asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of recent experience, he will consider amending the Kenya Asian Im-grants Act.

No. Experience so far does not suggest that amendment of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1968, is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the use of the Aliens Order, 1953 to control the entry of aliens to follow courses at Scientology institutions in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many individual scientologists have been refused admission to this country on his instructions.

No one has been refused admission on the sole ground that he was a scientologist; but since 25th July 113 foreign nationals intending to study at Scientology establishments have been refused leave to land.I would refer my hon. Friends to the statement by my right hon. Friend the then Minister of Health made on 25th July, 1968.—[Vol. 769, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to impose restrictions upon other organisations which divide families in the same way as he has restricted Scientology.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the regulations about the use of children in television advertisements.

My right hon. Friend has today laid before Parliament an Order to bring into operation Part II of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1963, and the Children (Performances) Regulations, 1968. The Act and the Regulations will provide comprehensive safeguards for children who take part in performances of all kinds, including, for the first time, protection for children appearing in television advertisements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the instructions given to the immigration authorities about Rhodesia passports.

Following on the making of the Southern Rhodesia (United Nations Sanctions) (No. 2) Order, 1968, which gives effect to the resolution of the United Nations Security Council, instructions were issued to immigration officers to refuse entry to holders of Southern Rhodesian passports unless there were exceptional humanitarian grounds for granting admission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prospective Commonwealth immigrants have been held in prison, borstals, or detention centres during 1967 and the first nine months of 1968 while inquiries were made about their eligibility for entry.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give a breakdown into categories of the 4,631 men, 2,044 women, and 1,583 children, totalling 8,258, who were admitted from India in the month of September, 1968 under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, and the reasons for their admission.

This information is already available in the monthly return which I place in the Library of the House of Commons. I will, with permission, circulate in the Official Report figures of the separate categories.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to promote the establishment of a National Volunteer Civil Aid Service.

Existing services and volunteer bodies are adequate to cope with peacetime disaster, and I am not satisfied that there is a need for an additional service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions have been instituted under Section 4 of the London Cab Act, 1968.

Six.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps, by legislation or other wise, to prevent the sale of fireworks to the public until 4th November, 1969; and to ban all bonfires next Guy Fawkes night, except those which are organised under conditions acceptable to local authorities.

Any attempt to restrict the sale of fireworks as suggested would be open to a number of objections and I do not think it could do much to reduce accidents as these mostly happen on or just before 5th November. I have no evidence that the suggested control of bonfires could be justified by the risk which they present to life or property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action Her Majesty's Government plan to take against those individuals and organisations who have twice in the last six months staged a riot in Grosvenor Square.

Criminal proceedings have been taken, or are in process of being taken, against persons arrested during demonstrations in Grosvenor Square.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that on all occasion when the Metropolitan Police are required to control public demonstrations adequate canteen facilities are available for their use.

This is a primary consideration when police arrangements are being made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total estimated Government and local authority cost arising out of the London demonstration of 27th October.

I would refer to the Answer I gave earlier today to Questions by the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) and others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many policemen were on duty in connection with the London demonstration of 27th October; how many extra hours duty were served; and what additional payments were made.

2,324 on 26th October, and 9,246 on 27th October. 89,600 extra man-hours were worked. Even if no time is taken off in lieu, the total payments would not exceed £66,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost to public funds of the demonstration in London on 27th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what charge has fallen, under all headings, on public funds in taking precautions which became necessary in connection with the demonstration held in London on 27th October, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what extra charges have fallen on public funds as a result of the demonstrations in London on Sunday 27th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated cost to public funds of the anti-Vietnam war demonstration on Sunday, 27th October.

I would refer to the Answer I gave earlier today to Questions by the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) and others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the extra cost of police protection for property in London due to the Vietnam Protest March on 27th October.

It is not possible to distinguish the cost of protecting property from the cost of other police activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total cost of the police preparations for the demonstration on 27th October, including the cost of bringing in police from outside the Metropolitan area.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to Questions by the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) and others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the behaviour of the demonstrators in Grosvenor Square on 27th October, he will now equip the Metropolitan Police with modern anti- riot equipment, to be used only in case of emergency.

I have no plans to do this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that most local and national government employees and many workers covered by trade union agreements receive double pay and a day off in lieu for overtime worked on a Sunday; and whether he will arrange for a similar form of payment to be made to all police officers and staff on duty on Sunday, 27th October in connection with the London protest demonstration.

Police officers and civilian staff who were prevented from taking rest days schedule for 27th October will be compensated in accordance with their conditions of service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, when the new increased taxi fares come into operation, he will lay down a standard fare from Heathrow Airport to central London in order to stop the present overcharging, especially to foreign visitors.

In the Order introducing the new rates of fare, my right hon. Friend will prescribe rates for all journeys beginning and ending within the Metropolitan and City Police Districts. This will include journeys from Heathrow Airport to any part of London.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will undertake an official national publicity campaign to ensure that all persons qualified to vote are aware of the procedures for electoral registration and their individual rights thereunder.

The Home Office already seeks national publicity each year through the Press, television and sound broadcasting, and postmark slogans, and asks electoral registration officers to seek local publicity. In addition, there is a statutory requirement for public notices to be put up locally.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when is the latest date on which a person qualified to vote may ask for inclusion in the next electoral register; what is the date of publication of the A and B lists; and what is the final date for appeal for inclusion in the register which will be published in February, 1969.

The answers to the first and second parts of the Question are 16th December; and 28th November. The electoral registration officer must complete consideration of any claim before 4th January. Notice of appeal to the county court against his decision must be given within 14 days thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an estimate of the cost of the damage, the number of casualties and the number of persons against whom conviction has been recorded in connection with football matches on Saturday, 26th October, or arising from the activities of persons attending those games, and in connection with Sunday's demonstrations, respectively.

74 police officers and 47 civilians were injured in the demonstrations on 27th October; 42 persons were arrested. I do not have comprehensive information about incidents at football matches on the previous day, but in one disturbance at Derby 19 arrests were made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the amount by which the annual cost to public funds of legal aid, totalling £3,246,343 in 1967–68, is likely to be reduced by contributions recoverable from defendants granted legal aid under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, and of the cost of administering the contributory provisions of the Act.

For 1969–70 legal aid contributions in criminal pro- ceedings have been estimated at approximately £400,000. The cost of administering the contribution scheme cannot at present be estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he now has for implementing the recommendations of the Littlewood Report in respect of experiments on live animals.

I cannot at present say how soon it may be possible to introduce legislation on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspectors are now attached to his Department for the inspection of experiments on living animals.

Ten, including the Chief Inspector.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, (1) whether he will seek powers to ensure that chief constables consult him before ordering supplies of devices containing CS gas;(2) whether he will, after consultation with chief constables, take steps to secure uniformity among police forces in respect of the authority required before devices containing CS gas may be used.

My right hon. Friend is already in close touch with chief officers of police and I am not persuaded of the need for the steps suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that an American film director, whose name has been given to him, plans to make a film of the Moors Murders; and if he will refuse permission for him to remain in this country for the making of this film because of its effect on parents and relatives of the victims and on the general locality.

I have as yet received no application in this connection.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Czechoslovak political refugees have been allowed to settle in the United Kingdom for work or educational purposes in recent months.

Since 21st August about 300 Czechoslovak nationals have been granted long extensions of stay to enable them to take up employment, or to study, in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has appointed Sir Stanley Raymond as Chairman of the Gaming Board; and if he will make a statement.

Because he is a suitable person.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the escape of John McVicar and two other prisoners from the top security wing of Durham Jail on 29th October, 1968.

The manner in which the physical defences of the special security wing at Durham prison were preached has been established. The security aspects are still under close study. This incident indicates the ever present difficulties of trying to provide a humane régime while at the same time containing dangerous prisoners who are determined to escape. Nevertheless, I shall continue to pursue both objectives.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he intends to make public Brigadier Maunsell's report on recent escapes from Durham Prison.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the details of Mr. Julius Weitzner's residence permit; and why he has not yet written to the hon. Member for Rich- mond, Surrey, on this matter, in accordance with his undertaking.

I wrote to the hon. Member on 4th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what officials, and representing what bodies for which Her Majesty's Government is responsible, have powers to enter private property; in what circumstances is the right of entry exercisable with or without a warrant; and what steps have been taken to advise these persons to use their powers with discretion and not to resort to them until they have established that entry is necessary.

I have been asked to reply.I am arranging for the information to be collected and I will write to my hon. Friend when it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he will take, following the recent tragedy at Buckley Hall Detention Centre, to ensure that inmates of detention centres and other institutions are not required to participate in physical activities which may constitute a danger to life or health; and if he will take action to ensure that, where appropriate, a detailed medical report is available to all magistrates, recorders, chairmen or judges before sentence is passed.

There are standing instructions designed to ensure that detention centre inmates are not required to participate in physical activities which may constitute a danger to life or health. My right hon. Friend has recently recommended to courts that they should normally consider a social inquiry report before making a detention centre order. This procedure should assist them to identify cases in which a medical report ought also to be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will initiate legislation to diversify the detention centre system to provide for the possibility of short sentences below three months and periods of positive training longer than three months.

The operation of detention centres is at present being reviewed by the Advisory Council on the Penal System. I have no doubt that their review will cover questions of the kind referred to by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now introduce legislation to make it an offence, analogous to the offence in Section I of the Tumultuous Petitioning Act, 1661, for more than a prescribed maximum number of people to proceed to an embassy for the purpose or purported purpose of presenting a petition or complaint or otherwise demanding access to an embassy.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women and children have been awarded maintenance allowances by the courts; what is the total money due to them; and how much is being received.

I regret that these particulars are not available. I shall write to the hon. Member giving her such information as I can in this context.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the nature of the proposed commission on the constitution will admit of eligibility for membership of an English, Scottish or Welsh judge.

Yes. Judges have often served on Royal Commissions appointed by the Crown.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to announce the terms of reference and the names of the members of the proposed commission on the constitution; how soon he expects it to commence its work; and when he anticipates its report.

The Commission will be set up and its terms of reference settled when the effective consultation, foreshadowed in the Gracious Speech, has taken place. I would hope to see it begin work soon, and would wish to discuss with the Chairman a timetable for its work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will lift the ban, immediately, on the recruiting of men to the police force.

There is no ban, but on account of the economic situation police authorities in England and Wales were asked to limit the increase in the size of the service.In the first nine months of this year 3,976 recruits joined the service and a further 3,500–4,000 will be needed by the end of the financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to improve police barracks in the Metropolitan Police Area.

Most of the accommodation provided, whether in married quarters or in section houses for single men, has been built since the last war or has already been improved to satisfactory standards. There is a continuing programme for the improvement or replacement of the remainder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the workings of the Criminal Justice Act with reference to majority verdicts; and if he will make a statement.

Majority verdicts in criminal trials in England and Wales have been possible since 1st October, 1967. I believe that they are taking their place satisfactorily in our system of criminal justice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the annual wastage rates of social work staff, child care officers, family caseworkers, and similar workers, employed by children's departments of

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that the hon. Member for West Ham, North has written evidence from the Assistant Commissioner of Police and the Chief Enforcement Officer of the Greater London Council to show that false information was sent to the hon. Member for West Ham, North by the police on 21st October regarding a policeman using an unlicensed vehicle; and, in view of the communication sent to him on 23rd October by the hon. Member, what action he proposes to take in connection with this matter;(2) whether he will investigate why on 21st October the hon. Member for West each local authority and the reasons given for the three years up to the last available date.

The figures for England and Wales are below. The numbers of staff leaving each authority for each reason in each year are so small that statistical comparisons between one authority and another would not be sufficiently meaningful to justify the labour involved in preparing figures for each authority separately.Ham, North was informed by the Assistant Commissioner of Police that a police officer illegally driving his private vehicle on the public highway without a road fund licence on 3rd October had applied for a licence on 2nd October, when the licensing authority had informed the hon. Member on 10th October that no licence was in being from June until 9th October and no application had by then been received;(3) whether he will further investigate the circumstances concerning the use on the public highway by a police officer of his private vehicle without a current road fund licence, details of which have been supplied; and why the Assistant Commissioner of Police informed the hon. Member for West Ham, North on 21st October that the vehicle was being licensed on 2nd October when evidence to the contrary was available on subsequent days from the licensing authority.

As I have already told my hon. Friend, his allegations against the Assistant Commissioner are entirely unjustified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the Metropolitan Police notified the Press and publicity services of their intention to raid the private residence of John Lennon; and whether he will give an assurance that the police do notify the Press of intended action, either of arrest or impending court action.

The police do not make public their intention to search premises or make an arrest, and the normal practice was followed in this case. The first Pressmen arrived 40 minutes after the police had knocked on the front door.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what percentage of householders fails to return the forms necessary for the compilation of the new electoral register each year; and whether he will consider arranging for announcements to be made on television and radio reminding householders to return the forms.

I regret that this figure is not available, but the percentage is likely to be very small. As regards the second part of the Question, there is already such an arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that for nearly 18 months reports have been made of unlicensed road vehicles being parked in Durham Road, N.7, Lennox Road North and York Park North; and, as several five ton lorries, including vehicle No. 799 HLM, have been reported on numerous occasions, whether he will request the police to carry out a check within this area and report owners of such unlicensed vehicles for enforcement of the law.

I have passed on to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis my hon. Friend's complaints about unlicensed vehicles. I do not think it necessary to ask the Commissioner to undertake a special check in the area referred to.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps are being taken to relieve the shortage of remand home places in the north-west of England.

Responsibility for providing remand homes rests with county and county borough councils. I have no evidence of any especially acute shortage of places in this area at the present time. My right hon. Friend has, however, approved a number of proposals for improving existing facilities in Lancashire and Cheshire. Other pro-proposals more recently submitted are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will explain the procedure under which additional expenditure of £4,000,000 is to be authorised in development areas in the North of England to help reduce unemployment this winter.

The Government Departments concerned are arranging to put work to this total in hand, in consultation, as necessary, with local authorities and other local interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what new proposals he has for improving the economy of north-east Warwickshire following his recent visit there.

None. But I made it clear that existing policies are administered flexibly to meet the need for industrial expansion in the area. Evidence on the problems of the area has been submitted to the Hunt Committee whose report is awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the Report of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research on the Economic Effects of Immigration will be published.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member on 23rd May.—[Vol. 765 c. 857–858.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when the next National Plan is likely to be published.

As the first stage in a new planning process a substantial document is being prepared for consideration as a working draft by the National Economic Development Council in December. A decision on publication of a planning document will be taken at a later stage and in the light of this consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what effect the time taken to produce United Kingdom input/output tables has upon their value to his Department.

While it is not possible to estimate quantitatively the effect of the speed of production of input/output tables, their value is obviously greater the more quickly they are produced and the more recent the year to which they refer.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs why his Departmental publication, Progress Report, deals with Scotland as a region.

While my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, exercises direct responsibility for economic planning in Scotland, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs has responsibility for the co-ordination of national and regional economic planning for the United Kingdom as a whole. In the widely distributed D.E.A. Progress Report, we include comments on progress and developments in each of the component parts of the United Kingdom. The purpose of dealing with Scotland, as well as with Wales, Northern Ireland and the English regions, is to spread information about Scotland more widely in order to stimulate even greater interest in the opportunities which exist there.This continuous attention to Scotland in the Progress Report is in marked contrast to the attitude shown in the publication which it succeeded, the Bulletin for Industry, which did not carry one article on Scotland between October, 1951, and its final issue in 1964.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will define what is now meant by the terms first-class and second-class mail.

First and second-class letters are defined in Regulation 1 of the Inland Post Regulations, 1968.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the length of time taken for first- and second-class mail, respectively, which has been collected in London before delivery in Belfast; and how this period of time com pares with that taken for the delivery of mail between those cities before the introduction of first- and second-class postal services.

If posted in time for the main evening collection in London, first class letters for Belfast should be delivered by first post next day, and, now that air conveyance is being used, second class letters generally a day later. The service for second class letters is about the same as that formerly given to printed papers.

asked the Postmaster-General what are his reasons for sending second-class mail by surface rather than by air between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and what are the costs of Post Office staff used for the handling of such mail and the costs of transporting such mail, respectively.

As I announced in the debate on 4th November, I have decided to send some second class letters to and from Northern Ireland by air at an extra cost of about £70,000 a year. Some second class letters will continue to be sent by surface routes, as were former printed papers, to keep conveyance costs within reasonable bounds for letters prepaid at the lower rate and thereby designated as less urgent.I am sorry the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not readily available.—[Vol. 772, c. 618.]

asked the Postmaster-General how many overtime hours were worked by the sorting and delivery staff of the Post Office in the weeks ended 21st September and 28th September, 1968, respectively.

Our central returns of overtime are prepared on a monthly basis. To break down the figures into weekly totals would involve inquiry at over 300 offices and I cannot give this information without considerable expense.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he has now completed his inquiries, and with what result, into the failure of telegrams to be delivered calling a meeting of employees at Girlings Limited, Cwmbran; and what steps are being taken to ensure that in future telegrams addressed to Monmouthshire are not sent to London.

The text of a message to be sent to 172 addresses in the Cwmbran area was received at 6.50 p.m. on 1st November for dispatch as "overnight" telegrams. This reduced rate service is for delivery the following morning; 93 of these telegrams were in a mailbag which was not transferred as it should have been at Newport and was eventually returned from Crewe too late for the messages to serve their purpose. I am urgently investigating means to improve procedure to prevent a repetition of this unfortunate occurrence.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will initiate a system whereby pensioners, the sick and disabled may on presentation of a letter addressed to a Member of Parliament to a post office have such a letter franked without payment, thus assisting those on limited pension and sick payments from having to pay the heavy postage of 5d. when wishing to write to their Members on matters connected with their financial difficulties.

No. Apart from any question of principle, I think that such a scheme would be very difficult to operate both for Members of Parliament and for the Post Office.

asked the Postmaster-General why mail posted at the second class rate to Members of Parliament at the House of Commons is dealt with as second class to that stage but first class if re-directed; and why this mail is delayed in the first instance and expedited in the second.

Second class letters addressed to hon. Members, and all other persons, are not delayed; they are dealt with at the speed for which the sender has chosen to pay. If redirected singly they are sent second class; but it is to the advantage of the customer and the Post Office to send them first class when they form part of a bundle containing first class redirected letters.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that an official first class postage letter posted on 25th October, 1968 addressed to the Member for West Ham, North, in London, was not delivered until the second class special delivery at 12 noon on 30th October; and when the hon. Member can expect to receive postal service equivalent to that in operation before the introduction of the two-tier system;(2) whether he is aware that a 4d. letter addressed to the hon. Member for West Ham, North, posted 23rd October in London, S.W.1, was not delivered until 12 noon on Tuesday, 29th October; and what action he proposes to take to ensure that mail sent to Members of Parliament is not deliberately held up by the postal authorities.

If my hon. Friend will let me have the envelope of the first class letter concerned I will make inquiries about its treatment in the post.I regret the second class letter took so long for no apparent reason.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that before the introduction of the new postal arrangements the hon. Member for West Ham, North, received both 4d. and 3d. postage paid letters on first delivery at or around 7.30 a.m., and that now the first class delivery is sometimes more than one hour late; and to what extent this fall off in service in the Palmers Green area is general throughout Greater London and the rest of the country.

I am sorry that the first delivery to my hon. Friend's address was late on a few days at the end of October because the postman was new to the round. I am not aware that delays of this nature are more prevalent anywhere now than they were before 16th September.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what is the financial position of Radio Durham;(2) whether he will make a statement on the aid given to Radio Durham by religious, educational and other bodies.

The financing of the experimental local radio stations is the responsibility of the B.B.C.; and the contributions made by local organisations are a matter between them and the Corporation.

asked the Postmaster-General what machinery exists to enable him to prevent the advertisement of particular products by reference to them in the course of British Broadcasting Corporation television broadcasts; if, in the light of the particular instance to which his attention has been drawn in correspondence, he is satisfied that this machinery is working effectively; and if he will make a statement.

None. The B.B.C. may not without my consent broadcast any matter in return for payment and I have no reason to suppose that they do not observe this requirement.It is, of course, open to the B.B.C. to refer in their programmes to firms or products by name. The responsibility for deciding whether to do so rests on the Corporation and I do not intervene. I am writing to my hon. Friend about the particular case to which he has drawn my attention.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress he is making in his discussions with interested parties concerning the future of pay television; and if he will make a statement.

Pay TV Ltd. have told me that they wish to close down their service without further delay and I have agreed.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the cost to date in actual terms and on a normal business charge Post Office tariff basis, of his Department sending out rectifications informing people and organisations of the incorrect printing of telephone numbers of a number of telephone subscribers in various telephone directories; and what he estimates the final costs for this will be.

These notifications are supplied to a customer to use as he wishes: we do not know how many he sends out. I am sorry that full costs are not available and could only be obtained by special inquiry throughout the country. I will gladly look into any particular incident my hon. Friend may have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive the National Board for Prices and Incomes' Report on the pay claim of the Association of University Teachers, which was submitted in November, 1967.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answers to the hon. Members for Southampton, Test (Mr. R. C. Mitchell), Hornsey (Mr. Rossi), and Birmingham, Handsworth (Sir E. Boyle) on 24th October.—[Vol. 770, c. 325.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what financial support is provided by the United States of America for research purposes in British universities; and how much of this research is related to defence or warfare requirements.

Complete information is not available, but I understand that last April the value of current contracts at universities in Great Britain which had been placed by the United States Defence Departments through the Ministry of Technology's Committee on Research Contracts with Universities was about £560,000. I cannot say how much of this research related to defence and warfare, nor what financial support is provided by other agencies of the United States.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school children receive free meals, and at what cost per annum, including

Projects to provide hostel and workshop accommodation at this college have been included in the further education building programme for 1969–70, and I understand that the local education authority are now inviting tenders for the work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish a table giving a breakdown of the £18,900,000 allocated in the last financial year to national museums and galleries, the Arts Council and other bodies, excluding historic buildings and ancient monuments, showing how much is spent in London, Scotland, Wales and the English Regions, respectively.

The information is as follows:food, administration and capital charges; how many students receive grants from local and central government funds; how much they cost annually; and why he cut school meals rather than cut student grants, or shared the necessary economies between the two.

764,000 children on a day in May, 1968; I estimate the total gross cost at £21 million in a year. In 1967–68 the total number of awards to students in England and Wales, excluding those in teacher training, was about 250,000 and the cost of grants was in the region of £80 million. The rates of grant introduced in September include in total, only half the increase recommended by the Advisory Panel on Student Grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money he estimates will be saved by the cuts in the provision for school meals in Welsh schools.

About £¼ million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish figures showing, for direct grant and maintained grammar schools separately, the fathers' occupation of leavers, comparable to those published in the Supplementary to Part Two of Statistics of Education 1961, Table 12(i).

Table 13 in the Supplement gives separate figures for maintained grammar schools. Figures for direct grant schools can be obtained by subtraction from those in Table 12. No enquiry on similar lines has been undertaken in the last few years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money was allocated from central Government funds for major and minor school building programmes in each year from 1946 to the latest available date to the county borough of Huddersfield.

I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the rate of increase, in percentage terms over the preceding year's total, of expenditure by local education authorities on further education for the years 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and the first half of 1968.

The figures are as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give a breakdown of expenditure of the Arts Council for the last available financial year on a regional basis in comparison with population, showing Scotland and Wales, separately.

I have asked the Arts Council for this information and will write to my hon. Friend when it is available.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will introduce legislation to reform the laws governing the status and rights of illegitimate children.

The rights of illegitimate children will be greatly extended by the Family Law Reform Bill already introduced by my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor in another place. The Society of Public Teachers of the Law is conducting, at the request of the Law Commission, an inquiry into the status of illegitimate children; when the outcome of that inquiry and the Law Commission's recommendations are received, the Government will decide whether or not further legislation on this subject is desirable.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has received the letter from the hon. Member for Tynemouth from her constituent about the road hazards for children owing to morning darkness; what reply he has sent to the suggestion that for safety all children should as a school directive wear orange dayglo sashes; and what is his policy on the question of bearing the cost of such a scheme.

As I said in my reply to the hon. Lady's letter, we believe that the introduction of British Standard Time should on balance produce a slight reduction in road casualties. However, I am aware of the possible dangers to children when travelling to school in the mornings and I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science what can be done. We are encouraging the use of reflective clothing, but we have no power to pay for it or to require children to wear it.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will publish a list of the 10 types of private car most commonly in use in Great Britain during the 12-month period to the most recent convenient date, showing for each type the number in use, the number involved in accidents known to the police and the number of fatal casualties suffered by drivers or passengers.

No information is available on numbers of different types of cars in use. Statistics of accidents and casualties relating to different models cannot be obtained without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many requests for information she has sent out under Section 1 of the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947, in each

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give an assurance that he will refuse his consent to the publication of any proposals to destroy the rail link between Hereford and Newport via Abergavenny.

I am considering an application for a grant under Section 39 of the Transport Act, 1968, for the local services over this line and I expect to announce a decision soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how Her Majesty's Government was represented at the funeral of Mr. George Papandreou.

Her Majesty's Government was represented by the British Chargé d'Affaires, Mr. Derek Dodson.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will give the unemployment figures in the areas covered by the employment exchanges at Ardrossan, Largs, Rothesay and Stevenston.

Following is the information:month of 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968 to date; what is the estimated time taken by each person to fill up this form with the required information; how many persons have failed to comply with the Act; what action she has taken in these cases; and with what result.

Monthly figures are not readily available. During 1968 my Department will have issued about 620,000 forms to employers under the Statistics of Trade Act, 1947. Corresponding figures for 1967, 1966 and 1965 were 515,000, 515,000, and 510,000.The answer to the remainder of the Question would depend upon the particular enquiry the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a further statement on the Government's policy towards Northern Ireland following his talks with Captain O'Neill.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement giving details of his recent discussions with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

I have nothing at present to add to the replies which I gave on the 5th November.—[Vol. 772, c. 688–93.]

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity at Bassetlaw on Wednesday, 30th October, concerning the question of credit restrictions represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

My right hon. Friend made no reference to credit restrictions in her speech.

asked the Prime Minister why Parliamentary Questions on the proposed commission on the constitution are to be answered by the Secretary of State for the Home Depart- ment, in view of the fact that his responsibilities do not extend to Scotland.

My right hon. Friend's concern with general constitutional matters makes it appropriate that he should answer questions affecting the Commission as a whole.

asked the Prime Minister (1) when, and with whom, consultations in Scotland on the appointment of a commission on the constitution will begin; and when he expects these consultations to end;(2) to what extent the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Paymaster-General, respectively, will be responsible for beginning consultations in Scotland on the appointment of a commission on the constitution;(3) what are the duties of the Paymaster-General in relation to the general problem of decentralisation and devolution which do not change the existing duties of the Secretary of State for Scotland;(4) what are the duties of the Secretary of State for Scotland in relation to the general problem of decentralisation and devolution.

The formal consultations which will begin at once and will be carried out as expeditiously as possible will be with the Governments and authorities outside Great Britain. There will also be consultation with the leaders of the main Opposition parties and with industry. In addition my right honourable Friends and I will take careful note of any views that may be expressed by bodies in Scotland or indeed any part of Great Britain that would be relevant to the setting up of the Commission.On the allocation of duties between Ministers, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary has responsibility for the work of the Commission as a whole. My right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General is concerned among her other duties, with studying the general problem of decentralisation and devolution as it affects the United Kingdom. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland retains his special concern for issues of decentralisation and devolution affecting Scotland.

asked the Prime Minister (1) whether in any proposals to pay members of the House of Lords he will give an undertaking that such payments will be liable both to Income Tax on the amounts received, and also to have such payments reduced by any amounts earned in part-time employment;(2) whether he will ensure that new proposals to increase the salaries and emoluments of members of the House of Lords will be in accord with the Government's policy on prices, incomes and productivity; and whether he will ensure that such payments are made on a means and needs basis, similar to payments made to pensioners and others in receipt of national assistance who undertake paid part-time employment additional to their state income.

It is proposed in the White Paper on House of Lords Reform that the remuneration of members of the reformed House of Lords should be referred to an independent body similar to the Committee on the Remuneration of Ministers and Members of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) if he is aware that the number of calves exported from this country in recent weeks is nearly four times greater than earlier estimates made by his Department; and, in view of public concern, if he will take action in this matter;(2) if he will have discussions with the Belgian Government to ascertain more precisely the number of calves imported into Belgium from this country since 1st September, 1968;(3) what action he has taken to ascertain more accurately the number of calves exported in recent weeks, other than obtaining information from his veterinary officers.

The information available to me about the number of calves exported is obtained from my port veterinary officers and I have no reason to doubt the figures. A recent Press report that Belgian information on calf imports into that country was greatly at variance with our figures has been investigated with the help of the Belgian authorities. The official Belgian figure for the total number of calves imported from Great Britain in 1968 up to 2nd November is 10,562. Our returns show a total of 10,757 for the same period. I am currently reviewing all the implications of this trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, on the basis of the results of the qualified technical survey showing that the Brunei ship, the s.s. "Great Britain", now lying at Sparrow Cove in the Falkland Islands, can be moved, he will give an undertaking that Her Majesty's Government will consider ways and means of giving assistance, in view of the importance of the ship as the first ocean-going propeller-driven vessel and a crucial British contribution to the development of naval architecture.

Subject to public money accountability and operational requirements we have agreed to help this venture in any way we can. This help will certainly include some assistance from units in the Falkland Islands and we are at present investigating whether we can assist a marine architect to make the trip to the Falkland Islands in order to conduct a survey on the spot.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual cost of servicing the National Debt with the present 7 per cent. Bank Rate; and what the saving would be with the rate at 5 per cent.

On the basis of the National Debt outstanding at 31st March, 1968, the estimates are £1,475 million and £50 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give details concerning the repayment to the Swiss banks of the £44 million for the 450 million Swiss francs borrowed just prior to devaluation; by how much in excess of the original borrowing the repayments have risen as a result of devaluation; what was the total interest paid; and to what extent these repayments were drawn from the Basle credit at the Bank for International Settlements.

This loan was taken and repaid in Swiss francs. Its sterling equivalent at the market rate of exchange was £37·2 million at the time it was taken and £43·8 million at the time it was repaid. The difference of £6·6 million was due mainly to devaluation but also to a small extent to variations in the market rate of exchange within the permitted limits. The total amount of interest paid was 24·4 million Swiss francs; the sterling equivalent of this was £2 million at the time the loan was taken but was increased by devaluation to £2·25 million. The repayment was made out of the reserves and was not drawn from the Basle credit at the Bank for International Settlements.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the hon. Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South may expect a reply to her letter of 22nd July to him asking for the protection of Woburn Square. Bloomsbury, from demolition and closure.

An interim reply was sent to my hon. Friend on 9th August. I am writing fully to explain that I was unable to send a substantive reply until the University Grants Committee were in a position to confirm their building programme allocation, following the reductions recently imposed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if the 3 per cent. increase in real terms above the Rate Support Grant for 1968–69 for local authority educational expenditure 1969–70 excludes the increases in salaries, wages, rating, heating and lighting; and what estimate he has made of the change in real values in respect of the residual costs.

The increase in real terms, which applies to the relevant expenditure as a whole and does not relate to any one service, is calculated after allowing for increases in the level of prices, costs and remuneration. The increase in real terms is thus not reduced by the residual costs referred to in the Question; and no separate estimate has been made of them.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the speech made by the Chief Planning Officer of the Countryside Commission to the National Conference of the Council for the Preservation of Rural England on 18th October on the use of cars in the national parks was made with his authority.

Neither the members nor the officers of the Countryside Commission require my right hon. Friend's authority to make statements or express opinions about the matters within the Commission's purview.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what undertakings he obtained from Hull City Corporation that they would provide general maintenance and, in particular, efficient and safe electric wiring in the single-storey prefabricated houses in the city when those houses were transferred from his Department to the corporation, in order to avoid serious fires, expense and possible loss of life;(2) whether he will give capital sanction to enable Hull City Corporation to restore the single-storey prefabricated houses in the city to a safe condition, in view of the recent fire caused by defective electrical circuits.

It was part of the general terms of which temporary houses in the immediate post-war programme were made available to local authorities that they undertook to keep the houses in a good state of external and internal repair. No specific reference was made to electrical installations. But on several occasions attention has been drawn in circulars to the authorities to the need for inspection and testing of these installations.Temporary houses are regarded as part of an authority's normal stock of dwellings, and costs of repairs and maintenance should normally be met from the authority's housing repair fund. If, however, the Kingston upon Hull Corporation find repair costs on temporary houses particularly heavy, my right hon. Friend would be prepared to consider application for a loan repayable over five years to cover the expenditure.

asked the Minister of Power what is the present level of expenditure under the Redundant Mineworkers (Payments Scheme) Order, 1968.

The weekly payment to be made on 8th November amounts to about £70,000, raising cumulative expenditure under the Scheme to about £1⅓ million.

asked the Minister of Power what are the prospects of increased coal exports as a result of devaluation; and what measures his Department and the National Coal Board are taking to promote such sales.