asked the Minister of Transport (1) what procedures she adopts in order to obtain advice before appointing members to the Central Transport Consultative Committee for Great Britain; which bodies she consults; and which bodies are invited to suggest names for appointment;(2) what procedures she adopts in order to obtain advice before appointing members to Area Transport Users' Consultative Committees; which bodies she consults; and which bodies are invited to suggest names for appointment.

My right hon. Friend is required by Section 56(2) of the Transport Act, 1962 to consult bodies which appear to her to be representative of user interests. She has therefore compiled a list of bodies from whom she invites nominations for consideration for appointment to the Central Committee and the Area Committees. The list has recently been extended to secure a wider representation of all classes of rail user.Those who are appointed are regarded as representatives of users at large and not of the bodies who nominate them.The revised list of bodies is as follows:

Confederation of British Industry.
Parliamentary Co-operative Union.
Trade Union Congress.	or their equivalents in Scotland and Wales.
County Councils Association.
Association of Municipal Corporations.
Rural District Councils Association.
Urban District Councils Association.
National Association of Parish Councils
National Farmers Union.
Association of British Chambers of Commerce.
Working Men's Club and Institute Union Ltd.
Women's Royal Voluntary Service.
National Federation of Women's Institutes.
National Federation of Old Age Pensioners Associations.
Scottish or Wales Tourist Board or British Travel Association.
The Ramblers Association.
National Park Planning Boards (in those applicable).
County or Area Associations for Disabled Persons.
National Joint Council of Working Women's Associations

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reconsider the policy of refusing an investment grant for a distillers' cask worth less than £25, while paying a 45 per cent. grant in a development area for a cask worth £25 or more, as this encourages the purchase of the larger size of cask made in Spain and penalises British coopers, at a time when it is essential to reduce unnecessary imports.

I recently met a deputation from the Scotch Whisky Association and explained why we cannot make any exception to the minimum value rule.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the inquiry at Brixham into the loss of the "Casita" will start sitting; and how many hours each day it will be in session.

The formal investigation will open on Monday next, 22nd January, 1968, at Pontins' Wall Park Camp, Brixham, at 10.30 a.m.The hours which the court will sit each day will be within the discretion of the Wreck Commissioner, but will not be less than normal court hours.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will set up an inquiry into the standards of snow clearance maintained by the British Airports Authority.

No: this is a matter entirely within the competence and commercial judgment of the Authority.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy with regard to unrestricted import into the United Kingdom in respect of hydrofoil craft of Soviet Russian manufacture, in view of the fact that these vessels are to be offered for sale at a price very much below their cost of production, to the detriment of British manufacturers of similar or competitive vessels, such as hovercraft.

An import licence is required for the import of boats, whether hydrofoil craft or other types, from the U.S.S.R. Applications for import licences are considered on their merits. I do not think that recent reports about prices and costs are necessarily accurate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number and value of hay and grass mowers for lawns and parks imported from New Zealand during 1967; and what proposals he has to enable British manufacturers of grass mowers for lawns and parks to export to New Zealand free of quota or licence restrictions.

During the first eleven months of 1967, United Kingdom imports of hay and grass mowers for lawns and parks from New Zealand totalled 2,053 machines valued at £64,366. Imports of these machines into New Zealand are controlled under the system of quantitative restrictions New Zealand maintains for balance of payments reasons, the continued need for which has been recognised by the contracting parties to the G.A.T.T.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the financial guarantees given by the Government to the Newport Shipbuilding and Engineering Company.

I understand that this Question relates to the Export Credits Guarantee Department. All relations between the Department and individual exporters are confidential. I cannot therefore make any statement on the subject.

asked the Minister of Technology whether, in view of the refusal of the United States Government to sanction the manufacture of engines in Great Britain for the Beagle light aircraft ordered for South Africa, he obtained an assurance from the United States Government that the South African requirements will not be fulfilled by United States manufactured Cessna aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied after inquiries that the United States Government has not discriminated against Beagle Aircraft Ltd. in the implementation of their arms embargo against South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what facilities exist for providing hot food for prisoners detained overnight at Ruislip Police Station; and what plans are being considered to improve these.

Arrangements have been made for containers for hot food and hot drinks to be held at Uxbridge police station, where there is a police canteen, for conveying hot meals to persons held in custody at Ruislip police station.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the need to reduce public expenditure, he will delay the introduction of cauliflower grading.

No. If the introduction of cauliflower grading were delayed, the saving in public expenditure would be virtually nil in 1968–69 and from 1969–70 onward it would be so small as not to justify postponing a measure of such value to the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a statement about shares of the bacon market in 1968–69.

For the 12 months beginning in April 1968, the minimum allocation for home production of bacon under the international market-sharing Understanding has again been set at 233,240 tons, which is some 30,000 tons higher than the estimated level of home production in 1967–68. Any level of production higher than this allocation would certainly presuppose an excessive diversion of pigs from the pork and manufacturing markets, which take some three-quarters of the pigmeat produced in the United Kingdom.To ensure that supplies for consumers are adequate the minimum allocations to overseas suppliers will also be unchanged for 1968–69, as will the minimum total quantity of 632,500 tons from all sources, and the arrangements for adding as necessary to minimum allocations from any source, including home production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he proposes to bring into force Section 1 of the Slaughter of Poultry Act, 1967.

As soon as our review of stunning devices is complete and the

PUBLIC EXPENDITURE
£m.
						1968–69		1969–70
Service						Reduction	Earlier Programme	Reduction	Earlier Programme
Housing: investment		…	…	…	…	2·0	129·7	5·0	133·9
Trunk and principal roads: new construction and improvements		…	…	…	…	2·0	36·1	3·0	39·3
Local Authority roads: new construction and maintenance	…	…	…	…	…	3·8	25·4	4·0	26·4
School building	…	…	…	…	…	2·4	23·6	3·5	26·0
School milk (Secondary schools)				…	…	0·4	2·1	0·7	2·1
Students' awards	…	…	…	…	…	0·4	13·8	0·6	14·7
Direct grant schools	…	…	…	…	…	0·03	1·7	0·1	1·7
Police, Fire Service, and Prisons	…	…	…	…	…	0·25	33·5	0·65	34·6
Civil Defence	…	…	…	…	…	0·8	1·9	1·2	1·8
Local environmental services: investment	…	…	…	…	…	1·5	57·0	2·0	55·0
Health Service (effect of charges)				…	…	2·65	176·7	2·65	182·6
Increase in Health Stamp			…	…	…	2·5*	16·0†	2·5*	16·01†
* Increase in revenue						† Revenue.

industry has had sufficient time to install approved devices or to modify existing equipment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will exercise his powers under Section 98 of the Agriculture Act, 1947 to ensure that spring crops are not adversely affected by game whose numbers have been affected by the restrictions on shooting arising from the current epidemic of foot-and-mouth disease.

Where it can be demonstrated, in any particular case, that crops are being seriously damaged by game, we shall be prepared to consider whether the exercise of my right hon. Friend's powers under Section 98 of the Agriculture Act, 1947, would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a White Paper on the proposed cuts in public and private expenditure as they will affect Scotland.

, pursuant to his reply, [OFFICIAL REPORT, 17th January, 1968; Vol. 756, c. 591], supplied the following information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of young persons who can be accommodated in each of the remand homes in Scotland in reasonable conditions of comfort and security; and how many young people were actually resident in each remand home at the latest date for which figures are available.

Area					Accommodation specified in terms of the Remand Home(Scotland) Rules, 1964			Number of children in residence on 30th September, 1967
					Boys	Girls	Total	Boys	Girls	Total
Aberdeen	…	…	…	…	6	2	8	4	—	4
Ayrshire	…	…	…	…	14	5	19	11	1	12
Dunbartonshire:
Bellfield	…	…	…	…	38	—	38	25	—	25
Cardross Park	…	…	…	…	20	—	20	1*	—	1
Dundee	…	…	…	…	21	4	25	16	1	17
Edinburgh	…	…	…	…	16	6	22	20	3	23
Glasgow:
Larchgrove		…	…	…	74	—	74	58	—	58
Beechwood		…	…	…	—	16	16	—	15	15
Lanarkshire	…	…	…	…	21	—	21	26	—	26
					210	33	243	161	20	181
* Cardross Park remand home was opened only in September, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of prisoners who can be accommodated in each of the prisons in Scotland in reasonable conditions of comfort and security; and how many

			Accommodation			Population at 2nd January, 1968
Prison
			Male	Female	Total	Male	Female	Total
Aberdeen	…	…	148	3	151	179	2	181
Dumfries	…	…	15	4	19	15	—	15
Edinburgh	…	…	337	12	349	459	7	466
Barlinnie*	…	…	790	—	790	1,152	—	1,152
Greenock	…	…	32	107	139	17	56	73
Inverness	…	…	62	3	65	31	—	31
Penninghame	…	…	60	—	60	62	—	62
Perth	…	…	424	4	428	480	1	481
Peterhead	…	…	355	—	355	417	—	417
			2,223	133	2,356	2,812	66	2,878
* Excludes young offenders and accommodation occupied by them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what plans he has to improve the workshop and hospital facilities in Barlinnie Prison l and how much capital spending will be incurred on this work in 1968.

The Remand Home (Scotland) Rules, 1964 enable the Secretary of State to specify the number of children and young persons who may be accommodated in a remand home, but also permit this number to be exceeded in exceptional circumstances. The specified number for each remand home in Scotland and the actual number accommodated on 30th September, 1967 the latest date for which figures are available—are given in the table below.prisoners were in each prison at the most recent date for which figures are available.

The following table shows the normal capacity of the Scottish prisons and their actual population on 2nd January, 1968.

New workshed accommodation of 60,000 square feet is to be erected. Preliminary work during this year will cost £20,000; the programme for completion cannot yet be estimated. Hospital improvements are included in the overall development plans for Barlinnie to follow work at present in hand on extension of the wall and the new worksheds.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many additional prison places will be provided in Scotland in 1968; and what plans he has for additional prisons in 1969 and in later years.

The prison building programme will provide 250 additional places in 1968. Most of the new places will be occupied by offenders under 21, but as a result of consequential transfers I expect to provide 30 additional places for adult prisoners at Dumfries, about 80 at Barlinnie, and 70 at Perth. In addition, a proposal to provide between 200 and 300 places on a temporary basis by adapting a former R.A.F. camp at Bishopbriggs is to be the subject of a public inquiry at the end of this month.Further major development depends on entirely new establishments, of which three, to provide about 1,000 places, are in course of preliminary planning. Sites for two of these have been acquired and a third is under negotiation. In each case the intended development will be advertised and an opportunity given to put forward objections. The three sites are at Westquarter in Stirlingshire, Shotts in Larnarkshire, and Wishaw.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the shortage of police officers in Scotland at the most recent date for which figures are available.

959 at 31st December, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to bring into force Section 1 of the Slaughter of Poultry Act, 1967.

As soon as our review of stunning devices is complete and the industry has had sufficient time to install approved devices or to modify existing equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many United Kingdom and Rhodesia passports, respectively, have been withdrawn from their holders during the last two years, and for what reasons; in how many cases they were withdrawn by diplomatic or consular officers overseas, and in what countries; what instructions have been issued in this regard to immigration officers and overseas missions, respectively; and what warnings and explanations were given to those affected.

The two main reasons for withdrawing United Kingdom and Rhodesian passports from their holders are:

(a) that the holders are being repatriated at public expense; and

(b) that the passports have been issued or renewed by the illegal régime in Rhodesia or the holders are known to be active supporters of that régime.

Detailed statistics are not kept, but it is estimated that during the last two years 5,000 passports have been withdrawn for the first, and 600 for the second of the above reasons.All the passports withdrawn from repatriates have been United Kingdom ones. Some have been withdrawn by the officers effecting the repatriations and some by United Kingdom immigration officers on the arrival of the repatriates. I cannot say in what proportions.Those withdrawn from Rhodesians have included both Rhodesian and United Kingdom passports. Almost all have been withdrawn in this country, and all but a small percentage have been illegal documents.The instructions given to Immigration and Diplomatic Service officers have been such as to achieve, so far as possible. the withdrawal of passports in the circumstances indicated in the first paragraph of this reply.When a repatriate's passport is withdrawn he is informed that it will be returned on repayment of his debt to Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) what proportions of Hong Kong's total external visible trade in 1967 were represented by imports and by exports; and is being done because his passport has been declared invalid.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) what proportion of Hong Kong's total external visible trade in 1967 were represented by imports and by exports; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the previous years from 1951;(2) what proportions of Hong Kong's visible trade with the United Kingdom in 1967 were represented by imports and by exports; and what were the corresponding figures for each of the previous years since 1951.

The following table provides the information available.Hong Kong's External Visible Trade, 1951–67:

The following table provides the information available.

Year					Imports of Machinery (non-electric)		Imports of Machinery(electric)		Imports of Transport Equipment
					(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
1967*	…	…	…	…	4	27	7	23	2	42
1966	…	…	…	…	4	33	7	32	2	47
1965	…	…	…	…	5	30	6	37	2	48
1964	…	…	…	…	5	19	5	37	2	47
1963	…	…	…	…	5	27	5	49	2	62
1962	…	…	…	…	4	29	4	43	3	52
1961	…	…	…	…	5	33	3	45	2	58
1960	…	…	…	…	5	20	3	45	3	57
1959	…	…	…	…	4	30	3	50	2	54
1958	…	…	…	…	4	50	2	53	2	64
1957	…	…	…	…	3	42	2	56	2	67
1956	…	…	…	…	3	34	2	60	2	57
1955	…	…	…	…	2	42	1	69	2	58
1954	…	…	…	…	2	37	1	62	1	63
1953	…	…	…	…	2	41	2	50	1	58
1952	…	…	…	…	2	42	2	63	1	53
1951	…	…	…	…	2	†	2	†	1	†
EXPLANATORY NOTES:
(a) From all sources, expressed as a percentage of the value of total visible imports of every description from all sources.
(b) From the United Kingdom, expressed as a percentage of the value of total imports of the particular class of goods specified from all sources.
* January-November (latest figures available).
† Not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham and Rye employment exchanges on 17th December, 1967; and how many of them were over

NUMBERS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED ON THE REGISTERS OF THE BEXHILL, HAILSHAM AND RYE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AT 8TH JANUARY, 1968
						Men			Women
						Aged 18 to 54	Aged 55 and over	Total	Aged 18 to 54	Aged 55 and over	Total
Bexhill		…	…	…	…	98	249	347	17	4	21
Hailsham		…	…	…	…	69	121	190	20	10	30
Rye	…	…	…	…	…	54	53	107	12	1	13

In addition, there were 16 boys and 4 girls under 18 years of age registered at the Bexhill Youth Employment Office, which also covers the Rye, Hailsham and Battle areas. 13 boys and 5 girls were school leavers registered for first employment.

The numbers registered as wholly unemployed are analysed by age groups in January and July but not in December. The following table gives, by age groups, the numbers registered as wholly unemployed at 8th January, 1968:

asked the Minister of Labour what were the unemployment figures in Scotland in the years 1952 to 1968, respectively, for January, giving a break-up of the figures for male, female and juvenile unemployment in each respective year.

Following is the in formation:

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN SCOTLAND
			Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total
14th January, 1952	…	…	42,497	2,071	22,550	2,882	70,000
12th January, 1953	…	…	50,658	2,421	25,737	2,719	81,535
11th January, 1954	…	…	44,758	2,603	22,428	2,453	72,242
10th January, 1955	…	…	41,872	2,500	19,425	2,056	65,853
16th January, 1956	…	…	38,219	1,909	17,457	1,570	59,155
14th January, 1957	…	…	41,996	2,029	20,011	1,669	65,705
13th January, 1958	…	…	48,127	2,488	20,386	1,968	72,969
12th January, 1959	…	…	80,819	5,432	26,975	3,284	116,510
11th January, 1960	…	…	67,130	4,847	23,803	2,427	98,207
16th January, 1961	…	…	55,562	2,911	21,041	1,965	81,479
15th January, 1962	…	…	59,585	3,698	19,633	2,382	85,298
14th January, 1963	…	…	92,224	6,385	25,351	4,128	128,094
13th January, 1964	…	…	68,964	5,098	24,211	3,155	101,428
11th January, 1965	…	…	53,913	3,405	20,054	2,350	79,722
10th January, 1966	…	…	49,550	2,696	16,606	1,762	70,614
9th January, 1967	…	…	63,547	3,548	19,283	2,524	88,902
8th January, 1968 (provisional)	…	…	70,615	3,448	18,943	2,287	95,293

asked the Minister of Labour what were the percentages of persons unemployed in September, October, November and December, 1967 in Great Britain in all the development areas and in the South-Western development area, respectively.

Following is the information:

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IN DEVELOPMENT AREAS
	Great Britain	All Development Areas	South Western Development Area
11th September,
1967	2·4	4·0	3·5
9th October, 1967	2·4	4·0	4·8
13th November,
1967	2·5	4·1	5·7
11th December,
1967	2·5	4·2	5·8

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what decision he has made on the future use of the land and premises of the Drill Hall, Pound Lane, N.W.I0.

I have decided that preference should be given to the Ministry of Social Security, who badly need these premises for a reception centre.

asked the Postmaster-General what provision he intends to make for consumer representation in the legislation to be introduced which will give the Post Office the status of a public corporation.

The arrangements for consumer consultation were outlined in the White Paper "Reorganisation of the Post Office". (Cmnd. 3233).

asked the Postmaster-General (1) approximately how many letters were handled in the Kettering, Northants, sorting offices during the Christmas period; and what were the corresponding figures for 1966, 1965, and 1964;(2) approximately how many letters were handled in the Corby, Northants, sorting offices during the Christmas period; and what were the corresponding figures for 1966, 1965 and 1964.

Letters posted during the period 13th December to 2nd January were as follows:

Year	Kettering, Northants,	Corby Northants
1967	1,564,000	582,000
1966	1,291,000	541,000
1965	1,402,000	568,000
1964	1,385,000	552,000

The numbers of letters delivered are not available.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he is sending to the report of the Child Poverty Action Group on health service charges—which was sent to him by the secretary of the Group on 13th January; what action he will be taking to meet the problems of selectivity detailed in the report; and if he will make a statement.

I am considering this report in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Social Security and will send my hon. Friend a copy of the reply I send to the Group.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects the new health centre at Chalkhill, Wembley to be completed.

According to present information this health centre, which will be on the ground floor of a block of flats, is expected to be completed in October, 1969.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of pay beds available in National Health Service hospitals in Reading for the years 1958, 1964 and 1967.

25 in 1958 and 1964, and in 1967 until mid-December when the number was reduced to 24.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total revenue raised from pay beds in National Health Service hospitals for the years 1964 and 1967.

The totals for England and Wales were:

	Year ended 31st March,1964	Year ended 31st March,1967
	£	£
Amenity Beds(Section 4)	364,758	342,482
Pay Beds (Section 5)	5,018,495	6,100,375

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost of providing food to patients in National Health Service hospitals in the most recent year this was calculated; and what proportion of total expenditure on the National Health Service it represented in that year.

The information is not available but the cost of provisions for both patients and staff in England and Wales in the year ended 31st March, 1967 was about £44·6 million, representing about 3·5 per cent. of the total expenditure on the National Health Service and about 6·7 per cent. of that on the hospital service.

asked the Minister of Health if he will give the national figures per 100,000 population for patients aged 20 years and over discharged from mental hospital units, including teaching hospitals, according to the diagnoses of schizophrenia, depressions, neuroses and social deviations.

Figures showing both age and diagnosis are not available. For the whole population of England and Wales the number of discharges (excluding deaths) in 1966 per 100,000 population were as follows:

Schizophrenia, schizo-affective disorders and paranoia	74
Depressive psychosis, and involutional melancholia	127
Psychoneuroses	49

Social deviation is not a diagnostic classification.

asked the Minister of Health what effect the proposed cuts in expenditure will have on the hospital services in Wales.

My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement of 16th January (Cmnd. 3515) did not propose any reductions in the level of expenditure on the hospital service, although out-patients will be called upon to pay prescription charges, with such exemptions as may be arranged for the patients of general practitioners.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now allocate sufficient funds to the Birmingham Hospital Board so that they can make an immediate start in building the new general hospital at Redditch.

No. It is the responsibility of the Regional Hospital Board to assess the priority of their projects within their total resources, and they have decided that at present other projects are more urgent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, taking the value of the £ sterling as 20s. in the years 1952, 1955, 1958, 1961, 1964 and 1967, how much did it lose in value in each of the three-year periods, respectively.

The loss in value in each of the three-year periods, taking the value of the £ sterling as 20s. in the years 1952, 1955, 1958, 1961 and 1964 respectively, was as follows:

	s.	d.
1952–55	1	4
1955–58	1	11
1958–61		10
1961–64	1	6
1964–67	2	0

These estimates are based on changes in the consumer price index except for the change between 1966 and 1967, where the index of retail prices has been used.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will, prior to his Budget proposals, make a study of those areas in the United Kingdom, like Mid-Wales, which on account of having a very hight proportion of service industry to manufacturing industry are heavily imposed upon by Selective Employment Tax.

I cannot accept that this tax runs counter to the Government's regional policies, whose aim is to bring adequate employment opportunities within the reach of all parts of the country.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on what proposals he intends to make to increase national savings.

I am very much aware of the importance of increasing savings, but I have nothing to add at this stage to the reply given to my hon. Friend's Question on 23rd November.— [Vol. 754, c. 419.]

asked the Minister of Power what procedures he adopts in order to obtain advice before appointing members to the Electricity Consumer Consultative Councils; which bodies he consults; and which bodies are invited to suggest names for appointment.

The bodies listed below are invited to submit nominations and before appointments are made the chairman of the Consultative Council is consulted:

• List of bodies invited to submit nominations
• The County Councils Association.
• The Association of Municipal Corporations.
• The Urban District Councils Association.
• The Rural District Councils Association.
• The Corporation of London.
• The Greater London Council.
• The London Boroughs Association.
• The Confederation of British Industry.
• The Association of British Chambers of Commerce.
• The National Chamber of Trade.
• The British Hotels and Restaurants Association.
• The Parliamentary Committee of the Co-operative Union Ltd.
• The Trades Union Congress.
• The Institution of Electrical Engineers.
• The Electrical Association for Women.
• The National Council of Women of Great Britain.
• The National Federation of Women's Institutes.
• The National Joint Committee of Working Women's Organisations.
• The Women's Royal Voluntary Service.

asked the Minister of Power what procedures he adopts in order to obtain advice before appointing members to the Gas Consumer Consultative Councils; which bodies he consults; and which bodies are invited to suggest names for appointment.

The bodies listed below are invited to submit nominations and before appointments are made the Chairman of the Consultative Council is consulted.

asked the Minister of Power what procedures he adopts in order to obtain advice before appointing members to the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council; which bodies he consults; and which bodies are invited to suggest names for appointment.

The framework within which my right hon. Friend invites nominations and makes his selection of persons to serve on the Domestic Coal Consumers' Council, is prescribed in Sec tion 4 of the Coal Industry Nationalisation Act. The bodies consulted are:

asked the Minister of Power what planning objections have been raised against the proposed nuclear station at Heysham.

None at present, though the local planning authority is awaiting details of the nuclear safeguarding requirements which are expected to be made known shortly.

asked the Minister of Power whether the latest estimates of 0·56d. per kilowatt hour for the cost of electricity sent out from Dungeness B nuclear power station and 0·52d. from Hinkley Point B, include the royalty of 0·014d. to the Atomic Energy Authority.

Yes, but as I told my hon. Friend the Member for The Hartle-pools (Mr. Leadbitter) on 17th January, inclusion of allowance for the effect of devaluation changes the estimate for Dungeness B to 0·57d. / kWh.—[Vol 756, c. 623.]

asked the Minister of Power how much fuel oil was used in power stations in 1966 and 1967; and how much he expects to be used in each of the next four years.

The total consumption of oil at power stations in the United Kingdom was 7·3 million tons in 1966 and 7·4 million tons in 1967 (12·4 and 12·5 million tons of coal equivalent, respectively). I am not prepared to give forecasts on a year-by-year basis, but a contingent estimate of consumption of 11 million tons of coal equivalent for 1970 was given in Table E on page 66 of the White Paper on Fuel Policy (Cmnd. 3438).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the annual cost of the Army information centre in High Road, Wembley, the number and rank of the personnel employed and the cost of transport used by the staff; and if he will make a statement.

The annual costs of accommodation and transport are about £800 and £650 respectively. The staff consists of a retired officer, eight sergeant recruiters and three civilian clerks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he is aware that the Mid-Hertfordshire College of Further Education is anxious to erect permanent fixtures and equipment in the Territorial Drill Hall in Lemsford Lane, Welwyn Garden City; and if he will take steps to reduce the time taken by his Department in reaching a decision to sell these premises;(2) when he expects to reach a decision as to whether his Department has any further requirement for the Drill Hall at Lemsford Lane, Welwyn Garden City, which is at the moment surplus to the requirements of the Territorial Army.

We have now decided that there is no Ministry of Defence requirement for this Drill Hall. It will therefore be offered to other Government Department; and, if none of them wishes to acquire it, to the local authorities. In that event the Hertfordshire County Council would have the opportunity of purchasing it for use by the Mid-Hertfordshire College of Further Education.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates to be the extent of the additional work required of Portsmouth Dockyard, consequent upon the premature decommissioning and scrapping of H.M.S. "Victorious"; how many additional man-weeks the decommissioning will require in the near future; and how many man-weeks will now not be required once H.M.S. "Victorious" has been disposed of.

The work consequent upon de-storing and de-equipping H.M.S. "Victorious" is expected to occupy about 1,000 man-weeks in Portsmouth Dockyard between December, 1967 and June, 1968. Effort of this order would have been required whenever H.M.S. "Victorious" was disposed of. 4,000 man-weeks were saved by the decision not to complete the refit.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations have been received from the Israeli Government concerning the supply of military weapons; what answers have been given; and if he will make a statement.

Inquiries from foreign Governments about supplies of defence equipment are by long-standing practice treated as confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether H.M.S. "Eagle" will be given a refit; and what other work he is planning in order to keep Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devon-port, with a full order book for the next five years.

A decision on the extent of any refit for H.M.S. "Eagle" will be made as soon as possible. On the second part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the Written Answer given to the hon. Member on 18th January.—[Vol. 756, c. 666.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement regarding the meteorological situation which gave rise to the widespread damage and loss of life in Scotland on the night of Sunday, 14th January; if he is satisfied with the forecast issued; and what further steps were taken to inform the public that a dangerous situation was about to occur.

The gale which gave rise to the widespread damage and loss of life in Scotland in the early hours of Monday, 15th January, was caused by a depression which at 6 a.m. on Sunday, 14th January, was situated in mid-Atlantic. It subsequently moved very rapidly—at about 50 knots—to reach the Outer Hebrides by midnight. It deepened as it travelled and brought winds which were particularly strong on its Southern flank. This effect was probably heightened locally by the topography of the Forth and Clyde valleys.The gale reached its peak in Western Scotland between about 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. on 15th January. The mean wind speed recorded in Glasgow was about 60 m.p.h. This was accurately forecast. It is usual for gusts of wind lasting perhaps only a few seconds to exceed the mean strength, but there is a difficulty in forecasting the extreme strength of such gusts.The Central Forecast Office issued gale warnings for the Glasgow area amongst others at 10 a.m. on 14th January, when force 8 gales (up to 46 m.p.h.) were forecast, and at 10.30 p.m. on the same day, when a warning of force 10 winds (up to 63 m.p.h.) within the next six hours was given. From midday on 14th January every radio and television forecast for Scotland for the general public for the relevant period predicted gales, especially on the West coast. In addition gale warnings were broadcast to shipping by the B.B.C. and G.P.O. coastal radio, and coast guards and others who provide visual signals, such as cones or lights, were also warned. Some land based authorities in the Glasgow area subscribe to the gale warning service, and the Glasgow Weather Centre gave them warnings during the afternoon and evening of 14th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of those legally free to leave school remained pupils until the age of 16 years or more, in the Upper Agbrigg Division of the West Riding, in the city of Leeds, and in the county of Surrey, respectively, in the most recent period for which records are complete.

The information is not available precisely in the form requested but comparison of the number of pupils who reached the age of 16 in the year ended August, 1967, and who were at school in January, 1967, with the numbers who reached the age of 15 in the year ended August, 1966, gives the following percentages:

Upper Agbrigg Division of the West Riding	42 per cent.
City of Leeds	41 per cent.
Surrey	58 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what arrangements he intends to make after September of this year to ensure that the quantity of milk drunk in secondary schools does not decrease; if he will give an assurance that the quantity does not fall because of inadequate arrangements to collect the money; and at what price it will be sold to children.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the annual net reduction in public expenditure arising from the introduction of the proposed charge for school milk in secondary schools; what arrangements he is making to exclude the children of poorer families from the charge; and what consultations he has had with teachers' organisations concerning the imposition of this charge.

The intention is to introduce legislation which will remove the requirement of local education authorities to supply milk to children at maintained secondary schools, either free or on payment. The estimated saving is £4·5 million in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what undertakings to increase productivity were given by the full-time teachers in technical colleges and institutes before the recent confirmation of a 7¼ per cent. salary increase.

No such undertakings were given, and teachers productivity in establishments for further education cannot in any case be precisely measured. In making their award, the arbitral body had regard to all the criteria in paragraph 22 of Cmnd. 3235.The operation of the old scales was extended to 30th June, 1967, and that of the new ones will be from 1st July, 1967, to 31st March, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what effects the proposed holding back of certain capital projects in the universities in 1968–69 will have on the University of Surrey at Guildford.

It is for the University Grants Committee to decide which capital projects in the 1968–69 programme will have to be postponed. The Committee will announce their decisions when they have completed their consultations with the universities.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the total of loan repayment from developing countries for 1966 and 1967; and what was the total of interest payments on loans in 1966 and 1967.

Repayments and interest payments on development aid loans were as follows:

	1966	1967*
	£ million	£ million
Repayments	30·1	28·5
Interest	27·8	28
* Estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request the Welsh Economic Council to make a report upon the effects of the Selective Employment Tax upon areas in Wales which have only a small percentage of their total insured population employed in manufacturing industry.

I have no doubt that the Council have in mind the point to which my hon. Friend refers in their consideration of economic prospects for the rural areas of Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has been consulted by the Beeching Commission on proposals for the reorganisation of courts within the Principality of Wales, including Monmouth.

No. It is entirely a matter for the Royal Commission on Assizes and Quarter Sessions to decide how it is to deal with the questions raised by its terms of reference.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what effect the proposed cuts in expenditure will have on local authority and Government expenditure in the Abertillery constituency.

As the level of expenditure will depend largely on what the local authority themselves decide it is impossible to give an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what affects the proposed cuts in expenditure will have on the roads programme in Monmouthshire.

There will be no cut in major trunk and principal road schemes. Any cuts in small schemes and schemes on minor roads will be largely under the control of the local authorities themselves.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to reach a decision on the inspector's report on the local inquiry into the proposed new shopping facilities in Old Hatfield.

The decision will be issued very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to give his decision on the planning application made by the London borough of Brent for the Church End redevelopment scheme.

My right hon. Friend is waiting for the council to submit the compulsory purchase order they have resolved to make for land needed for the first phase of this redevelopment scheme. I understand that they hope to do this by the end of next month. A local inquiry will then be arranged into both the planning application and any objections to the compulsory purchase order. My right hon. Friend will give his decision as soon as possible after the inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in the light of recent overspending by local authority direct labour departments, he will now issue a circular to local authorities on the financial control of such departments on the lines of the report from the Society of District Auditors.

The discussions with the local authority associations referred to in my reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 24th October have not yet been completed and I cannot therefore at present add anything to that reply.—[Vol. 751, c. 437–8.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are his sources of information about land prices.

Local authorities, Inland Revenue, the Land Commission and auction sales.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what aspects of the operation of the Rent Act, 1965 he is seeking to gain experience of before bringing controlled rents into the regulated sector.

My right hon. Friend wishes to see whether more use can be made of the Act by those for whom it was mainly intended, namely tenants paying more than a fair rent for the poorer types of accommodation in areas where rented accommodation is in short supply. He is seeking to bring the rent officer's services to their notice by further publicity measures and he will watch with great interest the pilot scheme for "Surveyor's Aid" in London, sponsored by the Chartered Land Societies, for helping people of limited means in the later stages of the rent regulation procedure.