asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people have been required by the police to take

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to encourage the growing of more timber in Scotland, suitable for making into chipwood.

Encouragement is already available through grants for private woodland owners. In addition the Government recently announced a major increase in the Forestry Commission's future planting programme. It is, however, impossible to predict the eventual use of the timber produced from trees planted now or in the years to come.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in what financial year he will make provision for the improvements in the A6091 road, namely the construction of a new bridge at Galafoot; the realignment of the road between Galashiels and Darnick; and the improvements required to connect Darnick with the A68.

The timing of these improvements will be related to the programming of broader developments in the area, which is now being considered by Roxburgh and Selkirk County Councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the estimated Exchequer expenditure to be incurred on a breathalyser test up to the most recent convenient date; and how many of these tests were positive in the first instance and led to the giving of a sample of blood or urine.

:new road construction and improvements in the current financial year.

£26·8 million on the road programme and £1·4 million on improvements to local authority roads included in the programme of additional winter works.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the figures for the proposed level of expenditure on construction and improvement of roads in Scotland in 1968–69 and 1969–70 have yet been finalised.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers I gave to the hon. Members for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) and Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 18th and 19th January, respectively.—[Vol. 756 c. 658c. 687–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the effect on the Scottish road programme of the current review of Government expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answers my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Members for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) and Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 18th and 19th January, respectively.—[Vol. 756, c. 658; c. 687–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish an abbreviated edition, containing the main proposals, of the Edinburgh University report on the Borders at a price which will make it readily purchasable by individuals at the same time as the full plan is published.

At the request of the Borders Consultative Group, I am arranging for the main proposals to be published simultaneously with the Report in a special issue of the Scottish Economic Development Quarterly Report, of which free copies will be widely available in the Borders.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for changes in expenditure by local authorities in the Highlands as a result of devaluation.

The relevant policies announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in his statement of 16th January apply to all local authorities in Great Britain, and Highland authorities will be expected to contribute al appropriate share.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the fact that the United Kingdom will not be joining the European Economic Community in the near future, if he will make a reappraisal of the contribution which Highland agriculture can make to the balance of payments problem.

Whether or not we join the European Economic Community, the Government have taken, and will continue to take, account of the contribution which Highland agriculture can make to the saving of food imports and our balance of payments. This, and all other aspects of the position of the agricultural industry in the national economy, will be carefully considered during the Annual Review which begins tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ensure that the aggregate price received by main crop potato growers in Scotland is not less than the guaranteed price for the current year.

My right hon. Friend cannot ensure this in terms of the guarantee arrangements under which the guaranteed price to potato growers relates to the United Kingdom as a whole and to the season as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the uneven distribution of productive trade throughout Great Britain, including South-West Scotland, if he will now state his further plans in conjunction with the President of the Board of Trade to attract such trades to Aberdeen and North-East Scotland in order to stop the drift south of skilled craftsmen and women and other workers.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the replies which I gave him on 21st December, 1966 and 18th January, 1968.—[Vol. 738, c. 313; Vol. 756 c. 656.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will convene a conference of local authorities and others concerned to discuss the future of Clyde shipping services.

Not at present. In the meantime I am sure that the operators concerned would be ready to consider any specific suggestions which the hon. Gentleman may have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of patients on the present geriatric waiting list for Ayshire.

On 31st December last 154 persons were waiting for geriatric beds in Ayrshire hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the shortage of hospital beds in Scotland.

I have nothing to add to the Answers my right hon. Friend gave the hon. Gentleman on 6th December last.—[Vol. 755, c. 309–10.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has received as to the extent of damage to the forests and woodlands of Scotland by the gale on 14th-15th January; whether he is making any special arrangements for the marketing of blown timber; and if he will make a statement.

The Forestry Commission has reported that the latest estimate of timber blown is 38 million hoppus ft. The Chairman of the Commission has told me that he met representatives of the home timber trade and private woodland owners on 29th January to explore the practical problems arising from the storm. As a result it has been decided to set up a joint action group of the three interests to examine such questions as the extraction, transport and marketing problems involved and to report further.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the damage caused in the landward areas of the counties of Renfrew and Stirling by the hurricane of 15th January.

The County Councils of Renfrew and Stirling have given me provisional estimates of the cost of restoration of the storm damage to their own premises (including houses) and to private house property: these amount to £351,000 and £150,000 respectively. I cannot put a figure on the cost of other damage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what money will be made available from public funds to meet the damage to agricultural land and property caused by the hurricane on 15th January.

Grant under the Farm Improvement Scheme or the Horticulture Improvement Scheme will be available in appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the decisions taken at the meeting on 29th January which considered the damage suffered by the small farms in the Stirlingshire and surrounding areas during the recent storm; and whether he will expedite the steps which he is taking to assist the rural areas.

As regards the meeting held on 29th January which was concerned with damage to forestry, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for East Fife.As regards the damage to farm buildings my Department is already dealing as a matter of urgency with applications for grant under the Farm Improvement Scheme and the Horticulture Improvement Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what marketing arrangements he will introduce to assist the forestry and woodland industry in Scotland following the recent hurricane.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what estimate he now has of the damage to timber in the recent hurricane;(2) what help he is able to give to the forestry industry in Scotland as a result of recent consultations with them to make good the damage from the recent hurricane.

I would refer to the reply which I gave today to the hon. Member for Fife, East (Sir J. Gilmour).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much financial help he proposes to give to home owners who are uninsured and who have suffered damage in the recent hurricane of over £100 value.

As I told the House on 25th January, I have asked local authorities to organise repair work not only to their own houses but also to others so far as they judge this necessary to get essential work done quickly. This does not of course relieve the house owner of ultimate financial responsibility.—[Vol. 757, c. 608–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the help he has proposed for the horticultural industry is adequate to restore the glasshouses destroyed in the recent gale; and if he will make a statement.

The rate of grant under the Horticulture Improvement Scheme is 31⅓ per cent., and this should be a substantial help.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses in the city of Glasgow were rendered uninhabitable as a result of the recent storm; and how many of these were built by direct labour and how many by private enterprise.

According to my latest information the Corporation regard 721 houses as permanently uninhabitable and 208 as temporarily uninhabitable. Of these 63 were local authority houses of which 12 were built by direct labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the increase in revenue resulting from the reimposition of prescription charges in Scotland.

£2½ million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the present age limit on young married couples wishing to adopt a child into their family operates harshly; and if he will take steps to alter it in accordance with modern humane ideas.

The age requirements of an applicant for an adoption order, and other aspects of adoption law, are based on the 1954 report of the departmental committee on the adoption of children. My Department and the Home Office are already collecting information on the working of the present law, and suggestions for its improvement, and the point made by my hon. and learned Friend will be kept in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken on the recommendation made to him by the South-West of Scotland Economic Planning Group that the track and formation of the Stranraer-Dumfries line should be retained.

I have been in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport and we have very fully considered the representations made by the South-West Economic Planning Consultative Group and by other bodies. We have concluded, however, that there are not sufficient grounds to justify the Minister asking the British Railways Board to stop the work which is now proceeding on the removal of the track and formation of this line.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what particular steps he is taking to prevent unemployment in Scotland reaching a figure of 100,000.

The Government are maintaining in full the range of inducements to industry to expand and develop in Scotland, in pursuance of their overall policy of giving special priority to economic growth in the development areas. While I make no arithmetical predictions about the immediate future, these measures are already beginning to have a substantial effect in providing additional employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what additional unemployment he expects to be created in Scotland as a result of the Government's latest economy measures.

The national measures associated with devaluation, including the recently announced cuts in public expenditure, are intended to release resources for export and import-saving industries, facilitating export-led growth over the coming months. As this growth occurs employment in Scotland should benefit, particularly as existing incentives to industrial growth in the development areas are being fully maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) when the town maps for Springboig, Carmyle, Baillieston and Bargeddie will be ready; when the work will commence; what is the approximate cost; and if he will make a statement;

The preparation and submission of town maps is in the first instance for the County Council as planning authority, and I do not have the detailed information which my hon. Friend requests.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to vest all rights of salmon fishing in the nation of Scotland.

Representations in favour of some measure of public ownership are included among the many I have received on the report of the Hunter Committee. I have not yet reached conclusions on the Committee's recommendations or the representations but I am considering them all carefully.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with interested bodies about postponing the school-leaving age to 16 years in 1970.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement of my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th January.—[Vol. 756, c. 1577–93.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to make as a result of his discussions with the Lord Provost and magistrates of Glasgow, with a view to the curbing of crime and violence in the city.

My hon. Friend, the Joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, met representatives of Glasgow Corporation on 8th December.The meeting discussed the question of extended police powers under the Prevention of Crime Act 1953 in respect of persons carrying offensive weapons. On this, the position is as I stated it in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Motherwell, on 23rd January.The meeting went on to a fruitful discussion on other possible action to reduce crime and disorderly behaviour, particularly by young people. The Corporation welcomed a proposal by my hon. Friend that the police, in co-operation with the Scottish Information Office, should undertake a police publicity campaign this year. The meeting also discussed the provision of community facilities and the development of community activities in the new housing areas and agreed to set up a working party of Corporation and Departmental officials to examine how progress might be made in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new proposals he has to deal with the increase in crimes of violence.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Monro) and other hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action has been taken to carry out a study of the advantages and disadvantages of living in multi-storey flats.

Following its sub-committee's report on "Housing Management in Scotland", paragraphs 190–205 of which refer to some problems of multi-storey housing, the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee is taking a close interest in a research study into this question which is being carried out by the Department of Social and Economic Research of the University of Glasgow. The Committee has decided that it should not undertake any separate investigation until the results of the study are known.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on his policy regarding the sale of council houses in Scotland.

The hon. Gentleman knows from the debate which he initiated on 18th December that my right hon. Friend is against the sale of council houses as a general policy but consents to it in very special circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what occasions within the last 10 years Scottish qualified lawyers have represented and participated, respectively, on behalf of the United Kingdom in official international conferences.

Scottish lawyers have attended the following conferences as U.K. delegates:1960:United Nations Seminar on the Protection of Human Rights in Criminal procedure.1964:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the levels of public investments in housing in Scotland for the three years preceding and following 1964.

The following information relates to financial years ending 31st March:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the effect on the Scottish housing programme of the current review of Government expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) and South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will give details of the cities and counties in Scotland which will be affected by the slow-down of house building recently announced by the Government on 16th January;(2) by how much Edinburgh housing programme will be affected by the slowdown of house building in Scotland announced by the Government on 16th January.

The matter is being gone into with the housing authorities, but Edinburgh has been assured that it will not be affected in view of its serious housing shortage. Housing for economic growth will not be affected, nor will housing for replacement of unit houses or for serious local shortages.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will break down the £217·115 million actual total expenditure on all types of education for 1966–67 in Scotland by counties and according to whether the expenditure was on universities, schools and other educational institutions.

I am writing to the hon. Member about the breakdown of the total actual expenditure on the different types of education for 1966–67.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many homeless families there are in Scotland; and whether he will give an assurance that no Government cuts will slow down measures to reduce this number.

Except for those who lost their homes in the recent storm and have not yet been rehoused very few families in Scotland are completely homeless. I can give the assurance the hon. Member asks for.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is to be the scope of the inquiry which started two months ago into the causes of Scottish emigration.

I refer to my Answer today to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek to extend legal aid to parties appearing in the Scottish Land Court in terms of the Resolution of the Law Society of Scotland passed at their annual general meeting in April, 1967, a copy of which has been sent to him.

Not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will estimate the additional cost to Scottish agriculture due to the Government's economic measures announced on 18th November.

The increase in Bank rate from 6½ per cent. to 8 per cent., if continued for a full year, would increase the cost to Scottish agriculture of credit for current farming purposes by about £0·6 million. It is not practicable to isolate the effects of devaluation from other factors affecting agricultural costs but all cost increases will be taken into account at the Annual Review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the statistical economic information available to him in Scotland is adequate for the purpose of deciding upon economic policy; what plans he has for improving the information available to him; and if he will make a statement.

A wide range of statistical information bearing upon economic policy is available to me from the Scottish Statistical Office, the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Labour and other Government Departments. This information has been progressively widened and will continue to be improved as opportunity offers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in respect of what acreage the Forestry Commission have used the power of compulsory acquisition in each of the last 10 years in Scotland.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the burdens of taxation on transport services in Scotland; and what reply he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from a number of firms and organisations; he has replied reaffirming the Government's view that the Transport Bill will increase the efficiency of transport services to the Scottish economy but that certain technical aspects of the Bill, in particular the provisions about abnormal loads, are being specially considered by the Transport Committee of the Scottish Economic Planning Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many educational institutions in Scotland offer teaching facilities for deaf children; what are the addresses; and how many places there are at each.

The following 14 schools provide for the education of deaf and partially hearing children:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the headquarters of the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation will not be established in Scotland.

The decision to establish the headquarters of the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation in London was taken after full consideration of all relevant factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will break down by counties the £149 million total public expenditure on the National Health Service.

I regret that this information is not available. Hospitals and other health services do not necessarily operate on a county basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what cuts he proposes to make in local authority investment programmes; and if he will make a statement.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my right hon. Friend's reply of 17th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).—[Vol 756, c. 591; c. 687–88.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the effect on the Scottish hospital-building programme or the current review of Government expenditure; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the effect on the Scottish school-building programme of the current review of Government expendnture; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the effect of post-devaluation austerity on the school-building programme in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie). I am sending to the hon. Members a copy of Circular 667.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the school-building programme in relation to the adequacy of numbers of school places when the school-leaving age is raised in 1970–71; and if he will make a statement.

Now that the raising of the school leaving age has been deferred to 1972–73, the school building programme is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the present level of industrial activity in North-East Scotland is in accordance with the targets laid down in Command Paper No. 2864, The Scottish Economy, 1965 to 1970; and if he will make a statement.

No separate targets for levels of industrial activity in North-East Scotland were laid down in the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the contribution which can be made by the hill and upland areas of Scotland to the saving of food imports following devaluation; and if he will make a statement.

The Government have taken, and will continue to take, account of the contributions which the hill and upland areas of Scotland can make to the saving of food imports and our balance of payments. This, and all other aspects of the position of the agricultural industry in the national economy, will be carefully considered during the Annual Review which begins tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans for comprehensive education in the city of Glasgow.

My right hon. Friend told the education authority some time ago that the plans it had formulated to complete its system of all-through comprehen- sive schools were generally acceptable. He is awaiting its reconsideration of the position of the fee-paying schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will set up a committee to examine the impact of rating in Scotland and to make recommendations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans have been submitted to him for his approval by Glasgow Corporation for the prevention of flooding in the Househillwood area of the city; and if he will make a statement.

None. The corporation is awaiting a report from consulting engineers about the cause of the flooding and the need for preventive measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total cost since 1964 of the abolition of prescription charges in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave him on 25th October, 1967.—[Vol. 751, c. 477.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reduction there has been since last November in the period for which patients are required to wait after applying for a hearing-aid to the Ayrshire Hearing Aid Clinic.

As no clinics were held over the Christmas and New Year period there has been a slight increase in the waiting time, but I expect this to be reduced again to six weeks by the end of February.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number and nature of road accidents and casualties in and about the city of Aberdeen during each of the Christmas and Hogmanay periods during each of the last five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what progress has been made in implementing the recommendations of the sub-committee of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee as outlined in the report, Housing Management in Scotland;(2) what action has been taken to identify local authorities who have failed to accord importance and priority to housing management affairs, in accordance with the recommendation of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee;(3) what action has been taken to re-establish within the Scottish Development Department the post of Adviser in Housing Management.

My right hon. Friend is awaiting the comments of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee, the local authorities and other interested bodies on the sub-committee's report on Housing Management and in the meantime it would be premature for him to comment on the sub-committee's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the fact that the Highlands and Islands Development Board have funds available for advertising the tourist attractions of the Highlands and Islands, he will take steps to provide the Scottish Tourist

The information is as follows:Board with funds for advertising the equal attractions of other parts of Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The Scottish Tourist Board undertakes publicity on behalf of the whole of Scotland and has been working in close co-operation with the British Travel Association in the current Holiday-in-Britain campaign towards the cost of which the Government are providing a special grant of £300,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will redefine the area of the Highlands and Islands Development Board in accordance with the definition of the Highlands contained in the Act of 1797, Anno 37 George III. c. 102. section VI.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to site further Government offices or agencies in Scotland in 1968.

Scotland is considered whenever locations are desired for new or transferred Government work. The Minister departmentally concerned announces the Government's decision in each case as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will give consideration to the siting of aluminium-using industries in the North-East and the Bedlington, Blyth area, in order to take full advantage of the possibilities to be created for expanding employment in the event of the siting of an aluminium smelting plant in the North-East;(2) if he will examine the possibilities of the immediate siting of aluminium-using industries in the North in order to take advantage of the opportunities offered by the supply of aluminium from Norway aided by the tariff-free agreements made possible by United Kingdom membership of the European Free Trade Association.

I will certainly consider any proposals for establishing aluminium-using industries in the North-East which firms may wish to put forward. There is, however, at present a surplus of aluminium fabricating capacity in this country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a further statement on the advance factory in Sunderland which is at present unoccupied.

We are continuing our efforts to find a suitable occupant for this factory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing United Kingdom exports to the overseas sterling areas as a percentage of the total overseas sterling area imports and United Kingdom imports from the overseas sterling area as a percentage of total United Kingdom imports, respectively, for each of the years 1946 and 1956.

In 1956 imports into the Overseas Sterling Area, as then composed, from the United Kingdom were 32 per cent. of the Area s total imports; imports into the United Kingdom from the Area were 32 per cent. of total United Kingdom imports. On the same basis figures for 1946 were 32 per cent. and 45 per cent. respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will, as a matter of urgency, hold a further meeting with the Newspaper Society to discuss the position of the Press under the investment grants procedure.

The position has already been explained to the Newspaper Society but I am prepared to see them if this would be helpful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details, as far as possible, of the value of Commonwealth preference received by and given to this country on its trade in the earliest year or period of years following the end of the last war and in the latest year or period of years to date.

Evaluations of preferences are difficult, but articles in the Board of Trade Journal of 11th June and 31st December, 1965 compared estimates of the average incidence of preference on the trade both ways in 1961–62 with the results of an earlier study for 1948.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to initiate more selectivity in the making of investment grants and allowances to the machine tool industry, to discriminate against the import of foreign tools and their installation.

No. It would be contrary to our international obligations to discriminate against foreign tools and it would not be in the best interests of British industry to discourage it from buying the tools best suited to its purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the grants and allowances which were made by his Department for the purchase of machine tools, were spent on imported tools and their installations.

This information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the gross national product of Scotland was exported in each of the last five years.

No reliable estimates can be made.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates have been refused

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the 10,900 estimated jobs for men in Scotland arising from the issue of 253 industrial develop- in Scotland during each of the last two years; and if he will break down the figure by counties.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list separately the number of new jobs made available in the constituency of Hamilton and in Scotland in each of the years 1951 to 1967, inclusive.

Information on the number of new jobs created in the Hamilton constituency is not available but the additional employment which applicants for industrial development certificates estimated would arise from buildings completed for manufacturing industry in Scotland and in the employment exchange areas of Hamilton, Larkhall and Blantyre, which together largely comprise the constituency, is given in the table below. In view of the travel-to-work pattern between the constituency and East Kilbride, similar information for the latter employment exchange area is also included.ment certificates have already been made available.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms have set up factories in Scotland since 1966; and how many men and women, respectively, they employ.

In the first six months of 1967 (the latest period for which the figures are available) 80 new projects or extensions for manufacturing industry for which industrial development certificates have been issued were completed in Scotland. They are estimated by the applicants for the certificates to provide, when fully staffed, 5,410 jobs for males and 2,970 for females.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to prevent misleading labelling of goods as to country of manufacture so that goods made in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively, are clearly labelled accordingly.

It is an offence to mark goods with any false or misleading indication as to the place or country in which they were made or produced. There is nothing to prevent manufacturers in these countries from marking their products with the country of origin.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in finding a site, and establishing an exhibition centre up to international standards, near London.

My noble friend the Minister of State has been studying the problem of finding a suitable site for a National Exhibition Centre with the assistance of a committee including representatives of commerce and industrial bodies, the Greater London Council and Government Departments. We hope soon to he able to announce a decision on whether or not the Government feel able to go ahead with the construction of a National Exhibition Centre.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to restrict the import of knitwear into Great Britain, in view of the need to encourage the trade of the knitwear industry.

No. This is an expanding growth industry and I see no case for protective action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information is supplied to British embassies abroad regarding the potential of Scottish exportable goods.

The Government information services supply British missions abroad with suitable material with which to obtain publicity for the achievements and potential of British industry. Scottish products are, of course, covered by this service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of reductions in Government expenditure and United States restrictions on foreign travel, he will reconsider the urgency of the need for a third London airport.

It is too early to judge how the factors mentioned by the hon. Member may affect the timing of the need for a third London airport but they are not likely to make any significant difference to it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost of equipping Abbotsinch Airport with radar.

About £140,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why Abbotsinch Airport was closed when the radar failed there recently.

There has been no radar failure at Abbotsinch not has the airport been closed recently. Diversion of certain aircraft to Prestwick took place on Friday, 19th January, in conditions of low visibility but this was because the Instrument Landing System, which would normally have made the diversion unnecessary, was out of action because of gale damage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for the development of Turnhouse Airport.

Current plans include the provision of a second runway and of a new terminal building and related area. The timing of these developments remains to be decided in relation generally to the need for economy in public expenditure and particularly, as regards the runway, to decisions now pending on the composition of the B.E.A. fleet.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated cost of equipping Turnhouse Airport with radar.

£150,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total foreign exchange cost of United Kingdom forces associated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation since its creation in 1949.

The only forces for which foreign exchange costs can be isolated are those in West Germany. Taking account of German offset payments the net cost since 1949 is estimated to be about £350 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the total cost of United Kingdom forces associated with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation other than foreign exchange costs since 1949.

I regret that this information is not available. The functional costs of B.A.O.R. only, in the years 1966–67 and 1967–68, have been estimated at £169 million and £180 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom officers and other ranks are on the staff of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation headquarters in Brussels.

Sixteen officers and 13 other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the future plans for the Tiger class cruisers.

I have nothing to add to what has already been said on this subject in the Statements on Defence Estimates, 1966 and 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the Royal Air Force installations on Gan will be retained and if he will make a statement on the future of island staging posts in the Indian Ocean.

The R.A.F. staging posts at Gan and Masirah will certainly be required in the shorter term. Their long-term future will be considered in the context of the general review of the rôle, size and shape of the Forces, referred to in the Statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th January.—[Vol. 756, c. 1582.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of the Royal Naval College, Greenwich.

I have no statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now give details of the principal headings under which the 1969–70 reduction of £110 million in the defence budget will fall.

I have nothing to add to the information given to the House in the Prime Minister's statement of 16th January (Cmnd. 3515).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT monthly recruiting and re-engagement figures for each of the three Services, shown separately, classified by types of engagement, for the year 1967, with comparative figures for 1966.

I would draw the hon. and gallant Member's attention to the returns which are regularly supplied to the Vote Office, of which I am sending him a copy. The returns for the end of 1967 will be supplied as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the fact that the total number of vessels today is 114 against 542 in 1914, and the number of Admiralty officials and clerical staff today is 33,547 as compared with only 4,366 in 1914, plus 8,013 dockyard officials and clerical staff today against 3,249 in 1914, whether he will reduce the number of non-fighting men in his employment.

It is unrealistic to make any assumptions on a stark comparison of the number of ships and the number of non-industrials. Ships and their weapon systems today are of a completely different order of complexity from those in 1914. This is of direct relevance since the bulk of the Navy's civilian supporting staff are engaged in the fields of research, design, production and maintenance.Control of civilian numbers is a major preoccupation of the Ministry of Defence. The number of civilian supporting staff in the Navy now stands at its lowest point since the end of the Second World War and is still reducing.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of sheep and the graziers who have licences to allow sheep to graze on the All Arms Training Area, Sennybridge, Breconshire for the last three financial years; and whether a record is kept of the number of sheep killed each year through training exercises.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish a table showing the total sum spent since October, 1964, on the refitting and modernisation of H.M. ships "Ark Royal", "Eagle", "Victorious", "Centaur", and "Hermes", respectively.

The approximate amounts spent since October, 1964, on modernising, refitting and repairing the aircraft carriers has been:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if there will be an increase in the use of magnesium alloy products in future defence projects; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what research is being carried out by his Department into the use of magnesium alloy products in future defence projects; and whether he will make a statement.

An extensive programme of materials research related to defence requirements is undertaken in the appropriate Ministry of Defence establishments and magnesium alloys will continue to be considered wherever they have potential use. However, the very detailed knowledge we already have of these alloys does not encourage me to believe that their use by the Services in the future will be on other than a modest scale.I am writing to my hon. Friend about the points he has raised in his letter of 25th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for the conversion for trials or other duties of H.M.S. "Matapan", in view of her having had only a year's operational service since her completion in 1947.

The future of H.M.S. "Matapan" is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how it is proposed to retain the credibility factor of the Hong Kong Garrison after 1971 without air support; and what plans he has to provide such support to assist the limited internal security forces to be available after that date in the East of Suez area, in view of the need shown for aircraft in internal security operations in the past few years.

We shall keep our forces in Hong Kong at the level we consider appropriate in the light of all the circumstances.