asked the Postmaster-General why the cost of the rental per quarter for a shared telephone line is to be only £3, as against £3 10s. 0d. for an exclusive line.

The difference of 10s. between the quarterly rental for a shared line and that for an exclusive line is based on costs.

asked the Postmaster-General why he did not announce the new proposals concerning the neighbourhood directory plan to the House; and whether he will cause an investigation to be made into how these plans were officially disclosed to the Press.

Prospective changes in directory structure were referred to in the Post Office Annual Report for 1965–66 and the proposals for London were mentioned in the Report for 1966–67. These Reports were presented to Parliament.It would have been premature for me to make a statement at an earlier stage.

asked the Postmaster-General how many additional telephone subscribers he estimates he will make provision for in the county of Midlothian; and if he will list the areas where the new lines will be provided.

We plan to provide capacity for about 7,000 additional telephones over the next two years and to continue to meet demand as it arises thereafter. I am writing to my hon. Friend giving him more detailed information.

asked the Postmaster-General how many errors have been made in the current telephone directory concerning subscribers in the County of Midlothian; and how many complaints he has received from subscribers in the county.

Excluding the City of Edinburgh, there are 26 known errors in the alphabetical section. The dialling code was printed instead of the name "Dalkeith" in business entries in the classified section. 19 complaints were received.I am sorry if people were put to any inconvenience. Arrangements were made so that calls for Dalkeith would automatically be routed correctly.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of the total value of contracts placed by his Department with major plant suppliers during each of the last five years was placed with Scottish firms; which firms; and if he will state his plans in this regard for the next three years.

Two of our three major plant suppliers have factories in Scotland, G.E.C./A.E.I, at Glenrothes and Kirkcaldy and S.T. & C. at East Kilbride. We order complete exchanges from these firms but the tens of thousands of parts are made in many different factories, so I am sorry it would not be practicable to estimate the value of the Scottish contribution. We shall continue to encourage our contractors to manufacture as much as possible in development areas.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements will be made for equipping public telephone kiosks with directories, in view of the proposed division of the London directory into 36 sections.

This has not yet been finally decided, but we have in mind copies of the directory issued to local residents, the volume for the City and West End, and the Greater London Business Directory. Special arrangements would continue to be made for suites of kiosks in places such as main railway stations.

asked the Postmaster-General what advice he takes from outside his Department before deleting words from the recorded messages carried out by the public telephone services.

The question does not normally arise. The telephone information services give factual reports for example, about the weather or the Test Match score.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce reduced telephone rentals for the blind.

I have much sympathy with the blind but unfortunately there are many other classes of people, the handicapped and the aged who have a strong case for reductions and it would be impossible to meet them all.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present waiting list in the Brookwood telephone exchange area; and what it was 12 months ago.

40 compared with 26 a year ago, but 253 customers have been connected in this period.

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he now has for the future of the telegram service.

The future of the service is still under review.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give an estimate of how many air mail letters and packages were lost in the recent air crash at Heathrow; and how many were salvaged and re-dispatched by his Department.

The number of individual letters and packages are not available. Of the 191 bags of letter and parcel mail loaded on the aircraft, 22 bags were recovered intact and were sent on by the first available services.A quantity of other mail was salvaged, out of which some hundreds of letters and parcels could be identified and repaired sufficiently to be sent on to the addresses. Many others, of which the names and addresses of the senders—but not those of the addressees—were decipherable, were returned with a suitable explanation. But I regret that about three-quarters of the mail was unfortunately either completely destroyed or irreparably demaged.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the causes of the deterioration of the postal service in the Leeds area; and what changes of management and other changes he intends to make to improve the postal service in and around Leeds.

There is no general deterioration; but some letters addressed to Arthington and Pool-in-Wharfedale have been delayed because of missorting. We plan to reduce these mistakes by improving the postal addresses. I am confident that the local management will continue to look for improvements in all services within their control.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will estimate the number of sub-postmasters and sub-postmistresses whose Post Office salary will decrease during the next three years.

I expect the number to be few, but I cannot make a precise estimate. A sub-postmaster's remuneration is, of course, related to the volume of Post Office business he transacts.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a further statement about his proposals for meeting the cost of installing anti-bandit screens in sub-post offices.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will make a further statement about the cost of anti-bandit screens for sub-post offices.

Our aim in this matter has been to make a fair division, as between the Post Office and the sub-postmaster, of the cost of protecting his premises with an anti-bandit screen. The offer already made to pay the first £50 of the cost of the screen in crime-prone areas, with an interest free loan to cover the remainder, seems to me a very reasonable one in relation to the terms on which sub-postmasters are employed. I have, however, decided to improve on it in view of my strong wish to get this scheme properly under way. The Post Office will now pay 75 per cent. of the cost or £50 whichever is the greater, and will also pay for the initial survey necessary at each office. I hope that the Federation of Sub-Postmasters will feel able to give more enthusiastic support for this scheme, which was initiated at their request.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now make a statement on the future of pay television.

The Conservative administration, in their second White Paper on Broadcasting (Cmnd. 1893, paragraphs 45 to 48) announced their decision to authorise an experiment in pay television by wire only. Accordingly, under licences granted by them, an experimental service is at present provided by Pay-TV Ltd., to some 8,000 subscribers in Southwark and Westminster; and some 1,800 in Sheffield. The licences run until January, 1969, in the case of Southwark and Westminster and November, 1969, in the case of Sheffield. However, the operating company asked my predecessor to review the experiment and he had discussions with their representatives on 20th February. I am considering the points raised.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated audience of each of the six local radio stations.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to his earlier question today.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take power to amend the Wireless Telegraphy (Broadcast Licence Charges) Regulations, 1967, to extend the discretion given to him in paragraph 2(2) to licences in Schedule 1, so that in future he will be able to grant concessionary licences to old persons' homes.

I am looking into this matter, and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to attract qualified scientists and engineers to the teaching profession.

My Department organises advertising campaigns each year for the recruitment of graduates including scientists and technologists, produces pamphlets about teaching for graduates and co-operates with University Appointments Boards. A special pamphlet on science and mathematics teaching is being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will summarise the work of his Department on the lines of the examples given in the case of the Home Office in paragraph 34 of the Centre for Administrative Studies Occasional Paper No. 4, published by Her Majesty's Treasury.

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said on 11th June in his reply to a Question by the right hon. Member for Wallasey (Mr. Marples), an initial study of the feasibility of applying the output budgeting technique in my Department is nearing completion. It is not possible to publish any summary at this stage.—[Vol. 766; c. 15.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement about the progress of the Young Volunteer Force.

Since the setting up of this scheme was announced on 14th November, 1967, I understand that the Foundation have been engaged in determining their general lines of approach, for which purpose they have appointed an Advisory Council composed of people with experience in the field of voluntary social service, in setting up their headquarters, and in recruiting staff and planning their training. By the end of this month, the Foundation will have a staff of 19 young people and the first field team will have started its training. The Department of Education and Science, the Ministry of Health, the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, have issued a joint circular "Voluntary Community Service by Young People" which has led to an increase in requests to the Foundation for advice and help from local authorities and voluntary bodies. On Monday next the Prime Minister will hold a reception at 10, Downing Street to mark the inauguration of the Foundation and the commencement of its first field projects at Newport (Mon.), Newcastle, Derbyshire and Gloucestershire.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount to be spent in 1968-69 by the Medical Research Council on research into mental illness; and what proportion of the total budget this represents.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Billericay (Mr. Moonman) on 11th June, 1968.— [Vol. 766; col. 20–21.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has of the number of schoolchildren picked up by school transport between 7.45 a.m. and 8.15 a.m.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now announce his decision regarding the proposals of the Northamptonshire County Council Education Committee to cease to maintain the voluntary controlled infants school, Winstanley Road, Wellingborough.

My right hon. Friend has just received further communications from the authority and from the joint managers which should enable him to take a decision within the next few days. As previously promised, we will let my hon. Friend know that decision as soon as it is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the cost of printing the Gittens Report on Primary Education in Wales in English and Welsh, respectively; and what is the total number of copies in each language sold to date, and the separate proceeds from sales.

The cost of printing the English version was £2,755, that of the Welsh version £3,475. Sales to date are 2,118 English and 520 Welsh; receipts from sales £2,031 on the English version and £499 on the Welsh.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now contact the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to ascertain what action was taken by the police officer who took particulars on the evening of 16th May of the unlicensed paraffin lorry SAN 180, in Perth Road, N.4, which had no C licence, no Road Fund Licence and no hooter; and what action the police intend to take.

The apparent lack of a Road Fund licence was reported to the local authority concerned. The police are pursuing inquiries into one of the other matters before deciding what action to take on them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to reply to the letters of the London Motor Cab Proprietors' Association dated 29th March, 10th April and 26th April.

An interim reply was sent on 10th April to the first two letters. I am sorry that I cannot yet send a substantive reply to the Association but I hope to be able to do so quite soon and will let my hon. Friend know. A reply to the third letter was sent on 6th May.

asked the Minister of Technology what progress has been made in the co-ordination of governmental and industrial action in working out a scheme for the introduction of the metric system.

Substantial progress has been made by industry in drawing up plans for the change-over to the metric system. There has been consultation between Government Departments and industry throughout the preparation of programmes for the transition, but the initiative in preparing programmes rests with industry. A metrication programme for the construction industry was published by the British Standards Institution a year ago and is being supported by Government Departments; programmes for the general engineering, electrical engineering and shipbuilding industries are at an advanced stage of consultation and will be considered by Her Majesty's Government when available.

asked the Minister of Social Security if she will take steps to enable divorced women to receive maintenance payments and additional social service grants as a regular payment by presenting an allowance book at a post office.

Such a procedure is already in operation in relation to a divorced woman with a maintenance order made in the magistrates' court, who is entitled to receive supplementary benefit. She is invited to authorise the magistrates' clerk to pay to the Ministry any money received by him under the order. This enables the Ministry to issue an allowance book, encashable at a post office, for the woman's full entitlement to benefit without regard to whether the order is paid regularly, intermittently or not at all. An order made in the High Court may be registered in the magistrates' court when the same procedure may be applied.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs whether the references to the intermittent use of force by the Israeli Government in Jerusalem, made by the United Kingdom permanent representative in the Security Council during the debate in May on the status of Jerusalem, were made with his approval; and if he will clarify this statement of policy.

I am not aware that my right hon. and noble Friend made any such references.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will cause the representative of Her Majesty's Government at the United Nations to move for the setting up of an inspectorate to detect and follow up the actions of those who break the sanctions called for against Rhodesia.

No. The new Security Council resolution on Rhodesia already contains provisions designed to make the supervision of sanctions more effective.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the accident on the M6 at Winwick on 6th June when six people were killed, he will now give instructions for the erection of substantial crash barriers down the middle of all motorways, existing and in construction.

No. My Department's policy on the use of crash barriers is set out in the Sixth Special Report from the Estimates Committee, 1967–68. It would not be an economical use of our limited resources to install central crash barriers along the whole length of all motorways.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in view of the accident on the M6 on 6th June, as a result of which six people died, he will now take steps to have crash barriers erected along the central reservations of motorways.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, East (Mr. Robert Howarth).

asked the Minister of Transport what further investigations he has undertaken into motorway accidents involving vehicles which have crossed the central reservation and struck vehicles travelling in the opposite direction; how many such accidents have occurred; and what action he proposes to take as a consequence.

During a four-year study on Ml, M10 and M45 between 1962 and 1966, about 2 per cent. of accidents were of this type. No special investigations have been made since then, but the Road Research Laboratory maintains a continuous watch on this type of accident. As stated in the Sixth Special Report from the Estimates Committee for 1967–68, my Department intends to install further lengths of safety fence where particular road conditions make this desirable and where traffic volume becomes very high.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish the report on the cause of the accident on the M6 on 6th June as a result of which six people died.

No. This is a matter for the police who are investigating the cause of the accident. For the present the matter is sub judice.

asked the Prime Minister what are the present Departmental arrangements for submitting names for honours, in England and Wales, and in Scotland, respectively.

It is not the practice to disclose internal arrangements of this kind nor, of course, to discuss individual cases. I can, however, assure the hon. Member that the arrangements, which are of very long standing, are as fair as can be devised.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to assist the wool industry in the Falkland Islands, in view of the serious fall in wool prices; and if he will make a statement.

The report of an economic survey of the Falkland Islands carried out last year made a number of recommendations to assist the wool industry in the event of a fall in wool prices. These recommendations are being considered by the Falkland Islands Government, and I am awaiting a report on the matter from the Governor.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will instruct the British Permanent Representative in the United Nations to move an emergency resolution in the Security Council calling on all member states to cease supplying arms to either side in the Nigerian civil war while peace talks continue in Kampala or elsewhere.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary explained the attitude of Her Majesty's Government towards the supply of arms to Nigeria in his speech to the House yesterday. [HANSARD Col. 289–299]. For the reasons given in that speech, I do not propose to ask my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary to initiate the action proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the recommendations of the Select Committee on the 1966 Armed Forces Bill will be implemented in the next Armed Forces Bill.

We intend that the next Armed Forces Bill, which will be prepared in the light of the recommendations of the 1966 Select Committee, shall continue the process of harmonisation of Service law begun by the 1966 Armed Forces Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the fact that 11 per cent. of the Army and 12 per cent. of the Royal Air Force are recruited in Scotland, and that only 4 per cent. of United Kingdom-based Army and Royal Air Force personnel are stationed in Scotland, which is detrimental to the Scottish economy and birth-rate, he will give an undertaking not to close any further Service establishments until the imbalance is redressed.

No. The deployment of the Armed Forces must be consistent with defence needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the dissatisfaction of the Scottish Students Representative Council as expressed by its letter dated 13th May sent to him at the cut of 50 per cent. in the level of the students' maintenance allowances recommended by the Brown Committee; and, in view of the fact that this inflicts hardship on the students, if he will take steps to rectify this by reviewing the decision.

Allowances are in fact being increased; the cut to which my hon. and learned Friend refers is a cut in the increase which would otherwise have been made.My hon. Friend, the Joint Under-Secretary of State, wrote to the hon. and learned Member on 28th May about the representations made by the Students' Representative Council in the University of Aberdeen. As he indicated then, I cannot go beyond Government statements already made as to when the next review of students' grants will take place.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what progress has been made in the dispute about operating prescription charges with the representatives of Scottish pharmacists;(2) what steps he intends to take to protect people in Scotland who qualify for exemption from prescription charges, in the light of failure to reach agreement with the representatives of Scottish pharmacists.

The outstanding issue is that of remuneration for the operation of the new prescription arrangements. It has now been agreed with the chemists' representatives to refer the remuneration for the early weeks of the new scheme to arbitration and to deal with the matter in the longer term by means of a general review of remuneration under the accepted Whitley Committee procedure. In the meantime the arrangements for exemptions are being operated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the salary scale and opportunities for advancement for dietitians in the Scottish Hospital Services are adequate; how their rates of pay compare with those of medical social workers, pharmacists and physiotherapists; and if he will make a statement.

The salary scales at minimum and maximum of the lowest and highest grades of dietitians and the other classes referred to are set out in the table below. All these scales, together with conditions of service, are the concern of the appropriate Whitley Council as are also matters concerning relativities and career structure. Professional and Technical Council A agreed last month to a 4 per cent. increase for the professions supplementary to medicine from 1st October, 1967. The new scales supersede those which had been in operation since 1st July, 1965 and I understand that negotiations are proceeding on the possibility of a further increase which would be effective from 1st January, 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current annual gross yield of Selective Employment Tax, the cost of refunds, of regional employment premiums, and of administration.

The current figures are £1,094 million, £721 million, £100 million and about £2·0 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the directives given to civil servants in connection with visits to countries in Eastern Europe.

Civil servants are reminded annually that any visitor to such countries, including Government officers or ex-Government officers, is likely to encounter certain hazards. Both for the protection of Government information and for the protection of the officers themselves, all members of a Department are therefore required to consult their establishment officer, or other designated officer, before travelling to such countries or using the air, sea or rail facilities which they offer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the current annual cost to public funds of all agricultural subsidies, school meal subsidies, school milk subsidies, housing subsidies, public libraries and museums, family allowances, Board of Trade grants for distribution of industry, adult education, and investment grants.

Expenditure in 1967–68 on the services in question is provisionally estimated as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent studies are being made into the possibilities of employing in the United Kingdom the cement process for producing alumina by which cost reductions of up to 25 per cent. may be gained; and if he will make a statement.

Aluminium interests in this country have considered this process and are continuing to study its comparative costs in the light of quantities and prices of cement and alumina available from other sources.