asked the Minister of Social Security if she will introduce legislation to make possible retrospective payments to those who fail to claim pensions and other benefits when they are entitled to do so.

asked the Minister of Social Security whether she will change her regulations to enable late claims for various forms of benefit to be made.

Regulations already provide for the period for claiming National Insurance benefits to be extended where there is good cause for delay. However, they prevent payment of arrears of benefit for more than six months, and this is one of the time limits now being considered by the National Insurance Advisory Committee.

asked the Minister of Social Security what assistance she plans to give to widowers with children to support, who cannot afford to pay the wages of a housekeeper.

Both the National Insurance and Supplementary Benefit schemes provide help for widowers with dependent children when they cannot earn. I do not think that in practice the schemes can go further in this field.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is her estimate of the cost of lowering to 60 years the age at which retirement pensions are paid.

The additional expenditure on National Insurance benefit would depend on what consequential changes were made in the other retirement pension conditions, including the earnings rule, but it could be up to £450 million a year if the pattern of retirement among men aged 60 to 65 followed the present pattern of retirement among men aged 65 to 70. There would also be a considerable loss of contribution income.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what instructions he has given as to the acceleration of indoor painting work in Government buildings; and for what reason.

None. It has for many years been my Ministry's policy to concentrate indoor painting into the winter months, and maintenance programmes are drawn up on this basis.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will state the area occupied by central government offices in London, and their rateable value.

About 15·3 m. sq. ft. in Greater London, of which 11·7 m. sq. ft. are occupied by headquarters staff and 3·5 m. sq. ft. by local offices of Government Departments. A figure for the total rateable value of these properties is not immediately available.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will state the area occupied by central government offices in Cardiff, and their rateable value.

About 764,000 sq. ft., with a rateable value of about £155,000.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what discussions have been held with the Atomic Energy Authority about the proposed reduction in the nuclear research and development programme of the authority;(2) what savings will be obtained as a result of the proposed reduction in the nuclear research and development programme of the Atomic Energy Authority.

Discussions have been held with the A.E.A. about the savings which could be made in expenditure on the Authority's research and development programme as part of the recent review of public expenditure in 1968–69 and 1969–70. It has been agreed that reductions will be made amounting to over £3½ million in 1968–69 and £6 million in 1969–70. The effect of these reductions is now being studied in detail by the Authority.

asked the Minister of Technology what discussions have been held with the Advisory Council on Technology about the proposed cuts in his Department's defence research programme.

None, Sir.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what was the total monthly production of television sets in the months of June, July, November and December 1967;(2) how many television sets produced by British manufacturers in the months of June, July, November and December 1967 were supplied for retail sale in the United Kingdom;(3) how many television sets were exported in the months of June, July, November and December 1967.

Following is the information:

TELEVISION SETS
Numbers Thousands
	U.K. Production		Home Disposals by U.K. Manufacturers
	Total	For Export
1967:—
June	101	3	89
July	90	3	88
November	140	3	156
December*	139	3	n/a
* Estimate by Industry.

asked the Minister of Technology what savings will be obtained in the budget of the Explosives Research and Development Establishment as a result of the cuts planned in its expenditure during the years 1968–69 and 1969–70.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I have given to similar Questions today on the subject of savings at Research and Development Establishments.

asked the Minister of Labour how many Government industrial training centres are now operating in each region; how many centres existed in 1964; and what increases have been established in costs, the numbers trained and under training, and the numbers in staffs since then.

Following is the information:—

NUMBER OF GOVERNMENT TRAINING CENTRES BY REGIONS
	January,1968	October,1964
Northern	4	3
Yorkshire and Humberside	3	3
Eastern and Southern	4	3
London and S.E.	6	3
South Western	3	2
Wales	2	2
Midlands	4	3
North Western	4	2
Scotland	8	4
Total	38	25

Cost of G.T.C's
1964–65	…	…	…	…	£4,660,891
1967–68 (estimated)	…	…	…	…	£9,107,900

(

asked the Minister of Labour whether techniques of programmed instruction are being used for industrial training, at which centres, and for what trades.

In Government training centres the first programmes of this type will be introduced at all centres later this year. One of the programmes will be used for all trades, the rest mainly in engineering trades. The Construction, Engineering and Road Transport Industry Training Boards are developing programmes which they will test in their centres as a preliminary to making them available for wider use in their industries. In addition, on the recommendation of the Central Training Council, the Industrial Training Research and Documentation Centre for Programmed Instruction was set up in Sheffield University last year to study and issue guidance on programmed instruction.

asked the Minister of Labour what difficulties are experienced in placing trainee draughtsmen in employment after serving the recognised period of training in Government training centres; and what action he is taking to overcome these difficulties.

I am not aware of any difficulties, but if my hon. Friend has any particular case in mind I shall be glad to look into it.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will instruct the Agricultural Training Board to exclude part-time workers from their assessments.

The Levy Order for this Board provides for assessments only in respect of regular whole time workers.

asked the Minister of Labour what percentage increase in rates and earnings is claimed by those em-

TRADE UNIONS
A. TRANSFERS OF ENGAGEMENTS
Year	Union	Membership	Transferred to	Membership
1965	National Union of Packing Case Makers Wood and Tin), Box Makers, Sawyers and Mill Workers.	3,277	Amalgamated Society of Wood-workers.	190,701
	Stoke Prior Salt Makers' Mechanics' and General Labourers' Association.	117	National Union of General and Municipal Workers.	784,545
	Birkenhead Operative House and Ship Painters Society.	306	Amalgamated Society of Painters and Decorators.	75,861
	Association of Correctors of the Press	1,215	National Graphical Association	81,937
	National Union of Press Telegraphists	1,645	National Graphical Association	81,937
	National Ambulances Services Association	2,320	National Union of Public Employees.	248,041
	United Fishermen's Society	1,078	Transport and General Workers Union.	1,464,663
	Turners Fitters and Instrument Makers' Union (Scotland).	1,265	Amalgamated Engineering Union	1,090,719
	Hinckley and District Hosiery Menders Association.	*	National Union of Hosiery Workers	44,836
	National Silk Workers and Textile Trades Association.	*	Amalgamated Society of Textile Workers and Kindred Trades.	5,800

The increases claimed by internal transport drivers and machine polishers employed at Wilmot Breeden were originally for unspecified amounts.The House will know, however, that a basis for the settlement of these two disputes was established at meetings between the parties last Thursday. As a result the drivers resumed work on Saturday and the polishers returned today.When fuller details are known, the proposals will be subject in the usual way to scrutiny by my Ministry in relation to the current criteria for income increases, but our preliminary information suggests that in formulating their proposals the parties had regard for the need to increase productivity.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will list in the Official Report all the mergers and amalgamations of trade unions which have taken place since 1st January 1964, and the aproximate number of union members involved in each case.

The information available up to 1st January 1968 is as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour what action he proposes to take to ensure the stricter enforcement of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act 1963 in order to raise the standards of working conditions and to contribute thereby to the improved health of workers and to the raising of productivity.

I am satisfied from the reports of enforcing authorities and those of the Central Advisory Inspectorate that, in general, the necessary action is being taken to ensure that conditions in premises within scope of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act are in compliance with the requirements of that Act.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the average number of persons employed and unemployed respectively, at Rutherglen and Cambuslang Employment Exchanges in 1951, and

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES AT MID-YEAR IN THE GLASGOW AND NORTH LANARKSHIRE TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREAS AND THE TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREAS COVERED BY RUTHERGLEN AND CAMBUSLANG EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AT JANUARY AND JUNE.
		Estimated number of employees (Thousands)		Total registered unemployed
		Glasgow	North Lanarkshire	Rutherglen	Cambuslang
January, 1951	…	—	—	398	369
June, 1951	…	615	135	260	321
January, 1963	…	—	—	1,023	761
June, 1963	…	602	150	815	614
January, 1964	…	—	—	822	474
June, 1964	…	594	157	602	341
January, 1965	…	—	—	563	353
June, 1965	…	591	167	432	330
January, 1966	…	—	—	641	422
June, 1966	…	581	174	487	319
January, 1967	…	—	—	766	452
June, 1967	…	—	—	658	391
January, 1968	…	—	—	872	425

asked the Minister of Labour if, in future, he will refuse to accept recommendations from wages councils which do not provide an adequate living for a family.

Under the Wages Councils Act 1959, I have no power to reject proposals submitted to me by wages councils.

asked the Minister of Labour when the rehabilitation centre at Bellshill will be ready for occupation; how many men will be retrained; what is expected to be the final cost; and if he will make a statement.

The Bellshill Industrial Rehabilitation Unit will open on 5th February 1968. The I.R.U. itself will not provide industrial training but between 600 and 700 men and women are expected to enter each year for short courses of industrial rehabilitation some in each year from 1963 to the latest convenient date.

The employment estimates for Rutherglen and Cambuslang—which form comparatively small parts of large travel-to-work areas—are not precise enough to provide reliable measures of year-to-year changes.Following are employment estimates for the Glasgow and North Lanarkshire travel-to-work areas, which include Rutherglen and Cumbuslang, respectively, and unemployment figures for Rutherglen and Cambuslang:of which may lead to Training courses. I cannot give a final cost for the I.R.U. alone, because the Bellshill contract also includes a new Government Training Centre which is being built alongside the I.R.U., and is due to open later this year. When fully operational it will be able to produce about 350 trained men each year. The combined Centre and Unit are expected to cost about £450,000 to construct and £150,000 to equip.

asked the Minister of Labour if, in view of devaluation, he will take steps to introduce a minimum wage of £15 so as to safeguard the living standards of the lower paid workers: and if he will make a statement.

The Government's present policy is to assist low-paid workers partly through the operation of its policy for productivity, prices and incomes, and partly through social benefits directly related to their problems.

asked the Minister of Health when he expects to receive the report of the Pharmaceutical Whitley Council on their investigation into the salary and career structure, promotion prospects, postgraduate training and the organisation of the hospital pharmaceutical service.

The Whitley Council has agreed to co-operate with a working party which is being set up by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and myself to advise on the efficient and economical organisation of the hospital pharmaceutical service with particular reference to:

(1) the most suitable unit(s) of organisation for the whole or parts of the service;

(2) the best use of pharmacists (including the need and facilities for their post-graduate training);

(3) the best use of supporting staff (including their recruitment and training);

(4) a suitable career structure for pharmacists and supporting staff.

My right hon. Friend and I are grateful to Sir Noel Hall for agreeing to serve as Chairman of this Working Party. The names of the other members will he announced later.The Whitley Council has also appointed a sub-committee to study salary and career structure including promotion prospects.I cannot say when the report of either of these bodies will be ready.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the annual cost to the National Health Service of in-patient and out-patient hospital treatment attributable to road accidents over each of the last 10 years; and how many patients were so treated.

Precise figures are not available but it is estimated that about 100,000 inpatients are treated each year at a cost of about £10 million.

asked the Minister of Health what are the results of the study made by his Department of obtaining an additional source of revenue for the National Health Service by reclaiming for the motor insurance companies centrally the annual cost of treatment attributable to road accidents.

Possible modifications of the arrangements for recovering charges for treatment attributable to road accidents continue to be borne in mind.

asked the Minister of Health what reply he has sent to the letter which he received from Mr. Donald L. Phillips of Pensilva, 69, Audley Avenue, Torquay, dated 7th October 1967, about the fluoridation of water supplies.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the reply.

asked the Minister of Health why his Department have taken 14 months to give a decision on the Home Help Service matters referred to him by Havant Council.

I regret that this has taken so long, but my right hon. Friend did not wish to determine the dispute between Havant Urban District Council and Hampshire County Council without making every effort to secure its resolution by agreement. Now that these efforts have failed an early reply will be sent to the Havant Council.

asked the Minister of Transport what net increase of staff she expects to recruit for her Department to administer the provisions of the Transport Bill.

Until the possibility of combining new functions with existing ones has been fully explored, we can not say how small the net increase will be.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent the Government cuts in new forms of assistance to public passenger transport will affect the new bus fuel grants for operators of stage services.

The increased grant proposed in the Transport Bill will not be affected.

asked the Minister of Transport why she made two Statutory Instruments, the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 2) Regulations 1967 (S.I., 1967, No. 1665) and the Motor Vehicles (Construction and Use) (Amendment) (No. 3) Regulations 1967 (S.I., 1967, No. 1666), in view of the fact that the problems involved could be dealt with in one document; and what was the additional cost involved.

Because provisions now in S.I., 1967, No. 1666 had not been finally settled when it was judged that printing of S.I., 1967, No. 1665 must be put in hand if the target operative date were not to be endangered.It is unlikely that there was any additional cost.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals she has received for extending the Victoria Line underground from Brixton towards Mitcham and Streatham; and if she will make a statement.

None. Studies by the London Transport Board have suggested, I understand, that such an extension would not be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport how the construction cost per mile of new underground railway compares with that for urban motorway.

Comparison is difficult because costs vary widely with local circumstances. The current projects for the Brixton extension and the Hendon urban motorway cost respectively about £4,000,000 and about £3,000,000 per mile. But nearer the centre of London motorways in particular will cost much more.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the £29 million cuts for major roads in 1969–70 will fall on maintenance; and what proportion on building new roads.

It is too early to say.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will specify the cuts in the road division of her Department as a result of economy measures announced on 16th January, 1968.

During the coming year the highways organisation in the Department will be reshaped to take account of the transfer of work to the Road Construction Units. It is too early to say how this reshaping will be affected by the economy measures.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with the proposed Carlisle by-pass; if she will give an assurance that the scheme will not be held up as a result of the recently announced economy decisions; and what will be the starting date.

We hope that the statutory procedures will be completed and construction started by the autumn. We know of nothing likely to hold up this scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress she has made in her consideration of the possible realignment of the A259 between Kent Ditch and Camber Corner, East Guldeford.

Consideration of a proposal to realign this length of road has been deferred pending the outcome of the application by the British Railways Board for consent to close the Ashford—Ore line.

asked the Minister of Transport what cuts made in the road construction, road improvement and road maintenance programmes will take place in Westmorland as a result of the Government's recent announcement of cuts in public expenditure; and how much each of them will save.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dorset, South, on 23rd January.—[Vol. 757, c. 90.]

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects to announce a line for the proposed Abingdon by-pass on the A34.

This scheme cannot be considered in isolation from longer term proposals for a major route between the Midlands, Oxford and Southampton. The engineering, traffic and cost benefit investigations have proved to be more difficult and extensive than originally envisaged. It will not be possible to select a line finally and publish a draft Order before the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport how often, since 1945, harbour authorities in the United Kingdom have exercised their powers of sale under Section 44 of the Harbours, Docks and Piers Act 1847.

The British Transport Docks Board inform me that since 1st January, 1963, when they were first established, they have not exercised these powers of sale. Information for the earlier period, or for other port authorities, is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport when she expects a start to be made on the extension of the electrification from Weaver Junction to Glasgow via Carlisle; and if the scheme will suffer in any way as a result of the recent cutback.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Dance) on 20th December.—[Vol. 756, c. 408.]

asked the Minister if she will now publish the report of the study into track costs undertaken by her Department.

In about a month.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give an assurance that she will not allow the publication of proposals for the closure for passenger traffic of the Leeds-Appleby-Carlisle railway line until the electrification of the Crewe to Glasgow stretch is completed.

No. The basic railway Network Map published jointly by the Government and the Railways Board last year, indicated that the Board would review the passenger services on this line. If they decide to publish a closure proposal they are free to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will give an assurance that work on the extension of the Crewe to Carlisle railway electrification will commence in 1970.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bromsgrove (Mr. Dance) on 20th December.—[Vol. 756, c. 408.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fishries and Food what is his latest estimate of the foreign exchange cost of imports of bacon under the market sharing agreement during 1968; and what change this represents in percentage and money terms, respectively, compared with 1967.

Imports of bacon, nearly all of which are from countries signatory to the Understanding, cost £123·6 million in 1967. Owing to obvious uncertainties about levels and patterns of prices, production and consumption, I cannot give any useful comparative estimate of foreign exchange cost for the year just started.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is yet in a position to announce the additional costs to Ulster agriculture due to the Government's economic measures of 18th November 1967.

Such an estimate cannot be made because it is not practicable to assess the effect of devaluation on agricultural costs in Ulster or for the United Kingdom as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the members of the proposed Rural Development Board announced on 18th January 1968 have practical experience of hill farming.

Seven out of the proposed membership of eleven have had practical experience of hill farming.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an assurance that no meat will be imported from countries where foot-and-mouth disease is endemic until he has received the report of the inquiry into the recent outbreak of foot-and-mouth; and if he will make a statement.

No. The present suspension of imports is a temporary measure intended to reduce to the minimum the risk of any new primary outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease while the present emergency is being brought under control. Its temporary nature is consistent with our normal commercial policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what studies have been made by his Department of the increased production costs which farmers in Great Britain will suffer as a result of devaluation; and with what results.

Estimates of changes in farmers' costs are being prepared and will be taken into account at the Annual Review. It is not practicable to isolate devaluation effects from the other factors which affect costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions have been held with the Central Advisory Committee on Scientific and Technological Resources about the proposed cuts in the Government's defence research programme.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the saving of £3 million in Cmnd. 3515. This particular reduction was not discussed with the Central Advisory Council for Science and Technology but the Ministry of Defence does of course take account of the views expressed by the Council on general matters affecting Defence research and development.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the amount spent on advertising for recruits for the Royal Navy, Army and Royal Air Force last year and the amount intended to be spent this year.

We expect to spend about £3 million in 1967–68 made up as follows:

			£
Royal Navy	…	…	800,000
Army	…	…	1,400,000
Royal Air Force	…	…	800,000

I am looking at the Estimates on advertising expenditure for 1968–69 in the light of recent announcements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware that the cases of four Servicemen have been placed before the European Commission on Human Rights by the National Council for Civil Liberties, on the grounds that Articles 4(1), 6 and 13 of the Convention have been infringed by Her Majesty's Government; and what steps are taken to fulfil the United Kingdom's obligations under this Convention.

Yes. We take all necessary steps to fulfil our obligations under this Convention.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is prepared to review the case of Alan Last, now serving in H.M.S. "Defender", who, having been refused discharge, has once attempted to take his own life.

Able Seaman Last has recently been examined by a specialist in neuro-psychiatry. It was on the basis of this report that we decided not to allow him a premature discharge.He is now en route with his ship to the Far East.On arrival there his Commanding Officer will be sending me a report on this rating. After I have studied this I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what information he has on the present whereabouts of, and degree of risk threatening, Dr. John Gower and six other Europeans he was seeking to evacuate from Biafra when they were last heard of.

I regret that I have no recent information about Dr. John Gower. He was warned by Her Majesty's Consul, Buea, that the British Government had no representation in the region and no means of communication.It is not possible to assess the degree of risk to which any United Kingdom citizen in the area may be exposed, though I have received no reports of any incidents in Ituk Mbang.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what he estimates the achievement of 4 per cent. a year growth over the next two years will make the level of the gross national product, on the national plan definition and at 1964 prices, in 1969; and what further increase, as a percentage and in £ million at 1964 prices he estimates to be needed in 1970 to achieve the national plan target of 25 per cent. growth or a £8,210 million increase in the gross product over 1964 to 1970;(2) what, within the range of half per cent. either way, Her Majesty's Government estimates to be the growth of the productive potential of the economy by 1970;(3) what shortfall is expected in £ million at 1964 prices between his estimate of gross national product in 1970 and the national plan target.

Growth at the rate of 4 per cent. a year in 1968 and 1969 would raise the level of the Gross National Product, at 1964 prices, to some £37,665 million. This would represent growth of £4,485 million at 1964 prices, or 13·5 per cent., over the G.N.P. in 1964. Productive potential is one of the main elements in the calculation of this rate of growth. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said on 18th January, the Government are not yet ready to suggest a figure for the rate of growth after 1969. It has been made clear on a number of occasions that the assumptions in the National Plan about possible growth by 1970 have been invalidated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of secondary school pupils in Dorset; and what annual saving arises from his proposal to stop supplying them with free milk.

There were 19,630 pupils in maintained secondary schools in Dorset in January, 1967, the latest date for which figures are available. The estimated saving from ceasing to supply free milk to pupils in those schools is £21,100.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools he has refused to allow to be closed by local authorities for economy reasons in each of the last five years; and how many of them had less than 10, nine, eight, seven, six or five pupils at the time of the refusal.

This information is rot readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when textbooks using S.I. units of measurements will be introduced into schools, in connection with the introduction of the metric system.

This is a matter for the local education authorities and the schools, in consultation as necessary with educational publishers and in the light of any general guidance which may be offered by the Schools Council and the Decimal Currency Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which former Territorial Army drill halls have been taken over for sports facilities.

This information is not available, but I understand that loan sanction has been either issued or promised in respect of the acquisition by local authorities of 20 drill halls in England and Wales and two in Scotland for use as sports centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made to ensure that primary schools have their own managing bodies as recommended in the Plowden Report; and whether he will make a statement.

This is a matter for local education authorities. But I am awaiting the results of a research project into the management and government of schools which is being financed by my Department, and in due course I will consider whether any further guidance should be issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made to encourage good parent-teacher relationships as recommended in the Plowden Report; and whether he will make a statement.

At the end of 1967, my Department published a paperback "Inside the Primary School" and devoted one of its "Reports on Education" to the subject of "Teachers and Parents". A booklet giving examples of good practice in parent-teacher relationships will, as recommended in the Plowden Report, be published later this year. Various aspects of primary education of interest to parents will be covered in future "Reports on Education" and in the Department's periodical "Trends in Education".I have already welcomed the establishment of the Home and School Council, whose chief object is to encourage the development of good parent-teacher relationships and whose representatives I shall be meeting shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assistance he provided for staff and students of establishments of further education to visit Scotland for ski-ing over the Christmas vacation and at what cost to public funds; what guidance he has given to local education authorities regarding their contributions to such courses; and what contributions are required from the individuals concerned.

My Department has given no financial assistance for this purpose or guidance to local education authorities. The financing of such arrangements and the question whether a contribution from public funds might be justified in particular instances would be for decision locally, but I have heard of no case of the kind to which the hon. Member refers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the cost to the British Government of the rocket launching Rehbar-14 in Pakistan on 29th November, 1967; and what Great Britain gains from participation in this experiment.

The British Government provided the experimental payload at a cost of approximately £4,000. The rocket itself was provided by the American Government under a United States/United Kingdom/Pakistan cooperative agreement.These experiments extend the geographical coverage of synoptic studies of the structure of the upper atmosphere.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he accepts the findings and recommendations of the Gittins Report on Primary Education in Wales;

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to make a statement on the Gittins Report and the steps which he intends to take to implement the recommendations concerning bilingual education.

The Report of the Central Advisory Councils for Education (Wales)—the Gittins Report—was published on 25th January. I greatly welcome this Report. It is a major and very substantial one, with nearly 250 recommendations on questions of bilingual education and on many other subjects. I shall want to study it with the care and thoroughness it deserves, and to have full consultations with the many bodies concerned in Wales. I am putting these in hand straight away. But I cannot say when I shall be ready to make a statement until I have some indication how soon the bodies concerned are likely to be able to give me their views.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish the revised edition of the Handbook on Health Education, to cover drugs and alcohol, and tobacco.

I regret I cannot yet fix a date for publication, but I expect it to be available by the early summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take in connection with the recommendation concerning the status of teachers which has been adopted by the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have today by Circular commended the Recommendation to the attention of local education authorities, governing bodies and proprietors of schools and the teaching profession. I am arranging for copies of the Circulars to be placed in the Library. I understand that the Government of Northern Ireland are taking parallel action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average period of imprisonment served by prisoners released on licence under the provisions of the Prison Act 1952 to the nearest convenient date.

Assuming that the hon. and learned Member is referring to prisoners licensed under Section 27 of the Act, the mathematical average was 8 years 3 months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is aware that Joseph Anthony Campbell Stewart was convicted in the Aberdeen Sheriff Court on a charge of assault and sentenced to 12 months' imprisonment; whether, in view of this conviction, his release on licence under Section 27 of the Prison Act 1952 will be revoked; and if Stewart will be detained in prison under the former sentence when the latter sentence ha, expired;(2) how long Joseph Anthony Campbell Stewart served in prison before he was released on licence under Section 27 of the Prison Act 1952; whether he was under any supervision at the time of committing the crime of which he was convicted in December, 1967 in Aberdeen Sheriff Court; and on what grounds he was released on licence after such a short period of imprisonment.

Stewart was released when he had served a little over 18 months. My right hon. Friend's predecessor was satisfied, after consultation of the Lord Chief Justice and the trial judge as required by the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act 1965, that Stewart's part in the murder of which he was convicted was sufficiently minor to justify his release on licence after an exception ally short period. It was a condition of Stewart's release that he placed himself under supervision by the Scottish After-Care Service. The question whether it would be appropriate to revoke his life licence, in view of his recent conviction and sentence of eight months' imprisonment, is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of breathalyser tests administered between 9th October and 30th November, 1967, inclusive.

In England and Wales, 5,827 breath tests were required under subsections (1) and (2) of Section 2 of the Road Safety Act 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a detailed analysis, by main types of offence, of the non-moving traffic offences alleged to have been committed by motorists to whom a breathalyser test was given between 9th October and 30th November, 1967, inclusive.

The only traffic offences that make the driver liable to a breath test are those committed while the vehicle is in motion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a frequency distribution of the results of breathalyser tests conducted between 9th October and 30th November, 1967, giving the readings in millilitres.

The breath-testing device used by the police indicates whether the blood-alcohol concentration exceeds the prescribed limit but does not measure it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the county borough of Bolton will be treated as a priority area and so exempt from the proposed reduction in house building targets, in view of the considerable clearance programme to be undertaken and the number of applicants on the waiting list.

In the course of the normal review of forward programmes my right hon. Friend hopes to settle, by discussion with the main house building authorities, what it would be practicable for them to build over the next two or three years, in the light of the priority to be given to slum clearance, to meeting shortages of rented accommodation in conurbations and especially to those authorities with the highest concentration of these problems. Bolton is a priority area.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many of the authorities listed by him on 18th April, 1967, have still not submitted smoke control orders.

Thirty-five.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many firms and how many employees have taken advantage of the facilities of the Location of Offices Bureau to move out of Greater London, and into the suburbs, respectively, during 1967.

As a result of the Bureau's activities, 83 firms involving a total of 9,217 jobs moved out of Greater London during 1967. In the same period an additional 61 firms and 4,905 jobs moved from Central London to the suburbs.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many requests for supplementary loan sanctions were received from local authorities in the past year; and how many of these were attributable to extra spending by direct labour departments.

No separate record is kept of requests for supplementary loan sanctions, whether for direct labour schemes or not, and the information could not be extracted without undue expenditure of time and effort, both in this Department and in a number of others.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what house building programme in Westmorland will be cut as a result of the Government's recent announcement of cuts in public expenditure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which local authorities will be effected by the proposed cuts in the council house programme.

My right hon. Friend hopes to settle by discussion with the main housebuilding authorities as part of the normal review of forward programmes, what in the light of priority needs it would be practicable for them to build over the next two or three years. Priority will be given to slum clearance, to meeting shortages of rented accommodation in conurbation and especially to the priority areas, where there are the highest concentration of these problems. I am not yet able to give figures for any particular authority, area or region.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) in what fields of local government he has advised local authorities to make cuts in public expenditure;(2) in view of the cuts to be made in local authority expenditure, if he will make a statement on the principles on which he will either approve or reject applications by local auhorities for loan sanction.