asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools in England and Wales are housed in two separate buildings approximately a mile apart.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give an assurance that the 1968–69 school building programme for Nottingham, insofar as it relates to primary schools, will not be curtailed or delayed.

The review of school building projects to select those which can be authorised to start in 1968–69 is still in progress and I cannot anticipate the results which I hope to announce later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local authorities have now decided to recruit less than their quota of full-time qualified teachers.

I have been told of one. I hope there will be no more.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what amounts of money have been made available for educational priority areas in Wales.

£1·0 million for 1968 to 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will hold an inquiry into why £26,000 allocated from his Department to the Huddersfield local authority for use in connection with immigrant schoolchildren is not being used for the purpose for which it was intended.

Grants under Section 11 of the Local Government Act, 1966 are made in respect of the expenditure incurred on additional staff for various services and are, therefore, paid to the general funds of the authority concerned. I have no reason to suppose that the advances of grant made to Huddersfield have not been spent on the appointments on which their claim was based.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to implement the recommendations of the Report of the Committee on Statutory Maintenance Limits, Command Paper No. 3587.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to remove the statutory limits of maintenance of matrimonial orders and affiliation orders, as recommended in the Report of the Graham Hall Committee.

The Government accept the main recommendation of the Committee that statutory limits on orders for maintenance of wives and children made by magistrates' courts should be abolished, and intend that amendments to this end should be proposed to legislation now before Parliament. Other recommendations of the Committee require further study. The recommendations relating the Income Tax treatment of "small maintenance payments" are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to introduce a policy of valid entry certificates being required for those entering this country.

The Committee on Immigration Appeals carefully considered this possibility and concluded that it would not be right to make entry certificates compulsory. My right hon. Friend has no grounds for differing from this conclusion, but the question is so important that he has put in hand a fresh study of it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now give in column form the number and the percentage changes between each year

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make an urgent investigation into the administration of the immigration laws by officers of his Department; and if he will report his findings to the House.

The Commonwealth immigration control is administered in accordance with the requirements of the law and my published instructions to immigration officers (Cmnd. 3064 and 3566). Its administration is kept under continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what visits the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has made to the Northern Region; what reports have been made pursuant to these visits; and what action has been taken.

I have now made seven visits to the Region, for discussions with local authorities and others in both the North East and Cumbria, to familiarise myself with local and regional problems and needs. The many issues raised with me have been pursued with the executive Departments involved, and the results communicated as appropriate to the bodies concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what progress the Northern Economic Planning Council has made in its study of the prospects of the various sub-divisions of the Region; and in particular what progress has been made regarding Wearside.

The figures are as follows:

A review of prospects in West Cumberland has been considered and submitted to the Government. No separate study of the Wearside area has been made as yet; but the area's problems are well recognised, and the Government are making every effort to bring new industry into Wearside.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what studies he has made of the extent to which redundancies will arise from the mergers to which the Industrial Re-organisation Corporation plans to give support this year.

It is not possible to forecast the mergers which will be supported by I.R.C. this year, or to assess their effects on employment. The Corporation is, however, well aware of the need for companies contemplating mergers to ensure that any resulting redundancies are dealt with in an orderly and sympathetic manner.

asked the Postmaster-General what consideration he has given to the provision of protection, such as an anti-bandit screen, in sub-post offices, in view of the many attacks on such offices.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wood Green (Mrs. Joyce Butler) and other hon. Members on 25th April.—[Vol. 763, c. 455–7.]

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the representations of the General Purposes Committee of the City of Liverpool and the likely expansion of trade next year around the new wholesale fruit, vegetable and flower market at Stanley, he will arrange to keep open the sub-post office at shop No. 10 Stanley Meat Market, Prescot Road, Liverpool.

I am considering this matter and will write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Postmaster General what steps are being taken to improve the present reception apart from intentions to develop other television networks in Shetland.

The improvement of television reception is the responsibility of the B.B.C. They tell me that the service in the Shetlands has been affected by occasional failures in the electric power supply to the transmitters; and that they are considering what might be done to remedy this. I am told that, otherwise, reception is generally satisfactory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action Her Majesty's Government plans to take to limit the extent of United States investment in British industry.

Cases involving the takeover of existing companies, which by their size or their nature constitute a vital part of British industry, are already considered, and will continue to be considered, on their merits. Subject to that safeguard, it remains our general policy to welcome investment in this country by United States and other foreign companies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he will take to implement the resolution passed at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development in New Delhi to reduce protection against trade competition from under-developed countries; and if in such action he will include processed agricultural goods.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer which my right hon. Friend gave on 24th April to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun).—[Vol. 763, c. 51.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the recent collapse of the Craven Insurance Company; and what steps were taken by his Department to protect the public.

On 3rd August, 1967, officers of the Board of Trade were appointed under Section 109 of the Companies Act, 1967, to make inquiries of the company.On 15th August, the Board, in accordance with Section 68 of the Act, gave notice of their intention to restrict the business of the company and invited the company to make, within one month from the date of the service of the notice, any representations which it desired to make with respect to the proposed exercise of the Board's power under Section 68. The company represented that it was solvent and undertook to engage independent accountants with a view to establishing its solvency.As evidence to the satisfaction of the Board had not been produced, they presented a petition to the court on 12th December to wind up the company on the ground that it had not the margin of solvency required under the Insurance Companies Acts. The court dismissed the petition on 9th February on certain undertakings from the company, including an undertaking that it would increase its share capital by £124,000. In fact, £200,000 of additional capital was paid up on 16th February by different parties from those mentioned in the course of the hearing.After discussion with the Board the company on 29th April presented its own petition to the court for the compulsory liquidation of the company on the ground that its liabilities exceeded its assets. The petition is due to be heard on 27th May. On the application of the company the Senior Official Receiver has been appointed provisional liquidator.On the advice of the Board of Trade the company has notified its policyholders of the cancellation of their policies and has advised them to insure immediately with other insurers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to ensure that the small increase in Purchase Tax on furniture products is not further increased by the addition of retail mark-up.

I am making inquiries into the practice to which my hon. Friend refers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware of the fact that the retail mark-up on furniture products is in some cases as high as 85 per cent.; and if he will examine the factors responsible for this high on-cost.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has been taken by his Department to find tenants for the two factories at present unoccupied in the borough of Rhondda.

The question of distributors' margins in the furniture industry has already been referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. I have no doubt that points such as those raised by my hon. Friend will be considered in the course of the Board's investigation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total amount of grants paid to industries in each of the scheduled development areas.

Details covering the full periods during which grants have been payable under the Local Employment and the Industrial Development Acts are as follows:

There is one Board of Trade factory unoccupied, at Llwynypia and we are continuing to bring it to the notice of suitable industrialists. It is in a special development area and the additional benefits announced in November, 1967, are available to incoming firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give an assurance that all individuals, organisations and authorities in areas under consideration as possible sites for the third London airport will be given ample time to submit their views to the inquiry when it is taking evidence.

The inquiry will, I am confident, ensure that adequate time is made available for all concerned to submit their views.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total financial benefit to individual ratepayers in the London Borough of Harrow in 1966–67 and 1967–68, respectively, from the Rating Act, 1966; and how this compares with the total benefit from the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964.

In 1966–67 and 1967–68 rate rebates in the London Borough of Harrow amounted to £83,579 and £70,007 respectively. No relief was granted under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, between 1964–65 and 1967–68.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many ratepayers in the London Borough of Harrow benefited from rebates given under the Rating Act, 1966, in 1966–67 and 1967–68 respectively; what has been the average rebate; and how this compares with the average for England.

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

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what reply he has sent to the letter dated 18th April from the Trades Council of Corby, Northamptonshire, on the subject of the recent increase in rents by the Corby Urban District Council and the Corby Development Corporation.

I have sent my hon. Friend a copy of my reply dated 1st May.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) whether he is aware of the growing public concern at the high cost per unit of housing to be provided by the Greater London Council at Thamesmead; whether he is satisfied that the resultant rents will be in accordance with Government policy; and if he will make a statement;(2) what is the amount of Government grant that will be made to the Greater London Council in respect of stage I of that Council's housing development at Thamesmead; and if he will make a statement.

The amount of housing subsidy for Stage I of Thamesmead has yet to be settled. It will be based on the actual cost of building the dwellings and will be paid under the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967, the broad effect of which is to reduce the effective borrowing rate on approved expenditure for new local authority housing to 4 per cent. The contract for this stage was signed before the housing cost yardstick was brought into operation. My right hon. Friend has taken no decision yet on Stage II.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will call for a report on the safety of all level crossings in Wales; and if he will consider taking appropriate action in cases where danger is found to exist.

I see no need to call for such a report but my hon. Friend can be assured that any changes in automatic half-barrier protection arising from the current formal investigation into the general question of their safety will be applied as appropriate to all such crossings in Wales.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make an announcement about the future of the freightliner system.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has yet approved the Railway's Board's proposals to relieve the congestion at the Glasgow freightliner terminal.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will announce his decision on the Railways Board's proposals to extend the freightliner system.

I have now approved the Railway's Board's proposals for further extension of the freightliner system. Five new terminals will be built and three others, including Glasgow, expanded. The total cost, including the associated wagons, containers and equipment, is £12·3 million.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has now received an invitation to attend the Trades Union Congress in connection with Her Majesty's Government's policy on prices and incomes.

No.

asked the Prime Minister what reply he has sent to the Trades Union Congress's communication rejecting the Government's incomes policy; and if he will place in the Library copies of his correspondence both to and from the Trades Union Congress on this matter.

No such communication was addressed to me.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will appoint a study group to explore the possibility of establishing an Atlantic Community of which this country would form part.

If my hon. Friend has in mind the concept of a North Atlantic Free Trade Area, I would refer him to the Answer I gave on 21st March to Questions by the hon. Members for Banbury (Mr. Marten) and Thirsk and Malton (Mr. Turton).—[Vol. 761, c. 596.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the recent communications about Rhodesia which have passed between Her Majesty's Government and President Kenyatta of Kenya.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to a similar Question by my hon. and learned Friend on 25th April—[Vol. 763, c. 78.]

asked the Prime Minister if he is aware that the list of hon. Members selected from the Government side of the House for the Council of Europe is unrepresentative of opinion on the Common Market issue; and whether he will review the list to secure a more balanced representation of opinion.

No. I am not so aware.

asked the Prime Minister how often he has made official visits to Scotland since 15th October, 1964; on what dates; and how long each visit lasted.

I would refer the hon. Lady to the Answer I gave earlier today to a similar Question by her.

asked the Prime Minister if he will appoint a Minister of Cabinet rank to co-ordinate the work of Ministries dealing with problems arising in areas having large immigrant populations.

As the House already knows, suitable arrangements exist for co-ordinating the work of the Departments concerned.

asked the Prime Minister what answer he has sent to the Rio Tinto Zinc Corporation's communication intimating its intention to abandon its plans to build an aluminium smelter in Anglesey, unless the Government make a decision soon to give its official support.

No such communication has been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what are the names of the members of the Commission of Inquiry into the causes of the riots in Hamilton, Bermuda.

I am in consultation with the Governor and will inform the House about the appointments as soon as they are made.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what is the composition of the police force in Bermuda; and what are the numbers in the various grades, white and coloured, respectively.

The classification of the members of the Police Force in Bermuda is on the basis of those who have Bermuda status and those who have not. On this basis I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a classification by status as defined and rank:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made for the payment by the Greater London Council for surplus land at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich.

Payment by the G.L.C. started in 1967–68. The surplus land will be made available gradually to the Council over the next four years and payment is being spread over a similar period.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many acres of surplus land at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, are to be sold to the Greater London Council; and what the purchase price is.

1,012 acres, and £6·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a survey of all lands still held by his Department in Devonport in order to ascertain whether it is possible to return any areas for civilian use.

Defence land holdings in Devonport are currently being reviewed against Service requirements.

asked the Minister of Labour how many prices have been reduced as a result of intervention by Government Departments following advance notification of intention to raise prices under the early warning arrangements since they were introduced, and of recommendations made by the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and to what goods these prices relate.

The primary object of the early warning arrangements is to enable the Government to scrutinise proposed increases in prices under the criteria, including reference of proposals to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. The ensuing discussions between Government Departments and the firms concerned have led to modification or deferment of increases in an appreciable number of cases.As information supplied under the early warning arrangements is strictly confidential I am unable to give details of these cases, but following recommendations in the published reports of the National Board for Prices and Incomes prices have been reduced or increases deferred or modified in the case of the following goods and services:

asked the Minister of Labour what discussions her Department have had with the Amalgamated Engineering and Foundry Workers' Union and others concerned in the continued difficulties arising from the Roberts-Arundel dispute; what has been the outcome of these discussions; and if she will make a statement.

I am glad to say that, following a series of meetings between the company and the unions concerned under the Chairmanship of my Department, a settlement has been reached in this long and difficult dispute. I hope that it will now be possible for the company and the unions to work effectively together.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take in Scotland on the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on increases in rents for local authority housing.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the statement made on behalf of the Government by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government on 25th April, which applies to Scotland—[Vol. 763, c. 86–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to amend the Milk and Dairies (Scotland) Act, 1914, to ensure that progress in the design of buildings for dairy cows is not inhibited, that full advantage is taken of modern low-cost buildings, such as cow kennels, and to ensure that local authorities apply the rules in a fair and uniform manner.

It is for local authorities to consider how far any proposals for low-cost cow housing fall within the scope of their dairy byelaws and if so whether they may be approved. I intend to write to local authorities indicating my willingness to consider any amendments of dairy byelaws which may be desirable to make way for the installation of suitable types of buildings of this kind. I am considering the need for a general revision of milk and dairies legislation.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether Her Majesty's Government accept the recommendations of the executive directors, described in the International Development Association announcement of 8th March, 1968, on the replenishment of the resources of the International Development Association.

Yes. I am today publishing a White Paper setting out the Report of the Executive Directors to the Board of Governors, and the draft Resolutions and Procedural Memorandum to give effect to a replenishment of $1,200 million, to which the United Kingdom will contribute $51·84 million in each of the next three years. The United Kingdom Governor will vote in favour of these Resolutions. Legislation will be introduced as soon as possible to authorise this further contribution.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement clarifying his rules for the assessment of tax in respect of funds raised by carnivals and similar organisations; and whether he will take steps to ensure that, even where the organisation concerned is not registered as a charity, only earnings including interest shall be subject to tax and not funds collected at a charity fete or similar function.

The general rule is that funds raised by carnivals and similar functions are subject to tax if and only if they arise from trading activities; and this is so whether the profit arises to a charity or some other body. If my hon. Friend has a particular case in mind and will let me have details about it I will have it looked into and will write to him.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will indicate the reasons for the accidents on the Heads of the Valley road; and how many have taken place within Breconshire since the whole road was completed.

As on most roads, the accidents have mainly been at certain junctions, at roundabouts, on long gradients and in built-up areas. The reasons are at present being investigated; 45 per cent. of accidents have been caused by animals and this is a factor which we shall be considering in our general study of the accident situation. The answer to the last part of the Question is 59, of which 20 accidents involved personal injury.