asked the Minister of Technology what requests he has received for research and development grants or contracts from industries and companies in the Millom area; and if he will make a statement.

None, apart from the application of the Millom Hematite Ore and Iron Company Limited for a grant towards the development of spray steel making.

asked the Minister of Technology what arrangements are being made to extend the credit facilities available to shipowners ordering new vessels from British yards.

We hope to be able to make a statement on this matter very shortly.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will take steps to make available increased funds for the shipbuilders' home credit scheme.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to a similar Question today.

asked the Minister of Technology whether, in view of the expense and time factors involved, he will now make a statement as to Her Majesty's Government's intentions regarding the statutory enforcement of a system of metricated measurement.

General statutory enforcement of metric measurement is not intended. I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement on 26th July.—[Vol. 769, c. 1167–71.]

asked the Minister of Technology how many scientists and how many engineers and technologists have entered and left Great Britain in 1967 and in the first six months of 1968.

Full details are not available, but our best estimate of the number of persons with qualifications in science who left the United Kingdom in 1967 is 4,400. Of these, 2,100 had been occupied in scientific work and were thus comparable with the "scientist" category used in the Report of the Working Group on Migration; the remainder had qualifications in science but were occupied in other work such as teaching and management. The total inflow was estimated at 3,000, of whom about 800 were scientists by occupation.The emigration of engineers and technologists in 1967 is estimated at 5,300, and immigration at 1,700.Data from the International Passenger Survey—a stratified random sample of all passengers entering and leaving the United Kingdom—suggest that for the first half of 1968 emigration was about 25 per cent. down, and immigration roughly unchanged, as compared with the first half of 1967.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the total number of qualified scientists and engineers presently employed by his Department; what percentage of this total was recruited during the most recent year for which figures are available; and what percentage has left the service of his Department to work outside Government and nationalised industry during the same period.

Approximately 4,100. Of this total 4 per cent. were recruited during the year ended 30th September, 1968. During the same period 2 per cent. left the service of my Department to work outside government and nationalised industry.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the negotiations on European space policy in which he took part in Bonn at the beginning of November.

The European Space Conference reached broad agreement on the concept of a unified European space organisation, on the objectives of European space policy, and on the principle that only those countries who wished to do so need participate in future launcher development programmes.The Conference agreed on the continuation of E.S.R.O. for a further three years with an increased budget. It endorsed the united European position agreed in C.E.T.S. for the forthcoming Intelsat negotiations.The Conference agreed in principle on an applications satellite programme, though decisions on the first project will not be taken until next Spring; it also agreed on the use of a limited number of European launchers for European scientific and applications purposes, at prices substantially subsidised by the countries supporting launcher development.The United Kingdom made it clear that it wished to see a switch of resources from expensive launcher development to the field of applications satellites, which we consider to be technologically and commercially more interesting. For this reason we stated that our participation in the applications programme and in the arrangements for the use of European launchers was conditional upon release from our present financial commitments to E.L.D.O.Although much difficult negotiation lies ahead, a good deal of support was expressed for our approach based on economic considerations, and I think that we made a useful start in establishing a sound basis for future European space activities.

asked the Minister of Technology what action is being taken by the Shipbuilding Industry Board about marine engineering.

The Shipbuilding Industry Board continues to promote the concentration of the manufacture of large main engines and will provide financial assistance where appropriate under the Shipbuilding Industry Act.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give details of his plans to encourage the use of modern inventions by the Shipbuilding Industry Board.

The Shipbuilding Industry Board are well aware of the importance of the use of modern methods to the industry's competitive power which they are charged to promote.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the machinery for cooperation between his Department and the Department of Education and Science.

The machinery for cooperation between my Department and the Department of Education and Science on matters of common concern is the usual one of both formal and informal contacts at all levels and cross-representation on committees.

asked the Minister of Technology what are his proposals with regard to the reorganisation of the nuclear industry, in particular with regard to the future position of Atomic Energy Authority staff in relation to such reorganisation; and if he will make a statement.

In implementing the proposals for the reorganisation of the nuclear industry, set out in my statement of 17th July, careful consideration is being given to the position of Atomic Energy Authority staff. Many consultations with staff and trade union representatives have taken place, and these will continue.—[Vol. 768, c. 1428–38.]

asked the Minister of Technology what further measures the Government propose to take to ensure that more scientific research is directed to industrial purposes.

This is a main objective of the Ministry's research policy. We are pursuing it in many ways, among them recasting the programmes of our civil research stations, and in the case of some of our defence research establishments, setting up Industrial Applications Units charged with selling the results of the stations' work to industry.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the contribution at present being made to export and import substitution in the field of electrical machinery, apparatus and appliances as a result of rationalisation and mergers in the British electrical and electronic industries.

It is not possible either to quantify this contribution or to time its effect. Rationalisation and successful mergers are aimed at promoting higher utilisation of industrial resources, more concentrated R. & D. and marketing effort, and more competitive prices. Exports and import substitution should both benefit from this process.

asked the Minister of Technology when he intends to present to the House his written observations on the Report of the Select Committee on Science and Technology on the subject of the United Kingdom Nuclear Reactor Programme, dated 25th October, 1967, House of Commons Paper No. 381-XVII.

I have written to the Chairman of the Select Committee about the Committee's recommendations which are of concern to me. My letter is being studied by the members of the Select Committee, who are considering its publication.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will purchase for evaluation by the services a supply of the expendable/optionally re-usable parachutes recently demonstrated to officials of his Department.

Officials are in close touch with the manufacturer about these parachutes and a demonstration was given to the Services on 14th November. Further discussions are now taking place between the two Departments.

asked the Minister of Technology what plans he has for promoting further amalgamations in the shipbuilding and shiprepairing industry; and how he is seeking to bring them about.

The Shipbuilding Industry Board will continue to promote shipbuilding mergers and provide financial assistance where necessary under the Shipbuilding Industry Act. Shiprepair is not covered by the Act and I have no present plan for promoting particular amalgamations in that field.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the latest strength of the Civil Service, compared with its strength at the end of January, 1968.

470,890 non-industrial staff on 1st November, 1968, compared with 467,700 in 1st January, 1968. I regret that comparable figures are not available for the end of January.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is aware that 22 per cent. of the British working population is employed in the public sector, as compared with 15 per cent. in the United States of America, 11 per cent. in West Germany and 6 per cent. in Japan; and what steps his department is taking to reduce the proportion of the working population employed in the public sector in Great Britain.

Such international comparisons are technically difficult and can be misleading because of the varying extent of the public sector. Steps have been taken to stabilise the size of the Civil Service during 1968–69; it represents about 1·8 per cent. of the working population. In the rest of the public sector the Departments concerned are fully aware of the need to economise in the employment of manpower.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will list the areas in which cuts in Civil Service staffing are now planned in order that there may be compliance with Her Majesty's Government's policy that there should be no further net increase in the number of civil servants as a whole over the year 1968–69.

Reductions of staff are being made, in the Ministry of Defence and savings are being made wherever possible elsewhere which will offset the unavoidable increases in other Departments.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, what proposals he has for the creation of a Civil Service College.

I have nothing to add at present to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said last week in the debate on the Fulton Report.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what progress has been made in setting up a new Civil Service college.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) earlier today.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what proposals he has for a study to work out the details, including the number of grades and the system of job evaluation appropriate to the Civil Service, of a scheme for a unified grading structure.

I would invite the attention of my hon. Friend to the relevant passage of my right hon. Friend's speech in the House during the debate on 21st November.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is aware that many Government Departments are posting letters to Members of Parliament in O.H.M.S. envelopes without the bold black figure 1 in a black-ruled box thus causing letters to be delayed two or three days in reaching Members; and whether he will take appropriate action to ensure that mail to Members of Parliament is not held up because of Departments using the wrong tier mail or incorrect envelopes.

Departments have in all cases discretion to use the first or second class mail services according to the urgency of their communications. If my hon. Friend has particular difficulties in mind, perhaps he would write to me about them.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is aware of the growing number of Scots employed in the Civil Service in England who have been refused transfers to Civil Service employment in Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take to encourage such transfers, where practicable.

I regret that I am unable to provide statistics on this subject. It is often possible to arrange a transfer to the area of a civil servant's choice, though the needs of the work are the governing consideration. Priority is given to those with personal and domestic difficulties.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether On Her Majesty's Service mail will come to an end when the Post Office becomes a corporation.

No. Government Departments will continue to send mail On Her Majesty's Service.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether it is proposed to confer power on Ministers to appoint their own Civil Service advisers at will.

No. So far as permanent appointments in the Civil Service are concerned, the Civil Service Commission is and will remain independently responsible for the selection of individuals. So far as temporary personal advisers are concerned, it has been a long-standing practice for Ministers to make such appointments in a few cases where they consider this necessary.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether, prior to the introduction of management consultants to assess the Civil Service structure or to implement the Fulton Committee Report, he will consider representations from those hon. Members with experience of such operational techniques.

My right hon. Friend is always ready to consider representations from hon. Members.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he proposes to introduce the Pensions Increase Bill; and whether, in drafting the Bill, he will make the payments retrospective to the date of the opening of the present Parliamentary Session.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will include in his forthcoming promised Pensions Increase Bill provisions for retrospective payments for widows to the beginning of the present Parliament.

I cannot give the precise date, but the intention is that the Bill should he enacted in time for the increases to pensioners or their dependants to be operative from 1st April next, without retrospection.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will arrange far an organised fire drill to be taken at all Government buildings employing more than a nominal number of persons, on a periodical basis.

Existing arrangements provide for an appropriate fire procedure for each building and for the instruction of the staff in this, and in the use of escape routes. The decision whether organised drills are necessary is left to the responsible officer in charge of each building. These officers are being asked to make sure that their arrangements continue to be satisfactory in the light of recent fires elsewhere.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps he intends to take to protect the pension rights of people leaving the Civil Service below the age of 50 years.

As I stated in the debate on 21st November, this will be considered in the light of the recommendations of the Fulton Committee and the Government's forthcoming proposals on the trans- ferability or preservation of pension rights generally.—[Vol. 773, c. 1672–3.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) what steps he is taking to encourage Departments and agencies to adopt modern management reporting techniques;(2) what steps he is taking to arrange for public Departments and agencies to be given greater financial authority and to be held correspondingly accountable for the effective management of the financial resources placed at their disposal.

Methods of reporting on staff, management information and control techniques and systems for holding management more directly accountable for effective management of resources are all being carefully studied as part of the process of considering and implementing the Fulton Report.

asked the Paymaster General what steps she is taking in furtherance of her responsibilities in relation to devolution.

asked the Paymaster General what plans she has for encouraging greater public participation in Government.

asked the Paymaster General if she will make a statement on the Government's policy on decentralisation, devolution and participation.

Decentralisation, devolution and increased participation are related themes, which it is important to consider in the working out of a whole range of Government policies. These themes are relevant at present to the arrangements for the proposed Constitutional Commission, to the examination of the report of the Royal Commission on Local Government when it is received and to the work of the Civil Service Department on dispersal and on the machinery of Government.

asked the Paymaster General, if she will co-ordinate the Departmental use of information media, particularly local newspapers, in order to increase public awareness of the consumer consultative arrangements that exist.

The use made of information media is a matter for each Department, and established arrangements for interdepartmental co-ordination operate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has yet completed his consideration of the burden of rates on commercial premises; and if he will make a statement.

I must await the report of the committee of inquiry which I have set up under Professor Anderson's Chairmanship.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he intends to take to reform the feu system.

Reform of this centuries old system is a matter of great complexity and I have not yet completed my examination of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with the Scottish Trades Union Congress in Glasgow on 1st November on the state of the Scottish economy.

On 1st November I discussed with members of the Scottish Trades Union Congress Economic Committee questions affecting the economic situation in Scotland including the level of unemployment, the problems of the declining traditional Scottish industries, the considerable progress made in recent years in modernising Scotland's industrial base and infrastructure and the need to continue to pursue strong development area policies. I assured the members that the Government welcomed the constructive contribution made by the Congress to the consideration of matters affecting the economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of gale damage repairs in Scotland.

Returns from local authorities show that 95 per cent. of the 270,000 damaged houses have been repaired. Returns have not so far been obtained for other buildings such as industrial premises, but I have no reason for thinking that much work remains outstanding. On hospitals, work to the value of £60,000 has been completed £86,000 of work is in progress (including two schemes at Dunoon and at Larbert together costing £83,000); and minor schemes costing £4,000 have still to be begun.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will request the authorities concerned with storm damage repairs to compile a register showing the number of such damaged houses with an estimated future life of five, 10 and 15 years, respectively;(2) if he will take steps to require the private owners of old tenement houses which have been repaired subsequent to the storm damage to register such houses with their local authority.

The Cullingworth Report on Scotland's Older Houses stressed the need for each local authority to survey and assess the condition and useful life of the housing stock in its area. The information obtained in connection with storm damage repair will be of value in these assesments, but they should not be restricted to storm damage properties.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to combat rising crime; and if he will make a statement.

The prevention of crime is not something that can be achieved by some single action but by continued efforts find initiatives by the police and other forces of law and order, and by local authorities and the community. I am continuing to support such initiatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses he expects to be completed this year.

Up to the end of October 31,912 houses had been completed. Some 56,000 houses were under construction at the end of the month, but I cannot forecast precisely how many of them will be completed by the end of December.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what contribution he proposes to make, financially or otherwise, to the setting up of a regional tourist board in South-West Scotland.

I shall be happy to give what encouragement and assistance I can in the formation of a voluntary unified tourist association in South-West Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from local authorities, particularly small burghs, regarding the requisition made by the regional water authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Of the 232 rating authorities, 12 town councils have made representations to me about increases in their water rates. The increases and reductions which resulted directly from amalgamation are being spread over a period of years, but the expenditure in 1968–69 for which some of the boards have had to budget is substantially higher than in the previous year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his estimate of the average increase in the water rate for small burghs in North-East Scotland this year.

Domestic water rates for 1968–69 so far announced by small burghs in the North-East of Scotland Water Board's region show decreases up to 8d. in the pound and increases up to Is. ld. compared with 1967–68.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the total additional cost and the increase in the water rate found by Edinburgh as a result of amalgamation of water authorities in South-East Scotland since the Water (Scotland) Act came into force.

Edinburgh Corporation's estimated expenditure on water supply in the current financial year has increased by about £179,000 and their domestic water rate by 4d. in the pound, compared with 1967–68, but these increases cannot be attributed entirely to regionalisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if, following the Tribunal's report on the Ronan Point flats, he will review and amend the code of practice with regard to wind-loading on high blocks of flats in Edinburgh and elsewhere in Scotland.

The Code of Practice was prepared by the British Standards Institution and it is to review the Code as a matter of urgency, after which the Scottish Building Standards Regulations will be amended. In the meantime a circular has been sent to Scottish local authorities advising them on the standards which should be followed in appraising existing high blocks and in new construction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what is the total saving expected in Lanarkshire by the Government decision to reduce expenditure on school meals; how many children will be affected; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 13th November to my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes).—[Vol. 773, c. 103.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many teachers in Lanarkshire have registered; how many have provisionally registered; how many have still to register; what action he intends to take with the unregistered teachers; and if he will make a statement.

The education authority have informed me that, of their complement of 4,656 teachers in schools, 3,933 have registered or registered conditionally, 155 have applied for registration, 355 are ineligible for registration and the position of the remaining 213 is still under investigation.Unregistered teachers fall to be dealt with by the authority in accordance with the provisions of the Schools (Scotland) Code.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many qualified teachers actively engaged in teaching have not yet registered with the General Teaching Council.

This information is not yet available from education authorities but I hope to have it shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the annual cost of implementing within Scotland Section 15 of the Health Services and Public Health Act, 1968.

Since this Section will give a discretionary power to local authorities, it is not possible to estimate the annual cost when implemented.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many application forms, and at what cost, he has ordered in connection with the season ticket arrangements for prescription charges.

200,000, at an estimated cost of just under £400.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether under his regulations, the holder of a season ticket to cover prescription charges will be allowed a rebate if it is returned within three months of issue.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made to standardise throughout Scotland the schemes adopted in some parts of the United Kingdom to facilitate the parking of cars belonging to disabled drivers and the introduction of identifying discs to assist the authorities responsible for supervising parking regulations.

In the course of our discussions with them, representatives of local authority and road user organisations have expressed the view that if an all-Scotland scheme is to be acceptable badges must be issued only by responsible medical officers, and I am pursuing this possibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will carry out an immediate inquiry into the corruption in Glasgow and make an early report to the House.

Criminal proceedings are now being taken against a Corporation employee for corrupt practices or attempted fraud, and further consideration of a wider inquiry must await the outcome of these proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much capital investment has been requested to equip the regional water boards in Scotland with suitable premises.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given on 23rd October to the hon. Member for Fife, East (Sir J. Gilmour).—[Vol. 770, c. 279.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the cost of office premises acquired by the various regional water boards set up under the Water (Scotland) Act, the number of additional staff recruited by each board and the annual cost of such staff.

I have authorised the acquisition or construction of head quarters premises as follows:—

Water Board		Approved Cost
		£
East of Scotland	…	30,000
Fife and Kinross	…	120,000
Lower Clyde	…	70,000
Mid-Scotland	…	38,000
North-East	…	36,000
		294,000

I have no information about staff recruitment, which is a matter for the boards themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what wind loadings, in miles per hour, have been calculated for existing buildings in the new town of Livingston, giving types and precincts.

Comprehensive information could be obtained only by approaching every structural engineer who certified a building in the new town to the satisfaction of the local buildings authority. If my hon. Friend will let me know for which buildings in the new town he particularly wishes to have the information I will ask the Development Corporation to obtain it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will publish the result of his most recent traffic census on the A94 road, Perth to Stone-haven; and what level of traffic is required before he approves a dual carriageway.

The figures for the last full traffic census on the A94 Perth-Stonehaven Road were given in my reply to the hon. Gentleman on 28th November, 1967, and ranged between 3,152 and 4,180 vehicles per 16-hour day. Decisions concerning roads standards are not based only on traffic levels; such factors as the actual delays and accidents occurring and expected traffic growth, set against the cost of reconstruction, are taken into account.—[Vol. 755, c. 86.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will make a statement on the work of the Scottish Economic Planning Council since it was established.

The Planning Council has been of great help to me in advising and initiating action on a wide range of matters affecting economic development. Accounts of its work have already been given in debates on the Scottish economy, and regular progress reports are given in the Quarterly Report on Scottish Economic Development which is circulated to hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is his intention to establish passenger transport authorities in Scotland.

As I told the hon. Gentleman on 22nd May, I intend to consult the local authorities concerned before deciding whether to set up any passenger transport authorities in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the capital value of secondary schools which have been authorised for the year 1968 and by what percentage this total exceeds the total for the years 1966, 1964 and 1962, respectively.

The value of secondary school building expected to start in 1968 is £21·2 million. This would give percentage increases over the years mentioned of 117, 63 and 94 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he intends to have with teachers' organisations before deciding upon the future system of recruitment and training of teachers of technical subjects.

After consulting the teachers' organisations, I am preparing revised proposals which take account of the views expressed. These proposals will be for consideration by the General Teaching Council as required by the statutory procedure. Thereafter, any draft regulations would be subject to further consultation with the teachers' organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on his recent tour of Scotland, indicating the places where and the industries he visited and the effect on his plans of the increased information he so gained.

I assume that my hon. and learned Friend refers to the visits I made at the beginning of September to Mallaig, Tarbert, Stornoway, Dounreay, Thurso,

NUMBERS OF QUALIFIED SCIENTISTS EMPLOYED IN RESEARCH STATIONS WHICH ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR SCOTLAND
(Numbers relate only to staff employed in the Scientific Officer class or equivalent)
Research Station	1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland
Agricultural Scientific Services	15	14	14	16	16	15	15	13	15	15
Marine Laboratory, Aberdeen	24	23	24	25	23	27	25	31	32	37
Freshwater Fisheries Laboratory, Pitlochry	6	6	6	6	7	7	7	7	7	7
Agricultural Research Institutes
Animal Diseases Research Association	20	20	17	20	20	20	19	22	21	23
Hannah Dairy Research Institute	22	25	22	22	22	23	23	21	24	27
Hill Farming Research Organisation	13	11	12	14	15	16	15	15	15	12
Macaulay Institute for Soil Research	42	47	49	52	53	53	53	54	55	54
National Institute of Agricultural Engineering	5	6	6	6	7	7	7	7	7	7
Rowett Research Institute	51	50	50	51	48	46	45	48	53	51
Scottish Horticultural Research Institute	17	18	19	20	21	22	19	24	23	21
Scottish Society for Research in Plant Breeding	12	12	13	12	11	11	11	11	12	13
Forestry Commission (Scottish Station)	6	7	8	7	7	7	8	7	9	11
	233	239	240	251	250	254	247	260	273	278

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will review the limitation he has imposed on the scale of expansion of distributive Wick, Invergordon, Dingwall and Inverness. These gave me a first-hand impression of the excellent work being done by the Highlands and Islands Development Board and enabled me to assess the local implications of large new developments such as the prototype fast reactor at Dounreay and the aluminium smelter at Invergordon. They confirmed my belief that our policies for Highland development are on the right lines, and are beginning to succeed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many qualified scientists are employed in the various research stations under his control; and to what extent, where and in what manner these numbers have altered during each of the last 10 years.

The figures are as follows:firms qualifying for investment grants in the development areas.

I do not expect the expansion of the distributive trades in the development areas to be limited in consequence of the restrictions on assistance available under the Local Employment Acts to service industries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the latest available figures for each of the development regions for the issue of industrial development certificates; what percentage of the total this represents for each region; and how many new jobs he estimates will be provided when the proposed developments are proceeded with.

The information is as follows:

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES ISSUED JANUARY TO SEPTEMBER, 1968 PROVISIONAL FIGURES
	Area
Development Area	Number	Thousand square feet	Percentage of Great Britain total	Estimated Additional Employment*
Northern	220	10,445	12·6	17,900
South Western	45	770	0·9	2,190
Welsh	168	5,325	6·4	11,230
Merseyside	156	4,270	5·2	8,390
Scottish	203	8,895	10·7	15,220
* Estimates of additonal employment when projects are complete and fully manned, made by applicants for certificates.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what increase in trade between the United Kingdom and the countries of Latin America has been achieved during the last two 12-month periods for which figures are available; and what steps are being taken towards securing an increase in this trade.

During the 12 months from October, 1966 to September, 1967, exports and re-exports to Latin America increased by 14·2 per cent. from £155 million to £177 million, and imports increased by 5·6 per cent. from £285 million to £301 million. During the twelve months to September 1968, exports and re-exports increased by a further 14·7 per cent. to £203 million, and imports fell by 1·3 per cent. to £297 million.All the normal export promotion facilities are available for Latin America and both the official services and the British National Export Council actively promote business there.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any special arrangements are being made to increase British exports to Chile.

Chile is one of the important targets in Latin America, and British exporters are being especially encouraged to seek orders there. A group of British merchant banks, with the support of E.C.G.D., has recently signed an agreement with the Chilean Development Corporation for a £4 million line of credit to be used for the purchase of capital goods and associated services from the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether any special arrangements are being made to increase British exports to Brazil.

Brazil is one of the important targets in Latin America and British exporters are being especially encouraged to seek orders there. My right hon. Friend will be opening a major British Industrial Exhibition in Sao Paulo next March. Very large loans and lines of credit have recently been made available by British banks with the support of E.C.G.D. for exports to Brazil.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on future arrangements governing imports of jute manufactures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proposals the Government now have to change the form of protection for the jute industry; and what consultations have taken place with the trade unions and employers' associations concerned in this industry.

Yes. Since the end of 1964, when the commoner packaging jute goods were returned to private trade, the Board of Trade Jute Control has been the sole importer of certain types of jute goods from India and Pakistan. It then resells most of them at prices increased by a percentage mark-up. Similar goods from most other sources are subject to quota. I consider that the time has come for a new system.In reviewing the matter I have had three objectives. First I aim to maintain employment in Dundee and the towns nearby. Though the Government have given all possible assistance, through their regional policies and otherwise, to the diversification of employment, very many men and women still earn their living from making jute goods. Secondly, I aim to give British users of jute goods reasonable access to such goods at world prices, particularly where exports are concerned.Thirdly, I have, of course, given full weight to our international obligations under the G.A.T.T., to the Commonwealth and to E.F.T.A. to liberalise our jute imports and I have done so to the maximum extent compatible with my first objective.I have consulted both sides of industry and the trading interests concerned, I have listened carefully to representations made by our overseas suppliers and I have kept in close touch throughout with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland. I am now satisfied that the best way to achieve the three objectives will be to end the present system on 30th April, 1969, and to wind up the Jute Control as soon as possible thereafter. From 1st May, 1969, all imports of the goods in question will be returned to private trade. They will be subject to licence and quota limitation, but imports for re-export will be allowed outside this quota limitation except for cloth and bags used solely for packaging. There will be no mark-up but the normal tariff duty will be charged where it applies.A Notice to Importers setting out full details of the new arrangements and the procedure to be followed by those wishing to apply for import licences will be issued at the end of the week. Priority in the allocation of import licences for jute goods for domestic consumption will be given to past importers and purchasers from the Jute Control. Any balance permitted under the quotas will be allocated in approximately equal proportions to users and to traditional traders in similar goods. The quota levels will be fixed annually and will be increased provided that such an increase is commensurate with the growth of the United Kingdom market for the types of jute goods in question and does not endanger the employment position in the Dundee area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many paid offices are within his official patronage; what are the maximum and minimum salaries involved; and what were the comparable figure for 1958.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind paid offices outside the Civil Service. The number of such offices to which I make appointments is 105. Salaries range from £15,000 to £500 per annum, while the holders of a few of these offices are remunerated by fees of £10 10s. 0d. to £18 18s. 0d. per session. Because of changes in the allocation of responsibilities to particular Departments since 1958 it would be impracticable to provide comparable figures for that year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement regarding his discussions with the European Free Trade Association Council of Ministers in Vienna upon the subject of imports of frozen fish fillets.

Imports of frozen fish fillets were discussed at some length at the E.F.T.A. Ministerial Meeting in Vienna last week, and I also had informal talks separately with the Danish and Norwegian Ministers. These discussions were useful and contributed to a clearer appreciation of our difficulties by our partners in E.F.T.A. I made it clear that the 10 per cent. duty recently reimposed by the United Kingdom on imports from E.F.T.A. sources will remain in force for the present. It was agreed that the representatives of the countries directly concerned should meet again in February or March, 1969 to renew their efforts to find a mutually acceptable solution to the problem.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the increase in imports for each extra £ million increase in consumption.

In the input-output analysis for 1963, published in Economic Trends in August this year, it is estimated that imports of goods and services accounted for about 17·0 per cent. of personal expenditure at market prices. It is not possible to say to what extent this overall proportion may apply to changes in personal expenditure at any one time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what contracts involving British firms, for which foreign exchange payments have been sanctioned, have been affected by the retroactive legislation passed by the Ethiopian Government which denies the rights of arbitration procedure allowed for in contracts.

We understand from inquiries made by our Embassy in Ethiopia that this legislation has been repealed and that publication of this and other changes in the Civil Code will be made later in the Official Gazette. So far as we know only one contract involving a British firm was concerned, and in that case, even before repeal, we understood that an undertaking had been given not to apply the legislation retrospectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will introduce legislation to enable local authorities to enforce the pasteurisation of all milk used in catering premises.

No. About 97 per cent. of our milk is already heat treated, but some catering premises, including farmhouses, in the more remote rural areas lack access to a regular supply of pasteurised milk, while others undertake to meet special consumer demand for untreated milk.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will complete consultation in relation to the draft code of welfare recommendations for farm livestock; when he will introduce regulations, and when he will initiate discussion with overseas Governments regarding the husbandry of livestock whose products are imported into the United Kingdom.

Comments from interested organisations on the draft codes have been asked for by 30th November. These will be considered by the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee and the agricultural departments, and it is hoped that the final versions can be submitted to Parliament for approval by May next year.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and my right hon. Friend have already announced our initial proposals for regulations under Section 2 of the Agriculture (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act, 1968, and I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 5 of the Answer given on 5th August 1966, to my hon. Friend the Member for Chorley (Mr. Kenyon). I am not yet able to say when it will be possible to make these regulations.On the question of discussion with overseas Governments I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to him on 22nd October last.—[Vol. 733, c.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the detailed basis on which the estimate was made in May, 1967, of the net cost to Great Britain's balance of payments between £175 and £250 million a year for the various contributions to the Guidance and Guarantee Fund of the European Community in the event of Great Britain joining.

The estimate in paragraph 89 of Cmnd. 3274 ("The Common Agricultural Policy of the European Economic Community", May, 1967) related not to the net cost of contributions to the European Agricultural Guidance and Guarantee Fund alone but to the net cost to the United Kingdom balance of payments of applying the E.E.C.s agricultural arrangements as they then stood. The assumptions on which the estimate was based were explained in paragraphs 87–88.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state his plans to facilitate the export of fish.

Fish and fish products receive the same general incentives as other exports. Additional assistance is given by the White Fish Authority, the Herring Industry Board and the Fisheries Departments. The support which my right hon. Friend announced on 8th July and which is implemented by the Sea Fisheries Bill should strengthen the fishing industry and help it to meet the competition in world markets.

asked the Minister of Transport what arrangements he is making for negotiations with British Railways and Rolls-Royce on matters relating to the development of turbine trains to run at maximum speeds of 150 miles per hour; to what extent his Department is financially involved in this research and development; and whether he will now make a statement.

asked the Minister of Transport what support he has already given for the design and development of an advanced passenger train; and what proposals he has made for its construction and operation in conjunction with British Railways.

The Railways Board have accepted the proposal for financing this project referred to in my Answer of 11th November. Development of the prototype trains and associated signalling equipment will cost about £10 million over the next few years. My Ministry will meet half this cost. Both I and the Board believe it to be in the national interest that development should now be pushed ahead as quickly as possible.—[Vol. 773, c. 21–22.]

asked the Minister of Transport, what is his decision regarding the application by the British Railways Board on the disposal of the track and formation of the Aberdeen-Ballater branch line.

I have not yet taken a decision. I have, in accordance with normal practice in these cases, sought the views of the Scottish Economic Planning Board, who have deferred further consideration of the matter pending completion of Professor Gaskin's Study of the North East.

asked the Minister of Transport, how many local authorities have made applications to implement the section in the Transport Act giving them powers to grant concessionary fares to old age pensioners; if he will now issue a circular to the remaining authorities drawing their attention to the new provisions; and if he will make a statement.

Discretionary powers are now available to all local authorities as indicated in my reply of 25th November to my hon. Friend the Member for Luton (Mr. Howie). Application to exercise these powers is not required. Information about the new powers is being circulated to the local authority associations.—[Vol. 774, c. 39–40.]

asked the Attorney General, when he expects to receive the report of the Committee, under the chairmanship of Mr. Justice Payne, on the recovery of civil debts.

I understand that the Committee's Report is now almost ready and my noble Friend, the Lord Chancellor, expects to receive it within the next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he will complete negotiations for the transfer of Territorial Army Drill Hall, Queen Street, Rutherglen, to Rutherglen Town Council.

The territorial Auxiliary and Volunteer Reserve Association for the Lowlands of Scotland have been authorised to sell this centre to the Rutherglen Town Council and will be communicating further with them shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether in view of the speed of potential incoming missiles, he is satisfied that the seven main radar dishes in the Linesman system will be capable of being changed to computer control; and if he will make a statement.

The Linesman system is not designed to provide primary warning of missile attacks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how far Orfordness duplicates the Linesman system; and whether Orfordness will replace Linesman as a more up-to-date system.

There will be no duplication between Orfordness and the Linesman system, and the second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

Factory		Major activity		Strength (see note)	Output £m.
ROF Birtley	…	Cartridge cases, shells	…	1,877	6·0
ROF Bishopton	…	Propellants and explosives	…	1,967	4·2
ROF Blackburn	…	Fuzes, electronic equipment	…	2,642	4·4
ROF Bridgwater	…	Propellants and explosives	…	855	1·7
ROF Chorley	…	Filling ammunition and components	…	2,572	3·6
RSAF Enfield	…	Small arms	…	1,332	2·3
ROF Glascoed	…	Filling ammunition and components	…	1,690	2·7
ROF Leeds	…	Armoured fighting vehicles	…	1,836	6·6
ROF Nottingham	…	Guns and mountings	…	1,405	2·2
ROF Patricroft	…	Shells and bombs	…	1,602	3·8
ROF Radway Green	…	Small arms ammunition	…	2,552	4·3
		Totals	…	20,330	41·8
Note: These figures include male non-industrial and industrial employees (15,576 full-time and 79 part-time) and female employees (4,340 full-time and 335 part-time): they exclude Army Department Constabulary employed at the factories.
The foregoing excludes two Royal Ordnance Factories administered by the Ministry of Technology.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether it is the policy of Remploy, in their expansion plans, to select suitable employees from their own pool of labour for management training.

Yes; this is Rem-ploy's normal policy wherever it is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the Royal Ordnance factories, showing the items made, the numbers of men employed and the total value of output in each during the most recent year for which figures are available.

There are eleven active Royal Ordnance Factories producing a wide range of major and intermediary products. The value of their output in 1967–68 (excluding the value—about £25 million—of equipment and material supplied to the R.O.F.s free of charge and incorporated in their products) was almost £42 million. The major defence activities of each factory, the current employees and the value of their output in 1967–68 are set out below.is the average weekly cost of domestic heating in a typical Scottish home by gas, coal, electricity and oil, respectively.

The results of the Family Expenditure Survey indicate that for the three-year period 1965–67 average weekly household expenditure on fuel and power in Scotland was as follows:

		s.	d.
Gas	…	6	11
Electricity	…	13	3
Coal and coke	…	9	0
Fuel oil and other fuels	…	0	9

These figures cover expenditure for all domestic purposes. Expenditure on heating only cannot be separately identified. For both gas and electricity there is some over-estimation of expenditure since no account has been taken of rebates received on slot meter payments.The figures given are based on information provided by 1,373 households in Scotland which co-operated in the survey and are subject to relatively large sampling errors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the total expenditure of his Department on research is spent in Wales and in England, respectively.

Of the total expenditure on research in 1967–68 on the Votes for which my Department was responsible, the percentages spent in Wales and in England respectively were 2 per cent. and 71 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many places for educationally subnormal children exist in special schools in Bedford and in the county of Bedfordshire, respectively; how many children attend these schools; and how many educationally sub-normal children normally resident in Bedfordshire attend special schools outside the county.

The answer to the first part of the question is nil and 140 respectively; to the second part, 135; and to the third part, 86. All these figures exclude Luton County Borough.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the number of occasions on which the Metropolitan Police have used their powers of search under the Drugs (Prevention and Misuse) Act, 1964 and the number of convictions following such searches.

This information is not readily available. In 1967, however, 955 people were convicted of offences under the Drugs (Prevention and Misuse) Act, 1964 in the Metropolitan Police District.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated percentage increase in rates and earnings arising from the recent award to barmaids in the Carlisle area State public houses; and what productivity conditions were involved in the settlement.

The hourly rate of pay has been raised from 3s. Sid. fixed in August 1965, to 4s. 6d.—an increase of 29 per cent. The increase was granted within the context of the recent general pay review for the Industrial Civil Service and its cost was contained within the limit of a 3½ per cent. increase for industrial civil servants as a whole. No conditions as to productivity were involved. My right hon. Friend is considering this as a separate issue.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he will take to alter the trend to a fall in house and flat building by local authorities by 6,929 fewer being so completed in the first nine months of this year compared with last year, and 14,192 fewer being started.

The decline of 9,300 in public completions in the first nine months of 1968 compared with the same period of 1967 is partly attributable to authorities rechecking designs following Ronan Point; but a record number of dwellings were under construction in the public sector at the end of September.Public starts were down by 16,200 in the same period for three reasons: the programme was reduced last January; the renegotiating of contracts following devaluation led to fewer approvals in the early months of 1968 and thus to fewer starts later in the year; Ronan Point led many authorities who had already approved schemes for high flats to reappraise their design and thus to delay their start; and some councils who changed political control after the local elections thought it necessary to review their predecessors' programmesThe Ministry's Principal Regional Officers are in regular contact with local authorities about maintaining their programmes.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) by what means he proposes to make good the reduction of 33,000 in the number of houses started in the private sector in the first nine months of 1968 compared with the same period last year;(2) if, in the light of the reduction from 353,000 starts for new houses and flats in the first nine months of 1968 compared with 306,000 for the same period in the previous year, he will now give an approximate figure for the estimated number of completions in 1969.

In the private sector, about 31,000 fewer houses were started in the fit-it nine months of 1968 than in the first nine months of 1967; in the public sector, the corresponding figure was about 16,000. In my opinion, the reasons for this include, in the private sector, a considerable number of dwellings started early last year in order to avoid development levy, but only lately proceeded with; and in the public sector, the reappraisal of certain schemes following the accident at Ronan Point.I expect that the total number of completions in 1968 will be above last year's record figure of 404,000. I also expect that completions in 1969 will remain at a high level, but it is too soon to state a figure.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the reduction in the number of contracts let by the 20 county boroughs with the largest populations in the last 12 months, and the number of dwellings involved in each case.

On the information readily available, the 20 largest county boroughs in England and Wales between them let 192 contracts covering 34,434 dwellings in the 12 months ending in September. 1968, compared with 260 contracts covering 28,356 dwellings in the corresponding period ending September, 1967.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) if he will state the percentage of rent increases imposed by the rent assessment committees of the number of applications to the rent assessment committees in London, Birmingham and Southampton as compared with that for the remainder of the country, up to a recent date; and why the percentage is higher in those three areas;(2) if he will state the percentage of rent increases determined by the rent officers of the number of applications to rent officers in London, Birmingham and Southampton, as compared with that for the whole country, up to a recent date; and why the percentage is higher in those three areas.

Figures of determinations by rent officers and by rent assessment panels are assembled by rent assessment panel areas, and except for London, where the panel area is coterminous with Greater London, figures for particular cities are thus not available without a special analysis; the following figures therefore relate to the three panel areas concerned.Up to 27th September this year rent officers in London had determined 38,015 fair rents of which 48 per cent, represented increases over previous rents, in the West Midland area 5,381 fair rents of which 58 per cent. represented increases and in the Southern area, which includes Southampton, 2,676 fair rents of which 72 per cent. represented increases. In England and Wales as a whole rent officers had determined 89,683 fair rents of which 55 per cent. represented increases. Rent assessment committees in London had determined 4,790 references, in the West Midlands 258 and in the Southern area 134, and of rents so determined 29 per cent., 17 per cent. and 46 per cent. respectively represented increases on previous rents. In England and Wales as a whole rent assessment committees had determined 7,477 references 32 per cent. of which represented increases.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state, to the latest available date, how many applications have been made to rent officers for fair rents, stating, separately, those made by landlord and tenants; and how many made by each side have resulted in rent increases, decreases or maintenance of the previous rent.

Up to 27th September, 1968, 89,683 applications for the registration of a fair rent had been made to and determined by rent officers. An analysis has been made of 61,736 of these, being cases in which the circumstances of the dwelling and the tenancy at the time of registration were comparable with those before it. Of these 29,578 resulted from applications by landlords, 22,356 from applications by tenants and 9,802 from joint applications.Of applications by landlords, 92 per cent. resulted in increases over previous rents, 5 per cent. in confirmations and 3 per cent. in reductions. Of applications by tenants, 9 per cent. resulted in increases, 6 per cent. in confirmations and 85 per cent. in reductions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities use the same statement of income for rate and rent rebates, as suggested in the Ministry Circular 46/47 paragraph 24; and if he will state the names of authorities which do this.

I regret this information is not available, but the income limits used for the assessment of rate rebates, and the income scales contained in the appendix to the Minister's circular 46/67 on rent rebates, are as follows.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations he has received, and from what sources, on the provision of fair compensation for small shopkeepers on weekly tenancies; what replies he has sent; and if he will make a statement.