asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give further assistance to speed up the transfer of persons living in slum conditions in Glasgow to new housing in overspill areas.

The new towns are making an increased contribution from their growing housing programmes. My right hon. Friend is also discussing with Glasgow Corporation and surrounding authorities the possibility of developments outside Glasgow in which houses would be built for letting to tenants nominated by Glasgow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to reduce the waiting list at the Glasgow Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital.

The waiting list has, in fact, been reduced since the end of 1967, but I am afraid there will still be difficulties until the new building for the Royal Hospital for Sick Children is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to act upon the recommendation of the National Board for Prices and Incomes that council house rents in Scotland should be raised to reasonable levels.

I refer to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Gal-braith).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on rents of local authority, Scottish Special Housing Association, and New Town Development Corporation houses, following publication of the report on the subject of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

As regards the rents of local authority houses. I would refer my hon. Friend to the answers I have given today to my hon. Friends the Members for Aberdeen South and Dun-fermline. My right hon. Friend will apply the same policy by administrative means to the rents of houses owned by the Scottish Special Housing Association and the New Town Development Corporations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current average level of municipal house rents in Scotland; and what is the current average rate subsidy on each house.

In November, 1967 the average standard rent was £48 16s. 0d. No comparable figure is available for the average rates contribution but it is estimated to have been £37 per house in 1965–66.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Alcan and British Aluminium in regard to siting an aluminium smelter in the Moray Firth area.

My Departments have throughout been closely involved in the discussions which the Government have had with both these companies about their proposals to establish new aluminium smelting capacity in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from education authorities against the introduction of British Standard Time.

I have received representations from Berwickshire and from Perth and Kinross education authorities. In addition, the representations from county councils listed in my reply to the Question by the hon. Member for Hamilton (Mrs. Ewing) on 29th April included references to the disadvantages of school children travelling in morning darkness. —[Vol. 763, c. 134–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received regarding the proposal to introduce British Standard Time; and what reply he has sent.

Since the Government's decision was announced on 22nd June, 1967, I have received no representations in favour and about 114 representations against. Most have come from local authorities some of which have changed their view since their associations were consulted in 1966 but they also include a number from private firms and individuals. In addition, four hon. Members have sent me petitions.All these representations have been, or are being, acknowledged but no other reply has been sent except where information was specifically requested. As the hon. Member is aware, the Government have reconsidered this matter in view of the many representations received and have tabled an amendment to the Bill for an experimental period of three years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of transport of civil servants serving the Scottish Office between Scotland and London in the last year to the most convenient date.

For the 12 months to 31st March, 1968 the cost was £73,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consultations he has had with the Scottish pharmacists on the working machinery for prescription charges.

The Scottish pharmacists have agreed to co-operate in the arrangements to be introduced on 10th June subject to a satisfactory settlement beforehand of their remuneration for the additional work involved; on this discussions are proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost of exemption in the payment of prescription charges.

I estimate that the cost of the exemptions in Scotland will be £2·5 million in a full year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from organisations asking for exemption from Purchase Tax of drugs dispensed on doctors' prescriptions; and what reply he sent to Scottish pharmacists.

Representations have been received from the Scottish Old Age Pensions Association about the exclusion of women aged between 60 and 65 from the exemption arrangements. I have already answered a Question by my hon. Friend about the pharmacists.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now announce his plans for the integration of the fee paying schools with the local authority comprehensive school system.

My right hon. Friend is awaiting the outcome of Glasgow's examination of the future of its fee-paying and selective schools. Edinburgh has reaffirmed its desire to continue its schools on the existing basis, and my right hon. Friend is still considering the position there.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to be able to approve the plans drawn up by the local authority at his request for the integration of the fee-paying local authority schools in Edinburgh and Glasgow, respectively, with the comprehensive school system.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to make a statement on the plan for expansion of the Borders commissioned by him from Edinburgh University.

I have asked local authorities in the Borders, and the Borders Economic Consultative Group, to let me have their views on the consultants' Report by 31st July. Further consultation will no doubt be needed, and this will be carried out as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further discussions he will have before implementing the recommendations of Central Borders: A Plan for Expansion.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. David Steel).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will commission a planning and economic survey into those parts of the Western Borders which have been omitted from Central Borders: A Plan for Expansion.

I have asked the Borders Economic Consultative Group to include, in its consideration of the Consultants' Report on the Central Borders, the implications of the Report's proposals for all parts of its area—including the Langholm district.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of his proposals to establish a statutory body in Scotland with the powers and funds necessary to promote tourism.

I cannot yet add to the Answer given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Board of Trade, to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on Wednesday, 13th March.—[Vol. 760, c. 1347.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue a general direction to the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board, to consider with industry plans for a 200-ton a year heavy water plant based on an interruptible power supply.

My right hon. Friend does not think that this would be an appropriate subject for a general direction, and in any event the Board is always ready to enter into discussions with any industry which wishes to begin operations in its area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increases in police manpower have taken place in the first four months of this year; and How these compare with the same period in 1967.

In the first four months of this year the total manpower available to the police increased by 210, of whom 109 are regular police officers. In the first four months of last' year the manpower increase was 55 but this figure concealed a loss of 18 regular police officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has considered the proposal by the National Board for Prices and Incomes that the operations of the North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetlands Shipping Company Limited should be subsidised from the rates; what consideration is being given to extending this proposal to other services presently subsidised from Government funds; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend will be consulting the company, both county councils and the Highlands and Islands Development Board about this proposal, and will be considering all its implications.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the subsidies paid to Messrs. MacBrayne, what proposals he has for assisting transport and keeping down freight rates to Orkney and Shetland.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply which I have given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that education officers from Canada are making direct approaches to teachers in Lanarkshire asking them to accept teaching appointments in Canada; and if he will address an open letter to these teachers, on the lines of that sent by Her Majesty's Government to the atomic scientists, urging them not to go.

I understand from Lanarkshire Education Authority that it is unaware of direct approaches to teachers in its employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers action groups consisting of qualified non-registerecl teachers have been formed; where, and how many, are in each group; and what: representations he has received from such groups.

I have been told of the formation of one such group but I do not know how many teachers have joined it. No group has made any representations to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will put forward proposals to raise the status of courses in ophthalmic optics in Scotland as has been done in England and Wales.

My Department is at present considering with the Scottish National Committee of Ophthalmic Opticians and other interested parties the possible introduction of a degree course for students of optics in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make funds available to building societies and to other bodies lending money on house mortgages who are unwilling to lend against the security of dwellings which are restricted to use as agricultural or horticultural dwellings.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children, in each of the last three years, had been admitted to institutional care following a failure to secure their adoption owing to a shortage of families of the appropriate religious affiliation.

I regret that I have no information on this.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children were in care in Scotland at the latest available date in local authority homes, in denominational homes, in non-denominational homes and placed with foster parents, respectively.

The latest available information relates to 30th November, 1967. On that day there were 1,861 children in care in Scotland in local authority children's homes; 2,115 children in care in denominational children's homes; 349 children in care in non-denominational children's homes; and 6,430 children in care placed with foster parents.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ensure that Scotland will have two posts of senior registrar for doctors engaged in the arthritic and rheumatic diseases, to ensure a system of training young doctors in this subject.

It is not practicable to subdivide the senior registrar establishment into limited sub-specialities, but two Scottish hospital regions offer an opportunity for training in rheumatology to holders of posts of senior registrar in general medicine.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the quorum for meetings of the Scottish Economic Planning Council; and how many committees it has.

There is no quorum. Three.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a breakdown of the sum of £264,000 of grants offered by the Highlands and Islands Development Board in Scotland in the year 1967–68.

The total amount of grants paid by the Board for all purposes in 1967–68 was £560,256. I assume, however, that the hon. Member is referring to the figure given on 3rd May [Vol. 763. c. 245] by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury relating to assistance provided by the Highlands and Islands Development Board for tourist projects in the year 1967–68. The breakdown of this figure is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the provisions in the Schools Scotland Code which ensure that qualified teachers who have not registered will retain their salary and promotion prospects.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that the hundreds of qualified non-registered teachers who were transferred at midnight on 31st March from permanent into temporary staff retain their security of employment, in promotion prospects and in the right to payment of salaries fixed by scale.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of doctors in general practice in Scotland at the latest available date, and the corresponding figure for October, 1964; and what was the total number of doctors graduating from Scottish medical schools and entering general practice in Scotland, respectively, in the intervening period.

There were 2,728 doctors providing general medical services under the National Health Service in Scotland on 1st April, 1968, compared with 2,834 on 1st October, 1964. These figures include all principals, assistants and trainee assistants.In the three years to 1st October, 1967 —the latest period for which figures are available—there were 1,277 graduates from Scottish medical schools. In the same period there were 381 entrants into general practice in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the report of the Working Group on Population.

The Working Group's remit is a continuing one: it will make no single report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to change the status of the A94 road; and by what date he estimates the portion between Stonehaven and Perth will have been converted to express dual carriageway.

My right hon. Friend has deferred a decision on the status of this road until he has received the results of the Tayside Study. On present indications the traffic on A94 would not justify a dual carriageway for many years, but he will continue to authorise improvements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what acreage of sugar beet has this season been sown in the Cupar factory area.

No final figure is as yet available for the sown acreage, but 9,017 acres are under contract which is an increase of one-third over last year's total.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he is having regarding the rating of agricultural buildings; when he expects these consultations to be concluded and proposals made; and if he will make a statement.

We have had discussions with the National Farmers' Union of Scotland and are now continuing our examination of the question in the light of further information which it has recently submitted. In view of the complex nature of this subject and its implications in the general rating field, my right hon. Friend cannot say when he will be in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reductions have been proposed to him by Scottish local authorities in their educational, cultural and roads capital programmes, in the light of the recently announced restrictions; and what is the total value of capital projects which are being postponed.

The total value of projects which local authorities have so far reported their intention to defer is £14 million on education (social and recreational projects), £0·4 million on cultural projects, and £30 million on roads. The effect on investment programmes during the next two years cannot be accurately estimated from the information supplied.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now completed his consideration of the problem of rising numbers of crimes of violence; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galbraith) and Govan (Mr. Rankin).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce the revised courses of training and qualifications for teachers of technical subjects.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer my right hon. Friend gave on 6th March to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell).—[Vol. 760, c. 84.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what representations he has received from county councils in Scotland in which employment exchange areas have been excluded from the repay- ment of Selective Employment Tax to those engaged in the tourist industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) and Aber-deenshire, East (Mr. Wolrige-Gordon).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to improve the profitability of the fishing industry.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made on 15th May by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, in the course of the debate on the fishing industry.—[Vol. 764, c. 1314–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what long-term plans he has to encourage a reduction of food imports into Scotland and an increase of production of food in Scotland, so that Scotland will be self-supporting on basic foods.

The 1968 Annual Review White Paper made clear the continuing importance the Government attach to agriculture's import saving rôle. Annual Review determinations provide the means of encouraging home food production in Scotland, as in other parts of the United Kingdom in line with the objectives of the selective expansion programme for the period to 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to provide for local authority meetings to be held in evenings or at such times as will permit any councillor to attend meetings without losing his employment, and to prevent employers from terminating employment of an elected councillor on the grounds of absence from work where the absence was due to fulfilling of council duties.

I would not wish to interfere with the complete discretion which local authorities enjoy to hold meetings at times convenient to the majority of their members. Nor would I wish to interfere between employer and employee, when circumstances vary so widely from case to case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether it is with his approval that the North-East Development Council is spending public funds in an attempt to induce industry to leave Yorkshire.

No. The Council is responsible for its own publicity. But while it remains the Government's policy to give priority to the needs of the Development Areas for new employment, I deprecate any action being taken which would intensify the economic difficulties of the less prosperous areas of Yorkshire.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assistance the North-East Development Council has received from his Department to assist their policy of attracting industry to the North-East as a contribution to solving the chronic unemployment problems of that area.

The Government's Distribution of Industry policy has as a major objective the encouragement of industry in development areas, and my Regional Office in Newcastle co-operates with the North East Development Council in bringing the merits of the North East to the notice of firms seeking locations in such areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why two applicants for the two vacant advance factories in Aberdeen were not given the facilities they sought from his Department; and what steps he is taking to encourage applicants to occupy these empty factories.

One applicant subsequently decided to extend his existing premises in Aberdeen and was granted an industrial development certificate for this purpose, while the other applicant did not qualify for financial assistance under the Local Employment Acts. Every effort is being made, including the use of national advertising, to bring the factories to the attention of suitable industrialists.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will convene a conference of industrialists in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, to discuss future rationalisation plans of industry in the region, with a view to avoiding the transfer of industry away to more prosperous regions.

No. I doubt whether such a conference would be fruitful.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he intends to take to ensure the observance of voluntary undertakings entered into by road fuel supply companies in pursuance of recommendations by the Monopolies Commission, particularly in view of the recent removal by Her Majesty's Government of the limit previously placed on the ownership of fuelling stations by oil companies.

As I have already announced, I propose to keep a close watch on the operation of the revised undertakings and will investigate, with the oil companies, any evidence that the undertakings are not being observed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to arrest the gradual deterioration of the United Kingdom's balance of trade with Hong Kong over the last several years.

We, together with the British Trade Commission in Hong Kong and the B.N.E.C. Asia Committee, are doing all that we can to increase our exports to this free port by encouraging and assist-ting exporters to exploit the opportunities created by devaluation through support for missions, trade fairs and similar joint promotional activities and by the help given to individual exporters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to promote a Register of Scottish Manufactured Goods for general publication, to encourage consumers in Scotland to back Scotland by increasing their purchase of home-made goods and reducing imports.

A great deal of information about Scottish manufactured goods is already available in buyers' guides and industrial directories. While Her Majesty's Government strongly support all efforts to persuade buyers in Scotland and in other parts of the United Kingdom to meet more of their requirements from competitive home production, I do not feel any useful purpose would be served by a new publication on the lines suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what conditions are imposed on the establishment of United States and other foreign banks in the United Kingdom.

Banking companies incorporated outside Great Britain and establishing a place of business within Great Britain are subject to Part X of the Companies Act, 1948.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the half million workers employed by United States companies in Great Britain is employed in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will provide a breakdown of the sum of £651,000 being total amount of grants offered by the Board of Trade in the year 1967–68 in Scotland, into areas and categories of recipients.

I would refer the hon. Lady to the Answer I gave to a similar Question yesterday.—[Vol. 765, c. 71.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will now establish a smelter at Invergordon to provide 650 jobs;(2) if he will make a statement on the European Free Trade Association Ministerial Meeting held in London on 9th May and 10th May; and what changes have been made following these meetings in his plans to announce his decision on the British aluminium project.

At their meeting in London on 9th and 10th May Ministers discussed inter alia the impact on E.F.T.A. trade of the proposed expansion of aluminium smelting capacity in the United Kingdom with the assistance of Government aids available under general legislation and the effects which this could have on Norwegian exports.At the request of the E.F.T.A. Council the United Kingdom and Norwegian Governments agreed to have urgent further bilateral talks on this topic and to report to the Council. My right hon. Friend is in Oslo today for a discussion with the Norwegian Minister of Commerce and Shipping.E.F.T.A. Ministers were assured that Her Majesty's Government will take full account of these talks in arriving at decisions on the British proposals. Meanwhile negotiations with the aluminium companies concerned are still in progress.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list those fruits, hard and soft, grown in the United Kingdom which receive import protection, periodic or full-time, either by tariff or quota.

Imports of all fresh fruits which are grown in the United Kingdom on a commercial scale are subject to import duties, with the exception of those imported from the Commonwealth Preference Area and the Irish Republic. The rates of duty and the periods to which they apply are given in Chapter 8 of Her Majesty's Customs and Excise Tariff, a copy of which is in the House of Commons Library.Imports of apples and pears other than from the sterling area are subject to quota restrictions. In addition, imports of fruits grown in the United Kingdom on a commercial scale are admitted from Eastern Area countries only under limited bilateral quotas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what formal complaints the Norwegian Government has made to the European Free Trade Association Council since its inception on matters involving the British Government; and on what occasions.

The Norwegian Government has made one formal complaint involving the British Government to the E.F.T.A. Council. The complaint was made in mid-1965 and concerned the tariff treatment accorded by the United Kingdom to certain forms of frozen boneless fish derived from fish fillets. The complaint was examined by a Committee of Inquiry of members of E.F.T.A. delegations in Geneva; after discussions in the Council, the United Kingdom agreed to concede E.F.T.A. tariff treatment to the disputed products.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what types of service in the field of consultancy he proposes to subsidise; what types of firm providing such services he intends to include in the scope of the provision; and what total expenditure of public money he estimates will be involved in the Bristol area and elsewhere.

The detailed arrangements are at present being worked out in consultation with a wide range of professional bodies concerned with advising on management and production techniques, design and marketing. My right hon. Friend hopes to launch the pilot scheme next month. He will announce the details then and will be seeking the necessary Parliamentary authority for the expenditure involved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to provide assistance to enable Scotland to increase and develop its trade opportunities with Scandinavia, Russia and Northern Europe by improving its overseas communications with those countries.

The development of these communications is a matter for the commercial judgment of the operators concerned and we have no plans for special assistance to Scotland in this field.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will outline the terms of the agreement on air services between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Republic; if he will state whether he is satisfied that United Arab Airways comply both with the terms of this agreement and the fare structure authorised by International Air Transport Association; and if he will make a statement.

The agreement follows broadly the pattern of most of our air service agreements. Permission for United Arab Airlines to serve London is dependent, among other things, on their charging fares approved by both Governments. These normally reflect resolutions of the International Air Transport Association.Reports have persisted that passengers have bought tickets for travel by United Arab Airlines at below the approved rates, and I am pursuing this matter with the airline.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the Government's policy of reducing the forces and defence costs will be affected by the recent proposal to increase by 40 per cent. Great Britain's commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, the increase of 20,000 more troops, additional ships and aircraft; whether the extra £500,000 per annum for training costs will affect payments in foreign currency; and whether he will make a statement.

The improvements in our force contributions to N.A.T.O. reflect the Government's declared policy of concentrating our defence effort mainly in Europe and the North Atlantic area and will in no way affect the achievement of the defence economies which were the subject of the Prime Minister's statement on 16th January. The greater part of the additional training costs will be in foreign currency. To this must be added other foreign exchange expenditure arising from the improved contributions but the grand total will fall short of £1 million. I have nothing further to add to the very full statement made by the Minister for Administration in reply to a similar Question asked on 10th May.— [Vol. 764, c. 151–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations he has held with Commonwealth countries about transferring permanently United Kingdom Army and Air Force units to Commonwealth countries instead of disbanding them.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what commercial use has been made of the portable resuscitator developed at Porton.

The portable resuscitator is manufactured by an industrial firm under licence. So far over 8,000 have been sold to factories, fire brigades and rescue services.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what plans he has for the development and distribution to users of the mobile laboratory pathogen unit developed at the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton;(2) what steps he is taking to make available to public bodies outside his Department the mobile laboratory pathogen unit being developed at Porton.

British and United States patents have been applied for and details of the unit are being published in the technical literature. The manufacturers of the plastic material from which it is constructed have launched an extensive advertising campaign, illustrated with photographs of the unit. The unit will also be demonstrated at a meeting of the Society of Applied Bacteriology.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will take steps to make available for commercial use the needle-less injector, developed at Porton.

The Porton Needle-less Injector has been in commercial production for about a year. A sales campaign on an international scale has been launched and the apparatus has received wide publicity in the press and at exhibitions of surgical equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, what work is done for the World Health Organisation by the Microbiological Research Establishment and Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton.

The Microbiological Research Establishment is at present producing for sale to the World Health Organisation antigen for testing human and monkey serum for evidence of infection with the vervet monkey disease agent. A study of the ecology of mosquitoes in Tanzania is being undertaken by one of the entomologists at the Microbiological Research Establishment, who has been seconded for three months to the World Health Organisation for this purpose. Trials of the Porton needleless injector have been carried out in Africa in conjunction with the World Health Organisation, for use in large scale programmes.The Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment is not currently engaged in any work for the World Health Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what help is given to countries in East Africa by the Microbiological Research Establishment, and Chemical Defence Establishment, Porton.

As I have explained in answer today to another Question by my hon. Friend, the Microbiological Research Establishment has seconded an entomologist to work for the World Health Organisation in Tanzania. The Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment is not currently providing any help in East Africa but it has in the past made a study of locust control in this area and it continues to provide support to the Tropical Pesticides Research Unit which is accommodated at the Establishment at Porton.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what work he is doing to promote research on the decontamination of food at the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton;(2) what work is being done at the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton, on the decontamination of food.

The Microbiological Research Establishment has a programme of research on decontamination, but it is not specifically directed towards food. On a number of occasions the Establishment has assisted in the testing of sterilisation techniques.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will review the machinery for putting on to the commercial market vaccines developed by the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton.

The machinery is kept under review but I am satisfied with the arrangements at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence for what non-military purposes joint work is taking place between the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton, and the Radio Chemical Laboratory at Amersham.

There has been no formal programme of work. There have been useful, informal exchanges of in- formation to assist in producing nucleic acid labelled with carbon 14 using microbiological methods.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what work is being done on river pollution by the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton.

The Establishment assists by being represented on the Basic Research Committee of the Water Pollution Research Laboratory, and also provides supplies of bacterial tracer as required.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on work done at the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton, on the recent outbreak of disease in Germany, alleged to have been carried by monkeys; and whether the results were made available to countries such as the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.

The results have been published in the scientific literature and have been reviewed in a leader in the British Medical Journal (30th December, 1967, page 758). Interim reports of progress are sent to 40 laboratories all over the world; nine of these have been supplied with infective material and/or anti-sera: four in the United States of America, and one each in Germany, Panama, South Africa, Uganda and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. A non-infective complement-fixing antigen has been prepared for distribution to World Health Organisation reference laboratories.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what acreage of land in the occupation of his Department has been registered under the Commons Registration Act, 1965; and what knowledge he has of persons having registered rights of common over land in the occupation of his Department.

By 30th April about 13,500 acres of Defence land had been the subject of 28 provisional registrations.I have a record of the provisional claims of individual and particular rights made by 30th April for 17 of these cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the terms of the commercial agreement between the Microbiological Research Establishment, Porton, and the Wellcome Foundation, in relation to the development of pharmaceuticals.

It is not our normal practice to publish commercial agreements of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish the Caldecote Report on the Admiralty Research Establishments.

No. This was a report about the internal management of two establishments, and it would not be appropriate to publish it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the terms of the agreement under which orthochlorobenzyl-malononitrite is licensed by Her Majesty's Government for use in France.

There is no such agreement. I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answers given to his Questions on this compound on 29th February, 1968. —[Vol. 759, c. 407.]

asked the Minister of Transport why, in view of the Government's policy to refuse wage increases in excess of three-and-a-half per cent., he agreed to increase the salary of the Vice-Chairman of the British Railways Board by 25 Per cent. and thus made the existing salary of £12,500 per annum £500 per annum in excess of the Chairman's; and whether he will make a statement.

The salary to be paid to Mr. Bosworth when he becomes Vice-Chairman of the Railways Board is personal to him and does not imply any change in the standard salaries for the membership of public boards. Mr. Bosworth has, in fact, agreed to serve for a broadly similar level of total remuneration to that which obtains in his present employment. There is no breach of incomes policy and I am grateful to Mr. Bosworth for his willingness to take on these heavy responsibilities on this basis.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is yet in a position to give his decision on the future of the Hurst Green-Lewes line.

I regret that we cannot yet add to the Answer given to the hon. and gallant Member for Lewes (Sir T. Beamish) on 28th February.—[Vol. 759, c. 381.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now issue a general direction to British Railways to re-introduce the former cheap fare concessions for merchant seamen travelling on British Railways.

As the hon. Member will know, this matter was fully discussed in the House last year and we have nothing further to add.—[Vol. 756, c. 1569–1576.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give details of the advice and financial aid he has offered to local authorities in the South Yorkshire area on the disposal of unwanted vehicles, including buses, to enable them to comply with the provisions of the Civic Amenities Act.

The Department gave advice on the removal and disposal of all types of abandoned motor vehicle in two Circulars dated 24th August, 1967 and 7th February, 1968. These were addressed to all the local authorities concerned and I am sending copies to my hon. Friend. No specific financial aid has been given to local authorities, but the removal and disposal charges imposed by the Removal and Disposal of Vehicle Regulations, 1968 are intended to make the service financially self-supporting. If my hon. Friend has in mind any particular problem in South Yorkshire, perhaps he would let me know of it.

asked the Minister of Transport when it is proposed to publish the Report on Transport commissioned by his Department from Leicester University.

I have nothing to add to my reply on 20th May, 1968 to the Question from the hon. Member for Weston-Super-Mare (Mr. Webster).—[Vol. 765, c. 30.]

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present fee for taking a driving test; and when, and by what amount, that cost was last increased.

The driving test fee was last increased in October, 1956, from 10s. to the present level of £1, except for tests taken on invalid carriages, mowing machines, pedestrian controlled vehicles and vehicles exempt from taxation under section 6(6) of the Vehicles Excise Act, 1962, for which the fee of 2s. 6d. has remained unchanged since 1937.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish definite proposals for the A20(M) or the M20 route eastwards from Maidstone towards the channel tunnel, in view of the fact that lack of clear information is causing difficulty to land agents and other professional men in advising about property development and management.

A scheme providing for the improvement or relief of the A20 route eastwards from Maidstone to meet the requirements of the Channel Tunnel project is already in the trunk road preparation pool, and investigations into possible lines are being carried out at the present time. The eastern section of the scheme will be affected by the location of Channel Tunnel terminal facilities.

asked the Minister of Transport, of the 2,976 houses scheduled for demolition for traffic development in Salford, how many he expects to be demolished before 1975.

This is a matter for the Salford County Borough Council as the highway authority for roads in Salford.

asked the Minister of Transport what are his proposals for a new bridge over the Thames; and what consideration he is giving to making it a toll bridge.

The Greater London Council are preparing a scheme for a new bridge or tunnel at Woolwich. I am considering with the Council whether or not a toll would be appropriate there.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that, although there is a glut of home produced potatoes, there have been considerable imports in recent weeks; whether he will reconsider the present import policy; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) on 15th May.—[Vol. 764, c. 246.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what imports in value have taken place in 1967 of Canadian grain screens pellets, Russian sunflower husk, medium Danish oyster shell, German yellow maize meal, re-conditioned American maize, Argentine plate maize, South African fish meal, Nigerian expellers, Sudanese expeller Pakistan expeller, Indian expeller, Argentine extraction pellets, Turkish kibbled locust beans, and Cyprus kibbled locust beans, respectively.

Separate information is not available in respect of Canadian pelleted grain screenings, Russian sunflower husk, Danish oyster shell, re-conditioned American maize or Argentine extraction pellets. For the other items the list is as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how much land subject to common rights is in the possession of the Forestry Commission in Wales and England, respectively; and what steps have been taken by the Forestry Commission under the Commons Registration Act, 1965.

The information will not be available until after January, 1970, when the registration of commons has been completed. The Commission is claiming rights of common attached to its land, and will note any claims made against Commission land.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the average daily cost of the inquiry on The Welsh Rural Development Board; and what has been the total to date.

I estimate that the total cost to date has been of the order of £9,500. The inquiry has so far sat for 15 days and the average daily cost has therefore been of the order of £630. These estimates include the fees payable to the Inspector and to counsel appearing on behalf of the Crown, the salary costs of staff of my Department attending the inquiry, and administrative expenses such as the hire of premises.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the regions in which the 14 farm holdings amalgamations took place between 31st October, 1967, and 30th April, 1968.

As I told the hon. Member in my reply on 15th May [Vol. 764, c. 244–5] we have approved eight proposed farm amalgamations in England and Wales between 31st October, 1967, and 30th April, 1968.The regional figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the present cost of the laboratory test for brucellosis in England and in Scotland; and when it was last increased, and by what amount.

The current charges for the three laboratory tests for brucellosis—the milk ring test, the serum agglutination test, and the complement fixation test—are respectively Is., 3s. 6d. and 4s. per sample. The charge for the serum agglutination test was increased by 6d. on 1st April, 1968.These charges apply to tests—other than those under the Brucellosis (Accredited Herds) Scheme—carried out in England and Wales by the Central Veterinary Laboratory and the Veterinary Investigation Service, and in Scotland at the Lasswade Laboratory which is my right hon. Friend's responsibility, and at the Agricultural Colleges which are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions have grants been given by his Department to the Beef Recording Association since it started; and what amounts were involved.

Grants towards its general expenditure have been paid regularly by my Department to the Beef Recording Association since it started. The grants paid to date total £140,000. In addition, payments of grants amounting so far to £27,000 have been authorised under the Market Development Scheme towards the cost of three bull performance testing stations.

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.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson) on 21st May.—[Vol. 765, c. 65–6.]

asked the Minister of Power, of the £1,128,000 spent by the National Coal Board on television, Press and poster advertising during 1968, how much was spent in the television services of Scotland, the Scottish Press and on poster sites in Scotland.

I am asking the Chairman of the Board to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power, having regard to increased prices of 20s. per ton, after October, 1968, for domestic and industrial coke, what conversations he had with the National Coal Board prior to the announcement of such increases; whether the National Board for Prices and Incomes gave prior approval to such increases; and whether such increases are in accordance with the prices and incomes policy of Her Majesty's Government.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him yesterday.— —[Vol. 765, c. 49.)

asked the Minister of Power whether his conversations with the National Coal Board, concerning supplies of coal from Scottish pits to the projected Alcan smelter at Invergordon, are now completed; and whether he will make a statement on the delayed rundown of the Scottish pits consequent upon the large Alcan coal requirement in the 1970s.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the Minister of State, Board of Trade in the Adjournment Debate on 16th May. —[HANSARD, Vol. 764, c. 1556–60.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the students of the University of Wales was born in Wales.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what specific projects are being undertaken by the Schools Council to assess and modify the causes of colour prejudice among children of all age groups.

The humanities curriculum project sponsored jointly by the Schools Council and the Nuffield Foundation will include a study of topics connected with race. Two other Schools Council projects concerned with the teaching of English to the children of immigrants should help to remove barriers between races and improve mutual understanding and tolerance.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he proposes to publish the names of the colleges of technology which have been designated as polytechnics.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers given to my hon. Friend the Member for Dearne Valley (Mr. Edwin Wainwright) on 21st March and to my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Christopher Price) on 9th May.—[Vol. 761, c. 131–2; Vol. 764, c. 607.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Chester Committee of Inquiry into Football.

I should like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the thoroughness with which Mr. Chester and his Committee have carried out their inquiry. Their wide-ranging recommendations merit the most careful consideration by all responsible for the organisation, management, finance and administration of Association Football in Great Britain. I can assure my hon. Friend that the Government, for their part, will be examining in detail those recommendations which concern it. These relate to important matters of principle and the examination may take some time. I cannot, of course, predict what the outcome will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement concerning the building programme for the national museums and galleries.

On 1st April, 1964, a 12-year programme came into force for the National Museums and Galleries in England and Scotland. This programme, to be administered by the Ministry of Public Building and Works, provided for the expenditure of £5·25 million over the period, including £0·25 million for con- tingencies. The figure of £5.25 million was a money ceiling at 1964 prices. By 1st April, 1968, £1·7 million had been spent.The Government have recently reviewed this programme in the light of increases in costs and of an up-to-date assessment of needs, and taking into account the special contribution of £0·2 million towards housing the Henry Moore collection at the Tate Gallery of which I informed the House on 26th April, 1967. It has been decided that the programme for the remainder of the 12-year period, now estimated to cost £7.25 million at 1968 prices, will in future be adjusted annually to allow for increases in costs. The revised programme is intended to meet the essential needs of the national museums and galleries as known at the present time and to provide a sufficient margin for contingencies, but every effort will be made to phase expenditure so that it does not build up too quickly over the next two or three years.Like all other programmes, the programme will be subject to review if necessary in the light of the Government's periodical appraisals of public expenditure.—[Vol. 745, c.

asked the Postmaster-General what extra height is required for the towers of a microwave radio system if the radio radius of the earth is assumed to be 0·7 times its true radius, as compared with the height required if the radio radius is assumed to equal the true radius; and what extra capital cost is involved in the construction of such towers.

Microwave stations are, wherever possible, situated on high ground so that tall towers are not needed. In towns, towers must be high enough to clear buildings. In both these cases, an alteration to the assumed value of the radio radius of the earth makes no substantial difference to the tower height. In open country, obstructions such as hills and trees must be cleared and this factor primarily determines the aerial heights. Assuming a radio radius of 0·7 instead of unity typically increases mast height by about 7 Per cent. so that increase in capital cost is not significant.

asked the Prime Minister if he will publish a list of the responsibilities of the Department of Economic Affairs at the time of its formation on 1st January, 1968, and at the present day.

The Department of Economic Affairs was set up in October, 1964, with responsibility for framing and supervising the plan for economic development and for the general co-ordination of action to implement national planning, and also of all economic policy relating to industrial expansion, prices and incomes, allocation of physical resources and regional implications of the expansion programme.Between October, 1964 and 1st January, 1968 the only significant change was the transfer to the Board of Trade in August, 1967 of responsibilities relating to the co-ordination of certain external aspects of economic policy.Since then, as the hon. Member knows, responsibility for the prices and incomes policy has been transferred to the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity. The other responsibilities of the Department including its coordinating rôle in relation to regional and industrial policies remain unchanged. For a fuller account of the latter I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers I gave to Questions on 23rd April this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress is now being made with the provision of a sheltered workshop in Brighton.

My Department has recently written to the County Borough of Brighton suggesting that they consider the possibility of making an early start on the detailed planning.