asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the estimated level of activity expected in the constructional steelwork industry in 1968; and how this will compare with last year.

No forecast is available. The demand for constructional steelwork depends on how competitive it is with other structures.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many married quarters for each of the three armed services he now expects to complete in the United Kingdom during the coming year.

I expect about 4,000 quarters to be completed in the financial year 1968/69, of which 1,000 will be for the Navy, and 1,500 each for the Army and Air Force.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement about the progress of the Winterbottom Committee on maintenance; and when its first report will be published.

The Committee on Building Maintenance, of which my Noble Friend the Parliamentary Secretary is Chairman, has now completed studies of the execution of maintenance and of training for maintenance work. The need for additional research and development in maintenance technology is being considered and a conference on this subject was held last week. I expect to receive a Report on these and other topics during the summer.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what delay is being experienced in delivery of agricul- tural drainage tiles in Scotland; and what is the reason for the delay.

Delays of between two and eight weeks may occur, depending on local circumstances.There is always an increase in demand in the spring. Normally manufacturers are able to accumulate stocks in the autumn and winter; in the past six months, however, demand has been higher than expected and loss of two months' production at one works because of storm damage has also contributed to the backlog.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the reason for the disparity between the total number of civil servants employed at the Building Research Station, and the number of professional qualified staff employed there.

Out of a total non-industrial strength of 602, the station employs 127 staff with qualifications in the construction professions: 269 scientific staff and 45 technical and drawing office staff.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what studies he has made of the average number of hours worked by drivers employed by building firms carrying on contracts let by his Department; and whether he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how much extra accommodation has been provided for the Ministry of Defence in the old New Scotland Yard building.

About 30,000 square feet, mainly for staff moved temporarily out of Metropole Building, Northumberland Avenue, during its repair and modernisation.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will ensure that the cleaning of various monuments and public buildings, particularly in Trafalgar Square, will be finished in time for the tourist season.

The cleaning of Nelson's Column and Trafalgar Square is almost completed. The National Gallery, Admiralty Arch, the Mall frontage of the Admiralty, and the Old Treasury Building should be completed by early summer. The National Portrait Gallery is due for completion a little later.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the extent of the demand for agrément certificates.

The Agrément Board has received about 300 general inquiries. Preliminary approaches have been made by manufacturers in respect of approximately 100 products; these are expected to result in about 60 firm applications for certificates in addition to the eight certificates already issued.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what investigations his Department is making regarding the application of computers to structural engineering.

A working party appointed by my Ministry is now studying the need for a general software system for structural engineering. The results of this study, which are likely to be available by the autumn, will include a specification of such a system, a description of the facilities it would offer and a comparison with the facilities offered by other systems. I shall then consider what further action is required to promote the wider use of computers by structural engineers.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works, of the 1,011 increase in non-industrial staff of his Department since 15th October, 1966, what percentage is employed in Scotland.

About 8½ per cent. since October, 1964.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what, in each case, was the free market value of the living accommodation provided at public expense occupied or entitled to be occupied by Ministers on 1st April, 1968.

I do not think that it would be realistic to try and assess a free market value for these historic residences.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how many Ministers occupied, or were entitled to occupy, living accommodation provided at public expense on 1st October, 1964 and 1st April, 1968.

Four and six, respectively.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the minimum and what is the maximum number of Concordes he now estimates will be sold; and by how much he estimates that the cost of each aircraft, including research and development costs, will exceed the selling price.

The Government expect Concorde to sell in substantial numbers, but it would be premature to attempt to forecast a minimum and a maximum. We have no intention of seeing Concorde sold for less than its production cost, and in addition we expect to recoup, from the proceeds of sales, some part of our investment in development.

asked the Minister of Technology what are the total estimated launching costs of the Rolls Royce RB211 and 207 aero engines; and what proportion is to be borne by the Government.

The costs eligible for launching aid are estimated at about £125 million for the two engines. Her Majesty's Government's contribution will be about 70 per cent. of the United Kingdom share of these costs, but is still subject to negotiation.

asked the Minister of Technology if he has considered the evidence relating to "More Chemicals From Coal in a Microwave Discharge", details of which have been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot trace the evidence mentioned by my hon. Friend. He may, however, be referring to the work at the United States Bureau of Mines' Pittsburgh Coal Research Centre reported in Chemical & Engineering News earlier this year. This research seems to be at too early a stage for it to be feasible to assess its economic possibilities.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) if, in the light of recent decisions on the European Launcher Development Organisation, he will make a statement on the future of Woomera;(2) if he will make a statement on the future of Woomera, in the light of his decisions on the European Launcher Development Organisation.

Recent decisions are not likely to affect the future of Woomera, as the present E.L.D.O. programme to which the United Kingdom remains committed already provides for firings after about 1970 to be made from the near-equatorial site in French Guiana.

asked the Minister of Technology when he expects to make his observations on the Report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on the Nuclear Reactor Programme.

The Government have completed their study of the Report of the Select Committee, and the Chairman of the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation is beginning discussions with industry on this subject.The Chairman will be keeping me informed of the progress of his negotiations and I will make a statement as soon as a practicable solution, to what is a very complex problem, becomes apparent.

asked the Minister of Technology what particular projects under the sponsorship of his Department and research stations he has decided to curtail or cancel, in the light of the cuts in Government expenditure imposed by devaluation and the gold crisis, showing the amount of savings anticipated in each case, and the effect upon qualified scientists and engineers concerned.

Cuts in project expenditure sponsored by my Department have been achieved by curtailing new expenditures rather than curtailing or cancelling projects already in progress.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will now publish the interim report of the working party on hydrofoils; and if he will make a statement.

No. Positive conclusions cannot be drawn from the working party's interim report.

asked the Attorney-General what has been the average increase in banisters' fees between the introduction of the Government's prices and incomes policy and the latest convenient date.

According to such evidence as is available to me, the average amount of barristers' fees has not increased during the period. Indeed, as a result of voluntary abandonment by the Bar of the Two Thirds Rule, fees received by Junior Counsel have decreased.

asked the Attorney-General if he will set up a committee to examine the present county court rules with regard to possession cases, with particular reference to tenants who have left the address before a claim for possession is entered, and to recommend what improvement should be made to obtain an early order for possession once a claim has been entered.

The County Court Rule Committee is responsible by statute for regulating the practice and procedure in the county courts. The existing Rules make provision for the service of a summons for possession where the tenant has left the premises.I am satisfied that there are adequate facilities for obtaining orders for possession rapidly in appropriate cases.

asked the Minister of Labour how much money has been paid to date to manufacturing industries in Scotland in regional employment premiums.

Between 14th September, 1967, when regional employment premium became payable, and 31st March, 1968, approximately £13 million was paid to manufacturers in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Labour, on what date she received representations from the Secretary of the West Ham Trades Council on the subject of price increases in connection with wage restraint; whether she will publish full details of this communication; and what reply she has sent.

My Department received a copy of a letter about increases in fares n the London area and their effects on the less well-off. A reply, referring to the special provision for low-paid workers in the Government's policy for productivity, prices and incomes, was incorporated in a letter sent by the Ministry of Transport on 8th April.

asked the Minister of Labour what new title it is proposed to give to her Department.

The Department of Employment and Productivity.

asked the Minister of Labour what arrangements she is making to provide alternative employment for those workers who will be rendered redundant as a result of the decision of the National Coal Board to close the Oullwyn colliery washery in the Dulais Valley.

About 120 workers are likely to be discharged on 24th May. Arrangements are in hand to interview those affected before they are discharged. Everything possible will be done to find them alternative jobs though there are bound to be difficulties in the case of some of the elderly and disabled workers.

asked the Minister of Labour what total financial advantage manufacturing firms in Scotland have received under Selective Employment Tax since its inception.

Approximately £27 million in selective employment premium and regional employment premium was paid to manufacturers in Scotland up to 31st March, 1968; this amount does not include refund of the Selective Employment Tax itself.

asked the Minister of Labour when she intends to introduce the Code of Conduct relating to consultations with trade unionists on the subject of the level of employment following mergers or internal rationalisation by companies.

My right hon. Friend is consulting the National Joint Advisory Council and hopes to publish shortly a document for the guidance of industry on dealing with redundancies. This will include the question of consultations with union representatives.

asked the Minister of Labour of the 7,810 increase in non-industrial staff of his Department sine 15th October, 1964 what percentage is employed in Scotland.

8·8 per cent. of the increase in staff since 1st October, 1964 is employed in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Labour to what extent the Government's policy of improving the standard of living for the workers in industry applies to the civil servants in her Department; and in what way and when she intends to implement this policy.

The Government's productivity, prices and incomes policy applies to civil servants in my Department as to other workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the talks with Rumania over her bonded debts to this country are still continuing; and whether he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the right hon. and learned Gentleman the Member for Hertfordshire East (Sir D. Walker-Smith) on 15th March.—[Vol. 760, c. 382.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the agreement between the Hungarian Government and Her Majesty's Government about the various types of Hungarian bonded debts will be implemented.

I understand that the London Paying Agents are in contact with the Hungarian authorities on the drafting of the formal offers to bondholders based on the announcement made in the Press last September.The offers are, of necessity, detailed and complicated documents and I cannot yet say when they will be completed and published.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will make a statement on the outcome of the discussions with the Governments concerned arising from the decision to withdraw British forces from the Persian Gulf.

I have nothing to add yet to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) on 26th February.—[Vol. 759, c. 229.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what representations he has made to Saudi Arabia following the decision to replace British pilots and mechanics in the Saudi air force with Pakistani personnel unfamiliar with its British equipment.

A number of contracts were placed with British firms for equipment and work for the Saudi Arabian Government as an interim measure separate from the main Air Defence Scheme. One of these, covering some technical and training facilities, has recently come to an end and the Saudi Arabian Government have decided to make other arrangements. This decision was entirely one for the Saudi Arabian Government. The contracts entrusted to the British firms for the new air defence system are unaffected and are proceeding in to programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the difficulties that have arisen in the Government's negotiations about financial aid to South Yemen.

Not at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what reply has been received to the representations made by Her Majesty's Government to secure compliance by South Africa with the resolution of the Security Council on 14th March, 1968.

The nature of these exchanges must remain confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, what action he will take to ensure that the judgment of the European Commission of Human Rights on Application No. 3157/67 will be pronounced in accordance with the European Convention of Human Rights, which requires that judgments should be pronounced publicly.

The European Commission of Human Rights does not pronounce judgments. Its decisions on the admissibility of applications submitted to it are accompanied by reasons and are communicated to the applicant. The judicial body established under the

asked the Lord President of the Council why he now appears on the list of Ministers answering Oral Questions once every six weeks.

I would suggest the right hon. Gentleman awaits the publication of the new roster which is being considered by my right hon. Friend the Lord Privy Seal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the approximate number of emigrants from the United Kingdom to Australia, New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and the United States of America, shown separately, for each year since 1945 to the latest available date, giving his estimate for recent years for which final figures are not available; and if he will estimate the figures for 1968 on the assumption that the present trend will continue.

The Registrar General has supplied the following approximate figures for 1946–1967. No estimates for the year 1968 are available:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the approximate number of emigrants from the United Kingdom to each of the British territories and former British territories in Africa, shown separately, for each year since 1945, giving his estimate for recent years for which final figures are not available; and if he will estimate the figures

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the approximate total number of emigrants from the United Kingdom for each year since 1945 to the latest available date.

The Registrar General has supplied the following estimated figures for 1959 to 1967. Reliable estimates are not available for the years before 1959:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about police action taken in pursuance of complaints against secondhand car dealers in High Road, Seven Kings, Ilford, Essex, contained in letters from residents of Pembroke Road sent to him by the hon. Member for Ilford, North.

I shall be writing to the hon. Member. I have meanwhile satisfied myself that the police make all reasonable efforts to deal with offences caused by cars parked in Pembroke Road.

The Registrar General has supplied the following estimated figures derived from the International Passenger Survey for the years 1964–67. There are no comparable figures available for the years before 1964 (the first year of the International Passenger Survey), and no estimate can yet be given for 1968:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority the prison authorities have kept in custody Mr. Peter Boyle, who was remanded to Brixton Prison on 10th February last and was granted bail on 19th February last.

On the authority of a warrant issued by a magistrate at Bow Street. The warrant was endorsed for bail, but the prisoner was unable to find the necessary surety until 26th April, when he was released. I will write to my hon. Friend about the circumstances of the case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the success and the present and future progress of neighbourhood policing schemes; and when such a scheme will be introduced in Hampstead.

The particular system of policing known as neighbourhood policing has proved successful in a number of areas in the Metropolitan Police District but is not considered to be universally suitable. A survey of the inner divisions is in progress with a view to designing new methods of policing suitable for those areas, and the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis believes that a method appropriate to Hampstead will be found and introduced soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the average amount per head of population expended in Wales and England in 1967 on police services in those respective countries.

£4 12s. 0d. and £5 4s. 0d. respectively (based on 1967 population figures).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to give further protection to graveyards from being compulsorily acquired by public and private persons.

Statutory powers are necessary for compulsory purchase or development of graveyards. A compulsory purchase order for a graveyard would be subject to the normal provisions for the consideration of objections. If the graveyard is disused the order would in most cases be subject to special parliamentary procedure.I am willing to consider any evidence my hon. and learned Friend may send me that further protection is necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a table showing the number of council houses and private houses com-

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a table showing the number of council houses and private houses now under construction in the administrative county of West Suffolk with a breakdown among the urban districts of Bury St. Edmunds, Newmarket, Haverhill, and the rural districts of Thingoe, Thedwastre, Mildenhall, Clare and Newmarket rural district.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish a table showing the number of council houses and private houses he expects to be built in the calendar years 1968, 1969, and 1970, respectively, in the administrative county of West Suffolk with a breakdown among the urban districts of Bury St. Edmunds, Newmarket, Haverhill, and the rural districts of Thingoe, Thedwastre, Mildenhall, Clare and Newmarket rural district.

Since 1966, numbers of council houses and private houses under construction and completed in each local authority area are published quarterly in "Local Housing Statistics, England and Wales". Figures for previous years are available from the quarterly "Housing Return for England and Wales".For convenience, however, I append the figures required, including houses under construction at 31st March, 1968. Apart from houses now under construction, no figures can be given of houses to be completed in future years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if he will publish a table showing the number of council houses and private houses for which planning consents have been given in each of the last five years to the latest convenient gate in the administrative county of West Suffolk with a breakdown among the urban districts of Bury St. Edmunds, Newmarket, Haverhill, and the rural districts of Thingoe, Thedwastre, Mildenhall, Clare and Newmarket rural district.

This information is not in my right hon. Friend's possession

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of applications, successful and unsuccessful, which have been dealt with to date under the option mortgage scheme.

No information is available of the numbers of applications for mortgages of any kind. However, according to information from a group of the largest building societies, about 4 per cent. or some 160,000 out of existing borrowers who had to make their decision by 31st December, 1967, changed to option mortgages, and some 10 per cent. of successful new applicants are choosing them, which will mean 50,000 a year if the trend continues.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many ratepayers in the Wellingborough constituency of Northamptonshire have benefited by the Rate Rebate Scheme to the latest available date; and what was the average amount of the rebate.

The figures for 1966–67 and 1967–68 are as follows:—

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what amount in the current financial year is being authorised for local authority home loan schemes.

£130 million for England and Wales, the same as for 1967–68.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the number of dwellings completed by system building methods to the last convenient date, and the number now under construction.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the information published quarterly in Housing Statistics (H.M.S.O.).In 1967, 49,030 of the dwellings completed for local authorities and new towns in England and Wales were built by industrialised methods: the number under construction at the end of February, 1968 was 66,831. It is estimated that in 1967 about 10,000 industrialised dwellings were completed for local authorities and new towns in Scotland.Comparable statistics are not available for private sector dwellings but the number built by industrialised methods is small.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what action he proposes to take account of indirect rent rises, such as transfer of repairs costs to tenants, when computing rent increases for local authority tenants; and whether such indirect increases will be included in the proposed 7s. 6d. maximum increase.

The transfer to tenants of responsibility for certain minor repairs is one means of moderating rent increases. Many authorities have already made this change and it can result in management economies and advantage to tenants. In considering whether or not proposed rent increases exceed the recommended limit of 7s. 6d. per week average increase in standard rents in any one year, I do not think it will be possible to go into detailed costing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will forthwith institute an investigation into the case for applying anti-dumping legislation against imports of raspberry pulp from Yugoslavia.

If the British producers have prima facie evidence that imports of raspberry pulp are being dumped and are causing or threatening them with material injury, they may apply to the Board of Trade for action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Act, 1957, and the Board will consider their application urgently.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, of the estimated net contribution of £246 million in 1967 to the United Kingdom's balance of payments by the shipping industry, what proportion is contributed by Scotland.

There are great difficulties in breaking down the shipping industry's contribution between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom, and information from which to make any such analysis is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will break down the £45 million paid to firms in Scotland as investment grants between 1st April, 1967, and 31st March, 1968, as between Parliamentary constituencies.

This information could not be provided without a disproportionate expenditure of time and money since it would involve a special analysis of thousands of individual claims.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he will take to develop tourism as an export industry in Scotland, in view of the fact that one half of Scotland's holidaymakers are Scottish citizens and that the industry remains underdeveloped.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 13th March 1968.—[Vol. 760; c. 1347–8.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to ensure that in Scotland for the present tourist season more than the present 140,000 beds are provided.

I would refer the Hon. Member to the statement which my right hon. Friend made to the House on 20th March, outlining the Government's proposals for stimulating more investment in hotels. Although the proposals cannot be expected to result in any significant increase in accommodation for tourists this summer in Scotland, they provide a basis on which the hotel industry can plan expansion.—[Vol. 761; c. 103–5.]

asked the Minister of Labour how many prices have been reduced as a result of abolition of resale price maintenance under the Resale Prices Act; and to what goods these prices relate.

I have been asked to reply.The effect of ending resale price maintenance is to enable individual traders to reduce prices on their own initiative and it would not be practicable to collect detailed information about the thousands of individual decisions involved. There is no reason to doubt that many reductions have been made.

asked the Postmaster General what he assumes the radio radius of the earth to be in United Kingdom latitudes and at a frequency of 7,000 MHz, in considering applications for new microwave links, and why.

The value of "radio radius" assumed depends upon the circumstances but for high quality microwave radio-relay links is taken as 0·7 times the actual radius of the earth.In planning a microwave radio-relay link it is necessary to ensure that the aerial at one station on the route has a clear "line-of-sight" path to that at the next station. Although radio waves are normally considered to travel in straight lines, a certain amount of bending does take place within the earth's atmosphere. Under normal atmospheric conditions this bending of the path of radio waves between two points on the earth's surface can be allowed for in planning calculations by assuming that the earth's radius is four-thirds of its actual radius. However, under certain atmospheric conditions the radio-wave paths are bent in such a way as to make the earth appear to have a smaller radius than it actually has and the value of 0·7 times the actual radius is used in planning to cater for the occurrence of this condition. If this were not done, the signal would be lost and the service interrupted during these abnormal atmospheric conditions.The frequency of 7,000 MHz falls within one of the bands used by the Post Office for trunk telephone circuits and television relays. Other microwave bands are available to meet applications for private systems, the choice of band depending on the type of system and particularly the bandwidth required. The Post Office is not concerned with the performance of such systems and individual users might be prepared to accept a lower standard of service and assume a higher value of "radio radius" for planning purposes.

asked the Postmaster General what was the total value of contracts placed by his Department with major plant suppliers with factories in the Northern Development Area in 1967; and how this compares with the corresponding figures for 1964, 1965, and 1966.

All the main firms but one which manufacture exchange equipment and telephone apparatus have factories in the Northern Development Area. The value of orders placed with these firms was:

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that the new performance specifications for voluntarily fitted radiotelephone equipment, due to come into force on 1st May, will preclude many yachtsmen from installing this important safety appliance, particularly in smaller boats; and if he will consider exempting non-commercial craft from these new specifications.

The "Performance Specification for a Radio Equipment in Ships Voluntarily-Fitted for Radiotelephony in the Band 1605–3800 kc/s" which is due to come into force on 1st May and will replace, for new installations, the "Performance --Specification for a Radiotelephone Equipment for Voluntarily Equipped Ships", which dates from 1949, is effectively three specifications in one. The first is for vessels which will want full public correspondence facilities through our coast stations. The second is for vessels engaged on local voyages or which do not intend to use the public correspondence service regularly. The third is for vessels interested in inter-ship working only. For all three categories of vessels the safety requirements are defined.I cannot agree to exempt noncommercial craft from this specification if they want to use the public correspondence service or to communicate—except for safety purposes—with other ships. There is, however, no question of voluntarily fitted vessels which do not require these facilities being required to comply with it; for equipment voluntarily fitted for safety purposes only there is a simpler specification—"Performance Specification for a Voluntarily-Fitted Radiotelephone Equipment for use solely for Distress, Urgency and Safety Purposes"—which has been in force since 1964.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the shortage of the necessary equipment for telephones, he will take steps to set up a factory in Lanarkshire to further production; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given by my predecessor to my hon. Friend the Member for Gateshead, West (Mr. Randall) on 13th February.

asked the Postmaster-General, when push-button telephones will be available to the public.

Under present circumstances, and because of changing technologies and costs, we are re-examining our plans for providing push-button telephones. I am sorry, therefore, that until the review is complete I am unable to estimate when they might start to become available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will specify the increases in the aggregate cost of Ministerial salaries which occurred between 6th April and 23rd April.

The increase in the aggregate cost of Ministerial salaries between 6th April and 23rd April was £28,500. This increase is attributable to the appointment of the following Ministers on 8th April—Secretary of State for Education and Science, Lord Privy Seal, and Secretary of State for Wales, each at a salary of £8,500 a year; and the appointment of an Assistant Government Whip on 10th April at a salary of £3,000 a year.I regret that the total salary figure of £613,850 given in the answer to the hon. Member for Wembley, North should have been £605,350.—[Vol. 763, c.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to treat the rental value of living accommodation provided at public expense, occupied, or entitled to be occupied, by Ministers and members of their family living with them, as unearned income for the financial year 1967–68.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield to the public revenue of exempting all estates of £40,000 and below from Estate Duty and making fortunes above that figure subject to duty at 100 per cent.

The effect on the Exchequer might be somewhere between an additional yield of £250 million if the present distribution of wealth was unaffected and a cost of similar size if most fortunes in excess of £40,000 were transferred to younger people. Whether the action proposed would lead to a gain or loss in the total duty collected and of what size is a matter for conjecture rather than estimation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has not included the Langholm and Annan areas of Dumfriesshire amongst those which will receive the repayment of Selective Employment Tax for hotels and boarding houses.

As my right hon. Friend explained when moving the Second Reading of the Finance Bill on 24th April, he does not propose to include the more industrial parts of development areas.—[Vol. 763, c. 254.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to exempt all those engaged in providing sleeping accommodation for tourists in Scotland from Selective Employment Tax.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the need to give the maximum publicity to the new decimal coinage, why no Government advertisements were displayed in The Morning Star.

The normal practice was followed of placing Press advertising to secure maximum value for money. A large number of newspapers were inevitably excluded from the schedule.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many posts there are in the Civil Service in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively, of the administrative grade.

The numbers of administrative class civil servants are about 170, 2,300 and 20 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost in the financial year 1967–68 of Government advertising in each of the following newspapers, namely, the Aberdeen Press and Journals, the Evening News, the Evening Times, the Daily Record, the GlasgowHerald, the Scottish Daily Express, the Scottish Daily Record, the Scottish Daily Mail, The Scotsman, the Sunday Mail and the Sunday Post.

The following table shows the cost in the financial year 1967–68 of display advertising in the newspapers named.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual sum per head invested in national savings for the last three years in Scotland.

Annual gross amounts per head invested in National Savings in Scotland:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is Her Majesty's Government's policy as to the level of unemployment, in the light of present Government economic and financial policies.

It is the Government's policy to secure a full, sustainable and regionally-balanced level of employment. The full achievement of this must depend to a considerable extent upon rising exports bringing about a growth of production and a satisfactory improvement in the balance of payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he approved a 100 per cent. increase in total distributions to shareholders by the Bestwood Company Limited.

The company asked that it might be permitted to restore its dividend to a rate consonant with those paid in earlier years. Consent was given to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he approved a total distribution to shareholders of 15 per cent. by the Advance-Peterholme Group Limited.

Any increase in the total amount to be distributed by this company to shareholders will not exceed 3½ per cent. of the preceding year level.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he approved a 25 per cent. increase in total distributions by the Royal Sovereign Pencil Company Limited.

The dividend paid by this company was at a rate to which it was committed in respect of the acquisition of another company.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he requested Jessel Toynbee Limited, to limit the increase in its total distributions for the year to 31st March to 3·336 per cent.

The company was asked not to increase its distributions by more than 3½ per cent., in order to comply with the dividend restraint policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the percentage of national income spent on social security, using the same definitions as contained in The Cost of Social Security International Labour Office 1961.

Using the definitions of the International Labour Office, expenditure on social security in the United Kingdom for the year 1966–67 is estimated at 12·4 per cent. of the gross national product at market price.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the total figures of educational building in 1967 as to value of projects approved, started and completed; and whether he will further categorise the figures affecting nursery and primary, secondary, special and approved schools and further education.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answers I gave on 25th April to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mr. Harman).—[Vol. 763, c. 82–84.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total expenditure in Scotland on new buildings for primary schools and secondary schools from the beginning of 1964 to the end of 1967.

The information is set out in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the amount of new educational building work which will be approved by his department for the first time in 1968–69.

A precise estimate is not possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the emigration from Scotland net and gross in 1968 to the most convenient date.

Estimates of the net migration from Scotland are made only at half-yearly intervals, on the basis of information drawn from a variety of sources in this country and overseas. The estimate for the first half of 1968 will be available by about November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether his attention has been drawn to the continued delay in the starting dates of construction of the new district general hospitals in Kilmarnock and Ayr; and whether he will now review the starting dates for the new district general hospitals in this area.

The Kilmarnock project is being considered in the discussions referred to in my answer of 30th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, Central (Mr. Oswald), which have not yet been completed. As regards Ayr I have nothing to add to the answer given on 6th March by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary to the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger).—[Vol. 757, c. 282–4; Vol. 760, c. 96.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total tonnage of potatoes grown in each of the last 10 years; and how much of this he estimates was disposed of as seed and ware, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the acreage of potatoes inspected for seed certification in each of the last 10 years, and the number of acres which were certified in each grade.

The information is set out in the table below.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the tonnage of seed potatoes sold to growers and merchants in England in each of the last 10 years, and the tonnage sent overseas.