asked the Minister of Power what estimate of coal equivalent in millions of tons per annum he has made in respect of North Sea gas to be piped ashore, for each of the years 1969, 1970 and 1971.

Approximately 11, 18 and 24 million tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will make a statement on the planned reorganisation of the gas industry.

The Government's policy for the reorganisation of the gas industry remains as announced by my right hon. Friend the Member for Southwark (Mr. Gunter) on 22nd May [Vol. 765, c. 549]. A Bill to strengthen the powers and duties of the Gas Council, and to give it full financial responsibility for the industry and control over the development of its nation-wide policies, will be introduced as soon as Parliamentary time permits.

asked the Minister of Power how much gas from the North Sea is under contract to be supplied to the Gas Council; and what proportion of this will be used by industrial, commercial and domestic consumers, respectively.

At least 700 m.c.f.d. when supplies have built up to full contracted quantities. Further contracts are under negotiation. The Gas Council's present forecast is that by 1972–73 about half the gas will go to the commercial and industrial markets, half to domestic users.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in view of the difficulties being experienced in carrying out the conversion operation to natural gas, he will appoint a senior official in his Department to supervise and coordinate this operation.

asked the Minister of Power what representations he has received of hardship and annoyance being caused by the conversion of homes to natural gas; how many homes have been successfully converted with no deterioration of supply or function; and whether he will give an assurance that the project will now be undertaken with speed and accuracy.

asked the Minister of Power whether he is satisfied with the progress of the natural gas conversion programme; and if he will make a statement.

About 300,000 homes with a million appliances have been converted to natural gas. Three-quarters of these have been trouble-free. Most of the rest have had minor difficulties which have been quickly put right; but quite a number of people have suffered real inconvenience and hardship. Supervision and co-ordination of the conversion programme are the responsibilities of the Gas Council and Gas Boards and they are strengthening their organisations for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Power if he is satisfied that the primary charge introduced into their tariff structure by the East Midlands Gas Board is in accordance with the principles of the Government's prices and incomes policy as applied to the nationalised industries; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. In raising their tariffs within the limits that the National Board for Prices and Incomes had found to be justified, the East Midlands Gas Board followed the principle set out in the White Paper on Nationalised Industries: A Review of Economic and Financial Objectives (Cmnd. 3437), and in the N.B.P.I. report No. 57 on Gas Prices (Cmnd. 3567), that all consumers should pay as nearly as possible what it costs to supply them. A primary charge that recovers, wholly or partially, the costs of making a supply of gas available to a consumer, irrespective of how much or little he uses, applies this principle.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the intention to issue a planning document, in lieu of a further National Plan, if he will publish at an early date a revised fuel policy in a White Paper or other convenient form.

No.

asked the Minister of Power if he will issue a general direction to the Gas and Electricity Councils to cease the practice of demanding payment in advance for the installation of gas or electric circuits.

No.

asked the Minister of Power whether, in the interests of productivity, he will issue general directions to the nationalised industries supplying gas and electricity to send out cards advising the time and date of arrival of meter readers to consumers who are also in charge of multiple meters in one part of converted houses, thereby enabling occupiers of flats where the meters are located to make suitable arrangements.

No, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind, he might get in touch with the Board Chairman concerned.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement upon the relationship between the special conferences called from time to time to discuss the co-ordination of fuel policy with the chairmen of the nationalised industries, such as those at Croydon and Sun-ningdale, and his permanent advisory committee on which the chairmen of nationalised industries sit.

The meeting at Sunning-dale was an extended meeting of my Co- ordinating Committee with the chairmen of the nationalised fuel and steel industries which covers all problems of common interest, including fuel policy. The chairmen are also members of my Energy Advisory Council which covers only problems in the energy field but includes also leading figures from the oil industry, industry generally and the trade unions.

asked the Minister of Power whether the number of projects at the Colvilles division of the Steel Corporation to be carried out within the 1968–69 approved capital expenditure include a tin mill and a galvanising plant.

Within the general lines of the capital development programme which I approve, decisions on individual projects are a matter for the British Steel Corporation. I am asking the Chairman to write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Power what estimates of fuel demand in 1970 and 1975 are currently under review; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, North East (Mr. Swain), on Thursday, 14th November [Vol. 773, c. 750] and to my hon. Friend the Member for Don Valley (Mr. Kelley) and the hon. Member for Honiton (Mr. Emery) on 5th November [Vol. 772, c. 667.]

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the recent representations made to him by the Trades Union Congress for an independent inquiry into the fuel and power industries.

The reasons why I am not setting up an outside inquiry into fuel costs are set out in my letter to the Chairman of the Select Committee on Science and Technology of 27th November which, together with the Committee's observations, is available to hon. Members as a House of Commons Paper (H/C 40, Session 1968–69).

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement about the delay in settling the compensation value of unquoted steel securities.

Agreement has been reached on the values of the ordinary stock of Park Gate Iron and Steel Company Limited and the Ordinary stock of Round Oak Steel Works Limited. The values are as follows:Park Gate Iron and Steel Company Limited—10s.—Stock Units—27s. 6d.Round Oak Steel Works Limited—£1 Stock Units £9 19s. 8dThe date for conversion is today.Negotiations on the valuation of the ordinary shares of G.K.N. Steel Company Limited (now renamed B.S.C. (Holdings) Ltd.) the only shares still awaiting settlement are proceeding.

asked the Minister of Power what was the percentage increase in electricity demand between 1966–67 and 1967–68; and upon what percentage rate of increase the Central Electricity Generating Board are planning for the years up to 1973–74.

asked the Minister of Power what is his latest estimate of electricity demand in 1972–73 and in 1973–74.

The estimated maximum potential demand on the C.E.G.B. system increased by 3· 7 per cent. between 1966–67 and 1967–68. The Board's planning is based on the Electricity Council's load forecast, published last March, of 54,000 megawatts by 1973–74, an average growth rate of 7· 2 per cent. per year. The forecast for 1972–73 is 50,600 MW.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the saving in capital expenditure on the basis of the margin of electricity generating capacity over maximum demand in average cold-spell weather in 1968–69 being 17 per cent. and not 20 per cent.

The 17 per cent. margin is a planning assumption for purposes of determining the generating plant programme for six years ahead. It will inevitably be exceeded in some years and not reached in others, so an estimate of a notional saving would be misleading.

asked the Minister of Power whether before giving his final approval to proposals for new power station construction at Drax, he will pay special attention to problems of disposing of pulversied fuel ash at an all-coal power station.

Statutory consent has already been given for a coal burning power station at Drax. Proposals for dealing with the fuel ash on a separate site are for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government under ordinary planning procedure, but there is no reason to think that the problems will not be overcome.

asked the Minister of Power what consultations he has had with the electricity industry on the relative average and maximum thermal efficiency achieved in the Central Electricity Generating Board power stations, compared with those in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend keeps in close touch with the Central Electricity Generating Board on all major matters affecting their efficiency.

asked the Minister of Power if he will institute an inquiry into the effect of the growth of private industrial power generation, now encouraged by investment allowances, upon the economical working of the public electricity supply system.

I am already considering the effect of investment incentives on the balance between private generation and the public electricity supply system.

asked the Minister of Power what are the reasons for the shortfall in electricity consumption targets for the Coventry area of the West Midlands.

Forecasting demand within an area is a matter for the Board concerned.

asked the Minister of Power why he based his decision to approve a nuclear station at Seaton Carew on a comparison with a coal-fired station, the capital cost of which was assumed to be higher than that of any coal-fired station yet built, and higher than the estimate for new coal-fired stations given by his predecessor in April, 1968.

The estimated capital cost of a coal-fired station was based on current price levels and allowed for the difficult site conditions at Seaton Carew.

asked the Minister of Power what he estimated to be the cost of electricity from a coal-fired station at Seaton Carew based on coal at the price offered by the National Coal Board, namely, 3¼ d. a therm delivered; and how this compares with the estimate for a coal-fired station quoted in the announcement of his decision on 21st August.

The relevant figure used in the Government's asssessment was the cost of the additional coal which would have been produced and used if the station had been coal-fired. Coal available at a price of 3¼ d. a therm can be used in any case at existing stations.

asked the Minister of Power what proposals he has received concerning an increase in pay of industrial workers in the electricity supply industry on account of increased productivity; and if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the formula whereby this increase in productivity is calculated.

The settlement made for employees covered by the National Joint Industrial Council provides, with effect from 23rd September, 1968, for an increase of 5· 5 per cent. on basic salaries, which is equivalent to 4· 6 per cent. on average earnings. In addition, an existing standard productivity allowance is to be consolidated into basic salaries for certain purposes and the hourly rate used to calculate overtime payments is to be brought more nearly in line with hourly rates derived from basic salaries. It is estimated that the two latter adjustments may add about ½ per cent. to average earnings, depending on the amount of overtime worked.The increases are related to both actual and prospective improvements in labour productivity, which have been assessed in the way recommended by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in its Report No. 42. The Government have accepted that the settlement is consistent with incomes policy.

asked the Minister of Power what is the latest estimate of the cost of electricity per unit sent out from the Dungeness B nuclear station; and by what date it is expected to start operations.

I have no later estimate than that given to my hon. Friend on 5th March. Owing to recent mechanical engineering difficulties, completion and commissioning will be delayed, but it is too early to say for how long.

asked the Minister of Power what information and material his Department has prepared for circulation to British embassies to assist in his policy of giving all support to the National Coal Board in its export endeavours.

Our Embassies in Northern and Western Europe are under instructions to give the National Coal Board all general assistance required, particularly where foreign Governments are directly involved. The Board tell me that they are entirely satisfied with this assistance. They are themselves in regular and direct contact with importers and consumers, and do not normally want our Embassies to distribute promotional material.

asked the Minister of Power if he has had consultations with the miners' union about the present manpower in the mining industry.

Yes, I have had discussions with national officials of the Union as recently as 6th November.

asked the Minister of Power what is the current estimate of the rundown of manpower in the coal industry in Scotland over the next two years.

The N.C.B. estimate that up to March, 1971 the reduction will be 7,000 to 8,000 men mostly arising from voluntary wastage, as distinct from redundancy.

Lewis asked the Minister of Power whether he will list those activities of the National Coal Board which are not strictly related to coal production.

This information is published in the Board's Annual Report and Accounts.

asked the Minister of Power what proposals he has received from the National Coal Board for reducing undistributed stocks of coal suitable only for power station or boiler firing; and what action he is taking.

None, but I know that the National Coal Board will lose no proper opportunity to reduce surplus stocks.

asked the Minister of Power what is the latest estimate of stocks for domestic and industrial use in the London and the South-East area, giving the tonnages in distributed stocks of anthracite stove nuts, anthracite stovesse, anthracite pea nuts, Phurnacite, multiheat and Welsh dry steam nuts, respectively; what is the estimated monthly consumption of each; and what he is doing, following his consultations with the National Coal Board and the merchants, to remedy the anticipated shortages.

Merchants' stocks of anthracite and other boiler fuels in London and the South-East totalled at 23rd November 172,000 tons, about 7 per cent. higher than at the corresponding time last year, and equivalent to about six weeks' consumption in winter.Although in early autumn there was concern over the supply of smokeless fuels, especially in London and the South-East, the situation has improved in the last few weeks. Alternatives should be available, if there are shortages of particular fuels. The National Coal Board plan to increase their output of boiler fuels by about 20 per cent. this winter.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the effect on the coal industry of the further increase of oil consumption, which current trends indicate will be in excess of that estimated in the Fuel Policy White Paper.

asked the Minister of Power what is his latest estimate of the extent to which the coal industry will satisfy total energy demands in the early 1970s.

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

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to compel manufacturers of synthetic detergents not to include in their products any chemicals which will affect the proper functioning of waste water treatment plants.

No. I am satisfied that the manufacturers are observing their undertaking to include in domestic detergents sold in this country only materials capable of being dealt with satisfactorily by such plants.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if the date has yet been fixed for the hearing of appeals against the proposed development of Walderslade in Kent.

A local inquiry into a planning application and draft compulsory purchase order made by the Land Commission in respect of 415 acres of land at Walderslade has been arranged for 20th February, 1969.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government at what intervals the salaries of the part-

			1963–64	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67	1967–63
			£	£	£	£	£
Capital Grants:
Education	…	…	12,720	6,662	9,952	6,545	—
Parks	…	…	—	—	1,586	—	—
Highways	…	…	8,700	58,800	116,828	82,346	300,229
Civil Defence	…	…	—	113	599	—	—
Specific Revenue Grants:
Education	…	…	128,957	127,217	143,004	160,754	—
Air pollution prevention		…	2,313	9,950	9,700	15,200	—
Care of aged	…	…	2,371	2,630	2,635	2,366	1,851
Protection of children	…	…	1,752	1,673	1,718	2,112	1,259
Improvement grants	…	…	798	2,098	3,522	5,792	8,589
Highways	…	…	3,682	1,315	3,373	1,744	2,850
Police	…	…	115,962	130,620	146,342	148,334	—
Administration of Justice		…	13,581	18,600	15,311	15,310	16,347
Civil Defence	…	…	16,114	16,534	18,089	19,078	12,072
Miscellaneous	…	…	—	—	—	3,238	10,950
Housing Subsidies	…	…	151,380	166,680	200,795	192,266	240,039
General Grant	…	…	1,354,225	1,431,810	1,617,597	1,741,595	—
Rate-deficiency grant	…	…	479,598	529,994	562,518	723,039	—
Rate Support Grant:
Needs element	…	…	—	—	—	—	1,906,019
Resources element	…	…	—	—	—	—	690,166
Domestic element	…	…	—	—	—	—	24,549
Rating (Interim Relief) Act,
Section 5	…	…	—	14	16	5	—
Rating Act 1966—Rate rebates		…	—	—	—	10,719	8,438
Totals	…	…	2,292,153	2,504,710	2,853,585	3,130,443	3,223,358
Source: Epitomes of Accounts and Departmental Records.

The salaries of part-time members of the Land Commission are paid at monthly intervals; one.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether and where the minutes of the meetings of the Land Commission are available for public inspection.

The minutes of the Land Commission are not available for public inspection.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total amount of financial aid given to the county borough of Bootle from Government sources in the years 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968, respectively; and if he will publish details of these payments.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what he now estimates the total additional cost will be to local authorities of the tax and other charges announced in this year's Budget and on 22nd November, respectively.

Changes in costs and prices (up to mid-November) affecting local authorities have been taken into account for the estimates of relevant expenditure for the Rate Support Grant Order, 1968 but no figure for increases attributable to the Budget has been calculated. No estimate has been made of the additional cost to local authorities of the measures announced on 22nd November, 1968.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now specify the steps which are being taken to revise the Building Regulations following the Ronan Point disaster; and what changes are to be made in the personnel responsible for drafting and advising upon these regulations.

Discussions have taken place with the British Standards Institution who have agreed to expedite the revision of the relevant Codes of Practice, and the Ministry will now be represented on the committees engaged in this work. In parallel with this, the work preparatory to the revision of the relevant part of the Building Regulations is proceeding in the Ministry and the Building Regulations Advisory Committee has discussed the implications of the report. The staffing of the Department is being strengthened on the structural engineering side.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his estimate of the effect of the recent reduction in Bank Rate on the balance in the Housing Revenue Account of Luton County Borough Council for 1968–69, taking into account the rent increase permitted in September.

For new housing built by the council the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967, will effectively reduce the interest rate met by them to about 4 per cent., irrespective of variations in borrowing rates. I cannot say how far the council will now alter their estimate of the cost of re-financing earlier housing debt.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what machinery of consultation exists between his Department and the Fire Research Steering Committee with regard to the drafting of building regulations where fire hazard may be involved.

My right hon. Friend is represented on the Steering Committee's Sub-Committee which deals with building regulations, and the Fire Research Station has an assessor on the Building Regulations Advisory Committee. There is also direct consultation with the Fire Research Station as occasion demands.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will ensure that when rents are reduced under the rent regulating machinery of the 1965 Act, any subsequent increase in rents which is permitted because of repairs or other reasons can be allowed to operate immediately, instead of being phased, unless the increase represents a considerable addition over the original rent before the reduction.

A previous reduction in rent is not in itself a sufficient reason for excluding an increase from phasing. If phasing depended on whether or not repairs were undertaken during the operation of the phasing scheme anomalies would result and landlords who had not previously carried out their obligations would be better off than those who had. Provision has been made for the exclusion from phasing of increases due to improvements and rises in the cost of services.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give for the period 1960 to date under previous rate rebate legislation and under the current Rate Rebate Act, the number of recipients of rebates, the average amount paid and the total amount paid each year.

There were no rate rebates before the present scheme. The previous Government's Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, provided for discretionary relief to a limited number of ratepayers suffering hardship from the 1963 revaluation, and the total relief that it produced during its four years' life was less than £¼ million. Under the rate rebate scheme, introduced in 1966, rebates became available as of right to all low-income householders not already getting help with their rates by other means, and the results to date in England and Wales have been as follows:

		Number of recipients	Average amount of rebate	Total of rebates afforded
			£	£ million
1966–67	…	896,498	14· 9	13· 4
1967–68	…	785,809	15· 65	12· 3

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses, in the public and private sectors, respectively, were under construction in Great Britain at a recent convenient date; and bow many were under construction at a similar date in 1967 and 1966.

The figures for the end of October are as follows:

(thousands)
		1966	1967	1968
Public Sector	…	254· 9	262· 2	263· 7
Private Sector	…	201· 0	231· 3	210· 4
Total	…	455· 9	493· 5	474· 1

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much financial assistance per unit of housing accommodation is to be given to Liverpool Corporation and Bootle Corporation, respectively, in the year 1968–69: and if he will make a statement.

The estimated amounts of rate support grant per domestic hereditament for the year 1968–69 are £111 for Liverpool Corporation and £129 for Bootle Corporation. The amounts of capital grants, specific revenue grants and housing subsidies which will be given to the two authorities within this financial year are not yet known.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what recent geological surveys his Department have sponsored in the Falkland Islands and in the surrounding areas of the continental shelf, with special reference to the possibilities of oil.

Geologists of the Falkland Islands Dependencies Survey undertook geological work on behalf of the Falkland Islands Government in 1950 and reported on the economic and oil potential of the Islands. My Ministry has recently agreed to provide funds towards the production of a new geological map of the Islands.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will list the South American and Caribbean countries who now receive, or who have in the past received, aid under (he Technical Aid Programme.

The following Caribbean and South American countries now receive, or have in the past received, technical assistance under regional and other programmes:

Independent Commonwealth Countries
Barbados.	Jamaica.
Guyana.	Trinidad and Tobago.
Associated States
Antigua.	St. Lucia.
Dominica.	St. Kitts-Nevis-
Grenada.	Anguilla.
Dependent Territories
Bahamas.	Montserrat.
British Honduras.	St. Vincent.
British Virgin Islands.	Turks and Caicos
Cayman Islands.	Islands.
Foreign Countries
Argentina.	Haiti.
Bolivia.	Honduras.
Brazil.	Mexico.
Chile.	Nicaragua.
Colombia.	Panama.
Costa Rica.	Paraguay.
Dominican Republic.	Peru.
Ecuador.	Uruguay.
Guatemala.	Venezuela.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he is aware of the concern in the island of St. Kitts caused by delay in authorising funds for the extension of the airport to take tourist traffic; when the report from Economic Associates Limited was originally expected and when he now expects to receive it; and when he hopes to make final decisions on this matter.

I had hoped to receive this report by the end of October, but now expect it by the end of the year. I shall make a decision on the use of British funds to assist this project as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the talks with the Prime Minister of Swaziland.

Our discussions with the Swaziland Government Delegation, led by the Prime Minister, related to British aid and were concluded on the 6th December. We have, subject to the approval of Parliament, offered to provide during 1969–70 budgetary aid of up to £1· 9 million and development aid of £1· 05 million; of the latter £650,000 will be grant and £400,000 as an interest-free loan over 25 years and a 5-year grace period. We also contemplate providing further development aid of up to £1· 2 million per annum over the following two years, the exact amounts and terms to be decided later. We have also agreed in relation to 1968–69 that the Swaziland Government may apply to specified projects about £65,000 of development aid previously issued; and that we shall be ready to consider assisting them this financial year with their subscription to the I.M.F.British technical assistance, which together with assistance under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme is at present running at nearly £300,000 a year, will continue to be available, together with interest-free loans over 25 years with a six-year grace period of up to £488,000 to meet the Swaziland Government's share of payments to expatriate officers under compensation schemes.Our discussions also covered the Swazi Nation land question and agreement was reached on the composition, terms of reference, and timing of a Working Party of experts which is to examine the matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now introduce new economic policies in view of the partial lack of success of the policies introduced in July, 1966.

We shall continue to pursue the policies that have already led to a substantial improvement in the balance of payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the practice of the Inland Revenue in recovering arrears of Income Tax in cases where persons owing large sums declare themselves bankrupt and decline to pay arrears of many years standing and afterwards sign contracts for personal income worth almost as much as the defaulted tax arrears; and to what extent the Inland Revenue reclaim the arrears on these new earnings.

Arrears of tax up to the time of the bankruptcy are provable in the bankruptcy proceedings. Any available assets are distributable by the trustee among the creditors, including the Inland Revenue, in the due order of priority. Such assets include any amounts payable out of the bankrupt's current earnings either voluntarily or under an order of the Court under Section 51 of the Bankruptcy Act, 1914.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that schoolchildren's satchels which are made from a fluorescent material for carrying by hand and specially designed in the interests of road safety are subject to Purchase Tax, whereas if they are fitted with a strap for carrying from the shoulder they are exempt from Purchase Tax; and if he will now take steps to include them in the list of exemptions.

It has not been found possible to distinguish children's school satchels for the purpose of the existing Purchase Tax exemption unless they are fitted with a shoulder strap. The question of articles designed with the interests of safety in mind, is a general one, and it would be anomalous to deal with this particular item in isolation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reply he has sent to the British Safety Council's communication requesting that Purchase Tax be removed from articles made from fluorescent material which are designed for the purposes of road safety.

I have referred the Council to the reply given by my hon. Friend to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 4th December.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now take steps to remove Purchase Tax on children's safety clothes, to give assistance to the efforts being made to ensure school-children's safety, during the period of British Standard Time; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 4th December—[Vol. 744, c. 500–1.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, without causing unnecessary work or expense in his Department, he will make an approximate estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of implementing those proposals made to him in the past year by hon. Members, the implementation of which involves Government expenditure and which have been rejected by Her Majesty's Government because of the need for limiting the increase in Government expenditure.

So many verbal and written proposals have been made, with such varying degrees of precision, that even an approximate estimate of the Government expenditure involved could be made only after a very substantial expenditure of time and money.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a copy of the instructions he has issued to the Commissioners of Customs and Excise showing the criteria whereby import deposits will be remitted on the basis of reasonable expectation that all or part of the goods being imported will, after further processing or not by any number of intermediate organisations, be re-exported by another party.

The Commissioners have issued Notice No. 482 for the guidance of importers which explains the bases on which relief for exports will be granted and which invites them to consult, as necessary, with the local Customs Officer. Copies of this notice are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the value of Corporation Tax collected in Wales in a full year.

£13,400,000 in 1967–68.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much United Kingdom gold and dollar reserves are now exceeded by United Kingdom foreign debts.

The structure of the United Kingdom's external finances is complex, and I do not think this is a useful comparison to make. I would refer the hon. Member to the information on various types of asset and liability set out in Table 32 of the Pink Book "United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1968". Not all the figures necessary to bring this table up to date are available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to stimulate savings and encourage the National Savings Movement, he will introduce legislation to raise above £600 the level of deposit in the Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks upon which the interest shall be free of tax.

I am afraid not.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to stimulate savings and encourage the National Savings Movement, he will take steps to increase the interest rate applicable to Post Office and Trustee Savings Banks deposits above the present level of 2½ per cent.

No; but other possibilities for increasing savings are being examined.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a detailed breakdown of the extra numbers of employees, their Civil Service grades and the amount of tax paid, which accounts for the £5,244,000 increase shown in the December Supplementary Estimates for headquarters staff and local offices of the Inland Revenue.

The provision of £5,244,000 represents 75 per cent. of an estimated increase of £6,992,000 made up as follows:

	£
Increased rates of pay	5,395,000
Overtime, etc.	805.000
Increased rates of Selective Employment Tax	500,000
Extra casual staff	292,000
	6,992,000

The casual staff were all temporary clerical assistants—equivalent to 418 staff for one year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now consider taking steps to introduce allowances against Income Tax where domestic or nursing help is needed because a housewife is medically unfit to fulfil her household responsibilities.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion. No doubt, she is aware that an additional personal allowance of £75 is given where a wife is totally incapacitated and there are young children in the home.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a detailed breakdown of the extra num- bers of employees, their Civil Service grades and the amount of tax paid, which accounts for the £411,000 increase shown in the December Supplementary Estimates for staff in the Valuation Office.

The provision of £411,000 represents 75 per cent. of an estimated increase of £548,000 made up as follows:

	£
Increased rates of pay	653,000
Increased rates of Selective Employment Tax	62,000
	715,000
Less, savings from vacancies	167,000
	548.000

It was thus for fewer, not extra, staff.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements have been made for the next re-valuation of rating assessments; and whether the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government will be considered before instructions are sent to valuation officers.

Valuation officers have been given a provisional programme of work starting early in 1969 and some other preparatory work has already been done. The law requires new valuation lists to be effective from April, 1973, and the work must be put in hand in good time. Further instructions could, if necessary, be given in the light of the Royal Commission's Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has for initiating negotiations with the United Kingdom's overseas creditors regarding the rephasing of repayment of debts incurred since October, 1964.

I have no statement to make on this at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will provide a breakdown of the public expenditure figure of £985 million on Scotland.

The hon. Member probably has in mind the total of identifiable central Government expenditure* in Scotland in 1967–68 which amounted to some £975 million. The following is a detailed breakdown:

	£ million
Roads (including lighting)	38· 4
Airports and ports	2· 5
Promotion of local employment	12· 7
Investment grants	45· 0
Selective employment tax: additional sum in premium payments	10· 7
Regional employment premiums	13· 0
Research Councils	7· 0
Agricultural support	46· 4
Agricultural services	5· 5
Fisheries	2· 4
Forestry	14· 5
Housing	27· 6
Environmental services	5· 4
Libraries, museums and arts	1· 4
Police	11· 2
Prisons	3· 8
Other law and order (including fire service)	4· 8
Education (other than on Universities)	22· 7
Universities	41· 7
Health and Welfare	154· 8
Children's services (including family allowances)	26· 4
Social Security benefits	272· 7
Civil Defence	2· 0
Financial administration and common services	22· 1
Other services	23· 6
Non-specific grants to local authorities	157· 1
	975· 4
*Including transfers to other spending authorities within the public sector, other than Consolidated Fund loans to local authorities (not separately identifiable).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer of the 20,400,000 persons who paid Income Tax in the year 1967–68, how many were domiciled in Scotland.

About 1,625,000.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what has been the annual expenditure on all forms of Government hospitality for each of the last five years; and if he will now reduce this expenditure as an example to private expenditure.

The annual expenditure of the Government Hospitality Fund for each of the last five years has been as follows:

				£
1963–64	…	…	…	142,288
1964–65	…	…	…	159,876
1965–66	…	…	…	178,784
1966–67	…	…	…	193,245
1967–68	…	…	…	176,792

As the figures show, the administration of the Fund is conducted with every regard to the need for economy and I shall continue to ensure that this policy is continued.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) for how long the old Tea House in Kensington Gardens has been disused; and what he proposes to do with this building;(2) whether he will permit the disused Tea House in Kensington Gardens to be used under suitable conditions as a children's play centre.

This building has not operated as a catering establishment since 1964, but has been used for other Parks purposes. I am considering its future, including the proposal for a children's play centre.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the recent financial crisis, he will give an assurance that it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to support the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Her Majesty's Government will continue to support the North Atlantic Treaty Organisaion and play their full part in the work of the Alliance.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many detainees in Hong Kong held under Emergency Regulation 31 are non-British subjects; why non-British detainees have not been dealt with under deportation and detention regulations; and if he will list the names of the members of the Committee of Review constituted under the emergency regulaions.

Fourteen of the detainees do not claim the status of British subjects. Their deportation is not regarded as a practical possibility; nor was it thought right to apply different laws and procedures to those implicated in last year's events because of their nationality.I am not prepared to reveal the identity of members of the Committee of Review, because to do so would expose them to unnecessary personal risks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he proposes to amend the emergency regulations in Hong Kong in order that people detained for political reasons may have charges laid and their cases examined by law officers.

Persons detained under the Emergency Regulations are held because their activities during last year's campaign of violence and disorder were such that they are regarded as a threat to security. In all cases they are informed of the reasons. Their cases have been carefully examined by law officers. Each case is regularly reviewed with a view to release as soon as security considerations warrant.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 538 on aircraft noise abatement which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th September, 1968; and what action he will take on the proposals contained in paragraph 3 (a) of this recommendation.

This Recommendation is still under consideration by the Committee of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 536 on European co-operation in the field of space which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25th September, 1968; and what steps are taken to ensure that decisions can be taken at the political level in the appropriate bodies, the European Launcher and Development Organisation Ministerial Conference and the European Space Conference.

The European Launcher Development Organisation met at Ministerial level on 11th November and from 12th to 14th November, respectively. Details of the action taken by the United Kingdom and the outcome of these two meetings were given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology in his reply to the hon. Member for Eastleigh on 27th November, 1968. Her Majesty's Government intend to take a full part in subsequent negotiations.—[Vol. 774, c. 110–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 536 on European co-operation in the field of space, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25th September, 1968; and if he will agree to the adoption by the European Space Conference of a co-ordinated European space programme, including work on application and scientific satellite launchers.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology to the hon. Member for Eastleigh (Mr. David Price) on 27th November 1968 concerning action taken by the United Kingdom at the Ministerial Conference of the European Launcher Development Organisation and the European Space Conference. This was generally consistent with Recommendation No. 536 of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.—[Vol. 774, c. 110–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his policy with regard to Recommendation 535 on the promotion of modern language teaching in Europe, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 24th September, 1968; and whether he will instruct the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in paragraph 11 of this recommendation.

Recommendation No. 535 (1968) of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe urges the promotion of modern language teaching both in schools and in the sphere of adult education, as does Recommendation No. 40 (1968) of the Council for Cultural Cooperation, approved at its 14th Session (16th-20th September, 1968). My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education and Science, accepts that modern language teaching deserves encouragement, but finds the wording of the Council for Cultural Co-operation's Recommendation preferable, since Her Majesty's Government could not commit themselves to compulsion of school authorities in matters affecting their curricula. The instructions given to the United Kingdom Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers will be framed accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 534 on the activities of the Special Representative of the Council of Europe for National Refugees and Over-Population, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 24th September, 1968; and whether he will instruct the Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in paragraph 11 of this recommendation.

This Recommendation is still under consideration by the Committee of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 533 on synchronising and harmonising population censuses in Europe, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 24th September, 1968; and whether he will take action as recommended in Chapter I of the operative part of this recommendation.

This Recommendation is still under consideration by the Committee of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 532 on Assistance to the Victims of the Civil War in Nigeria, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 24th September, 1968; and what action he has taken or plans to take following the proposals contained in this recommendation.

This Recommendation is still under consideration by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation 530 on the general policy of the Council of Europe: Europe and the World, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 23rd September, 1968; and whether he will instruct the Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

This Recommendation has recently been discussed by the Committee of Ministers and a reply will be included in their next report to the Consultative Assembly. In general the proposals contained in this Recommendation are in line with Her Majesty's Government's policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 536 on European co-operation in the field of space, which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 25th September, 1968; and what measures he has taken to co-ordinate the instructions to be given to the United Kingdom delegation in the Councils of the various international space organisations, European Space Research Organisation, European Launcher and Development Organisation and European Conference on Telecommunications Satellites.

Member countries of the European Launcher Development Organisation and the European Space Conference met at Ministerial level on 11th November and from 12th to 14th November, 1968, respectively. There is consultation on a continuing basis among the responsible Government Departments with a view to co-ordinating instructions given to the United Kingdom Delegations to the European Launcher Development Organisation, the European Space Conference and the European Conference on Satellite Communications.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the extent of relief being provided to Nigeria and Biafra.

Relief work in the areas affiected by the civil war is co-ordinated and largely sustained by the International Committee of the Red Cross, who are making great efforts to provide medical aid and food to all those who need help. Her Majesty's Government and many other Governments and a number of charitable organisations have given contributions in money or in kind. These amounted up to the end of October to more than £4 million. Because Colonel Ojukwu has not yet agreed to a land-corridor or to relief flights by day, supplies of medicines and food for Biafra are limited to the modest capacity of airlifts by night from Fernando Po and Sao Tome. These supplies may soon be inadequate to deal with the situation, if it deteriorates in the way that we fear is likely.The l.C.R.C. has recently made a world-wide appeal for more than £3 million to finance the continuation of their work up to the end of February, 1969. The question of a British contribution is being urgently considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's present policy regarding the South East Asia Treaty Organisation; and what changes are proposed.

The policy of Her Majesty's Government was stated in paragraph 17 of Chapter 1 of the Statement on the Defence Estimates 1968, published in February, 1968, as follows:

"Our force declaration to S.E.A.T.O. will be reduced as our forces are withdrawn from Singapore and Malaysia. We shall however, maintain our interest in the stability of the Middle East and the Far East; and one of the ways in which we shall demonstrate this will be by our continuing membership of C.E.N.T.O. and S.E.A.T.O."

As noted in paragraph 14 of the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy 1968, published in July, 1968, "We have explained the implications of our withdrawal to our S.E.A.T.O. allies and have informed them of the changes we are making in our force contributions to S.E.A.T.O.'s contingency plans during our withdrawal. When we have completed the withdrawal, we shall not declare forces to those contingency plans, although we shall remain members of the organisation".This remains the position and no changes are proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the deterioration in Anglo-Soviet affairs, and the recent communication received from the Soviet Government, if he will give details of the proposals he has for preventing a further deterioration in Anglo-Soviet relations.

A reply to the Soviet memorandum of 2nd December will be given shortly, and the text will be published. The deterioration in Anglo-Soviet relations has not been of Her Majesty's Government's making. Her Majesty's Government for their part desire the best possible relations with the Government and people of the Soviet Union. But an improvement in these relations must depend on the readiness of the Soviet Government to respect the principles of international law and the Charter of the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what credits have been negotiated by Her Majesty's Government to pay for Polaris missiles imported from the United States of America.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the strength of Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve, Categories I, II and III, shown separately, on 31st January, 1968, and on 28th November, 1968.

The information requested is as follows:

			31st January, 1968	31st October, 1968*
TAVRI	…	…	1,078	1,049
TAVRII	…	…	36,590	35,887
TAVRIII	…	…	14,575	11,494
*The latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many trained reservists are needed to mobilise the British Army on a war footing, including fulfilling the United Kingdom's commitment to the British Army of the Rhine; and what trained forces he estimates would then be available for home defence.

About 60,000. It would not be in the public interest to answer the second part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total number of men recruited to the three Services over the four months May to August this year.

9,137 male other ranks including junior servicemen.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he proposes to take to end the anomaly whereby widows of officers who have died from natural causes while in service could, depending on the officer's length of service, receive a service widow's pension, which is less than the widow's pension paid from the National Insurance Fund.

Widows' service pensions vary in amount according to the husband's rank and length of service at his death, whereas National Insurance pensions are paid at a fiat rate. The two pensions are unrelated; some officers' widows may therefore qualify for both pensions and some for a service pension only.

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

No precise figures are readily available but an approximation shows that of defence research expenditure borne directly on Ministry of Defence Votes, about 95 per cent. is spent in England and 4· 5 per cent. in Scotland.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will take steps to install time clocks at the Members' entrance to the House of Commons, thus enabling hon. Members to register daily the number of hours spent on the premises.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council why seats under the Gallery are not available to women visitors on the same basis as to men.

The rule that women have not the same rights as men to sit "Under the Gallery" has been drawn to the attention of the Services Committee, and I hope that it may be possible to make an announcement about the matter in the near future.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will introduce amending legislation to provide for hon. Members to opt out of the Members pension scheme and to have their contributions refunded.

I am not aware of any general wish amongst Members for such a change.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, how many members of the Civil Service are in the administrative class at the latest convenient date; and how many of these are employed in Scotland.

2,631 and 169 respectively, at 1st April, 1968.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will state his plans for the further regionalisation of Government administrative and clerical offices, indicating how many of each and of the staff of each will be transferred to Scotland and in particular to Aberdeen; and when the transfers will be implemented.

Scotland is considered whenever locations are being decided for new or transferred Government work. Plans already agreed provide for dispersal to Scotland of a total of 7,000 executive and clerical jobs in the next few years, though none of these is planned to go to Aberdeen.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the Government office dispersal projects for Scotland since 1964, and the approximate number of people to be employed in each to the last most convenient date; and what steps he is taking at present to achieve a larger degree of dispersal to Scotland.

The list is set out below. Scotland is considered whenever locations are being decided for new or transferred Government work.