asked the Minister of Health what recent improvements have been made in Bristol's port health service; and what estimate his Department have made of the additional costs when the Bristol West Dock scheme is approved.

There have been no major improvements recently. In view of the rejection of the West Dock scheme the second part of the Question does not arise.

asked the Minister of Health whether he will publish the details of the various fees for family planning services which local health authorities are empowered to charge under regulations made under the Family Planning Act; and whether he has approved all those which have so far been submitted to him.

I have given local health authorities a general approval to charge for prescriptions and contraceptive supplies in non-medical cases, but under the terms of the Act the scale of charges if made is at the discretion of the authority and does not require my approval.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost of advertising exemptions from medical prescription charges in the Daily Express.

£5,000.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost of advertising exemptions from medical prescription charges in the Daily Mirror.

£6,944.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost of advertising exemptions from the medical prescription charges in the Sunday Express, the Sunday Mail, the Sunday Mirror, the People, and the News of the World, respectively.

The cost for the Sunday Express, the Sunday Mirror, the People and the News of the World was £6,000, £7,840, £2,515 10s. and £6,240 respectively. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland that the cost for the Sunday Mail was £1,025.

asked the Minister of Health what was the cost of advertising exemptions from medical prescription charges in the Daily Mail, the Morning Star, the Sun, the Daily Sketch, the Guardian, The Times, and the Daily Telegraph, respectively.

£2,860; Nil, (no insertions); £1,430; £1,400; £1,040; £1,160, and £2,574 respectively.

asked the Minister of Health what proposals he has to deal with the problem of methedrine addiction.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 2nd July to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt).—[Vol. 767, c. 1295–1296.]

asked the Minister of Health what is his estimate of the cost to the general medical and pharmaceutical services of non-proprietary preparations in each of the years 1950, 1958 and 1965 and of proprietary preparations in each of those same years.

I will, with permission, circulate a table of figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT:

asked the Minister of Health what advice he is giving to general practitioners on giving prescriptions to patients for items which would normally cost less than 2s. 6d.

None. I regard this as a matter which can be left to the doctor's judgment.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that there are no short- or long-term dangers to health to either staff or customers arising from food cooked or heated by micro-wave equipment; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, provided that the equipment is used in accordance with the manufacturers' instructions.

asked the Minister of Health what estimate he has made of the extra cost involved in making it obligatory for all dentists practising within the Health Service to provide each patient with the treatment and appliances he or she needs without the payment of additional private fees.

None. A dentist is under no obligation to accept any individual patient for a course of treatment; but when he has done so he is required by his terms of service to ensure the provision under the National Health Service of all treatment necessary for dental fitness which the patient is willing to undergo.

asked the Minister of Health whether he is aware that the Richmond Borough Council have refused to provide family planning services under the terms of the recent Act; and whether he will now exercise his reserve powers to ensure the provision of such services in the Richmond area.

I understand that the Council provide clinic premises free to the Family Planning Association, and that they are considering a number of proposals for the future expansion of the service.

asked the Minister of Health when KH3 pills were approved for sale without prescription by the Dunlop Committee on Drug Safety; and what steps have been taken by the Medical Research Council to verify the claims made for these pills.

I understand that in September, 1966, the Committee advised the promoter that they had no objection, on grounds of safety, to the marketing of KH3. The Medical Research Council have not investigated this treatment.

asked the Minister of Health if he is satisfied that the shortened version of the birth certificate safeguards persons from the social stigma of illegitimacy; and if he will make a statement.

The short birth certificate contains no indication of illegitimacy and is widely used by people of legitimate and illegitimate birth alike.

asked the Minister of Health what talks he has had with the Trades Union Congress regarding Her Majesty's Government's decision in regard to the implementation of the Sainsbury Report on the Pharmaceutical Industry; and if he will make a statement.

I have had correspondence with the Trades Union Congress about the Report and the Government's conclusions on it. Talks will be arranged if the Congress so wish.

asked the Minister of Health what contribution out of the Exchequer has been offered towards the cost of fluoridating the Newcastle and Gates-head water supply; and under what statutory provision this is being done.

None. But expenditure on fluoridation is taken into account in determining the aggregate of Rate Support Grant payable to local authorities under the Local Government Act, 1966.

asked the Minister of Health what are the present differences of treatment between war disabled and other disabled persons regarding the supply of mechanical vehicles; if he is aware of the hardship caused to disabled drivers who have to travel alone for long periods; and if he will amend the present regulations so that all disabled drivers are treated in the same way.

Disabled persons who qualify are normally provided with a specially designed three-wheeled vehicle providing only for the driver; those disabled by war and those in certain other small groups may choose instead a small four-wheeled motor car. My right hon. Friend is well aware of the representations that have been made on behalf of those not now entitled to a motor car, but he has no power at present to amend the rules in the way suggested and any such change would be costly.

asked the Minister of Health how many health centres were opened each year in Wales between 1965 and the latest convenient date; how many are now under construction; and how many more have been approved.

One in 1965, one in 1966, two in 1967 and two in the first six months of 1968. Seven are now under construction and five more have been approved by the Welsh Board of Health.

asked the Minister of Health what is his policy regarding the limitation of families.

To encourage the provision of family planning facilities for all who desire them.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what evidence he has received on the effect of fluoridation of water supplies between the circular in August, 1965 and the recent circular of 20th June, 1968 sent to all local authorities urging them to adopt this measure;(2) what steps have been taken to establish the effects of fluoridation of water supplies on the general health of those living in the area.

Very extensive research has been undertaken which is reviewed in Appendix 8 of the Report on the Conduct of Fluoridation Studies in the United Kingdom and in other standard works.

asked the Minister of Health what results his North American recruitment campaign has achieved in so far as the return of doctors to Scotland is concerned; and if he will make a statement.

Two of the British doctors who have returned under arrangements made by the Health Departments did so, I understand, to take up appointments in the National Health Service in Scotland. We have no figures for doctors who have made their own arrangements to return.

asked the Minister of Health whether he accepts the ceiling on the structure of nurses' pay as recommended by the National Board for Prices and Incomes' Report No. 60 on the Pay of Nurses and Midwives in the National Health Service.

Yes. I would refer the hon. Member to what I said about this in the debate on 1st July.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in relation to the proposed new nurses pay structure for all grades, he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the detailed proposals, both before and after the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes were finalised, in order that each grade of the nursing profession will be fully informed about these proposals.

The Board's report did not finalise a new salary structure but gave a framework within which this should be negotiated by the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council. An appendix to the Report shows how the new structure might fit in with the existing structure.

asked the Minister of Health on what date it is proposed to bring in the new salary structure for the nursing profession; and if he will give an assurance that no retrospective adjustments of any kind will be involved.

The salary structure which the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council are negotiating is intended to operate from 1st January, 1969. I do not envisage adjustments back to an earlier date.

asked the Minister of Health why he has rejected representations from Oxford City Public Health Department that a non-polluting oil or gas should be used for the boilerhouse of the proposed Manor Hospital in Oxford; and what consultations he has had concerning the public health and amenity aspects of this decision.

The choice of fuel is being re-examined, in the light of economic and other considerations. Consultation with the planning authority will take place when the plans for the next phase are far enough advanced.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the threatened closure of hospitals within the Bromley group, owing to lack of adequate funds from the South-East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement about the threatened reduction of services at hospitals within the Bromley Group because of the inadequate sums of money made available from the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board.

I am not aware of any proposals to close hospitals or of any decision to reduce services in the Bromley Group.

asked the Minister of Health if he will make a statement on the future of the nursing service at Guy's Hospital following the recent resignation of senior staff.

asked the Minister of Health if he will now make a statement on the situation involving the nursing staff of Guy's Hospital, London.

asked the Minister of Health whether, in view of the further resignations at Guy's Hospital, London, he will initiate an independent inquiry into the matter; and whether he will make a further statement.

I have nothing to add to my replies of 18th June and 9th July to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward).—[Vol. 766, c. 125–6; Vol. 768, c. 204–5.]

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to improve the availability of geriatric beds for the elderly in north-east Essex.

Plans for the area include provision for geriatric patients at the new Colchester District Hospital and at the new Clacton and District Hospital. In addition, completion of Phase I of the Colchester development will release beds for geriatric use at St. Mary's, Myland, and Essex County Hospitals. Meanwhile, the North East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board are exploring possible ways of making some interim increase in the existing provision.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the allocation for beds in hospitals for the mentally subnormal in the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board's area is disproportionate; and if he will not reorganise the catchment areas for existing beds until additional beds are available in 1970.

Yes. The Regional Hospital Board intend to revise certain catchment areas before 1970.

asked the Minister of Health what is the value of work on new construction and repairs and maintenance, respectively, done in 1967 by building staffs directly employed by regional hospital boards; and how many are employed in such staffs.

Some 17,500 people were directly employed by Regional Hospital Boards and Hospital Management Committees in 1967 on the maintenance of plant, buildings and grounds and on minor capital works. Separate figures are not centrally available for building maintenance or the proportion of minor capital works carried out by directly employed staff: but expenditure on maintenance, excluding salaries and wages of directly employed staff, was about £20 million. Major capital works are not carried out by such staff.

asked the Minister of Health if he is aware that the salaries and prospects of hospital pharmacists are insufficient to attract the quality of staff to meet the needs of his policy on quality control of drugs in hospitals; and what further action he will take to improve them.

I am aware that some hospital authorities are experiencing difficulty in staffing their pharmaceutical departments. The pay of hospital pharmacists is a matter for the appropriate Whitley Council which is now considering a salary claim. Long-term organisation is under consideration by the Working Party to which my right hon. Friend referred in his reply of 29th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt).—[Vol. 757, c. 221.]

asked the Minister of Health if he will now give consideration to the application for admission to hospital of Mrs. Walters of 25 Abbey Road, Macclesfield.

I would refer the hon. Member to my recent reply to his letter about this patient.

asked the Minister of Health what steps he is taking to obtain urgently required accommodation in a suitable hospital for Diana Moore, aged four years, of 19 Poolman's Road, Windsor, details of whose case have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Windsor.

I have now written to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Health what is the cost of the new maternity unit at Caerphilly and District Miners Hospital; what accommodation it provides.

£248,000; 30 maternity beds with full supporting facilities, and a new kitchen and dining room and staff changing accommodation to serve the whole hospital.

asked the Minister of Health why figures of membership of hospital management committees nominated by trade unions were collected by his Department in 1964; and whether he will seek to make available more recent figures.

The 1964 figures of members of hospital management committees recommended by trade unions or federations of trades councils were obtained from a general survey of the membership of hospital management committees. The collection and analysis of this information was costly in terms of staff time and I am not contemplating a further survey.

asked the Minister of Health (1) how much it would cost to exempt all hospitals from the payment of Selective Employment Tax;(2) how many, and which, hospitals in London pay Selective Employment Tax on behalf of their staffs.

The cost of Selective Employment Tax paid by National Health Service hospitals is expected to be about £32 million in 1968-69, but the expenditure is borne on Votes and thus met from the Consolidated Fund. I have no information about the total cost to non-National Health Service hospitals; private hospitals that are registered charities qualify for repayment of the tax.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what changes are proposed in the rate of the beterment levy; and when such changes will become operative.

No changes are proposed at the present time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received from the Conference of North-East Lancashire Authorities with regard to the impact on North-East Lancashire of the Central Lancashire New Town Proposal; and if he will make a statement.

The Conference have suggested a number of measures which they consider desirable in the interests of North-East Lancashire. My right hon. Friend is considering these together with comments from the Regional Economic Planning Council and other local authorities on the proposed new town. He is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many applications for new sites for the accommodation of touring caravans have been made to local authorities in each of the last three years; how many such sites have been approved and licensed and how many disapproved; and how many appeals have been made to him against such refusal, and with what results;(2) how many applications for the extension of caravan sites for the accommodation of touring caravans have been made to local authorities in each of the last three years; how many of these have been approved and how many disapproved; how many appeals have been made to him against such refusal; and how many such appeals have been successful.

The information available relates to holiday caravan sites, and does not distinguish between new sites and extensions. The number of planning applications and appeals for such sites in England during the last three years was as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further reductions in the staff of the Land Commission he now estimates will be made over the next year.

By about 50, to 1,265.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now investigate the proposals of the Wolverhampton Local Authority to increase council rents next February.

I am considering proposals for rent increases which Wolverhampton County Borough Council have submitted for my approval under the Prices and Incomes Act, 1968.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many of the dwellings in Great Britain are without a fixed bath or shower; what proportion they form of the total dwelling stock; and what are the corresponding figures for unfit and fit dwellings, respectively.

It is estimated that at the end of March, 1968 there were 2¼ million dwellings in Great Britain without a fixed bath or shower. This represents 12½ per cent. of the total stock of about 18 million dwellings.About 1½ million dwellings without a fixed bath or shower are unfit. This represents about 70 per cent. of the total number of unfit dwellings. The remaining ¾ million dwellings without a fixed bath or shower are fit, representing 5 per cent. of the total number of fit dwellings.I am sorry that some of the figures which I gave to the right hon. Gentleman when I replied to his Question on 14th June—[Vol. 766, c.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, how many council houses have been sold by local authorities during the last 12 months.

3,376 council houses were sold by local authorities in the 12 months ending 31st May, 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that the United Kingdom's balance of payments deficit in the six months to March, 1968 was running at the rate of £1,352 million compared with £776 million in 1964, what further measures he now plans to take to reduce personal consumption in order to limit expenditure on imports and to safeguard sterling.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answers which I gave to his Question on 18th and 28th June.—[Vol. 766, c. 121–2; Vol. 767, c. 146.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the fact that the £1,909,413,672 of 3½ per cent. War Loan has touched the lowest ever price of 46¼ per cent., and that since the purchasing power of money has fallen to one-third its pre-war value, every holder of £100 War Loan stock has lost 84 per cent. of his real savings, what action he will take to prevent the value of this premier Government stock from falling further.

The market value of War Loan like other undated Government securities, reflects the general level of interest rates. World interest rates are at an historically high level; although we arc anxious to see our own rates come down we cannot move out of step with rates in other countries.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what decision he has reached about land at Bedham Manor known as the Mens and the Cut and Strood Green that has been offered to the Inland Revenue in lieu of state duty; if he is now satisfied that the Sussex Naturalists Trust can administer this property within the terms of the Dedication Covenant; and if he will make a statement.

After careful consideration, I have decided not to accept the offer of this land in lieu of estate duty.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has taken note of the sharp drop in the number of gold and silver items submitted by manufacturers to the Birmingham Assay Office, and of the possibility of unemployment in the jewellery trade; and whether he will review his Budget decision to increase Purchase Tax on such items to 50 per cent.

I have taken note of recent Press reports on this subject. I shall, of course, take all relevant considerations into account when the Purchase Tax is next under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that since the financial year 1964–65 defence expenditure will have risen by 20 per cent. for the current financial year; and whether he will give a detailed list of the rise in expenditure on a similar basis for each of the Government spending Departments.

Details of the rise in expenditure met from Votes by Government Departments are given in Table XVI in the Financial Secretary's Memorandum on the Estimates 1968–69 (Cmnd. 3583). I regret that this contains an error of transcription; the 1964–65 figure for Defence Budget Estimates should be £1,940,618 thousand (excluding Exchequer Extra Receipts) and not £2,074,048 thousand. On the corrected figure the estimated rise in Defence Budget expenditure between 1964–65 (outturn) and 1968–69 (estimate) is 17 per cent., at current—as opposed to constant—prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give details of the scheme offered to Singapore and other foreign sterling holders to safeguard their balances; what has been the response; and if he will make a statement.

I have at this stage nothing to add to my statement in the House on 8th July, 1968.—[Vol. 768, c. 48–9.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what regulations are now in force under Section 12 of the Coinage Act, 1870, respecting the trial of the pyx; and on what date this trial has been or will be held in the current year.

The regulations now in force are the Trial of the Pyx Order 1947 (S.R. & O. 1947/1421). This year the trial was held on 22nd February and the verdict was delivered on 10th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now review the rate of interest on liquidation account moneys, which was prescribed in 1965 under Section 362(4) of the Companies Act, 1948.

This rate is reviewed from time to time but no change is proposed at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on which funds, surpluses in which are lent to the Government, other than the Companies Liquidation Account, interest is paid or credited at less than 5 per cent.

So far as it is easily ascertainable, the following:

• Court Funds Investment Account (Deposit Accounts).
• Post Office Savings Banks Fund.
• Fund for the Banks for Savings.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the progress of British initiative to achieve a peaceful settlement of the conflict in Nigeria.

I have nothing to add at present to my statement to the House on 2nd July. It appears from Colonel Ojukwu's public statements that he is not yet prepared to take up the opportunity which I am convinced exists for meaningful contacts between the two sides about a return to the negotiating table. I am considering what further steps can be taken to contribute to initiatives here and elsewhere in the search for agreement.—[Vol. 767, c. 1307–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the negotiations that have taken place to enable Lord Hunt to gain entrance to Biafra.

Her Majesty's Government's gift of up to a quarter of a million pounds which I announced on 2nd July is designed for the relief of suffering in all parts of Nigeria. Naturally it was our intention that Lord Hunt should visit the main areas of distress, regardless of which side of the fighting line they are on, in order to make comprehensive recommendations to the Government.Permission for visits to both sides was sought accordingly, but whereas full cooperation was promised by the Federal Government, Colonel Ojukwu said at first that he saw no value in Lord Hunt visiting the area under his control. Nevertheless, I am still hopeful that at least one member of Lord Hunt's team may be able to make the journey, for which the International Red Cross have promised to assist in making the practical arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had with the Federal Government of Nigeria regarding the circumstances in which they will permit daytime flights by Oxfam and the Red Cross from Fernando Po direct into Biafra.

Lord Hunt has been in close touch with both the Federal Government and the International Red Cross about an emergency air lift of supplies as an interim measure pending the establishment of a land route which the International Red Cross have stated can alone meet the need on an adequate scale. The Federal Military Government are understandably concerned with the need for safeguards by the International Red Cross to ensure that an emergency airlift is not used for other purposes than relief. Oxfam are co-ordinating their efforts with the International Red Cross who already operate night flights as opportunity offers from Fernando Po.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether, following the success of the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund in getting Supplies through to Nigeria, he will see whether this channel might be used to send further supplies from the United Kingdom.

Her Majesty's Government's policy follows the expressed wish of the Nigerian Government that emergency relief should be channelled through the International Red Cross. I understand that the Secretary-General of the United Nations follows a similar policy and that aid from U.N.I.C.E.F. is being distributed accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, in view of results of the Shepherd Mission to Lagos and the continued starvation and increasing number of deaths in Biafra, if he will now stop all supplies of arms to Nigeria.

I do not accept that the results of Lord Shepherd's visit to Lagos at the end of June would in any way justify a change of policy as sug- gested. On the contrary, Lord Shepherd was able to establish a number of important points on which Federal co-operation and assurances were made public, as I informed the House in my statement on 26th June

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs if he has now considered a copy of the minutes of the meeting of the Legislative Council of the Falkland Islands of 20th May, 1968, containing the motion proposed by the honourable Mr. R. V. Goss; and what action he has taken.

I have taken note of this Motion, a copy of which has been sent home by the Governor. The position of Her Majesty's Government on these matters has been made clear in the House on a number of occasions since the speech by my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary in the debate on 26th March, and most recently by myself in reply to Questions on 2nd July.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an undertaking to Mr. Gerald Norton, V.C, that he may travel between Rhodesia and the United Kingdom for the purpose of attending the Windsor Castle reunion of holders of the Victoria Cross without risk of his Rhodesian passport being confiscated.

I understand Mr. Norton has stated he believes he is eligible for a United Kingdom passport If that is so he would have been able to travel to Britain without difficulty. He did not however get in touch with any British authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish the list of Rhodesians, or of United Kingdom citizens, liable to have their passports confiscated and give his reasons in each case.

No. I circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT on 27th June a definition of the categories of people against whom action might be taken—[Vol. 767, c. 128–30.]

asked the Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs what is the total strength and annual cost of the Rhodesian political section of the Commonwealth Affairs Office.

The total strength of the Rhodesia Political Department in the Commonwealth Office, including its clerical and information services, is 16 staff, whose annual salaries cost approximately £36,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to set up an authority to replace the Lord Chamberlain with respect to the licensing of bars in theatres.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when Her Majesty's Government plan to implement the Littlewood Report on experiments on animals.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 4th July.—[Vol. 767, c. 267.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of persons who entered the United Kingdom from continental rural areas during the period August to October, 1967.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons entered the United Kingdom via the Continent of Europe during the period August to October, 1967.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what proportion the number of scientists engaged on research by his Department has been reduced, as a result of the run-down of defence commitments.

By the end of March, 1971, the numbers of scientists and other professional grades employed on defence work in the research and development establishments will be reduced by some 6 per cent. compared with the numbers previously planned for that year and by 4½ per cent. compared with current numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will make a statement on the dispute which has arisen through the ban on overtime working in the London Docks arising from the problems of containerisation.

Overtime is available as required at the fully containerised berths at Tilbury. These berths are not affected by the regrettable recent decision by the National Amalgamated Stevedores and Dockers to continue the four-year old ban which, alone amongst dock unions, they operate on overtime at weekends and after 7 p.m. on weekdays.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average annual cost in the last convenient 12-month period of educating a child in the London Borough of Harrow in a secondary modern school and a grammar school, respectively.

I am informed by the local education authority that in 1966-67 the cost per pupil (excluding income, adjustments with other authorities, capital expenditure from revenue and board and lodging) was about £169 in grammar schools and £151 in secondary modern schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the saving to be achieved by abolishing the £50 minimum grant to higher education students.

It is not possible to make a precise estimate, but the saving would probably be something less than £¾ million.

asked the President of Board of Trade what is the number of private aircraft and helicopter licence holders currently valid; and what were the corresponding numbers for 1950, 1960 and 1963.

The number of persons holding current private pilot licences at 30th June, 1968, for aeroplanes was 11,381 and for helicopters was 152. In the earlier years there were no separate helicopter pilot licences; the numbers of private pilot licences were 4,376, 6,602 and 7,815 respectively at the end of these calendar years.

asked the Minister of Power if he will publish the data on which his Department calculates that gas prices will be reduced in real terms as a result of the use of North Sea Gas; and when this reduction will start.

I would refer the hon. Member to the information contained in the White Paper on Fuel Policy (Cmnd. 3438) and in the Gas Council publications "Gas goes Natural" and "Investment in Natural Gas". I do not have in mind the publication of any further data at present. The published tariffs of five Area Boards already provide for lower prices in areas converted to natural gas and some consumers are already receiving the benefits of these lower prices.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the cost to his Department of the full-page advertisement in the Daily Telegraph colour supplement of 5th July, 1968; and what benefit to the Post Office was intended.

£2,821 10s. 0d. The advertisement is one of several designed to show more clearly to our customers the part which the postal services play in their life. These advertisements are preliminary to publicity that will be needed later this year when we introduce fundamental changes designed to modernise the service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to implement the Rodger Committee's recommendations; if he will hold further discussions with the teachers' representatives before implementing Chapter V of the report; and if he will make a statement.

I am in consultation with the local authority associations and the teachers' associations on this report. As regards Chapter V, any salary implications would be a matter for the Scottish Teachers Salaries Committee.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what use he intends to make of the three office blocks on Victoria Embankment which he acquired from the Metropolitan Police.

These premises are occupied at present by staff of the Diplomatic Service, Board of Trade and Ministry of Defence; all three of them will be demolished when we redevelop the Bridge Street—Richmond Terrace site to provide new Government offices and a Parliamentary building.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the total value of the export of arms from this country in 1965, 1966 and 1967.

It is estimated that exports of defence equipment were £120 million in 1965, £152 million in 1966 and £164 million in 1967.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the current level of Government spending to encourage industry to move to Wales; and what was the annual level from 1960 to 1964.

For expenditure by the Board of Trade I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Neath (Mr. Coleman) on 10th July. Expenditure on the Selective Employment Tax additional sum and on the regional employment premium on Wales is currently running at about £15 million a year. The annual level of expenditure under the Local Employment Acts on assistance to the former development districts in Wales between 1960 and 1964 was about £3 million.—[Vol. 768, c. 77–8.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the square footage of industrial development certificate approvals for Wales for the years 1961 to 1967, respectively.

The information is given in the following table:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial projects have been approved for Caerphilly since 1964; and what is the area of factory space involved.

In the period 1st January, 1964 to 30th June, 1968, 43 industrial development certificates for a total area of 1,238,000 sq. ft. were issued in the Caerphilly Employment Exchange area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his Department's wholesale price index figure for pharmaceutical preparations for the year 1967, as compared with the price index figure for all manufactured products for the same year.

103·1 as compared with 134·9 (for home market sales, taking 1954 as 100).

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has received the Consumer Council's Fifth Annual Report; and if he will make a statement.

I have now received a copy of this report, which I understand will be published on 17th July.

asked the Minister of Transport what criteria he takes into consideration before authorising the removal of a slow sign and double white lines from the side road of a T junction and replacing them on one of the other two roads at the junction.

It is the responsibility of the highway authority to decide the relative priorities of roads at junctions, after considering the site in relation to safety and traffic flows.The criteria for the consequential use of the "Stop" and "Give Way" traffic signs, as indications of priority, are held down in the Traffic Signs Manual.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much help was given to Caerphilly ratepayers under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act; and how much has been given under the Local Government Act, 1966.

Relief to Caerphilly ratepayers under the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, totalled £303 for the three years 1964–67. Under the General Rate Act, 1967 (formerly the Rating Act, 1966. relief in 1966–67 totalled £7,053 and about the same in 1967–68.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the annual average number of houses built in Wales from 1951 to 1968.

14,349 a year in the period 1951 to 1967 inclusive.