asked the Minister of Power whether he will ensure that the accounts of the National Coal Board published in its annual report will give details of all expenditure in the Board's financial year 1967–68 by the Board and by its wholly-owned subsidiaries, and by those subsidiaries in which the Board has a majority holding, in the purchase, wholly or partly, of companies not directly concerned with the winning of coal.

asked the Minister of Power if he will ensure that the National Coal Board will publish in its 1967–68 annual report details of the purchase by the Board or its subsidiaries, partly or wholly owned, of any activity not concerned with the mining of coal.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will ensure that the accounts of the National Coal Board, published in its annual report, will give details of all purchases in the Board's financial year 1967–68 by the Board and by wholly-owned subsidiaries of shares in its partly-owned subsidiaries and in any other companies, and of loans to either.

I am informed by the Board that their annual accounts for 1967–68 will show that there was no such expenditure by the Board or their wholly-owned subsidiaries, and that the Companies Acts will be complied with fully as regards their other subsidiaries.

asked the Minister of Power why he did not refer the National Coal Board's recent increase in coke and Phurnacite prices to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 14th May to the hon. Member for Finchley by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Department of Employment and Productivity. —[Vol. 764, c. 239.]

asked the Minister of Power what were the wholesale prices of grade 2 coal, gas coke, Phimax and Sunbrite in the Manchester area in April and May, 1968; and what are the proposed prices for October.

This is a matter for the producers, the National Coal Board and the North Western Gas Board. I have asked the chairmen to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power what consideration he gave when drafting the Coal Industry, the Redundant Mineworkers (Payments Scheme) Order, 1968, to those redundant National Coal Board employees, whose wages are depleted due to being away on local government business; and if he will make an amending order to ensure that the payments they receive from the local authority, in lieu of the loss of wages, shall be so calculated as to be included in their pre-redundancy earnings.

I considered this very carefully, but felt that I would not be justified in extending the definition in this way.

asked the Minister of Power by how much he now expects employment in the mining industry to decline this year.

I am informed by the Board that they expect to reduce manpower at about the same rate as last year.

asked the Minister of Power what consideration he has given to the possibilities of dual-fired electricity generating stations; and if he will make a statement.

The C.E.G.B. have converted one boiler at Hams Hall for dual-firing by coal or gas experimentally, and are building a dual-fired station for coal or oil at Kingsnorth. They have applied for consent to convert to dual-firing with gas the oil-fired South Denes station and the rest of Hams Hall C. The Government do not envisage general conversion of coal-fired stations, but there may be scope for seasonal use of natural gas.

asked the Minister of Power what progress he has made in consideration in consultation with the Minister of Technology of the structure of the United Kingdom nuclear industry; and if he will make a statement.

I cannot add to what my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology said when the House debated the Select Committee's Report on the 23rd May.—[Vol. 765, c. 968–84.]

asked the Minister of Power in what circumstances a price increase by one of the nationalised fuel industries will not be referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

A proposed price increase will not be referred to the N.B.P.I. when, in the Government's view, it is not a major one and there are no other circumstances which make independent investigation by the National Board desirable.

asked the Minister of Power how much the oil companies exploring the North Sea, which are paying £25 a square kilometre for the privilege of working their areas, have already paid to the Treasury; what is the estimated revenue for the first six years of their agreements; and how much of this has been spent, and how much he proposes to spend, in the primary Continental Shelf exploration.

So far, about £3 million has been received from companies holding petroleum licences for areas in the North Sea. It is not possible to estimate revenue for the first six years from these licences. I have no power to incur expenditure on Continental Shelf exploration.

asked the Minister of Power how many notifications of price increases have been made to his Department; and how many have been approved, how many rejected and how many referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes to the latest convenient date.

From 20th July, 1966, to 15th May, 1968, the Department received 89 proposals for price increases under the early warning arrangements. Sixty-six were accepted including some which were modified, 2 rejected and 21 withdrawn. None of these specific proposals was referred to the N.B.P.I., but there have been six references to the Board in the fuel sector.

asked the Minister of Power if he will give an undertaking that none of the British Steel Corporation's commencing capital debt will be in the form of Exchequer Dividend Capital.

No, but legislation would be required if any part of the debt were to take the form of equity capital.

asked the Minister of Power if he will direct the British Steel Corporation to appoint independent auditors to value the assets of the Corporation, in order to determine its commencing capital debt.

No. The amount is prescribed by Section 18(i) of the Iron and Steel Act, 1967.

asked the Minister of Power what approximate estimate he has of the annual increase in mileage of overhead and underground power lines, respectively; and what progress has been made in reducing the cost of putting them underground.

During the three years 1967–68–1969–70 the Central Electricity Generating Board estimate that their overhead lines and underground cables will increase by an average of about 460 route miles and 180 circuit miles a year respectively.

asked the Minister of Power when the hon. Member for Bosworth may expect a reply to the points made by him and the deputation which he brought to his predecessor on 17th October, 1967 concerning subsidence.

Shortly, I hope. I am sorry for the time this has taken, but it is a complex question.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the progress of negotiations on the price and quantity of natural gas to be supplied to the Gas Council by the Shell/Esso and Gas Council/Amoco consortia, respectively.

No. These are confidential negotiations between the Gas Council and the groups concerned and I can say no more than that negotiations are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Health if he will set a final date by which his decisions resulting from the review of Section 5 pay beds must be implemented.

The decisions have been implemented in 97 per cent. of the hospitals affected and I am in touch with the boards concerned over the remaining cases.

asked the Minister of Health if he will seek to reach an agreement with the professional bodies con- cerned, that where their scales of fees are based on the total cost of the project, that in the case of hospital building and improvements, the fees shall be limited to the estimate made at the outset of the project in the event of a long delay in starting building leading to an increase in total costs.

The Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on architect's fees which will be published very shortly, will give an opportunity for this to be considered.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied with the number of obstetric beds available for the Wolverhampton area; and what plans there are for increasing the number.

No. A new maternity unit of 146 beds to replace the present 59 beds is being built at New Cross Hospital and is due to open next year. New building elsewhere in the area will further relieve the pressure on obstetric beds in Wolverhampton next year.

asked the Minister of Health how many products of Company A mentioned in paragraph 21, Civil Appropriations Accounts 1966–67, were not reduced in price during the period of 1962 and 1967; and how many were increased.

Forty-five; three, which were prescribed only to a minimal extent under the National Health Service.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which local authorities give assistance to the North-East Development Council.

Durham, Northumberland and North Riding of Yorkshire County Councils; Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, South Shields, Sunderland, Teesside and Tyne-mouth County Borough Councils.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the current shortfall in the trained staffs of each of the local planning authorities throughout England and Wales in relation to the establishments approved for each of those authorities.

I regret that the information is not available. Information about the situation in 1964 is given in Appendix C, Table 2 of the report of the Mallaby Committee on Staffing of Local Government. The statistics for planning staff were as follows:

Planning Officers	Overall Establishment	Posts Unfilled and which had been vacant to six months or more
Counties	1,474	79
County Boroughs	900	119

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he proposes to give to local planning authorities as to how they should meet the difficulties they face due to shortages of trained staff.

The Mallaby Committee on the Staffing of Local Government made a number of recommendations about the shortages of trained staff in local government. Their proposals included more extensive training, and the effective use of skilled manpower by more efficient management, and by the use of technical, clerical and other ancillary assistants. One of the most important recommendations was for the establishment of a Local Government Training Board and this was set up last September.In the case of planning staff, I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of a letter sent to local authorities in 1965 urging them to assist members of their own staffs and others to take planning courses. This advice still holds good.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list the members, and the organisations they represent, of the West Midlands Planning Conference together with the date and nature of their appointment.

The West Midlands Planning Authorities Conference was reconstituted in July, 1967 by the local planning authorities of the West Midlands region on their own initiative. Members of the Conference are drawn from all the County Councils in the West Midlands region and the County Borough Councils comprised in the conurbation.The County Councils and County Borough Councils represented on the Conference are:

Herefordshire C.C.	Dudley C.B.
Shropshire C.C.	Solihull C.B.
Staffordshire C.C.	Walsall C.B.
Warwickshire C.C.	Warley C.B.
Worcestershire C.C.	West Bromwich C.B.
Birmingham C.B.	Wolverhampton C.B.

All the County Councils and Birmingham City Council elect three representatives; the other member county borough councils each elect one representative totalling 24 members in all.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what instructions he has given to which Departments to ensure a smooth changeover to the decimal system in 1971.

Guidance designed to facilitate the changeover has been sent to all Government Departments; the process is a continuing one.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action he is taking to increase the efficiency of scientific officers in the Civil Service by providing them with improved secretarial assistance.

Treasury O & M is carrying out a preliminary survey, in consultation with three Government Departments, of ways of improving support to scientific and professional officers with secretarial and clerical staff and modern office equipment. Any proposals will have to be considered against current limitations on Civil Service staff numbers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that the Bank of England Act 1946 does not contain specific powers to enable Her Majesty's Government to dismiss part-time directors, if he will now seek such powers.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on his talks with the Governor and Financial Secretary of the Colony of Hong Kong.

I have nothing 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 whether he will seek powers to repay to the Football Association the amount of £249,167 paid in tax on the World Cup Series in order that this can be made available to football generally, and especially poorer clubs.

The Football Association, like any other taxpayer, will have to meet its statutory tax liability after that has been determined following production of the relevant figures.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the exceptional amount of £249,167 paid in taxation from the World Cup Series, he will take steps to reduce Selective Employment Tax on football clubs.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the net gain or loss to the Inland Revenue of decreasing Income Tax by 2s. in the £ for residents in Scotland, raising it by 3d. in the £ for residents in England and leaving it unchanged for residents in Wales.

There would be a net gain of £33 million assuming that there were proportionate changes in the reduced rates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) under what circumstances the Board of Inland Revenue granted a certificate exempting the sum of £10,000 paid by the publishers to the felon, Lonsdale, from the United Kingdom tax, for an article written by him;(2) why the traitor, Lonsdale, was allowed to have transfered to him by his publishers the sum of £10,000 for his memoirs.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) on 23rd May.—[Vol. 756, c. 133–4.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the principle on which he acts in discriminating between one area and another in the incidence of selective employment tax.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. and learned Friend on 7th May.—[Vol. 764, c. 51–52.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of public expenditure was spent by Her Majesty's Government in the fiscal year 1966–67 on imports as a result of orders made by Government Departments for imported semi-finished and finished manufactured goods.

Contracts for manufactured imports worth about £120 million were let by Government Departments during 1966–67.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what level of public expenditure was spent by Her Majesty's Government in the fiscal year 1967–68 on imports as a result of orders made by Government Departments for imported semi-finished and finished manufactured goods.

Figures for the year in question are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what guidance, prior to October, 1967, was issued to persons employed by the Central Office of Information, who were required and authorised to drive or use Crown cars, concerning insurance.

For some years—at least since 1960—it has been the practice of the Central Office of Information to make members of its staff aware, by means of a memorandum supplied to them when they are first required and authorised to drive or use Crown cars, that these cars are not covered by insurance.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what insurance is required to be taken out by a person using a Crown car on authorised journeys.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the 70 per cent. increase in total contributions by W. Barratt Limited is in conformity with the Government's proposed dividend ceiling; if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the actuarial calculations on which his decision is based; and if he will give an undertaking not to take steps to interfere with this distribution.

W. Barratt Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of another company.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now take steps to revise the salaries of nationalised industry board members upwards, to bring them into line with those paid in private industry.

I have nothing to add to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member on 21st November.—[Vol. 754, c. 292.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the foreign central banks are fully informed of the true position of the United Kingdom's reserves, and their support only is necessary to maintain the sterling rate, why he declines to give the same information to the British public, whose actions could not affect materially the sterling rate one way or the other.

I have nothing to add to what I said on this subject when discussing the Question raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Dickens) on 13th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what contingency planning the Government are undertaking to protect sterling against the consequences of a devaluation of the French franc.

I cannot disclose in advance what action we might or might not take in an entirely hypothetical contingency.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to convene an emergency meeting of the Managers of the International Monetary Fund to consider further threats to the stability of the international monetary system and to speed the implementation of the special drawing rights scheme.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many notifications of price increases have been made to his Department; and how many have been approved, how many rejected and how many referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes to the latest convenient date.

Between 20th July, 1966 and 10th May, 1968 my Department received 125 proposals for price increases under the early warning system. Of these 118 were found to be consistent with the criteria, three were rejected or withdrawn, and one was referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. It would be wrong to judge the success of the early warning system by the figures given in the reply. Manufacturers are aware that proposed price increases are closely examined and do not usually make proposals unless they believe them to be well-founded.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to introduce Government-owned factories into the area of the Blyth constituency, south-east Northumberland and other parts of the Northern Region where high unemployment still persists.

Some 630,000 sq. ft. of factory space was under construction by the Board of Trade in the Northern Region at the end of April; over 150,000 sq. ft. of this was in the special development areas. The construction of a further 755,000 sq. ft. has been authorised in the Northedn Region.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will change his Department's policy of not revealing the number of industrial development certificate applications refused in congested areas.

I am giving further consideration to this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the official definition of a congested region.

For the purposes of the industrial development certificate and office development permit controls, the Board of Trade regard as congested those areas where, over a period, experience shows that labour tends to be scarce and that there is undue pressure on other resources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he is taking to bring about a reduction in the very high percentage of men unemployed in the area covered by the Mountain Ash and Aberdare employment exchanges.

Aberdare and Mountain Ash are eligible for the full range of financial inducements available in development areas and we shall continue to bring their facilities for industrial development to the notice of suitable firms. These areas should benefit from the 450 jobs for men which are expected to arise there within the next four years in authorised new industrial building and in existing buildings taken over by manufacturing firms.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decision he has reached on the level of the quotas of British films to be shown by exhibition during the year beginning 1st January, 1969.

My right hon. Friend has decided to accept the advice of the Cinematograph Films Council and to leave the exhibitors' quotas at 30 per cent. for first feature films and at 25 per cent. for supporting programmes for the year beginning 1st January, 1969.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the total cost to date of the terminal building and its surroundings at the civil airport at Aldergrove in County Antrim and the total cost to date of the airport, including the cost of the above buildings, respectively, and the estimated cost during the next 12 months of additions and improvements to the terminal building and to the airport respectively.

The capital cost to date of the terminal building and adjacent car parks and roads is about £1,160,000 and of the airport as a whole —including the aerodrome navigational services—about £2,720,000. Capital expenditure during the next twelve months is estimated at £40,000 and £150,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he now intends to move to set up a select committee on race relations.

I am about to start discussions with representatives of the Opposition parties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to release John Thomas McCulloch, who suffers from epilepsy, from the Allocation Centre at Wormwood Scrubbs where he has been since 13th March.

John McCulloch will be transferred to Feltham Borstal institution tomorrow, 29th May. My noble Friend the Minister of State has written to the right hon. and learned Member about this case.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how he will dispose of the firearms and other weapons surrendered to police during the recent amnesty.

This is a matter for chief officers of police, but my right hon. Friend has advised them to hand service weapons over to the military authorities; to make antiques and other items of interest available to the national museums; to sell to the trade any shotguns, or other appropriate weapons, and to destroy the remainder.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will convene and preside over a conference of employers and trades unionists to consider the extent of unemployment.

I am regularly in touch with employers and trades unions through my National Joint Advisory Council and I think this method of consultation is more effective than an ad hoc conference on the lines proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, taking 1964 as 100, she will publish a table of figures giving the annual percentage rise and fall in retail prices since that date in Great Britain, the United States of America, Germany, France, Italy and Switzerland, from information available to her from international sources.

The following information has been obtained from the May, 1968, issue of the O.E.C.D. publicatiton "Main Economic Indicators".

PERCENTAGE INCREASES IN ANNUAL AVERAGES OF MONTHLY CONSUMER PRICE INDICES, 1964 TO 1967
Per cent.
	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67
United Kingdom	4·7	3·9	2·5
U.S.A.	1·7	2·9	2·8
Federal Republic of Germany	3·4	3·5	1·5
France	2·5	2·7	2·7
Italy	4·5	2·3	3·2
Switzerland	3·4	4·8	3·9
Owing to differences in concept, scope, methodology and presentation it cannot be assumed that figures for different countries are comparable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) what action she is taking to find employment in Remploy factories and elsewhere for the 214 registered disabled persons in the Mountain Ash and Aberdare employment exchanges;(2) if she will examine the possibilities of providing a Remploy factory in the Cynon Valley, where there are over 200 registered disabled unemployed, and where no Remploy or similar facilities exist at the moment.

My disablement resettlement officers will continue their endeavours to find suitable employment for all disabled persons registered at the Mountain Ash and Aberdare Employment Exchanges in the Cynon Valley. About sixty of these people are severely disabled and suitable only for sheltered employment and for them my right hon. Friend is considering, in consultation with Remploy Ltd., the provision of a new factory to serve that area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the attendance record of hon. Members at the last meeting of the Council of Europe.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further steps have been taken or are envisaged by Her Majesty's Government in Human Rights Year, to raise with the Soviet Government the problems of Soviet Jewry.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, South (Mr. Arnold Shaw) on 7th March, he spoke informally to Mr. Kosygin during his visit to Moscow in January and considered there would be no advantage in making further representations at that time. There has been no change in the situation which would justify any further steps at present.—[Vol. 760, c. 152–4.]

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to improve the facilities for the transport of goods from the West Riding of Yorkshire to the Ports of Liverpool and Hull.

The South Lancashire Motorway, together with the Lancashire/ Yorkshire Motorway, will provide a new high quality route between Liverpool and the West Riding. Schemes within the Merseyside conurbation will improve access between the inter-urban routes and the docks.Access to Hull will be improved by extension of the M62 Motorway from Ferrybridge, on the Al, to link with the A63 at Gilberdyke, and further south the Ml/Ml8 link to Doncaster will be extended to join the M62 near Gilber- dyke. Between Gilberdyke and Hull work on the Elloughton Bypass is expected to start next year and within Hull comprehensive improvements will give much better access to the Eastern Docks.

asked the Minister of Transport what instructions on safety measures and warning signs were given to contractors engaged on the rebuilding of Red Gate Junction, on the A5, Watling Street, near Nuneaton.

These were in accordance with the Ministry of Transport safety code.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will examine present arrangements for the warning of motorists and diversions of traffic during the period of the reconstruction of Red Gate Junction on the A5, Watling Street, near Nuneaton.

The arrangements were modified on 22nd May. A further examination was carried out on the site on Friday, 24th May, as a result of which more signs are being erected. Traffic signals will be provided on an experimental basis.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will re-examine completely the scheme for reconstruction of Red Gate Junction on the A5, Watling Street, near Nuneaton, following several serious accidents.

Only one serious accident has been reported since work began. Safety measures during roadworks are arranged by the contractor in consultation with the police, subject to supervision by the Minister's agent authority; they require continual modification as work progresses.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he has given to representations made to him about road traffic accidents occurring in connection with the reconstruction of Red Gate Junction, on the A5, Watling Street, near Nuneaton.

Apart from the representation made by my hon. Friend, no representations have been received.

asked the Minister of Transport by what date he now expects to receive the report from the public inquiry concerning the automatic half-barrier level crossings; and when he expects that measures to improve safety at the crossings will be introduced.

I understand that the public hearings of the Court of Inquiry will finish in a few days' time. But we cannot yet say when Mr. E. Brian Gibbens, Q.C., will be able to present his report. We cannot anticipate the recommendations of the inquiry, but the hon. Member will know that several additional safeguards have been introduced to help to ensure the safe use of automatic half-barrier crossings.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will announce his decision about the retention of the Edinburgh-Hawick-Carlisle railway line for passenger and freight traffic.

We hope to announce a decision shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the need of integration in order to improve economic efficiency, he will take steps to expedite

FULL-TIME GRADUATING AND FIRST DIPLOMA STUDENTS ENTERING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 1963–64 AND 1967–68
University		Degree	1963–64 Diploma or Associateship	Total	Degree	1967–68(Provisional) Diploma or Associateship	Total
Aberdeen	…	826	—	826	1,357	4	1,361
Dundee*	…	—	—	—	612	10	622
Edinburgh	…	1,522	61	1,583	2,041	65	2,106
Glasgow	…	1,499	221	1,720	1,926	20	1,946
Heriot-Watt†	…	—	330	330	608	—	608
St. Andrews	…	888	1	889	574	—	574
Stirling	…	—	—	—	164	—	164
Strathclyde‡	…	365	488	853	1,608	39	1,647
		5,100	l,101§	6,201	8,890	138	9,028
* In 1963–64 Queen's College, Dundee, formed part of the University of St. Andrews.
† The 1963–64 figures relate to the former Heriot-Watt College.
‡The 1963–64 figures relate to the former Royal College of Science and Technology.
§ Many of the 1963–64 diploma courses have since been transferred to further education colleges.

My right hon. Friend is not yet in a position to make a statement on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what special steps he proposes to take to stimulate the Scottish economy and raise the standard of living, in view of the fact that more than 50 per cent. of the population have incomes sufficiently low to exempt them from payment of prescription charges.

It is not the case that about half the population will be exempt from prescription charges on income grounds; the great majority of exemptions will be on age grounds. A wide range of measures to stimulate the economic development of Scotland is already available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students entered universities and colleges of advanced technology in Scotland in 1963–64 and in 1967–68.

The information in relation to universities is set out in the table below. There are no colleges of advanced technology in Scotland (although there are central institutions).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the results of the experiment of the 50 miles per hour speed limit on certain main roads at weekends during recent summers; and if he intends to continue the speed limit this summer.

The results of the experiment in 1964, 1965 and 1966 were inconclusive, but justified its continuation. In 1967 there was a smaller reduction in accidents on these roads while the limit applied than on other roads, and I have accordingly decided not to reimpose the limit this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total value and total number of farm improvement scheme applications lodged in respect of damage caused by the gales in January; how many of these applications have been approved; how many rejected; and what is the value of total grant approval.

By 17th May 2,468 applications had been received involving work at an estimated cost of £1,116,000. Six hundred and two applications had been formally approved and work provisionally authorised in many other cases. Ninety applications had been rejected. The total grant involved will not be known until all claims have been dealt with, but the present estimate is approximately £330,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland have been vaccinated against measles, to the nearest convenient date; how many requesting vaccination have not been vaccinated on account of shortage of vaccine; and what is the position regarding the supply of vaccine.

The present campaign to offer measles vaccination to children began only at the end of last month, and I have no information as yet about the number vaccinated. I propose to ask local authorities for a return at the end of June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how he will dispose of the firearms and other weapons surrendered to police during the recent amnesty.

I have advised chief constables that any service weapons surrendered should be passed to the Ministry of Defence, that any antique weapons which their owners do not wish to retain should be handed over to museums, and that all other weapons should be destroyed.

asked the Prime Minister if he will discuss with the Heads of Government of the European Free Trade Association countries ways and means of developing European Free Trade Association trade, in view of the fact that the application to enter the European Economic Community has been rejected.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the communique issued after the Ministerial Meeting of the European Free Trade Area Councils in London three weeks ago from which she will see a wide ranging programme of studies at official level has been put in hand, including studies to improve still further the trading opportunities opened up by the Free Trade Area. I see no need, therefore, for a further early Ministerial Meeting.

asked the Prime Minister whether the parts of the public speech of the Lord President of the Council at Basildon on 29th March, which advocate changes in the structure and methods of Her Majesty's Government represent the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Since I have answered 12 Questions, including supplementaries, on this speech and regard the repeated tabling of such Questions as an abuse of the time of the House and an interference with the rights of hon. Members who have serious Questions on the Order Paper, I see no point in adding to the Answers I have already given.— [Vol. 763, c. 992–4; Vol. 764, c. 209–10.]

asked the Prime Minister what further measures are now proposed to contribute to resolving the Rhodesian problem; and if he will now make a statement.

Our policy remains as outlined by my right hon. Friend the Commonwealth Secretary and myself during the debate on Rhodesia on 27th March. As regards further measures my hon. Friend will be aware of the discussions that are taking place in the United Nations.

asked the Prime Minister which Department will be responsible for the control of dividend distributions by public companies under the terms of the Prices and Incomes Bill, 1968.

The Treasury.

asked the Prime Minister if he is now able to announce a decision about the proposed transfer of responsibility for mentally subnormal children from the Ministry of Health to the Department of Education and Science; and if he will make a statement.

I have as yet nothing to add to the Answers I gave on 15th February and 2nd April to Questions by the hon. Members for Farnham (Mr. Maurice Macmillan) and Shrewsbury (Sir J. Langford-Holt).—[Vol. 758, c. 411; Vol. 762, c. 171–2.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will introduce amending legislation to allow any person who succeeded to the peerage before commencement of the Peerage Act, 1963, to disclaim his peerage without any of the time limitations laid down in that Act.

No. It would be premature to consider any amendment of the Peerage Act, 1963, before Parliament has an opportunity of considering the recommendations of the Inter-Party Conference on the reform of the House of Lords.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what is approximately the annual cost, including salaries, of running the High Commissioner's office, in New Zealand.

The cost of running the High Commissioner's three offices at Wellington, Auckland and Christchurch, including salaries, is £188,562 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has made an additional appointment to the South-East Economic Planning Council.

Yes. My right hon. Friend has appointed Mr. F. E. H. Bennett, C.B.E., of the Greater London Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take action to settle the dispute within the working party of the Burnham Committee on teachers' salaries.

This is a matter to be settled within the Burnham Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive from the Arts Council the report of the Conference on the Arts held at Ditchley Park from 14th to 17th July, 1967.

The draft report is in the last stages of revision. It is hoped to circulate the final version to all the institutions represented at the Conference, including my Department, within the next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is aware that the supply of water for drinking purposes in the Holyhead/Trearddur Bay area is frequently coloured dark brown for long periods; and what steps are being taken to make the water supply at all times fit for drinking purposes.

I understand from the Anglesey County Council that the supply given by them to 11 houses in the Trearddur Bay area is discoloured at times. They are satisfied that there is no danger to health but are taking steps to improve the supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales by what date the reconstruction of the A55 in Wales will be complete.

Dualling of the A55 will proceed as quickly as resources permit. Schemes costing over £2·4 million are currently in progress. A further £19 million has been spent on the Abergele dual carriageway by-pass which I am opening this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) when he plans to complete the proposed dual carriageway on the A40 from Carmarthen to St. Clears;(2) if he will give a date for the completion of the Carmarthen road diversion.

I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. Member on 2nd November, 1967, and 8th February, 1968.—[Vol. 753, c. 15–16; Vol. 758, c. 230–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales where on the A40 between Abergavenny and Carmarthen will substantial lengths of dual carriageway be provided; and on what dates these will be completed.

At this stage I can add nothing to what is stated in paragraph 53 of "Wales: The Way Ahead".

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the average width of the trunk road between Carmarthen and Haverfordwest.

About 22 feet.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will state the mileage of dual carriageway roads which he plans to build west of Swansea by 1980.

Detailed plans as far ahead as 1980 have not yet been formulated. Our broad objectives for the future—which include a dual carriageway to St. Clears—are described in Chapter IV (paragraphs 46–55) of the White Paper "Wales: The Way Ahead".