asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many tenants of municipally-owned houses in Wales are in receipt of rate rebates; and what is the total number of municipal houses in Wales.

About 7,000 tenants of municipally-owned houses in Wales received rate rebates in 1967–68. The total number of municipal houses in Wales at 31st March, 1968, was about 236,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are his estimates of expenditure on principal roads in Wales in 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73. 1974–75 and 1975–76.

In 1968–69 expenditure is expected to be about £7 million. This includes extra work authorised to reduce winter unemployment. Expenditure in the years 1969–70 and 1970–71 is planned to be about £6½ million and £7 million respectively. Figures for later years are riot yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the estimated cost of the Llantrisant radial road, Cardiff; and how many houses are likely to be demolished in the construction of the road.

£6 million. The number of houses which would need to be demolished cannot be forecast until an examination of possible lines for the road, which is now being carried out, has been completed and the results assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent he is consulting the College of Arms on the design of souvenirs to be sold at the Investiture of the Prince of Wales.

The design of souvenirs is a matter for the manufac- turers. It will be for them to consult the College of Arms about the accuracy of any heraldic devices which may be used on the souvenirs.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what official souvenirs he is approving for the Investiture of the Prince of Wales; and what fees are being charged.

I hope that an official commemorative medal will be struck by the Royal Mint. This medal will be on sale to the general public. The details will be announced later.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent photographers will be allowed to take photographs of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon.

The facilities usually available on such occasions will be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent he is giving assistance to private enterprise to supply souvenirs for sale at Caernarvon Castle on the occasion of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales.

I am not giving private enterprise any financial assistance to supply souvenirs.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the total number of persons employed in Wales and Monmouthshire by the Forestry Commission forests on 1st April, 1968; and what are the estimated numbers for 1st April, 1972.

The number employed on 1st April was 2,207. It is estimated by the Commission that the number will be about 1,700 by 1st April. 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the growth of all kinds of traffic through the village of St. Nicholas, Glamorgan, he will now give a higher priority to his scheme for a St. Nicholas By-pass, so as to ensure its completion at an earlier date than any previously planned.

No, because I think that a better way of dealing with this and other bottlenecks on A48 will be to build the Cardiff Intermediate Bypass from Gabalfa to Waterton Cross. This scheme is now being prepared.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when it is expected that the Buchanan Report on the Llantrisant New Town will be received.

I expect to receive the Report within the next two months.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress is being made with the placing of the contract for the Cardiff to Merthyr trunk road.

Tenders for the next stage of this road have been received and are being examined. A contract will be let as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he intends to take concerning those local education authorities who have not yet submitted proposals which have been approved for the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines.

Of 45 authorities for whom no proposals have yet been approved, 14 have proposals under consideration by my Department; 12 had earlier proposals rejected or withdrawn and have yet to submit revised ones; and eight have formally declined to submit a plan. Of the remaining 11, a number hope to submit proposals before long. The majority of local education authorities are co-operating with government policy. The next major Education Bill will provide that secondary education is to be non-selective.

Short asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many Commonwealth immigrant teachers have completed their training at day training colleges during the academic year ended July, 1968; and how many of these are now teaching in schools in England and Wales.

I assume that my hon. Friend refers to the supplementary 15-month courses for those who are already qualified to teach but need to improve their spoken English and to learn more about current teaching methods.In the year, 57 immigrant teachers completed their courses satisfactorily and according to my latest information all except three are employed as teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what recommendations his Department is making regarding increasing the hourly rates of pay available to school meal supervisors.

The rates of pay and conditions of service of school meals employees are determined by the National Joint Council for Local Authority Services (Manual Workers), representing local authorities and their employees. My Department is not involved in any way in these negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice is being offered by his Department to local authorities in areas where the supervision of school meals by teachers is inadequate.

None. This is a matter to be decided by local education authorities in consultation with their teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information is given about venereal disease to students at colleges for which he is responsible and to senior pupils at school.

Talks on venereal diseases are given in many schools and colleges. The detailed curriculum is a matter for local education authorities, governing bodies and teachers and is not under my control. Information on venereal diseases is given in the recently published Handbook of Health Education, which is issued for use mainly by teachers, and student teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ban piped music at exhibitions in the National Galleries.

Our national museums and galleries are free to organise their exhibitions and displays without Government intervention. I understand that the only occasions when piped music has been used were, some years ago, when the Victoria and Albert Museum provided a background of church music to an exhibition of stained glass and during the current exhibition of portraits by Cecil Beaton at the National Portrait Gallery.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many secondary projects were allowed in the recent building allocations to local education authorities whose schemes for secondary reorganisation had not been approved by his Department.

Twenty-two. In all cases the projects will provide comprehensive schools or instalments of comprehensive schools or they are fully compatible with a non-selective system of secondary education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the last full inspection of the Guildford School of Art was carried out; and what were the findings of Her Majesty's inspectors.

The last formal full inspection was held in 1956, when a report was issued in confidence to the local education authority. In 1965 a team of inspectors made a thorough survey which they discussed with the governors.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the additional number of student places which will be provided in the capital projects in university building and extensions authorised in 1968–69; and what were the comparable figures in respect of works authorised in each of the four previous years.

About 11,000 in 1968–69; this is also the average annual figure for the four previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the capital value of university buildings and extensions authorised in 1968–69 in Scotland; and what were the comparable figures in each of the previous four years.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his plans for providing additional secondary education for deaf children in the Midlands.

The 16 local education authorities in the West Midlands region have recently set up a working party to consider the provision of education for hearing-handicapped children in the area and prepare a report. Two of Her Majesty's Inspectors and a senior medical officer in my Department assist the working party as assessors. At the present time I am not aware of a shortage of places for secondary-age deaf children in the Midlands.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the National Board for Prices and Incomes have been considering the salary claim of university teachers for eleven months without making a report.

University teachers' salaries are the subject of a standing reference to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, requiring the Board to keep them under continuous review and report from time to time as it thinks fit. The timing of its reports is therefore, in the Board's own hands. Its first report is expected before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will amend the criteria which govern the Export Reviewing Committee to enable them to include the export of works which record an aspect of national achievement in art or a subject of national significance unrepresented in a publicly-owned collection that wishes to acquire it.

To bring within the scope of the export control the large number of works which might be alleged to satisfy criteria of this character would make its operation more cumbersome and less effective than now and would seriously impede the work of expert advisers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will amend the criteria which govern the Export Reviewing Committee to enable them to include the export of outstanding examples of late 19th century art.

Any limitation on control in terms of the age of works of art involved must in a sense be arbitrary, but some such limitation is necessary and I consider that in all the circumstances the present 100 years' rule is the most satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the expenditure of the Arts Council per head of the population in Wales, Scotland and the North and Midlands.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount spent per head of the population by the Arts Council in England, Scotland, Wales and the Northern Region.

Excluding expenditure on the national and touring companies and on administration, the figure per head of population for England in 1967–68 was Is. For the Northern Region it was 11d., for the West Midlands 10d. and for the East Midlands is. 2d.The Scottish and Welsh figures, which exclude in addition expenditure on their own national companies and administration, were 1s. 7d. and 1s. 5d., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the proposed study centres for the open university are to be financed.

This will be settled directly between the University and the local authority or educational institution where the centre is set up, and will vary according to local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children have not been accepted by State schools during the current school year owing to lack of space or staff or overcrowding.

I understand that a small number of newly arrived children in Ealing could not be admitted to school this term. Additional accommodation is being provided by the authority as quickly as possible. There is no general problem of children being refused admission to schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what action he has taken with regard to the youth service following the recommendations of the Seebohm Report; and if he will make a statement;

I refer the hon. Member to the answer given to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 26th November, 1968. In so far as the Youth Service is concerned, which is where my right hon. Friend's responsibility the Youth Service Development Council has been conducting its own review of the future scope and pattern of the Youth Service and is expected to present its recommendations in the spring of next year.—[Vol. 774, c. 90–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will announce the quota of teachers to be employed by local education authorities in the coming financial year.

I expect to make an announcement for the school year 1969–70 early in January.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has considered the resolution of the Lytham St. Anne's Council on the subject of local education authority grants, details of which have been sent to him; and what action he proposes to take.

As this resolution has not yet been considered by the Lancashire Education Authority it would be inappropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to introduce export licensing for British manuscripts less than 100 years old and to require purchases by overseas libraries in excess of £1,000 per item to be so licensed.

I thank the hon. Member for his suggestions and will consider them in connection with the Annual Report for 1967–68 of the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art, which I have received and which will be laid before Parliament on 18th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give an assurance that all schools and places of education coming within the jurisdiction of his Department hold periodical fire drills; and whether he will arrange for a lecture at periodic intervals to be given to all pupils on the hazards of fire and the means and methods of combating same.

It is for the responsible authorities and the head teachers and principals of schools and colleges to ensure that pupils and students are familiar with the measures to be taken in the event of fire and to give any necessary instruction in fire prevention. I attached the greatest importance to regular fire drill in schools and colleges.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that existing ports facilities are not lost by local authorities allowing the land to be used for housing and similar developments.

I am in consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government to ensure that the importance of retaining existing sports facilities is adequately represented to the appropriate local planning authority when proposals for development are being considered. He hopes to issue a circular about this quite soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what birthrate statistics are used by his Department to decide priorities for the school-building programme as between different education authorities and as to areas within such education authorities; and on what average number of live births, expressed as a percentage of the existing population, over the preceding eight years in England and Wales, Cornwall, Penzance/St. Ives/Cape Cornwall, Helston, Camborne/Redruth, St. Austell, Liskeard and Bodmin areas he based his programme for these respective areas;(2) what was the average percentage growth in live births in the past eight years over the average number of schoolchildren in schools during the preceding eight years in England and Wales, Cornwall, Penzance/St. Ives/Cape Cornwall, Helston, Camborne/Redruth, St. Austell, Liskeard and Bodmin areas, on which he based his school-building programme for those areas.

While the total value of annual school building programmes is related to national projections of school population derived substantially from birth statistics, allocations to individual authorities are based on the need for

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the sums already allocated, authority by authority,

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary school teachers were in the service of the Northumberland County Authority in October, 1964; how many are now in the service at October, 1968; and what is the student/teacher ratio at these respective periods.

The information is as follows:for the years 1968–69 from the £8 million devoted to educational priority areas, and in parallel the value of school building projects to start in 1969–70 for the same authorites.

The information is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many paid appointments are within his official patronage; what are the maximum and minimum salaries involved; and how these figures compare with those of 1958.

I appoint to five salaried posts, and to 105 posts which attract fees or honoraria. Salaries range from £2,805 per annum to £8,100 per annum, and fees and honoraria from £12 12s. for each day of attendance to £1,000 per annum. Comparable figures for 1958 are not available since most of these posts, in the Research Councils and

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress there has been in establishing the Welsh Agricultural College at Aberystwyth; and whether he will indicate in which financial year construction is likely to commence.

The Cardiganshire Education Authority, who are establishing this College as agents for the Welsh Joint Education Committee, have appointed a governing body which will be meeting in December. The authority have been negotiating for the purchase of a site, but this has not yet been concluded. Until there is certainty about the site, I cannot give a firm commitment as to when building work can be authorised to start. I still hope that it will be possible to authorise a start in 1969–70. There is already provision in the building programme for that year for residential and communal accommodation for the joint use of this college and the College of Librarianship, Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state expenditure on education, including school meals and milk, in Great Britain as a percentage of total public expenditure excluding the nationalised industries, debt interest investment grants, Selective Employment Tax, additional payments and regional employment premiums for the years 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69 and 1969–70.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Tonbridge (Mr. Hornby) on 21st March, 1968.—[Vol. 761, c. 573–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether

No, but I agree with my hon. Friend that the expenditure from public funds on the universities, including awards to students, which is now well over £300 million a year, should be more widely known.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will set out in tabular form the bids received in response to Circular 19/68 from the 34 urban authorities with areas of special social need, giving the number of nursery school projects, their estimated capital and recurrent costs, and the estimated number of child places to be provided.

Bids have been received from 22 of the 24 local education authorities included in the urban programme, as follows. The Inner London Education Authority is responsible for education in the areas of the 11 Inner London Boroughs included in the programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of already existing child places in nursery schools or classes in the 34 urban authorities referred to in Circular 19/68.

The table below shows the number of pupils in maintained nur-

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the capital and recurrent costs of places in nursery schools and classes.

The capital cost of new purpose-built nursery schools is about £400 per place, and recurrent costs of existing nursery schools are about £150 per place per annum. Separate figures for nursery classes are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if he will hold an inquiry into the needs and facilities for the pre-school child.

I do not think any further inquiry is needed to establish the importance of nursery education, which propose to extend as and when resources can be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when he proposes to introduce legislation to give effect to the recommendations of the Departmental Committee of Inquiry, published in April, 1965, designed to improve the welfare of laboratory animals.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given on 7th November to a Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Bessell).—[Vol. 772, c. 138.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, to what extent the proposed Commission on the Constitution will overlap with the work undertaken by the Royal Commission on Local Government, the four local government boundary commissions and the Parliamentary Boundary Commission.

It is intended that the Commission on the Constitution will take account of developments, including those resulting from the reports of the Royal Commissions on Local Government. There will be no overlap with the Parliamentary Boundary Commissions. The local government boundary commissions no longer exist.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many paid appointments are within his official patronage; what are the maximum and minimum salaries involved; and what are the comparable figures for 1958.

On the assumption that my hon. Friend has in mind appointments to public boards for which I have statutory responsibility, the answer is that 15 persons are paid on an annual salary basis; the maximum salary paid is £7,000 and the minimum £1,250; and there were no such appointments in 1958. In addition, some members are paid on a daily fee basis.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what complaints he has received concerning the inconvenience caused by the introduction of British Standard Time; and if he will reconsider the re-introduction of Greenwich Mean Time for the winter months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will propose legislation to repeal the British Standard Time Act, 1968;(2) which public or representative bodies have made representations to him since June of this year relating to the British Standard Time Act, 1968.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from 10 individuals since the Act came into force. Since June the Beaconsfield Urban District Council, the St. Thomas Rural District Council, Devon, and the Pencae Parent-Teacher Association have made representations: all before the Act came into force. The Act is experimental and I can see no cause to abandon the experiment at this early stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further representations he has received concerning British Standard Time in the winter months; and what action he plans to take.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave today to a Question by the hon. Member for Wembley, North (Sir E. Bullus).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, subject to guarantees that they will take no part in political activities in Great Britain, he will grant political asylum or a temporary visa to Homero Romolo Cristalli, Candida Rosa Previtera Negrito de Cristall and Alberto di Franco, following their application to the British Embassy in Montevideo on 15th November.

I am awaiting further information, when I shall write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the experiment in output budgeting in the police service which he announced on 14th May, 1968.

Sufficient progress has been made with a pilot study to justify an extension of the experiment, and arrangements to do this are now in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria were used by the Metropolitan Police on Sunday, 27th October to search selected vehicles at the junction of the M1 and A5.

Judgment, based on experience, of the likelihood that offensive weapons were being carried.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offensive weapons were found by the Metropolitan Police on vehicles travelling to London on Sunday, 27th October; how many persons were charged; and how many convicted.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish a list of offensive weapons taken from those who took part, or intended to take part, in the demonstration in London on 27th October.

The number of offensive weapons seized is not available. The following items were found in the possession of those arrested on 27th October for possessing an offensive weapon:

• Bags of flour.
• Bottles.
• Dyes.
• Fireworks.
• Gas pistol and ammunition.
• Knives.
• Marbles.
• Razor blades
• Sticks.
• Weighted chain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what authority vehicles were stopped by the Metropolitan Police at Toddington Service Station on the MI on Sunday, 27th October.

Toddington Service Station is in the area of the Bedfordshire and Luton police force. The Chief Constable informs me that members of his force were acting in pursuance of their duty to prevent breaches of the peace.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the grounds on which the Metropolitan Police stopped and searched the hon. Member for High Peak and his wife at 12·25 p.m. on Sunday, 27th October.

The Commissioner of Police has rot been able to trace the incident involving my hon. Friend. The Metropolitan and other police forces stopped several hundred vehicles on 27th October to search for offensive weapons which might be used to cause a breach of the peace at the demonstration arranged for that day.

asked the Postmaster-General what estimate he has made of the cost of erecting a booster station to enable B.B.C.1 from Scottish studios to be received by all parts of Wigtownshire.

There is no frequency available for broadcasting the Scottish variation of B.B.C.1 to all parts of Wigtownshire. The question of erecting a station does not therefore arise.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects B.B.C.2 and colour television to be generally available in Galloway.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 18th July to the hon. Member.—[Vol. 768, c. 1655–6.]

asked the Postmaster-General how many paid appointments are within his official patronage; what are the maximum and minimum salaries; and what are the comparable figures for 1958.

Fourteen, compared with 10 in 1958. The salaries range from £1,000 to £5,000 per annum; 10 years ago the range was from £1,000 to £4,000.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the percentage increase in the rates and earnings of postal workers estimated to derive from the current nay claim by the Union of Post Office Workers and the current offer made by the Post Office.

The Union of Post Office Workers claimed an increase of an unspecified amount for postmen, postmen higher grade and telephonists. The recent settlement has increased the pay of postmen and postmen higher grade by 4 per cent. and of telephonists, a grade who had their last increase two years ago, by 5½ per cent., plus a further increase in 1969 based on achieved savings resulting from further changes in working practices.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated additional annual cost to Great Britain of playing the increased North Atlantic Treaty Organisation role as a result of the Czech crisis; and how much of this extra financial burden will fall on the balance of payments.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence for Administration to my hon. Friend the Member for York (Mr. Alexander W. Lyon) on 14th November.—[Vol. 773, c. 146–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many housing units belonging to the Services within a 10-mile radius of the centre of Birmingham were empty on 1st November; and how many have been empty for more than six months.

Nineteen married quarters in this area of Birmingham were empty on 1st November, 1968. Eleven of these are awaiting disposal and had been empty for over six months on that date.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many acres of land belonging to the Services within a 10-mile radius of the centre of Birmingham were unused on 1st November; how many of these acres are suitable for housing development; and what plans he has for handing over this land to the local authorities.

About 27 acres in this area of Birmingham are surplus to Ministry of Defence requirements, of which 11 acres have a possible residential application. In accordance with the normal disposal procedure, surplus Government land is offered to local authorities, subject to the needs of other Government Departments. Just over 20 acres have been offered to local authorities, of which 3·5 acres are for housing. In addition, the local T.A. & V.R. Associations are offering to local authorities about 9 acres of their own land which could be uesd for residential purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reports he has received from the Royal Aircraft Establishment, and elsewhere, about unidentified flying objects recently seen over Buckhurst Hill and other parts of Essex; and whether he will make a statement.

We received numerous reports of bright lights seen in the sky over Essex and other parts of Eastern England on the evening of 20th November, 1968. The source of these lights has been identified as the rocket of the U.S.S.R. satellite Cosmos 253 which burnt upon re-entering the earth's atmosphere.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will prevent the export of the six piston Provost aircraft standing in Blackbushe Airfield awaiting dispatch to Cherbourg en route for Biafran forces in East Nigeria and which are convertible for bombing purposes.

Action to prevent these aircraft leaving the country has already been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the numbers and activities of Soviet naval and other vessels off the shores of Orkney and Shetland and using anchorages there.

There have been several occasions recently on which two or three Soviet warships and support vessels have appeared off the Scottish coast, and in particular Orkney and Shetland, although there is no evidence that they have entered British territorial waters.On 22nd November four Russian destroyers, accompanied by a tug and an oiler, were at an anchorage off the Orkneys. Refuelling was observed. Two of the destroyers, accompanied by the oiler, left the same day, and the other three vessels have now departed.The Royal Navy and Royal Air Force keep these activities under surveillance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 1st January, 1968 Soviet naval vessels have entered British territorial waters off the Scottish mainland and islands, with or without permission.

There is no evidence that this has taken place.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will now support the establishment of an International Institute of Technology, as proposed by a committee under Mr. Olivier Giscard d'Estaing at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development; what financial contribution by Great Britatin will be involved; which other countries are likely to participate; where the institute is to be located; and when it will start offering courses.

The question of United Kingdom support for the establishment of a European Institute of Technology is under consideration by Her Majesty's Government. No formal request for a United Kingdom financial contribution has been received. Germany, Italy and the Netherlands have so far given some indication that they may wish to participate. The location and date of opening would be determined once decisions had been taken upon the establishment of the Institute.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will intervene to veto the takeover of Solomon and Company Limited, the principal trading organisation on St. Helena, by a company which is controlled by South African interests.

No. As I told my hon. Friend on 11th November, this whole matter has been the subject of consultation with the Governor of St. Helena and is to be discussed further with him and with representatives of the Islanders in London next month.—[Vol. 773, c. 21–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the terms of the communication which he is sending to the authorities in Argentina by means of the Minister of State, Foreign Office, and the reasons for the Minister of State's stopping in Argentina after his visit to the Falkland Islands.

My right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs is to pay a short courtesy visit to Argentina next weekend on his way back to London from the Falkland Islands. He is not bearing any communication from Her Majesty's Government to the Argentine authorities

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he had with other countries before introducing his proposals for deposits on imports; what other countries operate a comparable system of deposits affecting British exports; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of such countries with details of their schemes.

We had such discussions with other Governments as were practicable in the circumstances. A number of other countries operate schemes of import deposits which have similarities to our system though they are not identical.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional number of non-industrial civil servants who will be required to administer the import deposit scheme.

It is estimated that when in full operation the scheme will occupy about 250 staff in Customs and Excise, of whom about 175 will be required in the first two or three months.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to amend the regulations covering the purchase of premium bonds in order to allow a person to buy premium bonds for another person who is over the age of 16 years.

This is already allowed, provided that the application form is signed by the future bond holder.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the outflow from the United Kingdom of currency from the £ sterling to Deutschemarks since 11th November.

It is not possible to estimate short-term flows to particular countries with any degree of accuracy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer which of the exchange controls previously in force he has considered for re-introduction; and what new exchange controls he plans to introduce to limit transactions to those for normal trading purposes.

The Exchange Control arrangements are kept under review. I have no changes to propose in this field at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer down to what level the Government plan to reduce unemployment; and when he plans to achieve that level.

Our policy is to reduce unemployment from its present level by providing the conditions for sustained export-led growth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that it is the normal practice for markets to sell fruit and vegetables to retail trades, street traders and others without issuing invoices and receipts; and as this encourages and assists in tax evasion, whether he will take action, by legislation or otherwise, to ensure that these cash transactions are recorded for tax purposes.

Without commenting on the practices of the trade in question, I am aware that in certain businesses it is not always practicable for traders to issue invoices and receipts for individual transactions and I am not satisfied that action on the lines proposed would be justified or would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will take steps to buy at an equitable price Rhodesian stock, which because of nonpayment of interest through Government action is unnegotiable.

I cannot accept any responsibility for Rhodesian stock. The non-payment of interest is a consequence of the illegal declaration of independence, not of any action of Her Majesty's Government. Obviously this affects the price, but the stock remains negotiable.