asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends that the present location of the Forestry Commission head office in the south of England is to remain there for the next live years; what consideration has been given to resiting the head office to take account of the greater potential of the industry in Scotland; and whether he intends to install a computer in the present head office.

As regards the first two points in the hon. Member's Question I would refer her to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State today. As regards the last point the Commission already has two computers at its main Research Station, but I understand that the need for further facilities is under review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food which regulations in his Department restrict employment to persons of particular birth, citizenship, descent or residence in the Forestry Commission.

None, but I am aware that the Forestry Commission only recruits as permanent members of its staff people who would be eligible under the nationality rules governing permanent recruitment to the home Civil Service. The rules do not impede the recruitment of British citizens born in other countries who are legally resident here.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will seek to secure for Malawi the advantages of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement; and whether he will make a statement.

I regret that it is not possible to offer Malawi a quota under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement. We are already committed under the Agreement to buying a quantity of sugar representing some 95 per cent. of our net import requirements, and it would not be prudent to extend our commitment further.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the average annual percentage rise in agricultural net output for the four crop years from 1959–60 to 1963–64 and from the four crop years from 1963–64 to 1967–68 as assessed or estimated at the time of the 1968 Farm Price Review.

Estimates prepared at the time of the 1968 Annual Review (which included a forecast for the farm year 1967–68) show that agricultural net output measured over all holdings in the United Kingdom rose:—By 3·2 per cent. per annum between 1959–60 and 1963–64 and by 3·2 per cent. per annum between 1963–64 and 1967–68.(Years are June/May and the growth rates are expressed in compound interest terms.)

asked the Attorney-General whether he has yet received the Report of the Legal Aid Advisory Committee; and to which tribunals he now proposes to extend legal aid.

The Report of the Legal Aid Advisory Committee was published last October. Funds cannot at present be made available for the extension of legal aid to any tribunal.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Territorial Army drill halls there were in 1965; how many have since been disposed of; how many are still to be disposed of; and how many will be retained as a result of his announcement on the further reorganisation of the Territorial Army on 28th November, 1968.

There were 1,250 Territorial Army Centres in 1965. As a result of the reorganisation announced in 1967 it was planned to dispose of 750 of these. 380 have already been disposed of and 370 are in process of disposal. Of the 500 which were to be retained. about 100 were small Centres for use by Cadets, 250 were for Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve II and 150 for Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve III. As a result of the recent decisions announced in the House by my hon. Friend the Minister of Defence for Administration on 28th November, the 150 Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve III Centres will be retained.—[Vol. 774, c. 739–41.]

MEDICAL CADET
			1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968 (1st half)
R.N.	…	…	—	26	37	44	32	23	10
Army	…	…	96	87	73	36	37	33	13
R.A.F.	…	…	80	64	41	30	42	38	18
Total	…	…	176	177	151	110	111	94	41

DENTAL CADETS
		1959	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
R.N.	…		—	—	—	5	1	13	8	6	3 (Jan.-March)
Army	…	—	7	7	18	33	12	8	2	6	1 (Jan.-Oct.)
R.A.F.	…	10	11	14	20	21	2	—	9	8	5 (Jan.-Oct.)
Total	…	10	18	21	38	59	15	21	19	20	9

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Royal Marines, showing officers and men separately, there will be in the total of 79,000 men planned for the Royal Navy in 1973.

The Royal Marines at present constitute approximately 10 per cent. of the Royal Navy. Whether they will continue to form precisely the same proportion of the Royal Navy in the future will depend on the outcome of the current review of our long-term contributions to N.A.T.O.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the figures for recruiting for the first nine months of 1968 for each of the Services on the same basis as annexe A, tables 4, 5 and 6, of Command Paper No. 3540.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many medical and dental students have joined each of the Service schemes for free tuition, in return for a minimum period of service, in each year since the schemes were inaugurated.

I assume that the hon. Member has in mind the services' medical and dental cadets. The numbers of commissions granted to medical and dental cadets since the inauguration of the relevant schemes are:—

As it is not possible in the time available to provide the detailed information required I will write to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students in United Kingdom universities and technical colleges are from overseas; how many are in receipt of grants; and what is the cost thereof.

There were 15,497 full-time overseas students in universities and 15,401 in grant aided further education establishments in 1967–68, 7,761 received support from public funds, amounting to £444,000 in the financial year 1967–68 for the relief of hardship following the introduction of higher tuition fees. In addition some 4,600 students were financed under the Aid Programme of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development and other programmes of the British Council and Commonwealth Scholarships Commission; the cost is not precisely identifiable within the overall cost of students and trainees, but amounted to between £3 million and £5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to encourage the teaching of Chinese in British universities.

I understand that, following their allocation in the last quinquennium of over £1 million for the expansion of university facilities for Oriental, African, Slavonic and East European studies, the University Grants Committee are continuing in the present quinquennium to earmark funds for the development of existing centres for these

Name of School	Date of erection	Improvements planned
Hirst North County Primary Infant Department	1896	Renovations 1968–69.
Hirst North County Primary Junior Boys Department	1890	Indoor toilets to be provided 1968–69.
Hirst North County Primary Junior Girls Department	1895	Indoor toilets to be provided 1968–69.
Hirst South County Primary Infant Department	1910	Possibility of toilet improvements under investigation.
Hirst South County Primary Junior Boys Department	1908	Indoor toilets to be provided 1968–69.
Hirst South County Primary Junior Girls Department	1908	Indoor toilets to be provided 1968–69.
Hirst East County Infant	1913	See Note 1.
Ashington Roman Catholic Primary School	1894	See Note 2.

Note 1: Indoor toilets provided in 1967–68.Note 2: Nothing is planned so far as is known to the local education authority

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will instruct the Social Science Research Council to sponsor research into moral education based on a secular ethic.

No, it is not my practice to issue instructions to the Research Councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools in Ashington, Northumberland, are now 50 years old; what plans are in hand to modernise them or replace them; and whether he will make a statement.

Information supplied by the local education authority is as follows:maladjusted children are estimated to require special education facilities at the secondary stage in England and Wales; and what is the total number of places available;(2) how many maladjusted children are estimated to require special educational facilities at the primary stage in England and Wales; and what is the total number of places available.

Local education authorities reported 11,417 maladjusted children as requiring special educational treatment in January, 1968. Separate figures are not available for children of primary and secondary age. They were placed as follows:—

In special schools	4,315
In boarding homes	714
In special classes and units associated with ordinary schools	1,692
In independent schools	2,592
Total	9,313

Of the remaining 2,104 some were receiving education elsewhere than in school, e.g. in hospital or at home, and some were in ordinary schools whilst awaiting vacancies in special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) which education authorities in England and Wales provide facilities for the education of maladjusted children at the secondary stage;(2) which education authorities in England and Wales provide facilities for the education of maladjusted children at the primary stage.

The local education authoritites listed below maintain special schools, boarding homes or hostels, or day classes or units for maladjusted pupils. Since many special schools cover a range which includes primary and secondary age children it is not possible to give separate details for primary and secondary stages. Authorities without their own maintained facilities may place maladjusted pupils in schools provided by other authorities, in non-maintained schools run by voluntary bodies or in independent schools.

Local Education Authority
England.
Bedfordshire.	Somerset.
Berkshire.	Staffordshire.
Buckinghamshire.	Suffolk, West.
Cornwall.	Surrey.
Derbyshire.	Sussex, East.
Devon.	Sussex, West.
Dorset.	Warwickshire.
Durham.	Yorks, West
Essex.	Riding.
Gloucestershire.	Barrow-in-Furness.
Hertfordshire.	Bath.
Kent.	Birkenhead.
Lancashire.	Birmingham.
Leicestershire.	Blackpool.
Lincs.—Holland.	Bournemouth.
Lincs.—Kesteven.	Bradford.
Lincs.—Lindsey.	Burnley.
Norfolk.	Bury.
Northamptonshire.	Chester.
Nottinghamshire.	Coventry.
Oxfordshire.	Leeds.
Shropshire.	Leicester.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what information she has on low average pay in the county of Norfolk and the region of East Anglia.

Reliable estimates of earnings in the county of Norfolk are not available. According to the results of the April, 1968 enquiry into the earnings of manual workers in manufacturing and certain other industries and services, the average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in the region of East Anglia were £20 7s. 11d.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will take steps to intervene in the building site official dispute, amounting to a lock-out, at a council housing scheme at Turriff, Ivy Bridge, Hounslow; and if she will make a statement.

I understand that the dispute is being dealt with through the disputes machinery of the National Joint Council for the Building Industry, and that joint talks are being held with a view to re-opening the site. In the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many of the consultants in her Manpower and Productivity Department are from Scotland; how many of the staff in her Research and Planning Division are from Scotland; and, in each department, what is the total number of experts and ordinary staff employed.

Of 72 staff in the Manpower and Productivity Services Division in the headquarters of my Department, 13 are clerical staff. The corresponding figures for the Research and Planning Division are 70 and 15. I regret that the other information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what estimate she has formed of the cost of filling in Form E.S. 2; and what she estimates will he the total cost to industry of the 100,000 forms which have been sent out.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 25th November.—[Vol. 774, c. 24.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what report he has received from the Governor on the possibilities of seaweed production and processing in the Falkland Islands by Alginate Industries.

As I told the hon. Member in the House on 3rd December, Alginate Industries had until then made only a very tentative approach to the Governor. I have since seen reports of a further approach by the firm to the Governor. The firm have been asked for details of their proposals, and I am seeking the Governor's views on them.

Hutchinson asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the record of the Minister of State's recent discussions in Buenos Aires with the Argentine Minister for Foreign Affairs and Argentine officials about the Falkland Islands.

No. My right hon. and noble Friend's talks with the Argentine Foreign Minister were informal as I explained in the House on 3rd December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans Her Majesty's Government has for improving the links between the Falkland Islands and Argentina; and if he will make a statement.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the statement which my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary will be making next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in which countries the Diplomatic Service dispenses with the use of home-based staff and employs local staff exclusively; in which countries local staff are employed to assist home-based staff, showing the number of home-based staff and local staff in each case; and in which countries home-based staff only are employed, showing the number in each case.

I would refer the hon. Member to the table published in the Civil Estimates (Class II Commonwealth and Foreign) for 1968–69, which shows the distribution of United Kingdom-based and local staff among all the countries where we have resident representation.The only major changes to have occurred since this table was published relate to Algeria, Iraq, Swaziland and Tanzania, where there are now the following staff:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the Republic of Nauru has applied for membership of the Commonwealth; and whether this matter will be placed on the agenda of the forthcoming Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.

The Commonwealth Secretariat issued the following statement on the 29th November 1968:

"The Commonwealth Secretary-General, Mr. Arnold Smith, announced today that, in response to a request from the Government of the Republic of Nauru, which became independent on 31st January, 1968, Commonwealth Heads of Government have agreed that Nauru should become a special member of the Commonwealth.

This 'Special Membership' of the Commonwealth has been devised in close consultation with the Government of Nauru.

Nauru will have the right to participate in all functional activities of the Commonwealth and to receive appropriate documentation in relation to them as well as the right to participate in non-governmental Commonwealth organisations, Nauru will not be represented at Meetings of the Commonwealth Heads of Government, but may attend Commonwealth Meetings at Ministerial or official level in such fields as Education, Medical co-operaton, Finance, and other functional and technical areas as the Nauruan Government desires. It will be eligible for Commonwealth technical assistance."

The "Special Membership" described in the statement reflects the wishes of the Nauru Government. There is no need for the question of Nauru's membership to be discussed at the Prime Ministers' Meeting.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals were officially put to the recent North Atlantic Treaty Organisation Ministerial Council meeting in regard to guarantees of the territorial integrity of Austria and Finland.

The proceedings of the Ministerial Committee are confidential. I would refer the honourable Member to the communiqué.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will review the grants now being paid out of public funds to Great Britain in Europe, the College of Europe in Bruges and other similar organisations.

The grants concerned are reviewed annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been paid from public funds for part of the cost of training advisory police or civil order officers of any kind in Saigon; and what is being currently paid.

Part of Her Majesty's Government's assistance to the South Vietnamese Government consists of the British Advisory Mission whose function is to advise and train South Vietnamese civilian police. This field of activity is vital to the maintenance of civilian order and safety in South Vietnam. The total cost to Her Majesty's Government of the Mission since its inception in 1961 has been £380,697. The current cost is approximately £18,700 per quarter. This includes not only the cost of the Mission's operations in Vietnam but also that of some training provided for Vietnamese civilian police officers outside Vietnam.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consultations with foreign Governments have taken place in the last 12 months over the re-negotiation of the Nassau Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Gentleman on 29th November.—[Vol. 774, c. 203–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has given to police authorities about establishing whether applicants for firearm certificates have been convicted of crime within the meaning of Section 21 of the Firearms Act, 1968.

My right hon. Friend has suggested that applicants for firearm certificates should be asked to state any offences of which they have been found guilty, and to provide certain personal particulars, so as to enable the police to make a check against criminal records.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables on the number of police man hours spent in giving evidence and standing by to prevent breaches of the peace in respect of unauthorised gipsy encampments since the beginning of 1968 in the whole of England and Wales, excluding the Metropolitan Police area.

The information is not readily available and I do not think the expenditure of police effort necessary to obtain it would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of the non-immigrant members of the Community Relations Commission and of the Race Relations Board have resided in the countries of departure for more than six months.

None to my knowledge.In considering appointments to the Commission and the Board, I was primarily concerned with experience of the problems in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why officers of the Metropolitan Police were carrying out duties in October, 1968, at Glasgow Airport; and what were these duties.

At the invitation of the Chief Constables of Glasgow and Renfrew and Bute, a Metropolitan officer was temporarily assisting officers of those forces. He has since been withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has studied the information with regard to night clubs in London supplied by the honourable Member for Antrim, South; and what action he proposes to take.

I have referred the information to the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, who will send me a report when inquiries are completed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving the use or threatened use of shotguns have occurred in 1968 to the latest convenient date; whether he is satisfied that the powers taken in the Firearms Act, 1968 are proving effective; and if he will make a statement.

Provisional statistics indicate that, during the first six months of 1968, there were known to the police in England and Wales 121 indictable offences in which a shotgun was fired or presented.Restrictions on the possession, purchase and acquisition of shotguns—introduced in the Criminal Justice Act, 1967 and now consolidated in the Firearms Act, 1968—did not come into force until 1st May, 1968. It is too soon to assess their effect.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how often inspections are made of the structural safety of public buildings.

This information is not available. It is for the local authority to decide if and when inspection is needed either in relation to their own buildings or for the purpose of exercising their functions under the Public Health Acts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what inspections of buildings for structural safety are carried out on behalf of his department before planning permission is given for use as restaurants or clubs.

Where planning permission is required for the use of premises as restaurants or clubs, local planning authorities are concerned only with planning considerations and not with structural safety.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the Government proposal to make a three for-one contribution to the South-West disaster appeal funds will also apply to other disaster appeals following the floods of last September.

As in the South-West, the Government will make such contribution to the appeal funds set up following the floods of last September as appears to them to be appropriate having regard both to the magnitude of the assessed claims on the funds and to the size of the other contributions to those funds.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the approximate average increase of regulated rents, compared with the previous controlled rents for the same dwellings, stated in percentage and also in cash terms, in England and Wales as a whole and in the area of each rent assessment committee, respectively.

These figures are not available in the form requested but it is estimated that the average controlled rent in England and Wales is about seventeen shillings a week. A recent analysis of a sample of cases suggests that where a house is in good repair and has all the basic amenities, the regulated rent might on average and subject to any scheme for phasing increases rise to between forty and fifty shillings per week.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities have imposed half-rates on houses empty for more than three months; how many have given notice of their intention to do so next April; and approximately how many houses have so far been affected.

91 local authorities, which account for about 25 per cent. of total rateable value. One other authority has already resolved to do so from April, 1969, and more may resolve similarly between now and 31st March. There is no way of establishing the total number of dwellings affected, since the effect of actual or potential liability for rates cannot be isolated from the other factors which cause dwellings to become occupied.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will circularise all local authorities which have not used their powers to levy half-rates on houses empty for more than three months asking them to do so.

My right hon. Friend expects local authorities, who have not yet adopted the provisions for rating empty property, to do so without prompting from him if they are satisfied that the local housing circumstances would justify it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in order to prevent houses remaining empty with consequent damage and deterioration, he will introduce legislation permitting or compelling the levying of full rates on all houses empty for more than three months; or if, in such cases, he will seek powers to encourage compulsory purchase by local authorities for letting to those on their waiting lists.

I am not satisfied that there is a case for amending the Local Government Act, 1966 in this way. Local authorities already have adequate powers of compulsory purchase to fulfil their housing duties.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is satisfied that letters stamped with a 4d. stamp and a Id. stamp in practice receive the service of first class mail, in view of the fact that the methods used in mechanical sorting only recognise a 5d. stamp; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Letters bearing a stamp, or any combination of stamps to the value of 5d. or over are directed by the machines into the first-class stream and letters bearing a 4d. stamp into the second-class stream. This is done by detecting the phosphorescent marks on the stamps.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now decide to issue a special stamp next year to commemorate the 25th anniversary of D Day, in view of the contribution the D Day operations made to the cause of freedom.

No. The stamp programme for 1969 which I have already announced is an extremely full one and I am sorry that we are unable to include all the worthy subjects that are suggested.

					1966–67 £	1967–68 £
Board of Trade	…	…	…	…	208,901	231,894
Central Office of Information	…	…	…	…	178,604	153,127
County Courts	…	…	…	…	169,098	204,520
Customs and Excise	…	…	…	…	327,443	392,358
Diplomatic Service Administration	…	…	…	…	124,010	131,533
Home Office	…	…	…	…	124,232	186,062
Inland Revenue	…	…	…	…	4,141,478	4,082,141
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	…	…	…	…	504,603	385,649
Ministry of Defence	…	…	…	…	1,547,380	1,514,197
Department of Health and Social Security	…	…	…	…	3,723,585	4,632,783
Ministry of Health, Northern Ireland	…	…	…	…	143,554	174,658
Department of Employment and Productivity	…	…	…	…	736,105	989,629
Ministry of Public Building and Works	…	…	…	…	422,346	265,617
Ministry of Technology	…	…	…	…	205,220	167,029
Ministry of Transport	…	…	…	…	338,428	339,875
Stationery Office	…	…	…	…	499,681	541,170
Savings Department	…	…	…	…	1,191,371	1,165,624
Home Office (General Election)	…	…	…	…	662,192	—
Treasury (General Election)	…	…	…	…	372,924	—
*Other Departments	…	…	…	…	1,452,807	1,406,699
TOTAL	…	…	…	…	17,073,962	16,964,565
Note: * There are more than 100 Departments none paid more than £100,000 a year.

asked the Minister of Power, of the energy requirements of the United Kingdom and of Scotland, respectively, what amount is produced by the coal industry.

The following is the information for 1967:—

	Million tons of coal equivalent
	United Kingdom	Scotland
Total gross consumption of energy	296·7	27·7
Of which, produced by the coal industry	163·9	12·7

asked the Minister of Power what plans for further investment in the South Wales steel industry have been submitted to him by the British Steel Corporation and if he will make a statement.

The detailed allocation of the Corporation's capital investment

asked the Postmaster-General if he will set out the payments made to the Post Office in respect of On Her Majesty's Service mail by each Department for the last two convenient years.

programme for 1968–69 within the general lines I have approved is a matter for the Corporation, but it includes a number of projects in South Wales. The Corporation have not yet submitted to me any proposals covering later years.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the total number of persons employed in the direct labour force of his Department; and, of the total, how many are employed in Scotland.

On 1st October, 1968, the direct labour force of my Department in the United Kingdom numbered 36,208, of whom, 3,241 were employed in Scotland.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what research has been conducted by his Department in recent years into the effects of the vibration created by road traffic, particularly in respect of structures adjoining trunk roads.

Tests carried out a few years ago in buildings adjoining busy London roads showed that traffic vibration caused no damage to structures. Recent work at the Building Research Station will greatly improve the control of noise from new motorways, which can disturb the occupants of buildings nearby.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teaching staff are employed at each of the Scottish colleges of education; of these, how many have been trained as teachers; and of these, how many hold degrees or teaching qualifications obtained furth of Scotland.

Excluding staff in demonstration schools, the figures are as follows:—

		Total	With teacher training	Degrees or qualifications obtained furth of Scotland
Aberdeen	…	118	112	15
Callendar Park	…	57	56	11
Craigie	…	55	54	6
Craiglockhart	…	34	34	8
Dundee	…	96	96	13
Dunfermline	…	33	33	7
Hamilton	…	75	74	17
Jordanhill	…	219	203	37
Moray House	…	143	128	12
Notre Dame	…	82	82	10
		912	872	136

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will move the head office of the Forestry Commission to Scotland, in view of the greater actual and potential development of the industry in Scotland.

The location of all Government offices is kept under continuous review, but the Government have no plans at present for moving the Forestry Commission's headquarters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what criteria he fixed the sums of 30s. and 55s. as the figure for the purchase of prescription charge season tickets.

The object was to help patients who required frequent prescriptions, and a fee representing the charge for two prescriptions a month for six months seemed reasonable. The small reduction for the 12 month certificate reflects the lower administrative costs of issuing a single certificate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the gross receipts and what are the administrative costs of the re-introduction of prescription charges for a six-month period to the latest convenient date.

The gross receipts from charges are ascertained from the prescriptions sent in by chemists for pricing, and figures for the period of six months beginning in June last are not yet available. I estimate that the total administrative cost of the re-introduction of charges in this period, including additional remuneration to chemists, will be of the order of £80,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total cost of printing and distribution of new forms of all types since the announcement of the re-introduction of prescription charges to the latest convenient date.

The total estimated cost in Scotland of printing and distributing new forms (including revised prescription forms) arising from the introduction of prescription charges and prepayment certificates was £13,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the report of the Milk Marketing Board, a copy of which is in his possession, on the problem of the reduction in the milk guaranteed price increase because of the fall in liquid sales in Scotland; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that in Scotland the increase will be as much as that in England.

I have received a copy of the Report commissioned by the Scottish Milk Marketing Board and the Scottish distributive trade. Action on the Report is primarily a matter for these bodies. As regards the last part of the Question I am not clear what the hon. Lady has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new places will be made available in Dumfries and Galloway, and in which hospitals, during 1969 for mentally disturbed children; and if he will make a statement on future developments in this area.

None. There is already a 55 bedded unit at the Crichton Royal Hospital for such children up to the age of 12, and the Regional Board have no plans for any further development there for this purpose in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the present facilities in Scotland for speech therapy training; and what are his plans to increase these facilities.

Training for speech therapists is provided at the School of Speech Therapy, Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow, and at the Edinburgh School of Speech Therapy. I have at present no plans for other centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is considering the appointment of a new chairman for the South Eastern Regional Hospital Board; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave on 21st November to my hon. Friend the Member for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell).—[Vol. 773, c_.318.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many kidney machines are available in Scotland.

Thirty-six.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what study he has made in considering the recommendations of the Grant Committee, of the official proposal in England that undefended divorce cases should be held in county courts; and what estimate he has made of the saving to be derived in Scotland from allowing undefended divorce suits to be heard in sheriff courts.

The conferring of a jurisdiction on the sheriff court in undefended cases of divorce would be a wholly new departure, quite unlike the effect of Section 1 of the Matrimonial Causes Act, 1967 which, although formally giving county courts in England and Wales a similar jurisdiction, in practice confirmed an existing situation in which a large majority of such cases were heard by county court judges sitting as Divorce Commissioners. I do not therefore think that any special study of the English position would be particularly helpful in considering the recommendation of the Grant Committee that a change in jurisdiction should not be made in Scotland.As regards the second part of the Question, I have made no estimate other than that given in my reply to the hon. Lady's Question on 11th March, 1968; nor, given the various factors involved, do I accept the assumption that there would necessarily be a net saving to public funds if undefended divorce suits were heard in the sheriff court.—[Vol. 760, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the most recent annual figures available for the numbers of persons emigrating from Scotland to England; and if he will provide details of the age, sex, and professional or technical training of those who emigrated.

The latest estimate is that during the twelve months ended 30th June, 1968 there was a net loss of 13,000 persons moving from Scotland to the rest of the United Kingdom (mainly to England). The other details are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what has been the net emigration from Scotland to other parts of the world, excluding the United Kingdom, in each of the last six years;(2) what has been the net migration from Scotland to other parts of the United Kingdom in each of the last six years.

The estimates of net migration loss from Scotland during the last six years are set out in the following table:

NET MIGRATION FROM SCOTLAND
Year to 30th June			To rest of U.K.	To Overseas Countries	Total net loss
1963	…	…	21,000	13,000	34,000
1964	…	…	24,000	16,600	40,600
1965	…	…	22,000	21,000	43,000
1966	…	…	22,000	25,000	47,000
1967	…	…	16,000	29,000	45,000
1968	…	…	13,000	20,000	33,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase there was in the years 1966, 1967 and to the nearest available date of Scottish chick placing, namely chicks reared to lay eggs.

The estimated figures of Scottish chick placings for egg laying show an increase of 548,000 in the calendar year 1966, a decrease of 973,000 in the calendar year 1967 and an increase of 334,000 comparing January-October 1968 with January-October, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what total sums of public money were granted in 1966, 1967 and to the nearest available date in development and co-operative grants associated with egg production in Scotland; and if he will list the firms and the sums involved.

None under Schemes within my responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that payment to suppliers of furnishings in the new teacher training college in Aberdeen is not to be made till April, 1969; if he will investigate why this situation has arisen; and if he will make a statement.

Because of a misunderstanding, in one case payment was subject to a short delay but has since been made. The governing body assure me that in accordance with normal practice accounts will be settled as they are presented.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to introduce a scheme to improve the position of the disabled housewife and to institute a national disability income.

The National Insurance scheme already provides sickness benefit without limit of time for ill and disabled people. An increase of a husband's sickness or unemployment benefit or retirement pension is paid for a dependent wife; and a wife can get a retirement pension on her husband's insurance at age 60, if he has retired. As to further developments of the scheme 1 must ask the hon. Member to await our White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many kidney machines are available in England and Wales, respectively.

At the 1st October, 1968, there were 409 and 14 artificial kidney machines available in the hospital service in England and Wales respectively for the treatment of chronic renal failure. The number of machines available for the treatment of acute renal failure is not known centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what amount per head of population is spent on the National Health Service in each of the areas of the regional hospital boards in England.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current annual operating cost of the George Eliot Hospital, Nuneaton.

£445.387 in the acute unit and £126,122 in the maternity unit, in the year ended 31st March, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current annual operating cost of the Manor Hospital, Nuneaton.

£287,567 in the year ended 31st March, 1968.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the number of research establishments under his Department which are in receipt of public grants, indicating the amounts granted to each project.

The amounts of grants paid in respect of the last completed financial year of each of the 43 research associations now supported by grant from the Department through the Industrial Services 'Vote, Class IV, 19 were:—

Brush	£
Annual Grant	6,061
Cast Iron
Annual Grant	85,354
Grant in support of research project on dust in foundries	2,026
Ceramics
Annual Grant	95,097
Grant in support of research project on dust in factories	519
Grant towards purchase of computer	11,912
Construction Industry
Annual Grant	167,746
Grant towards development of information services	15,000
Coal
Annual Grant	141,822
Coke
Annual Grant	54,246
Grant towards construction of coal re-heating plant	13,089
Cotton
Annual Grant	110,435
Grant in support of research project on break spinning	18,611
Cutlery
Annual Grant Drop Forging	13,720
Annual Grant	15,130
Electrical
Annual Grant	98,396
Grant in support of research project in electrical conduction in dielectrics	4,329
Flour Milling and Baking
Annual Grant	71,339
Grant in support of research project on bread staling	5,279
Food
Annual Grant	50,559
Grant towards purchase of equipment	25,000
Grant in support of research project on in-line process control	8,487
Fruit and Vegetable
Annual Grant	24,192
Furniture
Annual Grant	47,872
Grant towards construction of new buildings	1,500
Gelatine and Glue
Annual Grant	6,376

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what amount British exports to Norway fell from January to September, 1968 as compared with the same period of 1967.

Figures for the two periods are shown on page 284 of the Overseas Trade Accounts for September, 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total quantity of frozen fillets imported from Norway, Denmark and Sweden to Great Britain and Scotland, respectively, for each of the last two years to the most convenient date.

Separate figures for imports 9,892 into Scotland are not available. The other 506,794 information required is as follows:—

IMPORTS OF FROZEN FISH FILLETS INTO U.K. FROM DENMARK, NORWAY AND SWEDEN
		'000 tons product weight
	Jan.-Dec.1966	Jan.-Dec. 1967	Jan.-Oct.1967	Jan.-Oct 1968
Norway	14·5	18·1	15·4	21·2
Denmark*	8·5	7·5	6·5	8·3
Sweden	…	…	…	…
Total from the three countries	23·0	25·6	21·9	29·5
* Figures for Denmark include shipments from Greenland and from 1st January, 1968 from the Faroes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the results of the researches he has initiated into the economic effects of advertising.

Such research will be commissioned as soon as the right lines of approach have been worked out; it is too early to say when the first results can be expected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has approved the purchase by the British Overseas Airways Corporation of a Boeing 707 aircraft formerly used by British Eagle International Airlines.

Yes. A likely shortage in B.O.A.C.'s passenger capacity over the next few years, on routes for which this type of aircraft is well suited, has recently become apparent; and B.O.A.C. sought my approval to their taking the opportunity to buy, for delivery early next year, a Boeing 707 from a United Kingdom financial institution which had previously leased this aircraft to British Eagle. The cost of about £4 million will be fully offset by reductions to be made elsewhere in B.O.A.C.'s approved investment programmes for this year and next. No additional public expenditure will therefore be involved.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will refer the proposed take-over of the Associated British Picture Corporation by Electrical and Musical Industries to the Monopolies Commission.

I am considering the matter.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will consult organisations and local authorities in Scotland on the method of raising money to finance the Channel Tunnel.

In February of last year the French Minister of Transport and my; predecessor issued a general invitation to private interests to put their names forward if they wished to make proposals for financing and managing the construction of the Channel Tunnel. No replies were received from Scotland.

asked the Minister of Transport from what date he proposes that highway authorities shall have delegated authority to make speed limit orders without reference to him for confirmation.

		Principal Roads		Non-Principal Roads
Local Authority		Improvements	Maintenance	Improvements	Maintenance
		£	£	£	£
COUNTY COUNCILS:
Anglesey	…	—	49,300	54,200	46,500
Breconshire	…	15,000	—	25,000	55,000
Caernarvonshire	…	12,000	35,200	73,200	65,600
Cardiganshire	…	24,000	16,800	15,300	38,800
Carmarthenshire	…	43,278	6,600	65,800	90,580
Denbighshire	…	5,000	—	136,000	9,000
Flintshire	…	—	19,700	4,500	45,800
Glamorgan	…	113,330	23,695	50,790	51,220
Merioneth	…	—	20,000	—	100,000
Monmouthshireo	…	49,800	47,219	6,500	86,481
Montgomeryshire	…	—	5,500	24,000	31,500
Pembrokeshireo	…	42,340	5,095	50,590	48,235
Radnorshire	…	—	8,925	39,800	41,275
COUNTY BOROUGH COUNCILS:
Merthyr Tydfil	…	40,000	—	20,000	—
Swansea	…	66,500	5,000	7,000	1,500
Totals	…	411,248	243,034	572,680	711,491

(Amounts payable to claiming authorities have been included in the figures for the appropriate counties.)The full cost of these works will be borne by my Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he estimates

We have not yet fixed a date, but it is unlikely that we shall be able to complete the necessary statutory processes and administrative arrangements before March at the earliest. From then on local authorities will only need my right hon. Friend's consent on principal roads.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) what is the amount of the approved expenditure up to 31st March, 1969, on the special winter programme for both improvements and maintenance for each of the highway authorities in Wales and the grants proposed under the supplementary estimate for principal roads;(2) what is the amount of the approved expenditure up to 31st March, 1969, on the special winter programme for both improvements and maintenance for each of the highway authorities in Wales and the grants proposed under the supplementary estimate for non-principal roads.

The information is as follows:banks' lending credit in Scotland will be taken up in assisting importers to comply with the Import Deposits Scheme.

All the banks in the United Kingdom have been asked to take a restrictive attitude towards lending to finance import deposits except where it can be shown that the imports in question make a contribution to improving the balance of payments. I am placing a copy of the Bank of England's latest Notice on Credit Restriction, dated 22nd November, in the Library.