asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding the future relationship between the public schools and the State sector of education.

No. I expect soon to receive and shall then consider the report of the Public Schools Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give further consideration to the representations of the Teacher Training Acting Academic Board of the Yorkshire College of Education and Home Economics, on the proposal for the establishment of the Leeds Polytechnic; and if he will make a statement generally as to the proposed composition of the Leeds Polytechnic.

My right hon. Friend has asked the local education authority to let him have their comments on these representations before he considers the proposals submitted last month for the establishment of a Polytechnic at Leeds.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money was spent on coronary artery disease in the United Kingdom in the last three years; and if he will make a statement on the latest position with reference to aetiology, early diagnosis and treatment.

It is not possible to provide art estimate of expenditure on research on coronary artery disease since this work forms part of a wide programme of investigations into cardiovascular disorders being carried out in Medical Research Council establishments, universities and hospital departments. Many different approaches to this problem are being pursued and it would not be practicable to summarise the latest position here. I would refer my hon. Friend to the medical and scientific journals, where the results of this work are published as they become available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the numbers and percentage of children staying on at school after the school-leaving age in each of the local education authorities in Wales.

The following table shows pupils aged 15 over school-leaving age, actual number in January, 1967, and as a percentage of the corresponding part of the age-group in 1965:

Counties	Numbers	Per cent.
Anglesey	294	55·2
Breconshire	289	55·0
Caernarvonshire	506	51·8
Cardiganshire	331	65·7
Carmarthenshire	739	49·3
Denbighshire	718	43·9
Flintshire	740	48·4
Glamorgan	2,927	39·0
Merioneth	222	68·3
Monmouthshire	1,380	40·7
Montgomeryshire	221	48·0
Pembrokeshire	551	58·1
Radnorshire	69	43·4
County Boroughs
Cardiff	1,174	46·4
Merthyr Tydfil	193	31·3
Newport (Mon.)	448	43·8
Swansea	655	44·7
All Wales	11,457	44·7

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what grounds he maintains his policy of operating the quota system in Welsh education.

In order to help authorities in England and Wales obtain a fair share of qualified teachers for their schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list those boroughs or county boroughs with a population of 100,000 or more with an immigrant school population of more than 2 per cent., showing the percentage figure in each case.

The information is as follows:

BOROUGHS WITH A POPULATION OF 100,000 OR MORE, WHERE IMMIGRANT PUPILS EXCEED 2 PER CENT. OF ALL PUPILS IN MAINTAINED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
January, 1967
	Percentage
INNER LONDON BOROUGHS
Hammersmith	14·5
Kensington and Chelsea	16·3
Camden	17·1
Westminster	15·7
Islington	23·1
Hackney	21·3
Tower Hamlets and City of London	8·1
Greenwich	3·6
Lewisham	10·6
Southwark	10·9
Lambeth	17·6
Wandsworth	12·7
OUTER LONDON BOROUGHS
Barnet	5·0
Brent	21·8
Croydon	6·1
Ealing	13·6
Enfield	4·8
Haringey	22·6
Harrow	2·2
Hounslow	5·6
Merton	4·2
Newham	9·0
Redbridge	3·2
Richmond-upon-Thames	2·2
Waltham Forest	6·3
COUNTY BOROUGHS
Birmingham	8·7
Blackburn	2·9
Bolton	3·6
Bradford	6·7
Bristol	2·9
Coventry	5·6
Derby	8·1
Huddersfield	7·2
Ipswich	3·3
Leeds	3·5
Leicester	7·7
Luton	5·1
Manchester	3·8
Northampton	2·7
Nottingham	6·7
Oxford	4·9
Preston	5·8
Reading	4·9
Sheffield	2·2
Walsall	5·2
Warley	7·9
West Bromwich	4·7
Wolverhampton	10·0

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those voluntary service agencies to which his Department has made official grants in each of the past five years; what were the amounts of these grants; what were the numbers of projects undertaken by the agencies and the types of project; and how many volunteers are estimated to have participated.

A list of grants made to national voluntary youth organisations in respect of their headquarters administration and of special grants, respectively, is given in Appendix A of the Department's Annual Reports. These grants do not distinguish between the voluntary service content of an organisation's work or projects and that which is concerned with the youth service generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of salary scales in voluntary service agencies to which his Department has made official grants this year.

The Department does not collect this information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department at how many detention centres the course of training is based on a six-month period of detention; and whether such centres are now available so that courts of competent jurisdiction may now order committal to them.

One detention centre at Swinfen Hall, Lichfield, provides a special course of training for boys sentenced to six months' detention. At all other detention centres in England and Wales, young persons may be committed to serve for three or six months' sentences but there is no separate course of training for the latter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the number of work permits issued to Chinese aliens, Chinese citizens of Hong Kong and Chinese from other territories in the Commonwealth, respectively, during each of the past five years; and if, in view of the danger to security created by certain of these persons when employed in Chinese restaurants in the United Kingdom, he will restrict the issue of further work permits to such immigrants.

The security aspect is kept under constant review. There are not sufficient grounds for altering the present arrangements.Following is the information:

VOUCHERS ISSUED FOR COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS FROM HONG KONG
July, 1962 to December, 1963	1964	1965	1966	1967
1,411	742	430	142	198

PERMITS ISSUED FOR FOREIGN WORKERS DESCRIBED BY THE PROSPECTIVE EMPLOYER AS CHINESE
1963	1964	1965	1966	1967
491	630	723	953	1,166

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the special measures to be taken to protect the Prime Minister when he visits Oxford University later this month.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions under the provisions of the Scrap Metal Dealers Act, 1964 were brought in the year ended 31st December, 1967; how many were found guilty and what was the minimum and maximum penalty imposed; whether he is satisfied that the penalties provided under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act, 1964 are at present adequate to deal with the theft of scrap metal; and if he will make a statement.

In England and Wales in 1967, 272 persons were prosecuted and 243 convicted. The courts' orders ranged from absolute discharge to a fine of £75 I have no reason to think that the maximum penalties under the Scrap Metal Dealers Act, 1964 are inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving the use of firearms were known to the police in 1964 and in each subsequent year; how many of these crimes involved wounding by shooting in each year; and how many of these crimes involved killing by shooting in each year.

The numbers of indictable offences involving firearms known to the police in England and Wales in the years from 1964 were as follows:

1964	731
1965	1,140
1966	1,511
1967	2,337 (provisional)

The provisional number of indictable offences known to the police in which firearms were actually fired, presented, or used for striking the victim, was 791 in 1967. Of these, 351 offences involved wounding by shooting and a further 45 offences involved killing by shooting. Corresponding figures for previous years are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to prohibit the practice of discrimination on racial grounds by local authority employers, particularly in the field of transport.

The Government intend to introduce legislation this Session to extend the Race Relations Act, 1965. Employment will be one of the main fields to be covered by the new legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of convictions for illegal possession of firearms in each month since March, 1966.

The information can not be given on a monthly basis but particulars are available as follows for

								Number of persons convicted
								1st March to 31st December, 1966	1st January to 31st December, 1967
FIREARMS ACT 1937
Section 1 (Purchasing or possessing firearms or ammunition without a certificate)		…	…	…	…	…	…	560	502
Section 7 (Manufacturing or dealing in firearms or ammunition without being registered)		…	…	…	…	…	…	14	4
Section 17 (Manufacture, sale, transfer, purchase, acquisition, possession of prohibited weapons)				…	…	…	…	26	18
Section 19 (Purchase and possession of firearms by young persons)								276	201
Section 21 (Purchase and possession of firearms by persons convicted of crime)		…	…	…	…	…	…	74	86
Total	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	950	811
AIR GUNS AND SHOT GUNS ETC. ACT 1962
Section 1 (Restrictions on the use and possession of air weapons by young persons)		…	…	…	…	…	…	1,131	717
Section 2 (Restriction on the possession of shot guns by young persons)	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	69	36
Total	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,200	753
Grand Total	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,150	1,564

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many juveniles in the areas of the Inner London Education Authority and the Manchester Education Authority were charged in the courts in 1967.

I regret that this information is not available in the form requested. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the information which is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will make a further statement to clarify the Government's policy in regard to wage restraint.

I intend to deal fully with future policy for productivity, prices and incomes during the Budget debate. The broad lines of the policy will be indicated as part of the wider economic strategy in the Budget Statement.

asked the Postmaster-General how the £2,000 million capital expenditure of his Department in the next five years will be spent, stating on what projects, how much on each, in which years, and in what parts of the United Kingdom.

Some 90 per cent. will be spent in modernising and expanding the telecommunications services, the remainder mainly on postal buildings and mechanisation schemes. The programme comprises thousands of individual projects.

asked the Postmaster-General by how much the eight local sound radio stations are being financed from local government, central Government, and British Broadcasting Corporation sources, respectively; and what profit or loss has been made by each so far.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's previous answers.—[Vol. 756, c. 458–9, Vol. 757, c. 556–8, Vol. 759, c. 1750–1, Vol. 760, c. 639–40.]

asked the Postmaster-General if he will direct the television and broadcasting authorities to refrain from broadcasting programmes which give publicity to the activities of irresponsible minorities of hooligan students.

No. The content of their programmes is the responsibility of the broadcasting authorities.

asked the Postmaster-General how many telephone kiosks within the City of Leeds boundary were subject to wilful damage in the year ended 31st December, 1967 and what was the estimated cost of such damage; how many prosecutions were brought against alleged offenders; how many convictions were obtained; and what was the minimum and maximum penalty imposed.

357 at an estimated cost of £3,500. There were 14 prosecutions with 24 convictions; the minimum sentence was 12 months conditional discharge and the maximum 9 months imprisonment.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress has now been made in reducing the waiting list for domestic telephones in the borough of Barry.

All waiting applicants will be given service by about the middle of April.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will now propose that Greece should be expelled from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, in view of the fact that she is no longer able to further the principles of the Treaty.

No. As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 26th February, I do not really think that action of this kind would lead to the restoration of democratic liberties which all of us wish to see.—[Vol. 759, col. 231.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further steps he took to secure the release of British ships unlawfully detained by Egypt before consenting to participate in a £46 million loan to Egypt.

We stressed strongly both to the United Arab Republic and the Israel Governments, both of which have responsibility for the existing situation, the need to make arrangements for the release of the ships. My right hon. Friend also took the opportunity to raise the matter with the United Nations Secretary-General when he saw him on 13th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if the Soviet Draft of the Treaty of Friendship has now been studied; and if he will make a statement.

We have had to tell the Soviet Government that their Draft is not acceptable to us in its present form. When the idea was first put forward in February, 1967, it was the understanding that the Treaty was to be a framework for our bilateral relations. This would have been very useful and this was the basis on which we put some drafting proposals to the Russians last April.The Soviet Draft is, however, mainly concerned with other matters which are not bilateral but affect directly the interests of our allies and our obligations to them.We continue to attach importance to this proposal and we have asked the Soviet Government to take another look at the suggestions we put to them last April. I very much hope they will do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now give further consideration to the design of an aircraft carrier to operate vertical take-off and landing aircraft as a contribution to the defence of Great Britain's seaborne forces.

We have no plans for such a ship.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to ensure that the proposed new radio research station at Orfordness in Suffolk and its facilities such as roads and power lines do not reduce the beauty and amenity of the local countryside.

Discussions are taking place with the local authorities on how best to minimise the effects of this development on the locality, and we are also consulting the Nature Conservancy and the National Parks Commission.

asked the Secretaary of State for Defence whether, in view of recent events, he will now initiate feasibility studies on the possibility of the use of force against the illegal régime in Rhodesia.

It is not the practice to reveal information about military contingency planning.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what is the number of Indian Tamils resident in Ceylon who have British citizenship; and how many hold, or are entitled to hold, a United Kingdom passport.

There are about two thousand Tamils in Ceylon who are United Kingdom citizens and, therefore, eligible to hold United Kingdom pass- ports. It is estimated that only twenty to thirty of these persons actually possess United Kingdom passports.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now cause to be published a White Paper setting out the facts leading to, and relating to, the petition for reprieve of the three Rhodesians and the grant thereof on the direct recommendation of the Secretary of State.

I have already given full details in my Statements to the House on 4th and 5th March, as well as in my Written Answers to Questions from the hon. and learned Member for Buckinghamshire, South (Mr. Ronald Bell) on 12th March.—[Vol. 760, c. 260–261.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government's economic assistance to Anguilla, already promulgated out of current Commonwealth Development and Welfare allocations, is now being made available to Anguilla; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. It is expected that £30,000 will be spent by 31st March, on school buildings, the improvement of the airfield, hospital equipment and a cold store.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he is satisfied, in the light of the reports of the British civil servant assisting the administration there, that the Government of St. Kitts is now paying normal Anguillan elements in current and succeeding estimates from its revenue as supported by budgetary aid from Her Majesty's Government; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he has ascertained, from the reports of the British civil servant assisting the administration there, whether the mail for Anguilla is still being held up in St. Kitts; and if he will make a statement;(3) whether he is satisfied that, in the light of the reports of the British civil servant assisting the administration there, the people of Anguilla can now withdraw their savings from St. Kitts; and if he will make a statement.

The internal affairs of St. Kitts/Nevis/Anguilla are a matter for the State Government. Her Majesty's Government have made available the services of a senior British civil servant to assist with the administration of Anguilla but have not assumed any direct responsibility for the affairs of any part of the State.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what was the authorised permanent establishment of civil servants in his Department, the number of temporary civil servants, and the total amount of salaries and wages paid for the years ended 31st December, 1951, 1962 and 1967.

The staff employed by the Commonwealth Relations Office on 1st April, 1951, totalled 1,031. Of these, 734 were established and 297 temporary. The annual rate of their salaries and wages was £636,000.Corresponding figures for 1st April. 1962, were 1,302, 990, 312 and £1,698,000 respectively.Since the formation of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service took place on 1st January, 1965, it is not possible to give exactly comparable figures for 1967. The Diplomatic Service totals, which incorporate the Foreign Office, Commonwealth Office, and the Diplomatic Service Administration Office, for that year were, however, 6,570; 5,327; 1,243 and £11,850,000.

asked the Attorney-General if he will proceed against the occupants of Rhodesia House for misprision of treason.

No evidence has been submitted to me which would justify proceedings against these persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he now proposes to publish the report prepared by Edinburgh University on the development of the Borders.

I expect that the report will be published next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Parliamentary draftsmen are employed by his Department; and what are their salary scales.

None.

asked the Lord President of the Council (1) if he will move to amend Standing Orders to allow the Lord Advocate to answer Parliamentary Questions in the House or in the Scottish Grand Committee;(2) if he will move to amend Standing Orders to allow the Lord Advocate to make Ministerial statements in the House or in the Scottish Grand Committee.

What is suggested is not merely a question of amendment to our Standing Orders, but raises the fundamental point of admitting a non-Member of Parliament to take part in our proceedings in the Chamber or to one of the Committees set up by this House.

asked the Prime Minister whether, having regard to the various official proposals made by other Governments of the European Economic Community for associate or other arrangements with the United Kingdom, he will make a further statement on the European policy of Her Majesty's Government.

As the House knows, our objective is full membership of the European Communities. It is in this light that any proposals must be examined.

asked the Prime Minister if, in view of the decision to be concerned directly in the work of the Department of Economic Affairs, he will make a further broadcast statement about the effects of devaluation on the domestic purchasing power of the £ in the light of the latest information available to him.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Bromley (Mr. Hunt) earlier this afternoon.

asked the Prime Minister (1) by what persons interested in the presentation to Her Majesty of a petition relating to the three Africans recently hanged in Rhodesia he was approached in the week ended 3rd March; and what advice he gave them;(2) at what time he was first approached in the week ended 3rd March by a person, or persons, desirous of presenting to Her Majesty a petition relating to the three Africans recently hanged in Rhodesia.

No such approaches were made to me.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will co-ordinate the activities of the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Technology in working out a scheme for the introduction of the metric system by the end of 1973.

My right hon. Friends work closely together on this matter and, as my right hon. Friend may know, my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology has set up the Standing Joint Committee on Metrication, with in- dustrial and Government membership, including the Board of Trade, to co-ordinate governmental and industrial action.

asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to coordinate research into the disposal of farm wastes, which is now the responsibility of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Scottish Office, the Department of Education and Science and the Ministry of Technology.

I am satisfied that there is already adequate provision for the co-ordination of research and experimental effort on this subject between the various organisations involved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if any veterinary officer inspected any of the lamb carcases which arrived from the Argentine on board either the "Brazil Star" or the "Paraguay Star", between their arrival here and their eventual distribution to meat retailers in various parts of the country.

None of these carcases were inspected by my veterinary officers. Inspection of meat for food is the responsibility of the Port. Health Authority at the point of importation and Local Health Authorities thereafter.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the 770 ex-Argentinian frozen lamb which arrived at Wrexham on 24th August, 1967, were from the cargo off the ship "Brazil Star" or from the ship "Paraguay Star".

These carcases which arrived at Wrexham on 25th August were from the cargo of the "Paraguay Star" which docked on 23rd August.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the code letters on the frozen lamb which formed part of the cargo of the ship "Brazil Star".

I understand that the frozen lamb which formed part of this cargo comprised carcases bearing one or other of the following shipping marks: SUBPGA, MG, ANGLO, ATLAS, IPL.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the code letters of the Argentinian frozen lamb which formed part of the cargo of the ship "Paraguay Star".

I understand that the frozen lamb which formed part of this cargo comprised carcases bearing one or other of the following shipping marks: CAP, SUBPGA, MG, IPL.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the total interest charges for farmers in the years from 1954–55 to 1964–65, both years inclusive.

Excluding interest charges for landlord-type functions, interest paid

TABLE I—IMPORTS OF FRESH AND CHILLED TROUT INTO THE U.K. FOR THE YEARS 1963–1967
Country		1963		1964		1965		1966		1967
of Origin		Quantity	Value	Quantity	Value	Quantity	Value	Quantity	Value	Quantity	Value
		Cwt.	£	Cwt.	£	Cwt.	£	Cwt.	£	Cwt.	£
Irish Republic		895	16,419	1,822	33,246	1,008	20,152	1,858	41,015	1,438	28,251
Denmark	…	13,431	230,073	13,364	234,395	14,356	230,810	13,321	230,491	15,861	272,600
Japan	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	306	6,058
Norway	…	26	691	554	4,459	851	7,108	367	4,328	348	5,884
Sweden	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	44	1,036
Others	…	12	233	10	346	36	831	11	126	3	75
TOTAL	…	14,364	247,416	15,750	272,446	16,251	258,901	15,557	275,961	18,000	313,904

NOTE: Figures are not available for imports of frozen or smoked trout, which are not distinguished from other frozen or smoked fish imports in the Customs and Excise returns.

Table II—Imports of Trout Eggs into the United Kingdom for the years 1963–1967
Country of origin			1963	1964	1965	1966	1967
Denmark	…	…	3,850,000	2,216,000	1,590,000	1,700,000	2,380,000
France	…	…	300,000	—	500,000	500,000	—
Norway	…	…	—	—	150,000	—	—
Poland	…	…	100,000	—	50,000	50,000	—
U.S.A.	…	…	2,000	—	100,000	—	—
New Zealand	…	…	—	—	—	—	50,000
Total	…	…	4,252,000	2,216,000	2,390,000	2,250,000	2,430,000

NOTE: value figures for imports are not available. At current rates there is a price range of from 15s. to £2 10s. 0d. per 1,000 eggs according to quality and country of origin.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the quantity and value of trout and trout eggs imported in each of the past five years; and if he will detail these by country of origin.

Quantities and values of imports of fresh and chilled trout and trout eggs in the last five years are given in tables I and II below. Imports of live trout are not permitted.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much frozen Chinook and Cohoe salmon has been imported in each of the past five years.

		1963		1964		1965		1966		1967
		Quantity '000	Value £000	Quantity '000	Value £000	Quantity '000	Value £000	Quantity '000	Value £000	Quantity '000	Value £000
		cwt.		cwt.		cwt.		cwt.		cwt.
Total imports		77	2,071	96	2,654	88	2,581	102	2,932	107	3,304
Canada	…	35	814	45	1,127	46	1,235	55	1,488	49	1,492
Japan	…	17	423	19	442	8	187	2	51	…	6
U.S.A.	…	12	269	21	476	18	431	36	965	50	1,456

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for their inquiry the question of the retail price of bread in Wales.

My information on the retail prices of bread in Wales does not indicate a need for a special inquiry. The average retail price of bread in Wales, including the production of both the plant and master bakers, does not differ significantly from the comparable figure for Great Britain, although in areas remote from the nearest plant bakeries, like Anglesey and the West coast counties, a small surcharge is made by the big plant bakery firms because of the long road transport hauls involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of public and private investment in Wales in 1967; and how these figures compare with the corresponding figures for 1957.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the gross national product in 1967 and in each of the preceding five years was paid to undeveloped countries; and how

Separate figures for imports of these types of Pacific salmon are not available. Total quantities and values of frozen salmon imported into the United Kingdom, and imports from the countries where most Pacific salmon originate, are as follows:much each year was spent in the United Kingdom by the recipients on armaments, and on other purposes.

Total United Kingdom official aid (both economic and military) to the developing countries represented the following percentages of net national income in the years 1962–66:

1962	0·7 per cent
1963	0·7 per cent.
1964	0·8 per cent.
1965	0·7 per cent.
1966	0·7 per cent.

The figure for 1967 is expected to be 0·6 per cent. Assistance for military purposes was of the order of 0·07 per cent. of net national income in the years in question. The major part of our aid was therefore economic assistance for civil development purposes. About two-thirds of this was spent on British goods and services, and the greater part of military aid was provided for the purchase in the United Kingdom of defence equipment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what directions he has given to the Crown Commissioners concerning the purchase of agricultural land in Kent and Sussex, the quantity of such land they should purchase, the prices they should pay, and the rents at which such land, when owned by them, should be let; and if he will make a statement.

None. In carrying out their duty to maintain the Crown Estate as an estate in land the Commissioners invest in town and country at their discretion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present total extent of the National Debt; and how this indebtedness has changed annually from 1960 to the present time.

The annual figures for the National Debt up to 31st March, 1967, are given on page 4 of the National Debt Return, 1966–67 (Cmnd. 3536). No later information is available.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the directions he has sent to regional hospital boards during the past three months proposing voluntary agencies with which they should co-operate; and whether he will list the agencies recommended.

I have issued no such directions. My Department has always strongly encouraged voluntary effort in the hospital service and will continue to do so.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospitals in each of the past three years have arranged for projects to be undertaken by voluntary agencies; what types of hospital these have been; what voluntary agencies have been involved; and how many volunteers from each it is estimated have participated.

Voluntary work for hospitals is normally arranged locally and the information requested is not available centrally. A great variety of voluntary service is given by many agencies and individuals to hospitals of all types, and hospital authorities are well aware of my strong desire for its continued expansion.

HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES—WALES
GROSS VOTE EXPENDITURE PLUS GROSS REVENUE EXPENDITURE BY LOCAL HEALTH AND WELFARE AUTHORITIES
1960–61	1961–62	1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–56	1966–67	1967–68 (latest estimate)
£46·6m.	£48·2m.	£50·8m.	£55·8m.	£61·6m.	£71·0m.	£75·8m.	£83·9m.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware of the imminent disintegration of the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board as now constituted; how long he has had warning of this; what resignations have already taken place within the last few years and on what stated grounds; and what he proposes to do to reorganise this Board and its procedures.

The answer to the first part of the hon. Member's Question is no, and the second part does not therefore arise. Each year the term of office of one-third of all Board members expires, and not all seek reappointment. The following members of the South West Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board have resigned during their period of office since April, 1965, with effect from the dates shown:

• Mrs. M. Ormerod, O.B.E., B.A., 29th January, 1966.
• Professor D. Curran, C.B.E., M.B., B.Ch., F.R.C.P., D.P.M., 31st March, 1967.
• F. C. Wilson, Esq., 7th December, 1966.
• L. Minski, Esq., M.D., F.R.C.P., D.P.M., 16th December, 1967.

The present Chairman, Lord Addison of Stallingborough, has announced his intention to resign as from 30th June, 1968, and I have appointed his successor. It is not customary to publish the reasons which Board members may give for wishing to resign.

asked the Minister of Health what amounts of money were spent on health and welfare services for which his Department is responsible in Wales in the years 1960 to 1967.

The following are the amounts:

asked the Minister of Health when the frozen lamb forming part of the cargo of the "Paraguay Star" was unloaded; and when health tests were first made on the carcases of this cargo.

The "Paraguay Star" docked on 23rd August and unloading proceeded from then onwards. Sampling began on 31st August and continued weekly until 13th September.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how many cases of food poisoning bacteria were discovered in lamb carcases imported from the Argentine during the year 1967; and when, and where, and in what circumstances they were discovered;(2) whether food poisoning bacteria were found in imported carcases of beef from the Argentine during the year 1967; how many cases were so discovered, when, and in what circumstances.

From the 18,000 tons of carcase lamb and 98,000 tons of carcase beef imported through five ports during 1967, samples were submitted for testing only by London. In 140 samples of lamb and 110 samples of beef, all submitted between July and September, six of lamb and one of beef were found to contain food poisoning bacteria.

asked the Minister of Health from which ship came the lamb offal which was found to contain the salmonella typhimurium on 25th August, 1967.

The "Brazil Star".

asked the Minister of Health when the frozen lamb which formed the cargo of the ship "Brazil Star" was unloaded in the Port of London; and when health tests were first made on the carcases.

The "Brazil Star" was unloaded between 17th and 21st July. The first samples of lamb carcases were received for testing by the Public Health Laboratory Service on 26th July.

asked the Minister of Health what report was made by the Port of London Health Authorities to the Chief Public Health Inspector of Manchester on or about 29th August, 1967, concerning the infection of lamb carcases with the code number 1408 and the code letters PTA RHT with salmonella typhimurium.

I am informed that the Chief Public Health Inspector in Manchester was given to understand that a consignment of 770 carcases of Argentine mutton ex Establishment 1408 with this code had been consigned to Manchester and was part of a shipment which had been under examination for suspect salmonella typhimurium.The code was in fact SUB PGA.RHT. The letters RHT were part of the code in the supporting documents but were not stamped on the carcases themselves.

asked the Minister of Health what was the code number and code letter borne by the batch of 770 frozen Argentinian lambs sent to Wrexham abattoir.

The codes were Establishment 1408 SUBPGA and subsidiary markings to denote the grade of meat.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he purchased newspaper space for advertising to inform purchasers of land for house-building after 23rd September, 1965, of the extent of their liability for betterment levy if they failed to start development by 6th April, 1967.

No.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will hold a public inquiry under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962 into a planning application for development of allotment and other lands at Knights Hill, West Norwood, which application has been called in for his decision.

Yes. I will arrange for the hon. Member to be informed of the detailed arrangements for the Inquiry as soon as these have been settled.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he now expects to receive the report on Greater London Council rents from the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

My right hon. Friends expect to receive the Board's report on increases in rents of local authority housing, including increases proposed by the Greater London Council, by Easter or thereabouts.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the total cost, including transport, of the 10 new bridges he is supplying to the Congo.

What is being supplied to the Congo (Kinshasa) is surplus Bailey bridging material for use in the reconstruction by the Congolese Government of ten bridges to restore communications and assist economic development in the productive Kisangani area. The estimated cost to the British Government of the materials, including transport, is £43,000, and a small sum will also be spent on technical assistance to help with the work on site.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will give details of the recommendations of the executive directors for the replenishment of the resources of the Intrnational Development Association.

Details are given in the announcement issued by the International Development Association in Washington on the 8th March, the text of which is as follows:

asked the Minister of Labour if he will intervene in the dispute between Radiocabs, Edinburgh, Limited and Radio Motor Hirer's Associations concerning increased rentals for radios and the addition of extra cabs; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.The matter had already been drawn to my attention and I have set in hand the appropriate inquiries. I will inform the hon. Member of the outcome.

asked the Minister of Labour how many people were employed by English and Welsh local authorities in June, 1960, and June, 1961.

The total numbers employed by local authorities and in police forces in England and Wales at June, 1960, and June, 1961, were 1,531,583 and 1,576,188, respectively.

asked the Minister of Power when he proposes to make an official visit to the Lancashire coalfield.

I addressed meetings in Lancashire on the Government's fuel policy on 8th March, and my Parliamentary Secretary went down Agecroft Colliery last May. I have no plans for further visits at the present time.

asked the Minister of Power what special arrangements are being made to supply electricity to the proposed radar installation at Orfordness in Suffolk; and what he anticipates the capital cost of these arrangements will be.

Under the Electricity Acts, these matters are for the Eastern Electricity Board. I am, therefore, asking the Chairman to write to the hon. Member direct.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the value and potential use of the shale oil deposits in Midlothian and West Lothian.

The workings were closed in 1962, when each ton of oil produced was costing the Exchequer £10 in subsidies. Proven deposits are not extensive and are likely to have a low oil production potential.

asked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to grant to gas boards power similar to those enjoyed by electricity boards to withhold supply to installations if certain defined safety conditions are not fulfilled.

My right hon. Friend will consider introducing legislation to this effect when there is occasion to revise the Code of Provisions relating to gas supply.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what was the authorised permanent establishment of civil servants in his Department, the number of temporary civil servants, and the total amount of salaries and wages paid for the years ended 31st December, 1951, 1962 and 1967.

The figures are as follows:

	Numbers	Salaries
		(£m.)
Ministry of Works
1951–52	16,447	9·4
	(6,989)
1962–63	10,146	11·3
	(2,286)
Ministry of Public Building and Works
1967–68	25,776	39·1
	(9,735)

NOTES:(1) The figures in column (2) show the number of non-industrial staff provided for in the Estimate, followed by a figure in brackets showing the number of temporary non-industrial staff in post on 31st December of the year in question.(2) The figure of salaries for 1967–68 is an estimate.(3) On 1st April, 1963, the works organisations of the three Service Departments were incorporated in the Ministry of Public Building and Works.

asked the Minister of Social Security what estimate she has made of the annual cost of all people with 50 per cent. or over assessment for industrial chest diseases being allowed to retire at the age of 60 years; and if she will alter the regulations to permit optional retirement at 60 years of age in such cases.

I regret that the information needed to make the estimate for which my hon. Friend is asking is not available. Under the National Insurance Scheme it would be inappropriate to provide retirement pensions on a basis not common to the general body of contributors.

asked the Minister of Social Security how many people between the ages of 60 and 65 years are in receipt of 50 per cent. or over assessment for industrial disease; how many of this total are suffering from pneumoconiosis; and how many from other chest diseases.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to persons receiving benefit in respect of diseases prescribed under the Industrial Injuries Act and to comparable cases arising from employment before July, 1948.Some 1,300 men aged 60 to 64 were receiving an industrial disablement pension under the Industrial Injuries Act at 30th September, 1966, in respect of pneumoconiosis assessed at 50 per cent. or over. It is not known how many other persons between these ages are drawing pensions at 50 per cent. or over in respect of other chest diseases under the Industrial Injuries Act.Persons whose disability resulted from employment before July, 1948, when the Industrial Injuries Act came into operation, are dealt with on a different basis, which does not require medical boards to make percentage assessments of disablement resulting from loss of faculty. It is not known how many of these people would be assessed as disabled to the extent of 50 per cent. or more.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to the petition, dated February, 1968, from the Council of the Mercantile Marine Service Association, relating to the findings of the formal investigation into the loss of the "Titanic"; and if he will make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the evidence produced by the Council of the Mercantile Marine Service Association, a copy of which is in his possession, he will order a rehearing of that part of the formal investigation into the loss of the liner "Titanic" in 1912, which found that the s.s. "Californian", commanded by the late Captain S. Lord could have gone to the "Titanic's" help and saved many lives.

The Petition submitted by the Mercantile Marine Service Association on 4th March is being studied but it may be some time before we can make a statement.

Morgan asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the fifty official forms and documents which were considered by the translation panel during 1967 have been translated into Welsh; and how many of these have been issued to the public and are shortly to be issued.

About half are already in use and the rest will be available shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is satisfied that the height of the fencing on the Heads of the Valleys road is sufficient to prevent sheep gaining access to the road.

Yes. The type and height of these fences were agreed with the farmers whose land adjoins the road. Where animals gain access to the road this is because gates have been left open or fences wantonly damaged.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has received from the Cardiff City Council for spur roads linking Cardiff with the proposed by-pass north of the city; and if he will give his approval to the scheme.

Cardiff City Council have not yet submitted their proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what decision he has now reached and what steps he will take to reduce the traffic problems and dangers, particularly at rush hours, at the junction of Mill Brook Road, Cardiff Road, and Murch Road at Dinas-Powys in the County of Glamorgan.

Glamorgan County Council are the highway authority for the roads at this junction and are responsible for initiating any improvement schemes or traffic control measures.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is his latest estimate of the economic growth achieved in Wales since November, 1965, and since August, 1967, respectively; and whether he now proposes to revise the estimates of economic growth made by his Department at the time of the publication of Wales—The Way Ahead, in July, 1967.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the estimates of employment made in the White Paper (Cmnd. 3334). Since these were made the Regional Employment Premium and other Government measures, including the creation of Special Development Areas, have been introduced and I am confident that the White Paper did not over estimate the prospects of growth.