asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has for carrying out a national land drainage survey.

We are currently examining possible methods of carrying out a survey of the state of field drainage in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members are on the Advisory Board for Porton; and, of these, how many receive grants from his Department for their own personal research subjects.

Each of the main establishments at Porton has its own advisory board. That for the Microbiological Research Establishment has 11 members excluding Crown servants. That for the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment has 9 members excluding Crown servants. No member of either board receives a grant for research. A member of a sub-committee which reports to the board for the Chemical Defence Experimental Establishment has been in receipt of a grant under a contract which is about to expire, but he is not a member of the board itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what patent rights Her Majesty's Government have in relation to CS gas packed in one 1b. canisters by Schermuly Limited, Surrey.

The design of CS grenades! to which my hon. Friend is presumably referring is covered by British Patent No. 967660, rights in which are held by Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what contracts Her Majesty's Government have with the Charterhouse Group of Companies, or their subsidiaries, in relation to the manufacture and packaging of CS gas.

It is not the practice to disclose details of Government contracts with commercial firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the safety devices in the vehicles in which CS gas is transported between Nancekuke, Cornwall, and Schermuly Limited, between Guildford and Crawley.

CS is packed in specially labelled sealed steel drums and transported in accordance with the instructions to which I referred in my Answer to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 30th May. —[Vol. 765, c. 263.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has, from international sources, of the percentage of each of their budgets spent on defence by Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and Great Britain, for the latest convenient year.

In the current financial year the Defence Budget estimate represents 14·4 per cent. of the estimate of total United Kingdom central government expenditure as given in Table 8 of the Financial Statement 1968–69. I have no comparable information for Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia and Singapore.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what charges he has authorised his Department to make for the use of Army equipment by members of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve, Category III.

None, provided the equipment is normally held by the T. & A.V.R.III units. Appropriate hire charges would be made for any additional equipment loaned by Ordnance Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Armed Forces are at present issued with firearms, but are not paid by Her Majesty's Government.

The members of the Armed Forces who are not paid by Her Majesty's Government but may be issued with firearms are with certain minor exceptions the 12,977 members of T. & A.V.R.III.The number actually issued with firearms is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his estimate of the proportion of the total mileage of roads in Wales in 1973 which will be motorways, dual carriageways and trunk roads, respectively;(2) what is his estimate of the total mileage of British dual carriageways in 1973 which will be found in Wales;(3) what is his estimate of the total mileage of British motorways in 1973 which will be found in Wales.

The total mileage of roads in Wales open to traffic in 1973 will be approximately 19,000. Of this about 27 miles will be motorway, 80 miles dual carriageway trunk road, most of which is up to motorway standard, and 920 miles single carriageway trunk road. An estimate of the mileage of non-trunk dual carriageway roads is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the current value of the Welsh schemes in the £1,000 million preparation list of urban road projects;(2) what is the current value of the Welsh schemes in the £1,000 million preparation pool of trunk road schemes.

These two lists relate solely to England. My right hon. Friend intends to build up the preparation pool and list of Welsh trunk and principal road schemes to a combined total of about £100 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is his estimate of the total sum, including local and central government expenditure, which will be spent in Wales in 1969 and 1970 on new construction and improvement of all roads, and on classified and principal roads, respectively;(2) what is his estimate of the total sum, including local and central government expenditure, which will be spent in Wales in 1969 and 1970 on maintenance of all roads, and on classified and principal roads, respectively.

For planning purposes it is estimated that the level of expenditure will be as shown in the following table:

	New construction and improvements
Year	All roads	Principal roads
1968–69	£15·7m.	£4·3m.
1969–70	£16·8m.	£4·5m.

	Maintenance
Year	All roads	Principal roads
1968–69	£12·0m.	£2·0m.
1969–70	£11·9m.	£2·0m.

Separate figures for classified roads are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the recent Report of the North West Economic Planning Council:

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what action he is taking, and will take, with regard to the recommendations made by the North West Economic Planning Council on the need for special steps in those parts of the region which are suffering from such problems as the decline of staple industries and falling employment opportunities; and if he will make a statement;(2) what action he is taking concerning the recommendation in the North West Economic Planning Council's recent report with regard to encouraging the replacement of unsuitable and badly-sited industrial premises by new ones, not necessarily near to old premises, but where the industry can grow in an efficient location; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what consideration he is giving to the reference in the recommendations of the recent report of the North West Economic Planning Council to the disparity between new public investment in construction per head of population in the North-West and in other regions; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what action he is taking with regard to the recommendations in the recent report of the North West Economic Planning Council that the declaration of smoke control areas should be mandatory upon at least all urban authorities in the region and that a greater attack should be mounted on other forms of pollution; and if he will make a statement;(2) what action he proposes to take concerning the recommendation in the recent report of the North West Economic Planning Council that grants should be made for enabling local authorities to improve the general environment in selected areas and for the work to be done by teams working systematically through the district; and if he will make a statement;(3) what action he is taking with regard to the recommendation in the recent report of the North West Economic Planning Council, that a grant should be paid for the reclamation of derelict land to specially defined dereliction areas; and if he will make a statement;(4) if he will make a statement on his policy regarding the recommendations in the North West Planning Council's report concerning the siting and development of new cities and towns in the North-West.(5) what action he proposes to take concerning the North West Economic Planning Council's recommendation that there should be special grants to cover about three-quarters of the cost of rehabilitating houses, of 30 to 60 years of age, in selected areas, which with improvement can have a considerably longer life; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport how his priorities for road improvements in the North-West compare with those listed in the recommendations reached on this matter by the North West Economic Planning Council; and if he will make a statement in the light of the Council's recent report.

I have been asked to reply.We congratulate the North West Economic Planning Council upon their valuable report "Strategy II" published on 12th June. The Government are grateful for the work put into the report and are giving careful consideration to the Council's proposals. The Government's views will be made known as soon as is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what has been the total cost to date of re-signwriting the new name of her Department outside local offices and other places; and of the reprinting of new stationery in this connection; and if she will give an estimate of the total cost on completion of all such work in hand.

With the agreement of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Public Building and Works I do not propose to answer the first part of the Question as the cost in staff time of attempting to make an accurate assessment would in our joint view, be excessive. However, no overall increase in expenditure is involved as the cost of re-signwriting will be borne on the normal maintenance Vote of the Ministry of Public Building and Works. As to new stationery, I am advised by Her Majesty's Stationery Office that the cost has amounted so far to only £128 and that the cost of overprinting on envelopes may bring the total cost to about £1,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will state the percentage of the male insured population employed in coalmining in each of the employment exchange areas in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire.

Following is the information:

PERCENTAGES THAT THE ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF MALE EMPLOYEES, EMPLOYED AND UNEMPLOYED, AT MID-1966 IN COAL-MINING (MINIMUM LIST HEADING 101 OF THE STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION) FORMED OF ALL MALE EMPLOYEES
	Per cent.
Nottinghamshire
Arnold	31
Beeston	—
Hucknall	60
Mansfield	47
Netherfield	18
Newark	—
Nottingham, including Basford and Bulwell	3
Retford	3
Sutton-in-Ashfield	54
Worksop	39
Derbyshire
Alfreton	39
Ashbourne	—
Bakewell	—
Belper	9
Buxton	—
Chapel-en-le-Frith	—
Chesterfield	19
Clay Cross	2
Derby	—
Eckington	32
Glossop	—
Heanor	33
Ilkeston	6
Long Eaton	—
Matlock	1
New Mills	—
Shirebrook	66
Stavely	41
Swadlincote	25

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many clerks are or have been on strike in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, for recognition of their right to negotiate through the Clerical and Administrative Workers Union, on behalf of clerical grades employed in the steel industry; and how many have been locked out.

I cannot give accurate figures but about 1,300 clerical workers are estimated to have taken or to be taking part in strikes at a number of steel plants. Of these, about 300 have been temporarily suspended by the management.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is aware that the British Steel Corporation have been officially informed by the Clerical and Administrative Workers Union that token stoppages would take place in support of the union's claim for recognition and that when staff have returned to work they have been suspended for taking part in an official dispute; and if she will take urgent steps to remedy this situation.

I understand that the British Steel Corporation were so informed and that about 300 employees have been suspended for a short period following a stoppage of work by these employees. I am keeping a close watch on developments in this dispute and will intervene again if this will help.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what new proposals Her Majesty's Government intend to make to the Geneva disarmament conference when it reconvenes next month.

I would refer the hon. Member to my statement on 19th June. Her Majesty's Government regard the Non-Proliferation Treaty as the essential first step in achieving the end of the nuclear arms race and progress towards general and complete disarmament. We shall press at the 18-Nation Disarmament Committee for urgent work to be done on further measures in the nuclear field, to follow up the Treaty, and also on conventional disarmament problems. A priority in this latter connexion is the need to see what can be done in regard to chemical and biological weapons.— [Vol. 766, c. 1108–1109.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by the Metropolitan Police in their traffic study in Harefield; and when it will be completed and a policy resolved.

Waiting restrictions are to be introduced experimentally in Breakspear Road North from 1st July. Other possible measures are still being considered by the police, the Greater London Council and the Borough Council.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the present size of the Corps of Specialists; and what plans there are for the expansion of this corps, particularly in the field of agriculture.

The corps was planned to build up to a total membership of about 100 in the first few years. The number who have accepted appointment so far is 58 including 11 agriculturists. Any further expansion of the corps will be for review profession by profession when membership approaches the initial total. The proportion of agricultural specialists will depend upon the demand from overseas countries at that time and also upon the availability of suitably qualified people for secondment from appropriate institutions in Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what instructions he has given to local authorities to increase the registration fee for holders' of fireworks licences; and by what percentage the fee is being increased in Edinburgh.

The Miscellaneous Fees (Variation) (Scotland) Order 1968, which was laid before Parliament earlier this year, increased from 1st April, 1968 the fees paid throughout Scotland to local authorities for a variety of licences including that for the registration of premises where fireworks are stored. This fee, which is payable under Section 21 of the Explosives Act, 1875, was increased from 1s. to 12s. 6d. per annum, an increase of 1,150 per cent. The fee had remained at 1s. since 1875 and the revision followed representations from local authorities and a careful review by the Government which took into account changes in monetary values and in costs of administration.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will list the sequence of events which have delayed the provision of a new post office at Howard-gate, Welwyn Garden City; and if he will make a statement as to the progress which is now envisaged.

This is a complex scheme involving the provision of a post office and telephone exchange extension on a site in a main shopping area.Our first plan was to build only a post office, but the local authority considered that this would leave the site underdeveloped. Prolonged discussions took place to reconcile Post Office and local authority requirements, and these led to agreement on the present scheme. Detailed planning of this is now well under way.Construction is expected to start by June of next year and be completed about two years later.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the latest oil pollution of East Anglian beaches, he will arrange for a regular helicopter patrol service from Great Yarmouth Heliport so that local government authorities receive sufficient advance warning to take suitable counter measures.

A system is already in being under which sightings of oil are reported to the coastguards, who inform local authorities. After discussion with the local authority associations my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are about to issue a circular which will advise local authorities how best to use the information received from coastguards and how to obtain weather data in order to predict the movement of oil slicks. In certain circumstances Service aircraft will be available to reconnoitre an oil slick. The great expense of a regular helicopter patrol would not in my view be justified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce retrospective legislation for improvement grants on the same lines as the new slum clearance compensation proposals.

No. The proposed changes in grants are part of the new approach to improvement (including in particular area improvement) and all these changes should in the Government's view become operative together.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the effect of proposals in the White Paper for changes in the grant system and increases in grant payments on the numbers of applications over the next six months and before the changes proposed come into operation.

For many owners the existing arrangements provide reasonable incentives to improve their houses and I expect that much improvement will continue to be done. The new grant proposals are designed to widen the scope of work which can be assisted, but much of the work will still be within the existing limits and there is no reason why this should be deferred.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ensure that one particular officer of each local authority should be given special responsibility for carrying out compulsory improvements and grant procedures.

This is a matter for the local authority, but my right hon. Friend fully recognises the importance of a coordinated drive and advice on it will be included in the manual on improvement areas which the Government intend to publish in due course.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied that the proposals in the White Paper, "Old Houses for New Homes", which rely mainly upon volnuntary consultation and persuasion, will produce the required result; what consideration he has given to the experience of local authorities who have found such procedures time consuming and slow in producing results; and if he will make a statement.

Success in implementing these proposals will depend greatly on the skill and determination of local authorities and their officers, and I am glad to say that local authorities generally have given the proposals a warm welcome. The proposals were included in a White Paper in order to provoke discussion, and my right hon. Friend would welcome suggestions which would result in more improvement being done.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the continuing problems of housing conditions which exist in the industrial North West, what steps he proposes to take to secure speedy implementation of proposed new legislation.

Consultation with local authorities has already started with a view to the preparation of proposals for area improvement that can be put into effect without delay after enactment of the proposed legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will reply in detail, and not merely by postcards stating that the matter is receiving attention, to the large volume of representations he has received in recent weeks from the hon. Member for Arundel and Shoreham, opposing the turning of the proposed hard runway at Shoreham Airport into an overflow area for Gatwick Airport.

A reply was sent on 19th June. A further letter dealing with the points he has raised more recently will be sent shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what legislation is proposed to provide powers to take action against dumping, in accordance with the code which was agreed in the Kennedy Round of trade negotiations at Geneva.

The Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Amendment Bill, which was passed by this House on 14th June and is now being considered in another place.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the area approved in areas scheduled as development districts in each year from 1960 to 1964, and the area this represents per head of the estimated total of employees in those districts in those years.

The information is given in the following table:

INDUSTRIAL BUILDING APPROVED IN AREAS SCHEDULED AS DEVELOPMENT DISTRICTS 1960–1964
Year	Total Area Approved (Million sq. ft.)	Average Aea of Approvals per insured Employee (sq. ft.)
1960	8·9	3·2
1961	8·2	3·2
1962	5·7	21
1963	9·9	2·9
1964	15·8	4·6

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table showing the proportion of the total area of industrial building approved that was in areas that are now scheduled as development areas in each of the years 1960 to 1967, and the area this represents per head of the estimated total of employees in these areas in those years.

The information is given in the following table:

INDUSTRIAL BUILDING APPROVED IN AREAS SCHEDULED AS DEVELOPMENT AREAS 1960–67
Year	Total Area Approved (million sq. ft.)	Per cent. Great Britain Total*	Average Area of Approvals per Insured Employee (sq. ft.)
1960	27·0		5·6
1961	15·0		3·1
1962	9·1		1·9
1963	12·2		2·5
1964	20·2		4·1
1965	24·6		5·0
1966	29·1		5·9
	(28·6)†		(5·8)†
1967	28·8	33	Not available‡
	(26·6)†

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now confirm the date of the Whitsun Bank Holiday for 1969.

As the House was informed on 21st March, 1967 and 13 April, 1967, the date of the spring bank holiday in 1969 in England, Scotland and Wales will be 26th May (Whit Monday).—[Vol. 743, c. 252; Vol. 745, c. 240.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is his policy regarding re-negotiation of rents for existing tenants on industrial estates in Scotland;(2) what is his policy regarding the rent levels for new tenants of factories in industrial estates in Scotland.

New rents, or rents relating to revision or renewals of leases, are charged at current market value for Board of Trade factories in Scotland, as elsewhere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the annual deficit on industrial estates in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively, in the years 1960–61, 1964–65 and 1967–68.

The figures for the financial year 1967–68 are not yet available. The figures refer only to Board of Trade industrial estates.

NET DEFICIT
Financial Year	England	Scotland	Wales
	£	£	£
1960–61	341,350	635,981	377,873
1964–65	783,340	1,295,684	306,139

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the average percentage rent increase applied to tenants on industrial estates in Scotland, England and Wales, respectively, on renegotiation of leases in the years 1960–61, 1964–65, and 1967–68;(2) what was the average rent per square foot charged to tenants on industrial estates in Scotland in the years 1960–61, 1964–65, and 1967–68, respectively.

In Scotland the average rents on Board of Trade Industrial Estates for the years 1960–61, 1964–65 and 1967–68 were 1s. 4·9d., 1s. 8·6d. and 2s. 1·25d. per square foot, respectively.The average percentage rent increases on re-negotiation of leases for the same years on Board of Trade estates are as follows:

	1960–61	1964–65	1967–68
Scotland	127·3	13·2	227·2
England	100·6	103·4	88·7
Wales	78·0	69·0	114·0

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet received the report of the Monopolies Commission on the merger of Thorn Electrical Industries Limited and Radio Rentals Limited; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I received the Commission's Report on the 14th June. Its conclusion, with one dissentient, is that this merger does not operate and may not be expected to operate against the public interest. I accept this conclusion. I shall be laying the Commission's Report before Parliament and publishing it as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number of student pilots undertaking training in the United Kingdom for qualifications to fly commercial and passenger aircraft for the years between 1964 and 1967; and if he will give an estimate of future requirements.

The numbers commencing training in the years ending 31st March were:

1964–65	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68
246	251	426	610

Figures are not available for the year 1963–64.Estimates provided by employers of their requirements for professional pilots during the next four calendar years are:

1969	1970	1971	1972
534	529	488	377

asked the President of the Board of Trade what cost to public funds arose from the training of pilots of commercial and passenger aircraft in the years between 1964 and 1967.

Grants towards the ab initio training of pilots sponsored by United Kingdom airlines amounted to approximately £49,000, £109,000, £130,000, £218,000 and £350,000 in the financial years ending 31st March, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what information he has about the causes of oil pollution on the beaches of Caister-on-Sea, Hemsby and Winterham-on-Sea last week; and whether the ships responsible have been identified.

I have received reports of this pollution but despite enquiries the cause has not been established nor is there any indication that it came from a particular ship.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his estimate of the proportion of the total mileage of roads in England in 1973 which will be motorways, dual carriageways and trunk roads, respectively.

It is estimated that the total mileage of roads in England in 1973 will be about 154,000. Of this, it is estimated that about 1,000 miles will be motorway, all with dual carriageways, 1,100 miles dual carriageway trunk road, and 4,350 miles single carriageway trunk road. An estimate for non-trunk dual carriageways is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the average sum per mile spent, including local and central government expenditure, on new construction and improvement of all roads in England; and what was the sum per mile spent on maintenance, in each year from 1960 to 1968.

The information is not available in the form requested and I will write to the hon. Member giving him such information as is available.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position with regard to the Thames Bridge, Chertsey, section of the M3 which it was officially announced in January last would start during 1968.

The contract is still expected to be let before the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the 720 drivers and passengers on motorcycles who suffered fatal head injuries in the year 1966 were not wearing safety helmets.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the recent increase in central and local government expenditure, what further steps he is now taking to reduce the level of this expenditure.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Morecambe and Lonsdale (Mr. Hall-Davis) on Tuesday 2nd April.—[Vol. 762, c. 158–9.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost of paying building society deposit rates to the holders of post-war credits.

If the rate of interest on post-war credits was increased from 2½ per cent. to 4¼ per cent. it would ultimately cost about £35 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will amend the legislation on repayment of post-war credits so as to remove the anomaly whereby a person, even if sick more than 26 weeks, is unable to obtain repayment of the post-war credit unless she is in receipt of benefits under the National Insurance Acts; and if he will make a statement.

No. I am afraid that there are serious practical difficulties in the way of administering such an extension of the existing qualifying categories.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his decision to approve an increase of 3·8 per cent. in total distribution by Airborne Industries, he will now raise his proposed ceiling on dividend increases from 3·5 per cent. to 3·8 per cent. and authorise all those companies which have so far been required to restrict the increase in their distributions to 3·5 per cent. to make special interim distributions, if they so desire, to bring the increase in their total distributions up to 3·8 per cent.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made at the present time of the revenue in 1968–69 from taxation of all forms of betting and gambling.

The Budget Estimate of the yield from the Betting and Gaming Duties in the Financial Year 1968–69 was £100 million, made up as follows:

	£ million
General Betting Duty	52
Pool Betting Duty	42
Gaming Licence Duty (Premises)	3
Gaming Machine Licence Duty	3
	100

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what sums were raised in Wales, including Monmouthshire, in each of the years 1960 to 1968 by motor fuel taxation, licence duties and Purchase Tax, respectively.

No separate figures are available for motor fuel taxation and purchase tax. The receipts from motor vehicle duties are as follows:

	£ million
1960	5·6
1961	6·4
1962	7·5
1963	8·2
1964	8·8
1965	11·0
1966	12·3
1967	13·2
1968 (est.)	18·5

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total local authority debt in the United Kingdom at 31st December, 1964, and at 31st December, 1967, or the last available date, respectively.

The total outstanding capital debt of local authorities in the United Kingdom, as at the end of their financial year 1964–65 amounted to £9,916 million.A loan debt survey, as at the end of the 1967–68 financial year, is now proceeding; the result should be known towards the end of this year but it is thought that the comparable figure will be about £13,100 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for full remission of Income Tax to be given to members of Her Majesty's forces who pay out of their own pockets for food, accommodation and training facilities to enable them to carry on their military duties.

No. While I appreciate the public spirit shown by these people I cannot accept that there should be any departure from normal income tax rules in their case.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total debt of the Government at 31st December, 1964 and at 31st December, 1967 or the last available date, respectively.

Figures are only available for the 31st March of each year. At 31st March, 1965, the total national debt was £30,440 million and for 31st March, 1968, the provisional figure is £33,484 million. Detailed information on both can be found in the supplementary table to the May edition of Financial Statistics.