asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that salary increases received by part-time teachers in secondary schools have not been applied to part-time teachers in further education; and if he will now take action to provide such teachers with back-dated increases.

The rate of salary payable to part-time teachers in further education is a matter for the employing authority, but I understand many authorities have already paid increased rates back-dated to 1st April, 1968 and others are preparing to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research has been and will be sponsored by the Social Science Research Council into the effects of violence in television programmes on the behaviour of viewers in the long term.

None so far, but the Council would be prepared to consider proposals from research workers who wish to carry out a study of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of the success of the concert given at Snape, Aldeburgh, in April by the Redbridge Schools' Orchestra; and if he will send a circular to local education authorities to bring this successful experiment to the attention of schools in their areas, with a view to increasing pupil participation in musical events.

I was glad to hear of the success of the concert. It is an example of what is being done by a number of local education authorities to develop instrumental music among school children and other young people. I believe authorities and schools can and will work out for themselves, having in mind their own resources, how best to increase the participation of young people in musical events. The place of music in education has recently received attention in my Department's Report on Education entitled "Music and the Young".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received regarding the drama programmes staged in or adjacent to a London theatre for schoolchildren and financed through a grant from the Arts Council for the encouragement of drama among schoolchildren; and what action has been taken.

I have received no such representations but would be glad to consider any information the hon. Member gives me.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether, in the light of the present shortage of trained town planners in central and local government, he will recommend to local education authorities that they should treat sympathetically applications for grants for students who wish to undertake post-graduate training in town planning in universities.

No. The transfer of responsibility to the S.S.R.C. for higher degree awards in town planning only took place this year. Other awards and secondments for post-graduate training are dealt with by the local authorities, who are fully aware of their needs in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that the current delay on all microfilm orders from the British Museum is approximately nine months and that the delay in the express service is approximately six months; and what action he proposes to take to eliminate such delay.

I am aware of this wholly unsatisfactory position, but delays are now being rapidly reduced. By September the Museum expect the time taken to complete an average order to be not more than four weeks. Four extra cameras have been in use since March and two more since May.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the urgent need for young people to train for voluntary lifeguard duty on beaches, if he will assist in the setting up of the proposed rescue service training centre at Aberavon.

My Department already provide assistance in this field by way of annual grants to the Royal Life Saving Association and the Surf Life Saving Association of Great Britain. As regards this particular project it is understood that the sponsors are in consultation with Port Talbot Borough Council who, in common with all other local authorities, have discretionary powers too support voluntary bodies concerned with the promotion of water safety.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now increase the quota of teachers in those areas where there has been a rise in the number of immigrant children.

I have already done so. 1,921 teachers have so far been added to the quotas of local education authorities with substantial numbers of immigrant children. The corresponding figure in the previous quota was 822. I am still prepared to consider requests for additions to quota for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools in Cornwall are to be built in the current financial year.

Work is proceeding on three primary schools started during the last financial year. In addition, a comprehensive school costing over £400,000 is under construction at Newquay. We have not been able to authorise any new primary project in Cornwall to start this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what progress has been made in consideration of the scheme for reorganisation of secondary education as submitted by the London Borough of Redbridge.

We hope shortly to be able to inform the authority of our decision on this scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what decision he has made concerning British participation in the CERN 300 GeV accelerator; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the British decision to withdraw from the proposed CERN high energy acceleration project.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the considerations which led to his decision to cancel British participation in the proposed new CERN nuclear accelerator.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why Her Majesty's Government decided not to support the 300 GeV high energy accelerator project of the European Centre for Nuclear Research; and why Her Majesty's Government rejected the advice from the Science Research Council and from the Council for Scientific Policy that this project should be supported by the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement of Her Majesty's Government's reasons for declining to participate in the CERN 300 GeV accelerator project; and what steps are now proposed to ensure that the United Kingdom continues to play a leading part in extending the frontier of knowledge in the field of particle physics.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the statement by the Chairman of the Science Research Council in Geneva on the British withdrawal from the 300 GeV project was made with his authority.

A statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy in regard to participation in the CERN 300 GeV accelerator project was made at the CERN Council meeting last week. I will circulate a copy of this statement in the OFFICIAL REPORT.The gist of the statement was that the Government regretfully concluded that with their other commitments the expenditure involved on this very large project would not be justified. In reaching this decision they gave full weight to the views expressed by the Science Research Council and the Council for Scientific Policy, but they had also to take account of wider considerations. United Kingdom nuclear physicists will continue to enjoy the basic CERN facilities and we are participating in the large Intersecting Storage Rings project now under construction. At home the national and university facilities for nuclear structure work as well as for high energy physics will continue to be developed as part of the programme of the Science Research Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has issued regarding charges to overseas students for accommodation in residential hostels and halls of residence; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has repeated the advice given to local authorities by his predecessors since 1955 that students from outside England and Wales at hostels attached to further education establishments should be charged the economic cost of boarding. The purpose of this is to ensure that none of the cost falls on local authorities. If these arrangements cause cases of hardship among existing overseas students I am ready to consider what can be done to help them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he plans to approve the building of a new community centre at Wordsley in the county borough of Dudley.

My Department's assistance for community centre projects is mainly confined to those sponsored by voluntary bodies, towards the cost of which giants are available. Major community centre projects put forward specifically on educational grounds are considered carefully but have to be judged for inclusion in our limited building programmes against many other competing demands from local education authorities in the further education field; otherwise the main channel for projects sponsored by local authorities generally is through the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has not approved the inclusion of a new Catherine Street infants' school in the 1968–69 building programme for the Leicester City Education Authority.

We have not been able to authorise this project to start this year because of the prior claims of projects to meet more urgent needs. I shall be ready to consider this project for the 1969–70 programme but I cannot say at this stage whether I shall be able to include it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what percentage cut in the requirement submitted by Leicester City Council for school buildings this year is represented by the amount allocated; how this compares with the average cut in allocations over the country as a whole; and for what reasons this cut was made.

The Question implies a misunderstanding of the situation. The only cut in the 1968–69 school building programme is the withdrawal of the special allocation of £36 million for building for raising the school leaving age which has been partly offset by the addition of £7 million to the basic programme. The revised total (including special schools and minor works) is £129 million compared with £134 million in 1967–68. For Leicester I was able to authorise only one project costing £161,000 to start in 1968–69 because of the prior claim of projects to meet more urgent needs elsewhere. The Authority have currently under construction work to the value of £430,000 representing 420 school places.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the annual cost to local education authorities of meeting the requirement of Circular 11/68, dated 23rd April, 1968, which lays down that irrespective of family income a local education authority will provide school dinners free of charge to a child of a family which includes three other dependent children under 19 years of age.

I estimate that cost in England and Wales at about £4 million in the financial year 1968–69.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will have discussions with student organisations regarding increased student involvement in the decision making processes in the field of higher education.

The degree of student involvement is a matter for discussion within the individual universities and colleges. So far as the universities are concerned, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors have announced that they will arrange for specific points to which the National Union of Students have drawn attention to be considered by the universities individually and that the Committee are ready to discuss them at national level. I understand that the Union also hope to arrange similar discussions with the local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the fact that under his rule No. 16 private schools of English for foreign visitors may undergo voluntary inspection and that, despite repeated requests from schools already recognised as efficient under that rule, no regular re-inspections are carried out, if he will now give an assurance that regular re-inspections of such schools will take place in future.

I cannot trace the requests to which my hon. Friend refers but if he will send me details of the cases he has in mind I will gladly look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action Her Majesty's Government are taking to ensure that the teaching of English as a foreign language in all schools in Great Britain is satisfactory and to ensure the highest possible standards of efficiency in this field.

All private English language schools recognised as efficient by my Department are open to Her Majesty's Inspectorate and have the benefit of their advice on methods of teaching.My Department has no power to inspect other English language schools which cater solely for students over compulsory school age, but is always prepared to consider further applications for recognition.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what research is being conducted by his Department into the educational and cultural backgrounds of immigrant children for use in the training of teachers.

The School Council's projects at the Universities of Leeds and Birmingham, primarily designed to develop materials for the teaching of English to immigrant children, are concerned also with the children's own educational and cultural backgrounds.We would be very willing to consider on its merits any project for educational research in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what further consideration has been given to the recommendation for a full inquiry into the system of training teachers made in the Plowden Report.

I have considered the opinions expressed by the authorities and organisations particularly concerned. A study of teacher education has much to commend it, but the colleges of education have undergone enormous expansion and reorganisation in recent years and much experiment is going on. I think it would be better to let this proceed for the time being.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he will ensure that local education authorities in dealing with the present student unrest, comply with the regulations governing awards made to students on a university or comparable course, which are laid down by his Department for administration by local education authorities; and if he will amend the regulations so as to ensure that these awards should not be withdrawn by the local education authorities for reasons solely connected with political activity.

I have no reason to believe that authorities are not complying with the Regulations.On the second part of the Question, I think an amendment of this kind is unnecessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of the difficulties encountered by trained teachers who have recently left colleges of education in this country in obtaining employment as teachers in certain areas; and what action he is taking to remedy the situation.

There have always been areas which produce more teachers than can be employed locally. We have circulated to local education authorities, colleges of education and university departments of education a list of 23 areas in which there are substantial numbers of vacancies to be filled.Present indications are that there will be posts available for all those who leave colleges this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the fact that the scheme for the reorganisation of secondary education in the London Borough of Barnet, recently submitted to him, envisages an increase in voluntary school form entry of 58 per cent. compared with an increased in county school form entry of only 13½ per cent., with the result that the voluntary schools will account for 35½ per cent. of the total form entry, what reply he is sending to the parents who have lodged objections to the scheme.

These proposals are at present under consideration in my Department. The objectors have been informed that I shall give careful consideration to the point they have raised before I reach a decision on the Authority's plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what procedure is followed by his Department in the case of convictions against members of the teaching profession.

The procedure followed in considering whether determination of a teacher unsuitable for employment as a result of conviction of a criminal offence or on grounds of some other form of misconduct, is set out in Circular 4/68, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy. The teacher is notified in writing of the allegations against him and is given an opportunity to submit any explanations or representations he wishes, with references from other persons included, and to be interviewed by my officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now received the Report of the Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence arising from methedrine abuse; and in what form this report will be made available to the public.

No, sir. The Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence is still considering the matter. My right hon. Friend hopes to receive their advice within the next month or two, and when he has studied this he will consider making a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will advise the Chief Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis that the police on duty in the Palace of Westminster may, in hot weather, wear shirt-sleeve order.

The Commissioner of Police has given permission for the police officers on duty at two positions in New Palace Yard to wear shirt-sleeve order at their own discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will accept the recent recommendation of the Prison Officers Association and re-introduce the death penalty as a protection to police and prison officers as well as the general public.

The death penalty was abolished in 1965, by a decision of Parliament on a free vote, for an experimental period of five years. The matter will be reviewed by Parliament in 1970 and I can find no reason to anticipate that review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will exercise his powers under the London Cab Act, 1968, to control fares for journeys between London and London Airport, Heathrow.

Before the rates of fare for journeys of more than 6 miles can be prescribed, account will need to be taken of the outcome of the application from the London cab trade for an increase in the standard rates of fare for shorter journeys. The latter has been referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. I hope to be in a position to act on both matters shortly after receiving the Board's report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make regulations to allow more than one separate fare-paying passenger to travel in London taxi-cabs with the permission of the original hirer, thus reducing waiting time for many potential passengers at railway stations and other places.

The restrictions on the sharing of cabs do not derive from London cab legislation and regulations but from the Road Traffic Act, 1960; but I shall draw the hon. Member's suggestion to the attention of the Maxwell Stamp Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) if he will introduce computers for the storage of fingerprints and criminal records;(2) what further progress is being made in introducing computers to assist in crime detection and prevention; and if he will make a statement.

Technical studies are well advanced for a national police computer to handle various police operational records, including the main fingerprint collection and the central index of known criminals. The speed with which we can progress to the stage of practical experiment will depend on when the necessary resources can be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals have been submitted to him by the Boundary Commission relating to the inclusion of Knockholt in the Sevenoaks Division.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many county constabularies are up to their establishments; and if he will give special assistance to enable those below strength to recruit to fill these deficiencies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Reply I gave earlier today to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bedford (Mr. Brian Parkyn).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police amalgamation schemes have now been agreed; and how many and which ones are not yet settled.

23 schemes have been made by voluntary agreement between the police authorities and one by compulsory order. One further scheme (relating to West Yorkshire) is expected to be made by voluntary agreement within the next few days. Discussions on a voluntary scheme for Durham, Gateshead and South Shields are proceeding.The remaining five schemes, out of 30 which have been proposed, have reached various stages in the compulsory process. I hope to lay before Parliament before the Recess draft orders relating to the amalgamation proposals for Lancashire and thirteen boroughs and for Essex and Southend.A public inquiry into objections to the Glamorgan, Cardiff, Swansea and Merthyr Tydfil scheme is now being held, and an inquiry into objections to the Northumberland, Newcastle and Tyne-mouth scheme is being arranged.In the remaining proposal—affecting Warwickshire and Coventry—I am awaiting a response from these authorities to the statutory notice of intention to make a compulsory scheme, which was served recently.

asked the Prime Minister, following his recent discussions on House of Lords reform what action he is proposing to take with regard to the delaying powers of the House of Lords.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Statement I made to the House on 20th June, and to the Answers I gave to Questions on 25th June.—[Vol. 766, c. 1314–28; Vol. 767, c. 236–8.]

asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to co-ordinate the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity and Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer with regard to the control of prices in 1968.

My right hon. Friends work closely together on this as on other matters of common concern.

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite the Prime Minister of Libya to visit Great Britain.

Yes, I am glad to tell the House that the Prime Minister of Libya, Saiyid Abdul Hamid al Bakkush, has accepted an invitation to visit Great Britain officially between 17th and 20th September.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to convene an emergency conference of Commonwealth Prime Ministers to discuss the situation in Nigeria.

Her Majesty's Government are, of course, willing to consider any steps which might help to bring peace to Nigeria but I am not convinced that my hon. Friend's particular suggestion would be appropriate at the present time.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the resolution passed recently by the Church of Scotland Assembly, details of which have been sent to him, he will advise the establishment of a Royal Commission to consider the possibilities of greater devolution in the government of Scotland.

The possibilities of transferring United Kingdom departmental functions to Scottish Ministers, and the physical transfer of United Kingdom Government work to Scotland are kept under continuous review, and I am not yet persuaded that a Royal Commission of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend would add to the sum of knowledge in this field.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many days the inquiry at Aberystwyth into the Rural Development Board has been sitting; for how long he estimates it will sit again; what has been the cost of the inquiry to date; and what is his estimate of the final cost.

Up to and including today, the inquiry has sat for 22 days. Its estimated cost to date is £13,500. I can give no firm estimate of the length of time for which it will sit again or of the further cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received on the use of cyclamates by food and drink manufacturers since the labelling of Food Regulations 1967 were made; and what further action he now proposes to take to control their use.

A few representations have been received but no matters have been raised that were not previously considered, nor do the Pharmacology sub-Committee of the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee see any grounds for amending their previous recommendations on the safety-in-use of cyclamates.We shall keep the question of the use of cyclamates in food under continuous review but I do not think further action is required at the present time.

asked the Postmaster General, when drawing up his annual stamp programme for 1971, whether he will consider issuing a special stamp to mark the 50th anniversary of the British Legion.

This suggestion is already on the list from which the 1971 stamp programme will be chosen.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those local authorities in Wales which provide facilities for the parking of disabled drivers' cars; and if he will make a statement.

In September, 1967 the Government drew the attention of all local authorities in Wales to the needs or disabled drivers.Rhyl Urban District Council and Hawarden and Edeyrnion Rural District Councils have made parking place Orders which contain special provisions to assist disabled drivers. Information about local authorities who have included special provisions for disabled drivers in their waiting restriction Orders is not available since councils are not required to submit copies of these Orders to the Welsh Office.I hope local authorities who have not yet done so will ensure that the instructions given to their staffs concerned with traffic and parking take into account the needs of these drivers.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what steps are being taken by the Land Commission with a view to the acquisition of derelict sites in Wales,(2) what steps he has taken to inform local authorities in Wales of the technical facilities available from the Land Commission for the acquisition of derelict sites in their areas.

All local authorities in Wales whose areas contain derelict land have been visited by the Commission's officers and are aware that the Commission will be prepared to consider acquiring on their behalf derelict land which is suitable for development.

pursuant to his statement on 17th June, 1968 [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 766, cols. 723–727] circulated the following: