asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest effects of sanctions on Rhodesia.

I would refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on this subject in the debate on 27th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about the withdrawal of Rhodesian and British passports in connection with the policy of sanctions; and what review procedure has been instituted.

I have nothing to add to what I said on 14th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs when he now expects that normal diplomatic relations with Tanzania will be resumed.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary's reply to the hon. Member for Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt) on 5th December, 1967.—[Vol. 755, c. 1127.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the progress of the current defence discussions with Australia.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. and gallant Member for Winchester (Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles) on 30th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the decision of Her Majesty's Government to step up sanctions against the illegal Rhodesian régime, he will now prevent the British Lions rugby team entering the colony of Rhodesia.

As the House knows, the British Lions Rugby Team have already started their South African tour. Both my hon. Friend the Minister with special responsibilities for sport, and the Commonwealth Office urged them before their departure not to include Rhodesia in the tour. We have, however, no power to prevent them from travelling to Rhodesia if they are determined to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs in how many cases he has authorised the confiscation of vaccination or inoculation certificates from travellers arriving in this country; and for what reason.

None; the second half of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent talks with the Governor of Hong Kong.

I welcomed the opportunity to engage in a thorough review with the Governor of the present situation and current problems in Hong Kong.These were most useful discussions and I was very interested to hear of the progress being made in certain fields of domestic administration, particularly in measures for the improvement of labour conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs to what extent procedure in capital cases in British colonies remains as stated by the then Secretary of State on 11th August, 1947.

There has been no change in the procedure referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs how many people have emigrated permanently from the Falkland Islands in the last three years.

113 people.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what are the results of the discussions he has had with the Government of Zambia about the effect of the economic reforms announced by President Kaunda on 19th April on British companies and investment.

We have received no further details from the Zambian Government and, therefore, have nothing as yet to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary on 14th May to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).—[Vol. 764, c. 223.]

asked the Minister of Power what is the annual cost of advertising for solid fuel central heating by the National Coal Board.

I am asking the Chairman of the Board to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had with the National Coal Board concerning price increases of 20s. per ton on domestic and industrial coke from 1st October next, 15s. per ton for Phurnacite ovoids and 10s. on screened nuts; whether the National Board for Prices and Incomes has authorised each and every such increase; and whether he will make a statement.

The Board notified their proposals to me under the early warning arrangements. After detailed discussions with the Board, the Government concluded that the increases were justified against the criteria. The proposals were also examined by the Industrial and Domestic Coal Consumers' Councils. They were not referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Minister of Power, what experiments are being carried out in this country on the hydrogenation of coal; and if he will state the cost involved.

None.

asked the Minister of Power, whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the members of the National Coal Board, their salaries, dates of appointment and of expiry of term of office.

The information is as set out on page 9 of the White Paper on Public Boards, Command 3493, published in December, 1967.

asked the Minister of Power, if he will issue a general direction to the National Coal Board to defer the closure of pits until other forms of industrial work are brought into the affected areas.

No, the decision to close a pit is taken by the Board in the light of financial, commercial, and technical factors. The Government is continuing to take steps to attract industry to areas affected by pit closures.

asked the Minister of Power, having regard to the average retail price for petrol at 5s. 6d. per gallon, comprising 3s. 11d. duty and Is. 7d. basic for the petrol, and 4d. increase in duty on 19th March 1968, what steps he is now taking to reduce the price of petrol and oil as a contribution to the reduction of prices in accordance with Her Majesty's Government's policy; and whether he will make a statement on petrol and oil prices.

The temporary surcharge on petrol and other oil products, resulting from last summer's Middle East crisis, is currently under review. I will inform the House of the outcome in due course.

asked the Minister of Power if he has granted permission for the use of oil-fired boilers at the Thorpe Marsh power station.

No; nor are there plans to convert the coal fired boilers at Thorpe Marsh.I understand work is in progress at the station to increase the storage capacity of the fuel used for the initial firing of the cod burning boilers.

asked the Minister of Health what was the number of price reductions in the products of company A mentioned in paragraph 21, Civil Appropriations Accounts 1966–67, during the period between 1962 and 1967 and his estimate of the total savings made on these drugs by the National Health Service.

During this period the prices of 17 products of the company had been reduced, 4 of them on two occasions, resulting in a cumulative saving of at least £1½ million in terms of the 1962 prices. This excludes price reductions which came into effect in December, 1967.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the administrative procedure he proposes should be followed by any employee within the National Health Service who may feel aggrieved under those provisions of the Race Relations Bill relating to employment.

Guidance to employing authorities on such a procedure must await enactment of the Bill.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that a journey between Lands End and the emergency maternity facilities at Redruth or Truro could take up to two hours on the overcrowded roads of West Cornwall in the summer months; whether he is satisfied that a possible travelling time of this length is acceptable for an emergency maternity case; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, but it is most unlikely. Where an estimated delay would not be medically acceptable, the patient could be admitted to West Cornwall Hospital, Penzance, pending the arrival of the emergency flying squad.

asked the Minister of Health whether, pending the establishment of emergency maternity facilities in the Penzance area, he will seek to arrange through the courtesy of the Royal Naval Air Station, Culdrose, emergency helicopter facilities for the removal of patients from the Lands End peninsula to Truro in those cases where overcrowded roads could lead to unacceptable delays.

Arrangements already exist for the emergency transport of patients by Service helicopters in exceptional circumstances. It is for the local health authority to decide in what circumstances to call upon this form of transport.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in the light of the closure of the maternity beds at St. Michael's Hospital, Hayle, he will consider the setting up of facilities to deal with Caesarian sections and other maternity emergencies in the Penzance area.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if he will authorise hospital authorities and health centres to purchase Mallory batteries for post-aural hearing aids at wholesale rates for retailing to persons suffering from a loss of hearing at a discount of the retailers' margin of 25 per cent.

No.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now announce the names of the members of the working party on the hospital pharmaceutical service.

The names of the members are as follows:

• Sir Noel Hall (Chairman).
• Miss N. Brierley.
• W. R. L. Brown, Esq., Ph.D., B.Ph., F.P.S.
• J. Crooks, Esq., M.D., F.R.C.P.(Ed.), F.R.C.P.(Glas.), M.R.C.P.
• J. S. S. Fairley, Esq., M.D., B.Chir.
• E. J. Fitchett, Esq., F.P.S.
• W. Macfarlane, Esq.
• A. Roxburgh, Esq., F.P.S.
• E. A. G. Spanswick, Esq.
• C. C. Stevens, Esq., LL.B.
• D. M. Thomas, Esq., F.H.A., F.C.I.S.

The working party has already held its first meeting.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to give more publicity to the benefits for new owner-occupiers of the Mortgage Option Scheme.

All qualifying lenders have copies of the explanatory booklet which is available to any new applicant for a mortgage. Other bodies such as Citizens' Advice Bureaux also have copies. My right hon. Friend considers that at present this publicity is fulfilling its purpose.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that, apart from the 2,976 houses to be demolished for road widening, there is insufficient land available in Salford at the present time to meet the city's housing needs, excluding the proposed road widening demolitions; and if he will provide special assistance to the city to enable it to acquire the land required for housing.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 20th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun).—[Vol. 765, c. 35–6.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that in the proposed major road re-widening through the city of Salford 2,976 houses are to be demolished, and that of these 1,176 are fit for habitation and 1,800 unfit for habitation; and what arrangements he is making to make land available, including the possibility of overspill land, to replace these houses.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 20th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun).—[Vol. 765, c. 36.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the new compensation to be paid for building land in Salford following the implementation of the proposal in the White Paper, Old Houses into New Homes.

Much will depend upon the future rate of slum clearance, the number of owner-occupiers affected and the number of houses qualifying for payments in respect of good maintenance. However, in either of the past two years the additional compensation would probably have been in the region of £40,000–£50,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he proposes that the 7s. 6d. maximum on council rents will apply to houses let by county councils.

The principle of moderation as regards rent increases should be observed as far as practicable by county councils as well as local housing authorities. Provision has been made in the Prices and Incomes Bill for the extension to county council houses, if necessary, of the proposed powers to limit rent increases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now give further details of the inquiry into the collapse of the flats at Canning Town on 16th May.

I have today formally appointed this Inquiry. I have been fortunate in securing the services of Sir Alfred Pugsley, Professor of Civil Engineering at Bristol University and of Sir Owen Saunders, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and Vice Chancellor of London University to join Mr. Hugh Griffiths, Q.C., who had earlier agreed to act as Chairman. The Inquiry will be opened at Newham Town Hall at 11 a.m. on Thursday, 30th May. Notice of the Inquiry is being published in the Press, including instructions to those who may wish to make representations or be heard at the Inquiry. Copies are available in the Library.The terms of reference are:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he now expects the Greater London Council to submit to him the Greater London Development Plan as required by the London Government Act, 1963.

After consultations with the Greater London Council and the London Boroughs' Association, my right hon. Friend has extended from 31st December, 1968 to 31st July, 1969 the date by which the Greater London Development Plan must be submitted to him. This extension has been made to allow more time for the Greater London Council to assimilate the results of their extensive survey work and for consultations with the London boroughs.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sources of statistical information are available to the Government to establish the level of public expenditure spent in the fiscal year 1966–67 on imports as a result of spending by Government Departments on imported semi-finished and finished manufactured goods.

Government Departments maintain records of their contracts for the purchase of imported manufactured goods.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sources of statistical information are available to the Government to establish the level of public expenditure spent in the fiscal year 1967–68 on imports, as a result of spending by Government Departments on imported semi-finished and finished manufactured goods.

I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to him today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will reveal all the facts concerning United Kingdom reserves, in order to induce general acceptance of the prices and incomes policy.

I have nothing to add to what I said on Monday, 13th May.I explained at some length in my Budget Speech both the problems and the opportunities confronting us on the balance of payments, and the vital importance of our prices and incomes policy. —[Vol. 749, c. 859–864.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has any statement to make on the recent talks between the Governor of Hong Kong and Her Majesty's Government about Hong Kong's sterling balances and the problems arising from the devaluation of sterling.

I have nothing at present to add to my reply of 14th May, 1968 to the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne).—[Vol. 764, c. 222.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate size of the nation's short-term debts; to whom mostly they are owed; and what are his proposals for funding them, and when.

Details of the United Kingdom's monetary liabilities are published in "Economic Trends"; and some further information about their distribution is given in the Bank of England's Quarterly Bulletin. On the last part of the hon. Member's Question I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 14th May.—[Vol. 764, c. 1014–15.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what terms and conditions of employment he lays down when appointing part-time directors to the Court of the Bank of England.

All members of the Court of Directors of the Bank of England are appointed by Her Majesty The Queen. Their tenure of office is governed by the Bank of England Act, 1946, and their powers, duties and remuneration by the Bank of England Charter, 1946.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the number of months since October, 1964, in which Bank Rate has been at 7 per cent. or higher; and what is the last previous period of equivalent length in which the Bank Rate was at 7 per cent. or higher for the same number of months or more.

Since October, 1964, Bank Rate has stood at 7 per cent. or above for a total of about 19 months. There is no previous period of equivalent length in which the Bank Rate was at 7 per cent. or higher for the same number of months.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what was the value of defence contracts placed in development areas, and Northern Ireland, in 1966, 1967 and to the latest convenient date in 1968, respectively; and how this compares with orders placed in other parts of the United Kingdom;(2) what was the value of defence contracts placed in Northern Ireland in 1966, 1967 and to the latest convenient date in 1968, respectively.

Figures for calendar years cannot be furnished without a disproportionate amount of effort, but those for financial years 1965–66, 1966–67 and the first half of 1967–68 are given below. Figures for the second half of 1967–68 are not yet available.

	Development Areas £m.	Northern Ireland £m.	Other Areas of U.K. £m.
1965–66	68·9	4·3	747·1
1966–67	109·8	7·1	751·2
First half of 1967–68	25·8	1·8	356·2
(The above figures include defence contracts placed by the Ministry of Technology.)

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of defence contracts for clothing, placed in Northern Ireland, during 1966, 1967 and to the latest convenient date in 1968, respectively.

The figures, not readily available for calendar years, are as follows:

£ Million
1965–66	…	…	…	1·22
1966–67	…	…	…	0·98
1967–68	…	…	…	0·51

asked the Sec retary of State for Defence what was the purpose of the recent voyage of H.M.S. "Britannia" to Scotland; how many days she was at sea; how many officers and men were on board; and what were their ranks and weekly pay.

H.M.Y. Britannia's visit to Scotland was made in connection with Her Majesty The Queen Mother's engagements. The ship was away from her base for 12 days. I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to his questions on 22nd January and 14th February, 1968, about complements, ranks and pay of the crew.—[Vol. 757, c. 41; Vol. 758, c. 347–8.]

asked the Sec retary of State for Defence how much fuel was used by H.M.S. "Britannia" on her recent visit to Scotland; and what were the maintenance costs for the return voyage.

Approximately 300 tons; on maintenance costs, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend's Question on 22nd January, 1968. —[Vol. 757, c. 41.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) whether he will instruct the Commanding Officer of 107 Field Squadron that in constructing the road between Camasunary and Coruisk, he is not to blast Bad Step; and that he should be mindful of the conservation and preservation of the amenities of the countryside;(2) what were the dates during which the 75 Engineer Regiment (V), based on the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve centre, Oldham Road, Failsworth, Manchester, intend to operate in the Camasunary-Coruisk area of Skye.

The Royal Engineers have been asked by Inverness County Council to carry out improvements to mountain rescue facilities in the Camasunary-Coruisk area of Skye.The proposals which are being studied by the Countryside Commission for Scotland do not now, I understand, involve the blasting of "Bad Step".The work is due to be carried out between 8th and 22nd June by 75 Engineer Regiment (V), a T.A.V.R. unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence who were the parties and the amenity interests consulted before plans were put in hand for engineering work in the Camasunary-Coruisk area of Skye; and what were the details of their replies.

Inverness County Council are responsible for consultations with interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the cost to the public funds of the work to be undertaken by 107 Field Squadron Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve in the Camasunary-Coruisk area of Skye.

The extra cost to public funds, none of which will fall on Service votes, will be about £1,600.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether contracts for Service clothing are placed outside the United Kingdom; and what was their value in 1966, 1967 and to the latest convenient date in 1968, respectively.

The value of contracts place from the United Kingdom with firms abroad is approximately:

				£
1965–66	…	…	…	10,000
1966–67	…	…	…	21,000
1967–68	…	…	…	20,000

These figures are not readily available by calendar years. In addition, certain purchases have been made abroad by local purchase.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the instructions given to Army units undertaking engineering work which seriously affects amenity and is opposed by the majority of outdoor organisations in the United Kingdom.

The Royal Engineers normally undertake work involving public amenities at the request of local authorities who are responsible for consultation with appropriate interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance is being considered by the special inter-departmental committee on race relations for the assistance of local education authorities in the planning of education for the promotion of racial tolerance and harmony.

My right hon. Friend and I have been visiting schools in immigrant areas and will be considering how best to help in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance it is proposed that the special inter-departmental committee on race relations should give to local education authorities to assist them in the planning of education for the promotion of racial tolerance.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave today to my hon. Friend, the Member for Glasgow, Kelvingrove (Dr. Miller).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date and in what terms his Department received a communication from the Secretary of the West Ham Trades Council regarding the 150 per cent. increase during the past two years in charges for certain golf courses, complaining of these increases pricing working men off the golf course; and what action he has taken.

The West Ham Trades Council wrote to me on 8th May forwarding the following resolution.

"We deplore the increase being made in April to the cost of a round of golf at the Greater London Council courses at Hainault and Beckenham.

This puts increases up to 150 per cent. in two years, and is pricing the working man off the golf course.

We feel this should be brought to the notice of the Prices and Incomes Board."

I am looking into the questions raised by this letter in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, when his approval is likely to be given to the building of a new primary school in the Loughborough area of Lambeth, in view of the pressure on primary school places in that borough.

No formal proposals have yet been made to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, when his approval is likely to be given to the establishment of a primary school of 560 places at the site and building now occupied by the Brixton School of Building in Sussex Road, in view of the pressure on primary school places in the Lambeth, Norwood, constituency.

I shall announce my decision as soon as possible after the statutory period of public notice expire on 5th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what evidence he has of the extent to which the spread of plantar warts is encouraged by barefoot physical education in senior girls' schools; and if he will make a statement.

Evidence on the relation of barefoot physical education, whether in senior girls schools or elsewhere, to the spread of plantar warts is conflicting. The disease is contagious and children with warts should be excluded from swimming, showers at school, and taking part in barefoot activities until the condition is cured. Floors on which barefoot activities are conducted should be in a sound condition with a surface that can be readily cleaned, and should be treated at the end of the day with a standard disinfectant. The floors of the changing room and shower bath should also be disinfected.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of qualified teachers in England are graduates.

21 per cent. For further details I would refer the hon. Lady to "Statistics of Education, 1966" Volume 4, Table 19.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he will seek to amend the Universities and Other Awards Regulations so as to provide that where a parent refuses to disclose details of income a local education authority may offer a full grant on a discretionary basis.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the students of the Universities of Oxford and Cambridge, respectively, were born in England.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Postmaster-General what estimate he has formed of the probability that, if the planning of microwave communications systems within the United Kingdom is based on the assumption that the radio radius of the earth equals its true radius, the performance of such systems will be impaired by unfavourable propagation conditions for more than a total of 60 seconds in any two year period.

The performance of such systems would be impaired by unfavourable propagation conditions for about 5 per cent. of the time. This is why we do not base the planning of our microwave communications system on this assumption.

asked the Postmaster-General what research has been conducted by his Department or other official bodies into the behaviour of the refractor index of the atmosphere in the first few hundred feet above the earth's surface; and what probability this research has revealed that subrefraction to reduce the radio radius of the earth to a value less than its true radius will be experienced in any part of the United Kingdom.

Research work into the behaviour of the refractive index of the lower atmosphere has been conducted by the Science Research Council (formerly D.S.I.R.) in Bedfordshire over a period of several years. Based on this work, my experts estimate that subrefraction, sufficient to reduce the radio radius of the earth to a value less than its true radius, exists for about 5 per cent. of the time in the South of England.

asked the Postmaster General how many branches of the National Federation of Sub-Postmasters have made representations that his Department should be responsible for the cost of installing anti-bandit screens in all sub-post offices; and if he will make a statement on his reply to these representations.

Representations have been forwarded to me from 14 branches of the Federation. I am reviewing Post Office policy in this matter and will make a statement in due course.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make available to the Gibraltar Government a special grant to enable them to purchase s.s. "Caronia" from the Cunard Company for a tourist hotel or similar purposes.

I am willing to give full consideration to any schemes put forward by the Government of Gibraltar for the development of tourism. I should, of course, have to consider whether the schemes would be economically viable. It seems doubtful whether this particular scheme would be.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to have top-level discussions with Mr. Kosygin and other European Heads of State to arrive at a common policy with regard to a German peace treaty.

As I indicated in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) on 7th May, I do not think that an initiative of this sort would be profitable in present circumstances.— [Vol. 764, c. 60–1.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will instruct members of Her Majesty's Government that they should not visit Spain, in their official capacity, under present conditions.

Since no visits have taken place for a long time and none are foreseen at the moment, such instructions would not be needed. If in the future the possibility of such a visit arose it would, of course, be examined in the light of circumstances at the time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is the final out-turn of the cost of agricultural support in the United Kingdom for 1967–68.

The latest outturn figure (subject to final adjustment and audit) of the cost of agricultural support in the United Kingdom in the financial year 1967–68 is £261·7 million. This is £8·0 million less than the forecast shown in Appendix V of the 1968 Annual Review White Paper (Cmnd. 3558). Details are:

			Provisional Outturn 1967–68
			£ million
I. IMPLEMENTATION OF AGRICULTURAL PRICE GUARANTEES
Cereals:
Wheat and rye	…	11·0
Barley	…	23·5
Oats and mixed corn	…	7·4
41·9
Potatoes	…	…	1·8
Eggs	…	…	19·2
Fatstock:
Cattle	…	41·1
Sheep	…	10·6
Pigs	…	12·0
63·7
Wool	…	…	8·5
Total I	…	…	135·1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what regional variations in price are taken into account in the Index of Retail Prices; and whether Scotland is treated as a region in compiling these statistics.

The Index of Retail Prices measures changes in the average level of retail prices of the commodities and services purchased by the great majority of households in the United Kingdom as a whole. The index is not compiled on a regional basis. Prices of food and many other items are collected in 200 Employment Exchange areas spread throughout the United Kingdom, including 20 in Scotland, and variations in movements in these areas are therefore reflected in the index.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity of the staff of the Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Training Board to whom £15,226 was paid in salaries during the financial year ended 31st March, 1967, how many were in Scotland; and what is the total amount of salaries of the Board's staff in Scotland.

These are matters for the Board itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what number of men were in employment; and what was the total number of persons in employment in Wales in June for each of the years 1960 to 1967.

Following is the information:

Estimated numbers of employees in employment in Wales
				(Thousands)
			Males	Total, males and females
June, 1960	…	…	670	948
June, 1961	…	…	673	957
June, 1962	…	…	668	958
June, 1963	…	…	669	962
June, 1964	…	…	672	977
June, 1965	…	…	670	985
June, 1966	…	…	664	986
June, 1967	…	…	640	952

A revised method of estimation was introduced in 1965. If the 1964 estimates had been produced by the same method, they would have been 673,000 for males and 979,000 for all employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) what proportions of workers employed in manufacturing and service industries, respectively, changed their jobs during 1966 and 1967 throughout the United Kingdom; and what were the corresponding proportions within each nation of the United Kingdom, and within each of the ecenomic planning regions;2 in what proportion of cases did those workers who changed their employment during 1967 move into jobs whose basic rates of pay were more than 3½ per cent. higher than that obtaining in their previous occupations;whether she has any information regarding the proportion of those workers who, in changing their jobs during 1967, moved for the first time into salaried occupations with provision for incremental improvements in annual pay.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs when the report of the Secretary-General of the United Nations on the effects of the possible uses of nuclear weapons and on the security and economic implications for states of the acquisition and further development of these weapons will be available from Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

The full text of the Secretary-General's report will be placed on sale by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as soon as copies are received from the United Nations Secretariat. The Stationery Office have been unable to obtain a firm indication of the date of despatch from New York, but hope to have copies on sale within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will give details of Her Majesty's Government's present policy with regard to the return of the Czechoslovakian gold confiscated early in the war.

Her Majesty's Government consider that the gold, which is held by the Tripartite Commission for the Restitution of Monetary Gold, should be returned to the Czechoslovak Government. Although the United Kingdom Commissioner has authorised its release. its return to Czechoslovakia is not yet possible, for the reason which I gave in my reply to the hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) on 6th May.—[Vol. 764, c. 33–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether, in view of the United Nations grants provided with the support of Her Majesty's Government for the relief and assistance of victims of the policies of apartheid, he will move for similar relief and assistance of victims of the policies of Communism.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now ensure that for male Commonwealth immigrants entering this country he will in future, in addition to identifying those with entry permits, also arrange for figures to be available of those who enter this country under the following categories, namely, males admitted on the grounds that they are engaged to be married and males between the ages of 17 and 21 years making up family units.

In the future we shall be able to give the numbers of males admitted as fiancés. There are difficulties about extracting figures in the other category mentioned but I am considering the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what disciplinary action has been taken in respect of the London Airport officers who signed the recent letter about immigration control.

The action of these officers was in breach of a long-standing rule against taking any active part in any matter which is of public or political controversy. An inquiry made in accordance with the normal Civil Service disciplinary procedure has now been completed; this took account of all the circumstances, including representations made by the officers about their difficulties in dealing with would-be evaders of the immigration control. As a result, one officer has been transferred away from the Immigration Service, and 37 others have received a formal reprimand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive his experts' advice on the problems arising from methedrine abuse and dependence.

They are being urgently studied, but I cannot yet say when the report of the Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence will be available.

asked the Minister of Social Security what is the total saving from the reduction in benefit, for all hospital patients for the last five years.

On the latest estimates, the amounts involved were as follows:

£ million
1963	1964	1965	1966	1967
13	13½	15½	16	16

asked the Minister of Social Security what was the total saving from the reductions in benefit during the first 52 weeks in hospital in each of the last five years.

On the latest estimates, the amounts involved were as follows:

£ million
1963	1964	1965	1966	1967
2	2	2½	2½	2½

asked the Minister of Social Security what would be the total saving from the reduction in benefits if the qualifying period was fixed as being after one week in hospital instead of the existing eight weeks qualifying period for the first full financial year under the increased benefits announced on 26th October, 1967.

Information on which to make a precise calculation is not available, but it is estimated that the total amount involved might be of the order of £23 million a year, compared with something of the order of £18 million a year at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will break down the sum of £651,000 of grants offered by his Department in Scotland in the year 1967…68.

The information is as follows:

£000'
	Sport and other recreations (S.I.C. 882)	Catering, hotels, etc. (S.I.C. 884)
Highlands and Islands	Nil	6
Glasgow arid Central Belt	Nil	445
Remainder	10	190
	10	641

Information to provide further analysis could not be secured without undue expenditure of time and money.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give for Great Britain the length of trunk, principal and other roads, respectively, at 31st March, 1968, and the length of motorways included in each category.

This information is not yet available for 31st March, 1968. As at 31st March, 1967 the mileages were:

Motorway	All purpose trunk road	Propose principal roads	Others	Total
461	8,332	20,239	173,566	202,598

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents have occurred since January, 1967 on the Bromham Bridge on the A.428 Bedford to Northampton road, which have necessitated repairs to the stonework of the bridge.

Since January, 1967 there have been six separate accidents which involved damage to the bridge parapet.

asked the Minister of Transport by what date he expects to be in possession of the estimated costs of a Government social grant for a passenger rail service calling at the Yorkshire stations of Greenfield and Marsden.

Greenfield and Marsden are served by the Manchester to Huddersfield stopping service. My right hon. Friend consented to the closure of seven intermediate stations along the route on 8th May, 1968, and deferred a decision on another five, including Greenfield and Marsden. Since a reduced service will not be introduced before September, 1968, an application for grant, giving the estimated costs and revenue for the service, will not be submitted by the Railways Board until November, 1968 to permit the Board to have at least a month's operating experience.