asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what plans he has for the cleaning of the rear facade of the National Portrait Gallery.

This will follow the work at present in hand.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will establish an industrial training centre in the town of Alfreton, Derbyshire, in view of the recent closure of two collieries in the area and the imminent closure of a third.

Government training centres can only be established successfully in relatively large centres of population where there is a continuing local demand for training places and for trainees who have completed their courses. The nearest centres to Alfreton are at Long Eaton and Sheffield, but redundant miners from the area who want and are suitable for the accelerated training given at Government training centres can obtain it at any of the 38 centres at which the trade of their choice is taught.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will end Government training centres, in view of the fact that the unions will not accept for membership men who have been trained at these centres, even though they have proved their ability to do the job to the satisfaction of their employers in private industry and in the national industries.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his Question of 22nd January.—[Vol. '757, c. 24.]

asked the Minister of Labour what are the reasons for the recent high record of unemployment amongst industrial male workers in the Birmingham area; what steps he is taking to cure it; and how long he expects it to persist.

As a result of the economic difficulties of the country, unemployment amongst men in Birmingham increased from 10,664 in March, 1967, to 12,494 in March, 1968. As the economy is able to expand again, depending on how well we do with exports, the situation is likely to improve. I am not, however, prepared to make forecasts of unemployment.

asked the Minister of Labour how many skilled building trade workers are currently employed in Scotland and in Glasgow and Fife, respectively; how many have been unemployed for more than eight weeks; and what skills such men possess.

I regret that information is not available to enable me to answer the first two parts of the Question. Estimates of insured employees are not analysed by skill or occupation. Unemployment is analysed by duration and age and not by duration and occupation.I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the numbers of building trades craftsmen registered as unemployed in Scotland, the Glasgow travel-to-work area and Fife, who were last employed in the construction industry (Minimum List Heading 500 of the Standard Industrial classification).Following is the information:

BUILDING TRADES CRAFTSMEN REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED ON 12TH FEBRUARY, 1968 WHO WERE LAST EMPLOYED IN THE CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY
	Scotland	Glasgow Travel-to-work Area	Fife
Carpenter, joiner	402	131	14
Bricklayer	347	117	7
Mason, stone carver	50	12	—
Slater, tiler, thatcher	67	33	2
Plasterer	111	38	3
Floor and wall tiler, floor etc. layer	42	34	—
House and ship painter paperhanger	773	381	25
Plumber, gas fitter, etc.	299	133	5
Glazier	6	4	—
Electrician	308	138	7
All craftsmen	2,405	1,021	63

asked the Minister of Labour how many building trade workers completed training for a skill in Government training centres in Scotland in each of the last 15 years; and to what extent there is still a shortage of skilled workers in the building industry there.

These figures are only readily available for the last three years.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will make a statement on the official strike of cutter grinders at the Patchway Works, Bristol Engine Division, Rolls Royce, Bristol.

The dispute arose over a loss of bonus earnings which was alleged to result from a "go slow" by other workers. I understand that a settlement has been reached and that work was resumed on 28th March.

asked the Minister of Labour how many ship repairers were employed in London and Tilbury in 1955; and how many are employed now.

Estimated numbers of employees in employment are available for the whole of the shipbuilding and ship repairing industry (Minimum List Heading 370.1 of the Standard Industrial Classification) but not for ship repairing alone. At mid-1955 the estimates for Greater London and for the area covered by the Tilbury and Grays Employment Exchanges were 13,700 and 1,300, respectively. The latest corresponding estimates were, for Greater London, 7,200 at mid-1967 and for Tilbury and Grays (for which mid-1967 figures will not be available until later this year), 1,000 at mid-1966.

asked the Minister of Labour how many foreign stage and screen artists have visited this country during the past six months; what has been the average length of each visit; and whether he is satisfied that each had a work permit.

Information on the first two points is not readily available. I have no reason to believe that any foreign entertainer has come to this country to carry out an engagement without the permission of my Department.

asked the Minister of Labour if he will refuse permits to foreign artists unless they intend to work in this country for a period of one year.

No. Permits are applied for and issued to enable foreign artists to fulfil specific engagements, the length of which varies according to the circumstances.

asked the Minister of Labour how many adult persons are members of a trade union; and how many who are employed within the professions and industries are not in a trade union or an association registered under the Friendly Societies Acts.

At the end of 1966, the latest date for which figures are available, the membership of trade unions in the United Kingdom was estimated at 10·1 million, of whom some 8·8 million were members of trade unions registered under the Trade Union Acts. Separate figures for adults and young people are not available.The total number of employees in the United Kingdom at June, 1967 was 23·8 million.Trade unions are not eligible for registration under the Friendly Societies Acts.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he intends to remedy the siutation whereby 66 women industrial civil servants employed by the Foreign Office are not in receipt of equal pay for work of equal value.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the second part of my reply to her on 7th March.—[Vol. 760, c. 134–7.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he declines to introduce legislation to establish in Wales and Scotland national banks enjoying central banking functions.

There is no justification for more than one central bank in an area under a common financial system.

asked the Chancellor 01' the Exchequer whether the relief from Selective Employment Tax which he announced for hotels in the rural parts of development areas will apply to the hotels on the coast of East Lothian and in the Tweed Valley.

I am not yet able to enlarge on the information given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 20th March.—[Vol. 761, c. 456.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost in a full year of his proposal to refund Selective Employment Tax to hotels in certain rural parts of development areas.

I am not yet able to enlarge on the information given by my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade on 20th March.—[Vol. 761, c. 456.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the saving by ceasing to pay the first three days benefit for sickness to wage earners; and if he will give an estimate of the saving to public funds of deducting the first three days salary from salary earners and from the remuneration paid to Members of Parliament, respectively, who are away from work through sickness.

The saving on payments of sickness benefit in a full year to the National Insurance Fund (to which both employers and employees contribute) is expected to be £13 million, and the additional cost to the Exchequer in respect of supplementary benefits about £1½ million. Payments to wage earners cannot be distinguished from those to salary earners. As to the remainder of the Question, the information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which Government Departments, or sections of Departments, it is intended to move from London during the next three years; and what areas are under consideration as possible new locations.

Following is the information:

Department	Location
Charity Commission (part)	Liverpool
Civil Service Commission	Basingstoke
Crown Estate Office (part)	Bracknell
Customs and Excise (Statistics and other work).	Southend-on-Sea
Ministry of Defence, Air Force Department (Accounts).	Worcester
Department of Education and Science (Teachers' Salaries and other work).	Darlington
Ministry of Health (Health Services Superannuation).	Fleetwood
Home Office (Supplies and Transport Division).	Corby
General Post Office—
A.G.D.	Chesterfield
Savings Certificate Division.	Durham
Savings Bank	Glasgow
Research Station	Ipswich
Returned Letter Branch, London Region.	Portsmouth
Inland Revenue (London Tax work).	Edinburgh
	Manchester
	Southampton
	Stoke on Trent
Paymaster General	Crawley
Ministry of Power Gas Standards Branch.	Leicester
Royal Mint	Llantrisant
H.M. Stationery Office	Norwich

In a number of these cases the moves are already in progress and will continue into the next three years.Moves are normally announced by Departments after a decision has been taken on the dispersal location. It is the general policy to give preference to Development Areas wherever practicable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost of paying the 1965 increase to those pensioners under 60 years of age who are at present excluded from immediate benefit, split as to wives and others, respectively, and civil servants and others, respectively.

About £2·7 million in the first full year, of which the Civil Service accounts for less than £10,000. The total includes something of the order of £10,000 in respect of widows' pensions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will consider seeking powers to set up a special fund to cover storm, fire, and flood damage.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the net outflow of private capital invested overseas in 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967, showing portfolio, direct and oil and miscellaneous items, separately.

Most of this information is given in Table 19 of the White Paper containing Preliminary Estimates of National Income and Balance of Payments 1962 to 1967 (Cmnd. 3571). It is not at present possible to publish estimates for "Oil" and "Miscellaneous" investment separately.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when farmers and others who are repaid in full their contributions of Selective Employment Tax will be wholly exempted from its payment.

I am not yet able to make any forecast.

asked the Attorney-General if he will introduce legislation to provide compensation for persons injured by animals on the highway in urban areas.

The law relating to civil liability for damage done by animals was the subject of a recent Report by the Law Commission. This is being studied by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor with a view to the introduction of amending legislation when an opportunity arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what further consideration he has given, since the revision of the Royal Air Force ab initio flying training programme, to the future requirement for trainer aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

The present sequence is ab initio training on the Chipmunk, basic training on the Jet Provost, and advanced training on Hunters and Gnats. An improved version of the Jet Provost—the pressurised Mk 5—will enter service in 1969–70 and the Anglo-French Jaguar will supersede the Hunters and Gnats from 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the radius from the radio station at Orfordness within which there could be a hazard from radiation; and what steps he intends to take to safeguard fishermen and yachtsmen from this danger.

The zone in which radiation could create a biological hazard to human beings does not reach the sea around Orfordness. The site is a prohibited area to the public, and warning notices will be erected.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the date on which the United States Government first asked the British Government for permission to construct the proposed radar station at Orfordness.

Discussions between the two Governments began in October 1966, and agreement was reached in June 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why his proposal to allow the construction of an Anglo-American radar station at Orfordness in Suffolk was not referred to in the Defence Estimates, 1968.

A public announcement was made on 24th August, 1967, about the decision to build the radio research station and at the time of preparation of the Statement on the Defence Estimates, 1968 there was no new information about the project which would justify a special reference to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to be able to give the estimated cost to Government funds of the proposed radar station at Orfordness.

Shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the proposed Anglo-American Radar Station at Orfordness is expected to result in Great Britain having greater warning of attack by missiles.

As I said in answer to the hon. and gallant Member for Eye (Sir H. Harrison) on 12th March, this station will carry out radio research, some of which: could have a bearing on methods of early warning of missile attacks.—[Vol. 750, c. 273.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what grounds he has authorised the expenditure of public funds on the construction of an Anglo-American Radar Station at Orfordness.

On the grounds of the benefits to be expected from the research to be carried out by this radio station.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he invited tenders for the construction of the new Anglo-American Radar Station at Orfordness on 19th January, 1968, and only informed the East Suffolk County Council of his proposal to construct the radar station on 29th January, 1968.

I regret that our original letter of 8th January, 1968, to the planning authority about this develop ment was wrongly addressed to the West Suffolk County Council; but we have since had most useful discussions with the East Suffolk County Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the strategic implications for Great Britain's defence policy of the decision to set up a new radar station at Orfordness in Suffolk.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Eye (Sir H. Harrison) on 12th March.—[Vol. 760, c. 273.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has made a cost benefit study on his proposal to build a new radar station at Orfordness in Suffolk.

The decision to proceed with this development was taken after weighing the benefits to be expected from the research to be carried out by this radio station against the probable cost to the United Kingdom. The choice of a site was also greatly influenced by technical considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the verge outside the fence of Royal Air Force Bentley Priory abutting the footpath to Priory Drive, Stanmore, cannot be kept as neat as that maintained on the other side of the footpath by a constituent of the hon. Member for Harrow, East, details of which are in his possession; and whether he will immediately have removed bits of barbed wire which have lain on the verge since the fence was renovated more than a year ago.

The maintenance of the verge outside the fence of Royal Air Force Bentley Priory is not the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence, nor that of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works. However, I have arranged for any barbed wire lying there to be removed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will take immediate steps to have removed the pile of rubble, tin cans, pieces of timber, old iron and tyres in the grounds of Royal Air Force Bentley Priory, near to the footpath leading to Priory Drive, Stan-more; and whether he will ensure that this area is kept tidy.

Yes. Action is being taken to level the mounds of earth and rubble near the boundary fence of Royal Air Force Bentley Priory which were created by building excavations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what ceremonies have been arranged in the constituency of the hon. Member for Harrow, East, to mark the merging of Fighter Command into Strike Command.

To mark the disbandment of Fighter Command, a ceremonial parade and flypast followed by a formal luncheon will be held at Bentley Priory on 25th April.On 28th April a sanctuary light and plaque, the gift of Fighter Command, will be dedicated at St. John's Church, Stanmore.I understand also that on 24th April the London Borough of Harrow is giving a formal reception.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of children of school age of Royal Air Force officers and men, respectively, living in married quarters in the constituency of the hon. Member for Harrow, East; and how many attend schools for which the Harrow Education Authority is responsible.

There are 30 Royal Air Force officers' children and 199 airmen's children of school age living in married quarters in the hon. Member's constituency of whom 25 and 191 respectively attend Harrow L.E.A. schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the radar system for military use at Turn-house Airport was removed; what was the cost of removal; and to what use the equipment removed was put.

Turn-house was operated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation between 1947 and 1952; between 1952 and 1960 it was operated by the R.A.F. for joint civil/military use; since 1960 the airfield has been entirely civil. I am looking into the earlier history and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech at Ayr on 23rd March on world citizenship for the Welsh and Scottish nations.

I have put in the Library a full version of the part of my speech which the hon. Gentleman presumably has in mind, though, as he will see, his form of words does not accurately summarise what I said.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in England are at present in receipt of the hill cow subsidy; and what sums were paid to them during the last financial year.

About 6,100 farmers in England are at present in receipt of hill cow subsidy and the amount paid to them in 1967–68 (at the rate of £14 5s. per cow) was approximately £1,790,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farmers in England are at present in receipt of hill sheep subsidy; and what sums were paid to them during the last financial year.

The hill sheep subsidy was extended in 1967 so that the number of farmers eligible in England at present is about 8,500. It is estimated that they will qualify for subsidy of some £1½ million in respect of sheep on farms at 1st December, 1967, of which about £.500,000 has been paid in the financial year 1967–68. Total payments during that year have been about £1 million. Because payments have been delayed by foot-and-mouth disease these figures should not be regarded as representative.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the period of the ban imposed by Argentinian exporters in Buenos Aires on the export of meat to Great Britain.

The extent to which exporters in any particular country supply our market when there is no restriction on imports is a matter for them.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the fact that increases in selective employment tax, fuel costs and motor licensing fees were not foreseen by the National Board for Prices and Incomes when they were considering the overall margins for wholesale and retail milk distributors, he will now ask the Board to make a further report in the light of these increased costs.

No. The Board offered general guidelines. The Government can make allowance, as appropriate, for later developments.