asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the Departmental machinery for releasing men from the services, to ensure that those unsuited for the services will be released for useful work or service in other spheres; and if he will Make a statement.

We discharge any man that we consider unsuitable for the Services. If a man considers be is unsuited to the Service, he may apply for discharge by purchase, and such applications. are considered in the light of our manpower requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what general policy he has, in the light of policy changes, in operational requirement for shrinking the military activities of Defence Research Establishments such as Fighting Vehicles Research and Development Establishment, Chobham, the Royal Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine, the Admiralty Experimental Works, Haslar, the Army Personnel Research Establishment, Farnborough, the Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton, the Microbiological Establishment, Porton, the Military Engineering Establishment, Christchurch, the Naval Aircraft Materials Laboratory, Fleetlands, and the Naval Construction Establishment, Dunfermline.

The effort at these establishments will be maintained at a level communesurate with the needs of the Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what general policy he has for initiating scientific and technological projects of relevance to civil industry in Defence Research Establishments such as Admirality Underwater Weapons Establishment, Portland, Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment, Portsmouth, Royal Armament Research Development Establishment, Sevenoaks, Services Electronics Research Laboratory, Baldock, Services Electronics Research Laboratory, Harlow, Services Valve Test Laboratory, Haslemere, Admiralty Compass Observatory, Slough, Admiralty Engineering Laboratory, West Drayton, Admiralty Materials Laboratory, Holton Heath, Admiralty. Test Reactor Establishment, Dounreay, and Admiralty Research Laboratory, Teddington.

These are defence R. & D. establishments and the work on which they are engaged is addressed principally to defence ends. However, as my hon. Friend knows from the replies given to him on 4th March, considerable attention is given to potential, civil application of defence work. In addition, some establishments carry out civil work on repayment.—[Vol. 760, c. 30 and 31.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the increasing use of computers and sophisticated weapons in Her Majesty's Forces, what recent changes have been introduced in routine training methods and standards of military discipline.

Training methods are kept under continuous review to ensure that they keep pace with the progressive evolution of new weapons and equipment. However, technical proficiency is in itself not enough, and the armed Forces must at all times maintain the highest standards of military discipline.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of his officials occupied at any time in work on the payment of social benefits of any kind; and what this number represents as a percentage of the total of his officials.

The only payments made by us to individuals which might be regarded as, in some sense, social benefits are Services pensions and overseas family allowances. There are some 360 officials employed on this work and they represent roughly a quarter of one per cent. of the world-wide total of non-industrial civil servants employed by the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total expenditure on social benefits of any kind in absolute terms of money expended by his Department; and what this represents as a percentage of total expenditure of his Department.

A functional breakdown of the 1968–69 Defence Budget shows the following main components all of which are in some sense expenditure on social benefits:

	£m.	Percent, of Defence Budget
Medical and Dental Services	39·5	1·7
Education	22·1	0·9
Housing (see note)
(a) Married	53·3	2·4
(b) Single	21·5	0·9
Pensions	110·6	4·9
Meteorological Services	6·4	0·3
Welfare and Miscellaneous	4·5	0·2
	257·9	11·3

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he wile, place in the Library a complete summary of cancellation charges for defence equipment incurred since 1st January, 1967.

No. We not disclose the results of contract negotiations on individual pieces of equipment On major projects, where more than one contractor is involved, charges on cancellations since 1st January, 1967, are still being negotiated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether, in view of the disbandment of the Civil Defence Corps, he will close down the Polaris base and end the Polaris programme;(2) Whether he will put Polaris and other nuclear weapons on a cart and maintenance basis.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether all personnel selected for training for service in Polaris submarines are volunteers.

The current situation is that over 80 per cent. of all personnel in Polaris submarines are volunteers for such service. No one who specifically asked not to serve has been called upon.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the Government's research into biological warfare is concerned with methods of spreading diseases; and if he will make a statement.

No work is undertaken on the development of munitions for the spreading of diseases. The effort is limited to that necessary to enable an effective means of defence to be devised.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the estimate of exports of defence equipment by firms of £110 million in 1968–69, in Appendix H of the Defence White Paper, Command Paper No. 3540, includes the value of the exports of military equipment, to Germany expected to take place, Millet the Anglo-German offset agreement -now under negotiation.

The figure of £110 million incorporates an estimate of sales to N.A.T.O. countries in Europe, including Germany, based on current trends.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the assumptions of his defence planning regarding the grant of overflying rights by the Governments of Portugal and South Africa.

Defence planning has to be flexible in its assumptions about overflying facilities wherever these are granted. This naturally applies to the facilities granted to us by the Governments of Portugal and South Africa, as to any others.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now reconsider his decision to run-down the remaining Royal dockyards.

I see no reason to alter the views I expressed in the Defence (Navy) Estimates Debate on 11th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether war disability pensions paid to former members of the Brigade Gurkhas resident in Nepal have been increased since the devaluation of sterling.

No. Gurkha pensioners including those receiving war disability pensions, have not suffered as a result of devaluation. Their pensions are not expressed in sterling and they will receive the same number of Nepalese rupees as they did before.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to increase the naval research and development effort devoted to anti-submarine problems.

In the last three years naval expenditure on underwater R. & D. has risen by about 25 per cent. at constant prices. It is not the practice to disclose the content of future R. & D. programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress he has made with the formation of a capability in this country for the purpose of carrying (out United Kingdom obligations east of Suez after the proposed withdrawal from United Kingdom bases from there; what forces he has so far allocated to this capability; what equipment he has ordered for it; and when he expects it to be ready for use.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister explained on 16th January, our decision will entail major changes in the rôle size and shape of the forces, in the nature and scale of the equipment which they will, require, and in the supporting facilities which, are necessary. Time will be needed to work intend to present later in the year a Sup-out the precise implications, but we plementary Statement, in which we shall report progress. Forces for use overseas after 1971 will be drawn from our forces in Europe, including the United Kingdom, as is possible now.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether in view of the intensification of the fighting in Vietnam, he review at the end of 1968 the decision to withdraw British forces from Singapore and Malaya in 1971.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for St. Albans (Mr. Goodhew).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what British forces are available for the future defence and security of the Falkland Islands; and on what notice.

I have nothing to add, to my reply to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Clark Hutchison) on 18th March on this general subject.—[Vol. 761, c. 18.]

asked the Minister of Power what study he is making of the means of protection of Great Britain's super tanker route from the Middle East via The Cape and the need for the Simonstown base in this matter.

I have been asked to reply.This matter was discussed in the debate on Naval Policy on 11th March and I have nothing to add to what was said by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence for the Royal Navy.—[Vol. 760, c. 1016–1018.]

asked the Minister of Transport, whether she will take into account, in her consideration of proposals for the strengthening of the public transport system in South-East London, that there will be an extra 6,000 Associated Electrical Industries' employees travelling further to work following upon the closure of their current places of employment.

British Railways, I understand, are in contact with both the Greater London Council and Greenwich Borough Council to establish the likely effects on commuting of the proposed closure. These will as far as possible be taken into account in transport planning for the area.

asked the Minister of Transport how many car parks are at present owned and operated by the Railways Board, the London Transport Board, the Docks Board, the Waterways Board and the Transport Holding Company, respectively.

I am informed by the four Boards that each has provided car parks for people using its transport services. The number of such car parks currently owned and operated by the Boards is as folows:

• British Railways Board: 1,408 (some are operated by lessees).
• London Transport Board: 65.
• British Transport Docks Board: 13 (Including 1 under construction).
• British Waterways Board: 7.

The Transport Holding Company does not own and operate car parks and I understand that it is not the general practice of its subsidiary, companies to do so.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she has any statement to make yet on the abnormal indivisible loads charge in so far as it bears on development areas.

As I promised during the debate on the Second Reading of the Transport Bill, I did consider further the impact of this charge on development areas. But as announced yesterday by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, I have decided not to proceed with this charge.The case for the abnormal loads charge on transport grounds remains valid. This section of the road haulage industry is not meeting the true costs it imposes, and is in effect being subsidised by the community. But when the increased excise and fuel duties announced in the Budget Statement were under consideration I represented to my right hon. Friend, and he agreed, that it would not be right to go ahead with this additional charge as together they would have imposed an intolerable burden on the road haulage industry.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total amount of loans and grants, respectively, made to port authorities under Sections 11 and 12 of the Harbours Act, 1964 to the latest convenient date; and what was the amount of money raised in the market by port authorities during the same period.

As at 15th March, 1968, I had agreed to lend £28·5 million under Section 11, of which £21·3 million has actually been advanced; applications for a further £13·6 million are under consideration. In addition I have lent the British Transport Docks Board £16·15 million under Section 20 of the Transport Act, 1962.I paid no grants under Section 12 until the ports modernisation grant scheme started in July, 1967; by mid-March grants paid to port authorities, including the B.T.D.B., totalled £5 million. I expect these grants to continue at the rate of about £10 million per year.I have no detailed information about money raised cm the market, but I understand that about £32 million was raised by harbour authorities in the form of securities quoted on the London Stock Exchange between June, 1964, and December, 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport if she will list the major principal road schemes in the conurbations which have been postponed as a result of the cuts in public expenditure, and state the anticipated delay of each.

would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 17th January. No major principal road schemes in the conurbations have so far been postponed as a result of the cuts in public expenditure.—[Vol. 756, c. 558.]

asked the Minister of Transport what conclusions she has reached following the examination by engineers of the Shrewsbury North-South By-pass from Weeping Cross to Belvedere, which examination was announced on 29th July, 1960.

We concluded that such a scheme would pro ride little relief to the traffic problems of Shrewsbury and 'should not be included in the programme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) how many dogs and cats developed, while in quarantine, in 1965, 1966 and 1967 diseases not endemic in the United Kingdom; and what were the diseases;(2) how many cats and dogs died in quarantine in 1965 to 1967; and how many of these died of diseases not endemic in the United Kingdom.

215 dogs and 150 cats died in quarantine between 1965 and 1967. These deaths were all from disease endemic in Great Britain and no dogs or cats developed diseases not endemic in this country. I cannot- answer for Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many performing or other dogs have been 'allowed into Great Britain without undergoing quarantine in each of the last five years; and for how many performing or other dogs applications for special exemption from quarantine were refused in each of the last five years.

None. Performing animals are not required to be kept in the normal quarantine kennels. But when not performing we require them to be maintained in isolation which effectively quarantines them from all other susceptible animals. The specially approved quarantine place is subject to frequent inspection by our veterinary officers.

asked the Minister Agriculture, Fisheries and "Food ''how many dogs have undergone quarantine during each of the last five years to the nearest convenient date; how many developed, rabies during each year; what steps Were taken to inform the owners that their dogs had developed rabies while in quarantine; and if he will give the corresponding figures, for cats in quarantine.

During the period no dogs or cats developed rabies, but if any had the veterinary surgeon in charge would have informed the owners.The number of dogs and cats that underwent quarantine in Great Britain during the years covered by the 'question were as follows:

Year	Dogs	Cats
1963	3,037	612
1964	3,453	766
1965	3,272	708
1966	3,365	883
1967	3,647	1,108

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the coal tar disinfectants recommended by his Department for use in the foot-and-mouth epidemic, were effective against the foot-and-mouth virus; and if he will make a statement.

We do riot recommend coal tar disinfectants for use in all circumstances in outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. They are used as general purpose disinfectants. My officers used 4 per cent. sodium carbonate solution or formalin as appropriate in the disinfection of premises and equipment which have been contaminated with the virus.The whole question of disinfectants is under review and evidence on their place in outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease will be submitted to the Committee of Inquiry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much compensation had been paid to farmers who suffered in the foot-and-mouth epidemic up to and including 29th February.

Compensation paid to farmers in the recent epidemic up to and including 29th February totalled. £26,132,000. This figure includes approximately £100,000 in respect of contaminated carcases, feedingstuffs, milk, etc., seized and destroyed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, fisheries and Food if, in order to increase the safeguard against another possible outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease, and pending the report of the Northumberland Committee, he will make it a condition upon importing of beef into Great Britain from countries where footand7MoUth disease is endemic that beef carcases should be boned before shipment to great Britain.

I have nothing to add to my statement of 4th March about imports of meat.—[Vol. 760, c. 39–40.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the amount of the subsidy on beef, mutton and pork in January and February, 1967, and January and February, 1968.

Guarantee payments in respect of fat cattle, fat sheep and fat pigs certified in the United Kingdom during January and February, 1967, and January and February, 1968, were as follows:

CATTLE
	1967	1968
	£	£
January	3,017,461	206,857
February	2,877,123	488,066
		(provisional)
SHEEP
	1967	1968
	£	£
January	962,423	392,783
February	293,433	330,500
		(provisional)
PIGS
	1967	1968
	£	£
January	102,891	258,053
February	233,734	879,545
		(provisional)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent guard dogs are used at prisons; and to what extent it is his policy to increase their use.

Guard dogs are not used in Scottish prisons, and I have no immediate plans for their introduction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will hold a public inquiry on the decision to close the school at' Moray House, Edinburgh, and the fate of the children affected t hereby.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board to persons in Scotland in 1967; how much was repaid as a result of payments by offenders in the same year; and what were the comparable figures in 1966 and 1965, respectively.

Figures are not available for calendar years. From 1st August, 1964, to 31st March, 1966, £93,917 was paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in respect of injuries in Scotland; £191,338 was paid from 1st April, 1966, to 31st March, 1967, and £217,993 from 1st APril,.1967, to 29th February, 1968. There were no repayments to the Board by the recipients in respect of reparation recovered by them from offenders in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the operation of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

This experimental scheme, subject to adjustments made from time to time, appears to be working satisfactorily for the purposes it was set up to serve. It is proposed to review the whole position when sufficient experience has been gained of its operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is the number of his officials occupied at any time in work on the payment of social benefits of any kind; and what this number represents as a percentage of the total of his officials;(2) what is the total expenditure on social benefits of any kind in absolute terms of money expended by his Department; and what this represents as a percentage of total expenditure of his Department.

Expenditure Of £13·2 million in 1967–68 on grants to students represents about 42 per cent. of the Scottish Education Department Vote. The number of staff engaged in work on the payment of students' allowances is 104, representing about 16 per cent. of the staff in the Scottish Education Department.For the Scottish Home and Health Department, mental patients' allowances and assistance to disabled persons amount to £370,000 which is about 0·2 per cent. of the National Health Service (Scotland) Vote. The number of departmental staff employed on work on such payments cannot be readily ascertained but is very small.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the need for a bridge across Loch Ken for the benefit of the local communities at Mossdale and Parton, in view of the removal of existing railway viaducts; and what reply he has sent.

I have received no such representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he is satisfied that there will be sufficient places in Scottish universities in 1970 to meet the increasing need; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many qualified applicants were refused admission to a university last year;

Scottish universities will share fully in the expansion of university places provided for in the present quinquennium. Information about the total number of qualified Scottish applicants who were refused admission to a university in 1967 is not available because three of the Scottish universities are not fully participant members of the Universities Central Council on Admissions.I understand that, of the 1,151 Glasgow school-leavers with at least minimum qualifications who sought to obtain university places in 1967, 1,091 were admitted.4nd that of the remaining 60, 28 entered other full-time courses of higher education. I have no detailed information of this kind in respect of other areas, but I am satisfied that the number of well-qualified Scottish applicants who fail to obtain university places is not large.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many advance factories in Aberdeen are now in actual use; how many more he plans there; how many applications for advance factories he is now considering; and With what results.

Tenants are being sought for the two Board of Trade advance factories. No applications are under consideration from prospective tenants. As I told my hon. and learned Friend on 28th February, I propose to wait until we have tenants for these factories before deciding to build further advance factories in Aberdeen.—[Vol. 759, c. 371.]

asked. the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he proposes to take with regard to advance factories at present standing empty; and if he will make a statement.

All available Board of Trade factories suitable to their needs are brought to the attention of industrialists inquiring for space. In addition, current Press advertising features the assistance generally available in development areas and individual advance factories ready for immediate occupation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, following recent representations made to him by Barry Borough Council and by the hon. Member for Barry, what steps he will take to assist in meeting the industrial and commercial needs of Barry and adjoining parts of South-East Glamorgan.

The Board of Trade will consider sympathetically individual applications for industrial development certificates for suitable projects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the results of the Textile Council's Productivity and Efficiency Studies; and when he expects to be able to announce his decisions of future policy in relation to imports of textiles.

HOURS (AND MINUTES) FLOWN BY BOARD OF TRADE AIRCRAFT IN 12 MONTHS MARCH, 1967-FEBRUARY, 1968

Type of Aircraft

Mar., 1967

Apr., 1967

May, 1967

June, 1967

July, 1967

Aug., 1967

Sept., 1967

Oct., 1967

Nov., 1967

Dec, 1967

Jan., 1968

Feb., 1968

Total Flying Hours

DOVE

G-AJLV

35·50

45·05

41·45

36·45

40·50

Nil

5·05

58·00

36·40

31·50

44·20

51·15

427·25

G-ALFU

27·45

6·00

37·45

29·15

16·25

27·55

51·40

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

Nil

196·45

G-ALFT

Nil

Nil

2·00

0·55

56·30

64·20

36·55

22·05

36·40

26·40

41·00

55·05

342·10

G-ALVS

56·05

Withdrawn from active service

56·05

G-ANAP

16·50

70·15

51·20

74·40

46·25

35·50

67·40

44·15

82·40

67·05

106·25

90·40

754·05

G-ANOV

44·55

48·40

78·35

46·55

41·30

40·20

49·35

48·20

46·50

Nil

Nil

1·20

447·00

G-ANUU

46·25

45·15

58·25

66·05

34·40

41·00

45·20

45·30

50·20

26·50

37·30

52·40

550·00

G-ANUW

21·30

Nil

Nil

24·25

42·05

32·40

61·55

64·25

57·55

36·50

46·45

51·40

440·10

G-ANUT

45·45

50·10

59·05

63·30

66·25

43·55

48·45

42·00

36·55

36·45

51·05

44·40

589·00

PRINCE

G-AMKW

1·40

11·10

39·50

60·70

29·15

37·25

38·30

23·40

47·25

14·00

16·50

16·50

343·35

G-AMKX

63·25

57·05

37·30

Nil

Nil

80·0

23·25

28·10

10·30

17·50

41·30

46·00

333·25

G-AMKY

9·25

46·35

18·20

42·50

48·15

Nil

Nil

4·20

13·00

Nil

Nil

14·30

197·15

PRESIDENT

G-APMO

11·35

15·25

1·20

29·40

21·55

22·45

30·25

23·15

33·20

21·45

17·35

36·35

265·35

CHIPMUNK

G-ANWB

9·35

10·05

13·35

16·40

5·50

14·05

17·35

6·55

Nil

Nil

Nil

7·20

101·40

HS.125

G-ATPC

22·35

16·45

26·30

22·55

24·35

9·05

33·45

29·05

21·45

31·05

10·05

21·15

269·25

The Textile Council hopes that its final report will be available before the end of the year. I shall not take decisions on future policy in relation to imports until I have the report. It is therefore very much in the interest of all sections of the industry to co-operate in providing without delay the information needed to complete the report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what overseas flights were made by aircraft operated by his department during the 12 months to 1st March, 1968.

Fifty-three of which 24 were communication flights, 28 in respect of safety inspections of British operators, and one in connection with accident investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of hours per month flown by each of the 15 aircraft operated by his department during the 12 months to 1st March, 1968.

Yes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost to public funds of each of the aircraft operated by his Department during the 12 months to 1st March, 1968.

I regret that the cost figures up to 1st March 1968 are not yet available but I am circulating with the OFFICIAL REPORT information relating to the twelve months ending 30th September, 1967.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now state the Government's conclusions on the case for further assistance for the hotel industry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made during the course of debate in the House today. I can at this stage given the following more detailed information, but a full account of the scheme must await publication of the White Paper.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of British exports to Argentina during the last quarter of 1966 and the same period in 1967.

The information is available by reference to Table IV on page 288 of the Overseas Trade Accounts for September and December, 1967. Exports in the fourth quarter of 1967 were distorted by the dock strike.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of exports to and imports from New Zealand in the last full year before the signing of the 1966 Commonwealth Trade Agreement; and what were the corresponding figures for the 12 months following the agreement.

Information about the value of trade with New Zealand in 1966 and 1967 is given on page 280 of the Overseas Trade Accounts for December, 1967.

asked the Minister of Technology when he expects to announce the cancellation charges for the 50 F 111's, the 15 Chinooks and the 10 Buccaneers.

On completion of our negotiations with the United States Government and the firms concerned. I cannot yet estimate when this will be.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) whether he is aware that the representative of a firm of management consultants, whose name has been sent to him, under contract with Her Majesty's Government for the purpose of persuading British citizens in the United States of America to return to this country to reverse the brain drain, has caused concern amongst those interviewed because of his discourtesy and lack of preparedness, and whether he will therefore terminate the contract;(2) whether, in view o the inefficiency of the firm of management consultants, whose name has been sent to him, employed by Her Majesty's Government in the United States of America to reverse the brain drain, he will circulate the British citizens concerned directly, giving information about jobs available to them in this country;(3) how much is being paid from public funds to Mr. David Frost, who is engaged on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to visit the United States of America to seek to reverse the brain drain.

I am making inquiries into the points raised by my hon. Friend and will write to him. The firm concerned has a contract for an advance of up to £2,900 towards its attempts to recruit graduates from North American Business Schools for British companies. The contract expires in June, 1968.

asked the Minister of Technology what progress is being made in the development of a British variable geometry military aircraft.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I gave the hon. Member for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings) on 22nd January.—[Vol. 757, col. 21.]

asked the Minister of Technology what aircraft are operated by his Department.

My Department is operating 94 aircraft, mainly of military type and including prototypes of aircraft now in or about to enter service, on various aspects of research and development at its Establishments; they range in age from 1 to 24 years and in size from the Olympia Sailplane and a Chipmunk to the Nimrod Maritime Reconnaissance prototype. In addition 30 aircraft are used for ancillary work including inter-communications, air-sea rescue and support of overseas trials, and 20 aircraft are operated by the Empire Test Pilots School. 95 other aircraft owned by the Department or on loan from the Services are operated by companies employed on research and development tasks under contract to the Department.

asked the Minister of Technology if, in view of the rising demand for uranium following the world wide adoption of nuclear electricity generation, he will take steps to ascertain whether there are indigenous resources of uranium capable of econo- mic exploitation, as a means of import saving and reducing the burden of foreign exchange.

asked the Minister of Technology if, in view of the rising demand for uranium following the world wide adoption of nuclear electricity generation, he will take steps to ascertain whether there are indigenous resources of uranium capable of economic exploitation, as a means of import saving and reducing the burden of foreign exchange.

Yes. Under Section 2 of the Atomic Energy Authority Act 1954, I have already authorised the Authority to search for uranium in this country. The Authority, through the agency of the Institute of Geological Sciences, are embarking on a reconnaissance prospecting programme in selected areas in the United Kingdom: the objective is to establish whether there is evidence of the occurrence of uranium sufficient to jutisfy a subsequent more detailed investigation.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the maximum period that can elapse after a subscriber has replaced the telephone at the end of a call, if the operator has not disconnected the clock, before the clock recording the length of the call cannot automatically restart when the receiver is lifted again; and if he will modify the clock so that subscribers cannot be overcharged through a technical or human fault.

On average, operators disconnect within 10 seconds, and modifications are not, therefore, justified. I am writing to the hon. and gallant Gentleman to explain the details.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the acceptance and transmission by the Post Office of letters from Rare-craft Limited, prepaid at printed paper rate and bearing a slogan in close proximity to the postmark; whether he is aware that this contravened the regulations governing the acceptance of correspondence by the Post Office; and what action he will take.

The slogan did not contravene Post Office regulations and my right hon. Friend does not propose to take any action.

asked the Postmaster-General 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.

Information about salaries and wages is readily available only for financial years ending 31st March.The number of staff at the 31st March was:

	1951	1962	1967
Established	244,853	291,662	322,746
Temporary	75,662	74,345	84,092

Part-lime staff are counted as one-half each.Salaries and wages for the twelve months ending 31st March were:

	£ million
1950–51	114
1961–62	279
1956–67	420

Over these 16 years, the number of telephones in use has increased by 110 per cent.; local calls by 110 per cent.; trunk calls by 272 per cent.; correspondence posted by 33 per cent. Housing development, new towns, etc., add to the delivery work at the rate of 1 man per 400 houses irrespective of the growth of the number of letters to be delivered.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the high cost of establishing local radio stations to local authorities which precludes all the towns of Wales from developing local radio, whether he will consider initiating a new plan for local radio so as to enable Wales to participate in the experiment.

The capital cost for the local stations (between £30,000 and £35,000 each) is being found by the B.B.C., not by local authorities. Local authorities and other organisations are contributing to the running costs. The present eight station experiment is due to be reviewed in a year or so. New plans for local radio must await the outcome of the experiment.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate, on capital and current account, of the cost of the nationalisation proposals contained in the Transport Holding Bill, the Transport Bill, and the Industrial Expansion Bill, taken together, in the first year.

The Transport Bill and Transport Holding Company Act contain no nationalisation measures. The latter will, however, facilitate the freely negotiated acquisition of those share holdings in the B.E.T. group of bus companies not already in public ownership at a cost of about £46 million. Under the Industrial Expansion Bill, £1·1 million will be spent in 1968–69 on the acquisition of Beagle Aircraft Limited.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will state the total amount of Capital Gains Tax losses which was agreed to be outstanding on 31st December, 1967, for all taxpayers whose assessments had been completed by that date.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount received in the tax year 1966–67 in the form of interest on Schedule 12 Income Tax assessments; and what was the total cost of collecting the revenue concerned.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he intends to make a formal defence agreement with the Singapore Government.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 6th February.—[Vol. 758, c. 77.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will now make a further statement on the South-East Economic Planning Council's Report, A Strategy for the South-East, which was published last November.

I am grateful to the Council for its valuable report with many worthwhile proposals and, in particular, an impressive long-term planning strategy for the region, which provides a starting point for more detailed studies. The Government's proposals for these studies are set out in the following memorandum which has been sent to the Chairman of the South-East Economic Planning Council and to the Chairman of the Standing Conference on London and South-East Regional Planning. The Council's other proposals are still under consideration and the Government's views on them will be made known as soon as possible.

asked e Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will specify each of the areas of contact his department has with industry.

My right hon.-Friend meets leaders from both sides of industry at the monthly meetings of the National Economic Development Council and he has other frequent contacts with the C.B.I. and the T.U.C. My department is represented on each of the twenty-one Economic Development Committees for particular industries, generally by one of our full-time Industrial Advisers, who also maintain informal contacts with the different parts of industry. In dip-legions, the department is in contact with industry through the regional planning machinery. It is also in touch with the National Economic Development Office, the National Board for Prices and Incomes and the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation; and it works closely with the various production departments, particularly the Board of Traded the Ministry of Technology.

asked the Secretary Of State for Education and Science what is the percentage of immigrant schoolchildren in the local education authority areas of Devon County Council, Cornwall. County Council, Cheshire County Council, Montgomeryshire County Council, Birmingham City Council and Southampton City Council, respectively.

Below are the percentages for January, 1967:

Devon	0·1
Cornwall	0·1
Cheshire	0·3
Montgomeryshire	—(negligible)
Birmingham	8·7
Southampton	1·8

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assistance is available in the form of grants to assist amateur societies in Wales concerned with the promotion of the arts and cultural activities; and what are the criteria for making such grants.

Grants by the Welsh Arts Council are normally made to professional bodies, but it assists the North Wales Arts Association which in turn assists amateur societies in the six counties concerned. Local authorities also have discretionary powers to do this. The grant-giving bodies decide the criteria.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the dangers of the extinction of certain animal species resulting from the commercial killing and importation of leopard and other animal skins and the sale of the wool of vicuna and other species, he will propose international action to avert this.

The main responsibility for initiating international action lies with the countries where the endangered species originate. We have, however, an interest in the conservation of wild species which are under pressure or endangered and this we exercise through the Animals (Restriction of Importation) Act 1964 which relates to live animals only and through participation in such organisations as the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (I.U.C.N.), to which Her Majesty's Government subscribes through the Natural Environment Research Council. Her Majesty's Government would always be prepared to consider proposals for participation in international action in the light of the evidence presented and any other circumstances of the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs to what extent his Department assisted in arranging for or recommending British subjects to go to the United States of America to observe the Presidential Primary Elections; and who visited the United States of America under these arrangements.

The Foreign Office has made no such arrangements or recommendations.

asked the Minister of Health what has been the annual capital expenditure in each- local authority area in Wales in the years from 1962 to 1967 on hospital building, old people's homes, health centres and training centres for the mentally subnormal, respectively.

Statistics of hospital capital expenditure are not maintained by local authority areas. I am sending my hon. Friend the necessarily extensive tables showing the amounts of the loan consents for each local authority.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what is the number of his officials occupied at any time in work on the payment of social benefits of any kind; and what this number represents as a percentage of the total of his officials;(2) what is the total expenditure on social benefits of any kind in absolute terms of money expended by his Department: and what this represents as a percentage of total expenditure of his Department.

The payment of social benefits is not a main function of my Department. Estimated expenditure in 1967–68 on allowances to patients in hospital and payments by way of assistance to disabled persons together amounted to £3·9 million. This represented about 0·3 per cent. of the gross estimated expenditure on my Votes. The number of staff engaged on such payments cannot be readily assessed, but would be small.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what has been the cost to the National Health Service of free medical and/or hospital treatment for foreign visitors in each of the years from 1962 to 1967;(2) how many foreign visitors have received free medical and/or hospital treatment in Great Britain in each of the years from 1962 to 1967.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of fatalities in each of the last 10 years arising out of the administration of anaesthetics in dentistry; and in how many of these fatalities was there only One person present.

The numbers of deaths in association with which anaesthesia used in connection with dental operations was reported were as follows:

1957	11
1958	10
1959	11
1960	9
1961	6
1962	4
1963	11
1964	6
1965	4
1966	6
	78

I regret that information about the number of these cases in which only one person was present is not available.

asked the Minister of Health with which countries have reciprocal medical and/or hospital treatment been arranged for British visitors; and what is the extent of the services provided.

We have reciprocal arrangements with Denmark, New Zealand, Norway, Sweden and Yugoslavia for the use of their health services, including hospital treatment, by British people generally, including short-term visitors; similar agreements with Poland and Bulgaria have recently been signed but have not yet been implemented. There are reciprocal arrangements of a more limited kind, applying to British residents abroad, with many other countries.

asked the Minister of Health what plans he has to provide a minor casualty department convenient for people living in and to the east of Christchurch.

The area is already served by the accident and emergency department at the Royal Victoria Hospital, Boscombe, 3½ miles from Christchurch. There is another to the east at Lymington Hospital.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average, pay for male nurses with and' Without overtime.

The salaries of qualified male nurses vary from £595 to £2,235 a year according to grade and length of service. An average figure is Apt available: Qualified nurses are. not eligible for overtime payments.

asked-the Minister of Health whether he will make a statement on the causes of the fire at Shelton Hospital, Shrewsbury.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him yesterday.—[Vol. 761, c. 216–7.]

asked the Minister of) Health what progress is being made on the present stage of construction of the new Nevill Hall Hospital at Abergavenny; and when he expects the second stage to begin.

The first stage is due for completion this autumn. The start of the second stage is shown in the Hospital Building Programme (Cmnd. 3000) as due in the period following 196970 and planning is proceeding on this basis.

asked the Minister of Health what is the total number of persons in Wales who are now waiting for admission to hospital; and how this figure compares with the figure for 1957.

27,565 on 30th September, 1967; 29,644 on 31st December, 1957.

asked the Minister of Health what is the average waiting period for patients in Wales for admission to hospital; and what was the average waiting period in 1957.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Minister of Health, in view of the inconvenience caused to relatives travelling long distances to visit patients, if he will give an assurance that no cottage hospital in Wales will be closed in the foreseeable future.

The full benefits of modern medicine can best be given in larger hospitals providing effective facilities for a wide range of treatment, and the pattern of hospital service for the future will require many fewer hospitals than at present. But no hospital will be dosed without my approval, and I shall satisfy myself in each Lease, that other facilities are available, aid that the closure serves the best interests of the people as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many preventive detainees have been interviewed by the, Parole Board; and how many of these are at present at Blundeston;(2) how many preventive detainees at present at Blundeston have been recommended for parole by the local review committee; and how many will be paroled.

I must regard the advice given to me by local review committees about particular prisoners or groups of prisoners as confidential. All cases of preventive detainees are being considered on their individual merits, and some cases are at present under consideration. I shall write to my hon. Friend in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present average time spent awaiting trial at the' Old Bailey compared With recent previous years; and what is the longest time a person who was subsequently acquitted spent in custody awaiting trial in recent years.

The latest available figures are for the first six months of 1967, when the average was 94 days, compared with 63 days in 1966 and 42 days in 1965. The longest time that a person who was subsequently acquited spent in custody awaiting trial at the Central Criminal Court in recent years was seven months, but that was a case in which the accused was already serving a sentence of Borstal training passed by another court.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were on remand in custody in the Metropolitan area on 1st March, 1968; and how many of these had been in custody for one month or more.

1,307, on 29th February. Of these 582 had been convicted and were awaiting sentence. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many visits to gaming clubs were authorised for those officials of his Department responsible for the preparation of the Gaming Bill; and how many clubs were visited.

For background to information obtained from the police and other sources, six clubs of different kinds have been; visited (some more than once) by the different officials concerned.

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

I do not think that legislation in-this field would be apropriate, or that it would effectively deal with the difficulties which my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of state for the Home Department (1) what is the number of his officials occupied at any time in work on the payment of social benefits of any kind; and what this number represents as a percentage of the; total of his officials;(2) what is the total expenditure on social benefits of any kind in absolute terms of money expended by his Department; and what this represents as a percentage of total expenditure of his Department.

The Home Office is not directly concerned in the payment of social benefits.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what effects the changes in the Government's housing policy announced in Command Paper No. 3515 will have on the future house building programme in Southampton.

None. Southampton is a priority authority. As far as the Government are concerned there will be no reductions in programmes where the need is greatest and where the programmes to meet that need can be realistically fulfilled. Last December Southampton reduced their programme for 1968, but my right hon. Friend is prepared to allow them to maintain a maximum house-building programme to give priority to slum clearance and to meet shortages of rented accommodation. The decision rests with the Council.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the number of his officials occupied at any time in work on the payment of social benefits of any kind; and what this number represents as a percentage of the total of his officials.

During 1967 an average of 10,420 staff of my Department were occupied on work connected with the payment of unemployment benefit and supplementary allowances. This number represented 37·2 per cent. of the total staff.

asked the Minister of Labour what is the total expenditure on social benefits of any kind in absolute terms of money expended by his Department; and what this represents as a percentage of total expenditure of his Department.

Many of the activities of my Department are of social significance to a greater or lesser degree. The precise degree is in each case a matter of opinion. The only payments solely related to social benefit are those made on behalf of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Social Security.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will state the percentage of men who were employed in service industries in Wales who were redeployed into manufacturing industries in 1966–67 as a result of the Selective Employment Tax.

Between June, 1966, and June, 1967, the industrial classifications of many establishments were altered. Estimates have been made of the total numbers of employees involved in these reclassifications but separate figures for males and females are not available.After allowing for the effect of reclassification it is estimated that between June, 1966, and June, 1967, the numbers of employees in employment in Wales in manufacturing industries (Orders III to XVI of the Standard Industrial Classification) and service industries (Orders XIX to XXIV) both decreased by a little under 3 per cent. These estimates show changes in the level of employment. Information about flows between industries is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour how many registered disabled men reside in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area; and what percentage of the labour force of the Merseyside and North Wales Electricity Board and the Central Electricity Generating Board employees in the area are registered disabled workers.

In the area of the Blaenau Ffestiniog Employment Exchange (including the sub-office areas of Bar-mouth and Harlech) there were on the latest available information 260 men registered as disabled. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development why he has refused to designate Mr. G. B. Sayle under the overseas aid scheme.

An important requirement for designation under the Scheme is normal residence in this country. I have not been able to regard Mr. Sayle as meeting this requirement.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give details of the inquiry which he is conducting into the electricity supply industry; and when he will publish the report.

I am examining, in consultation with the industry, whether any changes in the organisation and structure of the electricity supply industry need to be made. If I conclude that changes requiring legislation are necessary, proposals will be laid before Parliament in due course.

asked the Minister of Power if he has yet appointed a tip safety committee, as recommended by the Aberfan Tribunal.

Yes. I have appointed Mr. F. R. Bullen, B.Sc., M.I.C.E., P. P. I. Struct. E., of F. R. Bullen and Partners, Consulting Engineers, to be Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Tip Safety, and the following to be members:Colonel Walter Brundan, O.B.E., D.L., M. Eng., C.Eng., M.I.C.E., M. I. Mun. E., M. I. Hy. E., County Engineer and Surveyor to the Pembrokeshire County Council;Mr. M. W. Leonard, B.Sc., M.I.C.E., Managing Director of Soil Mechanics Limited;Mr. N. Siddall, B.Eng., C.Eng., M.I.Min.E., Director-General of Production at the National Coal Board;Professor H. B. Sutherland, S.M., M.I.C.E., M.I.Struct.E., F.R.S.E., Cormack Professor of Civil Engineering at Glasgow University.The Secretary is Mr. D. W. Hills, Safety and Health Division, Ministry of Power.The terms of reference of the Committee are "to advise the Minister of Power on matters concerning the stability of tips of refuse from mines and quarries, and such other related questions as may be referred to it."