asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what further requests Her Majesty's Government have now received from the Nigerian Government in connection with the present crisis there; and if he will make a statement.

As previously stated on 30th January, we have had no Nigerian request for help in ending the present crisis. This remains the position, but the Nigerians are well aware of our hope that negotiations for a ceasefire and a settlement can be arranged at the earliest possible moment.—[Vol. 757, c. 1065.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what financial assistance is to be given by Her Majesty's Government for the construction of an airport in the Seychelles; when this construction will begin and end; and whether the rôle of this airport will be exclusively civil.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether the building of the proposed airstrip at Mahé, Seychelles, has been commenced; what is the value of the work done to date; what is the anticipated total cost; and what is the approximate date of completion.

Her Majesty's Government have agreed to meet the cost of constructing a civil airport. Estimates of costs are being examined and it is hoped that construction will begin before the end of this year; it is expected to take about two and a half years. It will be a civil airport and no other use is at present foreseen. But arrangements for its use for other purposes could without doubt be considered should the need arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what undertaking was given to the Government and people of the Seychelles on the question of constructing a civil air-aport on the Seychelles in return for the transfer of three islands from the jurisdiction of the Seychelles to British Indian Ocean territory.

I would refer the hon. Member to the undertaking given to the House on 30th November, 1965, when the then Secretary of State for the Colonies stated:

"Her Majesty's Government have agreed to meet the cost of building a civil airfield in Seychelles to provide a link with the Indian and African mainlands."

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, what progress is being made with a new constitution for the Seychelles; and if he will give details.

A new Seychelles constitution came into force last November. Following a general election on 12th December, 1967, held for the first time on the basis of universal adult suffrage, the new Governing Council met on 27th December. As provided for in the constitution, the Governor has constituted three Committees of the Council which, with a Finance Committee, are, under the Council, responsible for policy and its implementation in the greater part of the Governmental field. There is an elected majority on both the Governing Council and its Committees.This constitution provides a new form of government for small Administrations. I am glad to say it is receiving the good will of all interested parties in Seychelles.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, what measures he is taking to ensure that Great Britain's policy on Rhodesia is being made known to the people of that country in spite of the difficulties of censorship.

The Africa Service of the B.B.C. which can be heard clearly in Rhodesia includes 14 news bulletins in every 24 hours. I believe that these transmissions successfully fill in gaps caused by the activities of the censors in Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, whether he will appoint a British Consul-General in Nairobi, whose principal duty would be to care for the interests of British subjects of all categories living in Kenya.

No. It is the duty of our High Commissioner in Nairobi to watch over and protect the interests of United Kingdom citizens of all categories. He already has on his staff a senior and experienced officer whose duties are analogous to those performed by a Consul-General in a foreign country.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, what discussions he has had with representatives of Canada and Australia as to whether those countries would be willing to take as immigrants some of those Asians who are United Kingdom citizens now anxious to leave Kenya.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many people in Hong Kong hold British passports.

There are no statistics available of the number of people in Hong Kong who hold United Kingdom passports.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that he will not further advance the dates of British military withdrawal from the Persian Gulf, Singapore and Malaysia.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary's reply to the hon. Member's intervention on 24th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs to what extent, during his recent visit to Singapore, he discussed the question of the future validity of British passports of residents of Singapore after British withdrawal.

There were no such discussions. The British withdrawal will have no effect on the validity of passports.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs under which provisions of the United Kingdom-Malaysia Defence Treaty he will initiate its renegotiation.

We have offered to reach an understanding with the Malaysian Government so as to make the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Agreement fit the new conditions arising from our decision to withdraw our forces from Malaysia and Singapore by the end of 1971. The first Exchange of Letters published with the Agreement (Cmnd. 263) states that each party would always retain the right to suggest a review of the Agreement should this seem necessary for any reason.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement about the future of the Malta dockyard.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield Digby).

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what effect the air restrictions imposed by Spain on access to Gibraltar's airfield are having on the flow of tourism to Gibraltar.

The air restrictions imposed by the Spanish Government came into effect in May, 1967. There was a reduction of approximately 6 per cent. in total air traffic to Gibraltar in 1967 compared with 1966. It is difficult to say to what extent this was due to the Spanish restrictions, as a number of factors may have contributed. Bookings for 1968 suggest that the increased flow discernible in recent months will be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether, in Her Majesty's Government's plans to mark International Human Rights Year, he will consider seeking to include special features, together with Commonwealth countries.

Her Majesty's Government's plans for the celebration of Human Rights Year were outlined by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 6th February in answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow). Commonwealth countries will also be participating in the International Conference on Human Rights in Tehran in April and will be amongst those countries invited to send participants to the United Nations Seminar on Freedom of Association to be held in London in June.—[Vol. 758, c. 227.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will list the advance gas reactor nuclear power stations where estimated operating costs have gone up during the last two years; and what is the estimated percentage increase over the next three years.

The C.E.G.B.'s estimates of the base-load generation cost including capital charges for Dungeness B have been increased by 25 per cent. for the reasons given in replies to my hon. Friend the Member for Blaydon (Mr. Woof) on 6th and 22nd February. The estimate for Hinckley Point B has been increased by 8 per cent. because of the adoption of higher interest rates and to allow for devaluation. We do not foresee any increases in these estimates in real terms.—[Vol. 758, c. 58; Vol. 759, c. 186.]

asked the Minister of Power what arrangements now exist for liaison between the coal and steel industries of the United Kingdom and the coal and steel industries of the European Economic Community, following the creation of the British Steel Corporation and the merging of the Coal and Steel Community with the European Economic Community and Euratom.

The status and functioning of the Council of Association continue unaltered, with the succession of the High Authority by the Commission of the European Economic Communities, and of the Chairman of the Iron and Steel Board by the Chairman of the British Steel Corporation.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give details of nonclassified research work being done for his Department by the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough.

None.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the progress under licence from him of drilling for oil and gas in the North Sea and his plans for retaining at fair prices the benefits of the oil and gas produced for the people of Scotland, indicating to which persons and companies he has given licences, and the progress relative and otherwise of each.

126 wells have been drilled. or were in the course of drilling, in the North Sea by the end of February, 1968.No oil has yet been found on a commercial scale. The Gas Council will sell gas to the Area Boards at a uniform tariff subject to load factor variations.

asked the Minister of Power which coal-fired power station he estimates will be producing the cheapest electricity in each of the years 1968 to 1971; what will be the cost per unit sent out; and if he will give similar information about the cheapest nuclear power in those years, assuming that the present forecasts of costs are fulfilled.

The best stations expected to be in operation in each of the years 1968 to 1971 and their estimated base-load generation costs are:

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the organisational structure of the iron and steel industry with particular reference to the proposals for four regional groups.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the British Steel Corporation's first Report on Organisation (Cmnd. 3362). The Corporation will submit a further report to me as soon as practicable.

asked the Minister of Power if he will direct the British Steel Corporation to consult fully with the Iron and Steel Trade Union Consultative Committee before finalising decisions on structure.

The Iron and Steel Act, 1967 (Section 4(2)) requires the Corporation to consult the appropriate representative organisations before reaching conclusions on the organisation of the industry.

asked the Minister of Power what representation he has received from the Scottish Trade Union Congress on the coal mining industry in Scotland; and what reply he has sent.

I met a delegation from the Scottish Trades Union Congress on 15th December, 1967. The discussions covered the Government's fuel policy, the closure of Michael Colliery, alternative employment and the problem of redundant miners over 55.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is satisfied with the specifications approved by him for plugging gas wells in the North Sea, in view of the well off Bacton which has had to be fired to deal with escaping gas; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, my right hon. Friend is satisfied the specifications accord with good oil field practice. The reasons for the leak in the well off Scarborough to which my hon. Friend refers are being investigated and when these are known we will consider what, if any, measures can be introduced to prevent a recurrence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has put forward proposals regarding the choice of route to be followed by the M53 in Bebington.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the capital investment in 1966–67 by local authorities in England and Wales on facilities exclusively for sport as defined in Command Paper No. 2177 of October, 1963; and what is the estimated figure for 1967–68.

Exact information for 1966–67 is not available but the best estimate is £4 million.For 1967–68 the estimated figure is £5·8 million.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, whether he is able to announce his decision on the public inquiry held last year into the Rock Ferry By-Pass, Birkenhead.

My right hon. Friend expects to announce his decision very shortly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what percentage increase in rates and earnings of engineering craftsmen in the water supply industry is indicated by the proposed increase in the basic rate by 4½d. an hour.

The increase in basic rate would be approximately 5 per cent. It has been estimated that total earnings would be increased by about 4¼. per cent.; this is because they include certain allowances which would remain unaltered.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he intends to publish statistics on the working of the Rent Act, 1965.

On 12th March in Housing Statistics No. 8.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the 4,000 houses to be built in Redditch as a contribution to Birmingham's overspill problems represent an acceleration of or an addition to the new town development.

The 4,000 houses are not an addition. They are to be provided by accelerating the Development Corporation's rate of building during the period 1971 to 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has been invited to contribute to the feasibility study of a North Atlantic Free Trade Area that has recently been set up by the United States Administration.

We have received no such invitation, and no proposals relating to a new study by the United States Administration of the feasibility of a North Atlantic Free Trade Area have been made to Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what qualifications are required of a Second Secretary (Commercial) at an overseas embassy; and whether the recent appointee to that post in Tokyo had such qualifications.

Posts of Second Secretary are usually filled by officers serving in their first or second tour overseas. Posts of Second Secretary (Commercial) are normally, therefore, those in which members of the Service get their first experience of commercial work abroad. Before taking up commercial appointments, officers are required to undergo a special intensive course of two months' duration which deals with all aspects of commercial work. Whilst they are serving at the post their work is supervised by and they are given further commercial training by senior and more experienced officers. The normal procedures have been followed in the case of the officer recently appointed to Tokyo.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he has now received the Report of the Mediator regarding the future of British Honduras; and whether he will make a statement on its recommendations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a list, to the last most convenient six months, showing the total of Commonwealth immigrants who have entered Great Britain, including country of birth and country most recently resided in.

Full particulars of the admission of Commonwealth citizens up to the end of 1966 are available in the annual statistics of Commonwealth immigration (published as Command Papers 2151, 2379, 2658, 2979 and 3258), and figures for 1967 have been placed in the Library of the House of Commons. If the hon. Member will let me know of any additional information he needs, I will be glad to send it to him if it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not introduce legislation immediately to stop all further immigration.

Because it is unnecessary and would be repugnant to do so. One effect would be to prevent wives and children from joining heads of families already in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the total number of overseas visitors, excluding immigrants, to the United Kingdom in the years 1966 and 1967.

2,681,199 in 1966 and 2,906,816 in 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the Government's estimate of a 7½per cent. increase in the cost of living takes account of the proposed rise in National Insurance Contributions, rent and rate increases, increases in the price of food and services directly and indirectly affected by devaluation, and the proposed charges on the welfare services.

The estimate of the increase in the cost of living referred to by my hon. Friend is not that of the Government.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement about the note issue.

The Treasury have given their approval, under Section 1 of the Currency and Bank Notes Act, 1954, to a proposal by the Bank of England to issue bank notes for £20. I understand that the Bank of England are today announcing plans for an entirely new series of bank notes which will include this denomination.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of the compensation stock used to pay for the nationalisation of steel.

The nominal value of compensation stock, 61 per cent. Treasury Stock, 1971, issued so far is £508,190,192·2s. 11d.The securities of G.K.N. Steel Company Limited, the Parkgate Iron and Steel Company Limited, and Round Oak Steel Works Limited are still the subject of negotiations between the stockholders' representatives and the Ministry of Power. Their values will be announced when agreed, and 6½ per cent. Treasury Stock, 1971, issued accordingly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in the action taken to encourage industry to increase its efforts to export, in view of the new opportunities afforded by devaluation.

I refer my hon. Friend to the reply to a similar question asked by the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. Lane) on 7th February. There is growing evidence that exporters generally are responding with determination to the opportunities presented by devaluation and are increasingly optimistic about future export prospects.—[Vol. 758, cc. 387–8.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade, when he will give, and what, guidance about the exact timing of the change to the metric system for retailing and commercial services in the United Kingdom.

I have no statement to make at present. The Minister of Technology's Standing Joint Committee, which was set up to facilitate metrication in in

asked the President of the Boad of Trade if he will make the whole of Cornwall a development area.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 15th November, 1967.—[Vol. 754, c. 121.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now make a statement about future egg imports.

As the House knows, this has been under consideration. Having regard to the total supplies both from home production and from imports that seemed likely to be available in the first half of 1968, we asked the Governments of supplying countries to co-operate with a view to ensuring that total imports in this period should be appreciably less than in the comparable period of 1967.The Governments concerned have shown L gratifying understanding of the reasons for our concern and the need for voluntary restraint in the general interest has been widely recognised. On the basis of the assurances and supply forecasts received, the aggregate level of imports in

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) in each of the last five years, what have been the number of registered British oil tankers of over 100,000 tons;(2) in each of the last five years, what has been the total number of oil tankers of over 100,000 tons operating in the world.

Following is the information:the first half of 1968 should be appreciably below that for the first half of 1967 and below the first half-year average for the five years preceding 1967. We have told the Governments concerned that we are relying on their co-operation in this, that we intend to watch the situation very closely and that we would expect to have further bilateral discussions with them should the need arise.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply of cellulosic man-made fibres.

The report was published this morning. The Commission have found that monopoly conditions, as defined in the legislation, prevail in the supply of cellulosic man-made fibres by virtue of the proportion which is supplied by Courtaulds.The Commission concluded that Courtaulds' monopoly was against the public interest. They also concluded that Courtaulds' practice of supplying fibres to some customers on preferential terms, and its regulation of imports through its arrangements with E.F.T.A. producers operate and may be expected to operate against the public interest, and that Courtaulds' practice of extensive participation in the textile industry may be expected to operate against the public interest.By way of remedy, the Commission recommend that the tariff on cellulosic fibres should be reduced, and that Courtaulds should not make any arrangements with overseas producers to nullify the effect of the reduction. The effect of the tariff reduction should be reviewed after a year. The Commission also recommend that Courtaulds should sell cellulosic fibres only at its published list prices; that it should bring to an end those aspects of its arrangements with E.F.T.A. producers which restrict competition; and that it should not be allowed to make further acquisitions in the textile industry (including wholesale and retail distribution) without the permission of the Board of Trade if its share of capacity in any particular sector would exceed a limit to be set by the Board.Before coming to a conclusion on the Commission's recommendations on the level of the tariff, I would like to examine the considerations to which the Board of Trade are required to have regard by Section 1 of the Import Duties Act, 1958. In accordance with the Board of Trade's normal procedure, I am instituting an immediate review of the duties on cellulosic fibres at which all interested parties, including Courtaulds, will be invited to express their views. The recommendations of the Monopolies Commission will, of course, be given full weight in this review.I propose to discuss with Courtaulds the Commission's other recommendations. In particular, I shall wish to consider the recommendation about Courtaulds' future acquisitions in the light of the Government's policy of promoting desirable rationalisation in the textile industry. I shall make a further statement at a later stage.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has made of the cost of rectifying the recent damage at Stonehenge; how lasting was the damage inflicted; and what further precautions he is taking to prevent a repetition.

About £115. I hope that no permanent damage was inflicted, but the unsightly patches left by cleaning will certainly take years to weather away. I hope to continue to benefit from the cooperation of the police authorities, but I do not think that it would be wise to disclose the further security measures I am contemplating.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the importance of the fishing industry to the consumers of Great Britain and also to the trade, industry and employment of Scotland; and if he will state his plans, in view of devaluation, to protect the internal and export aspects of that industry.

Yes. These matters are all taken into account in the review of fisheries policy on which we have promised a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether his estimate of £35 million, as the cost of the foot-and-mouth epidemic to public funds, takes account of the amount due to be recovered from compensation payments in tax.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that association under Part IV of the Treaty of Rome will, until harmonisation of taxation has been achieved among member countries of the European Economic Community, cause discrimination in Metropolitan France against rum produced by former British territories in the West Indies compared with rum produced by French West Indian territories; and what action he proposes under the terms of the Yaoundé Agreement or otherwise to protect the interests of producers in those territories.

I am aware of the present French taxes on rum and of the effect which their retention would have in the event of this country joining the European Economic Community and of the Commonwealth rum-producing countries and territories securing association with the enlarged Community. In any discussion of these matters, the Government would have the interests of Commonwealth rum producers very much in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value, expressed in deutschemarks at the pre-devaluation rate of exchange, of the monthly pay and local overseas allowance of a married captain, accompanied and accommodated, and a married corporal, accompanied and accommodated; what the value will be in the same cases at the new exchange rate of deutschemarks 9.64 to the £ and when the new rates of local overseas allowances become payable.

A captain with four years' service in the rank was getting 1,198 DM. A corporal (Group B Tradesman—Scale C, less than nine years' service) received 704 DM. New rates of local overseas allowance became payable from the beginning of March and the amounts now received are 1,109 DM and 656 DM respectively. The figures include marriage allowance and deductions for P.A.Y.E. Income Tax, National Insurance contributions and quartering charges have been taken into account. They do not include ration allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what level of forces is planned to fulfil the aims outlined in Chapter I, paragraph 3, of the Statement on the Defence Estimates, 1968, Command Paper No. 3540.

I cannot at present add to the information given in Cmnd. 3540.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the composition of the force mentioned in the Statement on the Defence Estimates, 1968, Command Paper No. 3540, Chapter I, paragraph 3(i).

Time will be needed to determine this. The progress of our studies will be reported later in the year in a Supplementary Statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what rôle is planned for British forces within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation after 1969.

British forces will continue to contribute to the Alliance's deterrent and defensive strength.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what new types of aircraft and equipment are planned for the late 1970s.

I have nothing to add to the information about future equipment plans announced in Cmnd. 3540.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what British forces will be committed to the Central Treaty Organisation and the South East Asia Treaty Organisation in 1968–69.

It is not the practice to give this kind of information.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for how much longer it is his policy to base defence costs on 1964 figures.

Defence programmes are planned on the basis of current prices, not 1964 prices. Previously savings targets have been expressed in terms of 1964 prices, so that comparisons could be made with earlier programmes, but the value of such comparisons obviously decreases as time goes by.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much per head of the population per week the various defence services will cost on the basis of the current Defence Estimates.

About twopence less than the amount I reported to the hon. Member on 29th January, 1968.—[Vol. 757, c. 231.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the vulnerability of helicopters to air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, he will reconsider the possibility of keeping an aircraft carrier force in being for a further 10 years.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of the approximate comparative strengths of the frontline air forces of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Warsaw Pact;(2) what estimate he has made of the approximate comparative strengths of the submarine fleets of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and the Warsaw Pact;(3) what estimate he has made of the approximate comparative strength of armoured forces deployed in Europe by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and by the Warsaw Pact.

Estimates of Warsaw Pact strengths are kept under review in my Department. As a member of the Alliance, the United Kingdom is informed of the armed strengths of our North Atlantic allies. Security considerations preclude my making available the detailed information requested.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will seek to amend the law so as to provide a lump sum payment to Members who are not reelected to the House.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the division of responsibility between the Ministry of Power and the Ministry of Technology in all matters concerning nuclear power and for fuel derivatives.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Power is responsible for the co-ordinated development of fuel and power; for the coal, gas and electricity supply industries and for settling with them their general programmes of research; for the inspection and licensing of nuclear installations; and for the oil industry.My right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology is responsible for the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and has sponsorship responsibilities for manufacturing industries supplying equipment to the industries mentioned above.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many directions have been issued under the Prices and Incomes Act, 1967 providing for a suspension of increases in incomes and prices, respectively.

In the case of incomes, two; in the case of prices, none.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, for each of the development areas in Great Britain, what is the total working population; what proportion of this population is working in manufacturing industry; and what is the largest town and what is its population.

As regard the first and second parts of the Question, figures of total working population are not available, and the following table gives the latest available information required for total employees:

asked the Minister of Health, if he will state the cost of treatment under the National Health Service for visitors to the United Kingdom from overseas in 1966 and 1967.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what is the staff/patient ratio at Shelton Hospital; and what relation this bears to his Department's required establishment;(2) what are the staff/patient ratios in all psychiatric hospitals where the building is more than 70 years old; and how many of these hospitals have an established staff which falls below his Department's requirements.

The number of staff per 100 patients at Shelton Hospital in 1967 was 44·9, including 1·6 medical staff and 23·7 nursing staff.In psychiatric hospitals which can readily be identified as wholly or in part more than 70 years old, the average number of medical and nursing staff per 100 patients was 1·05 and 25·2 respectively in 1965, the latest year for which such information is available.My Department does not specify required establishments.

asked the Minister of Labour, what is the total amount of levy which he estimates will be collected in Wales for the Agricultural Training Board in the first 12 months of its operation; and how much he estimates the Board will spend in Wales during this period.

The Board estimates that under its revised proposals the levy payable by employers in Wales for the period ending 31st August, 1968, will be about £25,000. It is not possible to estimate the amount these employers will receive in grants, since this depends on the nature and amount of the training they give their employees during this period.

asked the Minister of Labour on what date he was notified of the wage agreement between Beckman Instruments Limited and the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians' Association; and how long after this date he issued a direction under the Prices and Incomes Act, 1967 suspending the pay increases.

The notification of pay increases (to be effective from 1st December, 1967) was received by the Ministry on 11th September last. A week later the company was asked not to make the full increase proposed, pending a report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, which was in fact published on 20th December. The direction was made on 23rd February, after study of the report and full consultations with the company and other interested parties.

asked the Minister of Labour whether, in view of public concern about the rising price of food, he will, for the present, publish fortnightly the figures relating to food used in compiling the Cost-of-Living Index.

The Index of Retail Prices is calculated in respect of one day each month and prices of food are collected on that day only. Arrangements have been made to publish in the Ministry of Labour Gazette, starting with the March issue, average prices and price ranges for about 80 items of food used in the compilation of the index.

asked the Minister of Labour when he expects to conclude and publish the review of Selective Employment Tax classifications.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on Monday, 19th February.—[Vol. 759, c. 2.]

asked the Minister of Labour what action the Government are taking to introduce a code of conduct for the handling of major redundancies.

Arrangements are being made for early discussions with the C.B.I., T.U.C. and nationalised industries on this matter.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants resident, respectively, in Haslemere Urban District, Farnham Urban District, Borough of Godalming, and those portions of the Guildford Rural District and Hambledon Rural District within the Farnham Division of Surrey have applied and are waiting for telephone facilities; and what is the longest period any applicant has been waiting.

The figures at 31st January were:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons were charged with murder and culpable homicide, respectively, in Scotland in 1967; how many were found guilty; and what were the comparable figures for each of the previous five years.

I regret that information about persons charged with murder and culpable homicide cannot readily be made available. Information about persons found guilty of murder and culpable homicide in 1967 and in previous years is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will direct the Forestry Commission in Scotland to carry out experiments in extracting timber by balloon, in order to cut down the amount of money spent on forest road building.

The Forestry Commission is fully in touch with developments in balloon logging but would need much more prima facie evidence that it would be suitable in British conditions before initiating a programme of experiments.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has completed his review of pay beds; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The object of the review was to bring the relationship between provision and demand for pay beds more closely into line with that for other beds. I have agreed adjustments with regional boards which will result in 343 pay beds being available in Scotland compared with 571 before the review, a reduction of 40 per cent.Following is a summary by regions:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the civil defence expenditure in Scotland and in the counties of Dunbartonshire, Argyllshire, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire and the city of Glasgow is to be reduced as a result of the cuts in national civil defence expenditure.

Total civil defence expenditure in Scotland, will be reduced in 1968–69 by about £800,000. About three-quarters of this is expected to represent a reduction in local authority expenditure. The reductions in particular areas, and the level of expenditure in later years, have yet to be decided in consultation with the local authority associations and individual authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland collected information from farmers about cattle sales during the three months ended 30th November, 1967, in order to calculate farming costs in connection with the 1969 Price Review.

This information is collected as part of a voluntary survey. The survey is primarily concerned with farming costs but other information, including information about cattle sales, is also collected. It contributes to the statistical assessment of the economic position of Scottish farming for the Annual Price Reviews.

asked the Minister of Social Security what was the cost of the Government's publicity campaigns in respect of supplementary pensions; and if she will estimate the increased uptake of these pensions resulting from the publicity work undertaken by her Department.

The cost of the press advertising campaign for supplementary pensions in October, 1966 was £48,220. In addition, four new posters were produced at a cost of £676.About 600,000 claims to supplementary pension were received during and immediately after the publicity campaign, two-thirds of which were successful.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many applications for help to ease financial hardship following January's hurricane have been received to date by her Department's offices in Scotland; how many have been rejected; and what total aid has been provided.

900 special payments of supplementary benefit were made during the six weeks up to 24th February at a total cost of £12,821. In addition, a small number of weekly allowances were made to people temporarily put out of work as a result of the hurricane. Separate records of storm damage claims rejected are not available but the numbers are thought to be very small. The Department's officers are visiting all families who have had to be moved with a view to making payments to those found to be in need of help on rehousing.

asked the Minister of Transport what is her estimate of the value of the assets to be transferred to the National Bus Company; and on what basis and on what assumptions about the relevant dates this valuation is based.

The assets to be transferred to the National Bus Company are primarily the shareholdings of the Transport Holding Company in bus companies and in bus manufacturing companies. The book values of these shareholdings in the books of the Transport Holding Company, allowing for the proposed acquisition of bus companies in the B.E.T. Group, is of the order of £120 million. My right hon. Friend will be appointing consultants to advise her, after consultation with the National Bus Company, about the detailed implementation of the relevant provisions of the Transport Bill.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations she has received about the reduction of ferry services between North and South Shields and the increased charges; and what action she proposes to take to assist the authorities concerned to maintain the services, in view of their importance for those working on both sides of the river.

The Tynemouth and South Shields Councils have made representations about the proposed increase in charges, and these will be taken into account after the statutory advertisement of the proposal. We have had no representations about the service reductions, which do not require my right hon. Friend's consent, but 11 letters asking that a ferry service be maintained.It is, in the first place, for the operators and the local authorities to decide what services are required since the opening of the Tyne Tunnel, and how they should be maintained, in the light of the provisions of the Transport Bill. We are, however, considering certain ideas suggested by the operators.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the average loss per mile incurred on the railway lines which have been closed in Wales during the last 10 years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request the Welsh Economic Council to make a study of hardship suffered by those in Wales earning under £12 per week.

Considerable research in this field has already been carried out and the Government are well aware of the problems involved, which are not peculiar to Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for the further improvement of trunk roads in Wales.

I am immediately adding to the preparation pool a dual carriageway intermediate by-pass of Cardiff. This will be designed as a continuation of Eastern Avenue, running to the south of Llantrisant from where it will continue to the Bridgend area along the line of the eventual extension of the M4 motorway close to the mouths of the valleys. By preparing the scheme now we shall be ready to build it as soon as the resources can be made available.I intend to announce further additions to the preparation pool of trunk road schemes later this year.