asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the considerations governing his decision to lay the Town and Country Planning General Development (Amendment) Order, Statutory Instrument No. 1623.

The Order follows from the British Airports Authority Act, 1965, which constituted the Authority a statutory undertaking for purposes of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962. It places the Authority in broadly the same position as other statutory undertakings with regard to planning permission.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he has taken as a result of the House of Commons Select Committee on Science and Technology Report on Coastal Pollution.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) on 15th October, 1968.—[Vol. 770, c. 86.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied with the present sewerage system and public toilet facilities in the village of Bow, near Crediton, in view of the increase in road traffic; and what plans for improvements he is considering.

No representations have been made to my right hon. Friend on either of these matters. However, I understand that new sewerage proposals are being prepared by the rural district council and that they also hope to provide new public conveniences in time for the 1969 holiday season.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the sewerage problem which is affecting the village of Paddington, near Crediton, when permission for the new sewerage scheme will be given.

My right hon. Friend will, of course, let the scheme go ahead as soon as economic circumstances permit, and if there is any new evidence of urgency he is prepared to consider it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what plans Her Majesty's Government have to pay an appropriate level of rate support grant in the year 1969–70 which will reflect properly the additional burdens being placed by central upon local government;(2) what talks he is having with the County Councils Association with the object of reviewing the operation of the rate support grant; and whether he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will be publishing details of the rate support grant for the years 1969–70 and 1970–71; and what discussions he is having with local authorities about this.

Together with my right hon. Friends who are also concerned with local government services I shall be meeting representatives of the associations of local authorities including the County Councils Association and the Greater London Council on the 14th November. I hope to be able to lay the necessary Order before the House by the beginning of December, together with a Report in the usual form.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if, in the interests of safety and of limiting the effects of fire damage on the economy, he will reconsider his previous refusal to accept the proposal that the installation of sprinklers or other fire protection devices in industrial or commercial premises should not be penalised by an increase in the rating assessment.

No. I do not see sufficient justification to distort the rating system by singling out fire protection installations for special rate relief from among the wide range of features which can make a property both safer and more valuable to the occupier. Moreover, I do not think that the prospect that this might increase its rateable value would deter any sensible person from installing apparatus to protect his property.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what recent discussions he has with the Rugby Portland Cement Company over the nuisance caused to residents by dust emissions.

The Department's Alkali Inspectorate have made numerous visits during recent months and have had discussions not only with the company but with the Rugby Borough Council and with local residents.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on what outside advice or recommendation and on what calculations it was decided that a period of only five years should be allowed for the cost of water to the people of Oldham to be brought up to the standard charge pre scribed by the West Pennine Water Board.

The Order embodying this provision was made at the unanimous request of the former water undertakers, and after a public local inquiry into objections to a draft Order. None of the objections related to the length of the transitional period.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government to be published.

Early in 1969.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an assurance that legislation will be introduced this Session to deal with cases of hardship arising out of the operation of the Betterment Levy in the case of people who bought single plots between 22nd September, 1965, and 6th April, 1967.

Legislation to cover the present extra-statutory concessions will be introduced in due course, but I cannot yet say when.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received from the North East Water Authority concerning the estimated shortage of water in the area; what action is being taken; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has had no representations from the Northumbrian River Authority, on this matter, but I have been glad to learn that, to meet the expected shortage they are taking action on the lines suggested in the Interim Report of the Water Resources Board on water resources in the North of England.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will add to the bodies prescribed for the purposes of Section 115 of the Local Government (Allowances to Members) (Prescribed Bodies) Regulations, 1967, managing and governing bodies of schools appointed under the Education Acts.

No. The existing arrangement is that my right hon. Friend, in consultation with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, considers on its merits any application for prescription of an individual body of this kind. We do not think that general prescription is justified at the present time.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will state the total numbers involved of aldermen and councillors, respectively, in county councils, county boroughs and borough, urban and rural district councils whose authorities come within the terms of reference of the Royal Commission on Local Government.

The most recent published sources show that there are 3,711 aldermen and 31,836 councillors in England, outside Greater London.The following is a breakdown of these figures:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he has taken to improve the publicity arrangements, and the rights of objection, arising from planning proposals dealt with by local planning authorities; and what advice he has given to encourage consultation with members of the public affected by planning proposals.

The 1968 Act requires site notices for certain planning applications and gives opportunity for objection. Guidance will be issued on publicity for planning applications after discussion with the local authority associations.As to development plans, the Committee on Public Participation in Planning, under the Chairmanship of my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary, is considering how to ensure effective use of the opportunities for public participation at the formative stage which the new Act provides, and is expected to report early next year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the number of persons employed in work related to the functioning of the Land Commission in Wales and the amount of the betterment levy collected up to 30th September, 1968; and what were the running costs of the Land Commission's work in Wales up to the same date.

83; £108,000 on account of a total assessment of £456,000. Staff costs for the 18 months period were £169,200 and cover the Commission's lands activities as well as collection of betterment levy.Costs incurred by other Departments in respect of individual Commission offices are not readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to be able to give his approval to stage two of the Selby Urban District Council's town sewerage scheme.

A letter was sent to the Council on 8th November accepting the need for works to be put in hand on the lines proposed by them as a second stage in their sewerage scheme. At the same time, some points of detail were raised with the Council on which their reply is awaited.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which local planning authority areas he has selected so far for the operation of Part I of the Town and Country Planning Act. 1968, and on what dates.

I refer the hon. Member to my Answer on 11th November to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Cardiff, North (Mr. E. Rowlands).—[Vol. 773, c. 52–3.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he is taking to consult with other Departments concerning aspects of the Wash Barrage desk study for which those Departments are primarily responsible.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave today in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Gwilym Roberts).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what will be the cost to the ratepayers of London next year of the restriction imposed by him on the proposed increase in rents of property owned by the Greater London Council.

I do not know how far the Greater London Council propose to meet from rates the reduction in rental income arising in 1969–70 from the limitation of rent increases. The reduction in income in 1968–69 will be about £1·1 million. Whether this will all fall on ratepayers is for the Council to decide.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will instruct the Commission for New Towns to offer to the majority of tenants of houses of new towns under the Commission the sale of the freehold.

I wish to encourage the extension of owner-occupation in these new towns, and I shall be discussing the matter further with the Commission in the light of the Cullingworth Report.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will introduce legislation to enable rent officers to register fair rents for furnished accommodation.

The fixing of reasonable rents for furnished accommodation is the responsibility of the furnished rent tribunals originally set up in 1946. I will bear in mind my hon. Friend's suggestion if the possibility of further legislation in this field arises.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will introduce legislation to prevent the re- letting of private houses when local authorities have rehoused existing ten ants prior to clearance.

I am doubtful whether further legislation is the best way of dealing with the practical problems which arise, on which I have recently written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much money will be allocated to local authorities for home loans in 1969–70.

I cannot yet give the total. But continued restraint in public expenditure and borrowing will be needed in 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether in view of the tax changes affecting family allowances started earlier this year, he will allow a second option under the Mortgage Option Scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now consider seeking to amend the Mortgage Option Scheme to allow opting out in cases where taxation changes, such as that operating on family allowances, have nullified the scheme's benefits.

No. When the scheme incorporated in the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967 was being drawn up, it was the view of the Government Departments and lending agencies concerned that the giving of repeated options would gravely interfere with the working of the scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he has yet redrafted the Mortgage Option Scheme pamphlet.

The redrafting is in process but is not yet complete.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give an assurance that legislation which is to be introduced this Session to enable a limited number of owner-occupiers of unfit property to obtain compensation based on market value will be extended to all owner-occupiers.

The White Paper "Old Houses into New Homes", sets out the Government's proposals to bring the compensation of owner-occupiers in general up to full market value, where slum clearance action is begun after 23rd April, 1968. A Bill based on these proposals will be introduced in the present Session.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the income limit at which a rate rebate will be refused to a person who is in receipt of social security allowances.

Most persons getting supplementary benefit have their rate liability taken fully into account in the amount of their benefit, so they cannot be given a rate rebate as well. In the exceptional cases where the amount of supplementary benefit is limited so as not to cover the rate liability fully, rate rebate can still be claimed, within the same gross income limits as apply to anyone else.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are the latest figures for the Northern Region of persons receiving rate rebates; and how these compare with the earliest available figures.

The latest and the earliest figures about rate rebates are given for each local authority in Cmnd. 3725, copies of which were sent to all hon. Members in August.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take action to prevent the sale of land in the London Borough of Brent situated at Crawford Avenue on which it was previously the intention of the council to build 30 or 40 maisonettes.

The Brent Council do not need my right hon. Friend's consent to dispose of the land, because they have neither acquired it under compulsory powers nor received subsidy on it, but discussions are taking place between officials of the Ministry and of the Council about the general housing problems of the Borough.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number now on the revised waiting list for municipal housing, the number of families living in accommodation which is statutorily overcrowded, the number of families in welfare hostels because of lack of accommodation; and what is the number of families split up with children placed in care because of the lack of houses in the London Borough of Brent.

At the latest date there were some 11,000 applicants on the Brent waiting list.There are 53 homeless families in welfare accommodation, and 34 families whose children have been placed in care by reason of inadequate housing.The figures for statutory overcrowding are not available, but the Milner Holland report showed that the then Willesden Borough was one of the six worst areas of London for overcrowding and multiple occupation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if a designation order is now in draft in respect of the proposed Central Lancashire new town; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is still considering the representations which have been made by the Regional Economic Planning Council and the local authorities in Central and North East Lancashire. There will be a meeting with the local authorities shortly, before a decision is reached.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an estimate of the approximate number of houses likely to be completed this year compared with last year.

I expect total completions this year to exceed last year's record figure of 404,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now lift his restrictions on the sale of council houses by the Greater London Council.

No. The need for rented housing in London has not diminished so appreciably since July as to justify any such relaxation.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to improve the conditions of communication where they are lacking in old people's homes and separate dwellings, so as to improve the safety factor for old people in the case of fire, flood or any other hazard.

Local authorities have already been advised of the need for an emergency bell system in flatlets or grouped dwellings for old people where there is a warden.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that many local authorities have had to cease offering mortgages to potential house purchasers, as a result of Government policy; how many local authorities have so decided; what steps he proposes to take to assist young couples and others to obtain mortgages at rates of interest of three per cent. and on an easier basis; and whether local authorities will be included in such schemes.

I am aware that some authorities have expended their quotas for housing advances for this year but I regret a precise figure is not available. The option mortgage scheme, in which local authorities participate, is designed to help young couples and others of Limited means by providing an interest subsidy.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the Government now intend to introduce the necessary legislation or regulations to enable potential house purchasers to obtain mortgages at rates of interest not exceeding three per cent.

There is no intention to introduce such legislation or regulations, but mortgages available under the Option Mortgage Scheme provide for an interest subsidy of 2 per cent.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he is now in a position to assess the employment prospects of the remaining British pensionable officers in the Tanzanian public service; and if he will make a statement.

The Tanzania Government were informed in July that the British Government would continue to provide support, under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme, for pensionable officers up to the end of their current tours of service or to a later date if that was necessary to enable them to give the proper period of notices prescribed by the Compensation Scheme, plus in each case the period of terminal leave standing to their credit. The Tanzania Government have since stated that they propose to invite selected pensionable officers to continue in their service after the British Government's support has been finally withdrawn; such continued service to be on terms equivalent with those now available under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme but on the basis of contract, and not pensionable, employment. I have as yet no information about the individual officers to whom this invitation is to be extended.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what currencies drawings by the United Kingdom under the Basle Agreement will stand to be repaid; and to what extent they will stand to be repaid in gold.

Repayments will be in the currencies in which drawings are made, which may be United States dollars or other foreign currencies. There is no gold obligation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what rate of interest will be payable by the United Kingdom on drawings under the Basle Agreement.

I have nothing to add to the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave to the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 15th October.—[Vol. 770, c. 65–7.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what pro portion of the United Kingdom gold and currency reserves are currently held in gold; and what steps he is taking to increase this proportion.

The end-June proportion was 55 per cent. In present circumstances the first objective must be to increase the level of our total reserves rather than to vary their composition.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is satisfied that there has been no transfer of funds outside this country as a result of any recent purchases of paintings from foreign citizens resident in this country; and if he will make a statement.

Exchange Control permission is normally granted for payments of this kind. Such permission was granted to the National Gallery in September for payment of £150,000 in connection with the purchase which the hon. Gentleman may well have in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the decision of the Bank of England to call in a United States business efficiency firm.

The employment by the Bank of American consultants is a matter of internal management, and as such is for the Bank to decide.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the Bank of England are calling in United States management consultants to investigate the Bank's management and methods; and whether Her Majesty's Government have been asked to assist in these investigations.

The Answer to the first part of the Question is Yes; and to the second part, No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the balance of payments deficit for 1968; and, in view of the fact that Government expenditure and personal spending are both still rising, on what data he calculates his forecast that a surplus of £500 million in 1969 will be reached.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to Questions on this subject on 15th October.—[Vol. 770, c. 174–6.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of Purchase Tax paid on gramophone records and musical instruments in the financial year 1967–68.

Purchase Tax receipts from gramophone records in 1967–68 were £6,449,000 and from musical instruments £1,019,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what new steps he proposes to take to prevent a further rise in the cost of living resulting from the increase in imports which for the first nine months of 1968 amounted to £5,876 million, as compared with £4,753 million for the same period in 1967, and the 13 per cent. increase in the average price since devaluation.

The rise in import prices induced by devaluation has levelled off, and the effect on retail prices is probably now largely complete.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he is aware that the hon. Member for West Ham, North, wrote on 21st September to the Tax Inspector at Leeds concerning one of his constituents and that by 1st November no acknowledgement or reply had been received and that his letter of complaint sent to his Department on this matter has also not received an acknowledgement or reply; and what action he proposes to take in this matter;(2) why he has not yet sent a reply to the hon. Member for West Ham, North, about matters raised by Mr. Councillor W. Watts and the hon. Member with the tax inspector at Leeds on 16th and 21st September; and when the letter promised to the hon. Member on 25th October can be expected;(3) why the hon. Member for West Ham, North, has not yet received the communication concerning the arrears of a £15 Income Tax demand; on what date he received the communication from the hon. Member concerning this matter; whether he is aware that no reply has been received to communications sent to the local tax inspector on 16th September and 21st September by the hon. Member; and if he will make a statement.

I received my hon. Friend's letter on 24th October and replied on 5th November. In my reply I dealt with the point that had been raised in the letters of 16th and 21st September to the Collector of Taxes at Leeds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for West Ham, North, will receive the communication promised to him on Friday, 25th October concerning matters pertaining to the take-over bid of the News of the World by the Pergamon Press Limited and the inflationary nature of these activities.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 5th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when the hon. Member for West Ham, North, will receive the communication promised to him concerning the growing practice of firms making take-over bids, at sometimes double the market value of the shares, and of the bank borrowings to finance these take-overs; and whether he has now decided to refer these matters to the National Board for Prices and Incomes to investigate to what extent these activities are of an inflationary nature.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 5th November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he expects to receive the representatives of the International Monetary Fund; what matters he proposes to discuss with them; and whether he will give an assurance that he will not agree with these representatives to any further cuts in the social services.

The next consultations with the I.M.F. in accordance with my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary's letter of intent will take place in the week beginning 25th November. The discussions will be confidential, as usual, but will not cover the determination of priorities in public expenditure.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works how much money was spent by his Department on new carpets in the Palace of Westminster during the 1968 Summer Recess.

About £5,000.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what requests he has received, and which ones he has agreed to, for extending those parts of the Palace of Westminster occupied by the House of Lords; and what costs are involved under each heading.

Over the last few years, to meet requests for additional accommodation, proposals have been considered for building over the Peers' Chamber, for building over State Officers' Court, and for constructing additional accommodation in the roof space overlooking Black Rod garden. All these schemes would be very expensive in relation to the extra space they would provide, and none has as yet been agreed.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why craft employees, transferred from the employment of the Ministry of De fence to the employment of his Department, though still based at the same Royal Ordnance depot, have received wage reductions; and what steps he in tends to take to remedy this situation.

No reduction in weekly pay rates has taken place since the transfer. On the contrary, five increases have been granted.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what instructions he gave in regard to the closing of public buildings on Sun day, 27th October; and what museums, galleries, and other places of public access and entertainment were closed to the public on that day by reason of instructions arising out of the said demonstrations.

At most of the national museums and galleries, responsibility for opening and closing arrangements rests with the trustees of the institution concerned. Of the buildings which are my responsibility, only Lancaster House and the Banqueting House, Whitehall, were closed on 27th October.

asked the Minister of Power whether fuller use will now be made of the assets of the British Steel Corporation by virtue of its participation in Sheffield Rolling Mills Limited; and what improvement in its financial results the Corporation estimates will result from the merger.

The Corporation expect their participation to result in fuller use of their assets and a considerable financial gain.

asked the Minister of Power, what action he proposes to take in connection with the increase in the rate of foreign steel imported into South Wales up to 20th October, 1968 which was double that for the corresponding period of last year.

None. This is due to several factors, including an increase in the amount imported by the steel industry for re-rolling and subsequent export, which assists the balance of payments.

asked the Minister of Power on what grounds he decided that the papers and proceedings at the recent summit fuel conference at the Civil Defence Staff College at Sunningdale are confidential.

Because much of the value of such meetings lies in free and frank discussion which would be impaired by departing from the practice, which is of long standing, that information and views exchanged at my meetings with the Chairmen are confidential. The Sunningdale Meeting took place on that basis and the participants are entitled to expect that the confidentiality of the papers and proceedings will be respected.

asked the Minister of Power what was the capital employed on the total sales of the British Steel Corporation for 1966–67 on which a 1·9 per cent. profit was made, after depreciation, but before interest charges; and how much depreciation and interest charges amounted to respectively.

The combined total of the share capital, long term loans and debentures and reserves shown in the accounts of the nationalised steel companies at the beginning of 1966–67 amounted to £1,228 million. The profit which gave rise to a return of 1·9 per cent. on this capital was arrived at after charging £70 million for depreciation. Interest charges on the long term loans and debentures came to £23·5 million.

asked the Minister of Power (1) whether he will take action, including legislation if necessary, to ensure that the miners made redundant by pit closures are protected from automatic rent increases consequent upon redundancy;(2) whether, in the light of the Prices and Incomes policy, he will hold a full inquiry into the system of rents and agreements with local authorities operated by the National Coal Board in respect of National Coal Board estates, with particular reference to the increase in rents charged to redundant miners who are tenants in such estates.

The fixing of rents on N.C.B. property is already governed by the relevant statutory controls and is within the framework of prices and incomes policy. An allowance for a rent increase may be payable under the Redundant Mineworkers' Payments Scheme and I am in touch with the National Coal Board about their rent policy in relation to this Scheme. Rent is also taken into account by the Department of Health and Social Security in fixing the amount of any Supplementary Benefit.

asked the Minister of Power why he has not replied to a request by the Worcestershire Coal Merchants' Association dated 9th October for clarification of the Government's policy for solid fuel.

A reply was sent on 6th November.

asked the Minister of Power what steps he is taking to ensure that the construction of the Pembroke power station provides maximum employment for persons from Pembrokeshire.

I understand from the Central Electricity Generating Board that their contractors make the maximum use of suitable available local labour on the construction of power stations and other large works.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, without prejudice to Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community, he will authorise a full examination of the proposals to create an open ended Free Trade Area comprising initially the United Kingdom, the United States of America, Canada and the European Free Trade Area countries.

No. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said in reply to Questions on the 21st March, there is no evidence that a North Atlantic Free Trade Area is a realistic present alternative to membership of the European Economic Community. In these circumstances the diversion of resources to a major feasibility study could not be justified.—[Vol. 761, c. 596–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will take steps to ensure that the Rhodesian passport will be re cognised for entry into this country while discussions are taking place with Mr. Ian Smith's Government with a view to reaching a Rhodesian settlement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Minister of State's recent visit to Tunisia; and what further schemes of technical and industrial operation are planned with Tunisia in the future.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs visited Tunisia from 8th to 11th October. He had discussions with President Bourguiba and with members of his Government on matters of mutual interest. These discussions took place in a most friendly atmosphere and I am sure have helped to strengthen the already excellent relations between the two countries. My right hon. Friend took the opportunity to refer to the readiness of Her Majesty's Government to give technical assistance and aid, on a modest scale, for the development of the Tunisian economy. The Ministry of Overseas Development are now considering, with the Tunisian Government, what form this assistance might take.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will identify the Government Departments incurring expenditure on their votes by reason of measures taken in regard to, or arising out of, the demonstration in London on Sunday, 27th October.

I will circulate a list in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what provision is made for the further education towards professional qualifications of those entering the clerical and executive grades in the public sector, with only O levels and with A levels, respectively.

The provision is of two kinds. The first covers external training in outside institutions leading to the acquisition of knowledge or skill which in a Department's opinion is necessary to qualify an officer, or is valuable in making him more efficient, in his present or potential duties. The second covers assistance by Departments to staff who wish to undertake external courses in approved subjects leading to a recognised educational or professional qualification, certificate or diploma, in circumstances where aid of the first kind is not appropriate.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many Ministerial posts were held in September, 1964; how many are held in November, 1968; and what are the annual costs in salaries on each of these two dates.

90 and 106. On salary costs, I would refer the hon. Member to the replies my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 24th October and 4th November.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many Ministers of State there were in the Administration in November, 1968, and in September, 1964; what were the respective totals of their salaries at those two dates; what are the individual salaries of those who hold office as Minister of State in November; and by what authority they are established.

The information is as follows: 23 and 16; £142,000 and £66,250. The individual salaries are:—

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what percentage of employees aged between 16 and 21 years is released one day per week in the Civil Service.

Seventy per cent. of the 10,200 staff in post at 31st July, 1968 who were under 18. Statistics are not available which relate specifically to the age group 18 to 21, but a substantial proportion of those in this category also go on day release and similar courses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further advice he has given to police authorities on the operation of breath tests; and if he will make a statement.

None since 28th July, 1967 when Home Office circular No. 129/1967, describing the provisions of Part I of the Road Safety Act, 1967, was issued to chief constables. A copy of the circular was placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants with British passports have been prevented from landing and staying to work or reside in Great Britain during the last three months.

If, as I assume my hon. and learned Friend is referring to United Kingdom passport holders to whom immigration control was extended by the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1968, the answer is "none".

asked the Postmaster- General whether it is with his authority that people posting football pool coupons in the Kidderminster area on a Monday or Tuesday have on at least two separate occasions been told by post office staff that there is no need to use a 5d. stamp because coupons are in any case kept until Friday and then despatched in bulk.

No, and I am not aware that any such advice has been given. These football pool coupons are despatched daily.

asked the Postmaster-General how many representations have been made to his Department for the provision of public telephone facilities at Hampton-in-Arden Railway Station; and if he will look at the matter again.

Fourteen. I am looking at the matter again and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will ascertain through the National Board for Prices and Incomes the percentage of profit made by both duty-free shops at airports and by United Kingdom airlines on cigarettes, wines and spirits.

No. These prices do not fall within the scope of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he has taken to find a tenant for the advance factory in Lochgelly, Fife.

Since its completion in June, 1968, the factory has been drawn to the attention of 11 firms, 2 of whom have visited it, but no firm application has been received. Every effort will continue to be made to find a suitable tenant.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now agree to the request of the British Airports Authority for the funds necessary to enable them to provide a second runway at Edinburgh Airport.

The airport belongs at present to the Board of Trade, not to the British Airports Authority. While the timing of the new runway is among the matters we are discussing with the Authority as potential owners of the airport the decision, which we hope to reach before long, is ours.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many passengers were affected in flights unable to land or take-off at Edinburgh Airport on Thursday, 31st October, and Friday, 1st November, 1968, due to cross-winds.

1,062 in the two-day period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to acquire the land necessary for the construction of a second runway at Edinburgh Airport.

The site is being safeguarded so as to ensure against any development taking place which might conflict with the use of this runway when built.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are his intentions with regard to ratifying the conventions drawn up at the Conference on Intellectual Property held in Stockholm last year.

The British delegation signed the revised Paris Convention on Industrial Property, the Madrid and Nice Agreements on False Indications of Origin and the Classification of Trade Marks, and the Convention establishing the World Intellectual Property Organisation. Her Majesty's Government intends to ratify these in the near future. The revised Berne Convention on copyright was not signed because of the Protocol allowing developing countries special latitude in the use of copyright works. Her Majesty's Government has no present intention of accepting this Protocol or the substantive provisions which go with it. It is, however, possible to accede to the administrative clauses of this Convention alone, and this Her Majesty's Government intends to do.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of employees aged between 16 and 21 years is released one day per week in local government and local authority services.

This information is not available in my Department. Of those under 18 employed in the whole field of public administration and defence, in November, 1967 79·1 per cent. were being released by their employers for part-time day courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs on which sector of the economy it is Government policy to lay primary emphasis in the encouragement of investment.

It is the Government's policy to lay primary emphasis on the encouragement of investment in manufacturing industry, because an increase in manufacturing investment is essential to the necessary improvement in industrial productivity and to the achievement of a balance of payments surplus.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity on what date the reference was made to the National Board for Prices and Incomes of the inquiry into salaries of senior management personnel; on what date the report is expected to be published; on what basis the 137 companies were chosen for the inquiry; and what firm of consultants have been employed to carry out this work.

The question of top salaries in the private sector and nationalised industries was referred to the Board on 1st July, 1968. The report is expected to be published in February, 1969. I understand that the Board have drawn a sample from among the largest companies, and approached all the nationalised industries. It is not the practice to disclose the names of consultants used by the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the estimated percentage increase in rates and earnings arising from the claim by shipping-off gangs who recently struck at the Royal Group of Docks; what issues of productivity and comparability are involved in the dispute; and if she will make a statement.

The claim is for increases in fall-back minimum payments for pieceworkers which the employers, the Port of London Authority, estimates would increase the average total earnings of the men concerned by between six and seven per cent. Negotiations, involving consideration of comparability and increased productivity, are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now publish the figures of emigration from Scotland in the year ended June, 1968; and if he will indicate the percentage variation in this figure compared with the years 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67, respectively.

The Registrar-General's estimate of the net loss by migration from Scotland in the year to June, 1968 is 33,000. This figure is 81, 77, 70 and 73 per cent. of the figures in 1963–64, 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, (1) if he will inquire into the decision of the National Coal Board substantially to increase rents in the county of Midlothian under the powers vested in him by Parliament;(2) if he will introduce legislation to improve the protection of tenants of National Coal Board houses.

I know of no power under which I can inquire into decisions of the National Coal Board about rents.Tenants of National Coal Board houses have the same protection under the Rent Acts as tenants of privately-owned houses. They cannot be evicted without a decree of removal from the Sheriff. Rents of controlled tenancies can be increased only by certain statutory amounts in respect of repairs or improvements. Rents of regulated tenancies can be increased only insofar as authorised through the fair rents machinery of the Rent Act, 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he is giving to local authorities regarding the construction and maintenance of multi-storey flats, in view of the report of the tribunal studying the Ronan Point accident.

A copy of the report of the Tribunal of Inquiry has been sent to each housing authority. A circular giving further advice about the appraisal and, where necessary, the strengthening of existing blocks, and about the design of new blocks, will follow as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given about domestic coal heating in the county of Midlothian to the Scottish Special Housing Association.

I have given no special advice relating to Midlothian. The choice of the form of heating in new houses built by public housing authorities is a matter for each authority, subject to the appropriate minimum standards being satisfied and, in the case of coal-fired heating appliances, to their being capable of burning smokeless fuels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to lake steps to improve communications between Aberdeen and the west and north of Scotland; and if he will state his relevant plans.

The provision of transport services between Aberdeen and the west and north of Scotland is primarily a matter for the transport operators concerned. Financial assistance will be available under the Transport Act, 1968 for rural bus and ferry services, and for unremunerative railway passenger services which are socially or economically necessary. As for road improvements, I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the answer I gave him on 8th May, 1968.—[Vol. 764, c. 87–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the number of prisoners released from each of Her Majesty's prisons in Scotland under the parole scheme since it was inaugurated.

The figures up to today are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether a final report is now available from the Boundaries Commission in Scotland.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 23rd October to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes.)—Vol. 770, c. 278.]

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with the consideration of plans for the proposed D ring road so far as they affect the constituency of the hon. Member for Harrow, East; and if he will state the reasons for the delay in reaching a decision.

This has been a most complex problem but we hope to announce a decision within the next few days.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many mentally sub-normal children attend special schools in Bedfordshire; and what plans he has to increase the number of available places.

There are 116 mentally sub-normal children attending junior training centres. I understand that work will start next year on a new centre and that another will follow which will increase the number of places to 166. Questions about places in special schools for the educationally sub-normal are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the respective expenditure per head of the population on the health and welfare services in England, Scotland, and Wales and Monmouthshire.

The estimated expenditure in 1967–68 was £30 12s. 6d., £34 2s. 6d. and £31 14s. 8d. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the Government's policy of encouraging participation in government by the people and the various organisations representing their interests, he will give an undertaking that in cases where cuts in the social services are to be made persons and organisations concerned should be invited to make representations before a final decision is made; and whether he will adopt this system in respect of the restriction on free school meals.

On the very rare occasions when social services are cut it is not only the interests of recipients which are involved. The interests of the population as a whole have also to be considered, and for this purpose I think our well-established processes of Parliamentary democracy are the most appropriate. The Ministers concerned are, of course, at all times ready to consider any representations which organisations representing beneficiaries or other particular interests may wish to make.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will seek power to issue directives to local authorities in Scotland to implement that part of the Transport Act dealing with travel concessionary fares for retired people.

No. The provision in the Transport Act extends considerably the powers of local authorities to help elderly people in this way. It meets their expressed desire to have wider discretionary powers than those available under the Travel Concessions Acts.