asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement about the recent talks on development aid to Mauritius.

In the talks which have just ended, I informed the delegation from Mauritius led by the Prime Minister, Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam, that subject to Parliamentary approval financial aid could be made available in the Mauritius financial year 1968–69 at a level of £3 million. This will consist of £2½ million in development loans and grants and £500,000 Kennedy Round Food Aid, subject to ratification of the Rome Food Aid Convention, the proceeds of which would be devoted to development.Financial aid commitments, including budgetary support, for the current Mauritius financial year will, of course, be maintained. Recourse will be had to the Civil Contingencies Fund and disbursements will be charged in due course to the Overseas Aid (Bilateral) Vote. This is additional to the continuation of British technical assistance to Mauritius which is expected to amount to £200,000 in 1968–69.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will publish the Causse Report on the future options open to member countries of the European Space Research Organisation, the European Launcher Development Organisation and the European Conference on Satellite Communications in whole or in part.

It has already been published and is available to those who wish to read it. Copies have also been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Technology if he is aware that the estimated flight programme for the Con corde will cause hourly bangs in Wales and the South-West when it is flying from Heathrow to the United States of America; and if he will prohibit such flights.

The frequency of sonic bangs in any particular area will depend on the routes adopted for flights by S.S.T.s. No decision has yet been made either on these routes, or upon the question of policy on sonic bangs over land.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to ensure that the lessons learned at Fairfields shipyard will be applied in the Upper Clyde merger.

I have kept in close touch with the new management of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Ltd., and they have assured me that they intend to apply the best proven practices and to draw fully on the lessons learned at Fairfield (Glasgow) Ltd.

asked the Minister of Power if he will specify each of the areas of contact his Department has with industry.

My general duty to secure the effective and co-ordinated development of fuel and power supplies in Great Britain and to promote economy and efficiency in their distribution and consumption, brings the Ministry into contact with industry over a wide field. In addition, I have specific statutory responsibilities towards the nationalised fuel industries and the iron and steel industry, and regulatory functions in relation to the construction and operation of privately owned pipelines, the exploration for and production of oil and natural gas in Great Britain and on the United Kingdom part of the Continental Shelf, the safety of certain nuclear installations and the safety and health of workers in coal mines, metalliferous mines and quarries.

asked the Minister of Power what proportion of the average delivered cost to the consumer of North Sea gas will be represented by the onshore price received by the producing companies.

Both the on-shore price of gas and the average delivered cost of gas to the consumer will depend among other things upon the total volume of consumption and the overall load characteristics at any particular future period. No useful forecasts can be made at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what study he has made of the paper published by the Welsh Council of the Confederation of British Industry on economic planning in Wales, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

I am studying the paper and hope to meet representatives of the Welsh Council of the Confederation of British Industries in the near future for discussions on it.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what steps he is taking to ensure that reasonable parking privileges are accorded to disabled drivers in the Royal Parks.

On application, special privileges may already be allowed to disabled drivers using mechanically propelled invalid carriages.

asked the Minister of Health why the average weekly cost of food is substantially less for patients in psy- chiatric hospitals than for patients in general hospitals.

A variety of factors lead to these differences in cost, among them are:

(1) the larger quantities of certain foods, notably milk, required for physically ill patients;

(2) the effect of special diets in general hospitals which, even if individually they are not more expensive than standard diets, increase the variety of foodstuffs required;

(3) the larger scope for bulk buying in some psychiatric hospitals.

Nonetheless, I believe there is room for improvement and I have asked hospital boards to keep under review food standards in their mental illness hospitals.

asked the Minister of Health what was the total amount paid by the regional hospital boards in Selective Employment Tax last year; what time elapsed between the payment of tax by his Department and its reimbursement; what loss of interest occurred if this was reimbursed; and if he will make a statement.

The total amount was £10·9 million in 1966–67, and an estimated £20·7 million in 1967–68, the first full year of operation. The weekly advances made to regional hospital boards from the Exchequer take account of the Selective Employment Tax payable in respect of staff, and no question of delay in reimbursement to my Department or to hospitals therefore arises.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to discourage local authorities from reorganising their health and welfare departments before the publication of the Seebohm Committee Report.

I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 5 of the joint circular of 31st October, 1966, of which I am sending him a copy.

asked the Minister of Labour when the projected Government training centre for South-East London will be able to receive its first batch of trainees.

About the end of 1970.

asked the Minister of Labour (1) why he has refused to alter the date of the withdrawal of unemployment benefit for seafarers under training, until the full details of alternative forms of assistance have been decided by Her Majesty's Government and discussed by both sides of the shipping industry, in view of the representations made to him by the British Shipping Federation and the National Maritime Board;(2) what is the reason for the delay in reply to representations made to him by the British Shipping Federation on 11th July, 10th August, 7th September, 13th September 1967, 3rd January and 26th January 1968, requesting a postponement of the cancellation of unemployment benefit to seafarers on 11th April, 1968;(3) why he has ignored the recommendations of the Pearson Report in February, 1967 that the Government Departments concerned should examine, as soon as possible, the case for a continuation of unemployment benefit to seafarers under training;(4) whether he will now defer the date on which unemployment benefit is to be withdrawn from seafarers under training;(5) whether he will now undertake an investigation of the representations which have been made to him by the British Shipping Federation and the National Maritime Board on the introduction of adequate alternative arrangements for the support of seafarers under training before the present assistance is withdrawn.

After consultation with the National Maritime Board, and on the recommendation of the National Insur ance Advisory Committee, regulations were laid in April, 1967 to bring to an end on 13th April, 1968 the special payments of unemployment benefit to seafarers under training. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of Social Security and I have made clear that there can be no question of changing the prescribed date for the withdrawal of this concession.I have also told representatives of the industry that the Government do not consider that special assistance towards the current costs of training would be justified, though I am ready to consider helping for a limited period with the costs of new and improved training courses. This means that the responsibility for making alternative arrangements for the remuneration of seafarers under training after 13th April rests with the industry.In reaching this decision, my colleagues and I had full regard to the recommendations of the Pearson Committee, and to the representations made by the British Shipping Federation and the National Maritime Board. This inevitably took some time, and I informed the British Shipping Federation of the Government's decision as soon as it was reached.

asked the Minister of Labour, if the current claim for additional wages and extra holiday tabled by pottery workers is consistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy as recently amplified.

The National Joint Council for the Pottery Industry will be expected to keep the requirements of the Government's prices and incomes policy in mind during their negotiations. I will consider the outcome when it is reached.

asked the Minister of Labour, if he will provide a break-down of the total figure of unemployed building workers in Scotland, showing how many are skilled and unskilled; and how many are employed in construction of roads, factories and other industrial buildings.

At 12th February, 1968, there were 16,360 persons registered as unemployed in Scotland who last worked in the Construction industry (Minimum List Heading 500 of the Standard Industrial Classification). Of the 15,720 wholly unemployed men included in the total, 2,400 were craftsmen and 13,320 were in other occupations. The figures for craftsmen include slaters and tilers, carpenters and joiners, bricklayers, plasterers, painters and decorators, masons, plumbers, glaziers, electricians, floor and wall tilers and heating and domestic engineers.Information about the numbers employed on the construction of roads, factories and other industrial buildings is not available.

asked the Minister of Labour, how many applicants from Wales are now waiting for entry into a Government training centre; what is the length of waiting time; and for which trades are the waitirg periods longest.

On 11th March, 1968, 224 accepted applicants in Wales were awaiting allocation to training. Waiting time varies from trade to trade and between the Cardiff and Llanelli Centres. Early allocation can be offered for many engineering trades; for the remaining trades, waiting times range from five weeks to over six months. Waiting time is longest for electric welding.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which site for an aluminium smelter Alcan (United Kingdom) Limited has indicated to the Government it favours of the alternatives available; and whether this choice has been altered by Alcan.

Alcan (United Kingdom) Limited have indicated a preference for Invergordon as a site for an aluminium smelter, but the company has said it is prepared to build its smelter elsewhere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refrain from making a final decision on aluminium smelting until the matter has been debated in Parliament.

I must ask the hon. Lady to await the statement which has been promised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what Government grants have been made available to the Furnace shipbuilding yard for its modernisation and re-equipment since 1960.

It is not our practice to disclose details of grants made to particular applicants under the Local Employment Acts or the Industrial Development Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he obtained as to the extra profits expected before approving the increase of 20 per cent. in the price of some national newspapers, and as to the extent to which this was affected by devaluation.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to The Sunday Times and The Guardian. The proprietors of each of these newspapers notified us under the "early warning" arrangements of their proposed price increases and, after considering their cases, we informed the proprietors that we would not wish to raise objection. The information submitted in support of these cases is confidential.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made to him by British European Airways and for the British Overseas Airways Corporation in regard to the recent increases imposed by the British Airports Authority on landing charges at Heathrow Airport; and what reply he has sent.

I have received representations from the Chairmen of both Corporations and have replied that the increases have been introduced to prevent losses in foreign currency which would otherwise have occurred following devaluation; that the amount of the increases does not seem out of line with this objective and that, because of our international oblgiations, the increases must apply to British and foreign airlines alike when operating international services.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to prevent the sonic bangs over Great Britain that will be experienced from aircraft flying to European destinations.

I am considering what restrictions, if any, should be placed on flights by supersonic civil aircraft over the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that some members of local authorities travelling on council business, particularly to London, and having to stay away from home overnight are finding it a hardship to pay their expenses from the present subsistence payments allowed under the Local Government Act, 1948, Allowances to Members Regulations, 1965; and if he will consider amending the regulations to remove this hardship.

No general representations have been made to my right hon. Friend for the revision of the current rates.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, how many persons in the London Borough of Greenwich have benefited by the rate rebate scheme since its inception to the latest available date.

In 1966–67, 3,906 Greenwich ratepayers were granted rebates in the first half year and 3,930 in the second. The average rebate for the year was £17 14s.Figures for all areas in 1967–68 are being collected and will be published as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if he will detail the amounts granted from public funds to the London Borough of Greenwich for each financial year since the creation of the Greater London boroughs.

The information is as follows:

	1965–66	1966–67
	£	£
Capital Grants:
Highways	70,787	65,328
Specific Revenue Grants:
Clean Air	32,890	43,642
Care of the Aged, etc.	5,222	5,031
Protection of Children	8,656	8,481
Improvement Grants	26,741	30,030
Civil Defence	26,910	27,066
Miscellaneous	28	5,314
Housing Subsidies and other Housing	373,157	445,861
General Grant	3,296,616	3,566,669
Rating (Interim Relief) Act (Sections 1 and 5)	29,218	31,405
Rating Act 1966:
Rate Rebates	—	50,625
Totals	3,870,225	4,279,452

Source: Epitome of Accounts and Department Records.The figures shown for general grants are the amounts estimated to be payable after taking account of the Inner London Rate Equalisation Scheme. Complete figures for 1967–68 are not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what findings from research into the "Torrey Canyon" disaster can be used to prevent or minimise any future repetition; and what preparations he has made to safeguard against the consequences of any recurrence.

Research is being undertaken under the direction of several of my right hon. Friends into a number of matters including methods of firing oil in stranded tankers and on the sea, the effect of natural factors on the movement, dispersal and destruction of oil at sea, the use of substances for sinking, scavenging and gelling oil, and the development of more effective but less toxic detergents. We hope that findings in all these fields will eventually help to prevent or minimise pollution.I have been discussing with the local authority associations ways of improving the local organisation to deal with oil pollution. On steps being taken internationally, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Board of Trade, to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on the 19th March.—[Vol. 761, c.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has now received the Report of the Gosling Committee; and when he expects the report to be made public.

My right hon. Friend received the Report of the Footpaths Committee from Sir Arthur Gosling on Tuesday, 26th March. He has arranged for it to be published on Thursday, 4th April. Advance copies will be available in the Vote Office on Monday, 1st April.

asked the Minister of Transport how many applications she has received and authorised for the installation of dual quadrant bulk unloading systems, details of which have been sent to her.

None in respect of this type of loader, though the principle appears to be similar to that of the radial arm coal appliances in use at Immingham since 1960.

asked the Minister of Transport how many applications she has received and authorised for the installation of large diameter storage silos with a capacity in excess of 40,000 tons, details of which have been sent to her.

None of this type, though silos with a total capacity of over 40,000 tons have been authorised as part of the Tilbury grain terminal (105,000 tons), are in use at Glasgow Meadowside (an 80,000 ton extension was opened in May, 1967), and are included in the proposals for the Seaforth grain terminal (50,000 tons) and Fowey china clay export development.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations she has received against the Transport Bill from drivers in the road haulage industry; and what reply she has sent.

Drivers have written about the proposed changes in carriers licensing and the reductions in drivers' hours. We have explained in reply how the new measure will improve road safety and give the country a better service from all forms of transport, without putting drivers' jobs or earnings at risk.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply she proposes to make to communications she has received regarding the extra transport costs estimated to be incurred by the Fort William paper mill, the seaweed factory at Balcardine and the Sutherland Trading Company, as a result of the provisions of the Transport Bill.

We have received a copy of the statement prepared by Wiggins Teape Pulp and Paper Mill at Fort William asking for exemptions for certain kinds of traffic from some of the provisions in the Transport Bill dealing with quantity licensing and drivers' hours. I will send the hon. Member a copy of our reply. We have no record of any correspondence with the seaweed factory at Balcardine or the Sutherland Trading Co.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply she has sent to the communication she has received from the Multiple Shops Federation on the rise of 3d. in the £ sterling on prices, as a result of the road transport sections of the Transport Bill.

We received this letter on 25th March. I will send the hon. Member a copy of our reply in which we shall point out that neither the new carriers licensing proposals nor the reductions in drivers' hours need add substantially to the costs of distribution

asked the Minister of Transport what was the estimated cost to British Railways of fare evasion during the year 1967.

British Railways do not consider that it would be possible to arrive at a meaningful estimate of total fare evasion.

asked the Minister of Transport how many people were prosecuted for fare avoidance on British Railways in, the Romford Magistrates' Court during September, 1967; and how many were found guilty.

It is settled policy that statistical information relating to nationalised industries should not usually be provided in Answers to Questions except on a basis relating to Great Britain or the United Kingdom as a whole.I am sure the Railways Board would supply whatever information they have if my hon. Friend cared to approach them direct.

asked the Minister of Transport how much her Department has so far paid the Post Office for moving cables in the way of trunk road improvements, in the latest convenient year; and how much the Post Office has claimed for this work.

The Department bears the full cost of alterations to Post Office cables made necessary by trunk road improvements, after taking into account any betterment, the value of old materials, and financial benefit to the Post Office from the premature renewal of the cables. I regret, however, that the figures requested are not readily available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether she is aware of the thousands of persons evading the payment of their road fund licences; and, as this evasion is now likely to increase, whether she will consider taking steps to provide for an automatic fine and licence repayment of arrears stick-on slip to be issued to wardens and police on a similar basis to the automatic parking fine for parking in restricted areas.

Automatic fines would be neither appropriate nor have any more effect in deterring persistent offenders than the present system of enforcement, the deterrent value of which was increased by provisions in the Finance Bill, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many recognised teachers and demonstrators of dental operator-anaesthetist techniques there are in Scottish dental schools, whether whole, or part-time; and how the present figure compares with those of 1961 and 1959.

I regret that this information is not available in my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the discussions held on Monday, 25th March by his Department with representatives of the Scottish Union of Students on the report on recommended increases in students' grants by the Advisory Panel on grants.

I hope to make an interim statement about student grants next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total value of major school building projects started by the Inner London Education Authority since 1st April, 1967; and how this figure compares with the Authority's original approved programme for the year 1967–68.

About£4·25 million and£3·60 million respectively. The first figure includes a number of projects left over from the 1966–67 and earlier approved programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultation he is having with the National Committee for Commonwealth Immigrants about the appointment of a new Information Officer.

The appointment of staff to posts within its approved complement is solely the responsibility of the Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been received by his Department from the Association of Child Care Officers concerning the proposals for reorganising the social services in London boroughs made by the London Boroughs Management Service Unit: and what reply has been given.

I have received a letter from the Association requesting me to advise authorities to await the outcome of the Seebohm Committee's review before considering proposals which the Association believe the London Borough's Management Services Unit to be preparing in regard to the organisation of the children's and other services in certain London boroughs. In reply I have drawn the Association's attention to my reply yesterday to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. Moonman).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been received from holders of British passports resident in Kenya for permission to enter Great Britain since the passing of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act. 1968; how many applications have been granted; how many refused; and how many appeals have been heard under the procedure he established at that time.

As regards the number of applications for vouchers from the special allocation, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave yesterday to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Kelvin-grove (Dr. Miller) and others.—[Vol. 761, c. 1697–8.]In addition, 700 applications for entry certificates as dependants, visitors, students, etc., have been made in Nairobi. Of these, 320 have so far been granted and 60 refused. There have been 14 appeals against refusal of entry certificates, of which seven have been allowed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that thousands of vehicles are on the roads in London and other cities without road fund licences or insurance; and if he will seek to enable the Metropolitan Police to tow off to the pound such vehicles and only release them on payment of a fee and fine and on production of documents to show that the vehicle is using the roads in accordance with the law.

My hon. Friend's assertion may be right; but I do not think that the remedy he suggests is appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to carry out his predecessor's undertaking that Mr. Ivor Cook will not be prejudiced regarding his employment or housing as a result of his giving evidence to the Home Office and to the inquiry into Court Lees School.

I am writing to my hon. Friend about this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it is necessary to have two sections on the form under which the applicant for a shotgun certificate has to put in his full name and title.

The name of the applicant is required on the top part of the form to facilitate the introduction of computer working in the police forces that have access to computer facilities, and on the lower part to help other forces to maintain a manual filing system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, whether he will seek to amend the law to provide that when police act upon a search warrant they will always be accompanied by a witness, unconnected with the police force carrying out the search, selected from the local jurors list.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the cost in foreign exchange of Her Majesty's Delegation to the United Nations in 1967; and what was the total number or United Kingdom-based personnel employed thereon at the latest available date.

It is not possible to isolate the cost of the United Kingdom Mission to the United Nations since the Mission is administratively responsible for all Diplomatic Service staff in New York, including the Consulate-General and British Information Services. The approximate total net cost in foreign ex-

			Chancery	Commercial	Information	Consular	Administration	Civilian Attaches sponsored by other Departments
Counsellor	…	…	8	1	1	1*	None*	15†
First Secretary		…	9	2	2	1	1	2‡

NOTES:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the cost in foreign exchange of Her Majesty's Embassy, Washington, in 1967; and what

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what was the total number of United Kingdom-based Foreign Office employees employed in a representational capacity overseas on 20th July, 1966; and what was the corresponding number at the latest available date.

Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office staff abroad were amalgamated on 1st January, 1965 to form the Diplomatic Service. The total number of representational staff abroad was 988 on 1st August, 1966, and 973 on 1st March, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs how many persons are currently employed in the ranks of Counsellor and First Secretary, respectively, in Her Majesty's Embassy, Washington; and if he will specify in each case the nature of their responsibilities.

There are 26 Counsellors and 17 First Secretaries. The following is a note of their duties.was the total number of United Kingdom-based personnel employed therein at the latest available date.

The approximate net cost in Foreign Exchange of Diplomatic Service Vote Expenditure incurred at Her Majesty's Embassy in Washington in 1967 was—1,150,000. The present United Kingdom-based staff of 123 consist of 98 Diplomatic Service officers and 25 Civilian Attaches. These totals do not include the British Defence Staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what were the total sums granted annually by Her Majesty's Government to the British Council and other similar bodies specifically for the purpose of encouraging the exchange of youth between Great Britain and Europe, in the years 1963 to 1967, inclusive.

The sums granted to the British Council during the period 1953 to 1967 for encouragement of youth exchanges between Great Britain and European countries were:

	£
1963–64	28,500
1964–65	41,000
1965–66	62,000
1966–67	70,000
1967–68	76,000

A very substantial flow of youth exchange visits is also maintained by Local Government Authorities, Local Education Authorities and non-governmental bodies all over the country, but I am not in a position to give details of the expenditure involved.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, before framing the Finance Bill to give legislative effect to his Budget proposals he will consult with the Greater London Council and other road fund licensing authorities to ascertain from them ways and means of ensuring that in future all road users are compelled to pay the road fund licence proposed in the Budget.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport is in regular contact with the Greater London Council and other licensing authorities. As my hon. Friend is aware, the possibility of taking further powers to assist enforcement is under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will bring up to date the figure of£285,000 which at 31st October, 1967, represented sales of gold coins under Statutory Instrument 1966 No. 438 to the five members of the London gold market.

:£287,520 on 14th March, 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will examine whether a method of direct fiscal encouragement can be given to firms which agree to follow the example set by an Aylesbury firm, whose name has been sent to him, in guaranteeing to deliver free of charge goods which are not delivered on the agreed contractual date.

No. Commendable though this example is, I do not think that any means of fiscal encouragement would be practicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what additional staff he proposes to recruit to supervise the assessment and collection of the investment income levy.

Probably between 200 and 250 for a limited period but it is too early to be more precise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what was the amount of United Kingdom short-term sterling liabilities on 18th November, 1967 and 21st March, 1968;(2) what was the additional cost in foreign currency of the increase in Bank Rate from 6½ per cent. to 8 per cent. in the period from 18th November, 1967 to 21st March, 1968 in respect of United Kingdom short-term sterling liabilities.

It is estimated that a 1½ per cent. increase in Bank Rate may entail a net interest cost to the balance of payments of around£25 million a year. But it is impossible to make a close estimate for a short period such as that mentioned in the hon. Member's Question, because a large part of our sterling liabilities consists of money invested here for different and varying terms at a variety of market rates.Figures of sterling liabilities are published only quarterly, about two months after the end of the quarter. Detailed figures for end-September and end-December 1967 are published in Financial Statistics (Table 82 of the March edition); summary figures for end-March 1968 will be published in Economic Trends for May, with the usual further detail in the June edition of Financial Statistics. The figures are, of course, affected by many factors, besides changes in United Kingdom interest rates.

Lender								Amount outstanding at 29th March, 1968	Repayment due
								(£ million)
Portugal	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	28	1955–1973
United States Line of Credit		…	…	…	…	…	…	1,262	1951–2004
United States Lend-Lease	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	197	1951–2004
Canadian Credit	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	369	1951–2004
United States Economic Co-operation Administration					…	…	…	113	1956–1983
United States Mutual Security Agency			…	…	…	…	…	18	1960–1987
Germany	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	34	1959–1971
United States Export-Import Bank, Line of Credit (Military Aircraft Loans)								168	1966–1975
Swiss bank consortium	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	43	1968
Bank for International Settlements			…	…	…	…	…	104	1968–1969
International Monetary Fund (May, 1965)				…	…	…	…	583	1968–1970
Parallel Swiss Loan	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	17	1968–1970
International Monetary Fund (March, 1966)				…	…	…	…	51	1969–1971

It is not customary to disclose details of short-term financial transactions between Central Banks.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what intravenous anaesthetics other than methohexitone, are recognised by the Scottish Home and Health Department as being suitable for dental anaesthesia.

The type of anaesthetic used is primarily a matter for the judgment

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the percentage of industrial investment carried out during 1967–68 by the private and the public sector of industry, respectively.

I regret that this information is not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list in sterling the debts due to other countries and international agencies, including the dates when repayment is due, dollar exchange rates being calculated where appropriate at $2·40 to the—sterling.

The following information relates to loans to H.M. Government and to drawings on the International Monetary Fund.of the anaesthetist; accordingly, my Department does not maintain a list of recognised anaesthetics.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dental patients received anaesthetics using the intravenous route by dentists as operator-anaesthetist and by doctors, in hospitals, in general dental practice and through local authority services, respectively, in each of the years 1961 to 1967.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many deaths associated with dental anaesthesia occurred in general dental practices in the local authority services, and in hospitals, in each of the years 1961 to 1967, by age group and anaesthetic agents used; and in how many of the cases was the

Year					Number of deaths	Place of operation	Age of deceased	Anaesthetic agent
1961	…	…	…	…	Nil
1962	…	…	…	…	1	Home*	60	Pentothal
1963	…	…	…	…	Nil
1964	…	…	…	…	Nil
1965	…	…	…	…	Nil
1966	…	…	…	…	2	Dental Surgery	38	Gas, unspecified
	…	…	…	…		Hospital	7	Not known
1967	…	…	…	…	1	Hospital	18	Nitrous oxide and halothane
* It is known that in this case a doctor was in attendance.

I regret that the other particulars asked for are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will send an observer from the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland to the Conference on Fishing Ports and Port Markets to be held in Bremen from 23rd to 28th September of this year.

I am at present considering this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers in Scotland are at present in receipt of hill sheep subsidies; and what sums were paid to them during the last financial year.

The number of farmers and crofters in Scotland at present in receipt of hill and upland sheep subsidy is approximately 17,400. It is estimated that almost£3 million will be payable to them in respect of numbers of sheep at 4th December, 1967, of which£2·2 million has been paid in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farmers in Scotland are at present in receipt of hill cow subsidies; and what sums were paid to them during the last financial year.

The information on deaths in Scotland recorded as associated with dental anaesthesia, so far as available, is as follows:

In 1967–68 approximately 17,450 farmers and crofters were paid£4·3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements have been made in the National Health Service in Scotland for the prevention of haemolytic disease of the newborn.

Preventive treatment has already started by injecting certain mothers at risk with antibody produced naturally by another mother. This supply of antibody will become increasingly scarce as treatment proceeds, and arrangements are accordingly being made through the blood transfusion service to enrol a small number of volunteers who can be sensitised to produce the antibody.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what is the present cut in pay of those serving in the British Army of the Rhine due to devaluation.

I would refer the hon. and learned Gentleman to the Answer I gave the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 5th March. This gave typical examples of the new rates of pay and allowances of those serving in the British Army of the Rhine.—[Vol. 760. c. 63.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many United Kingdom-based personnel employed by his Department are currently stationed in Washington; how many of these are of the rank of General Officer or equivalent; and what were the corresponding figures on 20th July, 1966.

200 including one rear-admiral, one lieutenant-general and one air vice marshal. The comparable figure for July, 1966 was 224 which included one admiral, one rear-admiral, one major-general and two air vice marshals.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost in foreign exchange of British armed services missions and of all other personnel employed by his Department in Washington in the year to July, 1966, and in the year 1967; and what estimate he has made of the probable figure for the current year.

The actual costs in foreign exchange of these missions and other Defence personnel in Washington are not readily available The following figures are the best estimates:

Financial Year	£
1965–66	1,000,000
1966–67	1,010,000
1967–68	1,040,000
1968–69	990,000

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many married quarters are owned by his Department in the constituency of the hon. Member for Harrow, East; and how many are occupied by members of the Royal Navy, the Army, and the Royal Air Force.

187, of which 10 are occupied by the Army and the balance by the Royal Air Force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has now made to enlarge the Hong Kong garrison since the decision was made to withdraw from Singapore; and what will be the additional cost of such plans.

We shall keep our forces in Hong Kong at the level we consider appropriate in the light of all the circumstances. The precise level has not yet been decided.