asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the growing practice of shirt manufacturers falsely labelling men's shirts as Bri-nylon, pricing them at high prices and then pretending to sell at greatly reduced prices; and whether he will take action to protect the public from these practices.

From 30th November, the Trade Description Act, 1968 will be enforced by local weights and measures authorities. Among other things it prohibits false trade descriptions as to the composition of goods or as to the person by whom the goods were manufactured, and certain false price comparisons. These arrangements should provide valuable protection for the public.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the turnover of the metal scrap industry, inclusive of all recovery, salvage, smelting and remelting operations connected with ferrous and non-ferrous metals; what is the total labour force; and what percentage of this force is involved in manufacture.

The collecting and processing of scrap metal are activities carried on alongside others in a number of industries and separate figures are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will widen the scope of the Board of Trade Quarterly Estimates of the changes in industry's stocks and work in progress to distinguish stocks with a particularly high import content.

The National Institute of Economic and Social Research publish a quarterly series showing the stock change of mainly imported commodities. I do not think that I should be justified in asking the business community to undertake the additional work needed to improve on this series.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of capital investment by manufacturing industry and by the distributive and service industries, respectively, in 1968; and how this compares with the figures for 1966 and 1967.

At constant prices, capital investment by manufacturing industry was 5 per cent. lower in 1967 than in 1966 and little or no change is expected in 1968. In the distributive and service industries there was a 3 per cent. rise between 1966 and 1967 and an increase of about 7 per cent. is expected between 1967 and 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been made to him about a B.B.C.2 television programme on Sweden screened during the period of the British Week in Sweden; and what reply he has sent.

Representations were made by one firm participating in the Week.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assurances the Government have received as to the temporary nature of the import quotas and export aids announced by the French Government at the end of June.

The French authorities have assured us, both bilaterally and in the appropriate international fora, that their import restrictions and export aids announced on 27th June are subject to specified time limits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce the further tariff cuts provided for in the Kennedy Round which are conditional upon the United States Government eliminating the American selling price system of valuation for certain chemicals; and if he will make a statement.

No definite date can be given. The Kennedy Round Supplementary Agreement relating principally to chemicals is due to enter into force on 1st January, 1969, but only if the United States has notified the Director General of G.A.T.T. that the United States has previously enacted legislation eliminating the American Selling Price system of valuation. I understand that the United States Government intends to seek an extension of the time allowed for this action.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications he has received for the making of a preliminary order under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Amendment Act of 1968; when such applications were received; and what decisions he has taken.

Two, each on 14th August. The Board have decided that the conditions for an order have not so far been met in either case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has had about his refusal to make investment grants in respect of plant and machinery for use by firms engaged in the business of recovering and processing non-ferrous scrap metals; and what replies he has sent.

In reply to representations on behalf of the British Secondary Metals Association and of several firms, I have explained that, since the product is still scrap, the processes in question cannot properly be regarded as manufacturing for the purpose of the Industrial Development Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will undertake a re-examination of the work of the Monopolies Commission, with a view to strengthening its powers and enabling it to act more quickly.

I am already engaged on a review of the working of the Monopolies Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about his consultations with the Confederation of British Industries on the special problems of small companies.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied that the present arrangements for assisting smaller industries to develop are adequate; and if he will make a statement.

A paper by the Confederation of British Industries on the problem of the small firm was discussed by the National Economic Development Council last month. We are now considering the points which need to be further studied and the best way of proceeding.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the current level of imports of manufactured and semi-manufactured goods.

Comparing the four months June-September with the four months February-May, imports of semi- and finished manufactures increased in value slightly, in each case by about 1 per cent. In volume terms semi-manufactures were only a little higher despite rising production, while finished goods declined moderately.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will investigate the reasons for the 20 per cent. fall in the dollar value of United Kingdom exports to South Africa during the first eight months of 1968, notwithstanding devaluation, when the dollar value of German exports to South Africa rose by 9 per cent., and of Japanese exports to South Africa by 3 per cent., while the dollar value of United States, Italian and French exports to South Africa declined by 1 per cent., 3 per cent. and 6 per cent. respectively.

The reason for the fall in dollar values, which was 17 per cent. for the first nine months of 1968, is of course mainly the devaluation of sterling in relation to the dollar, combined with some fall in the total of South African imports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the reasons for the recent decline in Anglo-South African trade; and what steps he is taking to reverse this trend.

The fall in our exports this year compared with 1967 is a reflection of lower South African total imports. We are doing everything open to us to encourage and assist exports to the South African market.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he now expects to make a statement on future protection for the jute industry.

I hope before the end of November.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has for a Securities Exchange Commission or Government-sponsored Take-over Panel; and if he will make a statement.

I have discussed developments in the field of take-overs and mergers with the Governor of the Bank of England. The plans for strengthening the City Code and the Panel will be completed in consultation with the Board of Trade. It is hoped to announce them in the near future. I also discussed with the Governor the possible reinforcement of these measures by the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to set up a Securities and Exchange Commission with statutory powers to regulate the whole range of dealings in stocks and shares.

I am in touch with the Governor of the Bank of England on the possibility that the City's arrangements for supervising the conduct of take-overs and mergers may need to be reinforced by the Board of Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the estimated effect on British-Maltese trade on the basis that Malta joins the European Economic Community.

This would depend, among other factors, on the terms of any arrangements negotiated between Malta and the E.E.C.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimates are available of the loss in British exports in 1967 and 1968 to the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other Communist countries due to the operation of the strategic embargo; and if he will now take steps to reduce the lists of goods embargoed with the aim of assisting British computer and other technical equipment manufacturers.

No worth while estimate can be made. The strategic embargo is operated jointly with other Governments and it is certainly my intention to secure any reductions in it which are safe and practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for industrial development certificates he has received from Leicester since October, 1964; and how many he has approved.

From October, 1964 to the end of September this year, 143 applications for industrial development certificates were approved and 27 were refused in the Leicester Local Employment Exchange Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make available further additional incentives to encourage new industry to Sunderland.

No, but the full range of development area incentives is already available in Sunderland and the Board of Trade is making every effort to encourage further industrial expansion there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what consultations he has held with manufacturers of nylon for additional factory expansion in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

The supply position has been regularly discussed with the man-made fibres manufacturers. Production capacity in the case of nylon has been and is being increased, but demand in this and other countries has temporarily outstripped supply with the result that shortages have developed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total financial aid paid this year in grants and inducements to firms in the county of Midlothian; how many were new projects; and what were the additional new jobs involved.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by how much the Overseas Project Group has helped to increase exports through major capital projects; and if he will make a statement.

So far the Group's work has been mainly concerned with assembling comprehensive intelligence about projects overseas, co-ordinating with Government Departments and nationalised industries the effective deployment of their technical experience in this field and following up other proposals in the Cromer Report concerning industry and the consultancy profession. The Group has already been actively concerned in about 40 overseas projects.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to make it illegal to manufacture, or sell, or display carrier bags, advertisements or clothing bearing the design of the Union flag, in order to preserve respect for the flag.

No. This is a matter for individual discretion and good taste. Legislation would not be appropriate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the growth of unemployment in the Fishguard area; and what action he is taking to ensure that new industry is available to meet it.

The full range of development area incentives is available in Fishguard and my Department will extend all possible help to firms interested in locating in the area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade on how many occasions late applications for building grants in development areas under the 1966 Act have been received by his office; and on how many occasions these have been accepted and on how many rejected.

This information is not readily available and could not be extracted without a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what figures for the numbers of new car registrations in recent months he took into account before reaching a decision on the recent hire-purchase restrictions.

Estimate were available of new registrations of cars in the second and third quarters of 1968, which are 217,000 and 262,000 respectively after making allowance for seasonal factors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the publication Economic Trends gives figures for the numbers of new motor car registrations, seasonally adjusted, which are different from those officially issued as the numbers of new cars actually registered in the second and third quarters of 1968.

The seasonally adjusted series of new registrations of cars, published in Economic Trends, is based on the recorded figures of new registrations and is a better indicator of the underlying trend.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, what was the cost of administering the Industrial Development Certificate Scheme in the financial year ending April, 1968, and in all previous years since 1960.

I regret that this information is not available and could not be obtained without an undue expenditure of time and money.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of the country's exports is supplied by the private sector and by the public sector, respectively.

Direct exports of goods and services by the public sector in the period July, 1967, to June, 1968, the latest available period of 12 months, are estimated to account for about 5 per cent. of all exports of goods and services.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number and the average and total cost of investment grants made during the year ended March, 1968, in the North-West and West Midland Regions, respectively, showing the figures for development and non-development areas separately.

Tables 6 and 7 of the Second Annual Report on Investment Grants provide the following information on the total value of grants paid in these regions during the year ended 31st March 1968:

North West	53,849,000
West Midlands	22,807,000
Merseyside Development Area (together with Barrow-in-Furness and Dalton-in-Furness	33,674,000

I regret that further geographical breakdown of these figures could not be provided except at disproportionate cost since it would necessitate a special statistical analysis of thousands of individual claims.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when grants and loans under the new scheme announced in the White Paper, Hotel Development Incentives, will become available.

When Parliament has approved the necessary legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the number and total cost of grants for the year ended March, 1968 paid to the spinning, weaving, dyeing and printing firms in the textile industry in the traditional area of the cotton industry; and if he will publish similar information in respect of firms in development areas outside the traditional area.

Total grants paid to the textile industry in the year ended March, 1968, was £21,842,000. Detailed analysis of this figure could not be provided without disproportionate expenditure of time and money since it would involve special analysis of many hundreds of individual claims.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about the prices of children's clothing and footwear; and what action he plans to take.

Since the end of the Prices Standstill in June, 1967, we have received 50 complaints, all from members of the public. In co-operation with manufacturers of clothing and footwear, the Board of Trade keep a constant watch on factors affecting manufacturers' costs and on the movement of prices. We have no evidence of unjustified price increases; but shall continue to watch the situation closely.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many companies have re-registered as unlimited companies since the introduction of the Companies Act, 1967.

1,780.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what study he has made of the factors underlying the increase in British exports of pesticides to the United States of America from 1·091 million United States dollars in 1964, to 1.095 million United States dollars in 1965 to 1·815 million United States dollars in 1966 to 2·606 million United States dollars in 1967; and if he will make a statement.

United Kingdom exports of pesticides and related products, including disinfectant, rose from £388,613 in 1964 to £944,839 in 1967. Most of this rise has been achieved by increased shipments of bipyridyl herbicides developed in the United Kingdom. These offer substantial advantages over herbicides previously available and their success overseas is much to be welcomed.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give full details of the equations his statisticians have calculated relating imports to income levels and economic activity generally, indicating the period for which they were calculated and the data on which they were based, the regression co-efficients obtained and the relevant standard errors, together with the forecasting errors obtained when applying these equations to quarterly data over the past four years.

No, but I am considering whether an analysis of trends in imports can be published in due course in greater detail than was given in the article on forecasting in Economic Trends in August, 1964.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the latest figures of the turnover of retail trade in £s per head in Wales.

Retail turnover per head of population in Wales in 1966 was £179, excluding mail order trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had during the past six months with the Association of British Travel Agents about developments in regard to Operation Stabilizer and other safeguards for the protection of holiday makers.

The Association is continuing to keep the Board of Trade informed of changes in its rules and Code of Conduct designed to protect and assist the holidaymaker.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps his Department is taking to see that the vacant M.P.J. factory at Bideford is sold so as to help solve the unemployment problem of that area and to safeguard public grants in a development area.

This is a privately-owned factory and its sale is a matter for the owners. The Board's Regional Controller has taken every opportunity of drawing the attention of inquirers to the availability of this factory and will continue to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will make a statement upon the findings of the inquiry into the loss of the three Hull trawlers, "St. Romanus", "Ross Cleveland" and "Kingston Peridot" conducted by Mr. John Naisby;(2) what steps he proposes to take to ensure that owners and builders of trawlers co-operate more fully with his Department in safety measures for the deep sea fishing industry.

I am urgently considering the findings of the Court. Many of the matters referred to were already under consideration before the casualties. Immediately following the casualties I set up the Holland-Martin Committee of Inquiry into Trawler Safety and established an interdepartmental committee to investigate existing and potential fields of research affecting the safety of trawlers. Work has also proceeded nationally and internationally on the safety of fishermen on board trawlers.In order to ascertain how the stability characteristics of existing distant water trawlers measure up to the criteria established in the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation, I have decided to carry out an examination of the stability characteristics of such vessels and preparatory work has already started. The exercise for which Government funds are being provided will involve extensive computer calculations as well as inclining tests.I am also studying the other matters brought out in the Court's Reports. I know that owners and builders will extend their full co-operation in considering the implementation of any further safety measures for trawlers.The findings of the Court have been forwarded to the Holland-Martin Committee of Inquiry, so that the Committee can take the recommendations into account in drawing up their final Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now considering recommending that the city of Plymouth should be included as a development area.

We have no plans at present for designating Plymouth a Development Area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals he has made, or received, to turn Thorne waste, in the West Riding of Yorkshire into an international airport; and if he will make a statement.

We are aware of the recommendations contained in the recent report made to the local authorities and understand that these have been forwarded to the Roskill Commission.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will set up a South-West England Advisory Committee for Civil Aviation.

No. Before considering this, I would want to see what the Edwards Committee recommends.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present average age of the members of the Air Transport Licensing Board.

Sixty-six.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of Section 2 of the Eighth Report of the Air Transport Licensing Board, he will issue a general direction to British European Airways and its nationalised subsidiaries to withdraw from domestic routes as and when independent airlines are prepared to serve them.

No. Nor is the hon. Gentleman's conclusion one I would draw from the Report.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to enable him to exercise greater control over catering and cleaning conditions at all British airports ad ministered by the British Airports Authority.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to impose an ultimate life on passenger-carrying aircraft.

No. The relevant question is not one of age but of airworthiness. A certificate will not be renewed unless the standard of airworthiness is sustained and the system of maintenance required by the Air Registration Board is intended to ensure that it is.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ask the Edwards Committee to investigate the changes in the British United Airways Group and in particular the notification by British United Island Airways to the British Air Line Pilots Association that it is not the intention of the new Company to enter into a collective agreement with the pilots concerned.

As the hon. Gentleman knows, the Edwards Committee is already examining the whole structure of the British civil aviation industry. The differences between the British Airline Pilots Association and British United Island Airways are a separate question, which I am investigating, in conjunction with my right hon. Friend the First Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of rates of pay of all categories of staff employed by cleaning and catering contractors at all British airports under the control of the British Airports Authority.

No, this is a matter between the contractors and their staff.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to enable him to require the British Airports Authority to exercise proper control over catering and cleaning firms who contract with the said Authority, which would ensure that the conditions of those contracts are fulfilled in respect of adequate staff, well cooked food and general conditions of cleaniness at all airports under the control of the British Airports Authority.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to ensure that conditions in the Flight Control Office at London Heathrow Airport are improved for the benefit of staff employed by his Department in this and all other areas of the Airport which are under his direct control.

I know of no particular deficiency in the Flight Clearance Office, which I assume is what the hon. Gentleman has in mind, but full air conditioning is to be installed and a scheme for engineering this is being prepared by the British Airports Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many ships of the Royal Navy have called at South African ports since the Suez Canal was closed to shipping.

Eighty-six.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many airfields remain Royal Air Force property in the British Isles; how many it is planned to close by 1972; how many are in constant use and how many on care and maintenance; and how many have been closed in the past two years.

110 airfields in the British Isles remain R.A.F. property. This figure includes those in use by the United States Air Force and also some which lack full airfield facilities, but which are used as relief landing grounds, or for other special purposes, such as parachute dropping zones.The closure by 1972 has been announced of the following five airfields:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Wessex 5 Fleet Air Arm helicopters have now been modified for flying in cold, damp conditions; how many remain to be modified; and what is the estimated cost of the entire modification programme.

A programme of modifications is in hand which will improve the engine performance of Wessex 5 helicopters in cold damp weather conditions. Sufficient aircraft are being modified to meet operational requirements; so far half the aircraft have received the most important of these modifications and no delays are foreseen in completing the planned programme. The work of incorporating the modifications is being carried out in-Service and the expected cost of the necessary equipment is of the order of £200,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Wessex I and III Fleet Air Arm helicopters have been modified with gearbox containment shields; how many remain to be so fitted in view of the need for this modification arising a year ago; and if he will give an estimate of the cost of completing this modification programme.

Development and testing of the required shield was substantially completed during July, 1968 and a revealed weakness has since been overcome. Production is in hand for all Wessex 1 and 3 helicopters and equipment deliveries will be sufficient by the end of November to fit approximately one-third of the aircraft. The full number of equipments required is expected to be available by March, 1969. Incorporation of the modification is being carried out by the Service as a matter of priority. The expected cost of the equipment is of the order of £60,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Navy officers sought voluntary retirement during the period January-June this year; how many of such applications were accepted; and how these figures compare with those for a similar period in 1967 and 1966.

The figures required are as follows:

			Applications
January-June			Received	Accepted
1968	…	…	157	144
1967	…	…	152	136
1966	…	…	141	130

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the orders for the two new types of missile ships and the new type of frigate mentioned in the 1968–69 Defence Estimates which will be placed during the current financial year.

As announced in the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy 1968 (Cmnd. 3701), orders for a commercially designed frigate and for the first of a new class of destroyer, equipped with SEADART guided missiles, will be placed as soon as the designs are ready. It is expected to order both of these ships during the current financial year. The third ship mentioned in the Statement on the Defence Estimates (Cmnd. 3540), the cruiser, is not yet designed.Estimates of cost are not normally released until completion of the project. Reticence is particularly important at this stage when contract negotiations are taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how much was spent on preparing the carrier H.M.S. "Eagle" to operate the Phantom aircraft during her previous refit; how much work was left outstanding on completion of the refit; and what is the estimate cost of completing the work as originally planned during the ship's current refit.

No work was included in H.M.S. "Eagle's" 1966–67 refit as preparation for the operational use of Phantom aircraft. One small item, costing £750, was undertaken to permit trial launches of a lightly loaded Phantom to gain advance experience before "Ark Royal" is commissioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made in selling the frigate completed earlier this year for Ghana and no longer required by that country; how much of the long-term loan made available to the Ghanaian Government for the purchase of this ship has so far been repaid; what are the estimated monthly maintenance costs of this vessel; and whether these are being met by the Ghanaian Government.

The Ministry of Defence is making strenuous efforts to sell this ship on behalf of the Ghana Government. Pending disposal, arrangements to put the frigate into a state of preservation are being discussed with the Ghana Government, who will bear the cost. Ghana has undertaken to repay the loan in accordance with the Agreement on Medium Term Commercial Debts between Her Majesty's Government and the Republic of Ghana. To date, payments to Her Majesty's Government have been made totalling £179,075.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the circumstances have been agreed in which French forces deployed in Germany would be available to the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe under Article Five of the Revised Brussels Treaty of 1959.

I have been asked to reply.This is a matter for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation authorities who are seized of the question.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what restrictions are still applicable to foreign meat entering this country from South America and elsewhere; what diminution of foreign meat supplies has occurred in the 12 months ended 31st October, 1968; and what further steps of imports' substitution for meat, and other foodstuffs, he plans to implement Government policy and further to assist the United Kingdom trade balances.

All imports of meat are subject to our animal health and public health requirements. Mutton, lamb and pigmeat are not admitted from South America. In the 12 months ended October, 1968, our total imports of carcase meat and offals were some 55,000 tons less than in the previous year.Following the report of the Economic Development Committee for Agriculture, the Government are considering agriculture's contribution to the national economy in the next few years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the serious outbreak of rabies on the Continent, he will review the need for quarantine regulations covering the importation of all domestic animals.

Our import quarantine regulations are kept under constant review in the light of a number of factors, including the incidence of rabies in Europe and elsewhere. We will, of course, continue to ensure that proper safeguards are maintained against the introduction of this disease into Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of the report from the United States Public Health Service showing that skunks, foxes, bats, racoons, bobcats, mongooses, squirrels, opossums, coyotes, woodchucks, mice, ground hogs, wolves, rats, guinea pigs, fishers, ringtail cats and mink are imported carriers of rabies, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will amend the quarantine regulations for the United Kingdom.

We are aware of the report referred to, and are currently considering the possibility of extending our quarantine regulations to include species other than canines and felines which might introduce rabies into this country.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what evidence he has received that domestic animals, including dogs, cats, cattle, horses and mules, swine, goats and sheep are carriers of rabies; and if he will make a statement.

Rabies has been recorded in a number of countries in domestic animals but of these it is only dogs and cats that involve any significant risk of introducing the disease. We have no evidence to suggest that farm animals have been responsible for transmitting rabies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he now expects to lay the new Food Labelling Regulations.

Representations by the interests concerned are now being considered. We cannot yet say when the regulations will be made but it will be as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote the sale of packaged butter in restaurant cars, snack bars and similar establishments.

None. Sales promotion is a matter for the trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to promote research into the production of a safe louping-ill vaccine; and what progress is being made.

I am advised that the Microbiological Research Establishment,

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made in his consultations with overseas suppliers on their exports of Cheddar cheese to the United Kingdom market.

Discussions with our overseas suppliers have been conducted so far on the basis of a proposed period of restraint to 31st March, 1969. I am now intending to lengthen the period to 31st March, 1970 and I am actively pursuing the discussions on this new basis.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will support the adoption by the European Space Conference of a co-ordinated European space programme, including work on application and scientific satellite launches.

The United Kingdom supported the Resolution passed at the European Space Conference in Rome in July, 1967 calling for a coordinated European space policy, and I am hopeful that at its forthcoming meeting the Conference will reach agreement on a programme of space activities suitable to meet European requirements within the resources available.

asked the Minister of Technology what measures have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to co-ordinate the instructions to its delegations in the councils of the European Organisation for Space Research, the European Launcher Development Organisation, the Conference on European Tele communications Satellites and other bodies concerned with European space developments, with a view to the achievement of an integrated and co-ordinated European space programme.

It is the Government's view that responsibility for the various fields of space activity should rest with the Ministers concerned with the related terrestrial activities. There is regular consultation between the Departments concerned to ensure that the United Kingdom's overall policy towards European space activities is a coherent one.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the future of the British contribution to the European Launcher Development Organisation.

I assume that the Question refers to the financial contribution to the European Launcher Development Organisation. As my right hon. Friend told the House on 23rd April, the Government has decided not to undertake any additional financial commitments to the Organisation. We shall, however, meet our present obligations as agreed at the 1966 European Launcher Development Organisation Ministerial Conference.—[Vol. 763, c. 40–47.]

asked the Minister of Technology what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that essential development work carried out by the major European space organisations is not hindered by lack of decision in each of the bodies concerned.

Her Majesty's Government made known to member countries of the major European space organisations its decisions on the main issues involving space development work, in April, 1968, and was the first country to do so.

asked the Minister of Technology what representations have been made to him, and by whom, to

Section		Length (miles)	Proposed starting date	Probable duration of work
Kirkpatrick Fleming to north of Gretna	…	4	Started in March, 1968	2 years
Gretna Bypass	…	2½*	Summer 1969	2 years
Glasgow Boundary to northern end of Hamilton Bypass	…	3	Early 1970s	2½ years
* Includes 1 mile south of the Border to link up with M6.

Some hon. Members and shipbuilders have asked for special assistance for shipyards outside development areas to offset Regional Employment Premium and other benefits available within those areas. We have replied that this request will be reviewed when the Government have received the Report of the Hunt Committee.

asked the Minister of Technology what progress is being made with the merging of the British Aircraft Corporation and Hawker Siddeley; and whether a decision has yet been made on the extent of the Government's minority shareholding.

As my right hon. Friend said in his reply to the hon. Member for Bristol, North-West (Mr. Ellis) on 15th December last, we are not proceeding for the time being with the negotiations to bring about a merger of the two companies concerned.—[Vol. 756, c. 248–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what work has still to be done on the A74 between Mount Vernon and the Border to bring this road up to modern standards, giving details of the actual or proposed starting dates and the approximate period for completion.

Three sections of A74 between Mount Vernon and the Border have still to be modernised. The details are:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, giving the mileage in respect of each, those motorways or lengths of motorways, for which no line had yet been proposed, a draft scheme had been published, a scheme had been made, tenders had been invited, a contract had been placed, which were under construction and which were in use, respectively, on 31st October.

Following is the information:

TRUNK ROAD MOTORWAYS
Line not yet published
M74—DRAFFEN-STONEHOUSE (A74)-GLASGOW
Maryville-Carmyle	2·8
M9—EDINBURGH—STIRLING
Polmont and Falkirk Bypass-Stirling Bypass	6·2
M90—INVERKEITHING-PERTH
Milnathort-Perth Bypass	11·5
	20·5
Draft scheme published
A8(M)—GLASGOW-GREENOCK
Bishopton Bypass Stage II	2·75
Schemes made
M9—EDINBURGH-STIRLING
(a) Newbridge-Polmont and Falkirk Bypass Stage II	10·12
(b) Stirling Bypass Stage I	2·65
(c) Stirling Bypass Stage II	4·08
M90—INVERKEITHING-PERTH
Kinross and Milnathort Bypass	7·96
M73—MARYVILLE (M74)-MOLLINSBURN (A80)	6·3
	31·11
Tenders invited
M8—EDINBURGH-GLASGOW
Newbridge-Dechmont	6·1
Contracts placed
M9—EDINBURGH-STIRLING
Newbridge-Lathallan Stage I	2·29
Under construction
M8—EDINBURGH-GLASGOW
Dechmont-Whitburn	7·55
M90—INVERKEITHING-PERTH
Cowdenbeath and Kelty Bypass Stage II	7·23
A8(M)—GLASGOW-GREENOCK
Bishopton Bypass Stage I	1·25
A898(M)—ERSKINE BRIDGE TRUNK ROAD
Erskine Bridge Link	·63
	16·66

In use
M90—INVERKEITHING-PERTH
Admiralty Road flyover to Duloch	1·9
M8—EDINBURGH-GLASGOW
(a) Harthill Bypass	5·15
(b) West of Harthill-Newhouse	5·15
M74—DRAFFEN-STONEHOUSE (A74)-GLASGOW
(a) Hamilton Bypass Stage I	9·0
(b) Hamilton Bypass Stage II	4·45
A8(M)—GLASGOW-GREENOCK
Renfrew Bypass	6·20
M9—EDINBURGH-STIRLING
Polmont and Falkirk Bypass	5·37
	37·22

LOCAL AUTHORITY MOTORWAYS
Scheme made and confirmed
GLASGOW INNER RING ROAD
Charing Cross Section	…	0·6
Tenders invited
GLASGOW INNER RING ROAD
Woodside Section	…	0·7
Under construction
GLASGOW INNER RING ROAD
Kingston Bridge Section	…	0·8
In use
GLASGOW INNER RING ROAD
Townhead Interchange	…	1·0

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has received to his representations about the Crosskirk Road in Caithness; and if he is satisfied that the steps he has taken will ensure that the road is kept open to vehicular traffic.

The notice prohibiting use of this road by motor vehicles has been removed and there is now nothing to prevent access by vehicular traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the Report of the Cameron Committee on Scottish Inshore Fisheries.

I understand that the Committee hopes to be able to report in the latter half of 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of patients on the present geriatric waiting list for Ayrshire; and how long on an average such patients have to wait for admission.

On 31st October 150 persons were waiting for geriatric beds in Ayrshire. The average waiting time for admission is between one and two months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made by the Working Party on the development of Wick and Thurso, Caithness; if he has received its report; and if he will make a statement.

The Highland Board has sent me the report of its Wick/Thurso Working Party, and has indicated to me the action the Board and the local authorities concerned are taking on it. I understand that the Board intends to publish soon a summary of the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters per day requiring answers are received by the Highlands and Islands Development Board; if he is satisfied that the Board is adequately staffed to handle them; and if he will make a statement.

The Board tells me that on a typical day it receives about 300 incoming letters. I am satisfied it has adequate staff to deal with these.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will introduce legislation to require car manufacturers to use safety-glass, similar to that in vehicle windscreens, in the installation of vehicle mirrors, in order to diminish damage to drivers involved in road accidents.

I do not think that the benefits would justify my right hon. Friend doing so.

asked the Minister of Transport what were the totals of new registrations of motor cars in the second and third quarters of this year, respectively.

264,266 and 240,779.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the number of new registrations of motor cars in September, 1968; and how this compares with the figures for the previous individual months of this year.

73,049 in September. The figures for previous months were as follows:

January	…	…	…	121,983
February	…	…	…	131,424
March	…	…	…	135,812
April	…	…	…	86,452
May	…	…	…	102,329
June	…	…	…	75,485
July	…	…	…	73,605
August	…	…	…	94,125

asked the Minister of Transport what progress he is making in his efforts to ensure the safety of the railway crossing at Marrel, in Helmsdale, Sutherland.

Improvements in safety at this level crossing are primarily for settlement between the Railways Board and local interests. I understand the Railways Board will seek my agreement to re-positioning the crossing at Marrel when the details of the road re-alignment scheme have been decided. Meanwhile, the Board have offered to install a telephone if the county council will pay for it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken to ensure there is adequate land available for industrial use in Sunderland.

44 acres at Penny-well are being acquired for development by the English Industrial Estates Corporation and Sunderland County Borough Council will be developing a 58-acre site at Grangetown.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what plans he has to review the housing cost yardsticks for local authority housebuilding, in view of the increase in housing costs.

A review of the housing cost yardstick is now in progress in consultation with the local authority associations.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is satisfied with the telegram service provided by the Post Office; and if he will make a statement.

On average the Post Office delivers a telegram by hand in about an hour from the time it is handed in, and within half an hour if it is delivered by telephone. The overall standard of the service is good despite the annual £2 million-£3 million loss; but difficulties do occur on Saturdays at certain peak times in the year, mainly due to heavy use of the Greetings Telegram service.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the extent to which it is the practice of the Post Office to accept

	Establishment	Numbers in post	Establishment	Numbers in post	Establishment	Numbers in post
	1.10.65	3.1.66	1.10.66	2.1.67	31.7.68	31.7.68
Telecommunications Traffic grades
Telecommunications Traffic Officers	1,300	1,326	1,445	1,431	1,627	1,605
Telecommunications Traffic Superintendents	1,050	*	1,111	*	1,281	1,240
Senior Telecommunications Superintendents	470	*	508	*	614	583
Chief Telecommunications Superintendents	150	*	158	*	194	186
Principal Telecommunications Superintendents	14	*	11	*	33	42
Controllers	11	*	12	*	Nil	Nil
		*1,727		*1,851
*Note: Only the total number in post can be given for these grades for 3.1.66 and 2.1.67 as detailed figures are not available.

asked the Postmaster-General why the postal address of Token-house Buildings in the City of London has been changed from Lothbury, E.C.2, to King's Arms Yard, Moorgate, E.C.2, thus adding an extra line of three words.

There has been no change: the correct postal address of liability for any loss or damage resulting from the failure of the Post Office to deliver telegrams within the normal time limits; and if he will make a statement.

The Post Office is not legally liable for loss or damage arising from delays to telegrams; but ex gratia payments are made exceptionally, where hardship or distress has been caused, to cover expenses directly incurred as a result of the Department's error. We also waive the telegram charges in appropriate cases.

asked the Postmaster-General what were the establishment and the numbers in post on the 1st January, 1966, 1st January, 1967 and 1st July, 1968 of the following traffic grades employed in the Post Office, namely telecommunications traffic officers, telecommunications traffic superintendents, senior telecommunications superintendents, chief telecommunications superintendents, principal telecommunications superintendents, and controllers.

I regret that figures are not readily available in the precise form or at all the dates specified. Close approximations are as follows:—Tokenhouse Buildings is King's Arms Yard, E.C.2, and has been for many years.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give an assurance that the steps he has taken to stop the practice operating at the Crowle Lincolnshire, post office of emptying 4d. mail from the post box and returning it for re-collection at a later date, have now been generally applied throughout the country, and that no deliberate attempts are being made to delay the 4d. post.

The incident to which my hon. Friend refers was an isolated one and so far as I am aware the former Crowle practice does not apply elsewhere. If my hon. Friend has information to the contrary I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the purpose in sending to the mainland second class mail posted in Arran for delivery in Arran.

No useful purpose was served and the practice was stopped as soon as it came to light.

asked the Postmaster General why the reception of B.B.C. 2 in the Market Harborough area remains ineffective.

Though transmissions of B.B.C.2 from the station at Waltham are receivable in Market Harborough, reception varies for reasons of topography. The B.B.C. tell me, however, that the station at Sandy Heath is due to open next Spring; and that they expect the locality to get satisfactory reception of the B.B.C.2 transmissions from it.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now add to the announcement made on 31st July last, that Sir Robert Bellinger was to become Chairman of a panel of businessmen who would guide and assist a number of inquiries into particular areas of work in the non-industrial Civil Service with a view to finding savings in manpower.

Yes. The panel, whose membership will be varied from time to time, is composed as follows:—

• Sir Robert Bellinger, G.B.E., D.Sc., Kinloch (P.M.) Ltd.
• Mr. G. S. Bishop, C.B., O.B.E., Booker Brothers, McConnell & Co., Ltd.
• Mr. David R. Elder, M.C., C.A., Shell International, Ltd.
• Mr. Bruce W. Goodman, Marks and Spencer, Ltd.
• Mr. G. E. Graham, Unilever, Ltd.
• Mr. S. D. Lyon, Imperial Chemical Industries, Ltd.
• Mr. L. F. Murphy, J. Henry Schroder Wagg & Co., Ltd.
• Mr. A. Wilson Smith, Commercial Union Assurance Co., Ltd.

Each member will undertake at least one review of an area of Civil Service work according to a programme which is under discussion with Government Departments.This panel of senior and experienced businessmen, working with internal management services and where appropriate with management consultants, will play an important part in helping to ensure the most effective use of Civil Service manpower, particularly by questioning the need for tasks to be performed; the Government is grateful to them and to their companies for making their services available.The Staff Side of the Civil Service National Whitley Council has been consulted and discussions about the reviews are proceeding. There will also be consultations with the Staff Sides in Departments affected.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if she will list the specific recommendations of the Fulton Committee which have been accepted, those which have been rejected and those on which discussions are now proceeding.

As my hon. Friend knows, my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced, in his statement on 26th June, the Government's acceptance of three of the main recommendations in the Report—namely, those relating to the setting up of a Civil Service Department (which has happened), the Civil Service College, and the future structure of the Service. Subsequently, on 24th October, in answer to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Dewar), he announced that, in accordance with the recommendation in the Report, inquiries were to be undertaken in the processes used for the selection of administrators entering the Civil Service under Method II, and into ways of speeding up recruitment processes generally.The House will be given a comprehensive review of progress in the course of the debate on the Report, which is likely to take place shortly.—[Vol. 767, c. 454–65.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many graduates applied for places in the professional training courses in departments and colleges of education for the sessions 1967–68 and 1968–69, respectively; and how many such graduates were accepted in each year in university departments of education and in colleges of education, respectively.

According to the Graduate Teacher Training Registry, 5,269 graduates applied for professional training courses, in 1967–68 and did not withdraw. 4,239 graduates were accepted by university departments of education and 983 by colleges of education. The 1968–69 analysis of applications by the Registry is not yet available. Preliminary indications are that about 4,600 graduates have been accepted by university departments of education and about 1,500 by colleges of education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in pursuance of his policy of giving priority to the arts in the regions, he will make available extra money through the Arts Council so that those regions furthest from London receive a remoteness bonus to compensate them for lack of access to national artistic institutions in the Metropolis.