asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent the agricultural and horticultural industries have contributed to a policy of imports substitution since devaluation of sterling and the Government's announcement on 16th January, 1968; and what further contributions ad valorem will be made in 1969.

It is not possible to give figures of actual imports saved on a year to year basis, but, as my predecessor said, the volume of home agricultural output has risen by about five per cent. overall over the period of the selective expansion programme compared with about half per cent. for all food imports.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the further information given to him by the hon. Member for Watford, he will now impose a bacteriological standard in respect of dairy cream sold to the public sufficiently high to avoid the deleterious contamination referred to therein.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given to my hon. Friends the Members for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. Archer) and Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) on 15th May, and the hon. Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd) on 19th July, to which I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 764, c. 1195; Vol. 768, c. 297.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has had from the apple industry in recent weeks about altering the periods and quantities of import quotas; and how far the point of view of Bramley growers has been represented as well as the point of view of dessert apple growers.

There have been no formal representations from apple growers in recent weeks.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average price each month, January to May inclusive, of Bramley apples in 1965, 1966 and 1967; and what tonages were marketed in each of those months.

The information is as follows:

MONTHLY AVERAGE WHOLESALE PRICES PER CWT. OF HOME-GROWN BRAMLEY'S SEEDLING APPLES AT NINE LARGE MARKETS IN ENGLAND AND WALES
	1965		1966		1967
	s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
January	55	0	62	2	77	3
February	57	10	60	6	77	3
March	58	9	61	10	83	1
April	57	6	69	5	93	8
May	63	10	72	5	111	2

MONTHLY MARKETINGS OF BRAMLEY'S SEEDLING APPLES, ENGLAND AND WALES
	1965	1966	1967
	'000 tons	'000 tons	'000 tons
January	14	10	8
February	11	11	7
March	16	13	7
April	15	13	5
May	10	15	3

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many tenant farmers in Norfolk who had lost their farms because of redevelopment had received the additional payment equivalent to four years' rent under the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act.

These payments are made by the landlord or the acquiring authority to the tenant, and I am unable to supply the information desired since neither of these parties is required to inform my right hon. Friend when a payment has been made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what further steps he plans to take to deal with the low prices in the cereals market; and if he will make a statement.

The prices of home-grown cereals have become firmer in recent weeks and I do not think any further steps are called for at this stage. However, the situation will be closely watched in consultation with the Home-Grown Cereals Authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he now plans to take to deal with the large volume of dairy produce now being dumped on the British market.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Monro).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a statement on the action he intends to take following the report of the Economic Development Council on Agriculture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to be able to implement the recommendations of the report of the National Economic Development Council on Agriculture; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what further means he plans to encourage home agricultural expansion to replace imports.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply given today to the hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) and others.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now seek to amend the regulations which permit labelling such as Permitted Artificial Sweeteners in order to require that the actual additives should be named; and if he will make a statement.

No. The Regulations make it obligatory to state either the generic term "artificial sweetener" or the specific name of the sweetener used. This is in accordance with what is required for other permitted food additives, and I see no justification for treating artificial sweeteners differently.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the general level of return for producers of store stock: and if he will make a statement.

Prices for all classes of stock are higher than those of last year and demand for store stock is keen. Producers of store cattle will also benefit from the increases in the beef cow and hill cow subsidies made at the last Annual Review. Producers' returns are, of course, considered each year at the Annual Review along with all other relevant factors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he is satisfied with the current level of returns to milk producers; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Hector Monro).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he is satisfied with the current level of returns to potato growers; and if he will make a statement.

The average price obtained by United Kingdom growers in the week ended 5th October is estimated at just over £14 a ton. This is rather better than the price for the corresponding week last year and compares with an average price of about £10 14s. a ton at the beginning of August. I see no reason why the average price for the season should not reach the guaranteed price of £14 17s. 6d. a ton.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his latest estimate of the 1968 harvest; and how it compares with 1967.

Provisional estimates made at the end of September indicate that cereal yields in England and Wales may be below those of 1967 by 3 cwt. per acre for wheat, 2 cwt. per acre for barley and 1½ cwt. per acre for oats. Root and fodder crops, on the other hand, were then generally expected to yield as well as, or even rather better than, last year.Total cereal production will clearly be well below last year's total—possibly by between 5 and 10 per cent.—but until final yield estimates are available, I cannot be more precise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what communications he has received from the Director General of the European Free Trade Association regarding the working party set up to examine the fisheries policy of its members; and what reply he has sent.

There has been no occasion for the Secretary-General of the European Free Trade Association to communicate with my right hon. Friend on this subject. The Working Party on Fish reports to the Association's permanent Council, which is made up of representatives of all the member-countries. Consideration of the fisheries policies of E.F.T.A. member-countries is outside the Working Party's present terms of reference.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, whether, in view of the growing practice of allowing farm workers to consume untreated milk, he will seek to provide some form of supervision; and if he will institute an inquiry.

No. I am not aware of any growth in the consumption of untreated milk by farm workers or others. The Milk and Dairies Regulations already make extensive provision for the supervision of the production, treatment, handling and storage of milk on farms and for action by medical officers of health where infection is suspected.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is satisfied with the current level of returns to hill sheep farmers; and if he will make a statement.

Producers' returns are for consideration each year at the Annual Review along with all other relevant factors. This year hill sheep farmers are benefiting from the firmer demand for store sheep which, no doubt, reflects the increase in the guaranteed price at the last Annual Review and the higher total returns for fat lambs achieved as a result this season.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what further steps he is taking to assist in reducing unemployment in the Northern Region; and if he will make a statement.

The Board of Trade offer a wide range of incentives to encourage industrial growth in all the development areas, and last November my right hon. Friend announced additional measures to assist many places likely to be adversely affected by colliery closures. These policies are materially assisting the creation of new employment in the development areas, including the Northern region.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been, since the imposition of Selective Employment Tax, the overall decline in profits of commercial laundries and the effect of such decline upon the rate at which such laundries have gone out of business since the imposition of the tax.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reverse the decision to transfer the Textile Design Centre from the North to London; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter for the Textile Council but we are in broad agreement with their view that the decision is in the best interests of the industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will reconsider his policy on limited industrial development certificates to ensure maximum efficiency of production on existing sites; and if he will make a statement.

This is already one of the factors taken into account in considering applications for industrial development certificates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that some refusals to grant limited industrial development certificates have caused disruption, reduced production and increased costs; and if he will reconsider his policy on industrial development certificates of a limited nature.

In administering the control over industrial development certificates, full weight is given to the maintenance of efficient production. Where, however, refusal of industrial development certificates causes difficulties for individual applicants, these must be set against the wider benefits derived from the operation of the control, which I am satisfied is in the best economic interests of the country.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in order to allow shoppers to calculate quickly value for money, he will now take steps to compel manufacturers to sell soapflakes and detergents in standard weight packs; and if he will make a statement.

I am still considering the suggestion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to define for the public the meaning of the words "new" and "free", as used by soap and detergent manufacturers.

I do not think it would be possible to define all the circumstances in which such terms could reasonably be used.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now announce the dates of the May and August bank holidays in 1971.

In England and Wales the late spring bank holiday will be on 31st May, and the August bank holiday on 30th August. In Scotland the May bank holiday will revert to the first Monday of the month, 3rd May, and the August bank holiday will remain on the first Monday of the month, 2nd August.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will give details of his plans to increase trade and industry, particularly in the construction industry in the city of Aberdeen; and when those plans will be put into operation;(2) if he will make a statement of his plans to assist industry in Aberdeen resulting from his visit there in September, 1968, with particular reference to developments at Crombies and the Don-side Paper Mills and Messrs. Richards Limited, flax spinners, and also to the new advance factories there.

My right hon. Friend was pleased to visit Aberdeen recently and to study the situation. The visits to the three firms named were both interesting and useful.My right hon. Friend was particularly glad to announce the allocation of the 27,500 sq. ft. advance factory. We shall continue to make full use of all the powers available to us to encourage the growth of industrial development suited to the needs of Aberdeen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the location and number of the factories and other industrial facilities made available in Scotland under the Industrial Development Act 1966, stating the nature of the work carried out and the number of workers employed in each project.

The Industrial Development Act, 1966, authorised the Board of Trade to modernise existing Board of Trade factories where necessary. This work, which will take several years to complete, is under way and Scotland is sharing in it. I cannot give details of the work carried out without disproportionate expenditure in terms of time and money. Nor is it possible to relate the work precisely to the number of jobs created by it though in general it should, of course, make for the better utilisation of our factories over the years.

asked the President of the l3oard of Trade if he will state the nature, extent and result of the advertising campaign undertaken by him in conjunction with the Scottish Office to bring to the notice of industrialists the opportunities for expansion in Aberdeen.

Board of Trade advertising is directed at bringing the opportunities of the development areas in general to the attention of industry. In their discussions with individual firms the Board of Trade bring to the notice of industrialists the suitability of particular development area locations, including Aberdeen.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, following his recent visit, he will state his proposals for promoting an increase in industrial productivity in and exports from Scotland.

The Government will continue to apply vigorously their wide range of industrial policies to help industry throughout the country, including Scottish industry, to improve productivity and exports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his plans for improving facilities for ex- ports by containers between North-East Scotland and Northern Europe.

No special plans appear to be required as the industry itself is in a position to judge what shipping services circumstances may warrant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what study he has made of the plans for developing the trade between Aberdeen and Russia in Aberdeen kippers, kipper pate and other fish outlined by Mr. George Middleton, chairman of the Herring Industry Board, following his recent visit to Russia for the purpose of finalising and implementing the relevant Anglo-Soviet Trade Agreement; and what action he will take.

I am, of course, interested in proposals for developing exports to the Soviet Union, but I am not aware that the Herring Industry Board have put forward plans in this connection.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether further action has been taken in connection with the Shipping Contracts (Foreign Measures) Order, 1968.

On 30th August, 1968 the Board of Trade addressed a Direction to the shipping lines which are members of the North Atlantic Westbound Freight Association. The Direction prohibits those shipping lines from complying, so far as their activities in the United Kingdom are concerned, with the Order of the Federal Maritime Commission of the U.S.A. which was the subject of the Shipping Contracts (Foreign Measures) Order, 1968. I have arranged for a copy of the Board of Trade's Direction to be placed in the Library.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will state his plans following the recently issued interim Report of the Committee on Trawler Safety set up by him with special reference to the risks incurred by Aberdeen trawlers in North Sea and Northern fishing grounds;(2) if he will make a statement on the recent appointment by him of a committee under the Chairmanship of Admiral Sir Doric Holland-Martin to consider and report on the causes and remedies for the loss of British trawlers at sea including the study of meteorological, weather and other conditions affecting trawlers and the supply of information to trawlers at sea.

The Committee of Inquiry into Trawler Safety in its Interim Report recommends that an experimental weather advisory service should be provided this winter at Government expense from a ship at sea in the area north of Iceland. I accept this recommendation and am taking urgent action to give effect to it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are his further plans for regulating the transfer of oil at sea from tankers to smaller ships.

The Board of Trade will continue to keep a close watch on these transfers but I do not at present think that special steps are needed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many members of the crews of North Sea and Arctic Aberdeen trawlers were injured and how many died during the last five years; and what steps he has taken and plans to take to reduce the number and also the risks to which such crews are exposed at sea and in port.

In the years 1963 to 1967 inclusive 833 injuries and 20 deaths on Aberdeen trawlers were reported. The Report of the Board of Trade Working Group on the Safety of Fishermen will be submitted shortly and will be made available to the independent Committee of Inquiry which is examining all aspects of trawler safety.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what provision by way of compensation he provides for families of members of Aberdeen trawler crews at sea and in port when they are killed or die as a result of accidents at sea or in port.

There is no special provision. Fishermen are covered in the same way as other workers by the provisions of the National Insurance and Industrial Injuries Schemes. Additional assistance is available where required by way of supplementary benefit.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the activities of the European Organisation for the Safety of Air Navigation.

Copies of the Fifth Annual Report of the Eurocontrol Organisation, summarising its activities during 1967, have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what special investigation is now being carried out by the Meteorological Office so that in future advance warning may be given of such abnormal conditions as precipitated the floods in the West Country and in the South-East in 1968.

On both occasions the Meteorological Office gave as much warning as was technically possible. The Office has a continuing programme of mathematical and physical research to help improve quantitative forecasting of rainfall, but this is inevitably a long-term project. The heavy rainfall in July and September 1968 is being studied as part of the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what special terms will now be used in weather forecasts so as to warn the public of flood conditions arising from very heavy rainfall, such as four inches in 48 hours.

The Meteorological Office is not responsible for forecasting floods, because weather forecasts alone cannot provide a suitable basis for flood warnings. The Office is, however, considering means of strengthening the impact of "flash" warnings of severe weather in order to ensure that listeners are fully alerted.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether all uniform for the armed forces is manufactured in Great Britain; and whether the cloth is produced by British industry.

On average we buy clothing to the approximate value of £7 million for the Services each year and the bulk of these requirements is purchased and manufactured in the United Kingdom. The latest available figures show that in the period 1st September, 1967, to 31st August, 1968, contracts worth only about £35,000 were placed outside the United Kingdom.In the same period contracts worth approximately £9,000 were placed for imported loomstate cloth which was dyed and finished in the United Kingdom. This is a very low proportion of our purchases of cloth for issue to garment-making contractors.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what new instructions have been issued to the Beira Patrol, particularly with regard to the opening of fire.

The instructions to the Beira Patrol are designed to ensure compliance with the Security Council Resolution of 9th April, 1966. I am not prepared to give details.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of men absent without leave from each of the three Services on the first day of each month since December, 1964.

No records are available which would provide the information requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the fact that changes are to be made in the Plymouth Command (Royal Navy), whether action is contemplated in regard to H.M.S. "Drake", the Royal Victualling Yard, Royal Artillery Depot, Wine-settle, and the Women's Royal Naval Service Headquarters, St. Budeaux.

The comprehensive review of naval support facilities and establishments which will be required for the future Fleet (referred to in Command 3701) is still continuing. I regret therefore that there is not much I am able to say at the present time, though I anticipate any changes will relate to concentrations of accommodation to save administrative costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in view of the fact that H.M.S. "Sea Eagle" was to be moved to Plymouth, what are the reasons for the change of plan; and whether he proposes bringing any other establishment to Plymouth in view both of the loss of approximately 80 jobs and also revenue to the city.

The decision to locate the Joint Anti Submarine School at Portsmouth instead of Plymouth was taken on grounds of economy and efficiency. Integration of the Joint Anti Submarine School with the Tactical School at Portsmouth will save staff and over £3 million in equipment and buildings. The number of jobs which would have gone to Plymouth was less than 80, we estimated it at about 50. As regards other establishments I would refer the hon. Member to the announcement of the closure of St. Vincent and the building up of H.M.S. "Raleigh" as the naval junior training establishment of the future. This will further enhance the naval commitment in the Plymouth area.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the excellent work done in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, in the construction of new ships, he proposes to order another ship to be built in this yard in the near future.

There is no prospect of an order being placed in the near future on Devonport Dockyard for a new warship, but the capacity of the yard for the construction of new ships will be taken into account whenever an invitation to tender is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the work of the Admiralty Materials Laboratory at Poole, Dorset, on the new method of detecting and identifying oil slick at sea; in how many instances it has been successfully used in the North Sea and elsewhere; and what is the number of prosecutions which have followed, the names of the vessels and their owners, and the result of each prosecution.

The Admiralty Materials Laboratory has developed a centripetal sampler which concentrates a thin surface film of oil into a sampling vessel. The equipment is being developed for operational use in the Navy. It has not been used to provide a basis for prosecution of those responsible for oil slicks. In parallel with this work, methods of rough classification of oils at sea and the more discriminating laboratory identification of the oil source are being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will ensure that in future each fishery protection vessel patrolling in the North Sea and northern fishing grounds carries a doctor and medicines and berths sufficient to accommodate sick and injured seamen.

I cannot give this assurance. In the North Sea, small coastal minesweepers are normally used for fishery protection patrol and these do not have sufficient accommodation for a doctor and sick bay. In distant waters, the frigates used normally carry a doctor but because of the shortage of doctors no garantee can be given that there will always be one on board. All H.M. ships employed in these duties will, of course, continue to give medical help and advice within their capabilities.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present position concerning the Channel Tunnel schemes.

We are expecting news shortly from our French colleagues which should clear the way for the joint statement to which my right hon. Friend referred in his reply to hon. Members on 24th July.—[Vol. 769, c. 569–70.]

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate he has made of the number of vehicles equipped with reflective safety number plates; what he estimates this will be by the end of 1969; and at what level he proposes to consider the introduction of compulsory legislation with particular reference to new cars and cars undergoing Ministry of Transport testing.

None. These plates may make some contribution to accident prevention but I doubt whether this is sufficient to justify the additional expense involved in making them obligatory. I am now considering to what extent they may make law enforcement easier.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now take steps to reintroduce hovercraft transport into Scotland.

This is a matter for existing and potential operators of services.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what further proposals he has for legislating against noise on public roads and streets caused by motor cars and motor cycles;(2) if he will make a statement on the measures he has taken to abate noise of motor engines driven in low gear by incompetent and careless drivers; when those measures came into operation; and how many relevant prosecutions and convictions resulted.

New regulations to control noise from motor vehicles came into elect in July. There have been no prosecutions pending a technical amendment of the regulations which I am about to make.Before considering any further proposals, we need practical experience of the working of the new regulations.

asked the Minister of Transport how many persons were killed and injured by hit-and-run motorists during the last five years;

FAILING TO STOP, ETC., CONTRARY TO SECTION 77(1) OF THE ROAD TRAFFIC ACT 1960
		Total of offences and alleged offences	Number of cases in which police gave written warning	Total findings of guilt	Numbers dealt with by fine	Number of cases in which Disqualification ordered	Number of cases in which Endorsement ordered without Disqualification
1965	…	14,181	1,554	10,536	10,314	434	8,820
1966	…	14,869	1,272	11,327	11,060	515	9,839
1967	…	14,897	1,051	11,565	11,249	506	10,196

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he is making in designating a route for an east-west motorway link joining South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire with Cheshire and Lancashire; and if he will make a statement.

My predecessor announced in April this year Project Feasibility Studies which embrace this route. Work on the Studies has been put in hand, and is likely to continue for at least twelve months after which I shall receive detailed reports and recommendations. I shall then decide what scheme or schemes ought to be added to my Trunk Road Preparation Pool.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will reconsider his decision to delay the start of the proposed A3 London to Portsmouth trunk road diversion between Bedhampton and Horn Dean until 1974.

The scheme is in the preparation pool and no starting date has yet been fixed, so there is no question of any deferment.

Information on the location of hit-and-run accidents and the number of casualties involved is not available. Figures for the offence of failing to stop after an accident are available only for the last three years; they include all hit and run offences whether or not anyone was injured. The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport what consultations he is having with a view to improving the facilities for dispersing air passengers bound for inner London from the Cromwell Road terminal; and if he will make a statement.

None. Any substantial improvement would be costly, and to spend large sums at Cromwell Road before a decision is reached on current proposals for a rail link from Heathrow to Victoria would be unwise.

asked the Minister of Transport how many people have been killed in road accidents at Wyton Crossroads near Huntingdon since 1st October, 1967; how many people have been injured and vehicles seriously damaged there since that date and what steps he proposes to take to reduce traffic accidents at those crossroads.

The 17 accidents recorded at Wyton crossroads since 1st October, 1967 resulted in 4 deaths and 19 cases of personal injury. We have no records of vehicle damage.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give an assurance that draft Section Seven Order for the Macclesfield Inner Relief Road will be published before the end of this year, and that side road proposals will be published concurrently with the line proposals.

No. Proposals for the line of the road and side road alterations have to be integrated with the proposed local road pattern for Macclesfield and other town centre redevelopment proposals which are not yet agreed.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has now been made with the planning of the M11 and discussions thereon with the local authorities affected; and in which financial year he estimates that this motorway will be constructed and completed.

Consultations with Local Authorities are almost complete. We hope shortly to publish revised draft proposals for the route from the A.12 at Redbridge Station to Stump Cross on the Cambridgeshire boundary together with proposals for associated side roads and junctions.Construction is dependent on completion of the statutory processes.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that by speed extensions the sea road from Brighton to Rottingdean has become dangerous and the fewness of islands and pedestrian crossings diminishes its usefulness to pedestrians; and if he will take steps to restore it to safety.

A speed limit or the provision of pedestrian facilities on this length of road would be, in the first instance, the responsibility of the Brighton County Borough Council as highway authority. If they seek our consent to a limit, we shall, of course, carefully, consider their proposal.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to delay railway line and station closures in areas covered by the new passenger transport authorities until adequate study has been made by these authorities of the possibilities of transport integration taking place; and if he will make a statement.

In accordance with the new policy announced in the White Paper on Railway Policy of November, 1967 (Cmnd. 3439) and the relevant provisions of the Transport Bill, we are looking at unremunerative railway passenger services generally to see how far their retention, with grant, could be justified as value for money. We recognise that there is a case for postponing decisions on closures within the proposed Passenger Transport Areas until the Passenger Transport Authorities have had adequate time to make their own studies. The cost of retaining some services in such areas would, however, be too great, and it may also be necessary to discontinue some services so that other rail services, over a much larger area, can be rationalised and modernised. We shall therefore continue to consider each case on its merits

asked the Minister of Transport if he will state the result of his consideration of the White Paper on Transport Policy, Command Paper No. 3057, and his plans to prevent the loss and inconvenience to Scottish people of closures of long enjoyed and convenient Scottish railway lines and railway stations.

The proposals outlined in the 1966 White Paper on "Transport Policy" were subsequently developed in detail in four further White Papers, including that on Railway Policy published between September 1967 and December 1967; they are being given legislative form in the Transport Bill now before Parliament. The Bill will enable me to pay a grant for the retention of an unremunerative rail passenger service if I am satisfied that this is desirable for social or economic reasons.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he has taken to comply with the request of the Aberdeen trade unions, the Aberdeen Fishing Vessel Owners' Association, the Aberdeen Port Users' Association and the Aberdeen Harbour Board to investigate and find a solution of the problems prejudicing the landing and transport of fish at and from Aberdeen Harbour.

Discussions are still taking place among local interests about the berthing of fishing vessels at Aberdeen. This matter is not for us but may have a bearing on a decision my right hon. Friend has to take about the issue of licences to port employers there. We have therefore held up this decision pending the result of the local discussions, but we cannot delay it much longer.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to distribute the trade in container ships now concentrated on Liverpool, Portsmouth and Southampton in order to benefit other ports and the workers in those other ports.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what representations she has received seeking changes in the Agricultural Training Board; and what action she intends to take.

Representations about the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry industry Training Board and training arrangements for the agricultural industry have been received from the National Farmers' Unions and are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the average industrial and agricultural wage, respectively, for men over 21 years of age in Scotland; and how this compares with the English figures.

In April, 1968, the latest date for which figures are available, the average weekly earnings of male manual workers, 21 years and over, in the industries covered by the Department's half-yearly inquiries were £21 10s. 6d. in Scotland and £22 8s. 8d. in England. As the hon. Member knows, the industrial composition of the two countries differs.Agriculture is not included in the Department's half-yearly inquiries, but my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food inform me that for male agricultural workers, 20 years and over, the average weekly earnings were £14 18s. 6d. in Scotland and £15 6s. 1d. in England in the year ended 31st March, 1968. The earnings of agricultural workers include the value of allowances in kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the average rate of unemployment in Scotland to the latest convenient date; how this compares with the rate in England; which are the three worst areas in Scotland; what are their rates, respectively; and how soon she expects to eliminate all unemployment in Scotland.

At 9th September the percentage rates of unemployment for Scotland and England were 3·6 and 2·1, respectively. Employment Exchange areas in Scotland with the highest percentage rates of unemployment at that date were Sanquhar (22), Stornoway (16·2) and Lesmahagow (15·5).We do not expect to be able to eliminate all unemployment in Scotland but Government assistance to the development areas is expected to produce a marked reduction in the disparity between the level of unemployment in Scotland and the national level over the next three years.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent mechanical devices are being employed to distinguish first class from second class mail; and if he will make a statement.

Automatic letter facing machines are used to arrange letters to face the same way and cancel the postage stamps. They also divide mail between first and second class by detecting phosphor markings on stamps. Six of our larger offices are at present equipped with these machines, and fifteen more will receive them in 1968.

asked the Postmaster-General what arrangements have been made for the allocation of pre-paid postage, such as the business reply service, between first-class and second-class mail.

Business Reply mail marked "First Class" is handled and charged accordingly; otherwise it is treated as Second Class mail.When postage is prepaid in money or by means of franking machines the class of service or the amount prepaid is shown in the date stamp and the letters are given the service paid for.

asked the Postmaster-General what instructions he has given to postmasters throughout the country as to how they should deal with second-class mail.

The instructions are that second class mail is sorted later than first class if this results in operational or economic advantage or is necessary to ensure that the first class mail gets the proper service. Many second class letters are thus sorted on the day after posting, but they are all sent forward by scheduled despatches which arrive in most parts of the country in time for delivery within two days of posting. Many second class letters are in fact delivered on the day after posting.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the cost of the public relations campaign designed to persuade people to use the 5d. stamp.

There has been no such campaign. Advertisements explaining the new services have cost £220,000.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent second class letters posted in Arran for destinations in Arran are taken to the mainland and returned before delivery; and to what extent this was happening to letters before 16th September, 1968.

These letters are now retained in Arran, as they were before the 16th September.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the cost of Post Office publicity in each of the past three financial years.

	Publicity	Recruitment Publicity
	£	£
1965–66	686,000	1,043,000
1966–67	653,000	956,000
1967–68	1,146,000	988,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has recently accepted in lieu of Estate Duty any work of art offered under Section 34 of the Finance Act, 1956.

Yes. Agreement has been reached between Her Majesty's Government and the executors of the estate of the late Thomas Gambier Parry for the aceptance in part satisfaction of estate duty of the painting by Le Nain known as "The Gamblers". The cost to the National Land Fund, after allowing for Estate Dtuy exemption, is £26,500. The advice of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries was sought on its disposal and it has now been decided that the picture should be given to the National Museum of Wales.

asked the Lord Privy Seal if he will move to amend the Standing Orders of the House so as to alter the timetable of the House so that sittings shall begin at 2 p.m. and that Parliamentary Question Time be extended from 3.30 p.m. to 4.30 p.m. and so that Ministers' Answers, if more than 30 words long, be treated as statements at the end of Question Time.

No. The proposal would mean that Questions would take up a disproportionate part of the Parliamentary day.

asked the Lord Privy Seal what steps he proposes to take to eliminate the deficit, now running at the rate of about £600 a year, incurred by the Catering Sub-Committee in the provision of restaurant and bar services in the Press Gallery.

I have been asked to reply.The Catering Sub-Committee are negotiating with the Press Gallery with regard to this problem and expect to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister of Health what action he has taken and plans to take, in the case of private patients who have jumped the queue for operations and hospital beds; and if he will make a statement.

One of the objects of the review of pay beds was to bring the relationship between provision and demand more closely into line with that of other beds, thus reducing the opportunity for paying patients to gain admission more quickly than non-paying patients with similar medical needs. I have no evidence that patients who have had private consultation receive any greater priority in admission to hospital as non-paying patients than is warranted by their medical condition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, having regard to the indispensable work performed by former Civil Defence personnel during the recent floods, he will now consider reinstating the service as a trained corps immediately available at the sceme of civil disasters of such magnitude as to be beyond the normal resources of police, fire and other services.

No. I do not accept that the re-establishment of the Civil Defence Corps is necessary for the purpose of dealing with peacetime disasters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the circumstances leading to the siege of Mr. John James at his home in Shropshire.

The Chief Constable has made a report to me.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the reasons why Corby, Northants, has been demoted from being the headquarters of a police division.

My right hon. Friend has advised police authorities and chief constables that divisional boundaries should be reviewed with the object, where appropriate, of enlarging the size of divisions. In pursuance of this policy, the former Corby and Kettering divisions have been combined to form one large division. Kettering was chosen as the headquarters of the new division.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to announce his decision following the Public Inquiry on Green Belts, held at Slaithwaite, West Riding, on 13th February, 1968; and whether he is aware that development of the Colne Valley will be held up until this issue is determined.

My right hon. Friend cannot yet say when he will be able to give his decision, but it will be as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the costs to agriculture in a full year of rates levied on agricultural buildings.

No rates are levied on agricultural buildings as defined in the General Rate Act. Information is not readily available about the total amount of rates now levied or leviable on other buildings used in food production, such as the intensive livestock units that the hon. Gentleman doubtless has in mind.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development why British citizens who have held quasi-government posts in former overseas territories are ineligible, under his regulations, for supplementary pension increases; and whether he now has any proposals for reviewing the pensions at present payable.

Pensions supplements payable under the Pensions (Increase) Acts may only be granted to a person in receipt of an overseas pension as defined in the Act of 1962 and the pensions of the persons to whom the hon. Member refers are not such overseas pensions. My right hon. Friend has no proposals for reviewing the basic pensions, which are not paid by the British Government. Proposals affecting eligibility for supplement would require amending legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the annual number of abortions carried out in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland from 1960 to 1967.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the annual number of deaths resulting from criminal abortions in Scotland from 1960 to 1967 and the number known to have occurred since the Abortion Act, 1967 came into effect.

The numbers of deaths from abortion from 1960 to 1967 are shown in the table set out below. It is not known how many of these resulted from criminal abortion. So far as is known no deaths from abortion have occurred since the Abortion Act, 1967 came into effect.

Scotland—Deaths due to abortion
Year	Number
1960	3
1961	5
1962	10
1963	7
1964	4
1965	7
1966	4
1967	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prosecutions have taken place in Scotland under the Abortion Act, 1967.

There have been no prosecutions in Scotland under Section 2(3) of the Abortion Act, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the personnel, plans and progress of the Scottish Economic Planning Council, set up by him to consider and make recommendations on Scottish transport problems.

The members of the Transport Committee of the Scottish Economic Planning Council are as follows:—

• Mr. G. R. Gay, J.P. (Chairman).
• Mr. G. W. Middleton, C.B.E.
• Mr. G. B. Barker.
• Mr. T. B. Duncan, J.P.
• Mr. A. Kitson, J.P.
• Mr. R. MacLellan.
• Lord Provost D. K. Thomson, M.B.E., T.D., D.L., J.P.
• Professor R. E. Nicoll, M.T.P.I., A.R.I.C.S.
• Mr. W. Little, B.Sc., A.M.I.C.E., A.M.I.E.E.
• Mr. W. R. Alexander. M.Inst.T.
• Mr. A. B. Birnie.
• Mr. R Macdonald.
• Mr. J. A. Matheson.
• Mr. G. W. Stewart, C.V.O.

The Committee studies transport problems in Scotland and the likely effect of the current rapid developments in transport systems of all types. It thereby assists the Council in giving advice on the provision of adequate transport facilities to serve the Scottish economy. In its work the Committee keeps in close touch with the Economic Planning Consultative Groups in the various parts of Scotland, particularly in relation to the promotion of the co-ordination of transport.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will outline his latest proposals for economic growth in North-East Scotland, with special reference to the regional employment premiums.

The full range of the Government's financial and other inducements to economic growth in the development areas—including the regional employment premium—are already available in North-East Scotland. The Aberdeen University survey of the area, now well advanced, will help to show how they can best be exploited.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects Professor Gaskin's team to complete their study of the economic potential of North-East Scotland.

I expect to have the report before the end of the year and shall arrange for publication as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the response from the 35 education authorities in Scotland to Circular No. 600 on Reorganisation of Secondary Education; and what progress has been made in implementing his policy in this matter.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on Monday, 13th May.—[Vol. 764, c. 192–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police are in the Glasgow force; how this compares with its total establishment; and how these figures compare with each year since 1962.

The figures for regular police officers are as follows:—

	Males		Females
Year 31st December	Authorised Establishment	Total Strength	Authorised Establishment	Total Strength
1962	2,818	2,678	94	81
1963	2,823	2,707	94	89
1964	2,958	2,643	98	91
1965	2,960	2,699	98	87
1966	2,958	2,572	98	86
1967	2,957	2,499	98	89
30th Sept., 1968	2,955	2,492	98	91

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many murders occurred in Scotland in the first nine months of 1968; what were the comparable figures for each year since 1962; how many crimes of violence occurred in the first nine months of 1968 and how these compared with each year since 1962; and how many, in each case, occurred in Glasgow.

As it is the established practice to adjust statistics of offences of murder made known to the police to exclude offences initially recorded as murder but subsequently found not to be murder, these statistics are compiled for complete years only. Figures for crimes of violence for the first nine months of 1968 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many young people are confined to young offenders

	Dumfries (opened 22nd March, 1965)	Edinburgh (opened 18th January, 1965)	Barlinnie (opened 11th February, 1966)	Greenock (Females) (opened 18th January, 1965)	Total
1965	59	124	—	12	195
1966	87	94	210	9	400
1967	88	102	293	7	490
1968 (estimated to 8th October, 1968)	88	121	304	8	521

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money has been spent by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board in Scotland in the first nine months of 1968; and how this com-

	England	Scotland	Wales
	£	£	£
1964 (5 months)	8,681	—	—
1965	220,102	68,059	7,579
1966	597,501	163,288	22,672
1967	918,352	211,611	46,089
1968 (9 months to 30th September)	829,368	289,737	50,997

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to publish his Green Paper on the Scottish Health Services.

In the near future, but I cannot yet give a date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of houses completed by Glasgow Corporation in each month since January 1968; what number have been built by private builders in Glasgow for each similar month; and what are the number of house starts in each month by municipal and private builders, respectively.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Housing Returns for Scotland at 31st March, 1968, and at 30th June, 1968, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office, which give the numbers for the first quarter and the first half year. Corresponding figures are not available on a monthly basis.

The average daily number of inmates detained in the four young offenders institutions in Scotland since 1965, when the first institutions opened, is as follows:—pares with previous years, and with expenditure in England and Wales.

Compensation has been paid by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board since its inception in 1964 as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was spent on criminological research in Scotland in the year 1967–68; and how this compares with previous years, and with similar expenditure in England and Wales.

I cannot give figures for total expenditure on criminological research, some of which is carried on by universities and other bodies without financial assistance from my Department. Expenditure on research into criminology borne by my Department, with similar figures for expenditure borne by the Home Office, has been as follows:—

	Scottish Home and Health Department	Home Office
	£'000	£'000
1963–64	7·5	84·0
1964–65	8·2	110·0
1965–66	10·9	138·0
1966–67	12·2	160·0
1967–68	16·2	180·0

The figures for my Department include, and the figures for the Home Office exclude, the contribution from Scottish Votes to the Home Office Research Unit, which carries out criminological research jointly for the Home Office and the Scottish Home and Health Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he has not published the Working Party Report on the future recruitment and training of teachers of technical subjects in Scotland which was prepared two years ago by the Committee presided over by the Director of Education for the City of Aberdeen; why he has now published proposals less favourable to the development of technical education in Scottish schools; and why he has given the profession so little time to discuss these proposals.

Both the Report and my proposals were circulated to the employer and teacher interests concerned. My proposals represent a constructive attempt to solve a long standing problem on which views a re deeply divided and are designed to encourage technical education. All the interests consulted have been given over two months in which to comment; none has complained about the time allowed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many colleges of technology in Scotland offer courses which qualify for awards by the Council for National Academic Awards.

Four—Robert Gordon's Institute of Technology, Aberdeen; Dundee Institute of Art and Technology; Paisley College of Technology; and The Scottish Woollen Technical College, Galashiels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average rent paid by Glasgow municipal tenants for two-apartment, three-apartment and four-apartment houses; what is the average rate paid for these; how many of the Glasgow council house occupiers obtain rent rebates; whether he is satisfied that the information given of the facilities for rent rebates is adequate; and if he will make a statement.

The following table shows average rents at the present time and as they will be from 28th November:

	Current Rents		After Increase
	s. d.		s. d.
1–2 apartments	13	8	17	1
3 apartments	18	9	23	4
4 apartments	23	6	29	4
5 or more apartments	29	8	37	1
All houses	19	11	24	10

It is for the Corporation to decide how to bring its rent rebate scheme to the tenants' notice and at present some 19,000 tenants receive rebates.I have no information about rate payments by Corporation tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for shotgun certificates have been received during the last annual period for which figures are available; and how many of these licence applications were granted.

By 31st August last, the latest date to which figures are available, 66,406 applications for shotgun certificates had been received by Scottish police forces. 66,180 shotgun certificates were issued to applicants, 174 applications were refused and 52 were under enquiry at that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, as at 1st April, 1968, how many homes in Scotland are over 80 years old.

On the basis of the 1965 housing survey I estimate that the figure is of the order of 300,000, or one-fifth of all houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to increase the facilities for men and women in custody in Her Majesty's prisons in Scotland to be visited by their respective spouses and children.