asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now received a report from his representative observer at the Fishing Ports and Port Markets Conference held in Bremen from 23rd to 28th September; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I understand that the conference produced a useful exchange of ideas and information on a wide range of topics affecting fishing harbours. These included the special problems of small ports, the planning of ports and facilities for inshore fishermen and the need for changes in traditional methods to improve the handling and marketing of fish. The conference invited F.A.O. to set up small working groups to receive papers on research into small ports and on planning and other aspects of fishing ports.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission on the causes of depopulation in Scotland.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy in regard to feu duties.

For the present I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 16th October to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).—[Vol. 770, c. 143–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for reforming the rating system; and if he will make a statement.

Possible new or improved methods of financing local services will be considered in the light of what emerges from the Royal Commission on Local Government. We have already introduced the rate rebate scheme and the preferential rate for householders.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what power station in Scotland generates the cheapest electricity per unit; and what is the fuel used.

The power stations forming the Lanarkshire Hydro Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what power station in Scotland generates the most expensive electricity per unit; and what is the fuel used.

The gas turbine station Townhill "B" at Dunfermline, using distillate gas oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers of Russian are presently in secondary schools; if he is satisfied that the teaching of Russian in their curriculum will not be impaired as a result of recent reforms; and if he will make a statement.

In 1967, the latest year for which figures are available, there were in Scottish secondary schools 121 teachers qualified to teach Russian.For the remainder of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 29th November last year.—[Vol. 755, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet received the Report of the Electoral Boundaries Commission; and what proposals he has to make in this matter.

I have not yet received the report of the Boundary Commission for Scotland. The Commission has until August, 1969 to submit it to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money was owing to farmers in Scotland on 15th September, 1968 in respect of cereal deficiency payments for the 1967 crop.

Final payments cannot be made until the last of the crop has been disposed of. At 15th September just over £2 million remained to be paid.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the acreage of potatoes in Scotland still to be lifted; what representations he has received about the need for extra labour for lifting the crop; and if he will make a statement.

In the main potato growing areas over half the acreage has now been lifted. The Scottish National Farmers' Union has expressed its concern at the lateness of the harvest. The Scottish Potato Trade Executive has represented that children be granted exemptions from school in certain areas, but this has not been possible since 1962. I am keeping in daily touch with the harvesting position as it develops.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications lie has received from water boards in Scotland for borrowing powers to finance the purchase of premises; and what sums of money are involved.

I have considered requests from six regional water boards for authority to invest a total of £542,500 in acquiring or building headquarters premises, and have approved proposals estimated to cost £294,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce legislation to control the ownership of land in Scotland used as deer forests.

None. Machinery already exists in various forms to deal with land use and related questions in the highlands and islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the future of the peat industry in Scotland.

The Macaulay Institute for Soil Research is continuing its surveys of peat resources, and with the Forestry Commission, is pursuing the development of forestry on peat soil. The Highlands and Islands Development Board, in whose area a substantial part of the Scottish peat deposits is located, is examining possibilities of further use of peat for industrial and agricultural purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what facilities exist for the payment of rent by corporation tenants at local post offices.

The Post Office Giro now provides an additional means by which tenants can be given the opportunity to pay their rents and I hope that all local authorities will consider making full use of this new facility.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the 199,000 houses completed in Great Britain in the first six months of 1968 and of the 187,000 houses completed in the first six months of 1967 were Scottish houses.

9·3 per cent. in each year. Details are given in the Housing Return for Scotland at 30th June, 1968, published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much money is expended in Scotland to teach children and adults to swim; how many swimming baths there are in Scotland; if he will break down the total number into counties; and how many paid full-time and part-time teachers of swimming, respectively, are in public employment in each county of Scotland.

It is not possible to isolate expenditure on swimming instruction from expenditure on education and recreation generally, and separate details of the numbers of persons engaged in giving swimming instruction are not collected.The table below gives details by counties of the 76 public indoor swimming baths known to my Department and of the 41 indoor baths completed in schools since January, 1963. A further 33 school baths are at an advanced stage of planning or are under construction. Figures for outdoor public baths and for older baths it schools are not available.

	Indoor Swimming Baths in Schools completed since January, 1963	Public Indoor Swimming Baths
CITIES
Aberdeen	1	2
Dundee	2	3	(in 1 establishment)
Edinburgh	4	6
Glasgow	13	23	(in 17 establishments)
COUNTIES
Aberdeen	1	2
Angus	—	2
Argyll	—	1
Ayr	—	1
Banff	—	—
Berwick	—	—
Bute	—	1
Caithness	1	1
Clackmannan	—	2
Dumfries	—	1
Dunbarton	3	3
East Lothian	—	—
Fife	4	1
Inverness	1	1
Kincardine	—	—
Kirkcudbright	—	—
Lanark	—	10
Midlothian	4	1
Moray and Nairn	1	2
Orkney	—	—
Peebles	—	1
Perth and Kinross	1	2
Renfrew	1	6	(3 baths in one establishment at Paisley)
Ross and Cromarty	—	—
Roxburgh	—	2
Selkirk	—	1
Stirling	1	1
Sutherland	—	—
West Lothian	2	1
Wigtown	1	—
Zetland	—	—
Total	41	76

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up a general inquiry into the present condition of Scotland's rivers and the amount of work remaining to be done to restore their wholesomeness.

This was begun by the Scottish River Purification Advisory Committee some time ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants have been made on the recommendations of the Historic Buildings Council towards the cost of repairs to buildings or bridges in each county in Scotland during each of the last five years.

I would refer the hon. Member to the comprehensive information about these grants in Scotland contained in the annual reports of the Historic Buildings Council for Scotland, which are presented to Parliament in accordance with the provisions of the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act, 1953. The report for 1967–68 will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the price of hill lambs in the store market; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he is satisfied with the present level of return for producers of store stock; and if he will make a statement.

Prices realised so far at this year's autumn sales in Scottish store markets have been considerably above those in recent years for all classes of stock. For hill lambs the general level of increase compared with last year was about 20 per cent. during August and September, while for uncrossed cast ewes and weaned calves the increase was about 25 per cent. These figures reflect a more confident store trade which should result in an improvement in producers' returns.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the level of returns in the fishing industry; and if he will make a statement.

With the subsidies we are providing I think the returns to the industry should be generally satisfactory. I have nothing to add to the statement about the Government support for the industry by my hon. and right hon. Friends on 15th May and 8th July and in the debate on fish subsidies on 24th July.—[Vol. 764, c. 1311–16; Vol. 788, c. 54–60; Vol. 769, c. 495–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish Professor Gaskin's study of North-East Scotland commissioned by him.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 16th October to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes).—[Vol. 770, c. 137.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers have not registered with the General Teaching Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers have and have not registered with the General Teaching Council.

I understand from the General Teaching Council that 45,406 teachers have registered. As regards the number who have not yet registered, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given to the hon. Member for Ayr (Mr. Younger) on 21st October.—[Vol. 770, c. 216–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crimes of violence were committed in Scotland during the latest convenient 12-month period; and what was the comparable figure a year previously.

On the basis of the uncorrected monthly returns by the police of crimes made known it is estimated that the number of crimes of violence in Scotland in the year ending 30th June, 1968, was a little under 3,600; in the year ending 30th June, 1967, about 3,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many prisoners were detained in Scotland at the latest convenient date; and what was the comparable figure a year previously.

On 8th October last there were 2,982 persons in prison in Scotland and 1,601 inmates in penal establishments for persons under 21. On 10th October, 1967, the figures were 2,816 and 1,315.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many recruits have joined the police forces since 1st January, 1968; how many have left; what are the latest strength and establishment; and what were were the comparable figures a year previously.

Up to 30th September, 718 police officers were recruited to Scottish forces and 625 officers left. The total strength at that date was 10,340 and the authorised establishment 11,186.During the same period in 1967, 642 police officers were recruited and 602 officers left. The total strength at 30th September, 1967, was 10,232 and the authorised establishment 11,201.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will publish his proposals for the reorganisation of the National Health Service in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Pollok (Mr. Wright) on 16th October.—[Vol 770, c. 139.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what modifications he has made to the prescription procedure in order to assist people living in rural areas.

None. But if the hon. Gentleman has any evidence of special difficulty, I shall be glad to to look at it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has held since July with local authorities about the need for voluntary amalgamation for the discharge of the duties to be laid on them by the Social Work (Scotland Act.

The possibility of local authorities combining for the purposes of the Social Work (Scotland) Act, 1968 was one of the subjects which officials of my Department discussed with representatives of the local authority associations on 18th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will update the forecast for private manufacturing investment in Scotland in the period up to 1970 contained in the Scottish Plan.

No forecast of the amount of private manufacturing investment in Scotland in the period up to 1970 was made in the White Paper on the Scottish Economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a progress report on the work of the Working Group on Emigration.

The Working Group on Population is meeting regularly and has assembled from many sources a good deal of material, which is now being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on the Report of the Hunter Committee.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave today to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) and my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Government's proposed action concerning the Halliday Report on Conveyancing.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in implementing the Central Border Plan; and if he will make a statement.

I now have detailed comments on the consultants' report from the Borders Economic Consultative Group and all local authorities in the area except Roxburgh County Council. I expect to receive the County Council's views shortly and will then be able to decide how action can best proceed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to bring into effect the provisions of section 15 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968 which empowers local authorities to supply contraceptive advice and appliances on social grounds.

My right hon. Friend is not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average agricultural wage for men over 21 years of age in the county of Midlothian.

It is not possible to state the average earnings of agricultural workers in individual counties. For Scotland as a whole the average weekly earnings, including allowances in kind and overtime, for male full-time workers over 20 years in the year April to March 1967–68 were £14 18s. 6d.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take to facilitate the improvement of the air services between the United Kingdom and Libya.

The airlines operating this route are free to meet and develop the demand for their services. I understand that from April next year B.O.A.C. intend to offer four services a week instead of the present two.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how he made the official calculation that the standard of living improved through a rise from 40 per cent. to 44 per cent. between 1966 and 1967 in the ownership of cars, in view of the fall in the production of motor vehicles, private and commercial, from 2,256,000 to 2,093,000 in the same period, as set out in the official publication, Britain in Figures.

The figures 40 and 44 per cent. relate to 1965 and 1966, not 1966 and 1967. They come from the annual Family Expenditure Surveys conducted by the Government Social Survey. A rise in the proportion of households owning cars is not inconsistent with a fall in the output of vehicles.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has, arising from the findings of the inquiry into the destruction of the British European Airways Comet over the Mediterranean in October, 1967, for the improved safety of passengers; and if he will make a statement.

I am following up the recommendations both for a feasibility study of the methods of detecting explosive devices and for the development of means to facilitate the location and recovery of the flight data recorder when an aircraft crashes into water. In both cases there are difficult technical problems which will take some time to investigate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to ensure that all planes used for package deal holiday trips are fully maintained, inspected, not overworked and controlled for this purpose by a total number of flying hours or a maximum number of years in service.

All aircraft used for public transport are required to be maintained in accordance with maintenance schedules approved by the Air Registration Board. These require inspection, maintenance and overhaul after specified intervals of flying and calendar time. No ultimate life for an aircraft is specified by the Air Registration Board, but they have a procedure under which safe "lives" are established for critical parts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what sum the British National Export Council estimates it will save in the current and in future financial years by the recently announced cuts in financial help to trade missions abroad.

About £25,000 during the current financial year. This, however, is on a rising estimated total expenditure for this purpose. No precise estimate of saving in future years can be made at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the progress made by the Committee which is reviewing the organisation and structure of the United Kingdom shipping industry.

This inquiry is a major undertaking but the Committee are anxious to complete their report by the end of next summer.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the cost to public funds resulting from the boycott and subsequent cancellation of a British Week in Basle as the result of a protest against British arms supply to Lagos; and what action he is taking to obtain full information about Press demands for similar action in Germany, Holland and Belgium.

The estimated cost to public funds will be about £3,500. No British Weeks are impending in Germany, Holland and Belgium.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what means are being used to encourage the export of horticultural and allied products.

The Government's Export Services are fully available to exporters of horticultural and allied products. For instance, in recent years we have supported a number of joint ventures organised by the Federation of Horticultural Exporters at overseas trade fairs.

asked the President of i he Board of Trade whether he has now considered the possibility of referring the increases in the price of toilet requisites to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and what decision he has reached.

I have not yet decided to make a reference on toilet requisites.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he proposes to publish the monthly visible trade figures for a period longer than the previous five months, consistent with the published quarterly figures.

An extensive run of back figures is already published in the Report on Overseas Trade, the Monthly Digest of Statistics and in Economic Trends.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on how many days there are now flights from Prestwick to London; and if he will issue a general direction to the British Overseas Airways Corporation and British European Airways to improve the service.

There are now normally passenger flights on five days a week, and eight cargo flights per week. The frequency of all services is a matter for the commercial judgment of the airlines concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the value and numbers of Japanese motor cars imported so far this year; and what are the comparative value and numbers for 1966 and 1967.

Japanese motor cars imported up to the end of August of this year numbered 4,240, valued at £1,485,012. Figures for the corresponding period in 1966 were 1,209 cars valued at £458,544 and in 1967 1,063 cars valued at £405,905.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the rates of pay of cleaning and catering staffs at all British airports.

I can only answer for the staff directly employed at Board of Trade airports and by the British Airports Authority. Cleaning services at most of these airports and all catering services at them are provided by contractors. At Stansted and Prestwick, the British Airports Authority employ staff for cleaning public areas at a basic weekly rate of £15 1s. At the Board of Trade's aerodromes at Belfast, Cardiff, Hum and Edinburgh part-time cleaners are employed at the following basic hourly rates:

	s.	d.
Charge hand	4	8
Leading hand	4	7
Cleaner	4	5

asked the President of the Board of Trade why under the prices and incomes policy, landing fees at airports run by the Board of Trade and the British Airports Authority are higher than those chargeable by municipal airports.

The recent increases in landing fees at Heathrow and Board of Trade aerodromes and in navigation service charges at those aerodromes where the National Air Traffic Control Service provide this service apply to international services only. They were imposed following devaluation to maintain our earnings of foreign exchange and being international in character were regarded as within prices and incomes policy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he can now state when radar will be installed at Turnhouse Airport; and when a new runway will be provided there.

It is estimated that the radar will be in operation by the summer of 1970. I am not yet in a position to say when a new runway will be provided.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the rate of unemployment in the Mexborough and District Employment Exchange area is now about twice the national average; and if he will make a statement on his plans to find work for these unemployed people.

I am aware that unemployment in the Mexborough-Goldthorpe area is substantially above the average for Great Britain. In this area and in other parts of the coalfield which have similar problems, we follow a liberal policy on industrial development certificates. Several new developments in the area, which have still to be completed, will provide additional employment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of private manufacturing investment in Scotland qualifying for investment grants in the latest period of 12 months for which statistics are available; and what is his estimate of the value of private manufacturing investment in Scotland which would have qualified on the same criteria for investment grants in 1964, both at 1964 prices.

Investment by manufacturing establishments in Scotland in 1966 on which grant has been paid by 31st March, 1968, was £83 million at 1964 prices. I cannot say what investment during 1964 would have attracted grant; but total manufacturing investment in plant and machinery in Scotland in 1964 was about 30 per cent. lower than in 1966.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he still intends to end the temporary increase in investment grants at the end of the year.

Yes. As I made clear on 22nd July, 1968, the rates of investment grant will revert to 40 per cent.—20 per cent. on 1st January, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will consider installing a computer which is faster than the present Meteorological Office computer.

Yes. Specifications for a much more powerful computer for the Meteorological Office are being prepared in consultation with industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is now in a position to make a statement on the future of the Royal Naval Air Station at Brawdy, Pembrokeshire.

Until decisions have been taken on the future support ashore for the Fleet Air Arm in the 1970s I cannot comment on the future of the Royal Naval Air Station at Brawdy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware that English newspapers cost Service personnel in British Army of the Rhine approximately four times the market price in in England; that The Times and the Financial Times cost 60 pfennigs, the Daily Telegraph, Daily Mail, Daily Express, Daily Mirror and Daily Sketch 50 pfennigs, and The Guardian 45 pfennigs; and if he will provide Service transport to enable English newspapers to reach them at prices bearing reasonable relationship to the market price in England, plus transport costs.

The prices which the hon. Gentleman is quoting are those charged by voluntary organisations under arrangements made with the Newspaper Proprietors Association. They are in fact 2½ rather than 4 times those charged in this country, and they involve the Association in a considerable loss. The prices of these newspapers are taken into account in fixing the Local Overseas Allowance. In addition there is a Concessionary Newspaper Scheme subsidised from public funds, under which units overseas are entitled to purchase newspapers on the scale of one per five persons at current United Kingdom prices.In these circumstances the answer to the last part of the question must be "no".

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates the total expenditure on H.M.S. "Resolution" will be up to 30th October.

About £58 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total strength of the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve II in officers and other ranks, respectively, for each month since April, 1967.

The information requested is as follows:

	Officers Total	Other Ranks Total
1967:
April	3,375	32,825
May	3,548	33,674
June	3,679	34,064
July	3,693	34,050
August	3,674	34,027
September	3,681	34,007
October	3,671	33,896
November	3,665	33,620
December	3,650	33,327
1968:
January	3,637	32,953
February	3,620	32,688
March	3,580	32,455
April	3,545	32,225
May	3,517	32,128
June	3,504	32,304
July	3,473	31,983
August	3,491	32,164

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the fact that the economy of Nepal depends to a large extent on the money earned by the Gurkhas, what compensation and pensions will be given to them following the future cuts in their numbers.

As announced by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 16th January, 1968, the Brigade of Gurkhas will be reduced to total strength of 6,000 men by the end of 1971. Individual Gurkhas released or discharged are being compensated in accordance with the redundancy terms, agreed with the Government of Nepal, which have been placed in the House of Commons Library. Pensions will continue to be paid at pre-devaluation levels in Nepalese rupees.—[Vol. 756, c. 1583.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the present strength of the Russian fleets in the Mediterranean and in the Persian Gulf; and what is the present strength of the fleets of the Western Alliance in those two seas.

Our latest information on Russian Naval deployments is that they have in the Mediterranean:

• 3 Cruisers, including the Helicopter Cruiser "Moskva".
• 7 Destroyers/Escorts.
• 6 Minor anti-submarine escorts and minesweepers.
• 4 Amphibious ships of 900 tons.
• 6 Survey ships.
• 4 Depot and support ships.
• About 5 intelligence collecting trawlers.
• About 8 submarines including probably 1 nuclear.
• In the Persian Gulf: nil.

I cannot reveal information about the deployments of Allied ships.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he authorised the publication of the British Defence Equipment Catalogue by a privately-owned publishing firm; whether the official letter reference MD/HDS/11/13 over the name of Major-General Hall of the Office of Defence Sales was drafted by that officer; what steps he has taken to ensure that details of classified defence equipment are not supplied to the publishers concerned without vetting by his Department; and whether he will make a statement.

The object of the British Defence Equipment Catalogue will be to assist in promoting the export of defence equipment by making available at no cost to public funds a catalogue of unclassified items of equipment which British firms have available for sale. All entries in this catalogue will be subject to approval by my Department from the security aspect. Any sales will be subject to approval by the Government.All official letters from the Ministry of Defence have the authority of the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is now the weekly expenditure at the Polaris submarine base and missile depot at Faslane.

About £150,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what expenditure has been incurred on the Polaris submarine base and missile depot, respectively, up to 30th October; and how much further capital expenditure is to be incurred there.

Date	Vessel			Offence
	1964
1st August, 1964	Louisson Nonry (BR 7475)	…	…	Crabbing inside limits.
13th August, 1964	Ginette (AU 2496)	…	…	Crabbing inside limits.
29th October, 1964	Etoile D'Arvor (AU 2409)	…	…	Crabbing inside limits.
2nd November, 1964	Emigrant (CM 2898)	…	…	Crabbing inside limits.
	— (CN 2525)	…	…	Scalloping inside limits.
3rd November, 1964	Ginovanne (L 4788)	…	…	Illegal fishing. Warned—not charged.
2nd December, 1964	Francoise Marie (D 1473)	…	…	Illegal fishing. Warned—not charged.
	Montcauvaire (D 1599)	…	…	Illegal fishing. Warned—not charged.
1965
7th May, 1965	— (MX 4017)	…	…	Illegal fishing.
14th May, 1965	Mariel Yvonne (Z 463)	…	…	Illegal fishing.
	Roger Denise (O 31)	…	…	Illegal fishing.
	Hendriker Judith (O 180)	…	…	Illegal fishing.
	Angelus (Z 542)	…	…	Illegal fishing.
20th May, 1965	Antinea (EL 5443)	…	…	Illegal fishing.
22nd May, 1965	Anglus(O 542)	…	…	Illegal fishing.
4th June, 1965	Baoul Annette (CN 1904)	…	…	Illegal fishing.
	Jolie Mouette (CN 1934)	…	…	Illegal fishing.
7th June, 1965	Brigitte (CN 2558)	…	…	Illegal fishing.
	Germain Gabrielle (CN 2170)	…	…	Illegal fishing.

Expenditures to date at Faslane and Coulport are about £28 million and £11 million respectively. Balances to be spent are about £7 million at Faslane and £1 million at Coulport.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the cost during each of the last five years of the Fisheries Patrol Squadrons in the North Sea and the names, nature and offences of all of the incidents in which they were involved for the protection of British fishing fleets.

The six coastal minesweepers of the Fishery Protection Squadron which provide the main naval Fishery Protection effort in the North Sea, are not permanently allocated to any specific area or fishing fleet: they are available for duty anywhere around the coast of the United Kingdom. Their running and maintenance costs are between £700,000 and £800,000 a year.No detailed records of incidents before the introduction of the 1964 Limits Act are available. Since then, there have been 80 incidents leading to 76 arrests in Home Waters, of which about one-third relate to the North Sea/East Coast/ Thames Estuary areas.Details of incidents involving the Fishery Protection Squadron in Home Waters since 1964 are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he now estimates will be the total expenditure on the Polaris submarine programme; and what will be the annual cost of the four submarines when the programme is completed.

The capital cost is estimated at £350 million; and the annual running cost about £22·5 million.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will authorise a new survey of the traffic problems across the River Trent Bridge at Keadby; and, since the bridge was recently working single-line, causing a three-mile traffic hold-up, if he will now take steps to build a new bridge.

A traffic survey was carried out this summer. Plans under consideration for dealing with this problem include the provision of a new bridge at Keadby.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the bad placing of derestriction signs by some local authorities, he will take steps to set up a national survey in the interests of road safety, with a view to ensuring a check on the inadequate siting of such signs.

The Green Paper on speed limit policy recently published by the Department proposes a regular review of speed limits by local authorities, which would include the location of signs. We are now consulting representative organisations upon this suggestion as part of our general discussions on the Green Paper.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has for making a dual carriageway on the A5 trunk road through the village of Grendon.

None. The expense would not at present be justified in view of the relief to be expected from completion of the M6-M1 link.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what is the speed limit for heavy vehicles and articulated vehicles on roads and motorways; and why cars towing caravans are restricted to 40 miles per hour on the motorways;(2) what speed is permitted on motorways for vehicles towing another vehicle.

On general purpose roads various limits apply to heavy vehicles according to their type and equipment. The main limits are:

Heavy goods vehicles (including articulated vehicles)	40 m.p.h.
Public service vehicles	50 m.p.h.
Other large passenger vehicles	40 m.p.h.
Engineering plant	12 m.p.h.
Locomotives	20 m.p.h.
Tractors	30 m.p.h.
(Lower limits apply when trailers are drawn)

On motorways the only speed limits, apart from the general 70 m.p.h. limit, are on certain vehicle/trailer combinations ("trailer" being defined as any vehicle drawn by a motor vehicle) viz.:

Public service vehicles drawing a trailer	50 m.p.h.
Any other vehicle dawing a trailer with less than 4 wheels or with 4 close-coupled wheels (not being an articulated vehicle)	40 m.p.h.

The last mentioned limit, which applies to most types of car-drawn caravan, was imposed because of the risk of instability at high speed, particularly when the combination of vehicles is not well matched.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give his estimate of central Government expenditure on motorways and dual carriageways, respectively, in England from 1967 to 1970.

A detailed breakdown cannot readily be provided. However, between 1967–68 and 1970–71 central Government expenditure on new and improved motorways and trunk roads in England is planned to exceed £600 million. All the motorways and most of the trunk roads will be dual carriageways.

asked the Minister of Transport what financial help for road development is available to the Northumberland County Council during the years 1967–68, and 1968–69, and what proportion of such funds is allocated to the area of South-East Northumberland, and the Ashington, Newbiggin-by-the-Sea Urban District Council.

The information is as follows: —

	Ministry funds committed in 1967–68	Ministry funds committed or expected to be committed in 1968–69
	£'000	£'000
Northumberland County Council:
(a) Trunk Roads	6,389	696
(b) Principal road improvement grants	2,755	5,615
(c) Local Employment Act grants	5	31
(d) 100 per cent, grants under special winter programme	1,600	*
South-East Northumberland:
(a) Principal road improvement grants	2,520	5,310
(b) 100 per cent, grants under special winter programme	395	*
Ashington U.D.C.:
(a) Principal road improvement grants	6	17
(b) 100 per cent, grants under special winter programme	88	*
New biggin-by-the-Sea U.D.C.:
100 per cent, grants under special winter programme	14	*
* Allocation not yet determined.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will examine urgently the need for financial help to enable the Ashington Urban District Council to proceed with its road development problem, in view of the prevalence of 10 per cent. unemployed in the area.

Consideration is being given to the possible allocation to the Ashington Urban District Council of part of the sum authorised by the Government on road works to create additional employment during the winter months in the Northern Development Area.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will make a statement on his decision regarding the future of the Whitland-Pembroke Dock line.

As the hon. Member was informed earlier this year, this closure proposal is one on which a decision has been deferred pending examination of the case for a social grant under the provisions of the Transport Bill. We expect to make an announcement about services which are being considered for social grant payment before the end of the year.

asked the Minister of Transport what estimate he has made, in considering the application for closure of the line now before him, of the volume of freight that will be carried annually on the Waverley railway line following the implementation of the Transport Bill.

The closure proposal made by the Railways Board, to which my right hon. Friend announced his consent on 15th July, 1968, was for the withdrawal of passenger services. It is, statutorily, for the Railways Board to decide on the future of freight services on this line, but in reaching a decision my right hon. Friend did not, of course, disregard the extent of this freight traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to issue temporary documents for display by those persons who have lost their excise licence and applied for replacement, pending the provision of a new licence.

There would be no advantage in time between the two necessary issuing processes. No action would be taken for non-display of a licence in these circumstances if there were evidence that a licence had originally been issued and was still current.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to bring under the compulsory supervision of the Inspectorate of Weights and Measures tyre pressure gauges in garages.

I have no powers of compulsion and am not planning to seek them. My policy is to encourage more weights and measures authorities to adopt systems of checking tyre pressure gauges on a voluntary basis as is already done by many of them.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware that during 1966–67 the Post Office sent out 18·7 million sound and television licence reminders at an estimated cost of £350,000 and received revenue of £65 million; and, in view of the fact that motor vehicle licences vary from 3½ to 60 times the cost of radio and television licences, if he will consider introducing a similar system of issuing road fund licence reminders.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bothwell (Mr. James Hamilton) on 26th March, 1968. The two situations are quite different. A vehicle excise licence has to be displayed and relates to a specific vehicle which can change hands quite frequently. A radio or television licence is not required to be displayed, and authorises the holder to operate equipment which may be changed without affecting the licence. —[Vol. 76, c. 247.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he will arrange for a survey to be carried out to ascertain the number of people wishing to use canoes on the rivers of this country who are debarred from doing so by the action of landowners or other organisations.

No. But if my hon. Friend would care to write to me, explanning more specifically the problem he has in mind and how he thinks I might assist, I will look into it.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of accidents occur during the hours of darkness to vehicles allowed to park in side roads without lights.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will seek to alter existing legislation regarding concessionary fares for retirement pensioners so that pensioners on retirement, 65 years of age for men and 60 years of age for women, can receive such concessionary fares as of right.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply of 5th July to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris). —[Vol. 767, c. 281.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he can now make a statement on progress in the Anglo-French talks on the financing of the Channel Tunnel.

The French Minister of Transport and I have completed our consideration of proposals for financing and arranging the construction of the Channel Tunnel submitted by three competing private groups earlier this year.We have noted with satisfaction the considerable progress made towards defining the technical and financial terms for a jointly acceptable solution: we are also agreed that certain aspects of all the proposals need further improvement and that we should not be justified at this stage in narrowing the field for further negotiations to any one group of the three.We have therefore established jointly-agreed guidelines for the use of the groups, who are being invited in the light of this further guidance to supplement their earlier proposals or, should any of them prefer to do so, to combine for the presentation of fresh proposals.We are confident that this final stage of talks will reach a successful conclusion leading rapidly to the choice of a private group to carry out further studies required for final assessment of the project and, given favourable results, to arrange for the Tunnel to be constructed.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will announce his plans for the public ownership of the docks; and what steps he has for forms of democratic management of them.

As I stated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newport (Mr. Roy Hughes) on 21st October, I will make a statement on Port reorganisation as soon as possible. —[Vol. 770, c. 223–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cheese-makers in the South-West have had to cease production of British cheeses, and why.

At the request of the Cheddar and Caerphilly Farmhouse Cheesemakers Federation, production of West Country cheeses has been interrupted at 40 farmhouse dairies in order to keep production in line with sales. Sales are running at about last year's level, while the quantity of milk from the farms concerned has increased.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what success he has had in limiting the import of near butters in the current quota year to 9,000 tons in accordance with the agreement reached with New Zealand butter suppliers; what is the present stockpile of near butters; and if he will make a statement.