asked the Postmaster-General when, in relation to the number of people using an existing Crown office, he will consider opening a new office in a nearby area.

We do not specify any maximum number of people which a Crown post office can serve. The provision of an additional office nearby depends to a great extent on other factors such as the adequacy of the existing office to handle its customers and the distance they have to go to reach it.

asked the Postmaster General, in view of the fact that the information supplied to him concerning the possible opening of a Stanley Wholesale Market Post Office was incorrect, if he will review his decision not to have a Crown Post Office in the immediate area.

My right hon Friend looked at this matter again as soon as it was pointed out that there had been some misunderstandings, but he still came to the conclusion that a post office in Stanley Wholesale Market was not justified.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will take the necessary steps to ensure that Her Majesty's mail from the United Kingdom reaches Anguilla.

At present mail for Anguilla is being forwarded by us as usual but we understand that it is not being forwarded from St. Kitts to Anguilla. We have not had official notification of this, and we are seeking clarification.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will instruct the staff of all post offices that they shall give change to customers who wish to use telephone boxes in post offices.

Staff are already told to do this under standing instructions.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will state his plans for improving radio and television reception and postal services in and to North-East Scotland.

The improvement of television reception is primarily the responsibility of the broadcasting authorities. The B.B.C. tells me that it has no plans for building more stations to transmit B.B.C.1 on Very High Frequencies with 405-line definition. The I.T.A. is building one more of these stations at Aviemore. The duplicated services of B.B.C.1 and independent television transmitted on Ultra High Frequencies with 625-line definition, and containing programmes in colour, are expected to start from Durris in 1971. They should achieve the same coverage as the existing transmission, also on U.H.F., of B.B.C.2 from that station. It is too soon to say when the three U.H.F. services will be further extended in North-East Scotland. The postal services within and to North-East Scotland are generally satisfactory but if my hon. and learned Friend knows of any delays and will let me have the details, I will gladly look into the matter.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the introduction of first and second class mails has affected the finances of the Post Office since that introduction occurred.

I estimate that the recent changes will increase Post Office revenue by some £21 millions in a full year. This figure takes account of the present lower levels of traffic.

asked the Postmaster-General how the volume of Christmas cards posted in 1968 compared with the previous five years; and to what reason he attributes the difference.

Separate figures for Christmas cards are not available; but the volume of all letters and cards during the Christmas and New Year periods since 1963 is as follows:

1963	…	…	…	997 million
1964	…	…	…	1,033 million
1965	…	…	…	1,037 million
1966	…	…	…	1,040 million
1967	…	…	…	1,049 million
1968	…	…	…	932 million

The decline at Christmas, 1968, was due, at least in part, to the increased rates of postage.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of mail bearing a 5d. stamp was delivered the following day to the latest available date in January; and what percentage of mail bearing a 4d. stamp was delivered the following day.

About 94 per cent. of letters with 5d. stamps and 41 per cent. with 4d. stamps are being delivered by the next week day after posting; and a further 53 per cent. of 4d. letters a day later.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of all 4d. and 5d. mail is attributable to Government Departments.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the current proportion of the first class mail represented by its use by Government Ministries and Departments.

Second class 9 per cent., first class 12 per cent.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the total volume of Christmas mail, letters and parcels; and how this compared with totals for the three previous years.

About 932 million letters and 22 million parcels. Parcel traffic was much the same in previous years, but there were 1,049 million letters in 1967, 1,040 million in 1966, and 1,037 million in 1965.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cost of the current advertising campaign by the Post Office.

We have no current press advertising campaign for the postal service apart from recruitment advertising. This is producing satisfactory results for a very low level of expenditure.The cost of the second series of press advertisements to encourage telephone customer co-operation was £96,681.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) if he will make an ex-gratia payment as compensation against increased interest to the City of Liverpool in respect of mail which included three bond certificates for repayments and cheque for £2,300 to repay a housing advance and which was posted on or about 18th October and was discovered undelivered on or after 13th November.(2) if he will make an ex-gratia payment to compensate ratepayers of Liver pool for the absence of discount on rates and cheques which were posted on or about 18th October and discovered in a sack undelivered about 13th November, in view of the fact that it contained nine payments for water meter accounts including one for £37,860 5s. 4d. and 28 payments of rates totalling £1,801 18s. on two of which discount amounting to £169 17s. 4d. was payable had the letters been delivered in time.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply earlier today, to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Fortescue).

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to exempt residents of Codsall, Staffordshire, who are on the waiting list for telephones, due to the Post Office's lack of planning for the requirements of the area, from payment of the increased installation fee.

There is no waiting list for telephones at Codsall: applications are now met on demand.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that the delay in installing equipment at the Bishop's Stortford Telephone Exchange is causing inconvenience to those waiting for telephone service in the Bishop's Stortford area; and if he will take steps to accelerate the provision of this equipment.

I am sorry for the delay. We have already asked the contractors to give high priority to completing the installation of the new equipment, and I hope it will be possible to give service in the summer to all the people waiting.

asked the Postmaster-General why Knight, Frank and Rutley has been left out of the E-K London Telephone Directory; what compensation he proposes to give this company for the damage caused; when it will be inserted again; how many other companies and private subscribers were left out in each telephone book over the last four years; and if they will receive similar apologies in leading London newspapers.

I am sorry about the omission, which as the result of a clerical error. We have apologised to the firm and we have offered to issue press advertisements to minimise the inconvenience. The firm's number is shown in the Greater London Business Directory and in the London Classified Directory and is available from Directory Inquiries. The next edition of the London E-K directory will be issued in January, 1970. Records are not kept of omissions, but all classes of error average less than 0·1 per cent.

asked the Postmaster-General, how many towns with over 10,000 inhabitants have manual telephone exchanges; and how many of these towns are situated in development areas.

Thirty-one; nine in development areas. Over the country as a whole there are about 150 manual exchanges out of a total of 6,500. Over 97 per cent. of our subscribers have automatic service.

asked the Postmaster-General what proposals he has for remodelling the telephone tariff.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply to the hon. Member for Harwich (Mr. Ridsdale) earlier today.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to rescind the recent increase in television licence fees in areas where B.B.C.2 is unobtainable.

This would be unworkable. Also, since in general it costs very much more to bring new services to remoter places, it would be unfair to the licence holders as a whole.

asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the continuing hardship caused to old-age pensioners drawing supplementary benefits and to disabled persons who are dependent upon television for pleasure by the increase in the television licence fee, he will now remove this hardship by granting exemption to such persons.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now consider introducing legislation to amend the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1949, so as to enable him to issue television licences at concessionary rates to disabled people or those who are retired and of pensionable age, and who do not live in old people's homes run by or registered with local authorities, or exempt from registration by statute.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will take steps to exempt needy Scottish retirement pensioners from payment of radio and television licences.

I would refer the hon. Members to my reply earlier today to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor).

asked the Postmaster-General what further steps will be taken to improve television reception in the Londonderry area.

I take it that the hon. Member's concern is the provision of B.B.C.2 programmes. The B.B.C. tells me that this service is expected to be generally available in the City and County of Londonderry when the Limavady and Londonderry stations open before the end of this year.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the total cost of the research and development programme to promote colour television from the British Broadcasting Corporation.

The B.B.C. tells me that it is spending some £1,200,000 per annum on television research, development and design. The work on the transition to 625-line television, to duplication and to colour is so interwoven that it is not possible to isolate the colour component of the expenditure in any meaningful way.

asked the Postmaster-General what are the operation costs of the regional British Broadcasting Corporation's television services and the cost of the British Broadcasting Corporation's London stations providing the regional and national network.

The information for which my hon. Friend has asked is in pages 108 and 109 of the Annual Report and Accounts of the B.B.C. for 1967–68 (Cmnd. 3779) which I presented to Parliament in October last.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many boys and girls, respectively, applied for admission to universities in the United Kingdom in each of the last 10 years.

The following number of candidates applied through the Universities Centre Council for Admissions from 1962 onwards:

APPLICATION FOR ADMISSION IN OCTOBER
		Men	Women
1962	…	32,900	15,000
1963	…	35,441	16,155
1964	…	40,800	17,546
1965	…	50,566	22,495
1966	…	57,967	24,625
1967	…	62,641	26,702
1968 (provisional)	…	71,645	31,070

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many married women are now employed in part-time teaching in maintained schools in England and Wales; how many more fully-trained married women he expects to recruit for such teaching in the current year; and what he expects to be the net increase in the number of these teachers by the beginning of the school year 1969–70.

On 1st October, 1968, 34,119 women qualified teachers were employed compared to 31,812 a year previously. Separate figures of married women are not available. I expect that married women will continue to enter part-time service in substantial numbers, though there may be some decline in the rate of recruitment because of the improving supply of full-time teachers. The number in service may perhaps tend to decrease but is still likely to remain higher than it was until quite recently.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that teachers at the Boston Spa, Yorkshire, primary school, work in inadequate buildings, including the absence of a staff room; and if he will facilitate an early improvement.

I am aware that physical conditions in the school are not ideal I cannot say when it will be possible to include a new school in the major building programme. There are many other urgent claims on our resources. The question of minor improvements is one for the local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has received of the need for further secondary school places for Garforth, near Leeds, in the period 1969–71; what proposals for school building to meet this need have been made to him by the West Riding County Council; and what authorisations the council proposes to make in the light of these needs.

The authority estimates that by the end of 1971 there will be some 2,000 secondary school pupils in the areas of Garforth and Kippax. The existing comprehensive school at Garforth and a new one at Kippax which has been included in the starts programme for 1969–70 will provide adequately for needs up to 1971 and beyond.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals have been submitted to him for the improvement of school buildings for infants at Boston Spa, Yorkshire, in the period 1969–71; and what authorisations he has given or proposes to give.

A project for a 6-class instalment of a new junior school has been included in the 1969–70 starts programme: this should result in somewhat more room for the infants who will remain in the existing school. No project for the improvement of the existing school has been submitted by the L.E.A.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which authorities in the Greater London area have not yet abolished selection at 11 years of age.

The following authorities still operate selection at 11 in some form or to some extent:

I.L.E.A.	Hillingdon
Barking	Kingston-upon-Thames
Barnet
Bexley	Merton
Bromley	Newham
Croydon	Redbridge
Ealing	Richmond-upon-Thames
Harrow
Havering	Sutton

but of these, seven have plans approved for the future elimination of selection:

Barking	Havering
Barnet	Merton
Bromley	Redbridge
Croydon

and I am now considering proposals for Newham. In the I.L.E.A. 18 per cent. of the age group enter selective secondary schools but, under approved plans, the authority propose to reduce this to 10 per cent by 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will announce the names of the chairman and remaining members of the Accreditation Council for Correspondence Colleges.

I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the increase in real terms of expenditure on education in each of the next four years, in total, and on schools, further education and higher education, respectively.

Between this financial year and the next I expect public expenditure on schools in Great Britain to increase in real terms by 4·5 per cent.; on further and higher education by 3·4 per cent.; and on education as a whole by 3·8 per cent. I cannot give precise figures for 1970–71, but total expenditure on education in that year should rise by about 4·5 per cent. No decisions have yet been taken on expenditure in 1971–72 and 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local authorities have curtailed, or are intending to curtail, school swimming instruction in the light of the Government's instructions to restrict increases in expenditure to 3 per cent. in real terms.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will take steps to prevent the dismissal of teachers' helpers in infant schools by local education authorities in connection with recent proposed cuts in education expenditure; and whether he will make a statement.

This is a matter within the local education authorities' discretion.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations his Department has had with representatives of teachers' unions and associations in connection with staff dismissals resulting from local education authorities' cuts in expenditure; and whether he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities have responded to his Department's request to reduce expenditure by dismissal of teachers' helpers in infant schools.

My Department does not collect systematic information about the action local education authorities are taking on matters within their discretion (such as employment of teachers' helpers) in response to the Government's request to restrain the rate of growth of their expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance was issued by his Department accompanying the recent request to local education authorities to restrict increases in educational expenditure, with especial reference to staff dismissals.

I refer my hon. Friend to paragraph 15 of the Report by the Minister of Housing and Local Government on the Rate Support Grant Order, 1968 (H. of C. 24).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has received from the Lancashire County Council for the establishment of school places for physically handicapped children in the area including the Urmston Urban District.

None. I understand that Lancashire Education Authority is preparing proposals for the next special school building period and is considering the possibility of providing for physically handicapped children in the division of the county which includes the Urmston Urban District.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps have been taken to provide the additional financial support needed by students who are obliged to take special courses during vacations, such as field courses which involve additional travelling and accommodation expenses, since attendance at such courses necessarily precludes the student from supporting himself by taking a vacation job.

Provision is made in the University and Other Awards Regulations for additional grant for maintenance and extra travel during vacation study courses. Local education authorities also have discretionary power to make grants to students who need financial help during vacations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further advice he is giving to local authorities with respect to the provision of educational facilities for children suffering from spina bifida.

I am consulting the associations of local education authorities and of teachers on the draft of a circular setting out the latest statistical information on the increased numbers of children suffering from spina bifida who may be expected to reach school age, and the implications for the educational services.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he proposes to take as a result of the recommendations of the Capps Report on small course numbers.

This Report contains the result of research instituted by the Technical College Resources Committee of the National Advisory Council on Education for Industry and Commerce into the application of costing and other financial techniques as a contribution to the more effective use of resources. As paragraphs 78–80 of it indicate, the question of the size of classes and the approval of courses has been the subject of an earlier report by the Committee, I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of that Report and the Department's Circular 11/66 on the implementation of its findings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will advise that the proposed Constitutional Commission should consider the future links between the United Kingdom and those small and remote dependencies whose population and resources are inadequate to permit independence.

The Commission's terms of reference will not extend beyond the British Isles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement on the proposed Constitutional Commission.

I hope to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now state when he intends to implement the recommendations of the Littlewood Report; and if he will indicate which recommendations he proposes to accept.

I would refer the hon. Lady to the replies I gave on 7th November and 12th December respectively to Questions on these matters by the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Bessell) and the hon. Member for Holland-with-Boston (Mr. Body).—[Vol. 772, c. 138; Vol. 775, c. 186–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many charities are now registered with the Charities Commission; and whether he will set up a commission of inquiry to ascertain the individual needs for which these charities collect funds, and the advisability of setting up a Community Chest on similar lines to that in the United States of America, details of which are in his possession.

Over 71,000 charities are now registered with the Charity Commissioners. I would not favour an inquiry into the purposes for which these charities collect funds. Charities for the common good can be established by local action, and advice can be obtained from the Charity Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the repeated and growing incidence of disorderly scenes in the streets of London, whether he will now reconsider his decision to allow mass demonstrations to continue to take place; and whether he will take steps to restrict these demonstrations to open spaces such as Hyde Park.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to ban public marches which are likely to lead to acts of violence and to confine demonstrations to convenient open spaces.

I shall continue to keep all these matters under review in consultation with the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, but at present it is not necessary to ban or restrict demonstrations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in view of the published intention of the Zimbabwe Solidarity Committee to break and enter premises, the march by this organisation in London on Sunday, 12th January was permitted and also given police protection.

The presence of the police was not only to give protection but to control the procession and deal with any breach of the peace. It was not thought necessary to prohibit the procession.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated total cost on the Home Office Vote arising out of measures taken in regard to the demonstrations in London on Sunday, 12th January, 1969.

No costs fell on the Home Office Vote. The additional cost of arrangements made by the Metropolitan Police, on which grant is paid from the Police Vote, is estimated at a maximum of £5,500 on the assumption that no man will take time off in lieu of payment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the latest available evidence, especially on road accident rates and on the state of public opinion, details of which have been sent to him, he will now take steps to discontinue the British Standard Time experiment.

My right hon. Friend has received no details from the hon. Member, nor has he any other evidence to suggest that a decision should be made at this early stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue advice to chief constables to the effect that where radar is in operation adequate warning should be posted to this effect.

It is for chief officers of police to decide whether warning shall be given when a radar speed meter is in operation; but I understand that generally they do not consider that in normal circumstances it is appropriate to use such warnings. I see no reason to dissent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prosecutions there were of motorists and other vehicle drivers on the M1 motorway in the years 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968 for offences other than exceeding the speed limit;(2) how many prosecutions there were of motorists and other vehicle drivers on the M1 motorway in the years 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968 for exceeding the speed limit.

The statistics available, which do not differentiate between offences on the Ml, M10 and M45 motorways, are as follows:

NUMBER OF PROSECUTIONS
			Speeding offences	Other road traffic offences
1964	…	…	Figures not available	—
1965	…	…	59	3,773
1966	…	…	381	4,803
1967	…	…	796	5,689
1968	…	…	1,009	8,421

The length of the M1 motorway increased considerably during the period above referred to. Prior to 22nd December, 1965, the only vehicles subject to a speed limit on motorways were those drawing two-wheeled or close-coupled trailers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what advice he has issued to the various police authorities concerned as to the way they operate on the M1 motorway, the deterrent action they take in adverse weather conditions and the numbers they employ in maintaining reasonable road discipline at all times;(2) what liaison his Department has with the various police authorities over the operation of warning lights on the M1 motorway; and what guidance his Department gives as to when these lights should be switched on;(3) whether he will state the conditions, other than after an accident has occurred, when the warning lights on the M1 motorway should be switched on.

Policing the motorways, including decisions about the use of hazard warning signs, are matters within the discretion of the several chief officers of police concerned, though there are standing arrangements under which they meet together, and with the Home Office, to consider concerted measures and general policy. On the M1 motorway complex at present, 16 motor patrols are maintained in fine weather by day and 10 by night; and the numbers are increased in adverse weather or traffic conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking to ensure that Sikhs who apply for jobs are not penalised because of their religious beliefs, which include the wearing of turbans.

As I understand it, difficulties in the employment of Sikhs have not been related to religious discrimination but to an insistence by employers that all their employees should conform to rules about hygiene or dress.Strict enforcement of rules of this kind may not always be fully justified by the conditions of a particular job and when the Race Relations Board, as a result of an investigation under the Race Relations Act, 1968, considers that an employer's action, while not unlawful, is based merely on an objection to the wearing of a beard or turban, it will, where appropriate, be prepared to use its good offices to see if the difficulties can be overcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many cases of battered babies have been notified to his Department during the years 1966–67 and 1967–68.

My right hon. Friend is keeping in touch with current studies of this subject, but "battered baby" is not a defined category for which national statistics are obtainable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what authority, and why, did Metropolitan police officers try to take action to remove the Union Jack, the lawful flag, from flying over Rhodesia House on 12th January, 1969.

I am told by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis that the caretaker requested police assistance as the two men on the roof were trespassers. Following an unsuccessful attempt to persuade the men to leave the roof, no further action was taken but two policemen remained on the roof to keep observation. The men eventually descended of their own accord taking the flag with them.No criminal offences were disclosed and no police action is contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young people absconded from borstals, approved schools and other institutions for which his Department is responsible in 1966, 1967, and 1968; and what action is taken to inform their parents.

The figures asked for, in relation to England and Wales, are as follows:

	1966	1967	1968
Borstals	1,059	975	1,425
Detention centres	48	50	42
Prisons (including remand centres) holding young prisoners	26	6	14
Approved schools	5,268	5,950	4,101*
Remand homes	917	771	454*
* Figures for the first half of 1968 only, figures are not yet available for the second half.

Governors and Wardens of Prison Department establishments normally inform parents or next of kin by letter not later than the day after a young person absconds. Occasionally parents are informed orally before they receive this letter. Governors and wardens also inform parents or next of kin by letter of recapture.It is normal practice for approved schools and remand homes to notify parents as soon as possible, both when their children abscond and when they are known to have been apprehended, although in some cases this information may reach the parents first from the police or child-care authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take to protect the otter.

I understand that the otter is widely distributed throughout Great Britain and not in need of special protection. My right hon. Friend has no legislative proposals in mind at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by the police towards the computerisation of criminals' fingerprints and records.

The design specification has been drawn up, and tendering procedures are about to begin, for a police national computer capable of processing certain operational records, including the main fingerprint collection and the central index of known criminals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain reports from chief constables as to how many police forces are now using the neighbourhood beat and the juvenile liaison schemes, respectively; and what evidence there is so far of their success.

All but two of the police forces in England and Wales have adopted some form of unit beat or neighbourhood policing. Reports from chief constables of increased operational efficiency, and of closer links with members of the public and faster response times to calls for help, provide evidence of the initial success of these schemes.My latest information is that 17 forces operate juvenile liaison officer schemes in the whole or part of their areas. Studies of the effectiveness of two such schemes are being carried out, in Newham by the Home Office Research Unit in Accrington and Blackburn by Manchester University, with financial support from my Department. These studies are nearing completion.

asked the Minister of Transport how many representations he has received against the proposed closure of services on Sundays of the Wickford to Southminster branch line in connection with the making of a grant towards the cost of the line.

One hundred and fifty-five. I have referred this matter to the Transport Users' Consultative Committee for the East Anglia Area under the provisions of Section 56(4)(b) of the Transport Act, 1962. I will consider the position further in the light of any recommendation made to me as a result.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in the light of the recommendations of the Report on Travel, Population, Employment and Land-Use, covering the Forth Basin, he will consider approving the construction of a railway line between Edinburgh and Glasgow via Livingston New Town and Bathgate.

I have been asked to reply.There is already a railway line between Edinburgh and Glasgow, via Bathgate, which could serve Livingston New Town. At present this is used only for freight. Reintroduction of passenger services would be a matter for the British Railways Board in the first place, and would not be a matter for me except in so far as any substantial capital expenditure by the Board were needed, or the possibility of a grant under Section 39 of the Transport Act, 1968, were likely to arise.

asked the Minister of Transport when he will reply to the letter dated 12th January, reference NTB 24/1/06, on the subject of the filling in of Ellingham Lock, written to his Department by the Broadland Extension Joint Committee.

This matter involves questions of land drainage on which the advice of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is being sought. A reply will be sent as soon as possible; we will let my right hon. Friend have a copy.

asked the Minister of Transport whether in view of the number of fatal accidents on the motorways in January, he will reconsider his policy on the provision of crash barriers during the construction of motorways.

I do not think that the recent highly publicised accidents on M.1 provide good reason for altering my present policy on the use of crash barriers on new motorways. There is no evidence that any of these would have been prevented by a barrier.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the anti-crash barriers to be constructed on future motorways will be of the corrugated tension beam type.

The corrugated tension beam type developed by the Road Research Laboratory has been throughly tested and approved. This type will continue to be used where required but this does not preclude changes which may result from experience and developments.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the new selected lengths of crash barriers which he is planning to construct on motorways.

Approvals to date are:

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he intends taking to give greater powers to local authorities and other bodies in the community with regard to the siting of pedestrian crossings, to the setting of speed limits and the building of islands in the roadway in urban areas.

In July last year I announced in the House that I was issuing a circular to local authorities giving details of the arrangements for delegating to them all control over the siting of individual zebra crossings within a quota system based on their population. The circular was issued the same day and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.On delegation of making speed limit orders I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Richard Wainwright) on 6th December, 1968.Powers enabling highway authorities to provide refuges in the road are provided under Section 68 of the Highways Act, 1959. My consent is not needed. Advice on their siting for the protection of pedestrians crossing the carriageway is contained in the Government publication

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he proposes to lake to deal with the use of multi-tone horns on private cars.

There are already restrictions on the use of two-tone alternating horns and I shall consider whether further control is necessary in the light of the United Nations Convention on Road Traffic drawn up recently.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT figures showing the date and amount of each repayment of capital and interest, shown separately, in respect of loans from the United States of America for the purchase of defence equipment, including cancellation charges, and the date and amount of each planned repayment of capital and interest on these loans.

Under the terms of the loan agreements for the purchase of military aircraft each amount drawn is repayable in fourteen equal half-yearly instalments. Interest is payable half yearly on the balance outstanding. Repayments of capital and interest payments are made at the end of June and end of December. The actual and future repayments of capital drawn up to 31st December, 1968, and the payments of interest on these sums are as follows:

		£million
		Principal	Interest
30th June, 1966	…	—	0·2
31st December, 1966	…	2·2	0·7
30th June, 1967	…	2·2	1·7
31st December, 1967	…	8·1	2·6
30th June, 1968	…	8·1	4·3
31st December, 1968	…	*15·3	5·3
30th June, 1969	…	14·0	4·8
31st December, 1969	…	16·9	4·5
30th June, 1970	…	16·9	4·1
31st December, 1970	…	16·9	3·7
30th June, 1971	…	16·9	3·3
31st December, 1971	…	16·9	2·9
30th June, 1972	…	16·9	2·5
31st December, 1972	…	16·9	2·1
30th June, 1973	…	16·9	1·7
31st December, 1973	…	14·3	1·3
30th June, 1974	…	14·3	1·0
31st December, 1974	…	9·3	0·7
30th June, 1975	…	9·3	0·4
31st December, 1975	…	2·9	0·1
30th June, 1976	…	2·8	0·1
* In addition £18 million was paid on 2nd January, 1969, in repayment of the outstanding sum drawn for payments for the F.111 aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the value of his Department's grants to Herriot-Watt University, Edinburgh; and if he will give details of the purposes for which the grants are given.

There is at present one defence contract with the Herriot-Watt University, the total value of which is estimated at £4,500. This is for the study of factors which govern the formation of water particles during steam generation and methods for the elimination of water from steam.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) when he expects to receive the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the Forces pay; and when he expects to implement them;(2) when he expects to receive the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on Service medical officers' pay; and when he expects to implement them.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's statement in the House on 30th May, 1968 (HANSARD, c. 2164). As regards implementation, I cannot anticipate the report of the Prices and Incomes Board.—Vol. 765, c. 2164.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress is being made in negotiations with the United States of America and Canadian Governments with a view to providing the requisite ground stations for the more extensive use by civil airlines of airborne radio teleprinters.

No such negotiations are taking place but in accordance with an I.C.A.O. recommendation the United Kingdom is operating one ground station on a trials basis.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the position at Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh, following upon his discussions with union officials.

Yesterday I met the national organiser of the Transport and General Workers Union, who also represented the Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers, to discuss the dispute with the Board of Trade's employees at Edinburgh (Turnhouse), Aberdeen (Dyce) and Belfast (Aldergrove) airports.In the course of discussions I proposed that, jointly with the trade unions, a working party on productivity should be set up to examine urgently the scope for measures to raise efficiency. I made clear that improved productivity would alone justify any improvement on our present offer of a 3½ per cent. increase in rates of pay. I expressed the hope that, in the meantime, the employees at the three airports would co-operate in creating conditions in which normal air services could be resumed and emphasised that the dispute was causing serious inconvenience to passengers and could have damaging consequences for the Scottish economy.The trade union side agreed to consider the joint working party but was not prepared unfortunately to seek to end the industrial action.The initiative now lies with it. I hope that discussions will be resumed without delay.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what proportion of United Kingdom exports last year was represented by exports to the Commonwealth as defined in 1967, together with exports to Rhodesia and South Africa;(2) what proportion of United Kingdom exports for the years 1920 to 1938, inclusive, was represented by United Kingdom exports to the Commonwealth as defined in 1967, together with exports to Rhodesia and South Africa.

Following is the information:

UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS TO THE COMMONWEALTH (AS DEFINED IN 1967, INCLUDING RHODESIA), TOGETHER WITH SOUTH AFRICA, AS A PROPORTION OF TOTAL UNITED KINGDOM EXPORTS
Year		Per cent.	Year		Per cent.
1920	…	33	1930	…	35
1921	…	37	1931	…	34
1922	…	36	1932	…	36
1923	…	34	1933	…	37
1924	…	34	1934	…	39
1925	…	36	1935	…	41
1926	…	41	1936	…	42
1927	…	39	1937	…	42
1928	…	39	1938	…	43
1929	…	38
			1968	…	27

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state, from figures available to him from international sources, the proportion of total imports of the Commonwealth as defined in 1967, together with South Africa and Rhodesia, for each of the years 1920 to 1938, inclusive, and 1946 to 1968, which were represented by imports from the United Kingdom.

Following is the information, except in respect of 1968 for which figures are not yet available:

PERCENTAGE OF THE STERLING VALUE OF IMPORTS OF THE COMMONWEALTH (AS DEFINED IN 1967, INCLUDING RHODESIA), TOGETHER WITH SOUTH AFRICA, IMPORTED FROM UNITED KINGDOM
Year		Percentage	Year		Percentage
1920	…	39·7	1946	…	25·6
1921	…	38·8	1947	…	22·9
1922	…	40·1	1948	…	27·4
1923	…	37·7	1949	…	29·6
1924	…	36·3	1950	…	28·5
1925	…	36·2	1951	…	25·3
1926	…	33·5	1952	…	25·6
1927	…	33·3	1953	…	26·5
1928	…	32·6	1954	…	26·9
1929	…	31·3	1955	…	26·0
1930	…	31·8	1956	…	24·0
1931	…	29·7	1957	…	23·8
1932	…	31·7	1958	…	23·9
1933	…	33·5	1959	…	22·4
1934	…	32·8	1960	…	21·9
1935	…	28·4	1961	…	21·6
1936	…	32·5	1962	…	19·9
1937	…	30·0	1963	…	19·0
1938	…	31·1	1964	…	17·6
			1965	…	17·5
			1966	…	15·9
			1967	…	14·4
1920–36 Burma is included with India; no separate figures available.
1925–30 Hong Kong excluded; available. no figures available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the application submitted to him by the United Kingdom Farmers' Union and the Federation of the United Kingdom Milk Marketing Boards for antidumping or countervailing duties on cheese imports into the United Kingdom.

As was stated in a Press Notice issued yesterday, the Board of Trade is investigating an application by the British producers for imposition of anti-dumping or countervailing duties on imports of certain types of cheese and cheese products from Australia, Canada, France, the Irish Republic and the Netherlands. The Board has accepted that a prima facie case has been made out, and if there is evidence of a signicant increase in dumped or subsidised imports or market prices seem likely to collapse, the Board will impose a provisional charge to duty immediately. The Governments of the exporting countries concerned have been informed accordingly.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the United Kingdom's stocks of all cheeses in tons at the end of December, 1968, 1967, and 1966; and if he will give comparable figures for each of the last six months of 1968.

It is not the practice to disclose the stockholdings of individual countries but the following are particulars of stocks of cheese from all sources (in tons).

	1966		1967
	December		December
	41,400		51,200
1968
July	August	September	October	November
77,200	73,400	71,900	71,100	73,500

Full details for December 1968 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the numbers of tons of cheese produced in the United Kingdom in 1968, 1967 and 1966.

The quantities of cheese produced in the United Kingdom in 1968, 1967 and 1966 were 117,800, 120,000 and 106,800 tons respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on his efforts to secure voluntary limitation of cheese imports into the United Kingdom.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given yesterday to the hon. Member for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills).—[Vol. 776, c. 466.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the annual price review, he will make provision to compensate farmers for additional insurance premiums in respect of consequential loss of trade following the 1968 outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease.

The effect of the increases in insurance premiums will be reflected in data taken into account in the Annual Review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the approximate percentage increase required in elecricity and gas tariffs, respectively, in order to replace the estimated 1968 level of capital investment in these industries which was financed out of taxation in the last Budget.

I have been asked to reply.New investment by the electricity and gas industries is financed party from their own resources (mainly depreciation and surplus) and partly by borrowing from the National Loans Fund. The way in which the National Loans Fund is financed is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.Estimates of capital requirement and borrowing for 1968–69 were published in March, 1968, in Cmnd. 3565,

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many makes of film strip projector have qualified for exemption from Purchase Tax under Section 5 of the Finance Act, 1968.

No record is kept of the makes of projector qualifying for the exemption.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated contribution by Central Government to local authority rate rebates and council house rent rebates in the fiscal year 1966–67 and the current fiscal year.

I have been asked to reply.In England and Wales Government grant towards the cost of rate rebates given in 1966–67 amounted to about £10 million. For 1968–69 it is estimated that the grant will be only about £9½ million because of rising incomes and increased supplementary benefits partially offset by the higher income limits for rate rebates in the second half of the year. Rent rebates given by local authorities in England and Wales are estimated at about £13·5 million in 1967–68, the only year for which a reasonably accurate estimate can be made. In the same year Exchequer housing subsidy payments to local authorities in England and Wales were about £90 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she expects to introduce legislation on health and safety regulations in industry.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Oakes) on 25th November last.—[Vol. 774, c. 23.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give details of the total expenditure on new carpets in the Palace of Westminster during the Christmas Recess.

About £2,400.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) whether he is satisfied with his Department's provision of services for Reddish and the northern areas of Stockport, and the transfer of operations at the Denton office to Hyde, Cheshire; and if he will make a statement;(2) what plans are in hand to provide permanent arrangements for his Department's services in Stockport, particularly with regard to premises to serve adequately the Reddish and northern areas of the borough.

As soon as premises can be obtained, it is intended to provide a new all-purpose social security office in Stockport, which will then cover the Reddish area. In the meantime, supplementary benefits work for the Reddish area, which is now dealt with at Denton, is being transferred on the closure of the Denton office to a new office at Hyde. Contributory benefits will continue to be dealt with at the existing Stockport office. The new office at Hyde is about 1½ miles from the Denton office and is well served by public transport. When they are completed, these arrangements will provide a more comprehensive and efficient service to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the services and areas to be covered by his Department's Hyde, Cheshire, offices.

The Hyde office will administer the following areas for all social security purposes: Hyde M.B., Glossop M.B., Denton U.D., Longendale U.D., Tintwistle U.D. and the Charles-worth and Chisworth parishes of Chapel-en-le-Frith R.D.Pending the establishment of a new office in Stockport it will also administer for supplementary benefit purposes only: Bredbury and Romiley U.D., New Mills U.D., Whaley Bridge U.D., the North Reddish and Brimmington parts of Stockport B.C., and the parishes of Chapel-en-le-Frith, Hayfield, Peak Forest and Chinley, Buxworth and Brownside.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which areas are served by the Stockport office of the Supplementary Benefits Commission; and what action is being taken to improve facilities for the staff and the public at Hall Street, Stockport.

The areas at present served by the Hall Street office are:

• Stockport C.B., except for North Reddish and Brimmington.
• Cheadle and Gatley U.D.
• Hazel Grove and Bramhall U.D.
• Marple U.D.
• Disley R.D.

Pending the establishment of a new all-purpose social security office in Stockport, arrangements are being made to provide additional accommodation at the existing office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he is making in the Harrow area to entitle those with special need owing to ill-health to receive the anti-Mao flu vaccine, in view of the fact that stocks, though not available locally, are available in other parts of the Greater London area to those without special need.

Increasing quantities of vaccine are being supplied to all areas, for the benefit of groups at special risk, to whom priority is being given; and prescriptions by doctors, in accordance with their judgment of need, are increasingly being met. Suppliers have been asked not to make vaccine available for general use.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, (1) what is the minimum population catchment area necessary to secure one representative on the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board;(2) whether he will re-examine the representation of the Nuneaton and Bed-worth areas on the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board;(3) how many representatives from the Nuneaton and Bedworth areas there are on the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board.

Members are not appointed as representatives of particular areas. While my right hon. Friend tries to secure that boards broadly reflect the interests of the region as a whole, within a limited membership it is not possible for boards to include members from every part of the region at any one time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers have applied for registration with the General Teaching Council for Scotland; how many have paid the registration fee; how many uncertificated teachers have been accepted for registration; and how many certificated teachers have not applied for registration.

I understand from the General Teaching Council that at 21st January 50,943 teachers had applied for registration, of whom 49,075 had paid the registration fee; and that 1,602 un-certificated teachers had been granted conditional registration. My information from education authorities is that 994 certificated teachers had not registered by the end of last week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate discussions with each of the teaching associations in Scotland in order to ascertain what changes are needed in the composition and powers of the General Teaching Council.

I have nothing to add to the statement I made on the subject during the debate on the Education (Scotland) Bill on 21st January.

asked the Minister of Technology what arrangements have been made for Government financial support

(A) FIRMLY PROGRAMMED AND EXPECTED TO START BEFORE THE END OF 1970
		Mileage
Scheme		Motorway	Dual carriageway Trunk Road	New single carriageway Trunk Road
A48 Morriston By-pass	…	4·0	0·4	—
A40 Carmarthen Diversion Section "C"	…	—	1·3	—
A483 Llanwrda Diversion	…	—	—	0·8
A40 Salutation Square, Haverfordwest	…	—	—	*
(B) IN THE TRUNK ROAD PREPARATION POOL FOR STARTING IN THE EARLY 1970's
		Mileage
Scheme		Motorway	Dual carriageway Trunk Road	New single carriageway Trunk Road
A48 Pontardulais By-pass Stage I	…	5·2	—	—
A48/A40 Carmarthen Southern By-pass	…	—	—	*
A4076 Haverfordwest Southern By-pass	…	—	—	1·6
In addition to these major schemes a number of smaller improvements are planned.
* The nature of these schemes does not permit a simple definition of their lengths.

Rolls Royce Limited enjoyed Government financial support for development of the RB207 engine until last December, when the aircraft for which it was intended was withdrawn by the European airbus consortium.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for building motorways, dual carriageways and reconstructed trunk roads in the counties west of Swansea; and what are the starting dates for the schemes and the mileage involved.

Our broad objectives are described in Chapter IV (paragraphs 46–55) of the White Paper, Wales: The Way Ahead (Cmnd. 3334). Major schemes each costing more than £100,000 which have already been announced are as follows: