asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further action he proposes, following the implementation of all the recommendations of the Mountbatten Report cm Prisons, to make the conditions of prison officers more attractive.

The conditions of service of prison officers are kept under continuous review to ensure that they are adequate to attract sufficient men and women of good quality.

In view of the known over-crowding of prisons and the understaffing at present, which was revealed at the time of the Mountbatten Report, will not the Home Secretary look again at this most urgent matter?

There have been a number of new allowances introduced in order to improve the conditions of service, and substantial agreements have been reached on the introduction of new rinks and on promotion procedure. All these things directly arise out of Mountbatten, and I think that we must leave it to the normal negotiating machinery to propose any further changes which are thought appropriate.

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on this his first appearance at the Dispatch Box in his present office, and I wish him every success for the future.

Yes, Sir; there is a strong case for doing what my hon. Friend suggests, and I believe that this is the approach of the Prison Officers' Association, too.

Will the right hon. Gentleman accept that we on this side, too, welcome him to his new position and that he can count on us to support him in his war against crime? Has he had a chance to study the complaints in the prison officers' magazine about the delay in implementing the Mountbatten Report and the contrast which they draw between the great gimmickry of floodlight perimeter walls and so on and the reluctance of the Government to implement things for the benefit of those who are employed to perform this indispensable service?

I am much obliged for what the right hon. and learned Gentleman says, though I shall walk with circumspection as I am never sure whether he is likely to proffer me a bunch of roses or a shillelagh.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has, now that the Criminal Justice Act has abolished corporal punishment for offences in prison to protect and compensate prison officers injured by prisoners.

Arrangements have been made to identify prisoners who are a potential danger to prison officers so that they may be especially allocated and be afforded remedial treatment. A claim from the Prison Officers' Association for improved compensation in respect of prison officers killed or injured as a result of violence by an inmate is being considered. As the Association recognises this claim raises complex issues.

Will the Home Secretary have a hard look at this, as it is pretty tough going in prisons now that the threat of corporal punishment has been removed? Will he see that prison officers are really protected or, if not, compensated properly and adequatly?

In view of the nature of the prison population and the offences of which some prisoners are convicted, there is always a risk of violence against the staff. It is certainly our duty to ensure that that risk is minimised as much as possible. As regards compensation, if anyone should be injured, I shall give the most serious consideration to it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received concerning the large number of prostitutes breaking the law in the area of Bedford Hill, Balham; and what reply he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has not had representations on this subject.

Will my hon. and learned Friend inform his right hon. Friend that I have had a number of representations on this topic, including, may I say, from my neighbour and constituent my hon. Friend the Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor), who, I understand, has suffered from the situation which prevails there? Would not my hon. and learned Friend agree that the nuisance which arises from this kind of situation is due not to the existence of prostitutes but to the kerb crawling of the men who come seeking their prey in this area, and will he bear in mind the necessity for a fresh look at legislation to protect women in Bedford Hill and similar areas who are subject to the most appalling and uncivil behaviour on the part of kerb-crawling men?

Order. There are many Questions on the Order Paper, and supplementary questions should be brief.

I note with interest that my hon. Friend has had approaches made to him on this subject. The only approach to us so far has been from him. We understand that the police have had only oral representations made to them, but I shall certainly take note of what he said.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Should not this Question more properly have been put to the Solicitor-General?

That is not a point of order for me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requests have been received from the citizens of North Vietnam for visas to enter the United Kingdom during 1967; and what answers have been given.

Four. Three were refused, and one was granted. Apart from these applications, there has been a considerable number of inquiries from people in this country about the grant of visas to Vietnamese.

I am grateful to my hon. Friend for that reply. Will he give an assurance that future inquiries or requests for visas will be dealt with on the basis that everybody is welcome to this country unless it can be shown clearly that he or she represents a danger to us?

I can give an assurance that applications for visas by Vietnamese will be considered on their merits in the light of the relevant circumstances. There will certainly not be a policy of automatic refusal.

On a point of order. May we have your guidance, Mr. Speaker? In what respect is North Vietnam regarded as a separate country?

That is not a point of order for me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the Boeing 747 aircraft which will soon be coming into service will be capable of carrying 500 passengers; and what preparations the immigration authorities are making to be able to handle this number of passengers expeditiously.

My officers are considering, in consultation with the airport authorities and others concerned, how best to apply an effective immigration control without unduly delaying passengers on these aircraft.

Is the Minister aware that the speed at which visitors pass through the immigration procedures at our major airports is already giving grounds for concern? If we are to make the most of our tourist potential, especially after devaluation, will he give the problem a very high priority?

I do not accept the hon. Gentleman's point. The average time is about 43 seconds per overseas visitor arriving in this country, and it is going down. We are most concerned to ensure that when the Boeing 747 comes into use in 1970 full provisions will be made to see that the traffic is dealt with rapidly.

Does the Minister agree that there is also the problem of people who come here to live? At present over 1,000 a year must be sent back, which is very inhumane. Will he consider introducing a certificate system so that people must have certificates before coming here to live?

That is quite a different question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the incidence and detection of crime in the Metropolitan Police area since 1st January last.

During the first nine months of 1967, indictable offences known to the Metropolitan police showed a reduction of 4·2 per cent, over the corresponding period of 1966. Twenty-four per cent. of such crimes were cleared up compared with 22 per cent, for the same period last year.

That is a most satisfactory statement. Will my right hon. Friend convey to the Commissioner and all ranks the thanks of law-abiding citizens for their hard work in this respect? Can my right hon. Friend say to what extent this improved performance is due to the use of technological aids?

I am much obliged to my hon. Friend for what he says. I shall see that his observations are conveyed to the police, whose morale I find to be extremely high at present. To some extent, as far as I can ascertain, this is because of the factor to which my hon. Friend refers—the introduction of modern methods of policing and new equipment, together with the placing of more responsibility on individual officers and the response of the public. All those factors seem to have given the police a substantial improvement in their approach to the problem of preventing and solving crime.

As the Metropolitan police are so under-staffed at present, will the right hon. Gentleman see if a new initiative can be taken to release some of the police from their clerical and administrative jobs and their road work, giving them a better chance to prevent and detect crime?

I am sure that that is what a great many of the police would like to do. We should certainly keep the administrative tasks to a minimum. The matter is constantly under review in the organisation and methods division of the police.

Could the right hon. Gentleman break down these admittedly satisfactory figures to show what relation the proportion of crimes associated with violence—robbery with violence, assault with attempt to rob and possession of firearms—bears to the total?

In the first nine months of the year, as compared with the first nine months of last year, the figures have fallen as follows: housebreaking is down by 14 per cent.; shop and warehouse breaking by 17 per cent.; theft of motor cars by 15·6 per cent.; unauthorised taking and driving away of motor vehicles by 22·5 per cent. Robberies and assault show the least decline. Robberies and assault with intent to rob are down by 2·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a progress report about the unit-beat system, and state when it is to be introduced in the constituency of the hon. Member for Harrow, East.

By 30th September, 1967, the system had been introduced in police areas in which some 16 per cent, of the population of England and Wales live. The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis plans to introduce the system in the Pinner area, part of which lies within the constituency of my hon. Friend, early in 1968. The remainder of his constituency is covered by the Edgware sub-division, where the system will begin to operate at some time before the end of March, 1969.

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that satisfactory reply. Will he take note that in my constituency we have a particular problem because of our proximity to the M1? Will he ensure that the local police force has every help in discouraging thieves from entering my constituency and decamping along the Ml with the hard-earned possessions of my constituents?

I shall see what comments the Commissioner has to make on that.

Will the right hon. Gentleman say why this excellent system is apparently to be introduced solely in the constituency of Harrow, East? Does not Harrow, Central have a look in on this matter?

I should not like to make any comments on where the criminals are to be found. [Laughter.] The percentage of population to be covered by the unit-beat system is going up very fast, and by next March, which is only three or four months away, 63 per cent, of the population of England and Wales will be covered by the new system.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that my constituency was chosen as the experimental city for this excellent system? Will he bear in mind that the results have been excellent, that the morale of the police has improved, that crime has dropped, and that rela- tions between the public and the police have improved as a result? Will he expedite the use of the system throughout the country?

I am aware of what my hon. Friend has said. I must add that in addition to these triumphs in Accrington my hon. Friend was returned as its Member in March, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will send a circular to local authorities drawing attention to their powers to prosecute sellers of defective second-hand oil heaters.

A circular was issued to local authorities in June 1966 explaining the effect of the relevant Regulations, and I take this opportunity of reminding them of their powers.

But does my hon. Friend realise that many defective oil heaters are on sale at second-hand shops and jumble sales and in markets precisely because their former owners found them defective? In view of the very small number of heaters sent in by local authorities since the circular went out, even though fires caused by defective oil heaters continue, could my hon. Friend find another way of encouraging local authorities to take their duties in this respect more seriously?

If a defective oil heater is sold in a shop an offence is clearly committed. There has not been a court case concerning jumble sales. But the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents has already urged that these heaters should not be sold in them. My hon. Friend is right to say that this is a serious problem. In 1966, 49 people died in England and Wales as a result of fires caused by oil heaters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what special instructions have been given to immigration officers at Heathrow Airport in dealing with visitors from Tanzania and other countries with which the United Kingdom has no diplomatic relations.

None, Sir.

Is my hon. Friend surprised to hear that a Tanzanian Minister complained to me of delay and discourtesy both to himself and other Tanzanians? Will he give an assurance that there is no discrimination against Tanzanians at Heathrow Airport?

I am very disturbed to hear what my hon. Friend said. That complaint has not been brought to my attention, and I shall look into it with the greatest care. I assure my hon. Friend that there is no difference between the treatment of those who arrive from Tanzania or any other country that has broken off diplomatic relations and the citizens of any other country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now relax the application of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act affecting Gibraltarians.

I cannot at present add anything to the reply which was given to a similar Question asked by the hon. Member on 26th October.—[Vol. 751, c. 525.]

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that a few months ago a much more hopeful reply was made by one of his colleagues? Is he not further aware that the total population of Gibraltar is only half that of immigration from other countries which have not voted to retain close ties with this country but the very opposite? Is not the hon. Gentleman prepared to do something to help the loyal and devoted people of Gibraltar who are feeling claustrophobic and are kept interned on the Rock because of the Government's failure to protect them?

I do not accept the last part of that supplementary question. Of course, we have sympathy with the Gibraltarians. The hon. Gentleman will be aware that the referendum was concerned with the present relationship with the United Kingdom. It did not deal with immigration policy. On the possibilities regarding employment vouchers, we are giving immediate attention to whether there is any additional assistance we can give to Gibraltar.

In view of the figures given by the Minister of Labour on 30th November, which revealed that the proportion of Spaniards admitted to this country last year vastly exceeded the proportion of Gibraltarians who succeeded in getting work permits, surely there is unfair discrimination against Commonwealth citizens. Will the hon. Gentleman look at this again?

It is only partly a matter for my right hon. Friend, but we are looking at the question of labour vouchers, and, of course, there is no difficulty as far as visitors are concerned.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the reply, I beg to give notice that I shall seek to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place a breathalyser in New Palace Yard for inspection by hon. Members.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is there not a misprint in this Question? Should not the word "by" after the word "inspection" read "of"?

A set of breath-testing devices has been placed in the Library.

Is there not a good deal to be said for law-abiding citizens like hon. Members to be enabled to use a breathalyser before driving a car?

That is not something over which the Government have any control. There would be disadvantages. For example, there might be a temptation to drink up to the limit. Again, the breathalyser might not always be accurate in such circumstances since what a person drinks on one occasion may have a different effect from what he drinks on another. It depends on what he has eaten. I understand that the firm which produces the approved devices has announced that it will place large numbers on sale to the public.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that the Hampshire Licensed Victuallers Association considers that hon. Members should have a breathalyser test before an important vote is taken in the House?

I have noted that suggestion among a number from licensed victuallers associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the crystals in the phials of the alcotest, being yellow, do not greatly differ when changed to green, if a test is proved to be positive; and whether he will propose the use of white crystals to avoid any doubt.

I am not aware of any difficulty in reading the immediate colour change. One of the chemicals essential to this device is yellow in colour.

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman realise that, seen in sodium or phosphate light, these crystals are difficult to identify and the police have been known to look at them in the light of a motorist's headlights? How does he know what the filament is in that headlight?

It is perfectly true that in a certain kind of sodium lighting there may be some difficulty in reading the result, and the police have been advised to use the lights of a headlamp or a torch, but there are no chemicals with a white colour which would produce the required action when subjected to alcohol.

Have we not reached a stage now when the whole of this complicated matter of the specification of breathalysers ought to be remitted to the British Standards Institution so that all users of breathalysers everywhere know that the product being employed is utterly reliable and in accordance with the Institution's recommendation?

No one has been able to find any fault with the requirements which we have stipulated and the device which we have is the same as that which has been approved elsewhere and it is proving satisfactory in support of a very good law.

Is the Minister aware that the only test in which most of us are interested is the reduction in the number of innocent pedestrians knocked down? Is he further aware that most of us want to rebut completely this over-sensitivity on behalf of drunks?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that Sue Berry of Watford can identify at least one of the police officers who told her to plead guilty of an offence of which she was subsequently acquitted, what further action he proposes to take; and whether he will make a statement.

As there has been some conflict of information on the question whether Miss Berry could identify an officer alleged to have advised her to plead guilty, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis has made detailed inquiries on this point. Miss Berry has stated that she remembered an officer who gave evidence against her in court as being the same officer who noted her name and address at the time of her arrest. But my information is that she did not identify this officer as one who advised her to plead guilty and that the officer concerned categorically denies that he at any time spoke to Miss Berry or her companion about their pleas. On 18th November, she and her companion informed the police that neither of them had made or wished to make any complaint against the police.

Although the young girl in question has now compassionately stated that she does not wish to make any formal complaint, will my hon. and learned Friend give an assurance that he will make it clear to the police, especially the policeman in question, that this kind of thing must never happen again?

I note that my hon. Friend pursues this when the young lady does not. Of course, the police are made aware that using pressure to persuade someone to plead guilty is improper, but in this case the young lady has not identified any particular police officer as having made such a suggestion, according to my information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he takes to ensure that immigrant children arriving unaccompanied from the West Indies are coming to the home of a parent who is willing and able to take care of them.

Children under 16 coming to join their parents who are Commonwealth citizens resident here have a statutory right of admission, and my right lion. Friend has no power to prevent, or to attach conditions to, their entry.

Is not the hon. Gentleman aware that there is a problem here? Some plane loads of children arrive in this country in the care of hostesses and in some cases children go to mothers who have married again and have other children and other families who are not anxious or are unwilling to have them. Surely it is time the Home Office looked into this question, because it affects the welfare of children as well as the welfare services in the constituencies concerned.

I am surprised by what the hon. Gentleman has said. He has not put any such information before us. We are not aware of such a problem. If he has evidence from his constituency or elsewhere, we will seriously look at it.

Has the hon. Gentleman had time to reflect upon the admitted facts which arose out of the last debate on immigration when the present Chancellor of the Exchequer agreed that a serious problem was created by the importation of boys to a single father in this country whom he desires to exploit for the purpose of avoiding a labour voucher?

That is a different though important question. I assure the right hon. and learned Gentleman that since that debate the matter is being looked at very seriously to see what proposals can be made.

Is my hon. Friend aware that the problems are not limited to children coming from the West Indies?

The point made by the right hon. and learned Member for St. Marylebone (Mr. Hogg) related almost entirely to children from Pakistan. Children from the West Indies nearly all come in with entry certificates because of arrangements made by the carrying company.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now take steps to amend the Obscene Publications Act.

No, Sir.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that recent cases, including "The Last Exit to Brooklyn" case, seem to indicate that the present law is totally unsatisfactory? Will he look at this again?

I do not think one can change the law according to one's views on how each individual case is decided. I am sure my hon. Friend will agree that the law was liberal in design and, on the whole, has resulted in greater freedom of publication. The design of the law is that the public, represented by a jury, should decide whether a book of a particular kind should be published, and I think that that is a satisfactory approach.

Is the opinion of persons convicted of a criminal offence necessarily good evidence that the law ought to be changed?

This is a subject on which a variety of opinions have been expressed by those who have read the book and by those who have not.

Does not my hon. and learned Friend agree that what is needed on the subject of the effect of obscenity is less emotion and more scientific fact? Would we not be greatly assisted by an expert independent commission such as the one Denmark has set up with beneficial results?

The purpose of the law was to enable the public themselves to judge, through a jury, and we leave it to the public to weigh the expert evidence produced on a particular book. There is a lot of disagreement among experts about the effect of certain books on the public.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman express his gratitude to my hon. Friend the Member for Wimbledon (Sir C. Black), without whose individual action there is no doubt that this successful prosecution would never have been instituted?

I am not going to comment on this occasion on particular decisions on particular books by particular juries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will advise the exercise of the prerogative of mercy by commuting the prison sentences now being served by Messrs. Randle, Foley and Chandler for their part in demonstrations at the Greek Embassy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise the exercise of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy in respect of Mr. Chandler, Mr. Randle and Mr. Foley.

I cannot recommend interference with the decisions of the courts unless significant new facts or considerations have come to light which the courts were unable to consider. In this case no such considerations have been brought to my notice and there are accordingly no grounds on which I should be justified in advising the exercise of the Royal Prerogative.

I recognise my right hon. Friend's difficulty, but will he bear in mind the widespread conviction that long-term imprisonment is entirely inappropriate for an offence of conscience? Will he look again at the possibility of recommending the exercise of the Prerogative? Is he aware that today the King of Greece would probably not be able to get into his own Embassy?

From the volume of noise I am aware that this case raises considerable emotion, but I must judge my advice on the exercise of the Royal Prerogative in accordance with the well-known practice. As for the young men themselves, I see no reason why at least one of them who wishes to continue his studies should not do so while in detention, and I want to examine that sympathetically in order to ensure that he loses as little time as possible.

Is not my right hon. Friend aware that he ought not to keep in prison people who felt so deeply about the taking of power by Greek colonels that they protested actively a few months ago? Does he not agree that, apart from anything, else the release of these three would show the utter contempt which we in Britain have for the military riff raff who still rule Greece?

I shall not comment on my hon. Friend's second supplementary question which does not arise out of the Question. To have asked the first he cannot have heard what I said. If I put myself into the position of reviewing sentences passed by the courts, there would be no end to it and there would be an immediate conflict between the Executive and the courts, which might well have very undesirable consequences.

Will the right hon. Gentleman bear in mind when listening to representations of the kind just made by his hon. Friends that it will be a sad day for the rule of law in international affairs if this of all countries tolerates invasion of embassies as a means of expressing political feelings?

I certainly do not forget that our own people in China have been subjected to very considerable molestation because of disagreeing with the regime of that country. On the other hand, I do not think that anybody should be prevented from expressing his detestation of a régime, provided that he does so in a lawful way.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to arrange to have provided proper employment for the inmates of Gartree Prison, Leicestershire.

New and better work has already been introduced and all prisoners should soon be more satisfactorily employed.

Is the hon. and learned Gentleman aware that until recently two-thirds had nothing to do? Does not enforced idleness of this type place a big additional strain on both the staff and the prisoners and ought it not to be avoided?

Yes. Before this prison was opened, arrangements were made with a private firm to devote all the workshops to good class light engineering. Unfortunately, the firm was unable to provide more than a small amount, but the position has now been improved. Unsatisfactory toy painting work has been replaced and soon the prisoners are to be employed on more worthwhile work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to abolish the theatrical jurisdiction of the Lord Chamberlain as recommended by the Joint Select Committee of both Houses of Parliament.

My right hon. Friend the Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Strauss) has just presented a Bill for that purpose.

In view of the unanimity of the Joint Select Committee and the comparatively low place in the Ballot of the right hon. Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Strauss), not to mention the unfortunate precedent of the recent legislation on abortion, would it not be best for the Government to shoulder their responsibilities in this matter and introduce a Bill themselves?

No, Sir. All that presupposes a great many hypothetical questions, none of which has yet arisen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advance the review date of 1st April, 1968, for the pay of principal probation officers in order to provide an early opportunity of establishing a more suitable career Structure in the probation service.

No, Sir. The review date has been agreed by the Joint Negotiating Committee for the probation and after-care service.

In order to mitigate the disappointment in the probation service on account of that Answer, can the hon. and learned Gentleman confirm that it is the anxiety of the Home Office at the earliest possible moment to have a pay structure fully commensurate with the responsibility now being placed on the probation service?

That is a matter for the negotiating committee. It is that committee's responsibility and not merely ours. A separate review of supervisory posts in the service is now in progress and has already resulted in an improvement of promotion prospects.

Will my hon. and learned Friend look favourably at any suggestion by the negotiating committee for the introduction of one or more additional grades of probation officer, as that might provide more attractive promotion prospects?

It would be wrong to anticipate what the joint negotiating committee will recommend.

Will the hon. and learned Gentleman bear in mind the considerable strain which will fall on the service in the spring with the provisions of the Criminal Justice Bill, and the crucial importance of keeping the service up to strength?

Certainly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to introduce legislation to implement the proposals contained in the White Paper on Immigration, Command Paper No. 2739.

In framing the legislation on immigration control including the establishment of an appeal system which I intend to introduce when Parliamentary time is available, I shall take full account of the proposals to which the hon. and learned Member refers.

Will the right hon. Gentleman, whom I am delighted to see in his present post, recognise that there is a tremendous loophole in the fact that once an illegal immigrant has remained here for 24 hours, he can remain scot-free? Will he assure us that the legislation which he promises will stop up that loophole among others?

I am told that this is a matter which is being carefully considered. Mr. Hogg: As this is a matter of considerable urgency, will the right hon. Gentleman press upon his right hon. Friend the Leader of the House the desirability of making Parliamentary time available at the earliest possible moment after Christmas?

No, Sir. I o not think that I could undertake to do that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will refer the increase in the salary of the Chairman of the Horse-racing Betting Levy Board to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No, Sir.

Does that mean that the Government think that it is worth breaching the incomes policy by a rise of 20 per cent, in order to facilitate the noble Lord's exit from the Government?

I am sorry that Lord Wigg is not here to deal with the hon. Member himself. I am sure that he would give a very good account of himself. All these questions of remuneration under the Government's prices and incomes policy are related to productivity and I have no doubt—[Laughter.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of arson or malicious damage have been recorded during the last three years against places of worship or assembly of racial or religious minorities; and what action is being taken to deal with groups inspiring and inducing these criminal offences.

I regret that this information is not available. The only relevant figures which I have relate to synagogues and other Jewish communal premises in the Metropolitan Police District. Nineteen cases of arson or malicious damage were reported in 1966, and nine have been reported this year. The police are paying special attention to this difficult problem.

Is my hon. and learned Friend aware that police forces have been remarkably efficient in apprehend- ing those responsible for these outrages? However, as I have in my possession an alarmingly long list of these offences, will he undertake to watch this position very closely in future?

Yes, Sir, and I am grateful to my hon. Friend for the tribute which he has rightly paid to the police for this work.

Does the hon. and learned Gentleman recognise that these dastardly attacks are only the end product? Will he relate these attacks to the renewed dissemination through the post of anti-Semitic literature?

I agree that this is something which has to be watched. There is at least this encouraging fact to report— that the membership of the National Socialist movement seems to be declining to a very small band.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the will call for reports from chief constables as to what steps have been taken to safeguard the assets in Wales of the City of Liverpool.

The police in Wales, together with the other authorities concerned, are taking measures to reduce the risk of further damage to these installations.

For how long will subversive elements in Wales be allowed to damage—recently to the extent of £25,000—assets of the City of Liverpool, which has brought so many amenities to the Principality of Wales, before major action is taken by the police?

I can say that from personal experience there are no subversive elements in Wales. There are a few irresponsible young idiots, whose actions are deplored and repudiated by the overwhelming majority of the people of Wales.

Is it not ridiculous that the full cost should be borne by the City of Liverpool and not by the Government in such matters?

Perhaps my hon. Friend would like to address that question to the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department upon what estimate of the number of survivors in the event of a major nuclear attack on this country he bases the civil defence of the United Kingdom.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him on 26th October —[Vol. 751, c. 517.]

Is my hon. Friend aware that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said in this House last year that in the event of a thermonuclear exchange life on this island would be extinct within three days? Will he get together with his right hon. Friend? One of them must be right and the other wrong, and I suspect that he is wrong and is wasting public money on an entirely useless exercise.

My right hon. Friend, when he made the statement on 4th March, 1965, did so in the context of a thermo-nuclear war in which we were supposed to be tackling the Soviet Union single-handed. He made it clear that this was a highly unlikely event, so that the comments he made are not really relevant. There would undoubtedly be very serious devastation, but there would be life on this island. Civil defence is necessary in order to prevent casualties, for the treatment of the injured and in order to provide survivors with a means of life.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether it is his policy to allow the police in Hertfordshire to abandon the use of identification numbers on their uniforms.

I have consulted the Police Advisory Board on a proposal that the display of numbers on police uniforms should be discontinued generally, and have since reflected on the opinions expressed. Those who have proposed this change have been motivated by a desire to improve the status of police officers. But it seems to me that it is in the interests both of the public, and police themselves, that the police should continue to wear numbers on their uniform, and I intend to advise police authorities and chief officers of police in this sense.

Is my right hon. Friend aware that this will give great satisfaction to the majority of citizens in the country, as the only safeguard that they have against possible abuse of power is the identification of the policeman?

I would not accept that it is the only possible safeguard that the citizen has, but it is true that the citizen feels that, as long as there is a number, there is a greater measure of protection for him. On behalf of the police I want to say that they do not desire to get rid of these numbers because of any wish to escape responsibility.

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that when he was in a previous office he gave me exactly the opposite answer, with exactly the opposite arguments, when I suggested that perhaps Customs officials should wear numbers, too?

There is surely a difference between asking people who do not wear numbers to put them on, and taking them away from those who have traditionally worn them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce regulations to control the use of hormones in beauty preparations; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is awaiting the recommendations of the Poisons Board on this matter.

Is my hon. Friend aware that there is a good deal of concern about these preparations, some of which may be completely useless, and therefore misleading, and others which may have a health risk, especially for older women with hormone susceptibility? Could he get the report and act on it as quickly as possible?

I am aware that there has been disquiet, particularly about one preparation known as "Beauty Bust", which was advertised under the title of "Bust Beauty Yours", Mr. Speaker. There is a dispute about that particular product and we will certainly act as soon as we have the report of the Board.