asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many confidential reports have been submitted to him by the North West Regional Economic Planning Council since its inception; to whom have the contents of these reports been disclosed; and whether hon. Members for the constituencies affected will have an opportunity to examine such reports.

Confidential advice from the North West Economic Planning Council has been received by Ministers on numerous subjects. Such advice is not disclosed outside Government as full and frank reports from the Councils are more likely if this remains the practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether the Humber Feasibility Study, which he has now received, supports the project of the Humber Bridge; and whether he is able to give a target date for the commencement of this scheme.

The arguments and conclusions of the Study including matters of timing are an inter-related whole and it would be wrong for me to comment on individual aspects at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what studies are being undertaken as to the effectiveness of the various forms of Government aid to the Northern Development Area, in view of the continued heavy unemployment there.

Some of the Government's measures of assistance to the development areas have only been in operation for a comparatively short time, and their impact cannot yet be measured in full. Nevertheless, my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade is undertaking an inquiry into the factors which affect the location decisions of firms, and this should throw some light on the effectiveness of the various forms of Government aid to the development areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what proposals he has for the Industrial Re organisation Corporation to raise capital on the market.

None. The Corporation has no power at present to raise long-term capital on the market. The passage of the Miscellaneous Financial Provisions Bill would enable it to raise such capital in currencies other than sterling. It will be for the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation to decide what use to make of this power.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will initiate a scheme whereby a mini mum percentage of Government contracts and contracts from nationalised industries are given to firms situated in development areas and in Northern Ireland.

No. Firms in development areas and in Northern Ireland, however, continue to benefit under the Government contracts preference scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs in view of the high rate of unemployment in the North-East, what special effort is pro posed to deal with the situation.

In my reply to the hon. Member for the Hartlepools (Mr. Leadbitter) on 17th October, I referred to the wide range of measures now being taken by the Government.—[Vol. 770, c. 155.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether, in view of the disparity between new public investment in construction per head of population in the North-West and in other regions, he is satisfied that the North-West is receiving a sufficient share of resources available for investment; and if he will make a statement.

This point is raised in the Strategy II document of the North West Economic Planning Council which, as I told the hon. Member for Blackpool, South (Mr. Blaker) earlier, the Secretary of State and I hope to discuss with the Council. I should, however, make it clear that investment per head is not a sufficient criterion for making regional comparisons.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what other industries he estimates have an equivalent or greater import saving potential than agriculture.

It would not be meaningful to rank industries in the way that is suggested in the Question. Such a ranking would need to take account not only of the potential import savings, but also of the costs of realising them.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what are his estimates of increased productivity per worker over recent years in agriculture and in other industries having a larger increase than in agriculture.

Output per head in agriculture has been rising at an average rate of 6 to 7 per cent. over the past decade. This is well above the average rate for the economy as a whole or in manufacturing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost per job of the 100,000 new jobs in the development areas forecast by his Department.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the estimate about the long-term effect of the Regional Employment Premium. This calculation suggested that 100,000 jobs might arise over 3–5 years. On this basis, the cost would be from £3,000–£5,000 per job.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what is the Government's policy regarding the imposition of toll-charges on bridges in development areas.

The policy applied in development areas is the same as that adopted for all other parts of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will ask each regional planning council to make a special survey of land held by public corporations which might be released for general industrial development.

No. The function of the regional Economic Planning Councils is to advise on broad regional economic planning issues. The availability of land for industrial development is a physical planning matter and one primarily for the local planning authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement on the talks between the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation and the major fishing interests.

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

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state the expected reduction in manpower in the Post Office as a result of the introduction of post codes.

As I told the hon. Gentleman in answer to his Question on 25th July, we cannot yet be precise about the manpower saving which will result from the use of automatic code-sorting machines, but the investment will be worthwhile.—[Vol. 769, c. 952.]

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on his actions to improve the two-tier postal system.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my speech in the debate on 4th November.—[Vol. 772, c. 617–18.]

asked the Postmaster-General how many overtime hours were worked by postmen in the most recent week for which figures are available; and how this compares with the average overtime hours worked in a representative week before the introduction of the two-tier service for letters.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dudley (Mr. Donald Williams) on 7th November.—[Vol. 772, c. 149.]

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain the reasons why a letter posted in Battersea, S.W.11, at 8.30 a.m. on 2nd November was not delivered to London, N.13, until the second delivery on 5th November, details of which have been supplied to him.

This second class letter was correctly delivered on the second working day after posting.

asked the Postmaster-General what consideration he has given to the provision of a sub-post office on the Atherstone, North, housing estate.

This matter was fully considered last month after the hon. Member and the clerk to the Atherstone Rural District Council had written to my right hon. Friend about it. He is satisfied that a sub-post office on the housing estate is not justified at present.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the 10s. book of stamps is used mainly by private persons, he will reduce the proportion of 5d. to 4d. stamps from 12 to 14 to 8 to 18.

No. Our checks indicate that private correspondents use the First Class service for about 40 per cent. of their mail so that the present balance of stamps in the 10s. book is not unreasonable.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he will instruct the Postmaster at Young Street Post Office, Kensington, W.8, to endeavour to maintain a supply of information leaflets for aid to the general public;(2) if he will ask the Postmaster at Young Street, Post Office, Kensington, W.8, to instruct his staff not to be offensive to members of the public who ask for guidance concerning the new postal rates, because the containers normally housing such leaflets are empty.

My enquiries at Young Street Post Office have not disclosed any knowledge of the shortcomings to which my hon. Friend has referred. If he will give me additional details I will look into the matter further.

asked the Postmaster-General why his Department has not taken out a Giro account number; and whether, in view of the advantages in opening an account, he will now do so.

Every head postmaster and every telephone manager has a Giro account: we have a number of other accounts also for special purposes. If my hon. Friend is having any particular difficulty, and will let me know about it, I will have it put right.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants are still awaiting the installation of telephones in the Petersfield constituency.

272 at 31st October, 1968, mainly in Petersfield and Alton exchange areas. All except three who are awaiting the completion of a new housing estate should have service by about the end of April.

asked the Postmaster-General what consideration he has given to the installation of telephones free of charge in the homes of physically disabled persons living alone; and what conclusion he has reached.

I have much sympathy with the disabled and other deserving people, but concessionary charges by the Post Office are not an appropriate way of dealing with this problem.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent telephone subscribers are being asked general knowledge questions in connection with checking faults in the telephone system; and if he will make a statement.

In connection with research into human factors in the use of the telephone, a small sample of the population has been interviewed by a market research organisation. As is usual in surveys of this character a few general questions were included.

asked the Postmaster-General for how long a telephone has to be out of order before the subscriber qualifies for a reduction in the standing charge.

There is no minimum period of lost service before a rental rebate may be allowed. Interruptions to service are comparatively rare, on average about one every 2 years. When they occur 80 per cent. of failures are cleared in the working day on which they are reported and over 95 per cent. by the end of the next working day. The value of the rental rebate for a short interruption would be trivial.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware of the growing practice of the House of Commons' telephonists accepting calls, asking to whom caller wishes to be connected and then leaving the caller for as long as 15 minutes with no knowledge as to whether or not his line has been connected; and whether he will take action to ensure that this practice ceases immediately.

House of Commons telephonists, accepting incoming calls, are instructed to tell callers at regular frequent intervals if there is not an immediate reply from the number they want, or if it is engaged. I am sorry if my hon. Friend has recently had a particular difficulty. It was probably caused by a failure outside the control of the House of Commons telephonists.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will state the total number of local authorities in Wales, at county, county borough, borough, urban and rural district levels and the total number of councillors and aldermen in each case; and what estimate he has made of the reduction of these numbers that will be brought about by his proposals for local government reform.

The details of present membership are given below. As for the future, in advance of detailed discussions about electoral arrangements under reorganisation no precise estimate can be given of future local authority membership but reductions will certainly occur in county and district council membership.There are at present 13 county councils on which serve totals of 233 aldermen and 717 councillors; 4 county borough councils with 55 aldermen and 165 councillors; 32 non-county borough councils with 166 aldermen and 498 councillors; 73 urban district councils with 1,203 councillors; and 59 rural district councils with 1,445 councillors.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will state the increased numbers of staff now responsible to him following upon the new definitions of the terms of his office.

The staff will be increased by about 220.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales on what grounds his predecessor refused to accept Mr. W. H. Rose's undertaking to the Anglesey County Council that the two small sheds at Caerffynnon, Rhoscefnhir, would not be used as sub-standard residential accommodation.

The undertaking was not a material factor which could be taken into account in the decisions on the relevant appeals. The appeals were decided strictly on their planning merits, and the reasons were set out in the decision letter dated 29th February, 1968, a copy of which was sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why his predecessor upheld the enforcement order of the Anglesey planning authority against Mr. W. H. Rose, of Caerffynnon, Anglesey, in the matter of two small sheds, containing amenities superior to those demanded by the residential caravan licence granted by the Anglesey Council, when the order went beyond the proper function and powers of the authority.

The enforcement notice was upheld for the reasons set out in the decision letter dated 5th October, 1966, a copy of which has been sent to the hon. Member. The only appeal against the decision would be to the High Court on a point of law under Section 180 of the Town and Country Planning Act, 1962, and would need to be made within twenty-eight days of the decision, unless the time was extended by the Court.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what the total financial loss has been over the past four years to the affected local authorities through the loss of rates consequent upon colliery closures in Wales and Monmouthshire; and what new industries have been established to counterbalance these losses to the rating authorities.

There has been no financial loss through loss of rates. Any rate losses have been made good by rate deficiency grant or the resources element of rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to improve the Abergavenny—Raglan road and the extension of the Heads of the Valleys road.

Preliminary plans for the improvement of the Abergavenny—Raglan Road have been prepared. The western extension of the Heads of the Valleys Road by the Glyn Neath by-pass is already in the trunk road programme and work should start in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the total cost of making changes in the books and equipment in schools and universities necessary to implement the Government's decision to introduce decimal currency; and if he intends to give additional grants to cover this cost.

The change to decimal currency is not expected to affect university expenditure significantly. Expenditure by local education authorities on books and equipment is eligible for rate support grant. I have not asked authorities to make separate estimates of costs attributable to decimalisation most of which, I hope, can be met from their normal programmes for the replacement of books and equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will authorise a special grant to the Cornwall County Council for the improvement of primary and junior schools in the Bodmin division.

Resources for the improvement of old schools are limited and conditions at Bodmin do not warrant special treatment. But I have authorised the start of a new primary school there in 1969–70 which will provide extra places and also improve conditions in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many colleges of further education operate courses in the ordinary national certificate in public administration; and how many students have been enrolled in the current year.

Courses leading to the Ordinary National Certificate in Public Administration, under the management of the Joint Committee for Awards in Business Studies, were introduced in the colleges for the first time in September, 1968. So far 73 Colleges have applied to the Joint Committee for approval to run such courses; 27 have been approved to start this year, and two to start next year. I understand that most of the remainder are likely to receive approval.Details of the numbers of students enrolled are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give a breakdown, English region by region, of the £2,280,000 allocated by the Arts Council in 1968–69, including a separate regional population basis and a comparison with Scotland and Wales, separately.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will circularise local authorities advising them during the period of winter darkness to start the school day at an appropriately later hour; and if he will list those local authorities in Northumberland and Durham who have adopted such a practice.

Local education authorities can fix the timing of the school day to suit local conditions. I have not asked them to inform me about any changes. I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Trans- port what further advice can be given to authorities about traffic dangers to children travelling to school in the dark.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what grants are paid to assist ballet in England. Scotland and Wales, respectively.

The Arts Council's allocation of grant in 1968–69 to ballet companies based in England is £236,000. In addition, part of the grant of £1,250,000 to the Royal Opera House is for the work of the Royal Ballet. The Council are also making grants totalling £35,000 to the Royal Ballet School and the Institute of Choreology.There are no ballet companies resident in Scotland or Wales. Touring in these countries is undertaken by companies based in England, including the Royal Ballet.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, when the National Board for Prices and Incomes propose to publish their Report on University Teachers' Remuneration.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to the hon. Members for Southampton, Test (Mr. R. C. Mitchell) and Hornsey (Mr. Rossi) on 24th October, 1968.—[Vol. 770, c. 325.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether, in view of the fact that the claim for a revision of university teachers' salary scales has been with the National Board for Prices and Incomes since 1st November, 1967 and, in view of the concern of university teachers at this delay, which is causing teachers to leave the universities for positions in industry, he will take steps to speed the report.

I refer my hon. Friend to my written reply on 11th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris).—[Vol. 773, c. 39.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) to what extent it is his policy to permit compulsory drilling, marching, daily inspections, sentry duty and other forms of military training to be imposed upon students training for the Merchant Navy at technical colleges; and if he will make a statement;(2) what are the requirements of the Merchant Navy in respect of students who are trained at technical colleges; whether these include military training; and if he will make a statement.

The education, training and discipline for students of nautical subjects in colleges of further education are matters for the local education authorities and the governing bodies of the colleges concerned. The authorities have regard to the statutory requirements bearing on qualifications and take into account the wishes of the shipping companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will investigate all forms of training of a military type, imposed upon students training for the Merchant Navy in technical colleges or similar establishments under his control.

I do not think this is necessary. My Department keeps in touch with colleges training students for the Merchant Navy through Her Majesty's Inspectors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what agreements he has made with shipping companies concerning the measure of supervision exercised over students at technical colleges under his control by the companies who contribute to the cost of training such students for service in the Merchant Navy.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give a detailed list of the outside persons and organisations with whom he discussed the question of the curb on free school meals; and whether he will publish a summary of the views of those concerned.

The decision to withdraw free school meals from children of large families, irrespective of their parents' income, was a Government decision and was not discussed beforehand with outside bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the means test will operate with regard to the granting of free school meals to children; and whether this means test will be carried out by the local education authorities.

Local education authorities will continue to provide free meals to children of parents who are unable to pay the charge without financial hardship in the same manner as they have done for over 20 years. Income scales for this purpose, approved by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, which are at present in use in respect of families of less than four children, will come into use for these larger families also next April.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated number of pupils in primary and secondary schools in Hartlepool for 1969 and 1970.

Approximate estimates for January, 1969 are 11,450 pupils in primary and 7,150 in secondary schools. The corresponding figures for 1970 are 11,750 and 7,850.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to require the organisers of demonstrations that are likely to attract more than 50 supporters to pay a deposit in advance in order to defray the estimated cost to public funds of employing additional security forces.

I have nothing to add to my replies to similar Questions on 7th November.—[Vol. 772, c. 1051–54.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the Parole Board as to the circumstances in which Kenneth John Clark was released on licence in April, 1968 and as to the medical reports available to the Board at the time that the decision was made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether in view of the remarks of the judge at Bristol Assizes on 5th November, he will call for a report on the circumstances in which Kenneth John Clark was released after two years of his four-year sentence; and whether psychiatric assessments are made in such cases.

I have been informed of the facts in this case. Medical and psychiatric reports were available which showed the prognosis to be good. I very much regret these serious offences. Nevertheless I am satisfied that all the relevant factors were carefully considered by the Local Review Committee, and the Parole Board before reaching a conclusion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has yet considered the Resolution, sent to him, which was passed at the National Conference of Voluntary Aid Service, on 20th October, 1968, concerning the former Civil Defence Corps and Auxiliary Fire Service; what reply he has sent; and what action he proposes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr) on 7th November and to my speech in the debate on the Motion for Adjournment on 12th November.—[Vol. 772, c. 133; Vol. 773, c. 292.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many maintenance orders were made in each of the years 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967;

I regret that these particulars are not available. I am writing to my hon. Friend giving him such inforation as I can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to ensure that the Metropolitan Police enforce the law when members of the police force are involved in law breaking.

There is no need: that is already the practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of all British subjects at present detained or believed to be detained in China, together with the initial date of detention in each case.

I have nothing to add to the list which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave in reply to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs Davison) on 14th October.—[Vol. 770, c. 16–17.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his latest talks with leaders of the illegal régime in Rhodesia; and what plans he has for continuing these discussions at a later date.

I have nothing to add to the answer my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wandsworth, Central (Dr. David Kerr) and other hon. Members on 12th November.—[Vol. 773, c. 200–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to public funds for the delegation of 100 Members of Parliament to attend the meeting held in The Hague on the weekend of 9th and 10th November, 1968.

The total cost was £1,878.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the cost to public funds for the delegation of Members of Parliament which attended the meeting held in The Hague on 9th and 10th November; and if he will list those Members in respect of whose attendance public funds were spent.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Swain) today.I understand that the parliamentarians from both Houses who attended the meeting held in The Hague on 8th and 9th November and whose travelling expenses were met from public funds were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what purposes the Minister without Portfolio made his recent visit to Ascension Island.

It was not practicable to rely on scheduled flights for my right hon. Friend and his party. A Service aircraft was therefore used and this had to refuel en route. Ascension Island was the most convenient stop.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what talks he has had with the Chairman of the South Atlantic Trading and Investment Company concerning the proposed purchase of St. Helena by the Company; and if he will make a statement.(2) what communications he has had from the Governor of St. Helena about the proposed sale of the island.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr. Newens) on 11th November.—[Vol. 773, c. 21–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs for what reasons he granted a British passport to Mr. Tony Thornton, a South African citizen, and Chairman of the South Atlantic Trading and Investment Company.

Mr. Thornton was granted a United Kingdom passport because he is a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies by virtue of his birth in this country. His subsequent acquisition of South African citizenship does not cause him to lose that status.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what calculation he has made of the effect of inadequate facilities at Edinburgh Airport on the long-term growth of the Scottish economy.

The White Paper on the Scottish Economy fully recognised the part which Edinburgh Airport could play in the expansion of industry and population in East Central Scotland. The further development of the airport is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade, with whom I am in close and continuous touch.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now assessed the results of the experiments in the use of helicopters for police work; and if he will now report his conclusions to the House.

A report from the Research and Development Branch of the Home Office on the experiments involving the use of helicopters in support of police forces carried out in four areas of Great Britain, one of which was in Scotland, between November, 1967 and July, 1968 is expected early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount of financial assistance given to local authorities for the clearing of derelict areas in Scotland in the years 1965–66, 1966–67 and 1967–68; and what was the percentage of the total cost met by the local authorities for this purpose.

£376,818 in 1965–66; £432,316 in 1966–67 and £358,090 in 1967–68. Local authorities meet 15 per cent. of the net cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total yield from local authority rates in Scotland in the years 1966–67 and 1967–68.

£144·2 million in 1966–67; and an estimated £146·3 million in 1967–68.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will authorise the Scottish Special Housing Association to provide houses for locally resident key workers in certain areas of housing shortage;

The provision of houses for employees is a valuable means of facilitating the establishment or growth of industry in an area, but it must be used with discretion. While it is usually restricted to incoming workers, there are occasions when both local authorities and the Scottish Special Housing Association allocate houses to key employees already resident in the area and I do not think they need further advice on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, what is now the percentage of male unemployed in the Girvan area of South Ayrshire; and what steps she is taking to reduce it.

On 14th October, 1968, the percentage rate of males wholly unemployed in the Girvan Employment Exchange area was 9·5. This is one of the five special areas in Scotland where there are additional inducements to industrial expansion. My local officers will continue their efforts to help those unemployed to find suitable work and training opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is now the current rate of unemployment in each of the main industrial areas within the Yorkshire and Humberside Region; and how this position compares with that of three months ago and at the beginning of the year.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress she has made with the establishment of the Footwear, Leather and Fur Skin Industry Training Board.

I have laid an Order today establishing this Board to take effect from 27th November. The following have accepted my invitation to become members of the Board:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many of the references at present being considered by the National Board for Prices and Incomes relate to wages and salaries, and how many relate to price rises.

The National Board for Prices and Incomes is at present considering 19 references (including two standing instructions). Of these three relate to prices and 16 (including the two standing instructions) relate to wages and salaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the practice of certain manufacturers of imposing price rises through the marginal reduction of the weight of items sold to the public.

Weight reductions which have equivalent effect to price increases are subject to the same considerations and supervision as direct price increases. I see no reason to make a special reference to the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will take steps to provide conciliation facilities with a view to resolving the dispute between the Boilermakers' Society and the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders so as to prevent the strike of boilermaker tradesmen which is planned to take place on 18th November.

My officers are keeping in close touch with developments and are prepared to give whatever help they can in resolving this dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in which employment areas, outside development areas, have the figures for unemployment for the past three months or more exceeded 44½ per cent. and 5 per cent., respectively.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is aware of the decision by British Leyland Motor Corporation to close down Henry Meadows Limited of Wolverhampton; and whether she will take action to ensure that the equipment is not left idle, and so safeguard the jobs of the employees.

I am aware of the decision. The disposal of the equipment is a matter for British Leyland Motor Corporation and my Department has no powers to intervene. As the closure of the factory is to be phased between February and May, 1969 and the employees have received early warning, I am hopeful that the majority will be able to find other jobs without any lengthy gap in employment. My local officers will do all they can to help.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his policy regarding the development and expansion of private airline operators on scheduled and charter services.

Within the framework of the present licensing arrangements our aim is to encourage the opening up of new markets which give the opportunity for sound development in civil aviation and to maintain the existing balance in the industry until we have seen and considered the Report of the Edwards Committee.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the promised Government White Paper on Mergers and Monopolies, which is six months behind schedule, is being further delayed; why he proposes that the Monopolies Commission should be transferred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and when a decision will be announced.

No Government White Paper has been promised, nor have I made the proposal mentioned in the Question.In my reply to the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Dudley Smith) on 6th November, I said that I was engaged on a review of the working of the Monopolies Commission. This review is still continuing.—[Vol. 772, c.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will give the total value of all United Kingdom exports in United States dollars in the first two quarters of 1967 and the first three quarters of 1968, giving each quarter separately;(2) if he will give the value of United Kingdom imports in terms of United

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many factories are at present standing empty in the West Midlands; and if he will list these in the OFFICIAL REPORT, giving the number of factories in each town and the amount of factory space in square feet involved.

I regret the information is not available as no records are maintained of empty factory premises.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the fact that 23982048 Corporal M. B. Hall has voluntarily surrendered to the authorities, he will now give favourable consideration to his application to purchase his discharge from the Army.

Corporal Hall's absence without leave and subsequent voluntary surrender is a separate matter from his application to purchase his discharge. Each matter will be dealt with on its own merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many acres are now held by his Department in Wales; and how many he estimates will become redundant as army training establishments are reorganised.

About 53,500 acres. It is too early yet to forecast the full effect of the reorganisation of army training establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about improvements in the United Kingdom contribution to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, in the light of events in Czechoslovakia.

As part of a collective effort to strengthen the defensive forces of the Alliance, we have decided to make a number of further improvements in the United Kingdom contribution to N.A.T.O. in addition to those announced in May and July this year.2. We are re-arranging the planned naval deployment programme so that our maritime presence in the Mediterranean will include an aircraft carrier or commando ship or assault ship, almost continuously from January, 1969.3. We also propose to allocate to the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force a small number of personnel to meet a longstanding requirement for satisfactory voice communication facilities, and we have indicated our willingness to make available to N.A.T.O., at least for the next two years or so, a further infantry battalion subject to the negotiation of a suitable role.4. We are also planning to arrange for early next year an exercise on the northern flank by part of 3 Division and aircraft of No. 38 Group, the formations which we committed to N.A.T.O. earlier this year.5. Finally, we have decided to order a small additional number of Harrier aircraft so that we can assign to N.A.T.O. a further squadron which will be based in Germany.6. No increase in the planned Defence Budget will arise from these proposals but the change in naval deployments will involve increased foreign exchange expenditure of £½ million in 1969 and £⅓ million in 1970.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has received from the Historic Buildings Council for England on ways of finding new uses for historic buildings; and what action he has taken.

In their 1966 and 1967 reports, the Historic Buildings Council drew attention to the importance of this problem and to the work of the Historic Buildings Bureau. The scope and work of the bureau have now been extended and the importance of helping to find new uses for historic buildings is being emphasised in a circular about to be issued to local authorities. I shall send the hon. Member a copy of the circular, which deals with historic buildings and conservation in relation to the new Town and Country Planning Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to announce his decision on the proposed potash development in Cleveland.

My right hon. Friend hopes to issue this decision in the next few days.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what further fiscal incentive he will propose to encourage the occupation of empty council and private accommodation.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals to make in this field at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement about his proposed discussions with the London Borough of Harrow concerning their building programme.

These discussions are proposed as part of a general series with local authorities in London this month on the scope for planning their housing programmes over the next few years to continue the attack on the serious housing problems which still face them.

asked the Minister of Power what is his estimate for the import of oil in 1973, 1974 and 1975, using 1968 as 100.

I cannot usefully add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Midlothian (Mr. Eadie) on 5th November.—[Vol. 772, c. 44.]

asked the Minister of Power what price he estimates will be paid per ton of oil in the next seven years.

I would refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 53 of Cmnd. 3439.

asked the Minister of Power what effect he estimates oil imports will have on our balance of payments by 1975.

This will depend on the growth of oil consumption, much of which is for uses where oil has no real substitute.

asked the Minister of Power what effect he estimates further imports of oil will have on the programming of nuclear energy, natural gas and coal.

Oil is essential for some purposes, such as transport, where increasing use has no effect on other fuels. In other markets increasing use of natural gas and, to some extent, nuclear power, will check the growth of oil, rather than vice versa.

asked the Minister of Power what safety factors in the nuclear energy industry he proposes should be fixed by statute; and if he will make a statement.

The Nuclear Installations Act, 1965 already makes satisfactory provision in this respect.

asked the Minister of Power what are his plans for, and what is the estimated cost of, the disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear power stations.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Ince (Mr. McGuire) on 12th December, 1967.—[Vol. 756, c. 78.]

asked the Minister of Power, what safety precautions are proposed to protect the population in the event of a serious accident at any nuclear power station.

I am considering publishing a White Paper on nuclear siting policy.

asked the Minister of Power, whether he is now preparing a new estimate of energy production; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Mr. Kelley) and the hon. Member for Honiton (Mr. Emery) on 5th November.—[Vol. 772, c. 667.]

asked the Minister of Power what is the forecast estimate of the cost of electricity produced from nuclear power in 1975.

A nuclear station to be commissioned in 1975 could be expected to have lower costs than the estimate for Hartlepool of 0·52d. a unit.

asked the Minister of Power, what is the amount of public money involved in the production of nuclear energy.

The gross investment by the Central Electricity Generating Board in nuclear power stations at 31st March, 1968, was £640 million and initial fuel £69 million. The Atomic Energy Authority's investment is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology.

asked the Minister of Power (1) why the forecast estimated cost of coal in 1974 was not taken into consideration before the Seaton Carew decision was made;(2) how the price of electricity which will be produced at Seaton Carew from nuclear energy compares with electricity produced from coal using the forecast estimate of coal as a raw material for 1974.

Account was taken of possible reductions in future coal costs, but the advantage of nuclear remained substantial.

asked the Minister of Power what he estimates will be the price of natural gas to the consumer, industrial and domestic, in 1975.

My right hon. Friend expects that the real price will on average be substantially lower than the present price of town's gas, but cannot forecast by how much.

asked the Minister of Power what will be the total cost to the taxpayer for the natural gas programme from start to finish.

The only costs likely to fall on the taxpayer will be those incurred in the issue of licences and in the other administrative work related to the programme. These will be far outweighed by receipts through royalty payments and fees.