asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps are being taken to implement the recommendation of the Gittins Report on Primary Education in Wales that religious instruction and the act of worship should no longer be compulsory in maintained schools.

I have already made it clear that so long as I am Secretary of State for Education and Science there will be no change in the statutory requirement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will circularise local education authorities drawing attention to the need to observe the provisions of the Education Act 1944 regarding religious instruction and the act of worship which are being widely disregarded in schools throughout the country.

No. It has not been represented to me that these provisions are being disregarded.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will publish a White Paper setting out the Government's policy on the Report of the Public Schools Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to implement the proposals put forward by the Commission on the Public Schools; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding public schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he intends to take steps to increase the number of State-financed children at public schools, following the Report of the Public Schools Commission.

The Government are still studying the recommendations in the First Report of the Public Schools Commission, and I hope to make a statement before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the first report of the Public Schools Commission.

I refer the hon. Member to my Answer on this subject during Question Time today.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will state his policy in regard to the future integration of handicapped children, especially the blind, with normal schools.

It is my policy that no handicapped pupils should be sent to a special school who can be satisfactorily educated in an ordinary school. So far as blind children are concerned, there are practical difficulties about integration. The Committee which was mentioned in the answer to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill) on 17th October will, no doubt, be considering this question among others.—[Vol. 770. c. 563–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made in the development of polytechnics.

Twenty-three polytechnic schemes have so far been submitted. We have told the local education authorities concerned with 21 of the proposed polytechnics that subject to the amendment of their proposals on certain points we shall be prepared to designate polytechnics in their areas when the governing body and the director are ready to assume operational responsibility for the polytechnic. The other two are being referred back to the authorities concerned for reconsideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the levies raised by industrial training boards have been used to finance training in colleges of further education.

Where colleges of further education provide training of a kind for which industry is normally responsible, they are advised to charge an economic fee for the service. The fee is payable by the trainees' employers, who may in appropriate cases claim grant from their industrial training boards in respect of the expenditure. I regret that I cannot estimate the total amount paid to colleges in fees for training courses of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much school building costs have risen since cost limits were last raised in July, 1966.

The average cost per place of new primary schools has risen by under 3 per cent. That of new secondary schools is substantially unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in its review of university teachers' salaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive from the National Board for Prices and Incomes the report on the pay of university teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware of the concern at the delay in dealing with the salary claim of university teachers, referred by his predecessor to the National Board for Prices and Incomes in October, 1967; and if he will request an early report from the Board.

I expect to receive the Board's first report before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the additional number of teachers required for the raising of the school-leaving age in 1972–73.

About 20,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that awards are made to enable students to take up post-graduate courses in town planning.

Both the Social Science Research Council, which makes awards for higher degree courses, and the local education authorities are aware of the need to support courses in planning within the resources available; 43 awards for higher degree courses have been made by the S.S.R.C. this year, compared to a total of 35 similar awards from all sources last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further steps he is taking to increase the supply of graduate science and mathematics teachers in the schools.

An advertising campaign aimed specially at graduates in science and mathematics will shortly be launched. In addition, as well as taking the other measures set out in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 13th June last, my Department is collaborating with university appointments boards and faculties of science in arranging a series of discussions with students about current developments and prospects in science and mathematics teaching.—[Vol. 766, c. 58.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what plans he is now making to expand nursery education in areas of special need.

The Urban Aid Programme will enable 23 local education authorities and 11 Inner London boroughs to extend nursery provision in areas where it is most needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether a decision has yet been taken regarding the proposal made to him by the Society of Mentally Handicapped Children that an experimental college for teachers of severely subnormal children be established under his Department.

Any proposal requiring my right hon. Friend's approval would need to be considered after the announcement of a decision on departmental responsibility for the education and training of mentally handicapped children.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what expenditure on schools is planned in each of the five development areas as a part of the £10 million programme to create additional employment during the winter.

So far as England and Wales are concerned £300,000 in Wales and from £400,000 to £500,000 in the Northern Region of England.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to encourage the use of audio-visual aids and programmed learning in schools.

Her Majesty's Inspectors and my Department advise the schools and encourage and assist the provision of publications and courses for teachers. Financial support is given to research and development and to bodies like the National Council for Educational Technology, the Educational Foundation for Visual Aids and the National Centre for Programmed Learning.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the current shortage of teachers in maintained primary and secondary schools.

About 40,000 more teachers would be needed to enable the schools to reach the pupil-teacher ratios postulated in the Ninth Report of the National Advisory Council for the Training and Supply of Teachers. These are 26·3:1 in primary schools, 16·3:1 in the first five years of secondary schools and 10·6:1 in the upper forms of secondary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what conclusions he has reached on the number of additional medical school places required in the light of the Royal Commission on Medical Education.

None. These recommendations are still being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to reopen negotiations for British participation in the 300 GeV accelerator at C.E.R.N.

None. The situation has not changed since the United Kingdom delegate made his statement to the C.E.R.N. Council meeting on 20th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that the children from the Swinton Fitzwilliam junior mixed school have to walk approximately 500 yards, each way, through a busy thoroughfare, for their midday meal; and if he will now give a date when the new school will be built and be ready for occupation.

Physical conditions at the school are not ideal, and I am aware of the parents' anxieties. I cannot say when it will be possible to include a new school in the building programme. There are many other urgent claims on our resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that the requirement of all existing British universities for teaching staff can be filled by persons suitable for such appointments; and if he will make a statement.

I have no reason to think that in general universities are unable to recruit adequate numbers of suitable academic staff. It is important that the selection of staff shall be left to the universities who appoint them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what proportion he has reduced this year the school building programme proposed by the Buckinghamshire County Council; and what is the comparable proportionate reduction for England and Wales as a whole.

I have authorised the Buckinghamshire authority to start just over 50 per cent. in value of the major school building projects which they submitted for the revised programme for 1968–69. The comparable percentage for England and Wales is about the same.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what records he keeps of the use of corporal punishment in all types of schools for which he is responsible.

None. A punishment book must be kept in every maintained school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what help is made available to Her Majesty's Government for British persons with scientific or educational qualifications who, having emigrated to other countries, now wish to return to Great Britain.

Her Majesty's Government sponsor four schemes for helping qualified British scientists and technologists abroad, to return to the United Kingdom:

• (Under these schemes assistance from public funds may be given towards the return fare of the candidates and/or his family).

• (Under these schemes any assistance towards the return fare is a matter for negotiation between employer and employee).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement concerning progress to date for additional inspection facilities of private independent fee-paying schools; and what staff he now employs as augmented, for that purpose.

The advisory inspections of boarding independent schools which are not recognised as efficient began this month; 29 members of H.M. Inspectorate are giving part of their time to this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the arrangements now existing for the supervision of school meals; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Wokingham (Mr. van Straubenzee) on 17th October.—[Vol 770, c. 153.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he will make arrangements for representation on governing and managing bodies of secondary and primary schools for parents of children attending the schools.

No. But I will consider whether any fresh guidance needs to be given to the bodies responsible for appointing managers and governors of schools in the light of the reports of the Research Unit of the University of London Institute of Education which has been examining the functions of managing and governing bodies, and of the Royal Commission on Local Government, both of which should be available early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress made in research directed towards the conquest of lung cancer; and how much money has been earmarked for this purpose.

Work in this field is continuing in Medical Research Council establishments, university departments, hospitals and other centres as part of a wide programme of research on the whole problem of cancer. The results are published in the medical and scientific journals.No specific sum is earmarked for this research and it is not possible to provide an estimate of total expenditure, but during the year 1967–68 estimated expenditure by the Council on cancer research as a whole was £1·433 million. In addition much fundamental research is in progress which may prove to have an important bearing on this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to amend the provisions of the Education Act, 1944, dealing with school transport.

No. I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 25th July, 1968, to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Rutland and Stamford (Mr. Kenneth Lewis).—[Vol. 769, c. 969–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the progress made in the establishment of the Open University, and on the date on which it is now expected to commence operations.

The Open University Planning Committee is due to report before the end of November. The Vice-Chancellor has been appointed, and other senior appointments have been made. It is expected that the Charter will be granted next spring; and preparations are going ahead on the basis that students will be enrolled in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether it was with his authority that one of the Ministers of State in his Department gave official information on 2nd October to the Vice-Chairman of the Kingston-upon-Thames Labour Party about the Government's intentions in respect of legislation to override the views of local authorities in respect of the matter of secondary education.

Nothing was said to the resident of Kingston-upon-Thames which was not clearly indicated in my right hon. Friend's speech to the Labour Party Conference on Wednesday, 2nd October.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now make a statement of Government policy regarding the moratorium on university building announced in the University Grants Committee letter to vice-chancellors in August, 1968.

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to my Answers today to the hon. Members for Wokingham (Mr. van Straubenzee), Cambridge (Mr. Lane) and North Fylde (Mr. Clegg) on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hostel places are available for the housing of children reaching school leaving age who have previously been in care and are unable to return to their own homes.

It is the local authority's duty to retain such a child in care until the age of eighteen if his welfare requires it. In England and Wales the available facilities include about 1,100 places in local authority hostels and about 350 in voluntary establishments: this accommodation has other uses and is only one of the ways in which authorities meet the needs of school leavers in care.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date he expects to receive the report of the Home Office Departmental Committee on Death Certification.

Some time next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of recent events at Leicester prison, he will now announce his plans for the detention of dangerous long-term prisoners.

As I announced in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, North (Mr. Moyle) on 25th July, I have decided to accept the recommendation of the Advisory Council on the Penal System that high security risk prisoners serving long sentences should be dispersed among selected prisons. Following is a statement about the staged implementation of this policy:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners detained in Her Majesty's prisons applied for transfer to a prison nearer to the family home in 1965, 1966 and 1967, respectively; and how many were transferred.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the latest available immigration and emigration figures.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the immigration and emigration of Commonwealth citizens, including citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies. The latest available figures are for the first six months of 1968. The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent his policy for civil defence is still based on the assumption that the international situation has improved sufficiently for civil defence to be placed on a care and maintenance basis.

The decision last January to place civil defence on a care and maintenance basis was taken in the light of economic and international circumstances, and these are kept under review. The capacity exists to raise the level of civil defence preparations should this appear necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why civil defence equipment for the Birmingham area has been removed to Stoke-on-Trent and Honeybourne.

The vehicles and equipment have been recalled as a result of the decision to disband the Civil Defence Corps. The Home Office Stores at Honeybourne and Meir were the most suitable reception centres for this purpose. Stocks of equipment that Birmingham might need in an emergency are already held at Nuneaton.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he sanctioned the release on parole of a prisoner, before his sentence had been served for killing a man, who immediately on release murdered his own wife and another man and then committed suicide, and who was known to the police as dangerous and violent, details of which case have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Louth; and if he will end this new parole scheme, in view of the danger that it may result in other murders.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to a Question by the right hon. Member for Stafford and Stone (Mr. Hugh Fraser) on 17th October. I have no plans to recommend to the House that the parole scheme should be ended.—[Vol. 770, c. 568–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Hertfordshire on the issue of bugging devices to No. 5 Regional Crime Squad.

I am informed that no such devices have been issued to No. 5 Regional Crime Squad.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been denied entry into the United Kingdom on the grounds that they are Scientologists; and under what powers the immigration officers acted in refusing entry.

No one has been refused admission on the sole ground that he was a scientologist; but since 25th July 104 foreign nationals intending to study at scientology establishments have been refused leave to land under the Aliens Order, 1953.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he is aware of the effect of the operation of the 1968 Amendment Order to the Firemen's Pension Scheme Order, 1966, which prevents an enhanced pension being paid to a fireman's widow, even though he lost his life while on duty and trying to save the lives of other people; and what action he proposes to take to deal with the problem;(2) what representations he has received regarding the operation of the 1968 Amendment Order to the Firemen's Pension Scheme Order, 1966, following the death of a Bolton fireman while trying to rescue three young children trapped in a gas filled cavity at Brackley Colliery near Bolton in April, 1968; and what reply he has sent.

Under the Firemen's Pension Scheme, the widow of a fireman who dies as the result of an injury on duty is entitled to a special pension, which is, being paid in the case referred to. Under the Amendment Order, the special pension may be augmented and a gratuity paid where a fireman dies as the result of an injury received in attempting to save life while on fire-fighting duties. I should see great difficulty in widening the scope of the existing provisions, but my right hon. Friend is considering representations from the Fire Brigades Union and the Association of Municipal Corporations arising from the distressing case in Bolton.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what he estimates the average additions to the electorate will be, on votes being given at 18 years of age, for constituencies of 20,000, 50,000, 90,000 and 110,000 current electorates.

Rather more than 6 per cent. In the first year only there would be a further addition of about 2 per cent. representing those who, under the present law, reach the age of 21 too late during the currency of the register for inclusion in it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the cost to public funds of the introduction of a revised electoral register form, Form A; and why it was necessary to introduce this reform this year.

The supply for the first time of envelopes to conform with the Post Office Preferred range, which was to have been introduced this year, cost £28,000 in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) by what authority members of the Metropolitan Police are allowed to use their private cars, unlicensed and untaxed, to undertake journeys on the public highways, without wearing uniform, and to carry out private journeys; and what action he intends to take to investigate the case reported to the Wood Green Police Station on Thursday, 3rd October, 1968;(2) why, in view of the oral and written report made to the police at Wood Green Station on Thursday, 3rd October of a policeman using his private car for private purposes on the public highway without a current road fund licence and additional correspondence to the Chief Superintendent of Wood Green Station, the complaint had not by Thursday, 17th October received any information of intended action.

The Commissioner of Police informs me that immediate enquiry was made into my hon. Friend's complaints and that a letter was sent to him on 21st October. The Commissioner has not purported to authorise police officers to use unlicensed private vehicles on the highway. I see no grounds for any further action on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what dates this year Senor Antonio Arguedas visited the United Kingdom; what information he gave on arrival to immigration or airport officials; if he made any facilities available for the interview with Senor Arguedas by officials of a foreign intelligence agency; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date Senor Oscar Pizarro Barrios was allowed to enter Great Britain earlier this year; where he stayed; and when he left.

Senor Arguedas arrived at Gatwick Airport on 27th July. He sought permission to stay here for a few days at a London hotel. He was accompanied by Senor Barrios. Senor Barrios left the United Kingdom on 28th July, and Senor Arguedas on 2nd August. Senor Arguedas was free during his stay here to go where he wished and to communicate with whom he pleased. Facilities were provided for him to see the Bolivian Ambassador and the Cuban Ambassador.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, on what date Senor Antonio Arguedas, the former Bolivian Minister of the Interior, was allowed to enter Great Britain earlier this year; where is stayed; and when he left.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave today to his earlier Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date Senor Nicolas Leondiras was allowed to enter Great Britain earlier this year; where he stayed; and when he left.

Mr. Leondiras arrived on 27th July and left on 2nd August. He gave his address as a London hotel.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet reached any conclusion about the use of post-nominal letters in respect of old awards of the King's Police Medal when awarded for gallantry.

I hope to be able to write to the hon. and learned Member within 14 days.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how Mohamed Tasnim and Zulfiquar Ali obtained permits to enter Great Britain in March 1968 when the former stated that he was a property owner and the latter that he traded as a walnut seller.

Mohamed Tasnim and Zulfiquar Ali, who were described in their passports as businessmen, were admitted to the United Kingdom as visitors. They had not applied for entry certificates, but each was examined by an immigration officer on arrival and found to be admissible for a visit. They were subsequently involved in criminal charges connected with the importation of cannabis. As a result Mohamed Tasnim was sentenced to two years' imprisonment and recommended for deportation, and Zulfiquar Ali was acquitted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reason the chairman of the proposed new Gaming Board has been appointed before the enactment of the new gaming legislation; and whether, before appointing the remaining members of this Board, he will consider the desirability of consulting interested organisations, particularly in the entertainment and tourist industries.

Sir Stanley Raymond has been designated, but not yet appointed, as Chairman of the Gaming Board to be constituted when the Gaming Bill becomes law. This is so that he may familiarise himself with the duties he will shortly be assuming. I do not consider it appropriate to consult interested organisations about the appointment of the remaining members of this independent Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions the Krogers have met since the Blake escape; on how many occasions the meeting has taken place at the same prison; and what has been the greatest number of consecutive meetings at the same place.

They have met seven times at three different places. Consecutive meetings have once been at the same place.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men, women, girls and boys were reported officially missing in England and Wales in 1966 and 1967; and how many have been traced.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis main-

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether local authorities are to be assisted with the provision of play groups under the urban development grant.

This is one of the matters to be considered when the Urban Programme is discussed with the local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why it was necessary to have a large number of police in attendance to arrest and take to Marylebone Police Station John Lennon and Yoko Ono Cox on Friday, 18th October; how many police were so engaged; what is their total wage and salary bill per week or per annum; and why two dogs were used for this arrest, in addition to the police.

I understand that four policemen and one policewoman attended the premises to execute a search warrant, that number being considered advisable in the light of the information then before the police. Two dogs specially trained to detect cannabis were brought later by their handlers and helped to search the premises. The weekly wages of the seven officers amount to £178 14s. 7d.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he expects to receive a report from the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation on the structure of the fishing industry.

I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friend's reply of 14th October to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson).—[Vol. 770, c. 45.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he will publish the feasibility report on the development of Humberside; and if he will make a statement.

I shall be considering the question of publication in consultation with my colleagues. I hope to be in a position to make a statement shortly.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what extent the Second Commonwealth Medical Conference held in Kampala, Uganda, reached conclusions that affect the forward planning of his Department; and if he will make a statement.

The Conference was primarily a review conference to survey the progress of schemes for co-operation announced at the First Commonwealth Medical Conference at Edinburgh in 1965. The forward plans of my Department in this field are fully consonant with the conclusions of the Conference.I am arranging for the Stationery Office to print the Report of the Proceedings of the Conference, and a copy will be placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development, in view of the fact that the economy of Nepal has been fortified by the earnings of the Gurkhas, what plans he has for economic aid to help Nepal when cuts are made in the future of the number of Gurkhas serving with Her Majesty's forces.

As I said in my reply of 20th June to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker), we are about to undertake a major road project in Nepal. This with other projects, including special training for ex-Gurkhas, will raise the level of British aid to Nepal to over a million pounds a year during the next four years, or about four times higher than at present.—[Vol. 766, c. 174.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what estimate he has made of the decline in value of overseas colonial service pensions as the result of devaluation.

With the exception of certain Ceylon pensions under discussion with the Ceylon Government, no overseas colonial service pension has declined in sterling value as a result of the devaluation of sterling or other currencies.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement about pensions payable to officials previously in the employment of the Government of the People's Republic of Southern Yemen or its predecessors.

In the negotiations in Geneva in November, 1967, relating to Independence for South Arabia (Cmnd. 3504), agreement was reached, amongst other things, on the provision of aid by the British Government to the Peoples Republic of Southern Yemen for an interim period of six months ending 31st May, 1968, on the understanding that the Southern Yemen Government would continue to discharge certain financial commitments, including the payment of public service retiring benefits to expatriate officers.It was also agreed that after independence there would be further negotiations on the provision of aid and on public service liabilities. During these subsequent negotiations it had been hoped to reach an agreement with the Southern Yemen Government, similar to that contained in the Public Officers' Agreements concluded with other countries on their achieving Independence, by which the Southern Yemen Government would guarantee to safeguard the security of pensions and other retiring benefits.Both parties honoured the agreement for the interim period but, as my hon. Friend the then Under Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs informed the House on 13th May, 1968, no agreement was reached relating to the period after 31st May. The Southern Yemen Government subsequently informed us in August that it was their intention not to pay any further terminal benefits due after 31st May. Her Majesty's Government very much regretted this decision by the Southern Yemen Government.Without in any way regarding the Southern Yemen Government as being relieved of their responsibilities in this matter, Her Majesty's Government decided that they should take steps to ensure that expatriate pensioners should receive their proper dues without interruption. I therefore arranged for the payment to them of ex-gratia loan advances equivalent to the amounts which should have been paid by the Southern Yemen Government. These loan advances—which will be recoverable from the pensioners only if and when the Southern Yemen Government resume their responsibilities retrospectively—have been paid only to expatriate pensioners and not to pensioners previously of South Arabian status who must look to the Southern Yemen Government for redress.I estimate that the net cost of paying these loan advances in the current financial year will be about £240,000 and a Supplementary Estimate will be presented in due course. Meanwhile advances are being sought as necessary from the Civil Contingencies Fund.—[Vol. 764, c. 182–3.]

asked the Postmaster General, whether he will issue instructions to all post offices with a view to ensuring that, as soon as first class mail has been sorted, as much second class mail as possible will then be sorted immediately with a view to its delivery as quickly as possible.

We aim to sort second class mail immediately after first class mail wherever staff are available; but we must take care that it is not dispatched or delivered in a manner likely to jeopardise the service for first class letters or cause unnecessary expense.

asked the Postmaster General why he gave instructions that 4d. letters should be left behind in local post offices rather than be delivered on the first round; and, in view of the concern throughout the country at the inefficient way letters are delivered, what steps he is taking to improve the service.

The instruction to which the hon. Gentleman refers applied only to locally posted second class letters, which were excluded from first delivery at the outset to help safeguard delivery times for first class letters. We are now relaxing this as the new service settles down.

asked the Postmaster General whether he will publish the specific instructions which have been given to Post Office sorting offices resulting in delays to letters bearing 4d. stamps; and whether, in view of the fact that the delays imposed cause dis-organisation in certain offices and that the delays imposed are greater than necessary, he will revise his instructions at an early date.

Our operating instructions which are lengthy and complex have been under continuous review since the service started and have been revised where necessary. I do not think any useful purpose would be served by publishing them.As things have progressed we have been able to improve the service given to some second class mail.

asked the Postmaster General whether he will investigate delays in second-class mail in the Manchester area; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. There were some delays to second-class mail in the early stages of the new letter service; but as we gain experience we are adjusting working arrangements at Manchester to maintain service objectives.

asked the Postmaster-General what representations he has now received in favour of abandoning the two-tier system of mail.

Comparatively few. Most representations urge us to improve it rather than abandon it.

asked the Postmaster-General how much overtime has been worked by Post Office employees in the fortnight following the introduction of the two-tier postal service compared with the corresponding fortnight of 1967.

I cannot, without considerable cost, give the information in the precise form requested but overtime in September, 1968 was about 3 per cent. greater than in September, 1967.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what study he has made of the hardship caused to users within the United Kingdom, excluding the mainland of Great Britain, by the adoption of the two-tier letter posting system; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he will authorise the reintroduction of air transportation for all mail to Northern Ireland.

Because of the distance and sea journey the service for second-class mail between the mainland and Northern Ireland is not as good as that given for second-class correspondence generally. I am reviewing the mail services to see whether the cost of air conveyance can be justified for some second-class letters, but I must remind the hon. Gentleman that not all letter mail was conveyed by air to Northern Ireland before 16th September.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the fact that in smaller towns without a railway the postmaster sorts and puts 5d. letters in ordinary sacks and 4d. letters in sacks marked with green stripes and that the sacks with green markings are deliberately left in the nearest railway sorting office until next day; and if he will take steps to end this practice and the delay caused thereby to 4d. letters.

The instructions are that first class letters are given priority at all stages. Second class mail is scheduled for a slower service, designed to minimise handling costs, and may be held for sorting or dispatch on the following day. I see no reason to change this

asked the Post master-General by what authority he has instructed Post Office officials to disregard Section 68 of the Post Office Act. 1953, and other relevant enactments, by deferring second-class mail while attempting to interpret and carry out instructions which they have received on the new two-tier system for letters.

The instructions to Post Office officials on the handling of second class letters are issued under the authority of the Inland Post Regulations, 1968, which are made under powers conferred by the Post Office Act, 1953.By Section 58 of the Act (which is, I think, the Section to which the hon Member intends to refer), it is an offence for an officer of the Post Office, "contrary to his duty", wilfully to detain or delay a postal packet in course of transmission by post. An offence is not committed in carrying out instructions.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of the first-class mail is represented by postages from Government and local government sources respectively.

About 10 per cent. from Government Departments. I am sorry, but figures in respect of local government sources are not available.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that since the introduction of the two tier postal service General Post Office stall have to leave 4d. letters in the sorting office which are available for delivery, take and deliver the 5d. mail, and on return work at overtime rates to come out again to deliver the 4d. mail which was ready for earlier delivery; and whether he wil stop this practice.

The position in the country generally is that many second class letters have been included in the first delivery since the new service began. We are adjusting the loads on the two deliveries and reducing our costs by including more second class letters in the first delivery where this does not prejudice the speedy delivery of first class letters.The delivery arrangements in the London sub-districts, which my hon Friend may have in mind, have always been somewhat different from the national pattern; the position there is under current discussion with the Union of Post Office Workers.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there is no post office available for the residents of the Offerton Neighbourhood Unit; and if he will ensure that there is a post office or sub-post office immediately established in order to cater for this community.

I am reviewing the position to see whether there have been material changes in the circumstances since I replied to my hon. Friend's Question on 25th April. I will write to him as soon as possible.—[Vol. 763, c. 68.]

asked the Postmaster-General why, in a pamphlet entitled The Intelligent Businessman's Guide to making the most of the Post, published by the Post Office, it is stated that if cheques are sent through the post they must be sent by registered post.

The reference ought to have been specifically to uncrossed cheques as these should be sent by registered post. Crossed cheques may certainly be sent by ordinary post and I regret that this error was made in the pamphlet. It is no longer being issued.

asked the Postmaster-General why a letter posted in Ventnor, Isle of Wight, on 18th September by second class mail to a constituent of the hon. Member for Blaydon, details of which have been sent to him, did not arrive until 24th September.

The letter should have been delivered on 20th September and I am sorry it was mishandled in one of the offices through which it passed.

asked the Postmaster-General why official paid envelopes containing miners' redundancy compensation payments are taking five days by post from Sheffield.

Although posted at the second class rate they should nevertheless be delivered within two days of posting. If my hon. Friend will let me have the envelopes of any which take longer I shall be pleased to look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General why official paid envelopes from the Ministry of Social Security offices in Blaydon take two days to reach Ryton, three miles away.

Provided they are marked "First Class", these letters should normally be delivered the next weekday after posting. If my hon. Friend has evidence of any specific cases of delay I shall be glad to look into them.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the fact that there is to be a commemoration ceremony in London on 5th May, 1969, for the twentieth anniversary of the founding of the Council of Europe, whether he will issue a stamp for this occasion and also allow use of a special Council of Europe postmark.

We announced on 5th August that we shall be including a stamp in our April, 1969, "Anniver- saries" series to mark the 10th anniversary of the Conference of European Postal and Telecommunications Administration (C.E.P.T.). Although our programme does not permit us to issue this stamp on 5th May, it will bear the common "Europa" design which is being issued by all other countries concerned and is intended to celebrate the founding of the Council of Europe as well as C.E.P.T.There will be a special "First Day of Issue" postmark for the Anniversaries series of stamps and we should certainly be prepared to authorise in addition a special Council of Europe postmark.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will introduce legislation to allow private enterprise to provide local collection and delivery of mail and to end the statutory monopoly now enjoyed by the General Post Office.

No. The Post Office has a statutory duty to provide a nationwide letter service. It would not, therefore, be reasonable to allow other carriers to collect, convey, and deliver local letters, the most profitable traffic, leaving the Post Office to carry unprofitable letters over long distances and to remote places. The Post Office has no monopoly for the collection and delivery of parcels.

asked the Postmaster-General why payments to premium bond winners are to be sent by first-class mail.

Premium Savings Bond prizes for amounts down to £50 are sent by first class mail because we think they should have urgent treatment. Winning numbers for these prizes are given to the Press and a prizewinner may be waiting to hear from us. £25 prizes, which account for 92 per cent. by number of all prizes, are not published in the Press and can therefore be sent by second class mail.

asked the Postmaster-General by what authority servants employed by the Post Office are permitted to hold up and delay mail sent to Members of Parliament by constituents and their Members' replies; and whether he will cause an investigation to be made into the effect of this change on the normally accepted practice in operation for many years of expediting the delivery of mail to and from Members of Parliament.

The instructions to Post Office officials on the handling of second class letters are issued under the authority of the Inland Post Regulations, 1968, which are made under powers conferred by the Post Office Act, 1953.By Section 58 of the Act it is an offence for an officer of the Post Office, "contrary to his duty", wilfully to detain or delay a postal packet in course of transmission by post. An offence is not committed in carrying out instructions. There has been no change in the arrangements for frequent collection and delivery of Members' mail at the House.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that retirement pensioners, the sick, disabled and others suffering hardships who often have to write to Members are unable to afford the 25 per cent. increase in the postal charge to ensure first-class mail service; and whether he will take steps to assist these types of persons to ensure that mail to Members shall receive the first-class service.

Apart from any question of principle, such a concession would in practice be virtually impossible to operate.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give an assurance that mail posted by Members of Parliament in the Members' post office bearing a 4d. stamp is not, as with the general mail, held up for collection and delivery, and that all efforts are made to deliver this mail as expeditiously as possible and with the same speed as that operating prior to the introduction of the two-tier system.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to his Question on 21st October.—[Vol. 770, c. 220–21.]

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that there are no public telephones in the Offerton Neighbourhood Unit, Stockport; and whether he will ensure that at least three public telephones are provided for this community of a few thousand people.

There is already one kiosk, at Wessenden Bank on the estate. There is another at the junction of Marple Road and Lisburne Lane within 700 yards of the premises now occupied in the Offerton Neighbourhood Unit. We are planning to put another kiosk on the estate in the vicinity of Mallowdale Road and Half Moon Lane.

asked the Postmaster-General why he originally stopped the practice of using the telephone account envelope for payment of the account; when he restored the practice and why; and if he will make a statement.

The practice was discontinued because the introduction of machines for sorting letters made it impracticable to re-use an envelope once it had been through the post. However, as my predecessor said in answer to the hon. and learned Member for Buckinghamshire, South (Mr. Ronald Bell) on 30th May, we were reconsidering policy on free postage on telephone bills. I restored free postage to all our customers in October, although not necessarily by re-using the account envelope.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps are being taken to improve the trunk telephone service between Sunderland and the London area.

We have taken action in recent months to improve the trunk service between Sunderland and London. Also, plans have been made to expand the system in the early months of 1969. We are keeping a close watch to ensure that satisfactory service is maintained.

and the Postmaster-General what is the average delay experienced by telephone users in the Sunderland area when contacting the continental switchboard in London.

I am sorry, but this information is not available in this form. However, we know from checks we make from time to time that at certain times especially in the busy morning period the delay exceeds the standard which we aim to achieve. This is because of a temporary shortage of switchboards in London. We have extra switchboards on order.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now propose that there should be a meeting, as previously planned, of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation powers and the Warsaw Pact members to discuss troop reductions in Western Germany and Central Europe.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commmonwealth Affairs how many Africans are at present under sentence of death in Rhodesia; and what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to deter the illegal régime from carrying out these sentences.

I have been asked to reply.There are 108 persons under sentence of death in Rhodesia. Any executions carried out at present would, of course, be illegal. We have made our position on this clear on many occasions and those concerned are aware of the grave responsibility which would rest upon them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that on Tuesday, 15th October, when a vote on the Common Market at the Western Union European Assembly was due to be taken, a quorum was not present and that many Members of Parliament from the Government side of the United Kingdom delegation were absent; on what basis expenses are paid to delegates who do not attend; and whether he will require British delegates to attend the Assembly before they claim expenses.

I am aware that there was not a quorum of the Assembly of Western European Union when the vote on the Common Market debate was called on Tuesday, 15th October. But, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in reply to my hon. Friend on 22nd October, the British delegation had full representation on that occasion. The Assembly procedure provides that either delegates or substitutes with full voting and speaking rights may attend debates.The amount of expenses paid to delegates is based on the number of days they are present at the Assembly session as a whole and not on attendance at specific debates. Delegates who are unable to attend the Assembly do not receive expenses.—[Vol. 770, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give details of the expenses claimed by delegates appointed to attend the Western European Assembly on Tuesday, 15th October; and how many of those who claimed expenses were not present when the vote was called on that date on the Common Market debate.

Delegates attending the Western European Union Assembly at Paris from 14th to 18th October were provided with travelling expenses, hotel accommodation and subsistence at approved rates. As my hon. Friend, the then Under-Secretary, told my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) on 31st May, it is not the practice to publish attendance figures for an all-party Parliamentary Delegation of this kind.—[Vol. 765, c. 297.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give, for the latest convenient stated period of time, the amount of expenses claimed and paid to delegates attending the Council of Europe and Western European Union; and how this system of claiming and drawing expenses operates.

In the financial year 1967–68 the total expenditure in connection with the Assemblies and Committees of the Council of Europe and the Western European Union was £16,937 and £11,088 respectively.Delegates receive fares and travelling expenses and on arrival at Strasbourg or Paris are paid subsistence payments at approved daily rates for the period of their presence there on official duty. The cost of their overnight accommodation is also paid on the same basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of the talks recently held with representatives of Anguilla and St. Kitts.

In response to an invitation from Her Majesty's Government, talks were held at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office from 14th-23rd October under my Chairmanship with delegations from the Government of the Associated State of St. Kitts/Nevis/Anguilla and from the Anguillans, headed respectively by the State Premier, Mr. Bradshaw, and by Mr. Webster.The object of these discussions was to consider whether agreement could be reached between the two sides on the arrangements which might follow the expiry of the interim solution of the St. Kitts/Anguilla dispute which had been negotiated through the good offices of my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Chapman) and the hon. Member for Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) at the end of last year. Under the terms of this agreement, which are set out in the statement by my right hon. Friend the then Commonwealth Secretary on 30th January, 1968, the services of the senior British official made available by Her Majesty's Government at the request of both sides, are due to terminate in January next year unless otherwise mutually agreed. It therefore seemed essential for Her Majesty's Government to use their good offices to explore with the parties concerned in advance of that date whether there was now a possibility of both sides agreeing to a lasting settlement and, if not, what might be done to prevent further aggravation of the dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will announce the names of those Members of Parliament who are attending the 23rd General Assembly of the United Nations.

I am glad to announce that Lady Gaitskell is leading for us again in the Third (Social) Committee and that Mr. Evan Luard is doing so for the second year in the Fourth Committee, which deals with colonial and trusteeship questions.The following Members of Parliament will leave next week to visit the General Assembly for two weeks during the Session as members of a Parliamentary Group:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in settling the debt of United States $14,300 which is owed to the United Nations Development Programme by Southern Rhodesia in respect of local living costs of experts who served there in 1964 and 1965; and whether he will make a statement.

The sum in question is owed by Southern Rhodesia in respect of local living costs of experts who served there in 1964 and 1965 under the Technical Assistance component (formerly the Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance—E.P.T.A.) of the United Nations Development Programme.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of the lack of proper statistics relating to the export of calves; and, in view of the concern of the public and of farmers regarding this trade, if he will introduce

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the total area of industrial development certificate approvals in 1966, 1967 and in 1968 to date.

The information is given in the following table:

Yes. Arrangements have already been made to introduce separate headings for the export of bull calves and of heifer calves. These will appear in the revised Export List which will apply to trade next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what increase in imports of cheese there have been in the last three months.

13 per cent. by weight and 7 per cent. by value in the period June to August, 1968, compared with the same period in 1967.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much cheese was imported in each of the past five years and to the nearest convenient date this year; and what proportion each year was imported from the European Economic Community countries.