asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the nature of the following quantities of carcase meat imported in the United Kingdom in the first nine months of 1967, namely, 4 hundredweights from Hong Kong, 80 hundredweights from Western Germany, 24 hundredweights from Tanzania, 3 hundredweights from Switzerland, and 2 hundredweights from Syria; which of these countries have had outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease recently, and what steps are taken to see that such meat is free from disease before it leaves the country of origin.

It is not possible to state precisely the nature of the meat from Hong Kong, West Germany, Switzerland or Syria, but it does not include any meat from bovines or other animals susceptible to foot-and-mouth disease. There is no need, therefore, to take steps to see that this meat is free from foot-and-mouth disease before it leaves the country of origin. The imports from Tanzania are listed in the provisional returns as frozen edible offals of beef and mutton. Such imports would be subject to licence laying down disease safeguards, but no licences have been issued for the period under consideration. I am inquiring into this discrepancy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the maximum penalty that can be imposed for offences against the movement of livestock regulations during foot-and-mouth disease epidemics; how many offences have been reported to him during the current epidemic; what penalties were imposed; whether he is satisfied that the present maximum penalty is a sufficient deterrent to breaches of the regulations: and if he will make a statement.

The maximum penalties under the Diseases of Animals Act 1950 for offences involving the movement of animals in contravention of the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Infected Areas Restrictions) Order of 1938 or the Foot-and-Mouth Disease (Controlled Area Re- strictions) General Order of 1938 are a fine of £50, or if the offence involves more than ten animals a fine of £5 for each animal. A second or subsequent offence within 12 months renders the offender liable, in the discretion of the court, to imprisonment for not more than one month in lieu of such fine.Enforcement of the Diseases of Animals Act 1950 and Orders made under it is the responsibility of local authorities and the police. They are not required to report offences to me and I am unable to say how many offences have occurred during the current epidemic.When court proceedings are taken the details of the case and the penalties imposed are generally reported by my local officers, but no reports have yet been received in respect of offences during the present epidemic.Under the Criminal Justice Act 1967 which comes into force on 1st January, 1968, the penalties mentioned above will be increased to £200 and £20 respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the difficulty Mr. R. Brewis has in obtaining employment since he suffered last year from foot-and-mouth disease, he will reconsider his decision not to pay him compensation.

A claim for compensation was made by Mr. Brewis's solicitors on his behalf on 20th April, 1967. Details of the claim were submitted on 13th November, 1967, and were discussed with the solicitor at the Ministry on 23rd November. The solicitor wrote further in support of the claim on 11th December. The claim is still under consideration by my Department.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what is the average size of a farm holding in Wales, including Monmouthshire;(2) what is the average size of a farm holding in England.

The results of the June, 1967, Census show that there are 259,774 holdings in England and 46,849 holdings in Wales (including Monmouthshire) with more than one acre of land used for Agriculture.Of these numbers 4,453 holdings in England and 869 in Wales are holdings with rough grazing only. These figures include 11,610 statistically insignificant holdings in England and 1,255 in Wales. The average size of all holdings in England is 83·4 acres based on crops and grass acreage only and 91·6 acres based on total acreage (crops, grass and rough grazing).The average size of all holdings in Wales is 56·1 acres based on crops and grass acreage only and 80·9 acres based on total acreage.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what was the average income for farmers in England in the year 1965–66 and the year 1966–67.(2) what was the average income for Welsh farmers in the year 1965–66 and the year 1966–67.

Figures showing the average income separately for farmers in England and in Wales are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give a list in the OFFICIAL REPORT of the dependent territories in which public lotteries have been operated; in how many dependent territories such lotteries continue to be operated; and with what financial results.

pursuant to his reply[OFFICIAL REPORT, 5th December, 1967; Vol. 755, c. 1126],supplied the following information:The dependent territories in which public lotteries have been operated are Gibraltar, Hong Kong and Swaziland; public lotteries are now operated in two dependent territories, Gibraltar and Hong Kong.The profit made by the lottery operated in Gibraltar was as follows over the last four years:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will name the local authorities in Wales which have declared their support for an elected council for Wales and a nominated council, respectively.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether British frigates patrolling Beira make use of facilities available in South African ports.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will instruct the Senior British Naval Officer in Malta to pay a courtesy call upon the newly-appointed Russian Ambassador.

No, such a call would not be in accordance with normal practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will arrange for a squadron of ships of the Royal Navy to be held available to be in Malta simultaneously with the first courtesy visit to Malta by the Russian fleet.

I am not prepared to answer hypothetical questions.