asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will refrain from issuing industrial development certificates to firms wishing to expand or move from the West Riding into development areas until it has been possible to study the report of the Hunt Committee on Intermediate Areas.

No. I am aware of the problems of the West Riding, but it would be wrong, by altogether refusing industrial development certificates, to frustrate projects which would create badly needed additional employment in the development areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is his estimate of the annual value of British machine tools excluded from sale to the United States of America by virtue of the existing United States tariff on such goods;(2) what is his estimate of the annual value of British office machinery excluded from sale in the United States of America by virtue of the existing United States tariff on such goods.

No reliable estimate can be made. However, the tariff, which is not particularly high, is by no means the only factor affecting increased sales of these goods in the United States of America.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated annual amount of investment grants paid to foreign-owned companies, whose major activity is marketing and distributing within the United Kingdom the products of their overseas parent company.

This information is not available, but the hon. Member will be aware that such companies would qualify for investment grant only on expenditure incurred in providing new machinery for their manufacturing activities in Great Britain.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the money currently being paid in investment grants he estimates is paid in respect of imported plant and materials.

This information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated relationship between the level of manufacturing investment and the size of investment grants.

Total investment in plant and machines in manufacturing industry between 17th January, 1966, when investment grants were introduced, and 31st March, 1967, is estimated at £1,275 million. Grants paid on eligible expenditure during this period amounted to £263 million by 31st March, 1968. Claims for the period are, however, still being received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what communications his Department has received from James Brown and Company, Penicuik, since it went into voluntary liquidation; and what reply he has sent.

My Department has received two letters since the firm went into voluntary liquidation. The liquidator wrote giving information about the firm's buildings. The other letter returned to the Minister of State a letter about an export promotion. A brief apology was sent to the firm for sending the export circular letter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms his Department has tried to interest in industrial development in Penicuik, Midlothian, during the month of May.

I regret that no firm has shown interest in industrial development in Penicuick itself during the past month.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will set up a working party to study the problem of granting generalised preferences to the manufactures or semi-manufactures of developing countries so as to be able to implement the agreement at the United Nations Commission for Trade and Development II; and if he will set up a study of the problem of extending such preferences to processed agricultural products.

I do not think that a special working party is called for, since this matter is under continuous study by the Government, and there will be intensive discussions on it at O.E.C.D. following the resolution passed at U.N.C.T.A.D. II.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent it is the policy of the Government to continue to divert industry to areas other than the South-East, in view of the statement of the South-East Economic Planning Council that such a policy will have harmful effects on the economic stability of the area.

We shall continue to give special attention to the expansion of industry in the development areas as a means of securing balanced economic growth in the country as a whole. The South-East Economic Planning Council have said they understand and support the need for the Government's present regional policies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give his latest estimate of the amount of money spent by British industry in promoting its goods abroad.

I estimate that British industry spends about £60 million annually on advertising and promoting goods exported from the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what increase in volume was represented by the increase in the monthly value of imports from £537 million in the first quarter of 1967 to £664·2 million in the first quarter of 1968.

About 12 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated amount of the invisible exports earned by British consultant engineers and surveyors operating overseas.

In 1966 architects' and consulting engineers' fees and contractors' net earnings on projects managed directly from the United Kingdom were estimated to amount to £38 million, of which consulting engineers' fees accounted for about half. Comparable information about fees earned overseas by surveyors is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the amount of the annual grant paid by Her Majesty's Government to the British Consultants Bureau.

The Government meets half of the Bureau's annual administrative expenses, up to a maximum of £15,000. Provision has also been made for an additional grant of up to a maximum of £25,000 in the current financial year towards the cost of approved feasibility surveys undertaken by British consultants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he has exercised his powers under the Weights and Measures Regulations for the control of equipment employed in the bulk delivery of home-heat oils and petrol by the oil companies to the petrol stations; and what plans he has to amend the regulations in order to ensure better control over and accuracy of such equipment.

No Regulations exist at present for controlling instruments of this type. We have already expressed our intention to frame proposals for regulations as soon as practicable and an examination of the technical problems of enforcement is proceeding.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now announce the further proposals for the development of tourism in Scotland.

I am not yet able to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 13th March, 1968, or to the statement in paragraph 44 of the White Paper on Hotel Development Incentives presented to Parliament last week (Cmnd. 3633).

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the value of United Kingdom arms sales abroad as a percentage of total exports in 1967;(2) what was the value of United Kingdom arms sales as a percentage of total exports to countries in the Middle East and North Africa, taken together during 1967.

I provisionally estimate that sales of defence equipment represented about 3 per cent, of total exports in 1967. It has been the policy of successive Government not to disclose the value of defence equipment exported to individual countries or groups of countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that in some non-development areas the rate of unemployment is worse than in some development areas; and whether he will review the classification system on which the policy of aid to certain districts is based.

Yes. The present development areas were, however, not chosen on grounds of unemployment alone. The Hunt Committee is currently examining the problems of other areas where the rate of economic growth gives rise to concern.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in which newspapers, circulating in which areas, he has advertised the financial advantages of industrial expansion in the development areas.

Since February 1967, when the Press advertising campaign for the development areas began, over 90 per cent, of the expenditure has been for advertisements in newspapers and periodicals circulating nationally and less than 10 per cent, in those with a mainly regional circulation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the price of the latest two volumes of the works of Bagehot published by The Economist Limited cost £7 compared with £5 for the previous two volumes; and whether he will refer the matter to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

The price of the Collected Works of the late Mr. Walter Bagehot is hardly of economic significance even though edited by the hon. Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas) and published by the Economist.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he has given to referring to the Monopolies Commission the proposed merger to form the International Computers Limited; and what advice he has given to this company as to the extent to which it should obtain such funds as it requires from the market.

As announced by the Minister of Technology on 21st March, my right hon. Friend decided that a reference under the Monopolies and Mergers Act 1965 would not be appropriate. The second part of the question is a matter for the Minister of Technology.

the President of the Board of Trade why he has decided not to make use of the investment grants system for giving assistance to the hotel industry.

The investment grants system cannot provide loan assistance and could not readily be adapted to provide grants for new hotels, extensions, and improvements, on the basis described in the White Paper on Hotel Development Incentives.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will indicate the estimated annual cost of the scheme recently announced to provide subsidies for the employment of specialist advisers in small firms.

We hope to make a detailed announcement about this scheme next month and my right hon. Friend will then seek Parliament's approval to the expenditure envisaged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consultations have taken place with representatives of small firms, industrial consultants and the trade unions in the setting up of the scheme to provide assistance for the employment of specialist advisers in small firms.

My Department has consulted the T.U.C., the C.B.I., the British Institute of Management and the main organisations representing consultants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the annual individual estimated budgets for the scheme recently announced to provide assistance to small firms under the headings of marketing, management development, design, quality control, and production methods; and whether the budgets are transferable to cover greater needs which may arise in one function rather than another.

I am aiming at the maximum flexibility on this point. There will be no set budgets for particular headings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now completed his study of the petition submitted by the Mercantile Marine Service Association on 4th March last relating to the investigation into the loss of the "Titanic"; and if he will make a statement.

The study of the petition is not yet complete, but I hope to be able to make a statement shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to investigate the risk to holiday beaches from oil pollution resulting from the transfer of oil from tanker to tanker off the British coast.

My Department has witnessed trials of a procedure for transferring oil from tanker to tanker at sea. At present I consider that this operation is acceptable provided oil is transferred only in suitable weather conditions, but I am keeping it under close observation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional steps he intends to take to lengthen the tourist season.

The experimental changes in the dates of the Whit Monday and August bank holidays up to and including 1970 have been intended to encourage a longer holiday season. The Government are now considering arrangements for later years. I would welcome initiatives by the tourist trades, industry, local authorities and holiday-makers themselves to lengthen the season.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what organisations in the United Kingdom, other than nationalised industries, grants were made by his department in the financial year 1967–68; and if he will list them in the OFFICIAL REPORT together with the grants they received.

Grants and grants-in-aid made by the Board of Trade in 1967–68 to organisations other than commercial and industrial undertakings are shown in Votes 10 and 11 of Class IV of the main Civil Estimates for that year together with the Supplementary Estimates for Vote 11 published last February (H.C. 101).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the average length of time in each region that advance factories built under programmes announced since October, 1964, have been empty between completion and occupation; if he is satisfied with the progress made in finding occupants for these factories; and if he will make a statement.

Of the 57 factories built under programmes announced since October 1964, and allocated, 34 were allocated before completion. The average length of time for which the remainder were unallocated after completion was as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics is importing nickel from Cuba; and what imports of nickel into the United Kingdom have been received from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in the years 1962 to 1967.

No. We imported no nickel from U.S.S.R. in 1962–64. The figures since then are:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make available a preliminary report on the Aid to Productivity campaign which took place in Manchester earlier this year before sponsoring two similar schemes to aid the small firm in Glasgow and Bristol; what was the cost of the Manchester scheme; and what are the budgets for the proposed schemes in Glasgow and Bristol.

The Manchester scheme is different in character from the pilot schemes in Glasgow and Bristol about which my right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement next month. The Manchester scheme, although advertised in January, was not begun until late April and no results or costings are likely to be available until the autumn.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action he is taking to deal with the unemployment in excess of 8 per cent, at Teignmouth;(2) what is his policy towards areas which, though not in development areas, have unemployment rates of 8 per cent, and above.

We consider sympathetically applications for industrial development certificates for suitable projects in any area where the level of unemployment is significantly and persistently above the national average. Teignmouth and other coastal resorts should benefit from the new scheme of assistance for hotels which my right hon. Friend announced on 20th March and described more fully in the White Paper, Hotel Development Incentives—Cmnd. 3633.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received with regard to the recent decision, claiming to have extraterritorial effect, by the United States Federal Maritime Commission to allow British holders of contracts with the North Atlantic Westbound Freight Association to use a through service from inland points in breach of their contractual obligations with the Association; and what reply he has sent.

My Department has received representations from the North Atlantic Westbound Freight Association and from British shippers' organisations about a decision of the Federal Maritime Commission that tariffs issued by Container Marine Lines for through transportation between inland points in the U.K. and U.S. ports are in principle acceptable under the U.S. Shipping Act, and not in conflict with the constitution of the shipping conferences concerned. Whether a breach of the N.A.W.F.A. contracts could arise under the proposed through service is a matter of dispute as to the private rights of the parties on which I cannot comment, and which I do not consider should be affected by the F.M.C. decision. So far as I am aware, no proceedings have been taken in the U.K. by the parties to test the issue. Shippers and shipping lines have been invited to discuss the case further at the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give an assurance that no limitations will apply to the granting of industrial development certificates by his Department in Yorkshire and Humberside pending the publication of the Report of the Hunt Committee.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his earlier Question today.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Governments of West Germany and Switzerland have prohibited supersonic overflying of their countries; and if he will take steps to protect the people of this country in the same way.

My information is that neither Government have announced an outright prohibition of supersonic flights but that both are considering the matter. As stated in reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 29th March, we too are considering what restrictions, if any, should be placed on flights by supersonic aircraft over the United Kingdom.—[Vol. 761, c. 347.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many qualified scientists and engineers transferred from defence research establishments to civil work in the United Kingdom during 1967.

Thirty-eight.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the approximate value of guinea-pig blood sold by the Animal Breeding Centre, Porton, for any convenient dates in 1966 to 1968 for work involving research in and tests for human syphilis.

No guinea-pig blood as such is supplied for this purpose. Surplus guinea-pigs are supplied to the Public Health Laboratory Service on repayment, and some of these are used to provide blood required for syphilis tests.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the approximate cost of the provision by the animal breeding centre at Porton, of sets of twin rats, 19 days old, every Wednesday morning to research workers at the university of Oxford.

Pairs of female rats from the same litter are supplied to the Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine at the Radclifie Infirmary, Oxford, not to the university, at a charge of 11s. per pair plus packing and carriage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many forms are used by his Department; and to what extent the number has been reduced since the Report of the Estimates Committee on this and related matters a few years ago.

11,568. This is a reduction of about 400 on the figure at the end of 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the research sponsored in British universities and institutions by his Department relating to chemical and microbiological warfare.

Following are the details:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what representations he has received regarding further defence orders for Messrs. Harland and Wolff works at Scotstoun, Glasgow; and what reply he has sent.

No representations have been received other than that of the hon. Member for Glasgow, Scotstoun, with whom I have discussed this issue. I have today written to him setting out the position regarding the Ministry of Defence's orders.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has for protecting the existing public rights of navigation on canals and waterways and the existing legal duty resting on the proprietors of canals and waterways to maintain them in a navigable condition.

As far as the nationalised inland waterways are concerned, the provisions of the Transport Bill would replace the navigation rights and maintenance obligations arising from long out-dated canal and railway legislation with a new obligation on the Waterways Board to maintain the commercial and cruising waterways in a suitable condition for the craft that use them today.As a result of Amendments proposed by the Government for the Report stage, any person would be able to bring court proceedings against the Board for serious failure to carry out these obligations.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements have been made to ensure that motorists will be able to check whether their vehicles comply with the new noise regulations when these are brought into operation.

Arrangements will be made for Ministry engineers to conduct for a limited period a series of noise checks in various parts of the country to enable drivers to test their vehicles without risk of prosecution.In addition, we have encouraged motoring interests to provide checking facilities.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements are being made to assess the effect of the new tyre regulations in reducing road accidents caused by defective tyres.

An analysis of accidents involving skidding will be included in the road accident Press notice for April. This may give a first indication. Statistics of accidents resulting from tyre failure are being collected in different parts of the country; it will be some months before data to assess the effect of the regulations can be obtained.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will reconsider the Government's commitment to 11,000 route miles of railway, to allow for more flexibility, in view of the constantly changing pattern of inland transport.

I fully recognise the need for flexibility to meet new developments, but as the route mileage of the railway network has only just fallen below 13,000 miles the hon. Member's Question is not a live issue.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the operation of the new rule at roundabouts to give way to traffic on the right has had an effect on their capacity; what is the percentage decrease or increase; and whether the number of accidents has increased or decreased since the rule has been in operation.

This rule has been generally welcomed. Evidence from the Metropolitan Police District is that in virtually all cases capacity has either increased or remained the same. Accidents on roundabouts in that district have dropped by 4·9 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport what reply he is making to the Gants Hill (Ilford) Pedestrians' Safety Committee's inquiry of 20th May about finance being made available without delay for ramps for subway stairs at Gants Hill.

We have advised the committee that funds have been set aside for this work, details of which are being negotiated with the London Transport Board who own the subways.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of plans like the Road Preparation Pool, what steps he is taking to minimise the hardship caused to people whose properties suffer from planning blight as a result.

The Town and Country Planning Act, 1962 provides remedies for the owners of certain classes of blighted properties. Proposals for the extension of these provisions are included in the Town and Country Planning Bill at present before Parliament. In particular, the Bill will require the Minister to purchase owner-occupied properties blighted by trunk road schemes at an early stage of planning.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give additional instructions to the contractors engaged on the reconstruction of Red Gate Junction on route A.5, Watling Street, near Nuneaton, with regard to the warning and safety of motorists, especially in view of traffic increases anticipated over the Whitsuntide holiday period.

Instructions have already been given to the contractors to instal traffic signals and associated warning signs in time for the spring holiday.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes increases proposed by the Northern Traffic Commissioners in fares charged by the Tees-side Railless Traction Board on routes also served by the United Bus Company.

My right hon. Friend wrote to my hon. Friend on 24th May to inform him that the Traffic Commissioners have made no such proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the cost involved of the recent installation of the network of traffic signals at the approaches to The Square. Market Harborough.

The cost of installing the two sets of signals together with the removal of the roundabouts which preceded them and other minor works was £12,080.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the staff of the Beef Recording Association have been employed full time in Scotland since it was started; and how many have been employed full time in England.

The following information has been supplied to me by the Association. Field staff have been allocated according to demand as follows: Scotland, 1965–1, 1968–5 of whom one covers the English as well as the Scottish border counties; England and Wales, 1964–4, 1968–24. Headquarters staff stationed in England have been as follows: 1963–2, 1968–20 serving Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many applications have been made under the farm amalgamation scheme by Northern Ireland farmers.

Two hundred and twenty-two up to 24th May.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will ensure that the Rowland Wright Commission on the marketing of eggs shall be able to obtain from the Egg Marketing Board all the financial information it requires, as it has not hitherto been able to do.

I am not aware that the Reorganisation Commission has had difficulty in obtaining any information from the British Egg Marketing Board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which are the five leading nations in food importation, and what are their respective figures, from information available to him from international sources.

Trade statistics published by O.E.C.D. show that the five leading nations importing food (including feedingstuffs and live animals) and the value of their imports in 1966 were:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the export figure of the agricultural industry for the years 1964 to 1967, respectively.

Exports of United Kingdom agricultural produce, excluding manufactured and processed foods and other manufactured agricultural products, for the years 1964 to 1967 were:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in considering the proposals for regulations to amend the Canned Meat Product Regulations, 1967, he will examine the possibility of introducing a quality control as well as a minimum content control.

No. This possibility was considered by the Food Standards Committee on whose report the Regulations are based. The Committee did not think it practicable except for the quality control inherent in limiting the amount of fat and the types of meat that may be used. More specific controls on the quality of the meat used, which would have to rely upon examination of the final product, would be extremely difficult, if not impossible, to enforce.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will draw up regulations on performance standards for boar licensing.

We must await the outcome of the discussions referred to in the reply given today to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has ascertained from the Fatstock Marketing Corporation precisely when the consignment of lambs suspected as being the cause of the initial outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease arrived at Wrexham Abattoir; and when these inquiries were first made.

The report by my Chief Veterinary Officer on the origin of the 1967–68 foot-and-mouth disease epidemic (Cmnd. 3560) recorded that these carcases (which were not, of course, imported by the Fatstock Marketing Corporation) arrived at Wrexham Abattoir on 25th August, 1967. This date was confirmed in the reply given to the honourable Member by my right hon. Friend on 14th March. Inquiries were first made at this Abattoir on 30th November, 1967, when F.M.C. Wrexham provided full information of their receipts and deliveries of South American meat. —[Vol. 760, c. 358.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where the labels from the consignment of lambs which arrived at Wrexham Abattoir on the evening of 24th August, 1967, are now retained; and whether they will be produced to the Northumberland Committee.

All the meat had left the Wrexham Abattoir by 27th November before the first inquiries were made, and therefore no labels were available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he will fix the minimum import price for barley and wheat to bring it into line with the pre-devaluation price; and if he will make a statement.

An increase in the minimum import prices for cereals to take account of devaluation is under discussion with our principal overseas suppliers of cereals, as required by the agreements concluded with them in April, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects final approval to be given to the Trondra/ Burra Isle road and bridges scheme; and if he will make a statement.

In December, 1964 I approved this scheme, as put forward by Zetland County Council. A large part of the road works, both on the mainland and on the island of Trondra, has been completed; and some work has been done on the Holm of Brough causeway. The Council, however, is reconsidering what is the most suitable and economic method of crossing Lang Sound, and I am awaiting its revised proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the administration costs involved in exempting 2½ million of Scotland's five million population from National Health Service charges.

It is difficult to identify these expenses with any accuracy, but I expect the total administrative costs of reintroducing charges with exemptions under the interim scheme to be between £50,000 and £75,000. A large proportion of this relates to publicity to ensure that everyone understands the arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had about drawing up regulations on performance standards for boar licensing; and if he will make a statement.

The Agricultural Departments and organisations representative of the pig breeding industry of Great Britain are in touch about the possibility of prescribing standards of performance in the Boar Licensing Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will ensure that the education authorities of the cities of Aberdeen and Glasgow are informed of, and comply with, the Schools (Scotland) Code 1956, as amended, whereby only registered teachers may be employed in primary and secondary schools in Scotland.

Education authorities have already been informed of the changes that I have made in the Code to take effect from 1st April, 1968, when registration with the General Teaching Council replaced certification by the Secretary of State as the mark of recognition of the qualified teacher in Scotland: the amendments were promulgated in a schedule to the Teachers (Education, Training and Registration) (Scotland) Regulations, 1967. These amendments permit the appointment of an unregistered teacher only where the services of a registered teacher holding the qualifications required for the post concerned cannot be secured; even then the authority can make only a temporary appointment. All authorities will, I am sure, recognise their statutory obligation to observe these requirements in making appointments.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is satisfied that there will be an export potential for the A300 Airbus; and if he will make a statement.

When the information in the reports which the firms have recently submitted has been evaluated we shall be able to assess the competitiveness of the aircraft and estimate its export potential.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will take steps to introduce a scheme under the terms of the Indus- trial Expansion Act in order to strengthen the competitive position and improve the employment prospects of Harland and Wolff's engine works at Scotstoun.

If, after the Industrial Expansion Bill has become law, Harland and Wolff have a project which they consider suitable for an industrial investment scheme, I will consider their proposals.

asked the Chan cellor of the Exchequer if he will earmark a proportion of all Government purchases for tender by firms employing less than 500 people or by small businesses identified in some other way.

The Government recognise the need to encourage small businesses. They are considered for Government purchases equally with their larger competitors; but to reserve contracts for competition amongst them would cut across other considerations to which the Government must have regard in its purchasing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the revenue received through selective employment tax from the hotel industry in Scotland; and what is his estimate of future revenue from this source after the 50 per cent. increase and refund scheme is operative.

Separate figures for the revenue received from hotels are not generally available. For the hotel and catering industry as a whole, I estimate the revenue from Scotland to be very roughly £2·3 million in a full year before the Budget changes and after the Budget changes very roughly £2·7 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that he expects public companies to conform to the Government's proposed ceiling on dividend increase, he will now publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT his definition of what constitutes, and what does not constitute, a firm pre-Budget commitment by a public company; and if he will relate this definition to the cases of Rio Tinto Zinc Limited and Lex Garages Limited.

The definitions of what constitute firm pre-Budget commitments on dividends for the purposes of the voluntary dividend restraint policy have already been made known. Rio Tinto Zinc Limited issued additional ordinary shares in exchange for other companies' equities and undertook to pay certain future dividends in respect of the shares so issued. Lex Garages Limited did not issue any additional ordinary shares in exchange for assets of any kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish the total sum of capital transfers by way of grants to public corporations, analysed between the writing off of debts and other transfers, made in 1967 for England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.(2) if he will publish the total capital account grants to local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, analysed between war damage compensation and other expenditure, for the years 1960 to 1967, respectively.(3) what was Government current account expenditure on police and prisons in Wales, Scotland and England, respectively, in 1967.(4) what expenditure on current account was incurred by the Government in 1967 on nationalised transport undertakings and other transport and communications, respectively, in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively.(5) what expenditure the Government incurred on current account on all subsidies in Wales, Scotland and England, respectively, in 1967;(6) what sum was spent in 1967 by the Government in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, on records, registrations and surveys;

Most of the information asked for in these Questions is not separately available for England, Scotland and Wales. Expenditure in 1966–67 on these items for which separate informa-

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what Stationery Office publications regarding decimal currency have been printed in Welsh; and if he will ensure that adequate publicity is given to the new system through the medium of the Welsh language in the Principality.

This matter is within the functions conferred on the Decimal Currency Board by statute and responsibility for it rests with the Board.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will define the criteria which the Treasury uses to decide the number of years which may be cited for comparison by a public company to satisfy the Treasury that it is conforming to the Treasury's proposed ceiling on dividends.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him of 23rd May.—[Vol. 765, c. 131–2.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he takes to inform companies which are requested to dishonour published dividend forecasts because of the Government's proposed ceiling on distributions that these requests, and the proposed ceiling, have no legal authority.

The Government have made it quite clear on several occasions that the present dividend restraint scheme is voluntary. The Confederation of British Industry has likewise informed its members that that is the case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether the 3–7 per cent. increase in total distributions by the Bankers Investment Trust, the 6–6 increase by the English and International Trust, the 7–1 increase by Gilman (Holdings) and the 8 per cent. increase by Young and Company's Brewery are in conformity with the ceiling on dividend distributions; if he will publish the actuarial calculations on which his decision is based; and if he will give an undertaking in each case that he will not interfere with such distributions.

Bankers Investment Trust and English and International Trust are investment trusts. The dividend increase by Gilman (Holdings) was welcome in the context of securing maximum remittances from overseas. The Treasury are in communication with Young and Company's Brewery.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the re-organisation of business and social statistics; and what new publications thereon will now be available.

I would refer the hon. Member to the articles by Professor Moser and Mr. Stafford in the first issue of "Statistical News" published on 23rd May, a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why no schooling has been provided for Susan Longhurst, aged 13 years, of 105 Mill Road, Kettering, Northamptonshire, for the last three months.

I am looking into the matter and will write to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Power why large quantities of petroleum are escaping to the surface at Clerkenleap, Worcestershire, from underground pipelines from Avonmouth to Worcester; what steps he is taking to abate fire risk and avoid further losses; what cost such losses have entailed to public funds; and whether he will make a statement on all danger and financial aspects of this incident.

A defect in the line was reported at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday, 25th May; about 1,500 gallons of petroleum spirit escaped. Prompt action was taken by the Ministry's agents to abate risk of fire and explosion by preventing further leakages and, with the help of the police and the fire brigade, by containing, foaming and recovering released spirit; the pipe was repaired that day and the area declared safe at 7.0 p.m. Normal movements have been resumed. The cost to Ministry funds is not likely to exceed £250.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many industrial training boards have, under their levy orders, taken proceedings in county courts against employers for the non-payment of training levies; in which industries have such proceedings been taken; and what was the result of such proceedings.

This is a matter for the boards; themselves, but I understand that several boards have taken such action in a relatively small number of cases and successfully enforced payment of levy.

asked the Minister of Health when the first specimens from the consignment of lambs on the "Paraguay Star", which started unloading in London on 24th August, 1967, were received at the Central Public Health Laboratory at Colindale, London.

On 13th September, 1967.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied with the number of doctors in Newport, Monmouthshire, in ratio to the population; how the figures compare with other towns of a similar size and population; and if he will make a statement.

The average number of patients on the lists of doctors providing full general medical services in Newport at 1st October, 1967 was 2,498 against the average for England and Wales of 2,472. Since that time, two additional doctors have begun practice in Newport, reducing the average to 2,399. There are no towns of comparable size in Wales, but at 1st October, 1967 the average number of patients per doctor in Newport was slightly higher than in Cardiff (2,314) and Swansea (2,209) but lower than in Merthyr Tydfil (2,563). The recent improvement in the position at Newport is gratifying but there is still room for further improvement.

asked the Minister of Health what representations he has received from the Abortion Law Reform Association regarding circular letter reference E./A. 223/8 which has been sent by his Department to all town clerks; and if he will withdraw or clarify this circular.

I received a letter from the Association yesterday drawing attention to a defect in the circular letter. I regret this defect, which had already come to my notice, and I am arranging to correct it forthwith.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cost of a set of London directories and his estimate of a neighbourhood directory, respectively.

The cost of a set of the London directories, comprising the four London postal area books and the five outer London books is 21s. The estimated cost of a new borough directory is 4s. a copy. As the hon. Gentleman knows, they are all issued free.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what sum has been allotted from public funds to clean monuments and public buildings in Scotland; and how much of this is allotted in each city and county.

My Ministry's cleaning programmes are centred on London and Edinburgh. £51,000 has been spent in reecnt years on cleaning the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh.