORCES IN ENGLAND AND WALES
(000s)
	England	Wales
June, 1967	1,887	114
June, 1966	1,808	111
June, 1965	1,719	108
June, 1964	1,668	104
June, 1963	1,600	98
June, 1962	1,543	95

The numbers include not only those employees classified to Local Government Service (Minimum List Heading 906 of the Standard Industrial Classification) but also those classified to other industrial sectors, e.g., construction, transport services, education, etc.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will state the precise date on which Her Majesty's Government made an application to join the European Economic Community; on what date a formal acknowledgement of this application was received; and what date an actual reply was received.

Britain's application for membership of the European Economic Community under Article 237 of the Treaty of Rome was presented to the President of the European Economic Community Council of Ministers on 11th May. An acknowledgement was received on 7th June, which stated that the Council had set in motion the procedure provided for in this Article of the Treaty. No further reply has been received to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what recent progress has been made, following the assurances he received at the end of October, towards the release of the British aircraft detained in Algeria by the Algerian Government.

None. The Algerian authorities have however confirmed that there is no objection in principle to the release of the aircraft and again assured us that they hope to arrange for this in the near future. We shall continue to stress that the detention of the aircraft is unjustified and to press for its release.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish a list of the principal British-owned assets, on both private and public account, held in the South Yemen at the time of its independence, with an approximate valuation in current prices of each.

The civil assets on British public account held in Southern Yemen at independence consisted of Government House at Aden and some 50 Government offices and quarters up-country. A rough estimate of the depreciated cost value of these is less than a quarter of a million pounds; the market value is not ascertainable.British-owned military assets on public account are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.I have no information on the value of British-owned assets held on private account.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if it is his policy to support admission of the South Yemen Republic to the United Nations.

Yes. My right hon. and noble Friend Lord Caradon asked on 4th December for the inscription of a new item on the General Assembly's agenda to deal with the application of the People's Republic of Southern Yemen to join the United Nations. The United Kingdom intends to act as co-sponsor for the new state.

asked the Minister of Power if he will refuse his consent to the National Coal Board's proposals to extract over 8,000,000 tons of opencast coal in the Polesworth, Dordon and Shuttington areas of North Warwickshire in competition with coal from deep mines, as outlined in paragraph 119 of the recent White Paper on Fuel Policy.

My right hon. Friend has not received an application from the National Coal Board for consent to work this site.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a further statement on the Government's policy on opencast mining in relation to the statements in paragraph 119 of the White Paper on Fuel Policy.

As explained in paragraph 119 of the White Paper on Fuel Policy (Cmnd. 3458), during conditions of general coal surplus, the Government have decided not to give authorisations for new sites except in special cases where, because of quality or location, the coal to be produced is not in competition with coal from deep mines. These are the fuel policy considerations which will guide decisions on new sites, though from time to time there may be factors outside fuel policy which favour opencast working and will need to be taken into account. We should expect departures from the policy outlined in the White Paper to be rare.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of his discussions with the oil companies to ascertain whether prices of oil and petrol will be allowed to be increased to off-set the costs of devaluation, he will give similar consideration to a rise in the costs of gas and electricity, and the wages and salaries of workers in these industries to enable them to off-set the costs of the depreciation in the purchasing value of their incomes resultant upon devaluation.

Any proposals by the electricity or gas industries for price or wage increases arising from the effects of devaluation would be considered by the Government under the normal "early warning" arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement about the progress made towards the introduction of comprehensive education in the London Borough of Harrow.

The Harrow Authority submitted proposals in response to Circular 10/65 on 26th October, 1966. These proposals were rejected by my right hon. Friend's predecessor on 26th January, 1967 because the form of organisation envisaged involved a continuation of the selective system. The Authority were asked to reconsider the possibilities and to submit revised proposals in accordance with the intentions of Circular 10/65. Representatives of the Authority met officers of the Department on 7th March to discuss possible lines on which more acceptable proposals might be formulated. Since then I understand that the Authority have been considering possible solutions, but they have made no further formal submission to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local authority schemes for comprehensive education have been implemented wholly or in part, or been approved by his department; how many are being considered by his Department; and how many local authorities schemes are still awaited.

101 local education authorities now have schemes covering the whole or part of their areas either implemented or approved; proposals from a further 21 authorities are now being considered by my Department; and we are still awaiting proposals from 24 authorities. There are four authorities which have declined to submit a scheme and 12 which my right hon. Friend has asked to reconsider the proposals which they submitted to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are the estimated annual total non-returnable Selective Employment Tax payments in each of the economic regions and Scotland.

The following are the best estimates available for a full year:

Region	£million
London aid South Eastern	106
Eastern and Southern	41
South Western	21
East Midlands	16
West Midlands	25
Yorkshire and Humberside	25
North Western	38
Northern	16
Wales	12
Scotland	31

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority his Department exercises control over loans made by the Bank of England to central banks in foreign countries.

Relations between the Treasury and the Bank of England are ultimately determined by the Bank of England Act, 1946. My approval would naturally be sought for any major international transaction, but it is not my Department's practice to intervene in the many day-to-day banking operations of the Bank of England with other central banks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates will be the increased yield in 1967–68, and in a full year, of Purchase Tax, Customs and Excise duties, and other taxes and duties, as a result of devaluation; what effect these increases will have on the cost of living index; and whether the increases have been taken into account in calculating the figure of 2½ to 3 per cent. rise in the index expected to result directly from devaluation.

Complete estimates of the changes in yields are not available. But, since most indirect taxes are specific, the contribution to the expected rise in retail prices, though included in the estimate of 2½–3 per cent., will be insignificant.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the cost of the tax on fuel oil to the Corporation of Glasgow Transport Department during the year ended 31st May, 1967, was £756,250, and that this sum represented 8·7 per cent. of the Department's working expenses; and if he will consider taking steps to remove the tax in respect of public service vehicles to prevent further rises in fares.

There are objections in principle to the introduction of special exemptions from duty for oil used as fuel. Public Service vehicles enjoy relief through the grants, currently 10d. a gallon, paid to bus companies by the Ministry of Transport. The hon. Member will also have read the White Paper on "Public Transport and Traffic", in which it is proposed that further relief of 9d. a gallon is to be provided.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total sum paid in Income Tax by a married couple each earning £1,000 per annum compared with two single people earning the same amount; and what is the comparable sum paid by a married couple and two single people each earning £5,000 per annum.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Table 26 of the 109th Report of the Board of Inland Revenue.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has made an examination of the negative Income Tax proposals suggested by Professor Dennis Lees, details of which have been sent to him.

I will study these proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of devaluation, he will now introduce a more stringent control than that at present in operation to deter foreign acquisition of British companies.

As my predecessor stated on 12th July last year, our general policy is to welcome inward investment in this country by United States and other foreign companies; cases involving the take-over of existing companies which by their size or their nature constitute a vital part of British industry will continue to be judged on their merits. In considering these cases we shall naturally take account of all relevant circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now introduce into all Government contracts a clause against discrimination in the contracting company, similar to that enforced by Camden Borough Council, details of which were sent to his department.

As my right hon. Friend the then Home Secretary said on 26th July following his statement on race relations, the question of Government contracts now has to be considered in relation to the new legislation which the Government proposes to introduce.—[Vol. 751, c. 747.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now give any guidance about the payment of export rebate on goods exported after 31st March, 1968, under existing contracts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will be in a position to state whether export rebate will continue to be paid on exports the contracts for which have been signed prior to 1st April, 1968, and which take many months to manufacture.

Provision will be made for goods qualifying under existing legislation to be eligible for export rebate, notwithstanding that they are not exported until after 31st March, 1968, provided that the Board of Trade are satisfied that the goods will be exported under a firm written contract made before 19th November, 1967, at fixed prices payable in sterling, which are not renegotiable. Goods exported under contracts dated on or after 19th November, 1967, the day after the announcement of the withdrawal of the export rebate, will qualify for rebate until 31st March, 1968, only. Appropriate legislation will be introduced before the Christmas Recess. Fuller information about the arrangements proposed for the operation of this scheme will be issued as soon as possible by the Board of Trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that, in the introduction of decimal currency, separately designed coins for Scotland will be issued.

The hon. Member may be assured that the interests of Scotland, together with other proper interests, will not be forgotten.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what advice he has given to trade associations as to how they should advise their members in relation to prices in the post-devaluation economic situation.

Production Departments are in touch with trade associations and will be discussing with them the application of prices and incomes policy in the new economic situation.Immediately, the Government look to all concerned to ensure that increases in prices are no greater than is justified by increases in overall costs due to devaluation. This applies to distributors as to manufacturers and unavoidable increases in distributors' prices due to devaluation should not provide for automatic maintenance of current percentage margins.Any other proposed increases in prices will need to be justified against the criteria for prices in Cmnd. 3235. The early warning arrangements for prices continue to apply and the provision for reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for investigation will be fully utilised. These arrangements where necessary can be supported by the reserve powers of the Prices and Incomes Act, 1966 and 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements for price-vetting, which are similar to the wage-vetting procedure of the Trades Union Congress; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any arrangement for price-vetting by industry similar to the wage vetting procedure of the Trades Union Congress. The arrangements for notification to the Government of proposed increases in prices and for their examination are set out in Cmnd. 3235. These arrangements have worked well but the Government are reviewing the vetting

£ million
		1.10.61–30.9.64		1.10.64–30.9.67
		Scotland	England and Wales	Scotland	England and Wales
Assistance made available under Local Employment Acts*		25·3	30·0	53·0	88·8
(of which advance factories approvals)	…	1·9	1·5	4·1	7·8
Investment grants†	…	—	—	23·1	157·8
				(to 24.11.67)	(to 24.11.67)
Government Training Centres including Industrial Rehabilitation Centres‡	…	1·1	10·3	3·0	21·1
Ministry of Labour assistance to firms in Development Areas for Industrial Training§		║	║	0·4	0·9

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the £45,000 salary of Sir George Harriman, Chairman of the British Motor Corporation, together with

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT information in his possession as to details of all price increases which have been deferred or refused as a result of price-vetting by the Confederation of British Industry.

Price-vetting is carried on by Government Departments, not by the Confederation of British Industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the total financial support, in grants. loans, advance factories, and training facilities, in Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, respectively, since October, 1964, to date; and the comparable information for the immediately preceding 3-year period.

The information required in respect of Great Britain is given in the following table:the pension contribution the company makes on his behalf;(2) if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the salary of £50,000 a year and the other emoluments paid to Mr. John Davis, Chairman of the Rank Organisation;

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs under which section and subsection of the Prices and Incomes Act 1966 he is referring council house rents to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Section 2(1).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will request the Royal Commission on Local Government to inquire into the franchise, the restrictions on candidates, and the absence of control of its funds by either central government or the district auditor in the case of any particular authority and what plans he has for reform.

I understand that my hon. Friend is referring to the government of the City of London. This would be outside the Commission's terms of reference.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT lists of the relevant local authorities which have and have not, respectively, complied with his circular of June, 1966, to provide sufficient permanent sites for gypsies and other travellers.

The following sites for gypsies and other travellers have been opened since circular 26/66 was issued:

• Greater London—Bromley.
• Bedfordshire—Caddington.
• Hertfordshire—Hemel Hempstead.
• Kent—Hollingbourne.
• Kent—Mailing.
• Staffordshire—Aldridge/Brownhills.

Strenuous efforts are being made by a number of authorities to establish sites and detailed proposals have been made in respect of the following:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state how many, and the places where and when, and the extent to which Her Majesty's foreshores were alienated by agreement or by order or by acquisition under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949: and what were the conditions under which, and the purposes for which, each such alienation took place.

No agreements or orders or acquisitions have been made under the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949, which would have the effect of denying access to the foreshore.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he has completed the review of the grant arrangements under the Rural Water Supplies and Sewerage Acts, 1944 to 1965: and if he will make a statement.

I have completed the review and am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the resulting Circular. A copy will be available in the Library in the usual way.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the figures for the number of completed houses included dwellings built for occupation by members of the armed services; and how many such dwellings were completed in 1964, 1965, 1966 and in the first 10 months of 1967.

The monthly figures of new dwellings completed, issued by the Ministry, include those built in this country for families of the armed services: the numbers of such dwellings ale shown in the table below:—

Dwellings Completed for the Armed Services Great Britain
	Number of dwellings
1964	2,799
1965	3,234
1966	4,640
1967 (first ten months)	4,035

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish the evidence in his possession regarding fixed interest mortgages being granted to landlords.

I have no comprehensive information on this subject but I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that the scarcity factor is not being taken into account in the determination of fair rents in London; and if he will make a statement.

The evidence before my right hon. Friend contains nothing to suggest that the scarcity element is not being excluded in the determination of fair rents. Most reductions in rent are related to dwellings in the shortest supply—the least expensive houses, flats and rooms.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he estimates that houses for owner-occupation will be built universally to Parker Morris standards

The level of standards of houses built for owner-occupation has been raised by the National House Builders Registration Council in their new specification which became generally operative on 1st August, 1967. It is the Council's intention to continue to raise standards gradually, but some of the Parker Morris recommendations, in particular the space standards, are related to the number of people who will occupy a house, and these cannot be applied if the number of people is not known when the house is being built.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consultations have taken place between the Greater London Council and his Department over rent increases in the present economic situation.

The Greater London Council have not informed my right hon. Friend of their proposals. They were not hound to do so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for how long the temporary ban on the import of meat from Argentina and Uruguay will remain in force.

As I made clear in the House on 4th December, the suspension of imports applies to a number of countries. These arrangements are temporary and will last until the present emergency is brought under control. They will in any event be reviewed after three months if still in operation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why licences are still being issued for Olney Cattle Market to take place, although this is now an infected area.

It is desirable that fatstock in infected areas should be slaughtered as soon as possible. The advantage of licensing fatstock markets is that it ensures veterinary supervision, disinfection of vehicles and enables the presence of disease to be detected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that there are, and will be, sufficient stocks of disinfectant material for all farmers who so decide to be able to implement his recommendation for taking disinfectant precautions at the farm gate as a means of minimising the spread of foot-and-mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My officers are constantly in touch with the manufacturers of disinfectant.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether any of his officers were present at the burial of cattle imported from abroad and made unfit to be eaten by the dock strike in the North-West; and what disinfectant precautions were insisted on by his Departmental officials.

Neither I nor the local authorities responsible for the disposal of unfit meat, whom I have consulted, have been able to trace any such incident, but if the hon. Member will give me further particulars I will look into them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action has been taken in Nottinghamshire to limit the use of footpaths and restrict access by pedestrians on farm land where it is considered desirable in the interest of preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

Nottinghamshire is not in an infected area. There has been a good response to advice to keep entry on farm land to the minimum.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will institute an inquiry into the problems of providing compensation to organisations who have had their activities stopped or curtailed due to instructions given by those controlling the foot-and-mouth diseases outbreak.

The problems of providing compensation for losses consequential on an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease were considered by the report of the Departmental Committee of Inquiry into Foot and Mouth Disease, 1952–54. They recommended that compensation should only be paid for animals slaughtered. This has since been extended to give compensation for materials destroyed in order to prevent the spread of disease. I regret that it would not be practicable for the Government to undertake to pay compensation for consequential losses as a result of the epidemic.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will take power to prevent entry on farms where this may cause a risk of spread of foot-and-mouth disease.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have made the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Temporary Restrictions) Order 1967 under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950, empowering us to serve notices prohibiting entry on agricultural land or adjoining land where we consider it necessary to do so for the purpose of preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease.The public have responded with full understanding to our appeals to keep out of infected areas, not to go needlessly on farmland anywhere, and not to do so in any case without the farmer's consent. Many events involving movements and gatherings of people which lead to contacts with infected areas or with farm stock have been curtailed or cancelled. Many people have suffered financial loss as a result and others have gone without their usual sports and pleasures. We thank all concerned for their co-operation.We do not wish or expect to make any wide use of our powers under the new Order, which will cease to operate on 31st March, 1968, unless extended by a further Order, and is meant only to enable us to deal with the small minority of individual cases where there may be no other way of preventing entry on to farm land or adjoining land in circumstances which may present a risk of spreading the disease.The Foot-and-Mouth Disease Order of 1928 prohibits entry on an infected farm without a permit and this prohibition is unaffected by the new Order.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out in detail the known causes of foot-and-mouth outbreaks over the last 10 years, the number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered in each of these outbreaks; and how much has been paid in compensation.

The information is not readily accessible in the form the hon. Member requires.The origin of any outbreak can be assessed only on circumstantial evidence. Since 1954, up to but not including the last outbreak, primary outbreaks have been attributed to the following causes:

		Percent
Continent (Birds)	46	(25)
Swill	36	(20)
Contact with imported meat and bones (other than swill)	54	(30)
Escape from Research Institute	1
Unknown origin but possible contact with swill, etc.	11	(6)
Origin completely obscure	31	(17)

The number of cattle, sheep and pigs slaughtered in calendar years for the last ten years, excluding 1967 are:—

Year	Cattle	Sheep	Pigs	Goats
1957	11,284	12,885	6,221	20
1958	9,529	2,442	8,008	24
1959	2,251	2,284	3,179	3
1960	26,045	32,493	12,031	24
1961	7,078	9,813	8,149	9
1962	371	273	308	—
1963	—	—	—	—
1964	—	—	—	—
1965	154	—	—	—
1966	5,964	38,607	718	2

The amount of compensation paid for the last ten financial years is:—

	£
1957–58	880,586
1958–59	869,553
1959–60	225,370
1960–61	2,120,745
1961–62	679,540
1962–63	26,869
1963–64	—
1964–65	—
1965–66	18,299
1966–67	932,786

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has declined to give to interested parties and authorities details of the Butyl road bath which is a more effective method of decontaminating vehicles and pedestrians than the straw beds used at present.

I am not aware of having declined any requests for information, but it is for manufacturers to publicise their products.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that there has been a sharp rise in the price of meat, including mutton, in Inverness; whether this applies to other areas in Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take to hold prices down in view of the economic situation.

Retail prices throughout Great Britain have been affected by the substantial increases during November in the average auction price of fat sheep and lambs, and correspondingly in the wholesale price of their meat. Individual butchers in different areas will of course have experienced increases both higher and lower than the average depending on where they trade and the type of meat they handle; and the effect on retail prices will further depend on the extent to which individual traders have been able to absorb any part of their additional costs.Some price changes are inevitable with commodities subject to considerable alterations in supply and demand. Buyers of meat can, however, play an important part in maintaining reasonable price levels by comparing prices not only between shops but also between cuts.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the average price per pound of Argentine beef, Australian beef, Irish beef and home produced beef, respectively.

Meat sells at varying wholesale prices according to supply and demand in different areas, and its quality. An indication of current levels is, however, given by the quotations on Smithfield market on 6th December which were as follows:—

	s.	d./lb.
Eire sides	2	5–2	8
Argentine chilled hind	2	4–3	0
Argentine chilled fore	2	0–2	3

There has been no quotation this week for English longsides but recently these have been quoted at about 1d. lb. more than Eire sides. There are no comparable quotations for Australian beef, which is all imported in frozen form and rarely sold through wholesale markets.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to lay the new Labelling Regulations which are to apply to the use of cyclamates in foodstuffs, which has been permitted since 1st December; and whether in preparing these Regulations he will take account of representations made to him in connection with the Artificial Sweeteners Regulations and the need to prevent consumers in general and young persons in particular from consuming excessive quantities of cyclamates.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Health and I intend to lay these regulations before the House before the Christmas Recess. So far as artificial sweeteners are concerned, I have nothing to add to the reply to questions by the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Jopling) on 23rd October, 1967.—[Vol. 751, c. 383–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that there are sufficient stocks of disinfectant material in Scotland for farmers to be able to implement his recommendation for disinfectant precautions at the farm gate, as a means of minimising the spread of foot-and-mouth disease; and if he will make a statement.

The general position is as described in the reply by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to a similar question put to him as regards England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to implement the recommendations of the Grant Committee relating to solicitors.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mr. Hannen) on 28th November.—[Vol. 755, c. 87.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to review the law governing methods of fishing in Scottish inshore waters and the means of enforcing it.

The present code of legislation, both in statutes and in byelaws, regulating the methods of fishing which may be employed in inshore waters round the Scottish coasts dates originally from the 1880s. Circumstances and fishing methods have changed greatly since then, and I am setting up an independent committee to examine the existing statutory provisions and the means of enforcing them.The committee's terms of reference will be:—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made with the establishment of water boards under the Water (Scotland) Act, 1967.

Orders constituting all 13 regional water boards have now been made. Eight of the boards have been appointed and have either held their first meetings or will hold them within the next week. The members of the remaining five boards are now being appointed and their first meetings will be held during January. The functions of existing water authorities will be transferred to the boards on 16th May, 1968, in all regions.The Central Scotland Water Development Board cannot he appointed until all the seven regional water boards in the central area are in existence, but I expect this Board to be established in time to exercise its functions from 16th May next.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were employed by Scottish local authorities at the most recent date for which figures are available; and what was the comparable total in the same month of each of the previous five years.

Two sets of figures are published as at June each year. I regret that the 1967 figures are not yet available. The figures for 1966 and the preceding five years are as follows:

	Ministry of Labour Gazette	Digest of Scottish Statistics
	(1)	(2)
1961	179,074	67,200
1962	182,961	73,300
1963	188,756	78,300
1964	191,988	73,600
1965	198,089	73,000
1966	203,377	71,100
(1) Total number employed by local authorities and police forces.
(2) Educational, transport, construction and certain other employees are classified under separate headings in the Digest, and the figures from 1964 reflect the progressive reclassification of employees in these groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many local authorities in Scotland do not have trained staff to provide domiciliary physiotherapy.

I am obtaining this information and will write to the hon. Member when it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many married women doctors are employed in hospitals and in general practice; and how many that qualified are not practising.

There are about 530 women doctors in the hospital service in Scotland, and such informaion as I have indicates that about a third are married. There are about 270 women family doctors on Scottish executive councils' lists, of whom nearly half are married. I have no information about the number of medically qualified married women who are resident in Scotland and not practising.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what regional hospital board areas are full facilities not available to general practitioners for open access laboratory investigations in bacteriology, haematology, biochemistry and radiology, including media radiology, respectively.

It is the policy of all boards to provide these facilities as far as practicable. Though staffing difficulties leading to the temporary restriction of access have occurred from time to time boards have taken steps to restore the service as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many places in day hospitals are required for geriatric patients to meet the pressure of such patients.

This form of treatment is a fairly new concept. At the present development stage no estimate can be made of the number of patients who might benefit if it were generally available.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of general practitioners in post at 1st July, 1967 and the average number of patients on the list at that date.

The information is as follows:

Doctors providing full general medical services in England and Wales at 1st July, 1967	19,867
Average number of patients on lists	2,470

NOTE.—The true number of patients per doctor will be slightly smaller than the average number on doctors' lists since it is not possible to eliminate all duplicate entries from lists.

asked the Minister of Health if, with regard to those drug manufacturers in Great Britain which are controlled by United States parents companies, he will take steps to remove the veto placed upon exporting some of their products.

I have no such powers and I am not aware of any limitation of export capacity imposed on British subsidiaries by their United States parent companies which would justify my seeking to intervene.