asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why he approved the loan of £25 million by the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation to enable the British Motor Corporation and Leyland Motors to merge; and if he will state the terms of the loan.

My right hon. Friend is not required to approve loans given by the Corporation. In this case the terms of the loan are still being negotiated.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs on what basis of comparison he agreed to the payment of a £20,000 a year salary to the new managing director of the Industrial Reorganisation Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the salary of £20,000 a year to be paid to the chairman of the Industrial Reorganisation Committee.

I took full account of all the relevant circumstances, including Mr. Villiers' qualifications for the post and the salary which he was previously earning. I do not intend to refer his I.R.C. salary to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, (1) if he will now implement the proposals for economic development in the South-West as contained in the Report, Region with a Future, by the South-West Region Economic Planning Advisory Council;(2) If he will make a statement on the meeting which he had on 31st January with members of the South-West Region Economic Planning Advisory Council.

With other Ministers concerned, I met the Chairman and other members of the South-West Economic Planning Council on 31st January to discuss the major proposals in the Council's report "A Region with a Future". Final decisions have not yet been reached on the recommendations, but it is hoped that the Government's reply will be made known to the Council and published before the end of March.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will publish a report on the working of the voluntary price notification system.

The present arrangements for notification of price increases are on a voluntary basis as outlined in Command Papers 2808 and 3235. They have generally worked well in cooperation with the industries and firms concerned. The Government have continued to refer appropriate cases for examination by the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will set up an economic development committee or Little Neddy for the fishing industry.

No. Arrangements already exist for promoting the economic development of the fishing industry. My right hon. Friend, the President of the Board of Trade, has announced his intention to set up an inquiry regarding the safety of trawlers at sea.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what steps he intends to take to increase the effectiveness of the Government's policies of regional development, and to reduce the gap between employment prospects in the South-East and Midlands as compared with those in Scotland and other development areas.

The Government already have a wide ranging plan to reduce the gap between unemployment levels in the Development Areas and the rest of the country. The recent performance of the economy in Scotland shows that it is beginning to work.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement on the recent International Symposium on Industrial Development.

The Symposium enabled a useful exchange of ideas to take place between people with practical knowledge of industry in both developed and developing countries. I am glad to say that British industrialists on our own Delegation made a most constructive contribution. A number of recommendations were made, which will have to be considered by the international bodies concerned.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will review the grants being made to under-developed countries to ensure that they are not spent on armaments or on the creation of nuclear weapons.

The aid administered by my Department is provided for economic development. It is not provided for the purchase or production of any kind of military equipment, and I am confident that it could not be used for these purposes.

asked the Postmaster General when it is expected to commence an approach to businesses to enrol as Giro customers.

Giro has been in contact with many potential business customers for more than a year, and already account numbers are being reserved for business applicants. Formal invitations to open accounts will be issued within the next few months when application forms will be available for businesses to complete.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the original target date for the completion of the extension to the trunk exchange at Haslemere; by how many months that has now been postponed; and what further delay is expected.

October, 1967. It has been postponed by nine months. No further delays are expected.

asked the Postmaster-General by how long the completion on the alterations to the telephone exchange at Fernhurst will be delayed due, respectively, to difficulties in obtaining the new subscriber trunk dialing equipment and to the delays to the work on the Haslemere exchange.

Completion of the work at Fernhurst is wholly dependent on the provision of trunk equipment at Haslemere exchange which is now scheduled for July, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will send a circular to local education authorities recommending national scales for the payment of maintenance allowances to parents of children staying beyond the statutory leaving age, including the method for calculating net income; and if he will give publicity to the scales in the same way as he has done for school meals.

Not in the present financial circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the percentage of children staying on at school after the school leaving age in Sunderland at the latest available date and the corresponding figures for Greater London.

In January, 1967, 29 per cent. and 60 per cent. of the 15 year-olds.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students a re studying for Ph.D.s at Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough; and if he has plans for increasing the number.

Seventeen, and a further three for other higher degrees. An increase would be welcome, but this is a matter for arrangement between the Royal Aircraft Establishment and the Universities concerned, and depends in part on the desire of students to take up available facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will, in reconsidering the site of the British Museum Library, also reconsider the future of the National Reference Library for Science and Invention.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken to ensure that a greater share of grants by the Government for the arts, museums and galleries is given to the provincial centres and, in particular, to the north-west of England.

In 1963–64, when the Arts Council's grant was £2·73 million, 34 per cent. was spent outside London. Five years later, in 1967–68, when the grant was £7·2 million—over two and a half times as much—the proportion spent outside London was also higher—41 per cent. The amount spent in London includes subsidies to the national companies there.Government support for regional museums and galleries over and above that accruing through the rate support grant is provided at present through the purchase grant fund administered by the Victoria and Albert Museum and through grants to the Area Museums Councils. Both have been increased in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether he will take steps to empower the Sports Council to control the granting of moneys for sports development and to allocate a sum for this purpose.

The Sports Council already advise the Government on all aspects of the development of amateur sport, including direct Exchequer assistance. In view of the major change which has recently been made in the arrangements for servicing the Sports Council, it would be premature to consider further changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the names of the newly selected polytechnics, and the date when the list will be fully completed.

I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of Administrative Memorandum No. 8/67 which included a list of the proposed Polytechnics for which the L.E.A's concerned had been invited to submit detailed schemes. Most of these schemes have now been submitted for the approval of my right hon. Friend. As the House was told on 5th April, 1967, the 30 Polytechnics proposed would meet the foreseeable need while providing a reasonable geographical balance.—[Vol. 744; c. 151–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list the local education authorities currently operating or planning to operate a system of middle schools straddling the normal division between primary and secondary education; if he will show the age ranges chosen for such schools; and if he will give an estimate of the numbers of children involved.

No middle schools are yet in operation but 29 local education authorities have received my approval in principle for reorganisation schemes involving the establishment of such schools, and I have under consideration similar proposals from 15 others. Details are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much was spent by his Department on research during the last financial year in Wales and England, respectively.

The greater part of the expenditure on research met on my Department's Votes lies with the Research Councils through their grants in aid and with the Natural History Museum. In 1966–67 they spent approximately £46 million in England and £1½ million in Wales.Direct expenditure by the Department on education and information and documentation research amounted to £618,000 in England and £5,000 in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to secure for authors a charge for the use of their works in free library services on the basis of a charge per borrowing.

The Arts Council published in January a pamphlet entitled "The Arts Council and Public Lending Right". This pamphlet is a summary of the report of the working party set up by the Literature Panel of the Arts Council which the Council has sent to me for the consideration of the Government. No decisions have yet been taken on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of those local education authorities operating or planning to operate a transfer from junior to senior comprehensive schools at the age of 14 years intend to do so for all the children under their control; and where this is not the case, what proportion will be affected.

I have approved in principle 23 schemes which include such arrangements and I have five others under consideration. Of the 28, five affect the majority of pupils and 23 some smaller proportion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the request by his Department for British-made breathalysers was put out in the form of a Press notice on 2nd February, 1967 instead of being sent to appropriate British manufacturers in the form of a pharmaceutical specification.

Notes for the guidance of manufacturers of roadside breath alcohol screening devices were sent in January, 1967 to firms who had been in touch with the Home Office. The Press Notice announced generally that the Department was ready to test devices submitted for approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him on the subject of the sale of products manufactured by prison labour at uneconomic prices; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.

The pricing of prison-made goods has been discussed recently with the representatives of three industries, who have been assured that the policy is to quote fair market prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why his Department tenders for contracts with nationalised industries and public corporations for goods produced by prison labour without signing a fair wages clause, in view of the fact that this policy is causing redundancy particularly in the case of cast stone products.

The Fair Wages Resolution of 1946 does not apply to labour in prison workshops, but the spirit of the Resolution is preserved by the policy of fixing fair market prices. The position in the cast stone industry is being discussed with representatives of the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the instruction issued by the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis not to take steps to enforce certain provisions of the Betting and Gaming Act was issued with his knowledge and approval.

Law enforcement is the responsibility of the chief officer of police concerned; and the question of the Home Secretary of the day approving such an instruction does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables on the length of time taken by the police to prefer charges against defendants in magistrates' courts.

No. Chief constables are well aware that delay should be avoided; but how soon a charge can be brought must depend on the circumstances of the particular case and I do not think that the statistics suggested would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the time it would take fully to mobilise the nation's civil defence structure, including T and AVR III, in 1970 at its present state of training and its present strength, on the assumption that the plans to dismantle it have been carried out in full by then.

The recruitment and training of large numbers of volunteers would take several months. Other elements of the civil defence structure could be brought to a state of readiness much more rapidly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assumption he has now made of the likely length of the warning period before the launching of a large-scale conventional or nuclear attack on this country; and how this differs from his assumption on which the reorganisation of the nation's civil defences was based before last October.

It is not expected that a large-scale attack would be launched on this country without being preceded by a period of increased international tension, though the length of this is speculative. The risk of attack has gradually diminished in recent years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will continue to make available to Civil Defence Corps voluntary workers training media and equipment where no additional cost to the Government is involved.

Any such proposals will be considered in the course of the present discussions with the local authority Associations about the disposal of equipment and other facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is to be the future use of the purpose-built civil defence headquarters in Huddersfield.

The civil defence control will be retained on a "care and maintenance" basis. Possible future uses for the remainder of the building, which was designed as training premises for the Civil Defence Corps, will be discussed with the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will allow the purpose-built headquarters of the civil defence in Huddersfield to be used as a centre of training for personnel within the area, in view of the valuable work done by civil defence personnel in fields other than war.

I am willing to consider any proposals which the local authority put forward.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between Ministers with responsibilities for nationalised industries in implementing the Government's policy of securing economies in public spending; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. On 21st December my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer announced a series of reductions in the capital investment programmes of the nationalised industries. Current expenditure is a matter within the responsibility of the Boards themselves; they are well aware of the need to economise.—[Vol. 756, c. 488.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of public investment has been made to development areas since 1965; and what was the percentage allocation to Scotland over that period in money terms.

This information is not available for development areas. But my hon. Friend may be interested in the figures for public investment in new construction by Planning Region in 1965–66 (figures for 1966–67 are not yet available), which I will with permission circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the companies in which the Government have an indirect shareholding through public corporations or nationalised industries, stating the value and number of shares held in each case.

Since the information would take up a disproportionate amount of space in the OFFICIAL REPORT I am, in the interests of economy, writing to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to examine on a nationwide basis the question of the disposal of effluent with particular reference to the capital costs over the next 10 years to be met by the Exchequer and by local authorities and the current cost to industry.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given in answer to Questions by him, the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, East (Mr. Robert Howarth) on 20th February.—[Vol. 759, c. 215–17.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the expected increase in rates and earnings likely to arise from the recent settlement of pay claims for craftsmen in the water supply industry; and if such increases are consistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

The only recent settlement for craftsmen in the water supply industry is one for engineering craftsmen. This would increase the basic rate by 4½d. an hour, or 15s. a week, from 7th January. Precise figures for overtime are not available, but average earnings could increase by up to 18s. a week. The agreement has been notified to my right hon. Friend under the usual arrangements and he hopes to be able to let the industry have his views very shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of roads in the Metropolitan Police District in which locomotives, tractors, heavy motor vehicles and motor cars with more than five seats are prohibited, together with the reasons for the prohibitions and the dates on which each came into force.

The type of traffic regulation orders introduced since January, 1965, and the signs displaying their effect, with some exceptions do not provide for the prohibition of these classes of vehicles as such but by reference to a limit by weight or size. For this reason the information in the form asked for is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she will seek to amend the law so as to enable publicans freely to operate get-you-home minibuses.

We are aware of no difficulty in operating such services, provided that any relevant licensing and insurance requirements under the Road Traffic Act, 1960, are observed.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents involving deaths, serious injuries and minor injuries have occurred in Constitution Hill in the hours of darkness during the last five years.

There have been no fatal accidents. The annual totals of accidents in darkness involving serious and slight injuries are as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate she has made of the total number of man hours lost as a result of delays in the British Rail Southern Region passenger services due to the introduction of the new timetable last autumn.

None. Diverting scarce manpower resources from more productive work for this purpose would not help to get the services operating smoothly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will invite the Northern Economic Planning Council to prepare proposals for siting a large-scale industrial estate to meet the employment needs of the Wearside area.

My right hon. Friend will be very willing to consider any views that the Northern Economic Planning Council presents about the employment needs of the Wearside area and the way to meet them. We are, however, buying over 100 acres for industrial development in this area—43 acres at Pennywell, 46 acres at Rainton Bridge, and 13 acres at Houghton-leSpring. We also understand that Sunderland Corporation are considering the purchase of an industrial site. We do not consider that we would be justified in buying further land at the present time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the report of the Banks Committee on the Patent System and Patent Law.

As I said in reply to a Question on 24th January, I cannot say at present when the Committee is likely to report.—[Vol. 757, c. 119.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications under the Hotel Loans Scheme were received during the year 1967; and how many were accepted or rejected, respectively.

101 applications were received in 1967; 54 were rejected or were withdrawn by the applicants; 32 are under examination or awaiting further information from applicants; and 14 loans have been offered. One further offer will be made shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement on the respective roles of Glasgow and Prestwick airports.

The Secretary of State for Scotland and I have reviewed the roles of Prestwick and Glasgow Airports in the light of proposals for development at Glasgow which are under consideration by Glasgow Corporation. We have taken note of the joint statement, re- cently reaffirmed to us, made by Glasgow Corporation and the British Airports Authority on 9th March, 1967 that they regard the two airports as complementary, the major function of Glasgow Airport being to cater for short and medium haul traffic with Prestwick serving the whole of Scotland as a long-haul intercontinental airport primarily for transatlantic services.The Government are agreed that this division of traffic between the two airports is a sensible one which will make good use of the investment committed in recent years at both airports and will provide adequate facilities for the rapidly expanding passenger and cargo air services. Some further development at Glasgow will be necessary to consolidate its initial success and to allow it to deal with the rapid growth of traffic and with the new and larger types of aircraft which will come into service on the short and medium haul routes. But the United Kingdom's second international airport at Prestwick, so sited as to make it particularly suitable for handling increasingly heavy long haul traffic, is essential to Scotland's economy, and its ability to expand its transatlantic traffic must remain unimpaired.The Government think it right, therefore, to reaffirm that they will adhere to the policy of successive Governments that the role of the two airports is complementary, each with the principal function I have described above.The Government intend to have regard to this policy when exercising their powers in relation to the development of these airports and their use by airlines. No division of functions can, however, be completely rigid and the Government will continue to have regard to the merits of individual cases.

asked the Minister of Technology what arrangements are being made for the Britten-Norman Islander to be built under licence in Roumania.

Possible arrangements for the assembly of Britten-Norman Islander aircraft in Roumania form part of a wider commercial deal which is still being negotiated.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is aware of the unfavourable competitive position of the shipyards outside development areas; and whether he will give consideration to the treatment of shipbuilding by the Government as an essential industry irrespective of its geographical location.

I am aware of the position of shipyards outside Development areas. I am not convinced that the shipbuilding industry should be treated differently from others in respect of the Government's regional policy.

asked the Minister of Technology, if he will give a progress report on the talks between Her Majesty's Government and the First Deputy Prime Minister of Roumania in regard to the possibilities of a Roumanian purchase of British Aircraft Corporation 1–11 aircraft.

A number of Ministers including my right hon. Friend and myself had very useful discussions on this and other questions of mutual interest during the visit of the Roumanian First Deputy Prime Minister from 23rd January to 3rd February. Negotiations on the possibilities of a Roumanian purchase of BAC 1–11 aircraft are continuing in Bucharest between the Roumanian authorities and representatives of the British Aircraft Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will publish the terms upon which the Government have agreed to take part with other countries in giving loan facilities to the

My right hon. Friend hopes shortly to make a statement.

asked the secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if, following the successful launching of the first missile from the nuclear missile-carrying Polaris submarine "Resolution", he now proposes to renegotiate the Nassau Agreement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the total costs of maintaining British embassies or delegations in the United States of America, Eire, Sweden, Italy, South Africa, Indonesia and at the United Nations in each of the past five years.

The cost of maintaining British Missions in the countries listed is shown in the table below. The figures for 1967–68 show estimated expenditure. As explained in the published Civil Estimates none of the totals includes the cost of overhead expenses shared by all British Missions overseas (for example, communications), nor the cost of accommodation or expenditure on overseas representation carried on other Votes than the Diplomatic Service Vote.As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs is responsible for handling relations with the Irish Republic, the cost of representation in that country has, for convenience, been included in the answer he is giving to a similar Question by the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has had, and what action the Government propose to take, in respect of the arrest in Rhodesia, and the deportation to South Africa by the Rhodesian authorities of Desmond Francis.

The British High Commissioner in Lusaka has received a letter from Mrs. Francis and a Note from the Zambian Government inquiring about Mr. Francis, and has answered both these communications. Otherwise, I have nothing to add to the reply that I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd), on 21st February.—[Vol. 759, c. 149.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Swaziland Constitutional Conference.

The Swaziland Independence Conference opened at Marlborough House on 19th February and is continuing in daily session. The work of the Conference should be completed this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what were the total costs of maintaining British High Commissions in India, Malawi, Australia and Canada in each of the past live years.

The following information about the cost of maintaining British Missions in the countries listed is taken from the countries table included in the printed Civil Estimates for the past three years. Comparable figures for earlier years are not readily available. These figures do not include the cost of overhead expenses shared by our Missions in these countries, nor the expenditure on overseas representation carried on other Votes than the Diplomatic Service Vote.The cost of representation in the Republic of Ireland about which the hon. Member asked the Foreign Secretary,

is included in the table below, since I am responsible for handling our relations with the Republic of Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister has responsibility regarding the preservation of the London Green Belt.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is responsible for approving the development plans of local planning authorities which themselves are responsible for laying down the policies for the London Green Belt.

asked the Prime Minister what instructions he has given to Ministers to ensure that no hidden subsidies from public funds are granted to any company or consortium establishing an aluminium smelter in Great Britain.

asked the Prime Minister what instructions he has given to Ministers concerning the subsidisation of any proposal for an aluminium smelter; and what is the cost to the Exchequer, excluding normal investment grants, of each proposal made to the Government to establish and operate one or more aluminimum smelters in Great Britain.

None. Such instructions would be neither necessary nor appropriate. For the rest I would remind hon. Members that confidential discussions are in train and ask them to await the statement that has already been promised to the House.

asked the Prime Minister how responsibility for answering Questions on the establishment of an aluminium smelting industry in this country is divided between the Ministers concerned; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my Answer to a supplementary question by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 15th February. But in order that the House can be quite clear on the respective Departmental responsibilities I will, with permission, circulate a fuller statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.—[Vol. 758, c. 1574–5.]The following is the information:Questions relating to the aluminium industry are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, as are Questions on assistance under the Industrial Development Act, including building grants and on the issue of industrial development certificates.Questions relating to the supply of fuels would be for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power except in the case of supply of electricity in Scotland which would be for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.Questions relating to the rôle of the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation and matters of general economic and overall regional policy would be for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs.Questions relating to economic planning in Scotland and Wales would be for my right hon. Friends the respective Secretaries of State.Questions relating to exchange control, or to a Government loan would be for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Prime Minister what directions he has given to Ministers about Government finance to establish new scientifically-based industries; and what will be the total element of subsidy in the Government proposals to establish and operate one or more aluminium smelters.

None, but the hon. Member will know of the steps the Government have taken and are taking to encourage the development of industry.

asked the Prime Minister if he will raise with President Johnson the question of the United States Government regulations whereby United States-owned firms in Great Britain are prevented from exporting a wide range of goods to the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.

We are in regular touch with the United States Administration on a wide range of trade matters but have no evidence that the particular aspect of United States law to which my hon. Friend's Question relates has any significant impact on United Kingdom export performance. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade would, however, be ready to consider any particular case which my hon. Friend may have in mind.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now take steps to make available to the public the papers relating to the courts-martial held in Dublin after the Easter Rising in 1916.

No. By longstanding practice all courts-martial records are closed for 100 years.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech at the opening of the Dunton Engineering and Design Centre of the Ford Motor Company Limited.

I have already done so.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what consideration is being given by Her Majesty's Government to altering the cheap food policy.

Consumers and producers have been, and continue to be, well served by our long-standing policy of an open market for food and guaranteed prices for producers implemented by deficiency payments. These arrangements have been altered from time to time to meet changing circumstances, and I am constantly considering whether further changes are desirable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many veterinary officers have assisted in controlling the recent foot-and-mouth epidemic; and from which countries they came.

Nearly 1.000. Of these, over 370 were my own veterinary staff; just over 500 were veterinary surgeons in private practice, including eight from overseas; 85 were in the service of other Governments; 26 from the Irish Republic, 14 each from Northern Ireland and Australia. 12 each from Canada and the United States and seven from New Zealand.I am sure that all hon. Members will wish to join me in paying a very warm tribute to each one of these officers for their wholehearted and sustained enthusiasm and sheer hard work in most difficult conditions. In particular, the veterinary surgeons from overseas, by joining in this successful battle side by side with the State Veterinary Service and so many veterinary surgeons from private practice in the British Isles, have shown in a practical way that the fight against animal disease is truly international. I have written to these officers personally but I am glad to have this opportunity to express my thanks in public to them and to the Governments who so readily made their services available. I also wish to thank now all the other veterinary surgeons who have assisted in the battle.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take following the judgments given in the House of Lords concerning the complaint of Mr. Padfield and certain other South-Eastern milk producers as to the operation of the Milk Marketing Scheme.

I am directing the Committee of Investigation for England and Wales to consider the complaint and report to me on it.

asked the Attorney General (1) whether, in the light of the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the Remuneration of Solicitors, Command Paper No. 3529, he will now introduce legislation to amend Section 89(c) of the County Courts Act, 1959;(2) if, in the light of the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the Remuneration of Solicitors, Command Paper No. 3529, and the need to encourage the profession to undertake work in the County Court, he will seek to repeal Section 73 of the County Courts Act, 1949.

Before reaching a decision on these as well as on the many other issues raised by this Report it will be necessary for the Government to take account of the views of the professional bodies concerned, and of others, and I cannot say when it will be possible to introduce legislation.

asked the Attorney General whether, in the light of the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the level of Remuneration of Solicitors, he will introduce more realistic payments under the Legal Advice Scheme.

The Legal Advice Scheme is at present under consideration by the Legal Aid Advisory Committee. I have no doubt that in considering payments to solicitors under the Scheme the Committee will bear in mind what is said in the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on Solicitors' Remuneration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the annual cost to the United Kingdom of the Joint British-United States Naval Research Establishment in the Bahamas in 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967; and how many qualified scientists and other personnel are employed there by Her Majesty's Government.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the Atlantic Underwater Test and Evaluation Centre in the Bahamas. Under arrangements which have been previously described to the House, we make payments at the annual rate of £150,000. In addition, £154,000 was spent on the purchase of land during this period. The remaining cost of establishing, constructing and maintaining the centre will be met by the United States Government. There is one Royal Naval liaison officer at the establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the accident to a Whirlwind of the Queen's Flight on 9th December, 1967.

I should like to take this opportunity of expressing publicly my sympathy with the families of those who lost their lives in the accident.Inquiry proceedings in regard to this accident are now complete.The Board of Inquiry has established that the accident was due to a fracture of the main rotor shaft caused by fatigue cracking which arose from grinding burns during the process of manufacture. These burns caused minute cracks to develop which were not detected by the approved inspection processes in use at that time. The Board considers that no blame attaches to the Royal Air Force. The area where the failure occurred is not accessible in service and is not reinspected except during overhaul.As a result of this finding the Ministry of Technology has prescribed new crack detection techniques and procedures which are considered to provide an effective safeguard against similar failures in future. All Whirlwind rotor drive shafts in service have been re-examined with the aid of these new techniques and a number of shafts have been rejected as unsatisfactory. There is, however, no evidence to show that these defects would have led to shaft failure. New shafts have been fitted as necessary and those which have passed the test have been reissued to the Service. All front line Whirlwinds in the Royal Air Force are now flying again.Plans were well advanced before the accident for the Whirlwinds in The Queen's Flight to be replaced by more modern twin-engined Wessex helicopters. These plans will be put into effect as soon as possible. In the meantime the remaining Whirlwind of The Queen's Flight will remain in service.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what measures he is preparing in order that capital investment shall become less unattractive in the intermediate regions, including Yorkshire and Humberside; and what consultations he proposes to have with the Engineering Industries Association as to the investment situation now reported in its Yorkshire survey, details of which have been sent to him.

We were interested to see the brief newspaper reports which were sent to us of the Engineering Industries Association's Yorkshire survey. My right hon. Friend would be glad to consider the full views of the Engineering Industries Association if they were submitted to him. Alternatively, they could submit evidence to the Hunt Committee which is at present considering the problems of intermediate areas, including questions of capital investment.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what proportion of the economists employed in his Department has had more than two years direct and full time experience in industry or commerce.

Four out of 22.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what is the total number of qualified economists employed by his Department; and what is the total annual cost of their remuneration.

Twenty-two, and approximately £58,000 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he is satisfied with the present arrangements for the notification of price increases; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Dickens) earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has received the Report by the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the reference to them of distributors' margins in relation to manufacturers' recommended prices; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The Report, which is being published today, recommends that in general manufacturers when increasing recommended prices to the final consumer because of devaluation should reduce the percentage margin traditionally allowed to distributors. The Government welcome this Report which, in the particular case of recommended prices, endorses their own view, stated in my reply on 8th December, 1967, to the hon. Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell), that there should not be automatic maintenance of current percentage margins where retail prices have to be increased as a result of devaluation. The Board are unable, for reasons explained in their Report, to make precise recommendations on how changes in recommended prices should be determined. Their findings however provide general support for the Government's view that increases in distributors prices, as well as in manufacturers prices, should be no greater than is justified by the increase in overall costs incurred.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will introduce legislation to prevent any payments from the National Redundancy Fund being made to members of the staff of television contractors who are transferred to new companies until there has been an inquiry into the operation of the Act.

No.

asked the Minister of Labour how many working days were lost through unofficial strikes in the docks, the coal mines, the railways, and the steel, chemical, electricity and gas industries, respectively, in 1967, or the nearest convenient year; and how these statistics compare with the figures for other countries available to him from international sources.

The latest figures at present available for the United Kingdom are those for 1966. Following are the figures for 1966:

asked the Minister of Power what factors are covered by the description, other causes—7 per cent., being part of the increase of 25 per cent. since 1965 in the costs of Dungeness B nuclear power station.

The other causes are a number of relatively small items. This was explained by the Chairman of the C.E.G.B. in evidence given to the Select Committee on Science and Technology which was published with the Committee's Report. (H.C. 381—XVII Reply to Question 901.)

asked the Minister of Power (1) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell one million tons in a year of opal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3¾per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(2) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell 10 million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3½d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(3) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell 5 million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3½d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(4) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell one million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3½d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(5) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell 10 million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3¼d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers:(6) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell five million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3¼d. per therm: and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(7) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell one million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3¼d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(8) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell 10 million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(9) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase on the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell five million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(10) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell one million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers:(11) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell 10 million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 4d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(12) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell five million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 4d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(13) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell one million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 4d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(14) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board if the National Coal Board sell 10 million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3¾d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers;(15) what estimate he has made, based on current rates of consumption, of the consequent increase in the total annual cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board of coal supplied by the National Coal Board, if the National Coal Board sell five million tons in a year of coal suitable for use in a power station to one or more outside customers at 3¾d. per therm; and what effect this will have on the unit cost of electricity to existing consumers.

The cost to the Central Electricity Generating Board would depend on the price of the fuel used to make up their requirements and on whether the price of other coal they used was affected.

asked the Minister of Power if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names and the professional and business qualifications of the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee.

This information is set out below:NUCLEAR SAFETY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

asked the Minister of Power if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the full text of the recent report to him of the Nuclear Safety Advisory Committee on the siting of nuclear power stations.

No report, in the accepted sense, was made to me. After a long series of technical deliberations the Committee agreed to recommend to the Government the new siting policy. I do not propose to publish the proceedings of the Committee.

asked the Minister of Power why he estimates the proposed West Burton B power station to be more expensive in capital cost than the first station on this site, in view of the fact that certain facilities already provided would serve both stations.

My right hon. Friend has made no estimate for West Burton B.

asked the Minister of Power what studies his Department are making into comparative fuel costs in the 1970's of coal, nuclear power, oil and gas.

Comparative cost trends are kept under examination as part of the continuing work on fuel policy.

asked the Minister of Power what is the estimated tonnage of pig iron which will be used by the British Steel Corporation in 1968.

There are many uncertainities, but the Corporation estimate that usage in 1968 might reach, or possibly exceed, 15 million tons.

asked the Minister of Power what proportion of pig iron used by the British Steel Corporation is home produced.

99·9 per cent.

asked the Minister of Power what proportion of pig iron used by the British Steel Corporation is produced by private enterprise.

I regret the precise information is not available, but it is a negligible proportion.

asked the Minister of Power how many merchant furnaces are producing pig iron in Great Britain.

There are eight blast furnace plants producing merchant pig iron.

asked the Minister of Power how many blast furnaces producing pig iron are due to close in 1968.

I have at present no information about further closures of blast furnace plant in prospect in 1968, apart from the Renishaw Iron Works.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will introduce a Bill to relieve the social costs created by the closure of blast furnaces as a result of the rationalisation of the steel industry.

No. The social implications of closures are taken into account

asked the Minister of Power whether he will take steps to set up machinery for the closure of blast furnaces, similar to those operating for closures in the coal industry, which will take into consideration the employment position in the area in which the closure takes place.

I am discussing with the British Steel Corporation the machinery for consultation about closures with a view to securing the best possible arrangements.

asked the Minister of Power how many tons of pig iron were imported into Great Britain in the years 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, and 1967; and from what countries the pig iron was imported.

The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Power how many privately-owned blast furnaces are operating in Great Britain.

At present three.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will take steps to introduce a scheme, along the lines of that established under Section 3 of the Coal Industry Act, for redundant workers over 55 years of age in the steel industry.

No, but the British Steel Corporation and I are now considering the question of redundancy compensation in the nationalised steel industry. The unions will be consulted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the National Farmers' Union of Scotland on the extent to which tenant farmers will undertake the financing of the provision, modernisation and maintenance of the fixed equipment of their farms themselves instead of regarding it as the landlord's responsibility.

We have had informal discussions on matters of this nature during recent consultation with the Union on the proposed changes in the law on inherited tenancies of agricultural holdings in Scotland. While practice varies, tenants at present provide a substantial amount of fixed equipment on farms.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the meeting called by the Clyde Port Authority for 26th February to discuss with local planning authorities the development of the Clyde Estuary; what action he proposes to take; and if he will make a statement.

A letter has been sent to the Clyde Port Authority and to the local planning authorities concerned to say that I welcome these joint discussions of the important problems affecting the future of the Clyde Estuary. I have invited them to consider how best to establish a planning framework within which the local planning authorities and prospective developers can work out their development proposals. I expect the meeting on 26th February, which will be attended by officials from the Scottish Office, to discuss possible ways of making a comprehensive survey of the full potential of the Lower Clyde and the preparation of a co-ordinated plan for its development. Any such plan must achieve a proper balance between full economic exploitation of the resources of the Clyde and the maintenance of the outstanding natural amenity of the area. I expect that this plan will eventually have to be presented for public discussion, in which all those concerned can take part. In the meantime I have asked to be notified of any planning applications for major industrial developments in this area so that I can decide whether to call them in for decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, on what date the second annual report of the Highlands and Islands Development Board will be published.

It is too early to give a firm date but it is hoped to publish the report some time in April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which rivers in the seven crofting counties are in public ownership.

So far as I am aware the rivers wholly in public ownership are the following: