asked the Minister of Technology what is the total number of companies engaged in the electronics industry in Scotland; how many are indigenously Scottish; how many employees there are in those purely Scottish companies; and what has been the total governmental financial aid given to such companies to establish themselves in Scotland between 1960 and 1967.

Some 50 companies are engaged in the electronics and telecommunications industry in Scotland, of which 14 originated in Scotland and are controlled by Scottish interests. The latter companies employ approximately 2,900 people and, I understand, accepted in the period in question Government aid of some £750,000, not including regional employment and selective employment premiums.

asked the Minister of Technology what progress has been made in the last four years in the export of computers to Eastern Europe and to other parts of the world, respectively; and what is the estimated increase up to 1971.

Between 1964 and 1967 exports of computing equipment to Eastern Europe increased from £0·76 million to £2·7 million, an increase of about 250 per cent., while exports to the rest of the world increased from £6·1 million to £16·7 million or 174 per cent. This welcome increase in our export trade is likely to continue, but I would not like to predict a value for 1971.

asked the Minister of Technology what were the total deliveries for export of electronic capital equipment in 1965, 1966 and 1967.

£76·2 million, £114·0 million and £126·1 million respectively.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give the value of deliveries in the United Kingdom in 1967 of computers made overseas, and the change from 1966.

£31·1 million; a decline of 15 per cent.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement about the large pre-production order for machine tools which he has placed with the Molins Machine Company.

Under its pre-production order scheme the Ministry of Technology has placed an order valued at £585,000 with the Molins Machine Company as part of the first installation of the firm's "System 24" which is believed to be the first-ever integrated computer controlled system of batch manufacture in the world. Further details are as follows:The purpose of the machine tool pre-production order scheme is to reduce the gap between the completion of development of new and advanced designs of machine tools and associated equipment and their acceptance in industry on a scale sufficient to justify the laying down of adequate production lines. This is aimed at assisting the industry in competing in home and export markets in the future and also to get advanced machines into industrial use more quickly.Under the scheme the Ministry of Technology purchases advanced machines and places them with suitable users for appraisal under industrial conditions and for reports on their economic and technical performance. The information thus arising will be disseminated by the Ministry as a guide to other prospective users.The contract with the Molins Machine Company valued at £585,000 is expected to cover the manufacturing cost (excluding any profit) of seven machine tools and their associated equipment as part of the first installation of System 24 now being installed at the firm's own pilot plant at Deptford.The system is aimed at the manufacture of light alloy components within the size range of 12 ins. by 12 ins, by 6 ins. which are milled, drilled, tapped, bored or reamed and it is designed to finish these components efficiently and automatically. Manual labour is avoided except for preparing the blanks and fixing them to the pallets used in the system.The Company itself is investing a substantial sum in the pilot plant at Deptford and the further development, manufacture and marketing of System 24, which it has developed as a Company-funded private venture.The system represents an important advance in numerical control and exploits all its advantages and provides an automatic, integrated small batch production facility which has enormous potential implications for future methods of production in the engineering industry in this country and overseas, and is a major step forward in the evolution of machining methods. It points the way towards the fully-automated machine shops of the future and certainly gives this country a great boost in our efforts to improve productivity and exploit British technology in home and export markets.The machine tools and equipment should be installed early in 1969 and be fully operational after a 12-month working-up period.Molins will use their plant at Deptford for the manufacture of components for their own tobacco machines and on a variety of sub-contracting work in the precision engineering field. It is intended to prove the efficiency of the system in a wide range of applications and to make full use of its capacity, flexibility and unique characteristics.As users under the Ministry's scheme, the company will make available comprehensive economic and technical information which will be published for the benefit of other potential users in assessing the merits of the system.

asked the Minister of Technology what inquiries he has made in the leather tanning industry; and what response he has had from firms in the industry.

Responsibility for the industry generally lies with my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, but the Ministry of Technology has carried out a study, with his agreement, of the industry's materials handling problems, and is now engaged on an operational research project in one of the companies in the industry. We are also considering with the President of the Board of Trade what further action to take to assist the industry.

asked the Minister of nology how many firms have now received visits from the Production Engineering Advisory Service; and how many studies have been undertaken for firms as a result.

947 firms have been visited and 87 consultancy assignments have been undertaken as a result.

asked the Minister of Technology what work is being done on medical technology at Aldermaston.

Research work at Aldermaston covers artificial limbs, dental materials, metals and plastics used for implants in the body, cardiac pacemakers, methods for clearing obstructions in arteries, and specialised diagnostic equipment and instruments. Other work concerns the scientific and technical assessment of commercial equipment, such as artificial kidneys automated laboratory equipment and echo-ancephalographs.

According to the appendix to Report No. 64 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes (Cmnd. 3625) the recommended retail price of the battery RM401 H was 2s. 4d. before 1st January, 1968, and 4s. 2d. afterwards, a percentage increase of 78·6.

asked the Minister of Technology what has been the average profit margin for the retail distributors of Mallory Batteries Limited during each of the past three years expressed in cash terms in respect of hearing-aid batteries RM675H and RM401H.

Report No. 64 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes makes clear that retail distributors percentage margins for Mallory hearing-aid batteries vary according to the channel of distribution, but are typically 25 per cent. of Mallory's recommended retail price. These have apparently remained unchanged, prior to 1968, for several years. The precise element of net profit in cash terms to retailers within these margins is not known: it is apparently the case that some retailers offer substantial discounts to consumers.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the annual profits made by Mallory Batteries Limited in each of the last 10 years;, in the light of the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

The annual profits of Mallory Batteries Limited from their financial year 1958–59 to the present are as follows and are taken from the company's annual statements of accounts. They represent trading profit after tax.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what research projects are being undertaken at the Explosives Research and Development Establishment at Waltham Abbey which may have non-military applications;(2) what steps he has taken to induce industrialists to take advantage of research carried out at the Explosives Research and Development Establishment at Waltham Abbey for non-military purposes.

The Explosives Research and Development Establishment is primarily concerned with defence research, but some aspects of its work, especially on non-metallic materials, have civil potential. Examples are: fibre-reinforced composite materials, studies aimed at improving the durability of rubbers and plastics, and research of sealants and adhesives.Work of civil interest has been publicised to industry in a variety of ways including the issue of a booklet detailing the activities and facilities of the Establishment, the appointment of an industrial liaison officer to act as a link with industry, and participation in the Interlab scheme. Reports are provided to the Reports Centre of the National Lending Library and about 40 papers a year on various aspects of the Establishment's work are published in scientific and technical journals. E.R.D.E. recently welcomed representatives from industry to its Open Day.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what is the latest estimate he has made of the cost to manufacturing industry of changing over to the metric system of measurement;(2) what study he has made of the benefits and disadvantages of the policy of changing to the metric system of measurement; and if he will make a statement;(3) what is the policy of his Department regarding the adoption of the metric system of measurement through the purchasing activities of nationalised industries and Government Departments.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to a similar Question today.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will now define the functions of the proposed European Technological Centre.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to similar Questions today.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a further statement on the merger of Wear shipyards.

In spite of continued pressure by the Shipbuilding Industry Board, the three Wear shipbuilding companies have not yet submitted any grouping proposals.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the total value of orders on the books of British shipyards at the most recent date for which information is available; and what was the comparable figure at the same time in 1965 and 1963, respectively.

£510 million at 30th April. The comparable figures for 1965 and 1963 were £580 million and £354 million respectively.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will now state the net direct cost to Great Britain of the cancellation of the 50 United States F111 aircraft, after allowing for resale to the United States Air Force of components already delivered.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to a similar Question today.

asked the Minister of Technology with which other European Governments Her Majesty's Government are currently consulting with a view to the further development of vertical takeoff and landing techniques for both military and civil aircraft.

We are consulting with the French, German and Italian Governments on future military vertical take-off and landing development. We are proposing to complete our own civil V/S/TOL study before initiating international consultations on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is aware that in just over a month from 19th March the Retail Price Index rose by 2·2 points, equivalent to a 18 per cent. increase in the cost of living; and, in view of Her Majesty's Government's estimate at the time of devaluation of a 2½ or 3½ per cent. rise in the Retail Price Index figure for a complete year, why, within five months, the cost of living has risen by 3·6 per cent.

More than one-half of the rise in the index between 19th March and 23rd April was due to increases in indirect taxation announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 19th March. I see no reason to modify the Government's estimate that devaluation will raise the retail price index by about 3 per cent. and that the tax measures in the Budget and the increase in nationalised industry prices will add about 2 per cent. to the index by the end of this year. There will be some other price increases apart from those due to devaluation and tax changes but all proposed increases will be rigorously scrutinised against the prices criteria of Cmnd. 3590.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will seek to make provision to enable fatherless children to be usefully occupied during their school holidays and to receive direction and help in the choice of their careers.

The help and advice of youth employment officers and others concerned are available to all young persons, whatever their circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the total cost of unemployment pay in the Northern Region, where unemployment is 4·5 per cent.; and what would be the cost of unemployment pay in the Region if unemployment were reduced to the national average of 2·4 per cent.

The amount of unemployment benefit paid in the Northern Region in a particular week in March, 1968, when the percentage of unemployment was 4·5 was £283,553. If the percentage unemployment rate had been 2·4, a proportional calculation would indicate that the amount paid out would have been £151,228.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is aware that the official survey of profits on proprietary medicines will involve chemists in extra work during the holiday period when staff are reduced and when the re-imposition of prescription charges is giving them much administrative work; and if she will take steps to arrange for appointments to be made by letter instead of by telephone, and at a time to suit the convenience of the chemist concerned.

I presume the Question refers to a survey already undertaken by the National Board for Prices and Incomes. The Board determines its own procedures, subject to any general directions my right hon. Friend may give. I understand that the Board made every effort consistent with an early report to suit the convenience of those concerned. No further approaches to retail chemists are contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what esimate she has made of the extent to which the cost of living is higher or lower in Scotland compared with the cost of living in England and Wales.

I have made no estimate of the extent to which the cost of living is higher or lower in Scotland compared with the cost of living in England and Wales, but I am considering the report of the Cost of Living Advisory Committee which was asked to consider, inter alia, the desirability of publishing retail prices indices by regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what further action he proposes, with the other members of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, to put the North Atlantic Assembly on the same basis as the Assembly of Western European Union, in order to obtain better informed and more effective support of the Alliance of Parliamentarians of all member countries.

The North Atlantic Council agreed on the 24th May on measures to achieve a closer relationship between the Council and the North Atlantic Assembly. I think we should now wait to see how these work out in practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs what will be Her Majesty's Government's policy at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council of Ministers, or at the next meeting of the North Atlantic Council, regarding the financing of the recommendation made by the Education,, Cultural Affairs and Information Committee of the North Atlantic Assembly for a three-year pilot scheme for international training and instruction for those persons in important administrative positions in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries at the College of Europe in Bruges.

I can assure my hon. Friend that Her Majesty's Government consider all recommendations by the North Atlantic Assembly sympathetically and constructively. But they are the concern of the Alliance as a whole and it would be wrong for me to give details of our attitude in advance of discussion by the North Atlantic Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will propose at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Council of Ministers that the reports of the subjects which comprised the Harmel Report, should be published, namely, those on East-West relations, Inter-Allied relations, general defence policy, and relations with other countries.

No. These are confidential N.A.T.O. documents. Account, however, was taken of their conclusions in the report on the future tasks of the Alliance approved by N.A.T.O. Ministers last December and published as an Annex to the communiqueé

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the buildings of public interest to be cleaned by his Department in the next three years.

As I have already announced on 17th June, I intend to continue with the cleaning programme at the Tower of London and at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich. In addition, I shall be making a start this year on the Old War Office, beginning with the Whitehall façade. I also hope to clean Gwydyr House in Whitehall. In Edinburgh a start will be made on the Old Register House.I have no firm plans beyond this programme for 1968–69.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when he will clean the exterior of the Palace of Westminster.

The cost of cleaning would be very high. I will, however, keep the matter under review.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement on the future of Bigsweir Bridge in the Wye Valley.

Bigsweir Bridge is a fine example of Thomas Telford's work which spans the Wye between Monmouthshire and Gloucestershire on the A.466 Road.The Council of British Archaelology and the Ancient Monuments Board for Wales have recommended that it be scheduled as an Ancient Monument. The Gloucestershire County Council and the Monmouthshire County Council, which are joint owners of the bridge, have no objection to this scheduling and I propose to accept the recommendation.The Gloucestershire County Council is already in consultation with my Department about essential maintenance which they propose to carry out.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to form closer links between university research and industry.

Both the University Grants Committee and the Science Research Council, through which Government support for university research is principally channelled, have emphasised to the universities the importance of fostering these links, and I shall continue to encourage the closer relations that are already being achieved in a variety of ways.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) whether he has considered the Annual Report published on 17th June by the Scottish Tourist Board; and if he will make a statement;(2) what further assistance he will give to the Scottish Tourist Board;

I have read the Scottish Tourist Board's report with great interest, and the points made in it will be taken into account in the consideration which the Government are currently giving to possible further measures to promote and co-ordinate the development of the tourist industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the Amendments made by the Lords to Bills originating in his Department in the present Session were, in the case of each Bill, sponsored by a Government Department; and if he will give comparable figures for Bills of the previous Session.

I regret that the extraction of this information would involve a disproportionate expenditure of staff time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will, before making the Teachers Superannuation (Scotland) Regulations 1968 to replace the 1957 regulations, take account of representations made by teachers on the draft 1968 regulations and insert a regulation corresponding to Regulation 38 of 1957, to ensure that Scottish teachers over 70 years of age, or with more than 45 years of superannuable service, do not continue to hold promoted posts to the detriment of the promotion prospects of younger teachers.

My Department will shortly be discussing these representations with the teachers' associations concerned. I would ask my hon. Friend to await the outcome of these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to publish the projected report on the Falkirk-Grangemouth area.

I am glad to say that the report will be published on 8th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make inquiries into the circumstances in which the report prepared for the Highlands and Islands Development Board by the Jack Holmes Planning Group was disclosed to the Glasgow Herald on 14th June, when the report was not due to be officially released until a Press conference in Inverness on 18th June; and if he will make a statement.

Arrangements for the publication of this report were a matter for the Board and it is for them to make inquiries if they think it necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what are the total estimated charges to be requisitioned in the current financial year on the 29 constituent authorities by the East of Scotland Water Board;(2) what were the total charges levied for domestic and industrial water supplies by the 29 authorities now comprising the East of Scotland Water Board in the years 1965–66 and 1966–67, respectively.

Information supplied to me by the local water authorities showed that expenditure on water supply in the Board's region in 1966–67 amounted to about £1·7 million, of which about £1 million was met from local rates (including Exchequer equalisation grant) and about £700,000 from other sources of income, including charges for metered supplies. I do not have information for 1965–66. The amounts to be requisitioned this year will be determined by the Board, in accordance with the provisions of the Water (Scotland) Act, 1967 as read with the East of Scotland Water Board (Financial Provisions) Order, 1968, and any request for detailed figures should be addressed to the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for encouraging the use of the Gaelic language; and if he will make a statement.

For an experimental period of four years I propose to give Glasgow University an annual grant-in-aid of not more than £5,000 to enable it, on the advice of a specially appointed Gaelic Books Council, to give financial support for the publication of new works in Gaelic.I am glad that I shall be able to increase the annual grant made to An Comunn Gaidhealach under the Further Education (Scotland) Regulations 1959 from the present figure of £1,000 in 1966–68 to £4,000 in 1967–68. In addition the Highlands and Islands Development Board has approved a social grant of £2,000 to An Comunn for the year 1968–69.

asked the Minisster of Transport what were the views and recommendations of the Scottish Economic Planning Council and the North East Consultative Group which he took into account before deciding to grant permission for the uplifting of the track of the railway line between Forres and Grantown-on-Spey.

I can assure the hon. Member that I gave the fullest consideration to the views and recommendations I received from the Scottish Economic Planning Council and the North East Consultative Group before agreeing to the removal of the track between Grantown-on-Spey and Forres. Their advice is however given to Ministers in confidence.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will have full regard to the policy set out in his Department's publication "Roads in Urban Areas" when considering the question of grade separation with regard to the Archway Improvement Scheme in the light of representations made to him by the London borough of Haringey.

Yes. Grade separation is being considered but it is doubtful whether it can be justified for several years. The design will allow it to be introduced later if necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position with regard to the Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross by-pass and the Burkes Road B473, Beaconsfield by-pass, sections of the M40 which it was officially announced in January last would start during 1968.

The previous announcement related solely to the Burkes Road-B473 section of the Beaconsfield and Gerrards Cross by-pass, and it is still expected that the contract for that section will be let this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with the proposed Carlisle by-pass; and if he will make a statement.

Statutory procedures for this length of motorway are now complete. Tenders for construction are shortly to be invited: subject to their acceptability, a contract should be let in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position over the construction of the Castle Brom-wich-Gravelly Hill, Bromford, section of the M6 Motorway, which it was officially announced in January 1968 would be started during 1968.

Tenders for construction will be invited next month for a start of work this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position over the construction of the Coleshill-Castle Bromwich section of the M6 Motorway, which it was officially announced in January 1968 would be started during 1968.

Tenders for construction will be invited in August and work is expected to start in early 1969 to fit in with other highway work near the motorway.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what is the present position with regard to the Bamfurlong-East-ington section of the M5 which it was officially announced in January last would start during 1968;(2) what is the present position with regard to the Eastington-Falfield-Almondsbury section of the M5 which it was officially announced in January last would start during 1968.

Design difficulties and objections to side road proposals have taken longer to resolve than anticipated. These schemes should be ready to start in early 1969.

asked the Minister of Health if he will state the date when the casualty department at the Montagu Hospital, Mexborough, will be reopened.

I understand this department resumed a 24-hour service today.

asked the Minister of Health what are his plans to increase the number of medical staff in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board's area, so that the casualty ward at the Montagu Hospital, Mexborough, can be reopened.

The Sheffield Regional Hospital Board have been able to fill two vacant registrar posts at Rotherham Hospital with locums, and so to release medical staff loaned from the Montagu Hospital. The casualty department there has resumed a 24-hour service from today.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now state the year when the project for upgrading of the Mexborough Montagu Hospital will be completed.

No. Minor improvements have been or will be made as funds permit, but future plans for this hospital still envisage replacement rather than upgrading.

asked the Minister of Health (1) if he will take steps to have published details of the survey which was completed in 1963, of the existing buildings and services at the Mexborough Montagu Hospital;(2) if he will take steps to obtain an up-to-date detailed technical survey of the existing buildings and services at the Montagu Hospital, Mexborough.

It would not be appropriate to publish a report prepared for the information of the regional hospital board by its officers. The board is fully aware of the deficiencies of this hospital and a fresh survey is not considered necessary.

asked the Minister of Health how many doctors were employed in hospitals in the Sheffield Region at the latest available date; and what was the number of vacancies.

1,463 in terms of whole-time equivalents at 30th September, 1967. Some 100 posts were vacant.

asked the Minister of Health how many representations he has received in each of the last three years on the method of appointment to hospital management committees and regional hospital boards.

I regret that this information cannot be produced without disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Minister of Health what was the average price at which hospital supplies officers were purchasing Mallory mercury batteries number RM 401 H in 1967; what is the average price paid since the increase in January, 1968; and what estimate he has made of the extra cost to the National Health Service for the six months ending 30th June, 1968.

Prices paid by hospitals vary according to local arrangements and I regret that the information requested is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Health when he authorised the decision to build a district general hospital at Derriford, Plymouth.

The policy to build a district general hospital at Derriford was included in Cmnd. 1604, published in January, 1962. In July, 1963, my Department gave overall approval to the general pattern of development within the Plymouth clinical area as outlined in proposals from the regional hospital board, which included a new district general hospital at Derriford, and formal approval to proceed with the planning of the hospital was given in September, 1964.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost of the site for the new district general hospital at Derriford, Plymouth; when negotiations for the purchasing of this site were commenced; and when completed.

Negotiations for the purchase of the Derriford Hospital site were commenced in October, 1966, and are still proceeding. The purchase price forms part of the contract yet to be concluded.

asked the Minister of Health how many trained technicians in cytology are employed in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area; and how many he estimates would be required in order that all women of 35 years and over could be screened at least once every five years.

At 31st December, 1967, 73, equivalent to 39½ whole-time. The hospital authorities estimate that 49½ whole-time equivalent technicians would be required if all women of 35 years and over were to be screened at least once every five years.

asked the Minister of Health how many hospital boards, since the last pay award to the nurses have increased the charge for board and lodging for the nurses in their employment.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 14th May. Hospital authorities were required to implement the Whitley Council agreement, but it is not known whether all have yet done so.—[Vol. 764, c. 229.]

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost to the National Health Service of treatment for mental, psychoneurotic and personality disorders in each of the past five years.

Details of the treatment of mental, psychoneurotic and personality disorders by general practitioners, hospitals other than psychiatric hospitals, and local authority health and welfare services other than their mental health services are not recorded in ways which would enable overall estimates of cost to be made.Identifiable expenditure in England and Wales on running psychiatric hospitals, including the special hospitals, and local authority mental health services in each of the last five years was as follows:

asked the Minister of Health how many disabled drivers there are in the Harrow, Hounslow, Brent, Hillingdon and Ealing areas of West London; and how many garages have been appointed to service their vehicles.

There are 764 known drivers of invalid vehicles in the five areas of West London. Of this total 202 are driving privately-owned cars adapted or maintained at State expense, 435 drive invalid three-wheelers and 127 Ministry cars.Five approved repairers have been appointed in the West London area for the repair of invalid three-wheelers. Cars are normally serviced by the manufacturers' agents.

asked the Minister of Health what plans he has to appoint further garages to service disabled drivers' vehicles in West London.

There are no plans at present to appoint further repairers but the situation is kept under continuous review. Additional approved repairers will be appointed if necessary.

asked the Minister of Health how many disabled drivers there are in the London Borough of Hillingdon; and what facilities exist for servicing their vehicles;.

There are 167 known drivers of invalid vehicles in the Hillingdon area. Of this total 45 are driving privately-owned cars adapted or maintained at State expense, 99 drive invalid three-wheelers and 23 Ministry cars.There is one approved repairer in the London Borough of Hillingdon and two others nearby.

asked the Minister of Health how much his Department is spending on advertising the prescription charge scheme; and in what national newspapers space is being taken.

The cost of the recent newspaper advertisements, which were inserted in all the national daily newspapers except the Financial Times and the Morning Star, in the national Sunday newspapers and in various provincial newspapers, was £62,240. This is in addition to the cost of explanatory leaflets and notices, for which no separate figure is available.

asked the Minister of Health how many family doctors practise in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area; and what is the existing number of vacancies.

I regret that the first part of the Question cannot be answered in the terms requested, since statistics on family doctors relate to executive council areas, and not to regional hospital board areas. The following table gives the total numbers of doctors providing full general medical services at 1st October, 1967 in executive council areas wholly or partly within the area of the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Secretaryof State for the Home Department what reply he has made to the constituent of the hon. Member for Ilford, North, who wrote to him on 17th March making an inquiry about the registration of an alien in order to provide information for the High Court on 4th July.

I have sent the hon. Member a copy of the Home Office reply to his constituent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the Amendments made by the Lords to Bills originating in his Department in the present Session were. in the case of each Bill, sponsored by a Government Department; and if he will give comparable figures for Bills of the previous Session.

The OFFICIAL REPORTS of debates in another place indicate which Amendments to Bills are moved by a member of the Government. It would involve a disproportionate effort, and also be misleading, to produce the statistical analysis requested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the arrest by Metropolitan Police officers of two members of the Russia trade mission on 15th May last.

On 15th May the Metropolitan Police arrested two men who were behaving in a suspicious manner, and who had been observed behaving similarly on previous occasions. One of the men resisted arrest, but the police used no more than reasonable force in apprehending him. After examination at a police station, and confirmation that they were members of the Soviet Trade Delegation, the men were released.The police report left no doubt that these men had been engaging in activities outside the legitimate scope of the Soviet Trade Delegation, and in the light of all the relevant circumstances I concluded that the most appropriate course was to curtail their stay in the United Kingdom. They accordingly left on 7th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now announce the names of the members of the committee to review the law of contempt as it affects comment on, or statements about, matters referred to a tribunal of inquiry under the Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act, 1921.

I hope it will not be long now before I can announce the names.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the plans for the siting of the new police training headquarters in the City of Plymouth.

I understand that the Devon and Cornwall police authority has selected Middlemoor, Exeter, as the site for a new training centre for the force.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how far recruiting figures for 1968 to the latest available date fall short of the numbers required to maintain the three Services at their planned strength; what steps he proposes in order to bring about an early improvement; and if he will make a statement.

On the basis of the latest recruiting figures, during the first four months of 1968, we recruited 9,183 male other ranks. This compares with 12,852 recruited in the same period in 1967, and, this rate is below that needed to meet the annual requirement of 35,000 to maintain a steady state. As I informed the House on 12th June, 1968, we are considering ways and means for stimulating recruitment and I am confident that the pay rise will help considerably towards this.—[Vol. 766, cc. 211–12.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the latest figures for Army recruiting, and the corresponding figures for the last two years.

The numbers of adult males recruited during the first four months of 1966, 1967 and 1968 were 6,330, 6,323 and 3,845, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which are the 20 best recruited battalions in the infantry.

Such recruitment comparisons cannot be drawn, since soldiers are recruited into brigades and large regiments and may be cross-posted between battalions. It would be equally wrong at present to compare brigades and large regiments, since the relationship between their strengths and establishments may be affected by prospective or recent reductions of battalions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the strength, recruiting and wastage of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve, Categories II and III, shown separately, for each month since January, 1968 to the latest available date.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the criteria upon which the decision is made as to which regiments are to be disbanded or amalgamated when cuts have to be made in the strength of the Army.

When such disbandments have to take place, all the relevant factors are taken into account. To set these out would only lead to fruitless argument as I am fully aware that protagonists for a particular regiment can always make a convincing case for that regiment remaining in the order of battle.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if the open days to be arranged for Members of Parliament to visit the Porton Research Establishment will be comprehensive and include all the classified sections.

The Open Days will be as comprehensive as possible, though as I explained to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 12th June, I have to balance national security and public interest. Although that means that it will not be possible to disclose information which is classi-field, this represents only a small proportion of the work of the establishment and I am sure that the Open Days will be well worth while.—[Vol. 766, c. 205.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why, in view of Her Majesty's Government's adherence to the Geneva Convention restricting the spreading of information on chemical and biological war weapons, his Department passes on the classified results of this research to the United States Government.

The Geneva Protocol of 1925 forbids the use of chemical and biological methods of warfare subject to the right reserved by some signatories, including the United Kingdom and the Soviet Union, to use these weapons in retaliation. It does not deal with the dissemination of information about these methods of warfare.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what means of delivery of the chemical and biological war weapons being manufactured at Porton are owned by Great Britain; and what additional methods are to be produced within the next five years.

No chemical or biological war weapons are manufactured at Porton and there are no plans to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the arms orders to a value of 170 million dollars which Great Britain will lose as a result of the withdrawal of their support under the offset agreement relating to Great Britain's cancelled order for Fill aircraft.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to co-operative sales of defence equipment under the Fill Arrangement for which a target of 400 million dollars was established. Prior to termination of this Arrangement we had secured orders worth 280 million dollars and these still stand. It is not possible to make hypothetical assessments of what might have been achieved in the way of sales to third countries if the Fill order had not been cancelled.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what specific items of British equipment had the United States either ordered or made inquiries about, in relation to the sum of 129 million dollars earmarked for arms purchases from Great Britain in return for the British order for Fill aircraft.

A target of 325 million dollars, later increased to 425 million dollars, was established for United States procurement of defence equipment from the United Kingdom under the Fill Arrangement. A final figure for the value of the contracts placed cannot be assessed until they have been completed. No orders have been cancelled. It would be contrary to normal practice to disclose details of enquiries made about defence purchases.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present strength of each of the Scottish regiments, expressed as a percentage of present authorised establishment.

The disbandment of the 1st Bn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) on 14th May, has resulted in Scottish Regiments having for the time being a strength significantly above their authorised establishments. By 1st April next year the position should be similar to that described in my answer of 10th May, 1967 to the hon. Member for Renfrew, East ("Miss Harvie Anderson). —[Vol. 746, c. 233.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish the latest average price per ton for animal feedingstuffs, indicating how much the price has increased since devaluation.

The weighted average of the ex-mill prices collected by my Department for the three main types of compound animal feedingstuffs in November, 1967, and May, 1968, were as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has received the Report of the Economic Development Committee for the Agricultural Industry; and what action he intends to take on it.

My right hon. Friends and I have received the Committee's Report, which was published this morning and which is entitled "Agriculture's Import Saving Role". We are very grateful to Sir Edmund Bacon and the Members of the Committee for their penetrating and extensive assessment of the technically feasible expansion of the agricultural industry by 1972–73, with particular emphasis on potential import saving. As the Report makes clear, the Committee have not considered it their function to take into account our international commitments nor to indicate how the additional resources required are to be provided. These are recognised as among the major policy issues for the Government to consider, and my colleagues and I will be studying the Report in all its aspects against this wider background.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the Amendments made by the Lords to Bills originating in his Department in the present Session were, in the case of each Bill, sponsored by a Government Department; and if he will give comparable figures for Bills of the previous Session.

This information is available from the published OFFICIAL REPORT of the proceedings, in another place.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will investigate the outbreak of mussel disease on the cast coast of England; and if he will make an early statement.

On being informed of the outbreak of paralytic shellfish poisoning in Newcastle, the Department's officers immediately instituted intensive investigations, in conjunction with the public health laboratory service, which confirmed that the illness was due to a toxin in mussels from the area. Further widespread investigations established that mussels, cockles and scollops between St. Andrews and Bridlington were affected. The results of the investigations have been notified at each stage to the health authorities concerned.Our scientists are continuing to monitor the east coast of England north of the Thames estuary; similar checks are being carried out in Scotland. They will continue to maintain close liaison with the health authorities.The poisoning results from the consumption of mussels which have absorbed large quantities of microscopic marine plant (dinoflagellates) which in certain conditions, very rare in Europe, can produce a harmful toxin. The Ministry's laboratory is carrying out, in co-operation with University Departments and others concerned, detailed studies into all the marine aspects of the occurrence.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many of the Amendments made by the Lords to Bills originating in his Department in the present Session were, in the case of each Bill, sponsored by a Government Department; and if he will give comparable figures for Bills of the previous session.

As in the House of Commons, the great majority are, if only for drafting reasons, Government amendments. The actual figures are available from the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what is the total annual value of contributions by former British colonies and dependencies to the pensions of British officers for that part of their service before independence of the territories concerned; and what proportion of this total goes towards the pensions of officers who terminated their service or negotiated new contracts in any particular territory at the time of independence.

I regret the information is not available. The pensions of the officers concerned are the responsibility of the oversea countries who hold the relevant records.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what the average percentage of the annual gross national product spent on the foreign aid programme was for the years 1960 to 1964; and what it was for the years 1964 to 1968.

In relation to the years 1960 to 1967, average percentages of gross official aid were:

asked the Postmaster-General what is now the estimated total cost of building the new Post Office at Llanidloes; and by how much this exceeds the original estimated cost.

£43,160. This exceeds the original estimate by £13,560.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the present staff of the Llanidloes Post Office.

15.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the additional cost of incorporating a canteen in the new Post Office at Llanidloes; and how many members of the Post Office staff in the Llanidloes area have intimated that they wish to use the facilities of the canteen for meals, rather than go to their own homes.

It is not possible to estimate the additional cost. The number of staff is much too small to justify a canteen and we do not propose to provide one. Most of the staff go home for meals, but facilities for staff to prepare their own meals if they so wish will be available in the new building.

asked the Postmaster-General how many Amendments made by the Lords to Bills originating in his Department in the present Session were, in the case of each Bill, sponsored by a Government Department; and if he will give comparable figures for Bills of the previous Session.

The information is available from the OFFICIAL REPORTS of another place.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is aware that the management of Stewarts and Lloyds are still continuing to deal with the staff association on the same range of subjects as before nationalisation; and, in view of the fact that this is contrary to the policy of the British Steel Corporation to discontinue staff associations, if he will direct that only trade unions are to be recognised for negotiating purposes in the industry.

This is a matter for the Corporation, and I am asking the Acting Chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Social Security in how many cases social security offices have been amalgamated with offices 10 miles or more apart.

Since the inception of the Ministry of Social Security in August, 1966, 28 local offices have been amalgamated with neighbouring offices 10 miles or more distant. Full-time inquiry offices have been left at 16 places and part-time facilities at 10 others.

asked the Minister of Social Security which are the three largest communities, together with approximate populations, in which social security offices have been reduced to caller status.

The three largest communities having social security offices from which the backroom work has been transferred to neighbouring offices are Rugby, Prestwich and Runcorn, whose populations are 56,000, 33,000 and 31,000 respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what sum will be allotted by Her Majesty's Government to the British Travel Association for their Holidays in Britain campaign for the current financial year.

The British Travel Association has not yet submitted its final proposals for expenditure on "Holidays-in-Britain" promotion in 1968/9. The Government's contribution will be included in the proposed grant-in-aid to the B.T.A. of £ 2·95 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he decided on 19th June, 1968, to draw $ 1,400 million, £ 583 million, from the International Monetary Fund, thus drawing the full amount under the standby arrangements made last November; what factors in the country's economy have necessitated this step; when the money is repayable; and what arrangements he has made for its repayment.

The purpose of the drawing is to reorganise the United Kingdom's debt arrangements. The $ 1,400 million has been used to repay short-term debt to Central Banks, thus reconstituting short-term borrowing facilities by the same amount. In particular, the $ 2 billion swap line with the F.R.B. has been entirely reconstituted and is available to us in full. Since repayment of the I.M.F. drawing is due in three years, the effect of the transaction is to lengthen to three years the period over which $ 1,400 million of our existing debt has to be repaid.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the foreign exchange earnings of the City of London in each year, from 1960 to 1967, inclusive, showing separately the earnings attributed to the insurance merchanting, brokerage and banking functions in the City.

Estimates of the earnings from financial and allied services in 1964 to 1966—at rather more than £ 100 million per annum—were published in the 1967 Pink Book on the balance of payments; preliminary information indicates that these earnings were running at about the same level in 1967. In addition investment income, in the form of interest on banks' lending abroad and the profits of overseas branches etc. of banks and insurance companies, was also estimated to be of the order of £ 100 million a year—without deducting the interest on funds borrowed from abroad. There are certain other overseas earnings of financial institutions. Comparable figures are not available for earlier years.It is hoped to publish more definitive estimates of the City's overseas earnings this autumn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will place in the Library a copy of the report of the Bank for International Settlements, made to him on 10th June by the Bank.

I understand that a copy of the 1967–68 report to which the hon. Member refers is held by the international affairs desk of the Library.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what plans he has to extend exchange control on long-term capital investment abroad to the overseas sterling area;(2) whether he will apply a differential exchange rate in respect of portfolio investment by United Kingdom residents in Australia or include portfolio investment in Australia by British nationals in the dollar premium arrangements.

I have no present proposals for changing the Voluntary Programme, which already operates in this field.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish an estimate of the amount of British portfolio and direct investment in Australia in the fourth quarter of 1967 and in the first quarter of 1968.

Quarterly estimates of private investment by the United Kingdom are not compiled on a basis which enables us to make an accurate estimate of total investment in individual countries. The available evidence suggests that direct investment has fallen somewhat since the Voluntary Programme was introduced in 1966. For portfolio investment, Australian estimates indicate that the total inflow of portfolio investment and institutional loans into Australia in the second half of 1967 was at a quarterly rate of about £ 30 million, and in the first quarter of 1968 was approaching £ 50 million. It is thought that by far the greater part of this investment has come from the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the annual amount of public expenditure per head of population in the Northern Region; and how this figure compares with the amount of public expenditure per head of population in other regions.

This information is not available. Expenditure per head of population in each standard region on public investment in new construction—including dwellings—in 1964–65 and 1965–66 was given in reply to the hon. Member for Newcastle upon Tyne, East (Mr. Rhodes) on Wednesday 6th March, 1968 —[Vol. 760, c. 112–3.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what conditions must be fulfilled under his regulations by United States banking corporations seeking to establish branches in this country.

There are no Treasury regulations which limit the establishment of such branches, although of course their operations—like those of any bank in the United Kingdom—are fully subject to the requirements of the Exchange Control Act. I would also refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by the Minister of State, Board of Trade, on 22nd May.—[Vol. 765, c. 87.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why he has required the Bank of England in the Quarterly Bulletin for June, 1968, not to declare the gold content of the gold and convertible currency reserves for March, 1968; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the omission of this figure from the Bulletin—and from Table 85 of the Financial Statistics for June, 1968—was inadvertent. The correct figure (£ 622 million) was issued as an Addendum with the June edition of Financial Statistics.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that since 1950 the cost of living has risen by 97 per cent. and that the purchasing value of the £ sterling is now worth only 10s. 2d. compared with 1950; and to what extent he estimates there will be an improvement or deterioration in these figures during the current year.

Yes. During the current year prices will rise at more than the average rate because of devaluation and the increases in indirect taxation; there should be more stability next year.