asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children in England and Wales remained at school beyond the statutory leaving age in each year from 1962 to the latest available date.

PERCENTAGE OF PUPILS REMAINING AT SCHOOL BEYOND THE STATUTORY LEAVING AGE
All maintained schools in England and Wales*
	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966
Boys and girls aged 13 in school†	668,818	631,026	603,557	590,564	589,222
Percentage of these remaining at school
2 years later, aged 15	36·9‡	40·2‡	43·1‡	46 6‡	50·4‡
3 years later, aged 16	22·9	24·7	26·5	29·0
4 years later, aged 17	12·4	13·7	15·0
5 years later, aged 18	4·6	5·2
6 years later, aged 19	0·5
* Excluding special schools.
† In January of the year shown; age at beginning of January.
† 15-year-old pupils in January, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968, with birthdays between 1st January and 1st September inclusive, expressed as a percentage of the estimated number of 13-year-old pupils in January, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1966, respectively, with birthdays in the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what basis he decided the total and make-up of the school building programme for 1969–70.

The total was based, in the main, on the estimated need for new school places in relation to the population increase and housing development. Most of the authorised projects were tied to the same criteria but I was able to include some others urgently needed to implement secondary reorganisation schemes and to replace old schools. I approved only projects on which an actual start is likely in the programme year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criterion he applied in deciding upon the recent reductions in provisional school building programmes of local education authorities.

The annual reductions for 1968·69 and 1969–70 amounted to £36 million which was the value of the special allocations to authorities for raising the school leaving age. In each of these years £7 million was added to help

About 50 per cent. of pupils in maintained schools now remain voluntarily in school at least up to the calendar year in which they become 16, 29 per cent. to 17, 15 per cent. to 18 and 5 per cent. to 19. Figures for previous years have been published in Statistics of Education 1967, Volume 1, Table 7, an extract of which is as follows: authorities whose reorganisation plans were jeopardised by the withdrawal of the £36 million, for the revised major programmes, whose value was unaltered. I selected mainly projects needed because of population growth and housing development. But I was able to include some urgently required to replace old schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what effect he estimates that the economies in educational expenditure will have on the number of teachers in employment in 1969.

The effect now depends primarily on the decisions of the local education authorities. The Government accepted for the purposes of rate support grant authorities' estimates that they would employ 13,000 more teachers next year. After allowance is made for the replacement of some unqualified teachers, this figure is broadly in line with my estimates of the number of additional teachers likely to be available. I therefore hope that authorities will keep to their estimates. They will, I am sure be ready, in making new appointments, to give a measure of priority to teachers—particularly immobile teachers—leaving training in 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he proposes to take to provide additional public library facilities to enable libraries to deal with the extra demand which will arise as a result of the establishment of the Open University.

Arrangements for providing any extra facilities specially for Open University students will need to be discussed between the University, the library authorities and where appropriate other bodies such as those concerned with inter-library co-operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to keep the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation informed of the experience being gained in establishing the Open University.

U.N.E.S.C.O. is kept informed of progress in the planning of the Open University through the United Kingdom Delegation in Paris and through contact with U.N.E.S.C.O. officials who visit the United Kingdom from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the findings of the Committee, under the Chairmanship of Mr. A. N. Fairbairn, on Schools, Further Education and the Youth Service, have not yet been published; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will now make a statement on the future of the Youth Service, following the reports of the Milsom and Fairbairn Committees to the Youth Service Development Council.

The Youth Service Development Council appointed two Committees of its own members, under Mr. Fairbairn and Dr. Milsom respectively to report upon the relationship of the Youth Service to schools and further education, and to adult community. The council now intends to produce a consolidated paper on the future of the Youth Service as a whole, which we intend should form the basis of public discussion. I hope that this document will be available in the late spring of 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the continuing shortage of science teachers, he will instruct his representative on the Burnham Committee to move that Committee to consider the claims of such professional bodies as the Royal Institute of Chemistry, for recognition of their qualifications.

The Burnham Committee have for some time accepted the claim of a number of professional bodies, including the Royal Institute of Chemistry, that certain of their qualifications should be given graduate status for salary purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up an inquiry into the recruitment, training and organisation of the education services with special reference to the purpose, methods and function of teacher training in colleges and departments of education.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor) on 27th June.—[Vol. 767, c. 111–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the annual increase in educational expenditure required to maintain existing standards in real terms over the next four years.

About 3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure that the scheme for introducing comprehensive education in the London Borough of Bromley, which was drawn up by the previous council and approved by his predecessor, is not held back by the present council.

The local education authority have informed me that they do not intend to withdraw or amend the plan which was approved in principle last March; they have, however, found it necessary to review the interim arrangements for changes in the method of selection. I expect to hear further from them when local discussions are complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what additional funds will be made available to the London Borough of Bromley so that the scheme for the reorganisation of secondary education may be implemented without undue difficulty.

I have authorised the one building project which the Authority claimed was vital to the launching of their reorganisation scheme. If their reconsideration of some parts of the scheme leads to a re-formulation of what is needed by way of buildings, I shall be prepared to consider fresh proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of the third annual report of the Science Research Council, he will reconsider the decision not to contribute to the 300 GeV accelerator planned by CERN.

No. The Science Research Council's views were taken fully into account in reaching the original decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will approve pro- posals to rebuild St. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic Primary School, Coventry, which was built in 1916 and is at present in a dilapidated and decaying condition which is a hazard to the health of the children;(2) whether he has studied the memorandum on conditions at St. Elizabeth's Roman Catholic Primary School, Coventry, sent to him by the hon. Member for Coventry, North, on behalf of the parents' association of that school; and if he will approve proposals designed to ameliorate these conditions, which are a danger to the children's health.

The authority and the managers have taken steps to remedy the conditions criticised by parents at this school. The question of a satisfactory site for a new building for the school is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he intends to take following the report of the East Anglian Planning Council on the conditions prevailing in the rural primary schools of Norfolk.

This Report was not addressed to me, and I have had no reaction to what it says about schools from Norfolk or any other local education authority in the region. 1 shall be visiting schools in Norfolk, at the invitation of the education authority, next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will instruct Her Majesty's inspectors to carry out an inspection of the Hornsey College of Art.

Her Majesty's Inspectors pay informal visits quite frequently and have done so in recent weeks. Such contacts will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to alter the regulations affecting the provision of school transport in rural areas; and what proposals he has to amend the statutory distances below which no transport is provided by local authorities for children to get to school.

I make no regulations about the provision of school transport. As I have said in reply to recent similar questions, local education authorities have adequate discretionary powers to enable them to provide transport for journeys shorter than the statutory walking distances if this is justified by local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applications were received for entrance to a university in the current session; and how many of these applications were successful.

An interim assessment (by the Universities Central Council on Admissions) indicates that the number applying through the Council for entry to universities in the United Kingdom was about 108,000. The total number of admissions was 61,796.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for further university building in Scotland.

The University Grants Committee have allocated £2.6 million for projects at Scottish universities in their 1969–70 building programme. Their programmes for the following years are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ascertain how many students receive grants from local education authorities to enable them to attend drama schools.

While local education authorities are asked to give general information about awards to students, I would not be justified in asking them to supply this information in the detail my hon. Friend requires, which would considerably add to their burden of work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when, and in what circumstances, he will provide funds, so far withheld, for urgently needed secondary school building in Leicester.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that the Leicester City Council have not agreed on the submission of a scheme to reorganise secondary education on comprehensive lines within the city, and that selection at 11-plus has been introduced in areas of the city formerly embraced within the Leicestershire County Council's comprehensive scheme; and what steps he plans to take to secure the adoption of a scheme of comprehensive education in Leicester City.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated value of the school-building projects required to provide sufficient places for children being educated in maintained schools in the city of Leicester by 1972; and whether his Department plan to authorise the necessary funds for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the reorganisation of secondary education in Leicester; and what steps he is taking to facilitate the changeover to comprehensive education.

I am now considering the situation created by the Leicester authority's decision to reject a reorganisation scheme devised by the Education Committee. I am aware of the need for some additional secondary school building in the City but I am not yet ready to take decisions on the proposals submitted for the 1969–70 school building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek to ensure that graduates who wish to enter the teaching profession also obtain a diploma in education.

Like my predecessors, I am anxious to see this change made and I am at present considering how soon it will be possible. There are, however, practical difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information he now has as to the number of school meals provided since the withdrawal of teacher supervision and whether he will make a statement.

Provisional results of a check on a day in the autumn term 1968, show just over five million day pupils in maintained schools, or 70 pet cent. of the numbers present, taking the school meal. There is no evidence to suggest that the withdrawal of the statutory power to require teachers to supervise school meals has had any significant effect on uptake.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are his plans for building new medical schools.

The first phases of new schools at Nottingham and Southampton and the rebuilding and enlargement of the Charing Cross and Manchester schools are included in the University Grants Committee's programmes for 1968–69 and 1969–70. These and other projects for the extension of existing schools already in the Committee's programmes will, when complete, raise the annual entry of pre-clinical students from under 2,700 in October 1968 to 3,300 by 1975. The recommendations of the Royal Commission on Medical Education for the establishment of further new schools are still being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money was spent by the Arts Council in 1967–68 in Cornwall; and how much the represents per head of population.

In 1967–68 the Arts Council's direct expenditure in the south- west region as a whole excluding expenditure on national and touring companies other than national organisations and on administration, was £163,619. This represents 11d. per head of population. Information for Cornwall alone is not available and could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of staff time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the major building work allocation for 1969–70 for replacing the 55 primary schools in Derbyshire which are sub-standard, and if he will make steps to rectify the fact that 23·2 per cent. of pupils in Derbyshire primary schools are in new permanent places provided since 1946 as compared with the national average of 44·2 per cent.

Two sub-standard schools will be replaced by projects which I have included in the programme. My Department's records show that the percentages mentioned by the hon. Member are 22 and 37 respectively. I accept that the national average is higher than in Derbyshire, as a result or rapid population growth and of large scale new housing in other parts of the country. As resources allow, I shall authorise projects for the replacement of old schools, in Derbyshire and elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will include in the 1969–70 school building programme proposals to build new schools in Bristol, Central, to replace Cabot School, St. Nicholas School and St. Gabriels Schools in view of the unsatisfactory and out of date nature of the existing buildings and accommodation.

I accept that these schools should be replaced when resources are available. But I cannot add them to the programme I have announced for Bristol for 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has to bring about more top-class performances of opera and ballet outside London.

This important question has been a principal concern of the Arts Council's Committee of Inquiry, whose report is expected early next year. In 1967–68, about 300 opera performances and 500 ballet performances were given outside London by major companies supported by the Arts Council. In addition, very valuable work is done by smaller companies such as "Opera for All" and "Ballet for All", which tour small towns all over the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (I) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the names of those primary schools in the geographical county of Cheshire which are more than sixty-eight years old, the number of children attending each school in the present school year, and the amount of money which has been spent on building extension and improvements at each school in the past four years;(2) whether he will indicate the proportion of primary school children in each local education authority in the geographical county of Cheshire who were attending schools built in the nineteenth century in 1961–62, 1964–65 and 1967–68. respectively.

My Department's records do not contain all this information and I do not think that I should be justified in asking the five local education authorities concerned to undertake the considerable task of providing the figures needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he has now given to local authorities to change school hours in the winter months; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will advise local education authorities to have liaison and discussions with parent/ teacher organisations on school hours and related issues.

I refer the hon. Members to my reply to a Private Notice Question by the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Birmingham, Hands-worth (Sir E. Boyle) on 28th November. My Department's Circular 23/68 dated 22nd November stressed the desirability of consulting the wishes of parents wherever possible. I am sure that authorities will also consult the teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he 'is aware of the seriously inadequate toilet facilities, especially for infants, at the Boston Spa, Yorkshire, primary school; and if he will facilitate remedial action.

I understand that the authority will be providing better toilet facilities after Christmas.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the fact that the 1969–70 programme of primary school building for the town of Garforth, near Leeds, approved by his Department is inadequate to meet the needs of the local population of primary school age, he will restore the programme originally put forward by the West Riding County Council.

I have authorised the building of all the 720 primary school places which the authority have now proposed for Garforth, 320 as an additional project to start in 1968–69 and the remaining 400 in 1969–70. The authority's original proposal was for 520 places only.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the additional costs likely to be incurred by raising the school-leaving age in 1972–73; and if additional funds will be made available in the preceding period to ensure that the burden does not fall upon other sectors of the education service.

I cannot yet give a figure for the capital expenditure, which will be authorised as an addition to the normal school building programmes but I hope to make an announcement before long. The additional current expenditure of about £20 million a year, beginning in 1973–74, will be taken into account for rate support grant in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to ensure adequate fully qualified staffing when his Department assumes responsibility for the education of mentally handicapped children, at present a charge on the Health Service.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 26th November, matters affecting the future pattern of staffing and the training and status of staff will have to be worked out in consultation with the appropriate bodies.—[Vol. 774, c. 302–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the size of the major school building programme for Kent in each of the years 1961–62 to 1968–69; and what is the figure for 1969–70.

The following are the values of major building programmes for primary and secondary schools in the present Kent area:

				£ million
1961–62	…	…	…	·9
1962–63	…	…	…	1·2
1963–64	…	…	…	1·1
1964–65	…	…	…	1·3
1965–66	…	…	…	2·5
1966–67	…	…	…	2·9
1967–68	…	…	…	4·3
1968–69	…	…	…	3·5
1969–70	…	…	…	3·3

The values shown for years 1968–69 and 1969–70 are authorised starts on the basis explained in Circular 6/68, in these figures are projects to the value of £1·2 million approved for the 1967–68 programme but which had not been started by 31st March, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to amalgamate the various General Certificate of Education Examination Boards into one to ensure one standard for all who sit Ordinary and Advanced level examinations.

No. Amalgamation would not ensure one standard unless there were also a national syllabus and common examination papers in each subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assistance is being given by his Department to Czech students stranded in this country.

My Department has paid, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, a contribution of £15,000 to the Czechoslovak Student Scholarship Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria he adopts in deciding to approve the setting up of sixth form colleges; and, in the light of experience, whether he is satisfied that such changes have maintained academic standards in those grammar schools whose sixth forms have been abolished.

I need to be satisfied that a college would be an educationally viable unit, large enough to support sufficient staff for a full range of courses, and satisfactorily accommodated and equipped to sustain these courses, and that it would not duplicate facilities provided by neighbouring establishments of further education to an unacceptable degree. There has not yet been sufficient experience to judge what effect this form of organistion will have upon schools in the area which no longer have a sixth form.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the recent advances made in techniques of speech therapy, what steps he proposes to take to improve training, in this field.

The course contents and standards of speech therapy training are primarily the responsibility of The College of Speech Therapy. I have such matters as the need for speech therapists, their functions and their training, under the closest consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which schools in Sheffield will be designated as schools of exceptional difficulty, under the Burnham scheme for additional salary payments to teachers.

I have asked the Sheffield local education authority, and the others concerned, before I recognise schools, to confirm (or otherwise) the order of priority among the schools listed in the recommendations which they made last summer. As soon as this has been done, I shall make my decisions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals have been submitted by the Lancashire Education Committee for the reorganisation of secondary education in its Division No. 24, Ashton-under-Lyne, etc.; and when the proposals will be implemented.

Proposals for the establishment in the Division of ten comprehensive schools for pupils aged 11 to 16 and of a sixth form college were approved in May, 1967, and I understand that the Local Education Authority hope to implement the scheme in September, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now alter his policy by which Scottish students attending further education establishments in England are charged for accommodation at the same rate as overseas students.

Students holding awards from the Scottish Education Department pay the standard boarding fee charged to students from England and Wales and the Department pays to the local authority which maintains the college the difference between this fee and the full economic cost; Scottish educa- tion authorities have been advised to deal in the same way with students holding full-time further education bursaries. This is in line with the arrangements made for students from England and Wales who live in one local authority's area and attend a college in another. Overseas students are charged the full economic cost, but any encountering hardship may apply for help to the Overseas Students Special Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in view of the initial cost of books and equipment to students in the first term of the scholastic year, if he will send a circular to local authorities advising them to pay a higher proportion of the annual grant to students in this term and offset this by a reduction in the other terms.

Local authorities are already advised to make an advance payment of grant in the first year of a course to those who apply for it. It is open to them to do so for subsequent years of the course, but I have no evidence to suggest that this is necessary.

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

I have no indication of any children of school age in Wales having difficulty in being admitted to school owing to lack of space or staff or overcrowding.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will show, in table form, those boroughs or county boroughs with a population of 50,000 or more where the number of Commonwealth immigrant children exceed 2 per cent. of all pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools; and if he will differentiate between the two types of schools at the latest available date.

The figures for county boroughs and inner and outer London boroughs are as follows. Information for the other boroughs is not readily available.

BOROUGHS WITH A POPULATION OF 50,000 OR MORE, WHERE IMMIGRANT PUPILS EXCEED TWO PER CENT. OF ALL PUPILS IN MAINTAINED PRIMARY AND SECONDARY SCHOOLS
January, 1968
	Primary Schools	Secondary Schools	Percentage
Inner London Boroughs
Hammersmith	18·7	12·5	16·2
Kensington and Chelsea	18·7	16·8	17·9
Camden	19·2	15·4	17·5
Westminster	20·6	12·4	17·0
Islington	25·5	20·0	23·4
Hackney	26·2	19·6	23·6
Tower Hamlets and City of London	10·7	7·1	9·3
Greenwich	4·4	3·9	4·2
Lewisham	14·8	8·5	12·3
Southwark	13·7	11·3	12·7
Lambeth	22·0	16·4	19·9
Wandsworth	17·6	12·0	15·1
Outer London Boroughs
Barnet	7·6	4·8	6·4
Brent	27·2	21·4	25·1
Bromley	2·0	2·0	2·0
Croydon	7·9	6·6	7·4
Ealing	17·3	14·6	16·3
Enfield	6·4	4·7	5·7
Haringey	30·8	21·1	27·1
Harrow	3·5	2·6	3·1
Hillingdon	2·5	2·2	2·3
Hounslow	8·0	7·7	7·9
Merton	6·9	3·6	5·5
Newham	13·1	10·0	11·9
Redbridge	4·3	3·7	4·1
Richmond upon Thames	3·3	2·6	3·0
Waltham Forest	9·8	7·2	8·7
County Boroughs
Bath	2·7	1·3	2·1
Birmingham	9·6	8	9·0
Blackburn	6·9	4·9	6·2
Bolton	4·7	5·2	4·9
Bradford	7·5	9·2	8·2
Bristol	3·9	2·8	3·5
Burton-upon-Trent	3·2	2·5	2·9
Coventry	5·7	7·8	6·5
Derby	11·4	8·2	10·0
Dewsbury	4·2	5·3	4·7
Dudley	2·8	2·6	2·7
Gloucester	4·8	3·3	4·2
Huddersfield	11·4	7·6	9·8
Ipswich	4	2·7	3·5
Leeds	4·4	3·8	4·2
Leicester	10·1	9·7	9·9
Luton	7·3	6·2	6·9
Manchester	5·2	4·0	4·7
Northampton	3·8	2·2	3·2
Nottingham	8·5	5·7	7·4
Oldham	2·1	2·4	2·2
Oxford	6·8	4·8	6·1

	Primary Schools	Secondary Schools	Percentage
County Boroughs—continued
Preston	7·7	6·7	7·3
Reading	6·8	5·2	6·2
Rochdale	4·4	4·2	4·3
Sheffield	2·6	1·9	2·3
Southampton	2·5	1·6	2·1
Walsall	6·2	6·7	6·4
Warley	9·7	9·3	9·6
West Bromwich	5·6	4·9	5·3
Wolverhampton	17·9	9·7	11·8

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority Obi Egbuna is being held in custody in Brixton Prison.

He is held under the authority of a court order for his detention pending trial.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether any result has yet been reached in the official investigation which started last July into the safety of infants' layettes and the risk that they are dangerous owing to inflammability.

These layettes are made from a fabric which is more inflammable than a traditional material, like winceyette, but they are intended for use only during the first month of a child's life, when it is not exposed to the same risk of burning accidents as older children. Chiefly for this reason, infants' gowns of the size contained in these layettes are exempt from the requirements of the Nightdress (Safety) Regulations, 1967. I propose, however, to keep a close watch on the use of new fabrics.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had recently with chief officers of police about implementation of the Road Safety Act; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend took advantage of a recent meeting with chief officers of police to review the working of Part I of the Act at the end of its first year. The police have been exercising their new powers in a fair and sensible way, and have fully sustained their enforcement of this important measure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the former Civil Defence employees have been found alternative employment in local government or other comparable work; and how many have been declared redundant.

NUMBER OF FIRES ATTENDED BY FIRE BRIGADES IN GREAT BRITAIN IN THE YEARS 1958–1967 (INCLUDING FIRES NOT IN BUILDINGS BUT EXCLUDING CHIMNEY FIRES WHICH DID NOT SPREAD BEYOND THE HEARTH) TOGETHER WITH THE NUMBERS OF FATAL AND NON-FATAL CASUALTIES IN EACH YEAR*
		(a)	(b)	(c)	(d)	(e)
Year		Fires in buildings (including derelict buildings and buildings under construction)	Fires not in buildings	Total (a)+(b)	Fatal casualties	Other casualties
				(estimated)	(estimated)	(estimated)
1967	…	—	—	200,000	760	4,165
1966	…	84,823	75,561	160,384	764	4,379
1965	…	81,702	94,947	176,649	693	4,325
1964	…	80,316	116,416	196,732	665	4,288
1963	…	77,478	76,844	154,322	806	4,172
1962	…	72,100	92,696	164,796	656	3,671
1961	…	68,382	89,058	157,440	562	3,405
1960	…	61,336	70,428	131,764	511	3,365
1959	…	60,320	175,534	235,854	475	3,266
1958	…	51,184	49,540	100,724	446	3,162
* These figures are derived from the United Kingdom Fire Statistics prepared annually by the Joint Fire Research Organisation and published by H.M. Stationery Office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide that crowds going to and from inter-club football matches shall be governed by civilised principles and conduct.

The existing law provides adequate sanctions against disorderly behaviour and I see no need at present for further legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders have been committed in the years since the abolition of the death penalty compared with the same length of time previous to that abolition.

The Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act, 1965 came into effect on 9th November, 1965. Murder statistics are compiled for complete years only: the latest corrected figures for offences of murder known to

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many fires have taken place in Great Britain during each of the past 10 years together with the number of fatalities and injuries.

Following is the information:the police in England and Wales in the years 1963 to 1967 are:

1963	…	…	…	133
1964	…	…	…	153
1965	…	…	…	151
1966	…	…	…	139
1967	…	…	…	170

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations the Metropolitan Police have received regarding the traffic congestion and unnecessary obstruction in Sugar House Lane, Stratford, E.15; and what representations have been made to the police regarding the introduction of a double yellow banned area for vehicles within this cul-de-sac.

The Commissioner of Police informs me that, apart from requests to deal with actual obstructions, two letters have been received since the beginning of November about congestion in Sugar House Lane. Neither suggested the imposition of waiting restrictions, but both writers were informed that this course was being proposed to the local authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he plans to take to prevent the acceptance by research laboratories of animals without adequate inquiries being made to ascertain whether or not these animals have been stolen.

I do not think that any steps on the part of my right hon. Friend are called for. Laboratory authorities purchasing animals from dealers are conscious of the need to ensure that their supplies have been properly obtained. It is an offence to receive stolen animals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of prosecutions against gypsies under Sections 121 and 127 of the Highways Act, 1959 in England and Wales from the beginning of 1968 to the latest convenient date.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many indictable crimes were recorded in the London area on Sunday, 27th October, 1968; and what were the comparable totals for each of the other Sundays in that month.

Following are the numbers of indictable offences recorded as having been committed on those Sundays in the Metropolitan Police District.

6th October	…	…	…	410
13th October	…	…	…	360
20th October	…	…	…	441
27th October	…	…	…	356

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a comparative tabulation of the statistics his Department has collected of fireworks casualties over the last seven years by age-group and types of firework and injuries.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 7th March, 1968. No statistics are available for the years prior to 1962.—[Vol. 760, c. 131–21

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will provide a statistical breakdown of the figures of fireworks casualties this year.

The firework accident statistics for the period including 5th November, 1968 are not yet available. My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to publish these early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the public or representative bodies in Wales that have made representations to his Department since May of this year relating to the British Standard Time Act, 1968.

The Pembrokeshire Federation of Women's Institutes, the South West Wales Federation of Townswomen's Guilds and the Pencae Parent Teacher Association; all before the Act had come into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications have been made by prisoners for parole to the latest convenient date; how many have been granted, and from which prisons; and whether the successful applicants have been released.

Up to 31st October, recommendations by local review committees had been received in respect of 8,287 prisoners in England and Wales. This figure included 410 prisoners whose cases were under review for the second time, but excluded 788 prisoners who had declined to be considered for parole. Up to the same date the Parole Board had recommended 981 prisoners for release on licence. Some 280 cases, with eligibility dates up to 1st February next, were awaiting reference to the Board. I accepted all the Board's recommendations, some of which provided for a deferred date on release.The following table provides an analysis by prisons of the prisoners whose release on licence has been approved:

Albany	…	…	15
Ashwell*	…	…	29
Askham Grange*	…	…	14
Aylesbury	…	…	23
Bedford	…	…	2
Bela River*	…	…	2
Birmingham	…	…	7
Blundeston	…	…	13
Bristol	…	…	17
Camp Hill	…	…	11
Canterbury	…	…	1
Cardiff	…	…	2
Chelmsford	…	…	16
Dartmoor	…	…	4
Dorchester	…	…	2
Durham	…	…	10
Eastchurch*	…	…	15
Exeter	…	…	9
Ford*	…	…	50
Gartree	…	…	26
Gloucester	…	…	1
Grendon	…	…	13
Hill Hall*†	…	…	6
Holloway†	…	…	5
Hull	…	…	6
Kirkham*	…	…	93
Lancaster	…	…	27
Leeds	…	…	9
Leicester	…	…	4
Lewes	…	…	21
Leyhill*	…	…	134
Lincoln	…	…	1
Liverpool	…	…	24
Maidstone	…	…	21
Manchester	…	…	8
Moor Court*†	…	…	1
Northallerton	…	…	21
Norwich	…	…	5
Nottingham	…	…	6
Oxford	…	…	4
Parkhurst	…	…	10
Pentonville	…	…	8
Preston	…	…	1
Shepton Mallett	…	…	4
Shrewsbury	…	…	2
Spring Hill*	…	…	6
Stafford	…	…	72
Styal†	…	…	5
Sudbury	…	…	44
Swansea	…	…	6
Verne	…	…	33
Wakefield	…	…	49
Wandsworth	…	…	17
Winchester	…	…	4
Wormwood Scrubs	…	…	42
Total	…	…	981
* Denoted as an open prison.
†A prison for women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest convenient stated period of time, details of the number of successful cases of prosecutions in magistrates courts, within the London area for the offence of driving without a road fund licence; what was the total amount of fines and penalties imposed; and whether he will give details of the six cases which had the heaviest penalties imposed.

I regret that the information cannot be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Postmaster-General what plans now exist to improve television reception in the town of Peebles; and whether a piped telecommunications system such as is at present on trial elsewhere is being considered as an alternative to a transmitter.

The B.B.C. tell me that reception in the Burgh of Peebles is generally satisfactory.On the second part of the hon. Member's Question I take it that he is referring to Post Office plans to provide a broadcast relay system at Washington new town. The Post Office has no such plans for Peebles. I understand that existing broadcast relay systems serve nearly 3,000 households in the area.

asked the Postmaster-General what has been the cost of introducing the Giro system to date; and what he estimates the expenditure on it will be in 1969 and 1970, respectively.

The cost of planning and setting up the Giro service is being charged to capital on which the National Giro will pay an annual interest charge. When the service opened on 18th October, £12 million had been spent for this purpose. By March, 1969 capital costs will total some £15½ million. Annual operating costs, which include the interest charge on capital, are estimated at £20 million for the financial year ending March, 1970 rising to £24½ million in the following year.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps have been taken in the last 12 months, and what plans have been made, to remove unsightly overhead telegraph wires and telegraph poles from the town; and areas of natural beauty in Northern Ireland.

The replacement of 1·7 miles of overhead plant near Bailin-toy at a cost of £7,500 is in progress and should be completed by June, 1969. We have no plans for any further replacement at present.

asked the Postmaster-General what is his policy concerning second delivery of mail in rural areas; whether this varies in different parts of the country; and whether he will make a statement.

We continue to provide second deliveries of many years standing in some rural areas, but a few are withdrawn as the cost of maintaining them becomes excessive. New second deliveries are not given unless the amount of mail available clearly justifies the cost.

asked the Postmaster-General when the Post Office plans to link the subscriber trunk dialling system telephone system in Northern Ireland with the subscriber trunk dialling systems in the North-East, North-West, and Midlands and so assist business between Northern Ireland and these areas.

The subscriber trunk dialling system in Northern Ireland is already linked to the North-East, North-West, and Midlands. However, because of technical limitations with existing telephone exchange equipment, the 80 per cent. of subscribers in Northern Ireland with the subscriber trunk dialling facility can only dial between 60 per cent. and 80 per cent. of their calls to Great Britain, depending on the exchange to which they are connected. A new high-speed network of trunk lines and switching centres is being provided to overcome the technical limitations. The main telephone centres in Northern Ireland will be among the first to be connected to the new network, which will be completed by 1975, and which will enable any subscriber in the United Kingdom to dial direct to any other subscriber.

asked the Postmaster-General how many subscribers in the Rhondda Valley have shared telephone lines; and how many are still waiting for telephone installation.

In the whole area (Rhondda Fawr and Rhondda Fach), 674 subscribers (16 per cent.) have shared lines. At 29th November, 1968, 74 orders were in course of being met and there were three people on the waiting list to whom we hope to give service in January, 1969.

asked the Postmaster-General what increase in continental telephone calls is attributed to British Standard Time.

None. But on the limited information available indications are that the traffic flow is spread more evenly with the result that equipment is used more efficiently.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will rearrange the form of the Estimates in such a way that a Vote, separate from the Defence Vote, be established to cover expenditure on non-military projects under the Operation Military Aid to the Civil Community Scheme.

No.The existing arrangement is adequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he estimates to be the annual cost of maintaining Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve III at its present strength of 10,000; and by how much he estimates that an additional 10,000 members would put up the cost of Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve II, taking into account equipment, training, bounty, accommodation and all other relevant charges.

The answer to the first part of the Question is £2·5 million on the original basis for Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve III; to the second part, £1·8 million on the assumption that the additional members would fill vacancies in existing or planned establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing how he made his estimate of about £o million additional annual cost of the proposals for strengthening Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve II, showing separately liability and training bounties, travelling and other expense claims, uniforms, weapons, equipment and transport. accommodation, including camp facilities, subsidiary staff, including insurance and taxes, and other expenses.

The estimate of about £¾ million represents the net additional annual cost of Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve II over and above the expenditure which had already been planned. Details are as follows:

	£ Million
Liability and training bounties	0·5
Training (including travel etc. expenses)	0·6
Equipment (including uniform, weapons, vehicles, etc.)	0·5
Accommodation (includes caretakers at Training Centres and also camp facilities)	0·5
Civilian staff	0·2
Other Expenses	0·1
Gross additional annual cost	2·4
Less: Savings within Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve II (through lower training obligation and lapsing of Special Army Volunteer Reserve)	0·4

Net additional annual cost	2·0
Less:
(1) Expenditure already planned (mainly to increase Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve strength on old establishment)	1·1
(2) Savings on Reserves other than within Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve II	0·15
Net additional annual cost over and above expenditure already planned	0·75
NOTE. This estimate
(a) Excludes Regular Army permanent staff;
(b) Assumes recruitment to 80 per cent. of establishment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, whether, in view of the changed circumstances arising from incidents in Czechoslovakia, he will now make a statement on the Government's policy with regard to the sale of arms to countries outside the British Commonwealth.

Our policy remains that we are prepared to sell defence equipment to friendly Governments taking the relevant political, economic, security and strategic considerations into account in each case.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what examination he has made of the economic potential of an alginate industry in the Falkland Islands.

I have received no request from the Government of the Falkland Islands for such an examination to be made.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what estimate he has made of the number of overseas pensioners who were recruited by the Colonial Office or the Crown Agents who are ineligible for supplements under the Pensions (Increase) Acts.

I have not sufficient information on which to base a reliable estimate.

asked the Minister of Over-0·4 seas Development what estimate he has made of the number of overseas pensioners whose pensions are paid by an overseas government who are ineligible for supplements under the Pensions (Increase) Acts.

About 16,500, the majority of whom do not yet meet the age requirements of the Acts.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what estimate he has made of the cost of granting supplements to overseas pensioners of non-governmental services who receive a public service pension.

Probably about £1 million.

asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to reduce the aggregate cost of Ministerial salaries.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to the hon. Member for Working (Mr. Onslow) on the 12th of November, and to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on the 11th of November. [Vol. 773, c. 204–6, 41–21

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Secretary of State for the Home Department on 1st December at Rutherglen on the economic situation represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the Secretary of State for the Home Department at Rutherglen on Sunday, 1st December on the economic situation, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Secretary of State for the Home Department on British Standard Time at Rutherglen on Sunday, 1st December, 1968 represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes. It has been the Government's intention that a comprehensive review of the effects of British Standard Time should be made in the spring of 1970 as the Act contemplates. In the meantime a close watch is being kept on the matter, and an assessment will be made at the end of this winter on the basis of the information then available, for instance on road accidents.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet received representations from the Scottish Trades Union Congress on Scottish devolution; and what reply he has sent.

I cannot trace having received any representations from the Scottish Trades Union Congress on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Paymaster-General on devolution made at Glasgow on 1st December, 1968, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by Mr. Chancellor of the Exchequer in Birmingham on 8th November on public expenditure represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement about the Women's Consultative Council and its future, having regard to the current interest in women's contribution to national life.

The Women's Consultative Council is a Government-sponsored body representative of women's national organisations. It is concerned mainly with important social issues including of course those which particularly affect women. The co-chairmen are at present my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General and the President of the National Council of Women of Great Britain. At my request the Council have been asked to consider the extent of its own scope and functions, with the aim of ensuring that the informed opinion of women is given its due weight in the deliberations of Government and in public debate, and in this context it will take account of the interest of the United Nations in the possible establishment of national Commissions on the Status of Women. The Council have appointed a working party to consider these matters. The valuable contribution being made by other bodies in related fields will naturally be of vital interest in this study.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to public funds of ascertaining the number of successful prosecutions of currency speculation by United Kingdom citizens on institutions authorised to operate in foreign exchange markets during the last 10 and four years, respectively; and whether without disproportionate cost he will give an approximate estimate of the relevant figures.

No authorised dealers have ever been prosecuted under the Exchange Control Act in connection with operations in foreign currencies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many United Kingdom institutions or individuals are currently authorised to operate in foreign exchange markets.

I take the hon. Member to have in mind those who deal in foreign exchange as part of their business. Some 175 banks have been authorised under the Exchange Control Act, 1947 to deal in this way in foreign currencies within prescribed limits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many qualified scientists and engineers are employed on the staff of his Department; and whether, in view of the need to ensure that the Treasury is aware of, and able to evaluate, recent developments in the scientific, engineering and technological fields, he will increase this staff in the near future.

No members of the scientific and engineering classes of the Civil Service are employed in the Treasury, which looks to other Government Departments to provide advice in these fields when required.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what proportion of the sums spent to promote economic development in the development areas in each financial year from 1st April, 1964 has been in Scotland; how many persons are employed as a result of this expenditure in total, and of these employees, how many are employed in Scotland, and where.

The proportions spent in Scotland in each year since 1st April, 1964 were approximately 35 per cent., 40 per cent., 50 per cent. and 30 per cent. These figures, however, relate to steadily rising assistance given under the Local Employment Acts; and last year included the Regional Employment Premium and the differential element of investment grants payable in development areas. Meaningful estimates of the amount of employment created by the expenditure are not possible; however, there has been a significant improvement in the unemployment position in Scotland relative to Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of those members of the United Nations who are in arrears in their payments towards the United Nations budget and technical or special funds.

As at 31st October 1968, assessed contributions to the United Nations regular budget for 1967 or earlier years were outstanding in whole or part from the following members of the United Nations:

Albania.	Hungary.
Algeria.	Maldive Islands.
Argentina.	Mauritania.
Bolivia.	Mongolia.
Bulgaria.	Nepal.
Burundi.	Nicaragua.
Byelorussia.	Paraguay.
Chad.	Peru.
Chile.	Poland.
China.	Senegal.
Costa Rica.	Sierra Leone.
Cuba.	South Africa.
Dahomey.	Trinidad & Tobago.
Dominican Republic.	Uganda.
Ecuador.	Ukraine.
El Salvador.	U.S.S.R.
Gambia.	Upper Volta.
Guinea.	Uruguay.
Haiti.	Venezuela.
Honduras.	Yemen.

Contributions to the United Nations Development Programme, which consists of the Technical Assistance component and the Special Fund component, are pledged voluntarily by members of the United Nations. As at 31st October, 1968, pledges by the following members for 1967 or earlier years were outstanding in whole or in part:

Afghanistan.	Jordan.
Argentina.	Mali.
Bolivia.	Mauritania.
Brazil.	Mexico.
Congo (Democratic Republic)	Nepal.
	Nigeria.
Costa Rica.	Pakistan.
Dahomey.	Panama.
Ecuador.	Paraguay.
El Salvador.	Peru.
Ethiopia.	Spain.
Guinea.	Sudan.
Honduras.	Syria.
Indonesia.	United Arab Republic
Iraq.
Israel.	United States.
Italy.	Uruguay.