asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what additional proposals for the amendment of the "Tiger" constitution were put forward by Her Majesty's Government while he was in Salisbury.

None. In my talks with Mr. Smith in Salisbury I was concerned to explore the changes in the draft constitution worked out on board H.M.S. "Tiger" which he had told Lord Alport he wished to introduce.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give the most recent estimate of the budgetary costs, and the cost to the United Kingdom's balance of payments, of sanctions against Rhodesia; how much of these costs are attributable to naval and air expenditure and the increased cost of copper and tobacco imports, respectively; and what reductions in these costs are proposed.

The direct cost of payments by the Exchequer including aid to Zambia, was £27 million between I.D.I. and 30th November this year.The cost to the United Kingdom balance of payments cannot be precisely estimated. The cost for 1967 will probably be similar to that of £40 million given for 1966 by the Prime Minister in the House on 16th March, 1967. Within this figure the additional cost of tobacco imports is estimated at about £10 million. In addition about £10 million of the additional cost of copper imports in 1967 might be attributed to the Rhodesian situation, amongst the many factors affecting copper prices.Since I.D.I. the Royal Air Force has incurred additional budgetary expenditure on the deployment of the Javelin defence force and its supporting units, now withdrawn, of about £2·8 million and of £0·4 million on surveillance of the Mozambique Channel; additional costs have been incurred by the Royal Navy in respect of the latter of about £0·5 million.As I said in the House on Tuesday, 12th December, failing a return to constitutional rule in Rhodesia we have no alternative but to pursue the policy of sanctions in conjunction with the United Nations. In view of the many factors involved I cannot forecast the likely future cost of this policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what links an independent Nauru will retain with the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand; and whether an application has been made for membership of the Commonwealth.

The future links of Nauru with Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom have not been determined. Nauruan leaders have taken the position that the nature of all future links should be determined by agreement after independence.No formal application has been made by Nauru for membership of the Commonwealth. Nauruan leaders have stated publicly that they desire to maintain an association with the Commonwealth.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what progress he has made in settling the future of the India Office Library; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Mr. Driberg) on 17th January, 1967. Correspondence continues with the Governments of India and Pakistan on the terms of reference and other matters connected with the setting up of the proposedad hocTribunal to consider the legal ownership of the India Office building and its contents, including the India Office Library, as at the time of Independence. No date can yet be given for the setting up of the Tribunal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British Service men have been killed or died in the Middle East since 1946.

Between 1946 and the end of 1966 over 3,000 officers and men of the Army, Royal Marines and Royal Air Force died or were killed in the Middle East Command. The boundaries of this Command varied over the years.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his talks with the German Government about a joint strike fighter/ trainer and swing-wing fighter project.

During the recent N.A.T.O. meeting I have exchanged views with the West German Defence Minister on a number of matters of common interest including the aircraft procurement field.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the weather forecast issued by the Meteorological Office for radio and television at 17.55 on Thursday, 7th December;(2)what further special warnings were given by his Department by means of radio and television during the evening of Thursday, 7th December, to warn the community to expect the arctic conditions of Friday, 8th December;(3)if he will institute an inquiry into the weather forecasts made available to the general public by the Meteorological Office prior to the arctic conditions of Friday, 8th December, with a view to providing more warning to the community.

Weather forecasts issued by radio and television at about 6 p.m. on 7th December referred to very cold weather with severe frost at night. In most of England snow showers were expected to produce mainly light falls, but in North Scotland and in some western districts of England and Wales heavy showers or longer periods of snow were forecast.Warnings of moderate or heavy snowfall over Wales, the Midlands, South-West England and parts of South-East England were broadcast on Television Wales and West about 11.10 p.m. on 7th December and on radio at midnight and at 2 a.m. on 8th December.The Meteorological Office is constantly trying to improve the range and accuracy of its forecasts and to ensure that they are disseminated as widely and promptly as possible. Events such as those of 7th and 8th December are, of course, examined and any lessons learnt are taken into account for the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what warnings and at what times the Meteorological Office issued to local authorities and public utilities before the onset of the severe weather conditions of Friday, 8th December.

Warning of snow showers was issued to local authorities and public utilities which subscribe to the Meteorological Office warning services during the afternoon of 7th December. Warning of heavy snow over Wales, the Midlands and Southern England was given to the subscribers concerned between about 11 p.m. on 7th and 2 a.m. on 8th December, except for a few to whom the message could not be passed until between 5 a.m. and 8 a.m.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what instruction he has given to the Meteorological Office on the issue of weather forecasts to the Press; if he is aware that forecasts issued by the Meteorological Office to the Press prior to the severe conditions of Friday, 8th December gave no indication of the severity of those conditions; and if he will hold an inquiry into this case with a view to providing more accurate information and warning through the Press to the general public.

The Meteorological Office issues forecasts to the Press four times a day at hours intended to suit the majority of newspapers. Forecasts can be obtained at other times on request. The forecasts issued on 7th December warned of snow showers of varying intensity and very cold weather in all areas. The forecast issued to the Press at 0015 hours on 8th December for the period 0600 to 2400 hours on that day warned of heavy snow in Southern England. There is a problem involved in the interval between the issue of forecasts to the Press and their publication, which cannot be wholly eliminated, but the Meteorological Office co-operates with the Press in trying to minimise it. The Office makes a practice of reviewing events such as the recent snowfall to see whether further improvements in services to the public can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many investigations into wage and salary applications have been conducted by the National Board for Prices and Incomes since its inception; and how many of these were concerned with company directors salaries and those in receipt of £2,000 or more per annum.

Thirty-six references (including standing references) wholly or partly concerned with specific wages, salaries and professional fees, have been made to the Board since it was set up in April, 1965. Reports have been published in respect of twenty-seven of these references. None of the references has been concerned with the salaries of company directors. Rather less than half have covered a number of persons in receipt of incomes above £2,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is aware that during the period of the absolute wage and salary standstill and the period of severe restraint many company directors had increases in their salaries; and what action he proposes to take in view of this contravention of Government policy.

We are not aware of any specific cases of such payments which contravened Government policy during the period in question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the number of grants, subsidies or subventions of any kind made by the central Government in both England and Scotland; and, where there is any difference between the levels of payment between England and Scotland, if he will give the actual figures in these cases.

I regret that detailed information of the kind requested by my hon. Friend is not readily available. I am considering whether it can be collected without disproportionate labour. and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent the purchasing power of the £ sterling has decreased since January, 1957; and if he will make a statement.

Taking the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling as 20s. in January, 1957 its value in October, 1967, the latest date available, is estimated at 15s. 3d.This estimate is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index for calendar years adjusted by movements in the Retail Price Index for the months at the beginning and end of the period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the effect of the current foot-and-mouth epidemic on shooting, he will seek to extend the present shooting season for the first three weeks in February, 1968 in order to ensure that there is adequate destruction of cock pheasants which might otherwise be prejudicial to farming interests.

Legislation would be needed to alter the close season for pheasants and other game birds. Circumstances would at present not justify it, but I shall look at the position again nearer the end of the season.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of misunderstandings which are created by publication of gross figures of immigrants to this country, his Department will publish from time to time a breakdown of these figures indicating such categories as those in transit, students, diplomats and their families, arid those returning from visits abroad.

Yes. This information is available in the annual statistics of Commonwealth immigration presented to Parliament. In addition, monthly figures are placed in the Library of the House, and I will arrange for their general release.

asked the Secretary of State fox the Home Department whether he will take steps to implement the recommendation in the recent report on Criminal Statistics that the victims of crime be included in annual records and reports.

I am grateful to the Committee for their valuable report, and am studying the practical problems, and the financial and staffing implications, of implementing this and other recommendations.

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take to ensure the transferability of pension rights, in view of the number of workers changing their employment.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Blyth (Mr. Milne) on 23rd October, 1967—[Vol. 751, c.360].

asked the Minister of Labour (1) what is the estimated loss of man-days from strikes and lay-offs in the motor industry in the last annual period, including strikes each involving less than 100 working days and loss of days through strikes in other establishments;(2)whether he will make arrangements for a record to be kept of man-days lost in British industry including those lost by strikes and lay-offs involving less than 100 working days and those lost by strikes elsewhere; and what ratio he estimates such a complete total would bear to the official total as now compiled;(3)what was the total of man-days lost, in the last annual period, by strikes or lay-offs, each involving less than 100 working days;(4)what is the estimated loss of man-days caused to British industry by the recent dock strike;(5)what was the total of man-days lost by establishments in the last annual period through strikes or lay-offs which occurred elsewhere than at those establishments.

The practice for many years has been to exclude from the published statistics stoppages involving fewer than ten workers or lasting less than one day (unless in either case the aggregate number of working days lost exceeds 100). I intend to continue this practice because to include these stoppages would involve a disproportionate amount of extra work both for employers and for the Ministry of Labour staff. Additionally, comparability with previous periods would be lost.For similar reasons I cannot make comprehensive estimates of the time lost at establishments other than those at which stoppages occur. I cannot therefore estimate the total man-days lost by establishments in the last annual period through strikes or lay-offs which occurred elsewhere. Nor can I make an estimate of the loss of man-days to British industry in general as a result of the recent dock strike.Exceptionally, an attempt is made to estimate the time lost through such repercussions in the motor vehicle industry. It is estimated that about 600,000 working days were lost in 1966 at establishments other than those at which the stoppages included in the statistics occurred. This figure compares with 344,000 days lost at establishments where stoppages occurred.

asked the Minister of Labour what further steps he is taking to conciliate the recognition dispute affecting bank staffs; and if he will make a statement.

I have at present nothing to add to the reply I gave on 11th December, 1967, to the hon. Members for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger) and Norwood (Mr. John Fraser).—[Vol. 756, c. 12.]

asked the Minister of Power what action he now proposes following a report made to him by an inspector of his Department showing the unsatisfactory nature of electrical installations in certain consumers' premises in the Guildford district of the South Eastern Electricity Board.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on 14th December.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board not to use private contractors in the deep mining of coal where the task at hand can be performed adequately by Board employees.

No. The Board advise me that it is their general policy to carry out all work themselves. Outside contractors are however employed on special development work, mainly driveages in stone, for which Board staff with the special skills required are not available, or where the work can be undertaken more economically by contractors.

asked the Minister of Power what general directions he has given to the National Coal Board on the use of private contractors in the deep mining of coal.

None.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what contribution he is seeking to obtain from Manchester Corporation towards the upkeep of Baguley Hall when that building is acquired by the nation.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 12th December, to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris).—[Vol. 756, c.113]

asked the Minister of Technology what progress is being made on negotiations for a merger in the airframe industry.

Following devaluation, the Government are conducting a re-examination of their existing policies in a number of fields. It will therefore not be possible for the time being to proceed with the negotiations to implement the policy announced last year. I have so informed the British Aircraft Corporation and the Hawker Siddeley Group. I should like to reiterate, however, that in the Government's view a merger of the aviation interests of these two companies is desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many limited companies have registered as unlimited under the Companies Act, 1967.

Eighty-nine.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount of investment grants outstanding in respect of claims made for periods under which payments are due; if he will estimate the amounts unclaimed through firms failing to make application; if he will give comparative figures adjusted for variation of rates of the original cost of the scheme, the actual cost and the projected cost; and if he will make a statement on the general working of the scheme to date.

As stated to my hon. Friend the Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) on 19th July, the cost of investment grants in 1967 was expected to be about £200 million. This figure still stands. It relates to expenditure incurred by industry during 1966. It is not affected by the temporary increase in the rates of grant but allows for the acceleration of payments. By 1st December, 1967, 65,548 applications had been received representing expenditure of £1,027,852,000, 54,642 applications had been cleared and grants paid to the value of £188,977,000, £95,576,000 of this being to firms in Development Areas. Applications for 1966 are still coming in and I estimate that there is approximately £200 million of eligible expenditure on which claims may yet be made. I cannot, however, give a figure of the value of grants which will be paid on claims that have yet to be made and examined.—[Vol. 750, c. 259.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to enable the British Travel Association to increase its advertising in Holland of Norfolk holidays, in view of the new 1968 roll-on roll-off service linking the ports of Yarmouth and Scheveningen.

The allocation of expenditure on overseas advertising is a matter to be decided by the British Travel Association within the total resources made available to them from the Government's grant-in-aid, and from other sources.

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions she has had with the Greater London Council regarding London public transport; and if she will make a statement.

I have had a series of discussions with the Leader of the Greater London Council, Mr. Desmond Plummer, on a wide range of matters affecting the future organisation of transport in London. We have now reached an agreement which Mr. Plummer will recommend to the Council and which will form the basis of legislation for a major reorganisation. The main features of the proposal are:(1)The G.L.C. will become the statutory transport planning authority for London, with wide responsibilities and powers for major highway functions, traffic and public passenger transport services.(2)The Council will appoint the members of a London Transport Executive to be established under the new powers. The Council will have effective control over policies, finance and the broad lines of operations without however being involved in the day to day management of the Underground network and bus services in the Greater London area for which the Executive will be responsible.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps she took to satisfy herself that the powers of traffic commissioners to vary bus fares, bus routes and timings fall short of what is necessary to co-ordinate bus services before bringing forward her White Paper proposals.

These powers of the Traffic Commissioners are not suitable for securing the aims of the policy for public transport, which calls for the wider principles of organisation set out in the White Paper (Cmnd. 3481).

asked the Minister of Transport if she will make a statement on the operation of paragraphs 101 and 102 of the Road Traffic Act, 1930 which empower Traffic Commissioners to confer on a local authority the right to operate its buses beyond its boundaries, and on the administration of these paragraphs by the Traffic Commissioners.

These provisions require a local authority which operates buses to obtain the Traffic Commissioners' consent before it can run them outside its own district. This requirement is additional to, and a duplication of, the requirement for a road service licence from the Traffic Commissioners for the particular service to be operated, and in practice has caused unnecessary administrative delays. The road service licensing procedure in our view provides adequate control. The Transport Bill accordingly provides for the abolition of this consent requirement and of analogous requirements in other legislation.

asked the Minister of Transport what statistical evidence she has obtained on the effect of size of bus undertakings on the efficiency thereof; and whether she will publish her findings.

Research into the relationship between size and efficiency of bus undertakings is being carried out in the Department. It is not yet complete.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what will be the basis of compensation for the acquisition of leasehold properties used for the operation of municipally-operated buses in Manchester by public transport authorities; and how this cost to public funds will be met;(2)what will be the basis of compensation for the acquisition of freehold properties used for the operation of municipally-operated buses in Manchester by public transport authorities; and how this cost to public funds will be met;(3)what will be the basis of compensation for the acquisition of municipally-operated buses in Manchester by public transport authorities; and how this cost to public funds will be met.

We are proposing in the Transport Bill that there should be provision for local authorities, whose bus undertakings are transferred to Passenger Transport Executives, to receive contributions towards any costs they incur through the severance of the undertakings from other activities of the authority.Apart from this the transfer of assets associated with local authority bus undertakings would be on the usual statutory basis for the transfer of assets from one public authority to another; that is, it would include the transfer of interests of the authority in fixed or moveable property and of all liabilities as well as rights incurred in connection with the undertaking.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will give an early and favourable reply to the request of the Cambridge City Council for a pedestrian crossing in Cherry Hinton High Street, having regard to the public anxiety, increased last week by an accident to a small boy.

The Divisional Road Engineer is in touch with Cambridge City Council about their application for a crossing at the site and a decision will be taken as soon as the necessary information is available.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply she has sent to the petition sent to her by mothers of children attending Princess Frederica Junior School in Kensal Green, Willesden, about the safety of children crossing the road at the school.

The petition was received and acknowledged on 29th November. The sender has since been advised that we are consulting the London Borough of Brent, the Greater London Council and the Metropolitan Police.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to make a clearway on the section of Harrow Road, N.W.10, between Ladbroke Grove and the North Circular Road.

This is a metropolitan road for which the Greater London Council is the Highway and Traffic Authority. I understand that the Council hope that clearway regulations will be applied to this road in April, 1968.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that, during the period of severe restraint on wages, prices and incomes, the Catering Sub-Committee raised the prices of meals in the House, before any wage increases to staff had been applied and whether he will refer all such price increases to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I have been asked to reply.The Catering Sub-Committee raised the price of meals in the House in order to counteract the continuing losses on the running of the Refreshment Department. The losses have now been stopped and it has now been possible to increase the wages of staff by 10 per cent. The answer to the last part of the question is "No."

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the terms of reference of the Hunter Committee did not include the subjects covered in the terms of reference he has given to the Cameron Committee on the law relating to fishing in Scottish coastal waters.

The terms of reference of the Committee over which Lord Hunter presided were confined to the law relating to Scottish salmon and trout fisheries. This included only a small part of the extensive code of legislation governing sea fishing in Scottish coastal waters, the content and enforcement of which will be reviewed by the Committee under the chairmanship of Lord Cameron. As the regulations governing drift net fishing for salmon and trout in the sea have been so recently reviewed I have indicated to Lord Cameron that it is not intended that his Committee should concern itself with those regulations except insofar as their enforcement is one of the functions of my Department's protection vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of principals providing unrestricted medical services in general practice in Scotland on 1st October, 1964 and in the latest available date, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 27th November to a Question by the hon.

BEDS SET ASIDE UNDER SECTION 5 OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE (SCOTLAND) ACT 1947
Year ending 31st March					Average Daily Number of Available Beds (i.e. staffed)	Average Daily number of occupied bedsand per cent, occupancy
						By Section 5 Patients		By Section 4 Patients		By Section 3Patients
						Per cent		Per cent		Per cent
1965	…	…	…	…	614	261	42·5	29	4·7	109	17·7
1966	…	…	…	…	590	243	41·2	26	4·4	102	17·3
1967	…	…	…	…	571	231	40·5	26	4·6	101	17·7

Note:Section 5 Patients pay the full cost of accommodation and serviceSection 4 Patients pay on accommodation charge only.Section 3 Patients are non-paying.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the second phase of the Caithness General Hospital building programme to be started.

No starting date has yet been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in the construction of the M90 motorway between the Forth Road Bridge and Perth.

I have today awarded a contract for the construction of 7¾ miles of motorway from the Forth Bridge northern approaches to north of Cowdenbeath and Kelty.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to end the

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of staffed beds allocated under Section 5 of the National Health Service Act, the average daily number of available beds, the average daily number of occupied beds and the percentage occupancy for each of the last three years in hospitals in Scotland.

The information is set out in the table below:practice of local housing authorities withholding a rent book from a tenant.

No legislation on this matter seems necessary, but I should be glad to look into any specific point my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will advise local authorities to cease submitting orders to him for the creation, diversion or closure of public footpaths under the Highways Act, 1959 for the duration of the foot-and-mouth disease epidemic, so as to avoid the need for officers of the authorities and other persons to inspect the paths in question.

A letter was sent to all local authorities on 7th December emphasising the importance of avoiding the spread of contamination which could result from inquiries and site visits on planning and other matters, and asking them to seek advice from the Regional Controller of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if in any doubt. I understand that local authorities in danger areas have already instructed their officers not to make any site inspections for the time being.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will instruct the National Board for Prices and Incomes to keep under continuous review the charges made for the occupation of pitches by caravans on sites licensed for residential use under the Caravan Sites and Control of Development Act, 1960, and any other charges made by site operators for services provided to residential caravan dwellers; and if he will instruct the Board to make a report on these matters before 1st March, 1968.

As the hon. Member knows, my right hon. Friend is at present closely examining the problems of caravan dwellers but he does not consider it would be appropriate to ask the National Board for Prices and Incomes to undertake the continuous review of these charges which may cover a very wide variety of circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate how far his final decision upon the establishment of an elected Council for Wales will be guided by the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government in England and how far by public opinion in Wales.

I shall take all relevant considerations into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total population represented by those local authorities which have declared themselves in favour of an elected Council for Wales; and what is the total population represented by those local authorities which have declared themselves to be against the body.

It is not possible to give a meaningful answer because comments have been submitted by two tiers of local authorities. But taking only the county councils and county borough councils, that is, the authorities most likely to be affected by the creation of an elected Welsh Council with executive responsibilities, the total population represented by authorities who are in favour of a nominated Council is appreciably greater than the total population represented by authorities who are in favour of an elected Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he is taking to ascertain the state of public opinion in Wales, other than amongst local authorities, with regard to the establishment of an elected Council for Wales.

I do not consider that any further steps need to be taken. The proposals in the White Paper "Local Government in Wales" (Cmnd. 3340) were set out for public discussion and it is open to anyone to make their views known to me; a large and representative number have already done so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish details of how the £4½ million allocated to Wales for the minor works programme authorised for the winter months is to be spent.

Additional capital expenditure of more than £3¼ million has been authorised on road schemes, and about each on schools, hospitals and other health service facilities, and Government-owned buildings, including Board of Trade factories.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will make it a condition of grant to the Welsh Tourist Board to undertake a feasibility study of Llangynog in Montgomeryshire with a view to developing it.

The detailed content of their research programme is a matter for the Board, and I am letting them know about the hon. and learned Member's interest in Llangynog.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what is the cost of providing the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs with office premises and staff in Brussels.

During this financial year, the salary and allowance cost of additional staff provided for the United Kingdom Delegation to the European Communities is assessed at £13,490. It is not the policy of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works to publish details of rents paid for Government accommodation as this might prejudice negotiations for the renewal or replacement of this and other leases in Brussels and would be a disclosure of what may legitimately be regarded as the private business of the lessor.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he has considered the series of representations sent to him on behalf of members of Aberdeen Trades Council about Her Majesty's Government's policy concerning the war in Vietnam; and what answer he has sent.

My hon. and learned Friend should now have received my reply to his note of 12th December. This sets out our views on the matters raised in the representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has received from the United States Government about offers by British citizens to provide work and accommodation in the United Kingdom for American citizens who evade conscription in their own country; and if he will state his policy in regard to this matter.

None. We naturally regret any activities on the part of British citizens calculated to encourage American citizens to break the laws of their country.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what understandings he reached with the Sultan of Oman and Muscat about the defence of the Kuria Muria Islands, and the rights of British subjects there, before ceding these former British territories to him.

On the cession of the Kuria Muria Islands to Muscat and Oman, the local inhabitants, in accordance with their expressed wish, became subjects of the Sultan. Provision was made for this in the Treaty of Cession and these are now no British subjects resident in the Kuria Murias. The Sultanate Government has assumed full responsibility for the islands. We have not entered into any understanding with regard to their defence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to the Icelandic Government over the delivery of a DC4 Icelandair airliner to Rhodesia.

We have been in contact with the Icelandic Government about the reported arrival in Rhodesia of an airliner of Icelandair. The aircraft in question was sold to a South African company and left Iceland in August. After registration in South Africa. it has subsequently been purchased by the Witwatersrand Native Labour Association of Johannesburg.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of discussions with the Government of the United Arab Republic on the release or compensation for British property resequestrated under Proclamation 138.

As a result of negotiations earlier this year in Cairo, British and United Arab Republic representatives have exchanged Notes on various matters outstanding from the Anglo-Arab Republic Financial Agreement of 1959 and the Supplementary Exchanges of Notes of 1962, and on sequestrated British property in the United Arab Republic. The Agreement enters into force today.Principally, the Exchange of Notes provides for British property sequestrated since 1959 and estimated by the owners at £E11 million, to be dealt with in accordance with the provisions of the Financial Agreement of 1959 and the Supplementary Exchange of Notes of 1962.In addition, the Exchange of Notes settles several technical problems which have arisen in the past over the implementation of the Financial Agreement of 1959 and the Supplementary Exchanges of Notes of 1962.The Exchange of Notes will be published as a White Paper and attention will be drawn to it both in this country and abroad. In addition, owners where known to the Foreign Office will be advised individually by post.

				Average Daily Occupancy		Percentage Occupancy
		Staffed Beds Average At 31st December	Average Daily Number Available	Paying Patients	Non Paying Patients	Paying Patients	Non Paying Patients	Total
1964	…	4,118	4,033	1,916	759	47	18	65
1965	…	4,128	4,077	1,928	781	47	19	66
1966	…	4,080	4,030	1,922	751	47	18	65

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received against the introduction of cyclamates in food; and what action he is taking.

Before the Artificial Sweeteners in Food Regulations, 1967 were made, a considerable number of representations both for and against the use of cyclamates was received. These were considered by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee, whose reports have been published. Some letters opposing the use of cyclamates in food have been received since the regulations were made. As I announced to the House on 26th July, it is my intention to keep

asked the Minister of Health if he will advise regional hospital boards to ensure that hospitals in their regions have in stock an adequate number of beds of extra length for the use of unusually tall people.

Hospital authorities are aware of the need to provide for the unusually tall patient. Long beds and extendable beds can already be supplied, and hospitals or groups normally hold a a few in reserve.

asked the Minister of Health what is the number of staffed beds allocated under section 5 of the National Health Service Act, the average daily number of available beds, the average daily number of occupied beds and the percentage occupancy for each of the last three years in hospitals governed by regional hospital boards.

The information requested is as follows:—the use of cyclamates in all foods under continuous review. [Vol. 751, c. 725–6]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will arrange to meet the cost of disinfectant that is being used on bridges main roads as a means of preventing the spread of foot-and-mouth disease to areas not yet infected.

No. The cost of disinfectant is met when it is used on the instructions of my veterinary officers to eliminate the risk of spread from known infected places.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will consider increasing the valuation of the animals slaughtered in the early days of the foot-and-mouth epidemic, in the light of the fact that valuations have risen as the epidemic has increased in scope and extent, to meet the higher market price for animals when restocking is allowed.

I have noted the hon. and learned Member's suggestion and would refer him to the statement which I made in the debate on the Adjournment on 12th December.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make provision for the low prices for fatstock in South-West Scotland, due to the elimination of the traditional markets in Northern England by foot-and-mouth restrictions when calculating the deficiency payment for beef and lamb; and to what extent he plans to provide special help in this matter.

One of the unfortunate consequences of the foot-and-mouth disease outbreak has been the disruption of normal channels of trade in several parts of the United Kingdom, leading to a distortion of the pattern of market prices on which the deficiency payments for fat cattle and sheep are based.>Many farmers suffer consequential losses as a result of the restrictions on movement in outbreaks of this kind and, I am afraid, it is impossible either to assess or to provide for compensation for such losses.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will have the postponed under-23 football international between Scotland and Wales, due to have taken place at Aberdeen on Wednesday, 13th December, further postponed until any risk of spreading foot-and-mouth disease by the influx of Welsh supporters no longer exists; and if he will make a statement.

No. I do not consider that this action would be justified.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will, in addition to compensation for animals compulsorily slaughtered as a result of foot-and-mouth disease, take steps to pay a restocking grant to enable farmers who have lost animals to compete for the purchase of animals in a seller's market.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion and will make a statement at a later date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what increase or decrease there has been in farm incomes in England and Wales. respectively, during 1967 as compared with 1966.

Comparisons of changes in farm incomes between 1965–66 and 1966–67 are now being prepared for the forthcoming Annual Review and will be published when the Review determinations are announced.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that notwithstanding the Government's policy food and grocery manufacturers and suppliers have increased prices to the consumer on the grounds of the effects of devaluation and, in view of the fact that devaluation has not yet affected any of these items, what action he proposes to take.

I recognise that there will inevitably be some increases in food prices as a direct result of devaluation. In a few cases the effects of devaluation can already be felt. If my hon. Friend will send me any information he has on increases in food prices which are incorrectly attributed to devaluation, I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in order to shelter lower paid workers from some of the effects of rising food prices as a result of devaluation, he will take steps to enable the payment of a subsidy to bakers in order to prevent an increase in the price of bread.

No. Devaluation will inevitably increase the price of bread and some other essential foodstuffs and the Government recognises that as a result there will be unavoidable increases in the cost of living. I intend to ensure as far as possible, by the use of my Department's price surveillance systems, that these increases in price are fully justified.

asked the Minister of Social Security what would be the cost to public funds of increasing war disability and war widows' pensions so as to compensate war pensioners living overseas for the reduction in their purchasing power resulting from the devaluation of the £ sterling.

It is estimated that, if it were possible to confine this to war pensioners, the cost would be about £¾ million a year.