asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now ensure that more home-grown timber is used by his Department.

We already take all the home-grown timber suitable for telephone poles that is offered.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT, details of the contractors' costs which have led to the increased charges for heavy type entries in classified telephone directories in 1967.

No. These are matters for the contractor.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to improve television reception in Galloway.

The hon. Gentleman raised this on the Adjournment on 19th July last and I told the House why TV coverage in Galloway could not be further extended. The hon. Gentleman made some proposals during the debate I had these carefully examined by the B.B.C. and the Post Office, but, as I told him in a letter, I am afraid they proved impracticable.However, my right hon. Friend is reexamining the whole question of TV reception in sparsely populated hilly areas to see whether any new approach to this problem is possible.—[Vol. 750, c. 2087.]

asked the Postmaster-General if he will require the Independent Television Authority to refrain from broadcasting any advertisements for holidays in South Africa.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the poor reception on television programmes in the mid-Wales area, and the fact that they receive only one programme and that generally indifferently, what plans he has for graduating the licence fee payable in respect of a television receiver set.

Quality of reception depends on many factors and can vary from house to house and from time to time. To use such a variable base for the fixing of licence fees would not be a practicable proposition. I do, however, sympathise with viewers in mid-Wales and am having a special study made in the area to see to what extent it might be possible to resolve reception problems, for example by the use of relay services.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that the hon. Member for West Ham, North, wrote to him on 7th December, 1967 complaining of the fact that a letter which the hon. Member sent on 2nd November, 1967 from London, N.14, was not delivered to the addressee in London, N.12, until 13th November; why it took him until 21st December to send a formal apology, with no explanation for the reasons for the delay in this postal delivery; and whether in future he will expedite replies to hon. Members of Parliament and members of the public on matters such as this;(2) why it takes up to 14 days to send a formal letter of apology when mistakes and neglect of duty are committed by members of his staff; and whether in future he will take steps to expedite both mail and his replies to complaints when made by hon. Members of Parliament and the general public.

Yes. I have emphasised the need for prompt replies but in this particular case I do not think fourteen days was unreasonable. My Department had to make detailed inquiries about the wrongly addressed letter to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve the postal facilities in Sunderland, in view of its growing importance as a mail order centre.

Mail handled at Sunderland has increased by about 150 per cent. over the last 3 years and I am pleased to say that we have been able to keep postal services up to standard; we shall continue to provide any staff and buildings necessary to keep pace with mail order business.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to ensure that the Rubber Band campaign, successfully operated by the Liverpool Post Office at Christmas, 1967, is introduced in other cities for Christmas, 1968.

My right hon. Friend is grateful for the help given to the Post Office by people, both at Liverpool and at many other cities and towns throughout the country, who bundled their mail before posting. He will be deciding later this year the arrangements for the campaign for Christmas, 1968.

asked the Postmaster-General how many miles of cable capable of being used for data transmission at the highest speeds have now been laid; and what are his proposals for the next three years, allowing for Government cuts in capital expenditure.

All the main trunk telephony network—including the microwave network—is capable of being used for high speed data transmission. Only the cables from the network to the customers' premises are provided specially.The main network is expected to grow by 60 per cent. in the next three years.

asked the Postmaster-General what organisation he has now set up between computer manufac- turers and prospective users to cover the whole question of confidentiality as and when data transmission links come into operation.

No formal organisation of this kind has yet been set up. However, my Department and the Electronic Engineering Association are currently considering the setting up of a joint Post Office/Industry consultative body in which problems of mutual interest in relation to data processing could be discussed.

asked the Postmaster-General how many computers he has now purchased, or are on order for hire to users outside the Post Office; and what are his proposals for the next three years, bearing in mind the Government cuts on capital expenditure.

No computers have so far been purchased or ordered for this purpose. Provision has been made for expenditure of £0·5 million on commercial N.D.P.S. business in 1968–69. No specific commitments have yet been made for such expenditure in the following two years but sums of £2–5 million and £3 million are in mind.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the purpose of the General Post Office's current advertising campaign suggesting that the public should stamp cards with 4d. in order to give them V.I.P. treatment to speed them on their way; and whether he will discontinue the campaign.

Mail sent at the 3d. printed paper rate is liable to be deferred in favour of fully-paid mail. For most printed papers this deferment can be accepted as worth the saving in postage. But date of delivery is important with greetings cards and the purpose of this campaign is to avoid the disappointment caused by their late arrival.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans he has for extending the postal minibus service, such as is run from Llangurig to Llanidloes, to other parts of mid-Wales.

None at present. The existing service in mid-Wales is still experimental.

asked the Postmaster-General what instructions have been given to international telephone and telegrams staff in Great Britain about the new numbered system of addresses in Australia to ensure that these can be used in cables in place of the previous forms of addresses.

Post Office staff have so far been given no instructions about the use of postal codes for addresses on overseas telegrams. The subject is at present being studied by the International Telecommunication Union which is responsible for the relevant international regulations. Suitable instructions will be given to staff as soon as the issue has been clarified.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average cost per place at direct grant secondary schools and at voluntary and county secondary schools, respectively.

About £190 and £135 a year respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the present measures to curtail public expenditure will affect the proposals for a University of the Air.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what number of persons have obtained technical agricultural qualifications, degree, diploma and other, in the last year for which figures are available; and in the absence of precise figures if he will give the best approximation available.

In the United Kingdom in 1966, 431 students qualified for university first degrees in agricultural subjects and 194 for higher degrees or diplomas; and in 1967, 482 qualified for diplomas, 1,799 for certificates following full-time courses and approximately 13,000 for certificates in individual subjects following part-time or block release courses in further education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimates are available of the total number of persons engaged in agriculture who have attended a technical course that does not offer a degree, diploma or certificate, in the last year for which figures are available.

Most continuous courses lead to recognised qualifications. Short courses, conferences and lectures are held on matters of interest to persons engaged in agriculture, but records are not kept centrally of these courses or of the persons who attend them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that Command Paper No. 3515 deals with Public Expenditure in 1968–69 and 1969–70, he will give the estimated total public expenditure on the arts in those years; and what cuts it is proposed to make on the original estimates and forecasts.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Vote on Account.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of children leaving secondary schools run by Westmorland County Council in each of the last five years have voluntarily stayed on after the statutory minimum school leaving age.

Statistics of school leavers are based on an annual survey of 10 per cent. of such leavers. The results from such a sample survey are adequate for analysis on a national basis but not sufficiently reliable for conclusions to be drawn about the position in individual local authority areas. However, the annual survey of pupils in school in January, based on a full census, shows that the percentages of pupils in maintained schools, excluding special schools, aged 15 in relation to those aged 13 two years earlier are, in Westmorland, as follows:

1963	…	…	…	45·4
1964	…	…	…	45·1
1965	…	…	…	50·6
1966	…	…	…	49·2
1957	…	…	…	56·9

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the expenditure on foot-and-mouth research at Pirbright approximately divides between vaccines and controlling the spread of the disease by non-vaccination methods.

Approximately 40 per cent. of the expenditure at Pirbright relates to work on vaccines and vaccination. About 15 per cent. is devoted to studies of epidemiology and of control methods arising from these studies; while about 45 per cent. is for fundamental studies of virology (carried out on foot-and-mouth and other viruses) that are relevant to any approach to the control of the disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the procedure of his Department in respect of the alteration and amendment of development plans of education committees in respect of primary and secondary schools; and what safeguards these procedures give to local government electors when amendments to such plans are made without local consultations.

Section 11 of the Education Act, 1944, called for the preparation of development plans by local education authorities with a view to ensuring that all authorities made sufficient provision of primary and secondary schools to meet the needs of their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total proposed reduction in payments to direct grant schools; and what will be the estimated reduction in payment to each of the direct grant schools in the city and county of Bristol in the next convenient year.

The total reduction in direct grant payable from the Exchequer to direct grant schools will amount to approximately £1·8 million in a full year. after allowing for an increase of about £0·2 million in respect of remitted fee grant because of probable fee increases. This represents an average net decrease in grant per pupil of £18 in a full year, but I cannot say how this change will affect the grant payable to individual schools.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied as to the adequacy of training grants for trainees for the Probation Service; and if he will review the matter having regard to the need for recruitment in the service.

My right hon. Friend is reviewing the arrangements for financial assistance to probation students.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the views of the Irthlingborough Urban District Council on his proposal to establish a borstal at Irthlingborough; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is carefully considering their views. I regret I am not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the salary of £50,000 paid to the Chairman of British Petroleum.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will take steps to deal with traders who raise prices without the justification of higher import or transport costs.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister emphasised on 18th January, price increases to be made for any reason other than higher import costs following devaluation have to be most strictly justified against the existing agreed criteria. Prices which appear to have been raised without a clear justification will be referred for investigation by the National Board for Prices and Incomes. We will also, where necessary, make full use of our reserve powers under the Prices and Incomes Acts, 1966 and 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many letters have been received concerning price increases since devaluation; how these were divided between the Departments with relevant responsibility for the Government's prices and incomes policy; and how many of these letters resulted in price increases being rescinded or not being implemented.

It is regretted that this information is not readily available and cannot be provided because of the disproportionate amount of time and cost required to obtain it.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will now set up an inquiry into the practice of merchants and retailers making general price increases and falsely attributing these rises to devaluation.

We think it preferable to refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes increases in prices which do not appear to be clearly justified either by higher import costs due to devaluation or by other reasons which measure up fully to the criteria for prices in Comnd. 3235.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what rôle he has asked the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation to take in assisting the setting up of an aluminium smelting industry in this country.

My right hon. Friend asked the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation last October to undertake a full evaluation of the proposals for aluminium smelters which we expected to receive from the aluminium companies on the basis of the special electricity arrangements. My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, subsequently referred to them the proposals received on this basis, and they have submitted a report to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what industries he has considered for the special electricity arrangements as outlined by him on 4th October, 1967 in order to avoid the loss of an existing large demand for electricity.

The purpose of the announcement—which is set out below—was to make known the Government's readiness to consider proposals for access to these arrangements. No specific proposals have since been made to the Government for the supply of electricity under these arrangements by firms with a large demand which would otherwise be lost.It is now well established that it will be possible in the future to produce electricity on an economic basis substantially more cheaply than at present. This opens up the prospect that some kinds of industrial production, for which exceptionally large quantities of electricity are required and form a high proportion of total manufacturing costs, will become economically viable in this country for the first time or will be able to be undertaken on a much greater scale than at present and overcome severe disadvantages in international competition. The Government wish to encourage industrial projects of this kind which will contribute to employment in development areas and introduce a new industry to the United Kingdom.2. While the full development of these possibilities is still some years ahead, the Government recognise that the industries concerned must be in a position to plan ahead and make the investments needed to take advantage of cheap power when the time comes. The Government have therefore decided that in selected cases where they consider it in the national interest to supply a new (or possibly to avoid the loss of an existing) very large demand for electricity arising at one place for a particular industrial development, they will authorise the generating boards to negotiate special contracts for long term supply. The Government have decided that large scale aluminium smelting should be considered in this way. The Government would expect that projects given access to these arrangements would normally be located in a development area. In considering projects the Government will have the fullest regard to the competitive position of other firms in the United Kingdom which, by their size or location, would not have these special contracts available to them.3. It is envisaged that, under these contracts, the user will provide finance equivalent to the capital cost of the specified power generating capacity and the cost of transmission required to meet his needs. It is also envisaged that the user will enter into a long term agreement guaranteeing an annual payment covering,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequr what is the estimated total annual cost of Government hospitality both local and central plus nationalised industries' spending on hospitality; and, in order to set an example to the nation, if he will institute an economy drive to curtail the provision of drinks, food, smoking and entertainment from public funds and so help the nation live within its income.

Expenditure on central Government hospitality in 1967–68 is estimated at £277,000. I am not in a position to give figures for local government or the nationalised industries. It is our constant aim to restrict the cost of Government hospitality to the minimum.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been spent in compensation for broken contracts since his administration came into office in 1964 to the nearest convenient date; and how much he anticipates will be spent as a result of the cuts, particularly in defence, announced recently following devaluation.

I am arranging to have the information sought in the first part of the Question collected and will circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT when it is available. The precise amounts of the cancellation charges arising from the cuts recently announced following devaluation have still to be negotiated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the level of public investment in new construction for the Northern Region in the period 1966–67; what are the latest available figures; and what percentage of total public investment in the United Kingdom this represents in each case.

I regret that an analysis by region of public investment in new construction for 1966–67 is not yet available. The latest available figures relate to 1965–66, when public investment in new construction in the Northern Region amounted to £78·5 million; this represented 5 per cent. of total public investment in new construction for the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what were the levels of public investment in new construction in the Northern Region for the three-year periods preceding and following 1964.

I regret that an analysis of public investment in new construction in the Northern Region for the periods requested is not available. With permission, I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing such figures as are available.

Public investment in new construction in the Northern Region of the United Kingdom
				£million
1962–63	…	…	…	60·6
1963–64	…	…	…	66·7
1964–65	…	…	…	73·4
1965–66	…	…	…	78·5

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage of public investment allocated to each of the development areas using the latest available figures.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the approximate total of amounts deducted and the amount of Income Tax, including Surtax, forgone under Schedule E in respect of interest payments, including mortgage interest, and life assurance, respectively, for each of the five years 1962 to 1967 for all ranges of income and separately for the ranges under £2,000, £2,000-£3,000, £3,000-£4,000, £4,000-£5,000, £5,000-£8,000, £8,000-£10,000, £10,000-£ 15,000, £15,000-£20,000, and £20,000 plus, respectively.

Any allocation to particular Schedules of the cost of these reliefs is to some extent arbitrary. The estimates in the table below give the order of magnitude for all Schedule E income for the years 1962–63 to 1965–66; they cannot be split by ranges of income. No estimate is yet available for 1966–67.

£million
		Interest Payments		Life Assurance Relief (allowable for income tax only)
		Amount of interest	Income tax and of surtax relief	Amount of allowances	Income tax relief
1962–63	…	190	53	154	57
1963–64	…	250	73	161	59
1964–65	…	288	90	168	61
1965–66	…	290	95	185	62

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many people employed in the Post Office attended management courses in the year 1967, and at which institute.

The following is the information requested:

(a)London Graduate School of Business Studies—Three.

(b)Manchester Business School—Two.

(c)Administrative Staff College, Henley—One.

(d)British University Management Courses and other equivalent courses in the United Kingdom—Two.

(e)American Management Courses—One.

These figures, like those which I gave the hon. Gentleman in my earlier Answer of 24th October, 1967, relate to the twelve months ended 30th September, 1967.—[Vol. 751, c. 426.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what facilities for training Servicemen from South Africa have been made available by Her Majesty's Government since October, 1964; and how many have used these facilities.

Places on various courses run by the Services are open to foreign students. Nearly three hundred South African service personnel have attended courses since October. 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether any alteration in the form of Defence Estimates is intended this year.

The 1968–69 Defence Estimates will be presented in the same form as those for 1967–68.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what delays were caused to commercial shipping entering or leaving Portsmouth Harbour on Friday, 5th January; and what were the reasons.

To enable a large naval replenishment ship to enter the harbour at high tide, the Isle of Wight ferry due to leave Portsmouth at 2.40 p.m. was delayed by eighteen minutes. I understand that no other delay to shipping was caused.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has formed of the necessary expenditure at Royal Air Force, Kinloss to accommodate the Nimrod.

About £2 million. If Ballykelly had been a suitable alternative to Kinloss or St. Mawgan, expenditure of the same order would have been necessary there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will name the airports in the United Kingdom which are equipped with surveillance radar and those that are not, together with the number of aircraft movements at each.

Following is a list of the principal aerodromes available for public use, divided into those equipped and not equipped with surveillance radar, and showing in each case total Movements of aircraft, and total Air Transport Movements, in the year 1966.

(1) AERODROMES EQUIPPED WITH SURVEILLANCE RADAR
	Total Movements	Air Transport Movements
Aerodrome	1966	1966
Belfast (Aldergrove)	28,911	25,071
Birmingham (Elmdon)*	45,744	13,621
Bournemouth (Hurn)*	26,895	2,473
Glamorgan (Rhoose)*	22,384	7,198
Glasgow (Abbotsinch)	37,253	30,907
London (Heathrow)	224,099	209,306
London (Gatwick)	65,248	33,239
Manchester (Ringway)*	49,875	35,463
Prestwick	24,479	12,872
Southend	35,553	29,076
*Radars at these aerodromes also serve other aerodromes.

(2) AERODROMES NOT EQUIPPED WITH SURVEILLANCE RADAR
Aberdeen (Dyce)	16,858	3,628
Blackpool	43,126	7,854
Bristol (Lulsgate)†	27,563	9,670
Cambridge	59,846	701
Coventry†	24,265	941
East Midlands Airport (Castle Donington)	18,557	4,973
Edinburgh (Turnhouse)	50,257	10,383
Leeds/Bradford	42,010	10,215
Liverpool (Speke)t	34,715	19,655
Luton	41,120	6,033
Lydd	23,523	22,962
Newcastle (Woolsington)	17,116	7,234
Portsmouth	9,195	2,376
Southampton†	16,403	11,733
Stansted	28,091	206
Tees-side (Middleton)	23,444	2,706
†These aerodromes receive service from radars at other aerodromes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the cost to commercial aircraft using Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, in 1966 and 1967, respectively, through delays caused by the absence of suveillance radar equipment.

A detailed analysis has been made of the possible savings in flight time which might have been achieved by air transport using Turnhouse aerodrome in May and June, 1967 if radar separation had been available. Estimates of the corresponding savings in airline costs necessarily contain a large element of judgment. In my judgment the direct saving in airline costs would not at present equal the cost of providing a radar service, namely, about £30,000 p.a.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what examination has been made of the possibilities of siting Government-owned factories in the Blyth constituency and the North-East during the next six months in order to deal with the immediate unemployment problem.

At the end of 1967 over¾million sq. ft. of factory space was under construction by the Board of Trade in North-East England. An advance factory of 25,000 sq. ft. is under construction at Blyth, due for completion in March, and I am prepared to consider siting a further factory there when a tenant is found for this one.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the value of the goods exported by industries in public ownership in 1966–67.

About £55 million in the year ended 31st March, 1967. This covers industries in public ownership in that year. In addition the nationalised industries contribute to the exports of other industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now received the report from the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation about tenders and proposals for the smelting of aluminium, using cheap electricity based on bulk industrial tariffs.

I have now received the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation's report on the proposals submitted for smelters based on nuclear power. This, with certain other proposals, is being urgently examined.

pursuant to his Answer [OFFICIAL REPORT, 22nd January, 1968; Vol. 757, c. 35], circulated the following information:Imports of cotton yarn in the first eleven months of 1967 were 37 million 1b. Retained imports of cotton cloth, including the estimated cloth content of cotton made-up textiles amounted to 623 million sq. yds. in the first ten months of 1967, of which 379 million sq. yds. came from Hong Kong, India and the global quota countries.It is not possible to calculate domestic consumption precisely, as, for example, full information is not available about changes in stocks; but since 1962 imports of cotton yarn have represented the following percentages of estimated consumption:

1962	…	…	6
1963	…	…	7
1964	…	…	8
1965	…	…	6
1966	…	…	7
1967 (11 months)	…	…	10

and retained imports of cotton cloth and made-up textiles have supplied the following percentages of estimated consumption of cotton cloth:

	Hong Kong, India and global quota countries	Other countries	All countries
1962	27	12	39
1963	28	12	40
1964	31	12	43
1965	25	13	38
1966	28	15	43
1967 (10) months)	29	19	48

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what specific sites in development areas have now been considered for the setting up of an aluminium smelting industry in this country; and to what extent sites in grey areas, such as Yorkshire and Humberside, have also been considered;(2) how many companies, industrial organisations or consortia have now submitted proposals to him for aluminium smelting in this country; and if he will list these proposals, detailing the proposer, site, and tonnage to be smelted in each case.

Proposals were submitted by the Aluminium Company of Canada, the Aluminium Company of Switzerland, the British Aluminium Company and RTZ/BICC Aluminium Holdings. The details of the sites and tonnage proposed are confidential, but the Government made it clear when inviting proposals that they wish any new smelter to be built in a Development Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what consideration he has given to sites in South Yorkshire, or in a development area, for the setting up of a ferro alloy smelting industry, using cheap electric power on realistic bulk tariff rates, to save vital imports;(2) what steps he proposes to take to make available cheap electric power on realistic bulk tariff rates to the graphite, electrode and carbide manufacturing industries of this country to avoid the loss of an existing large demand for electricity in South Yorkshire and the North-East amongst other areas;(3) what steps he proposes to take to make available cheap electric power on realistic bulk tariff rates to the chemical industry, particularly in relation to the extraction of minerals from the sea, to avoid the loss of an existing large demand for electricity.

Preliminary inquiries have been made to the Board of Trade by a number of companies, including some in these industries, following the Government's announcement of 4th October about special contract arrangements for large users of electricity. No firm proposals have been received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to encourage large modern industries into South Yorkshire, including the sub-region around Sheffield, employing at least 1,000 people, and preferably over 5,000; and if he will list the new industries of this size brought into this sub-region in the last three years.

There are very few industrial projects of this size seeking new locations and the development areas must continue to have first claim on them. No such projects have moved into Sheffield in the last three years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about arrangements for financing the activities of the British National Export Council from the beginning of the next financial year.

From 1st April, 1968, the Board of Trade will provide from their Vote the funds required to finance the whole of the normal expenditure of the British National Export Council. The Council itself will raise funds from industry and commerce to finance new projects outside its normal activities. This change has been made in recognition of the contribution made to B.N.E.C. by a very large number of senior businessmen in giving so much of their time to its activties and in undertaking work on its behalf when they are travelling abroad on behalf of their own companies. The arrangements between the Board of Trade and B.N.E.C. for control of expenditure will continue as heretofore.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the mishap to the oil rig "Sea Quest" by reason of the parting of her mooring gear, he is satisfied with the operation of the Anchors and Chain Cables Act, 1967; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Safety of drilling rigs is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power who is looking into the circumstances of the mishap to "Sea Quest".

asked the Minister of Labour in which months in 1967 and 1968 did the number of wholly unemployed stand at over 500,000.

The number registered as wholly unemployed in Great Britain exceeded 500,000 on each monthly count made during the periods January to April, 1967, and August, 1967, to January, 1968.

asked the Minister of Labour when he now expects to receive the Report of the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Organisations.

The Royal Commission hopes to be able to report in April.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is the maximum amount which anyone contributing to the National Insurance Pension Scheme has contributed; what is the maximum amount of the corresponding employers contributions; what capital value each of these two figures represents; and what weekly pension he estimates the two capital sums would produce on an actuarial basis in the case of a single person and a married couple.

The maximum amounts that could have been paid by a man and his employer for retirement pension are estimated at £325 and £330 respectively. The capital value of these contributions at pension age and the weekly pension they would provide on an actuarial basis depend on various assumptions, including the interest rate assumed and, in the case of pension for a married couple, on the age of the wife. Assuming, for example, a rate of interest of 3½ per cent., the capital value of the total contributions would be about £867 which might provide a weekly pension of £1 16s. for a single man aged 65 and of £1 7s. 6d. for a married couple where the man is 65 and his wife is 60.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how far from the corporation refuse dump in Liverpool, where meat which had become unfit for human consumption was buried, were subsequent outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease; on what date the burial took place; and what outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease there were within a radius of 25 miles in the three-week period following the burial.

Since the first week in November small quantities of scraps and trimmings of meat which are unfit for human consumption have regularly been buried on a corporation refuse dump in Liverpool. Prior to burial the meat is placed in a plastic bag which is in turn placed in a stronger plastic sack which is then sealed. The method of disposal should present no risk of the spread of foot-and-mouth disease. The nearest outbreak to the refuse dump occurred seven miles away and very many others have occurred within a 25-mile radius. In no case has there been any evidence to implicate the refuse dump.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to prevent the release from cold store of frozen meat imported from the countries to which the temporary arrangements for the suspension of imports announced on 4th December last apply.

The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have made an Order under the Diseases of Animals Act, 1950, prohibiting the removal from storage of all imported meat save that originating in the small number of countries where foot-and-mouth disease is unknown or which have a long history of freedom from the disease. This Order is made in support of the temporary arrangements which I announced on 4th December and its operation will be subject to the review of these arrangements which I intend either after three months, or as the foot-and-mouth disease position permits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the approximate rise or fall in average farm incomes in Wales in 1967 compared with 1966.

I cannot yet give a figure but information about average farm incomes in Wales in 1965–66 and 1966–67 will be published in March.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total of production grants and subsidies, respectively, paid to farmers in Wales in each of the years 1952 to 1967.

The total payments by way of farming grants and subsidies to farmers in Wales and Monmouthshire since 1960–61 are as follows:

				£million
1960–61	…	…	…	8·7
1961–62	…	…	…	9·0
1962–63	…	…	…	8·5
1963–64	…	…	…	8·7
1964–65	…	…	…	10·3
1965–66	…	…	…	10·2
1966–67	…	…	…	10·1

I regret that similar information about payments in earlier years and payments under the agricultural price guarantees cannot be produced without undue expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many employees of his Department are estimated to hold a degree, diploma or other certificate that they have attended a technical course concerned with agriculture.

Accurate information is not immediately available, but a reasonable estimate would be some 1,600.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now introduce legislation to extend the time limit of three months after the passing of the Leasehold Reform Act, 1967, for those tenancies which terminated after 8th December, 1964.

No. The circumstances in which Parliament laid down this time limit have not changed since the Act was passed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will refer the recent increases in rents in Huddersfield to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

The reference to the Board is of the reasons for, and phasing of, increases in rents of local authority housing, with particular reference to certain authorities. The Board are not precluded from examining increases by authorities not specifically named in the reference, but it is not proposed to add further auhorities to that list.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what financial assistance has been, and is to be, accorded to the South Yemen People's Republic; for what purposes; and under what conditions.

It was agreed at the Geneva negotiations conducted by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal that aid at the pre-independence level would be continued for six months from 1st December, 1967. The civil element for which I am responsible includes some £2 million as assistance towards the recurrent civil budget; the Southern Yemen Government has been asked to provide an audited certificate in due course that the money has been devoted to the administrative and other purposes of the Republic.In addition, we have agreed to make available the balance unspent from the allocations formerly made to the territory under the Colonial Development and Welfare Acts to a total of approximately £1·5 million; issues will be made in respect of capital projects to be agreed with us on proof of need against claims submitted through and endorsed by the British Embassy.It was agreed at Geneva that the question of future aid would be a matter for further discussion between Her Majesty's Government and the People's Republic of Southern Yemen.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what total expenditure was incurred by members of his departmental staff or personnel sponsored by his Department in respect of overseas travel in each of the years 1965 to 1967.

Expenditure on overseas travel amounted to £115,961 in the financial year 1965–66, and £117,066 in 1966–67 by the headquarters, departments and the two overseas Development Divisions of my Ministry.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will express the total public expenditure on overseas aid in each of the years 1964 to 1967, inclusive, as a proportion of the public sector deficit on current account in overseas transactions in the same years.

Figures for 1967 are not yet available. Following is the information for 1964 to 1966:

	£million
	1964	1965	1966
(1)Net government overseas current expenditure and receipts (excluding imports and exports and interest payments on Government account)	432	446	460
(2) Of which, Economic Aid on this account*	90	100	95
	per cent.	per cent.	per cent.
(2) As percentage of (1)	21	22	21
*These figures do not include aid loans. Such loans amounted in these years to £94 million, £84 million and £102 million respectively; capital repayments were £18 million, £24 million and £30 million; and interest received was £24 million, £26 million and £28 million.

asked the Minister of Power what progress has been made in his negotiations with the oil companies to fix a price for North Sea gas; and if he will make a statement.

Negotiations are continuing between the Gas Council and the companies. I will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Power what is the price being paid by the gas industry for North Sea gas; what price the consumer is paying; and whether his Department is subsidising the price.

The only North Sea gas at present being delivered on shore is from B.P's field off the Humber. The price being paid by the Gas Council is 5d. per therm but this is only valid up to an average of 100 million cubic feet a day and for an initial period of three years. This gas is being used mainly to manufacture town gas, which is sold to consumers under the Gas Boards' normal tariffs. Some natural gas is being supplied to consumers direct, at prices slightly below the normal town gas tariffs. My department is not subsidising the price.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give details of the payments under Section 5 of the Coal Industry Act, 1967; and if he will make a statement.

No payments have yet been made under Section 5 of the Act. The detailed arrangements for assessing the losses incurred by the National Coal Board are under discussion with the Board. The provisions required will be presented to the House in the Estimates in due course.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give a detailed breakdown of the benefits paid under Section 3 of the Coal Industry Act, 1967; and if he will make a statement.

As soon as the details of the Scheme are settled after discussion with the unions, the draft Regulations will be laid before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will refrain from making official visits to coalfields until the revision of the White Paper on Fuel Policy is completed.

My hon. Friend will have noted the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ince (Mr. McGuire) on Tuesday, 23rd January. In any case, I see no reason to postpone my visits.—[Vol. 757, c. 77.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will take steps to ensure that in grey areas, such as South Yorkshire, industrial tariffs for the use of electricity based on indigenous fuels, namely coal in East Yorkshire, and natural gas from the North Sea, are realistically low and do not carry transmission charges to other parts of the country.

The Government has made clear the importance it attaches to electricity prices to industry being kept as low as is consistent with the relevant costs. The costs of transmission are recovered by the Central Electricity Generating Board from the Area Electricity Boards through its bulk supply tariff which has been referred for examination by the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will arrange for the Construction Materials Group set up by the Economic Development Committee for Building and Civil Engineering to examine now the extent to which the importation of timber for use in the ground floors of buildings can be rendered unnecessary by insisting on the installation of solid floors wherever possible with suitable covering and, where desirable, under-floor insulation or heating.

The use of timber for suspended ground floors is confined almost entirely to housing: but in this field its employment is already inhibited by higher costs. Over 80 per cent. of all housing is now constructed with solid ground floors. In these circumstances, I am reluctant to launch a special inquiry into the subject. I will, however, bring the hon. Member's suggestion to the attention of the Chairman of the Construction Materials Group, which is giving continuous consideration to the general problem of import saving.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will list the buildings which are owned and rented, respectively, by Her Majesty's Government in Brussels, and state the annual cost of upkeep and total rent, respectively.

Her Majesty's Government owns the freehold of the following properties in Brussels. The estimated cost of maintenance of these in 1967–68 is £5,000.

• 17 rue Ducale—Residence of the British Ambassador.
• 21 Avenue Henri Pirenne—Residence of the Head of the Permanent U.K. Delegation to the European Communities.
• 65 Avenue Bostendael—Garage for 21 Avenue Henri Pirenne, with flat above occupied by a junior officer in the Embassy.

In addition, my Ministry holds the following properties on lease at annual rents totalling £85,657:

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how the Department of the Postmaster-General is affected by the Whitehall Plan.

No headquarters staff of the Post Office are affected, but the Parliament Street Branch Post Office will have to be rehoused temporarily during redevelopment and then permanently on the Bridge Street Site.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the damage to farm buildings and forestry in Scotland during the recent storm; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Glasgow to inspect the hurricane damage;(2) what estimate he has made of the damage suffered in Glasgow during the recent hurricane; and how many families have been rendered homeless;(3) what aid he is now prepared to give to Glasgow to assist with making good the damage caused in the recent hurricane;(4) what consideration he has given to classifying Scottish areas affected by the recent hurricane damage as disaster areas entitled to special Governmental assistance.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Statement which I made today on the effects of the storm and on the assistance which the Government are giving.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will review his economic cuts in such a way as to restore to Scottish areas affected by hurricane damage the cuts in local authority grants and the cuts in housing approvals.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to the statement I made today about special assistance for storm-damaged areas, and I am meeting the Scottish local authority associations on 26th January, to discuss

SCOTTISH OFFICE STAFF
Year			Scottish home Department			Department of Health for Scotland		Department of Agriculture for Scotland		Scottish Education Department		Totals
			A.	B.	C.	A.	B.	A.	B.	A.	B.	A.	B.
1946	…	…	626	9	491	917	—	1,245	*	373	6	3,161	15
1951	…	…	974	475	754	927	—	1,855	792	468	19	4,224	1,286

			†Scottish Home and Health Department			Scottish Development Department		Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland		Scottish Education Department		Totals
			A.	B.	C.	A.	B.	A.	B.	A.	B.	A.	B.
1964	…	…	1,424	377	1,273	664	16	2,515	426	585	16	5,188	835
1968	…	…	1,647	380	1,611	909	23	2,828	410	784	—	6,168	813
NOTES:
Column A.—Non-industrial staff.
Column B.—Industrial staff.
Column C.—Prisons staff (not included in columns A. or B.).
*Not available.
†Fisheries functions were transferred from the Scottish Home Department to the re-named Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland in 1960; and the Scottish Development Department and the Scottish Home and Health Department were formed in 1962 by re-grouping the functions previously discharged by the Department of Health for Scotland and the Scottish Home Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now able to announce the names of the members of the Parole Board for Scotland.

In addition to the Very Rev. Dr. Leonard Small, whose appointment as chairman I announced last November, I have appointed the following members of the Board:

• Sheriff W. Pattullo, Glasgow.
• Sheriff J. W. B. Christie, Dundee.
• Dr. Richard Park, Physician Superintendent, Leverndale Hospital, Glasgow.
• Dr. J. W. Macpherson, Physician Superintendent, Gartloch Hospital, Glasgow.
• Mr. D. A. P. Barry, Member Scottish Aftercare and Probation Councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total numbers of civil servants employed by the Scottish Office, and by each of its Departments, respectively, at the beginning of 1946, 1951, 1964 and at the latest available date.

The information is as follows:Mr. A. Napier, Secretary, Scottish Branch of the Fire Brigades Union.Rev. Father Anthony Ross, Member, Aftercare Council.Dr. Ann Smith, Member of Department of Criminology, Edinburgh University.The Board has this week started to consider individual cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Lord Advocate has yet completed his consideration of the report on the affairs of the Third Lanark Football Club; and if he will make a statement.

Not yet.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will now announce the appointment of a chairman of Short Brothers and Harland, Belfast.

The Board of Short Brothers and Harland Ltd. have appointed Mr. D. W. G. Haviland, C.B., to be Deputy Chairman of the Company pending the appointment of a Chairman. I shall announce the name of the new Chairman when he is appointed.

asked the Minister of Technology what estimate is available of the number of persons with a technical agricultural qualification who are employed in activities other than farming.

In April, 1961 census 8,570 persons with a technical agricultural qualification of university degree level were employed in Great Britain. Of these 5,470 or 64 per cent. were employed in activities other than farming.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he has yet received a report from the National Board for Prices and Incomes on television and radio rental and relay charges.