asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many road checks have been made by the Metropolitan Police for any convenient stated period; and whether he will list the number of drivers reported and charged during that period for failing to exhibit a Road Fund licence, failing to possess a Road Fund licence and failing to have a third party insurance, respectively.(2) arising from the road checks made by the Metropolitan Police for any convenient stated period, what reports have been made of drivers breaking the law for failing to possess a certificate of roadworthiness, having faulty brakes, and failing to have a driving licence, respectively; and what action was taken in these instances.

During the first four months of this year, 542 road checks were held by the Metropolitan police. Separate figures for vehicle offences discovered in the course of the checks are not maintained. During the same period, 61,633 persons in all were reported by the Metropolitan police for failing to possess a road fund licence and 145 persons for failing to display the same; and 3,643 persons for failing to have in force a third party insurance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will set up a committee to evaluate police juvenile liaison schemes, with a view to their introduction in areas of the country which do not have them.

Studies of the police juvenile liaison schemes in Accrington and Blackburn and in Newham are being conducted with the support of the Home Office. The results, which are expected by the end of this year, should throw light on the effectiveness of these schemes. Under my right hon. Friend's new proposals for legislation on chilren, set out in the White Paper "Children in Trouble", it will be possible to continue and extend the work of police juvenile liaison schemes in areas where it is agreed that police participation in preventive work is valuable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the fact that Mr. Antczak first applied for British nationality on 26th January, 1968, and in view of the correspondence between his Department and the hon. Member for West Lothian, when he will reach a decision on granting a British passport to Mr. Antczak, 86 The Avenue, Whit-burn, West Lothian.

Mr. Antczak's completed application for naturalisation was received on 28th March. As my hon. Friend has already been informed, the usual extensive inquiries are in progress. As soon as these have been completed I shall inform him of the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total annual yield of the licence charges referred to in the Miscellaneous Fees (Variation) Order, 1968; and what he estimates it will be in the first full year of operation at the new rates.

This information is not available. It could be obtained only by calling for special returns from a large number of local authorities, and I do not consider that this would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of prisoners granted parole had been convicted of offences involving violence and sex, respectively.

Up to 14th May my right hon. Friend had, on the recommendation of the Parole Board, approved parole in 461 cases. Of these 23 per cent. were serving sentences for offences involving violence and 7 per cent. for sexual offences.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what extent the Crown Agents have acted as intermediaries in the supply of arms and defence equipment to the Nigerian Government from foreign sources over the last 12 months.

Except where British aid funds are involved, Her Majesty's Government are not concerned with the transactions of the Crown Agents whose responsibility is to their Principals.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will take steps to set up a Government-owned concern in a development area with high unemployment to produce the entire range of hearing-aid batteries.

While recent events have indicated that there is scope for greater competition in at least some sectors of this field, manufacture by Government may not be the most effective way of achieving it. It is open to manufacturers to apply to my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade for assistance under the local employment Acts towards the establishment of manufacture in a development area.

asked the Minister of Technology what action he has taken to satisfy himself that the recent increases in the price of motor cars were necessary.

Advance notification of these increases was given to my Department in accordance with the early warning arrangements by all the manufacturers concerned, and after detailed examination of each case I decided to offer no objection to their proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many of the recently appointed members of the Nominated Council for Wales are under 40 years of age.

Five.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, what is the average age of the members of the newly appointed Nominated Council for Wales.

Fifty three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, what is the estimated increase in rates and earnings arising from the claim of production workers and fitters employed at the British Aircraft Corporation works at Filton; and if such a claim is consistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

The claim, for a revision of the method of payment, is in the early stages of procedure in the engineering industry. Under these circumstances, it is not possible to estimate the effects which the claim will have on rates and earnings or determine its consistency with the productivity, prices and incomes policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, what productivity agreement was notified to her Department accompanying the recent settlement of the Merseyside tugmen's dispute, involving an estimated increase in earnings of 13½ per cent.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will publish a table showing the number of establishments employing over 100 and under 100 persons, respectively, in manufacturing and service industries, commercial firms, agriculture and any other appropriate categories, giving the dates at which these figures applied.

On the basis of a survey relating to June, 1961, into the number and size of establishments in manufacturing industries (Orders III to XVI of the Standard Industrial Classification) it is estimated that there were over 15,000 establishments with 100 or more workers and about 40,000 with between 11 and 99. Registrations of establishments under the Selective Employ- ment Payments Act indicate that there are about 50,000 establishments in manufacturing industries with fewer than 11 employees.My Department does not have similar estimates for other industrial sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the number and proportion of the working population employed in establishments of less than 100 employees.

Of the 8,600,000 employees in employment in Great Britain in manufacturing industries (Orders III to XVI of the Standard Industrial Classification) at March, 1968, it is estimated that about one-quarter work at establishments with fewer than 100 employees. My Department does not have similar estimates for other industrial sectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what estimate she has made of the number of different goods and services subject to the early warning procedure prior to any increases in prices or charges.

The lists of goods and services subject to early warning arrangements are set out in Part A of Appendix 1 to Cmnd. 3590. There are 98 separate headings there and two more have since been added.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, (1) what proportion of the working population are employed in establishments or in occupations covered by the early warning system for notification on proposed increases in earnings;(2) what estimates she has made of the annual number of wage settlements subject to the notification procedure outline in Command Paper No. 3590.

More than three quarters of all employees are believed to be covered by collective agreements which come within the scope of the early warning system. I cannot say how many settlements of this kind are likely to be reached in any future period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Production, how many prosecutions were taken out in the area covered by Her Majesty's Inspector of Factories in Birmingham in 1966 and 1967.

The numbers of prosecutions taken by H.M. Factory Inspectors in the Midlands (Birmingham) Division, which covers Herefordshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and part of Staffordshire in 1966 and 1967 were 115 and 51 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, what were the average industrial earnings in 1946, 1951, 1960 and today.

The following information is derived from my Department's half-yearly inquiry into the earnings and hours of manual workers:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will give the latest figures of disabled unemployed registering at the Mountain Ash and Aberdare employment exchanges.

On 8th April, 1968 75 registered disabled persons were registered as unemployed at the Mountain Ash and 139 at the Aberdare employment exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) if she will give the latest available figures of the registered unemployed in the Mountain Ash and Aberdare employment exchanges; and what percentage this represents of the insured population; and(2) if she will give as a percentage of the insured population the number of unemployed men in the Mountain Ash and Aberdare employment exchanges.

In the area covered by Mountain Ash and Aberdare Employment Exchanges, there were at 8th April, 1968, 973 persons (858 men, 21 boys, 80 women and 14 girls) registered as unemployed. Of the estimated number of all employees, employed and unemployed, in the area, the total number registered as unemployed and the number of men registered as unemployed formed 4·1 and 3·6 per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when the increase in the price of coke by 20s. per ton announced on 31st April was referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and what further action she intends to take regarding the price of coke.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Finchley (Mrs. Thatcher) on 14th May.—[Vol 764, c. 239–40.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the official definition of an unnecessary price increase.

Price increases should take place only where justified under the criteria of Cmnd. 3590.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in exercise of her responsibility for prices and incomes policy, if he will publish a list of applications for price increases, by product or item received by different Government Departments during the last 12 months stating whether these were approved or rejected.

No. Notifications of proposed increases in prices under the early warning arrangements are treated as confidential, as explained in paragraph 13 of Cmnd. 2808.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will publish a list of wage and price increases which have been approved by Government Departments since November, 1967.

This information is not available without incurring undue expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, what are the criteria by which she judges whether a distributor's percentage margin should be maintained despite increases in manufacturers' prices.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 24 of the White Paper on Productivity, Prices and Incomes Policy (Cmnd. 3590) and to Report No. 55 (Cmnd. 3546) by the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the economic problems confronting Czechoslovakia, the desire of that country to purchase British plant and equipment and their shortage of sterling for this purpose, he will initiate discussions with Czechoslovakia for the purpose of granting a sterling loan or long-term favourable credits to enable them to purchase British exports.

The full range of normal E.C.G.D. export credit facilities is already available for exports to this market. These facilities include provision for longer term credit in appropriate cases for purchases of plant and equipment. We will continue to keep the Czechoslovak authorities fully informed about the wide scope of these facilities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he has taken to reduce the numbers of fraudulent applications for tax allowances made by immigrants in respect of non-existent dependents overseas, as reported upon by the Comptroller and Auditor General.

The Inland Revenue will be making more detailed checks on new claimants.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he has taken to ensure that the newly issued seven-sided 10s. piece is reasonably safe from counterfeiting.

With this coin, as with others, quality of manufacture is the best safeguard against counterfeiting.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will set out in the Official Report the actuarial calculations which led him to conclude that an increase in total distributions by Burmah Oil Limited, from 3s. to 3d. 1½d. per share, could be accompanied by a reduction in total distributions from £19·877 million to £19·366 million.

In 1966 a capital dividend of £1,657,127 was paid. As this was part of a clear pattern of such distributions forming a normal part of shareholders' income, it could be treated as part of the base for calculating the amount by which distributions out of revenue profits might be increased within the voluntary dividend restraint policy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he accepts the 200 per cent. increase in total distributions by British Steel Piling Limited, and the 4·35 per cent. increase in total distributions by Fortnum and Mason Limited as being in conformity with the Government's proposed ceiling on dividend increases; if he will set out the actuarial calculations on which his decisions in each of these cases are based; and if he will give an undertaking not to prevent such distributions in either case.

British Steel Piling Limited consulted the Treasury, and agreed to pay a level of dividend not exceeding that paid three years earlier. The Treasury are making inquiries of Fortnum and Mason Limited.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the actuarial calculations which led him to conclude that the 19·32 per cent. distribution by Gill and Duffus Limited in respect of 1967 did not exceed this company's 18·66 per cent. distribution in 1966 by more than 3½ per cent., in view of the fact that the total sum distributed to shareholders increased by over five per cent.

There was an increase in the issued capital qualifying for dividend, part in respect of converted stock and part in respect of an acquisition.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he accepts the 13·3 per cent. increase in total distributions by George E. Gray Limited, and the 15 per cent. increase in total distributions by United Carriers Limited as being in conformity with the Government's proposed ceiling on dividend increases.

Both companies consulted the Treasury, and agreed to pay dividends at levels not higher than in respect of two years ago.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds he has decided that the 20 per cent. increase in total distributions by the Amey Group Limited is in conformity with the Government's proposed dividend ceiling.

The company issued ordinary shares in exchange for acquisitions made before 19th March, 1968. The value of the shares issued was based on a commitment by the company to a final dividend rate of 8 per cent. Documentary proof to this end has been provided.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an undertaking not to interfere with the 8½ per cent. increase in total distributions announced by Lyons Irish Holdings Limited.

This company is not incorporated in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will define the types of share-splitting operations which are, and are not, respectively, compatible with the Government's proposed ceiling on dividends.

A simple sub-division of ordinary shares is not incompatible with the voluntary dividend restraint policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of bringing the retired pay and pensions of all armed forces personnel who were retired or discharged before 1960 up to the current 1960 rates and awarding to those over 60 years of age the appropriate increases on the basis that they had been retired or discharged in 1960; and what would be the cost on the basis that the increase is confined to those over 60 years of age.

None has been made on this basis, but I am having estimates prepared and will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, what is the amount of annual grant paid to the North-East Development Council; and for what purposes.

Grants to the North-East Development Council towards expenditure on publicity to promote development and growth in the North-East are borne on Subhead D of the Vote for the D.E.A. (Class 1 Vote 4). The following grants have been made in the period ended 31st March, 1968:

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs, what was the increase in the Index of Industrial Production from October, 1964 to August, 1966.

The increase (seasonally adjusted) was 3·9 per cent.

asked the Minister of Health, when he expects to receive and publish the findings of the committees of inquiry which were appointed as a result of the book, "Sans Everything."

I am not yet able to give a date.

asked the Minister of Health if he will list those nursing homes which have been registered under the Abortion Act, 1967.

Following is a list of places in England and Wales approved for the purposes of Section 1(3) of the Abortion Act, 1967 for treatment for the termination of pregnancy:

• Florence Nightingale Hospital, 19, Lisson Grove, London, N.W.1.
• Fitzroy Nuffield Nursing Home, 10–12, Bryanston Square, W.1.
• The Harley Street Nursing Home, 35, Weymouth Street, W.1.
• The London Clinic, 20, Devonshire Place, W.1.
• Twenty-Seven Welbeck Street Ltd., 27, Welbeck Street, W.1.
• Avenue Clinic, 12, Avenue Road, St. John's Wood, N.W.8.
• West Hampstead Clinic, 9, Hilltop Road, N.W.6.
• Heywood Nursing Home, London Road, Stanmore, Middlesex.
• St. Mary's Nursing Home, 46, Sunny Gardens Road, N.W.4.
• Old Court Clinic, 19, Montpelier Road, Ealing, W.5.
• H.R.H. Princess Christian's Nursing Home, 12, Clarence Road, Windsor.
• Slough Nuffield Nursing Home, Wexham Street, Slough.
• Garth Nursing Home, Horsham Road, Dorking.
• Woking Nuffield Nursing Home, Shores Road, Woking.
• Seabrook Nursing Home, 44–46, Shelley Road, Worthing.
• Hopedene Nursing Home, Wordsworth Road, Worthing.
• New Victoria Hospital, 184, Coombe Lane West, Kingston-upon-Thames.
• Royal Masonic Hospital, Ravenscourt Park, W.6.
• The Whitehaven Nursing Home, 34, Wilbury Road, Hove, Sussex.
• Victoria House, Victoria Street, Rochester.
• Hythe Nursing Home, 91, North Road, Hythe.
• Lonsdale Nursing Home, Lonsdale Gardens, Tunbridge Wells.
• Folkestone Private Clinic, 19, Grimston Gardens, Folkestone.
• Kench Hill House, Tenterden.
• Colchester Nursing Home, 19, Lexden Road, Colchester.
• Strathallan Nursing Home, Owls Road, Boscombe, Hants.
• Harnham Croft Nursing Home, 76, Harnham Road, Salisbury.
• The Acland Home, Banbury Road, Oxford.
• Lansdown Nursing Home, Lansdown Grove, Bath, Somerset.
• Chesterfield Nursing Home, Clifton Hill, Bristol 8.
• Exeter Nuffield Nursing Home, Wonford Road, Exeter.
• The Torbay Clinic, St. Luke's Road South Torquay.
• Evelyn Nursing Home, Trumpington Road, Cambridge.
• Eversleigh Nursing Home, Clarendon Place, Leamington Spa.
• River Park Nursing Home Ltd., Blackdown, Leamington Spa.
• Edgbaston Nursing Home, 22, Somerset Road, Birmingham 15.
• Salop Nuffield Nursing Home, Longden Road, Shrewsbury.
• Rosslyn Nursing Home, Hoscote Park, West Kirby, Cheshire.
• Carlton Nursing Home, 25, Park Road, Southport, Lancashire.
• Longcroft Nursing Home, Bradgate Road, Altrincham.
• Clifton Lane Nursing Home, Rotherham, Yorkshire.
• St. Wilfrid's Nursing Home, 51, Bawtry Road, Bessacar, Yorks.
• Falloden Nursing Home, 4, Allerton Park, Leeds 7.
• Mountfields Nursing Home, 77, Clarendon Road, Leeds 2.
• Purey Cust Nursing Home, Precentor's Court, York.
• Duchy House Nursing Home, Queen's Road, Harrogate.
• Belvedere Nursing Home, Belvedere Road, Scarborough.
• Hull Nuffield Nursing Home, Westbourne Avenue, Hull, Yorks.
• Northern Hospital, 1A, Osborne Avenue, Newcastle upon Tyne 2.
• The Poplars Nursing Home, Tonbridge Road, Maidstone.
• The Nursing Home, 415, New Cross Road, London, S.E.14.
• The Lady Margaret Nursing Home, 87, Mattock Lane, Ealing, London, W.5.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what was the cost of installing television annunciators in the Palace of Westminster; and what Vote it will be paid for; why they are being kept, in view of the fact that the old annunciators are more efficient; why a duplicate service is needed; and whether, in order to set an example of economy to the nation, he will arrange for the removal of the television annunciators.

The cost of installing the existing television annunciators was £1,500, and there is an annual hiring charge of £2,500. It will be paid for under the Class 9, Vote 10 Houses of Parliament Buildings, accounted for by the Ministry of Public Building and Works. The old annunciators are wearing out, and are very expensive to replace; the substitution of television annunciators will show a considerable saving to public funds.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what is the cost of the experiment of radio recordings of the proceedings of the House of Commons; when it will be ended; and under which Vote it will be paid for.

The estimated cost of the experiment of radio recording the proceedings of the House of Commons is £4,000 by the B.B.C. and £110 by the Ministry of Public Building and Works. The experiment ends on Friday, 17th May. The B.B.C. costs will be paid for by the House of Commons' Vote, and a Supplementary Estimate for this purpose will be introduced in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what total sum he estimates would be raised in a full financial year from standardising the charge for lunches for pupils in special schools for handicapped children in Scotland at ninepence.

£36,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase in revenue, above that at present raised, he estimates is to be obtained in a full year from the standardisation of charges for lunches in special schools for handicapped children in Scotland at ninepence.

£20,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pupils are presently enrolled at special schools for handicapped children in Scotland; how many of these lunch in school; and what is the total cost of each meal at the present time.

In January of this year 9,966, of whom 8,985 attended day schools. Almost all of those attending day schools lunched in school. The average cost of a school lunch is about 2s. 8d.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many certificated teachers have resigned on the ground of objection of the proposed alterations in status from permanent to temporary staff consequent on failure to register with the General Teaching Council.

The resignation of a teacher is a matter for his education authority. I do not, therefore, have any information relative to the hon. Member's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, under his regulations, qualified teachers who fail to register with the General Teaching Council on grounds of principle and who have received salary increases from 1st April, 1968 are required to repay any part of the increased salary payments at a later date.

The salary scales in the Scottish Teachers' Salaries Memorandum, 1968, which replaced salaries regulations from 1st April, 1968, apply only to registered teachers in schools and teachers in further education. The salaries of other teachers are a matter between them and their employers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of Scottish qualified teachers are graduates in Scotland.

In December, 1967, graduates accounted for 42·5 per cent. of the total number of certificated teachers employed in schools, further education and local educational administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the housing accommodation rents and other facilities available to workers and potential workers in Aberdeen advance factories; and how many advance factories remain unoccupied and unproductive because of difficulty in housing their expected potential workers.

Of five advance factories completed or under construction, two have not yet been taken up. Aberdeen Corporation makes special arrangements, in consultation with industrial developers, for the housing of incoming essential workers, and I have no reason to think that these two factories are still unlet through lack of housing.