asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has received from interested bodies on the need to curtail Government expenditure in Scotland; and what reply he has sent.

I have not recently had any particular representations in this sense, but we are under continual pressure from Members opposite to cut Government expenditure in general.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the latest figures of the numbers of teachers who have registered with the Teachers' Council for Education in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the number of teachers who have refused to register with the General Teaching Council as at the latest convenient date.

I understand from the General Teaching Council that to date 49,797 teachers have registered, that is to say 399 more than the figure for 28th January. I cannot, however, say how many of these new registrations are in respect of certificated teachers serving in the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what assessment he has made on the effect on school staffing of the regulations requiring teachers to register with the General Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement.

The establishment of the Council is intended to enhance the general standing of the teaching profession and thus to improve recruitment and staffing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the operation of the General Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement.

I dealt with this matter on 28th January when the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur) asked a Question by Private Notice. I have nothing to add.—[Vol. 776, c. 1110–14.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the effect on school staffing of the regulation requiring teachers to register with the General Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to my hon. Friend the Member for Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers, eligible for registration with the General Teaching Council, have not applied for registration.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to my hon. Friends the Members for Dunbartonshire, East (Mr. Bence) and West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why there has been a delay in appointing a chairman of the South-East Regional Hospital Board.

Because my right hon. Friend gave full consideration to filling this important and onerous post. An appointment was made last month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of repairs to storm-damaged houses in Glasgow.

I would refer the right hon. Gentleman to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Central (Mr. Tom McMillan).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to receive the report on the Royal Commission on Local Government.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell) on 30th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 383.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the numbers of day and block-release students in further education for each of the years from 1964–65 to the latest available date.

The numbers of students for each session are:

1964–65	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68
54,161	53,476	59,655	62,981

The figure for 1964–65 includes students at the former Heriot-Watt College (now Heriot-Watt University) and a small number of non-vocational students.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which Scottish authorities in the current year have made, or are making, arrangements for the seconding of teachers for limited periods to industry; and if he will make a statement on the progress of this scheme.

Following is the list of the education authorities, 21 in all. I am glad to be able to say that the number of teachers being seconded this session will be approximately 350—a substantial increase on the number for last session.

Aberdeen (City).	Glasgow.
Aberdeenshire.	Lanark.
Kincardine.	Midlothian.
Angus.	Peebles.
Ayr.	Moray and Nairn.
Banff.	Perth and Kinross.
Berwick.	Renfrew.
Clackmannan.	Selkirk.
Dundee.	West Lothian.
Edinburgh.	Wigtown.
Fife.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many sections of motorway in Scotland were put out to tender and how many had contracts placed during 1968 to the nearest convenient date.

In 1968 six sections were put out to tender and four contracts were placed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to deal with the sale of aerosol spray guns; and if he will make a statement.

No. Aerosol spray guns are widely used for a great variety of quite innocent purposes and it would be wrong, as well as impracticable, to place any restrictions on their sale.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he will now take to encourage the private sector of the building industry in Scotland.

The option mortgage and guarantee schemes are helping those of moderate means to buy houses; and we are continuing, in consultation with the private sector, to do what we can to remove hindrances to private house-building. I am glad to say that in 1968 8,720 private houses were completed, which is over 1,200 more than in 1967; and that 9,918 were started, which was an increase of some 1,600.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses were completed in Scotland in 1968; how many were under construction at the end of the year; and what were the comparable figures for 1967.

Forty-one thousand nine hundred and eighty-nine houses were completed in 1968, compared with 41,458 in 1967. The number of houses under construction at the end of the year was 55,557, compared with 53,086 at the end of 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the numbers of houses to be started in Scotland in 1969; and what was the total of starts in 1967 and 1968, respectively.

In 1968, 44,460 houses were started, compared with 43,994 in 1967. The number started in 1969 should again be well over 40,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to encourage the private sector in house building in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North (Earl of Dalkeith).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will issue a circular advising local authorities in rural areas to build houses in small numbers in relatively isolated areas where there is a demand for them, by means of prefabrication techniques.

I can see no need for this circular. The authorities should be the best judges of the demands in their areas, and I have already advised them to use industrialised building where appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has in mind, following the closure of the Waverley line, for the future development of the Border area; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's proposals for development in the Borders remain as stated in the White Paper on the Scottish Economy, following which I appointed consultants to give comprehensive advice on the lines of possible future developments. Their report has now been substantially endorsed by the local authorities in the area, subject to further consideration of the phasing of the developments proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will institute an inquiry into the viability of the Scottish Inshore Fishing Fleet over the next 10 years.

We completed only last year a special review of the assistance to the fishing industry, including the inshore fleet, and I see no reason in present circumstances for a further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek the intensification of research into the development of a humane alternative to the gin trap.

I am satisfied that research is being actively pursued in various fields towards finding some additional humane alternatives to the gin trap. I shall, however, continue to review what is being done by the Humane Traps Panel and in other research on different methods of control.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total revenue, exclusive of Government grants, of Scottish local authorities in the financial year 1967–68.

Full information about local authority revenue for 1967–68, including income from rents and trading services, is not yet available: but rates, including contributions in lieu of rates by the nationalised industries, totalled about £149 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total sum borrowed by Scottish local authorities in 1967–68; and what proportion of this borrowing was from the Consolidated Fund.

The authorities' gross longer-term borrowing in the year was £236 million of which £87 million or 37 per cent. came from the Consolidated Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the objects and terms of reference of the new Forestry Research Institute currently under construction in Edinburgh.

The new research station will enable the Forestry Commission to expand its programme of applied research, with special reference to the needs of Scotland and the North of England.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the numbers of pupils in Scotland in both primary and secondary schools in each of the next three years.

Excluding pupils in special schools and classes and in independent schools, the estimated numbers are:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what financial advantage he estimates that British Standard Time has given to agricultural production in Scotland.

I am not aware of any claim that the introduction of British Standard Time will give direct and calculable advantage to agricultural production in Scotland. Its effects will have to be assessed in relation to the entire economy and to the welfare of the community as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has now received relating to the introduction of British Standard Time; and how many of these representations were, in general, critical of the new arrangements.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Members for Dumfries (Mr. Monro), South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne), Ayr (Mr. Younger) and Coatbridge and Airdrie (Mr. Dempsey).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what statistics he has for the months of November and December, in 1967 and 1968, respectively, showing the number of accidents to schoolchildren between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m.;(2) how many children were killed in road accidents in the hours between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., respectively, in November to December, 1967, and November to December, 1968.

The available statistics do not distinguish school children from other children under 15, but the following figures relate to weekdays only. In November and December, 1968, between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., 62 children were injured in road accidents, one of them fatally; the corresponding figures for 1967 were 71 injured, two fatally. Between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., 224 children were injured, three of them fatally, in 1968, and 218, seven fatally, in 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is now the maximum fine for poaching hares.

The maximum fine is either £20 or £50 depending on the circumstances of the offence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received about the reduction in the number of registration districts; and what replies he has sent.

I have received objections to nineteen out of forty-five amalgamation schemes. In thirteen of these cases the objectors were informed that, having given careful consideration to the scheme and to their representations, I had decided that I should not be justified in withholding approval of the scheme or modifying it. In a further five cases the objectors were informed that I had approved the scheme subject to modifications to meet their wishes. In the remaining case a public local inquiry has been held and no decision has yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an undertaking to refrain from action involving crofters in litigation costs until he makes it possible for them through the provision of legal aid to meet the cost of adequate professional representation.

I am not aware of any action I take which obliges crofters to incur litigation costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the highest total of prisoners in custody during 1968 at any one time; and what was the similar figure in the preceding five years.

The total number of inmates in Scottish penal establishments reached 4,769 on 10th December, 1968. The highest figures in 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964 and 1963 were 4,446, 4,084, 3,464, 3,476 and 3,707.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to maintain and extend the engineering industry in Scotland, in view of the unemployment which will be caused by the closure of the one locomotive engineering works in North-East Scotland.

I feel confident that the wide range of development area incentives and

TWEEDBANK DEVELOPMENT
Development	Estimated Cost	Estimated Government Expenditure*	Estimated expenditure to be borne by Roxburgh County Council
	£	£	£
1. Housing	5,000,000	5,000,000 (SSHA)	Nil
2. Industry	2,810,000	2,250,000	560,000
3. New Section of A6091	470,000	352,500	117,500
4. Service Road to Housing and Industrial Sites	147,000	Costs cannot yet be allocated
5. School	215,000	—	215,000
6. Library and Adult Education Facilities	35,000	—	35,000
7. Medical Unit—local authority health services	10,000	—	10,000
8. Youth Facilities	5,000	—	5,000
9. Open Spaces and Landscaping	388,000	Costs cannot yet be allocated
10. Lighting	60,000	—	60,000
11. Drainage	406,000	Grant of £16,350 towards drainage for industrial site plus annual grant of 30 per cent. towards other capital cost.
12. Village Centre car parking etc.	48,000	Costs cannot yet be allocated
13. Water	310,000	155,000	Scheme sponsored by South East of Scotland Water Board to be shared between constituent authorities.
* No account has been taken in this column of rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now reached a conclusion on the terms of his reply to the representations he received from Glasgow Corporation in March of last year on the matter of the infill at the south-west end of its airport runway.

I am meeting representatives of Glasgow Corporation on Friday to discuss their proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the breakdown of estimated costs of the proposed Tweedbank development scheme as between housing, factories, roads, other public buildings, drainage and sewerage; and how much of this will be borne by Her Majesty's Government and how much by Roxburgh County Council.

I circulate a table based on estimates used for planning purposes by Roxburgh County Council:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what examination is being made by the Government of the possibility of vehicle ferries across the Pentland Firth; and if he will make a statement.

The provision of such a service is primarily a question for the operators and the local authorities concerned. The North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Shipping Company invited a private consultant to examine the matter, and consultants were also appointed by Orkney County Council. I await proposals arising from these reviews.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he now has for the reform of the conveyancing system and the abolition of feu duties.

I have nothing to add at the moment to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 27th November last.—[Vol. 774, c. 119.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the estimated figures for road expenditure for 1968–69, 1969–70 and 1970–71 on the same basis as in Table 2 of Appendix 2 of his Department's recent Report entitled Roads in England.

Estimated expenditure in 1968–69 is as follows:

	From Central Funds	From Local Authority Funds	Total
New Construction and Improvement	(£m)	(£m)	(£m)
Trunk	17·4	—	17·4
Principal	11·9	4·6	16·5
Non-Principal	2·0	2·8	4·8
	31·3	7·4	38·7
Maintenance
Trunk	3·0	—	3·0
Principal	0·5	6·1	6·6
Non-Principal	0·4	14·3	14·7
	3·9	20·4	24·3
Combined total	35·2	27·8	63·0

Detailed figures for 1969–70 will not be available until the Civil Estimates are published; but for comparison the total estimate is likely to be about £64 million. At this stage it is not possible to give a reliable figure for 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what study he has made of the report on the use of costing and other financial techniques in technical colleges by the committee on the more effective use of technical college resources; and if he will make a statement on the consequent action he proposes in a Scottish context;(2) what steps he is taking to simplify inter-education authority financial recoupment arrangements; and if he will make a statement.

While this report relates to England and Wales, I am arranging for further study of those recommendations which are relevant to the administration of further education colleges in Scotland and thereafter for discussions with the Scottish education authorities to determine to what extent the recommendations might be suitable for adoption. The sections of the report dealing with inter-education authority financial recoupment arrangements are not relevant to Scotland; all day-time provision of further education is covered by pooling arrangements and the need for inter-authority payments does not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress of the research at the Aberdeen Marine Laboratory into the columnaris organism as a cause of salmon disease.

Facilities have been provided at the Marine Laboratory and at Johnshaven to broaden the range of the research directed at identifying the precise nature and cause of the salmon disease. The work includes transmission experiments, histopathology and other investigations of infected hosts, tissue culture and virology. Valuable assistance is being given by other specialist research establishments and close contact is maintained with workers elsewhere. Although the causative agent is not yet known, the scientists are now generally of the opinion that the cause is a virus rather than the columnaris bacterium to which the disease was initially ascribed. Work is continuing to identify the virus concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in considering recent proposals for industrialisation of the Clyde Estuary, he will take into account the effect these proposals will have in Lanarkshire; and if he will set up a study group to look at this problem.

I will certainly take this into account in consultations I shall be having about the Report, and generally about the planning of West Central Scotland, but I doubt whether a special study group on this aspect of the problem will be necessary or appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for increasing the number of qualified town planners in Scotland.

There are planning schools in three colleges of art and three universities in Scotland. There has already been a very substantial increase over the last three years in the number of students following planning courses at the colleges of art. I have approved plans for extensions at two of the colleges which will include some 150 additional planning places and am considering the possibilty of a similar extension at the third. In the university field, the current quinquennial allocation of grant by the U.G.C. to Glasgow University provides specifically for a measure of expansion in planning studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland are receiving part-time education; and what percentage of these pupils is at Glasgow schools.

Seven thousand one hundred and ninety one in the week ended 24th January, nearly 55 per cent. of them in Glasgow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons have been vaccinated against influenza this winter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what stocks of influenza vaccine are now held in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that there are adequate supplies of vac cine in Scotland to counter an attack of Hong Kong influenza; and if he will make a statement.

Doctors are not required to report vaccinations against influenza, and it would be an unreasonable burden on them to ask them to do so. I am, therefore, unable to say how many persons have been vaccinated.The vaccine is distributed through normal trade channels and I am, therefore, unable to state the number of doses now available in Scotland; but I have no reason to suppose that Scotland is not obtaining a fair share of the supplies now available in Great Britain as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to introduce legislation to extend the provisions of the Rent Act, 1965, to controlled properties.

A Bill to give effect to the proposals in the White Paper, The Older Houses in Scotland—A Plan for Action, is being presented today.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to implement the recommendations of Professor Gaskin's Report on North-East Scotland commissioned by him.

I shall consult the local authorities, the Scottish Economic Planning Council and its North-East Consultative Group before taking decisions on any recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received against the proposals to increase tolls on the Forth Road Bridge; how many such representations were from private individuals; and if he will publish the names of all organisations who made such representations.

One hundred and fifteen. Twenty-seven of them were from individuals or firms.Following is a list of the organisations from which representations have been received:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to write off the sum of £16 million in connection with the Forth Bridge.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the progress of his discussions with the Scottish National Farmers Union regarding the rating of intensive livestock units.

A further meeting was held with the National Farmers Unions last week and I am continuing my consideration of the matter in the light of these recent representations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent study he has made of the profitability of Scottish agriculture; and if he will make a statement.

The profitability of Scottish agriculture is under continuous study. The latest figures published, in Scottish Agricultural Economics Vol. XVIII, deal with the profitability of different types of Scottish farms in 1966–67. Figures for 1967–68, including forecasts for 1968–69, will be available at the Annual Review and will be subsequently published.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if it is still his policy to raise the school leaving age in 1972.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received regarding the proposals contained in the Green Paper, Administrative Reorganisation of the Scottish Health Services; and what action he has taken.

A few organisations and individuals have submitted comments of various kinds. Since I have indicated my willingness to receive comments until at least the end of April there is no question meantime of taking action on the basis of those already received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in his scheme to persuade businesses or others to make a greater use of homegrown timber, in view of the large quantities still on the ground after last January's gale.

Government Departments, local authorities and wood-using industries were asked to use more home-grown timber. Since there is no lack of demand for the windblown timber, this appeal seems to be achieving its effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many presentations there

S. C.E. "O" GRADE PRESENTATIONS AND PASSES, 1962–68
			Number of school pupils in class SIV presented in one or more subjects	As a percentage of all secondary school pupils	Number of school pupils in class SIV with one or more passes	As a percentage of all secondary school pupils
1962	…	…	19,946	6·83	19,363	6·63
1963	…	…	24,799	8·66	23,824	8·32
1964	…	…	25,550	8·88	24,621	8·56
1965	…	…	25,620	9·00	24,734	8·69
1966	…	…	26,942	9·50	25,827	9·11
1967	…	…	28,351	9·84	27,421	9·52
1968	…	…	31,385	10·62	30,132	10·19

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has now obtained, as a result of his inquiries, about the supply by local authorities in Scotland of fluorescent armbands or other safety devices to children, and as to the ages of the children who are offered the supply.

Twenty-two education authorities have made arrangements, details of which vary considerably from area to area, to supply or make available safety garments to school children. The garments are made available to primary pupils of all ages except in one case where provision is restricted to infant pupils. Of the thirteen authorities which have taken no decisions, three still have the matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the percentage increase in the rate of growth of industrial production in Scotland during the last full period of 12 months for which figures are available.

In the twelve months to last September, industrial production in Scotland was 3·1 per cent. higher than in the previous twelve months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps

The information is contained in the following table:to ensure that statisics published by his Department are accompanied by a memorandum explaining their purpose.

Yes, where necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by how much he estimates beef production in Scotland will increase in 1969; and by how much it increased in 1968.

Compared with the 12 months to May, 1967, production in Scotland of beef from all sources was 9 per cent. up in 1967–68 and slightly less, namely 8 per cent. up, in 1968–69.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many medical practice notices sent out by the National Health Service Executive Councils in Scotland during 1968 have been returned to them as dead letters.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to set up a specialist university in the North of Scotland to permit advanced study into the problems of soil erosion, land use and reclamation, forestry and fishing, and to offer graduate and postgraduate courses.

I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply given to her by my hon. Friend, the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary on 10th April, 1968.—[Vol. 762, c. 247.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to extend the boundaries of the area for which the Highlands and Islands Development Board is responsible.

Before considering this matter further I am awaiting the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Scotland, which will be relevant to a decision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if in future he will arrange for fresh, frozen and cured fish imports to be shown as landed weights in the Trade and Navigation Accounts rather than as at present in product weight terms.

I am satisfied that the present method of recording net weights, for fish as for other imports, is the most appropriate to the Trade Accounts. The Sea Fisheries Statistical Tables published by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food do however include some estimates of annual imports on the other basis.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to encourage industry to come to Cowie, Plean, Fallin and Bannockburn.

The full range of development area incentives is available in Cowie, Plean, Fallin and Bannockburn and my Department takes every opportunity of bringing the area to the attention of suitable firms seeking development area locations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will appoint inspectors under Section 165 of the Companies Act, 1948, to investigate the affairs of Inter-Continental Pharmaceuticals, Inter-Continental Pharmaceuticals (Bletchley) Ltd., and their associate companies, including the company's actions abroad, details of whose activities have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Ealing, North.

On 13th January the Board of Trade under Section 109 of the Companies Act, 1967, required the production of the books and papers of Inter-Continental Pharmaceuticals (Bletchley) Ltd. As a result of preliminary inquiries, the Board on 29th January appointed inspectors under Section 165(b) of the Companies Act, 1948, to investigate the affairs of the Company and of Curtis & Co. Ltd.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when it is proposed to lay before Parliament the Report of the Monopolies Commission with regard to the practice of recommending resale prices.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave to the hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) on 27th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 267.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he takes to ensure that imports of powdered milk from France and other countries are not marketed in Great Britain at prices less than the cost to the producer in the country of origin.

The Board of Trade will take action under the Customs Duties (Dumping and Subsidies) Acts, 1957 and 1968, if it is satisfied that dumping or subsidisation of imports is causing or threatening material injury to the British producers concerned and that such action would be in the national interest. If the British producers affected apply for action with supporting prima facie evidence, the Board will consider the case.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the aggregate cost to public funds to date of the 50 advance factories allocated to Scotland since 15th October, 1964.

Up to 30th September, 1968, expenditure—excluding cost of land—on the 46 advance factories authorised in Scotland since October, 1964, was £2,948,000. Further expenditure has still to be incurred in respect of some of these factories. No expenditure has yet been incurred on the four advance factories for Scotland announced by my right hon. Friend on 22nd January last.—[Vol. 776, c. 119–20.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to build advance factories on sites vacated by industrial firms in the Burgh of Rutherglen.

I have no such plan at present. Firms locating on private industrial estates now being developed in Rutherglen are, of course, eligible under the usual conditions for Board of Trade financial assistance.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to provide that all pre-packed goods be made up in standard British weights.

The Board of Trade already has powers under the Weights and Measures Act, 1963, to add other commodities to those which, when pre-packed, are already required to be sold only in specified quantities.Consideration is being given to the extension of existing requirements where practicable and desirable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what application has been made for the use of the site formerly occupied by Messrs. Asso ciated Chrome Chemicals Limited at Rutherglen; and if he will make a statement on his plans.

The site formerly occupied by Associated Chrome Chemicals Ltd. at Rutherglen has been acquired by Taylor Woodrow Industrial Estates Ltd. The Board of Trade will continue to bring this estate and the facilities offered by Taylor Woodrow and by other private developers in the area to the notice of suitable inquirers.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will place in the Library a copy of the text of the retroactive legislation passed by the Ethiopian Government denying the rights of the arbitration procedure in contracts already signed by British firms with the Ethiopian Government.

I hope to make this text available shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps are being taken to encourage public enterprise to use the facilities of the untenanted advance factories in the Northern region; and whether he will make a statement.

I have no doubt that the public corporations are well aware of the availability of Board of Trade factories for suitable projects and I am very willing to consider applications for such factories.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has considered the document delivered to St. Andrew's House, Edinburgh, by 7,000 trade unionists, making representations about the exclusion of Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello from the development area; and what reply he has sent.

I am aware of these representations, which were addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland, and will take careful note of them.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the progress made by the Edwards Committee in its inquiry into civil aviation, in view of the growing need for steps to be taken to improve the negotiating machinery between British Overseas Airways Corporation and its pilots.

We expect to receive the Committee's Report by the end of March. I cannot say what bearing it may have on the matter referred to by the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what arrangements have been made for the designation of aerodromes to provide facilities for consultation under Section 8 of the Civil Aviation Act, 1968.

After consultation with representatives of the aerodrome owners and consideration of representations made by interested parties, we have prepared a first list of aerodromes for designation. Their owners are being consulted and when we have considered their views an Order will be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what means Her Majesty's Government have sought to establish a new European grouping in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and why it will not be implemented in practical form in a Western European Union air/sea force within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation in the Mediterranean.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the recent meetings of the Defence Ministers of a number of the European members of N.A.T.O. These are part of the process of estab- lishing a European view on defence matters of common interest. There is nothing formal or institutional in this approach; these meetings complement the normal co-operation in the defence field within N.A.T.O. It would not be appropriate to set up a W.E.U. air/sea force within N.A.T.O. in the Mediterranean, as, apart from other reasons, W.E.U. excludes the United States of America, Greece and Turkey, while Holland, Belgium and Germany, which are members of W.E.U., have no forces in the Mediterranean area. However, the House will have noted the establishment of a new N.A.T.O. subordinate command, Maritime Air Forces Mediterranean, in November, 1968, and also the approval given at the meeting of N.A.T.O. Defence Ministers at Brussels on 16th January to the concept of an Allied Naval Force in the Mediterranean capable of being assembled on call.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he plans to take about the empty married quarters on the Greenfields estate at Horsham.

As my hon. Friend told the hon. Member in his letter of 3rd February there is no further Ministry of Defence requirement for the houses at Greenfields Estate. 114 of them are now being sold and we expect to release the remaining 50 which are currently occupied by the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consultation he has had with the Royal National Lifeboat Institute prior to taking his decision to withdraw the Royal Air Force Sea-Rescue service from Acklington, Northumberland; and whether he will make a statement.

None. Whilst these helicopters will move from Acklington it is not our intention to withdraw them from the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the local economic conditions were taken into consideration when decision was taken to transfer the Royal Air Force from Acklington, Northumberland; and whether he will make a statement.

The decision to withdraw the Royal Air Force from Acklington was taken after full consideration of all the issues involved, including the local economic conditions and after consultation with my colleagues concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of the service and civilian staff, respectively, at the Royal Air Force Station, Acklington, Northumberland, are established personnel; how many of these will either be posted or transferred to other work; what action is being taken to deal with the remainder; and whether he will make a statement.

R.A.F. personnel will be posted to other duties. There are 100 established Ministry of Defence and M.P.B.W. civilians at R.A.F. Station Acklington. All those under 60 years of age will initially be offered alternative employment with their respective departments, although in many cases this may mean moving home. Close liaison will be maintained with the local office of the Department of Employment and Productivity to help unestablished and temporary staff who are not transferred to other employment with their Department to find other jobs. All those whose services have to be terminated will be eligible for gratuities under the Superannuation Act, or for redundancy payments in accordance with the Redundancy Payments Act, provided that they have completed the necessary qualifying service.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses his Department owns on the Royal Air Force Station, Acklington, Northumberland; how many of these are service married quarters; how many have civilian tenants; and whether he will make a statement.

261 houses, all of them service married quarters, are owned by the Department at the Royal Air Force Station, Acklington. Two are occupied by civilians serving at the station. The requirement for these quarters will be considered further when a decision has been taken on a possible future use for the station.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the use of Sunderland Airport by search and rescue helicopters.

Sunderland Airport will be considered at the appropriate time, along with other locations in the area, as a possible future base for the two search and rescue helicopters that are to be transferred at least temporarily from R.A.F. Acklington to R.A.F. Ouston.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he proposes to announce an increase in Forces' pay.

I cannot anticipate the report of the Prices and Incomes Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to which private companies he has released decompression tables for use in dives up to 250 feet.

The latest tables have been made available without liability to the Construction Industry Research and Information Association (C.I. R.I.A.) which is arranging their release to responsible member companies working in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what investigations he has made with industry as to the basis of a joint programme of marine science research.

Discussions have been held with C.I.R.I.A. (Construction Industry Research and Information Association) which is currently engaged in formulating and co-ordinating industry's research interest and requirements in undersea engineering, including deep diving. We are awaiting the results of their studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a progress report on British participation in the world weather watch programme.

This country is playing a major rôle in World Weather Watch. The Meteorological Office Headquarters at Bracknell is acting as a Regional Meteorological Centre in Europe. An upper air station is in operation at the R.A.F. staging post at Masirah. A British merchant ship is making routine upper air soundings at sea after successful trials, and the number of merchant ships voluntarily making surface observations at sea has been increased.The research programme of the Meteorological Office has been expanded. The Office is also helping in the planning of the Global Atmospheric Research Programme, which is associated with World Weather Watch.Three overseas meteorologists have been awarded fellowships at Reading University. The first annual contribution of £30,000 for World Weather Watch has been paid to the World Meteorological Organization, and equipment worth £100,000 has been offered to developing countries.Planning is in hand for the establishment of a Regional Telecommunications Hub at Bracknell, the extension of upper air and surface observations in oceanic areas and the continuance of aid to developing countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has for the development of aquanaut training as a result of the Sealab III experiments.

The Sealab III trials have not yet taken place. In the meanwhile we have under consideration a physiological and engineering Research and Development programme aimed at providing, in the early 1970's, an operational deep diving capability to carry out prolonger operations on the sea-bed down to depths of at least 600 feet. Unlike the Sealab III, where the aquanauts work from a pressurised habitat on the sea-bed, R.N. divers would live on the deck of the supporting vessel in compression chambers transferring to the working depth by means of a pressurised submersible diving chamber.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he is doing to promote the development of under-water measuring equipment for divers.

The development of a comprehensive range of underwater equipment for divers would be a factor in a Navy Department Research and Development programme to provide additional operational deep diving capability. This programme is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the British participation in Sealab III experiments in the United States of America in 1968.

An R.N. Lieutenant and Petty Officer are participating in the United States Sealab III experiments. These experiments have been delayed. I understand, however, they are due to start very shortly. Immediately they are completed we will assess the British participation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Army and naval personnel undertook the 28-day resettlement course before returning to civilian life; and if he is satisfied that such courses helped personnel to find suitable civilian employment; and if he will make a statement.

During the year ending 30th September, 1968, about 1810 naval and about 5,400 Army personnel attended 28 day pre-release resettlement courses or were attached to civilian firms for training. I am satisfied that the courses are a direct and positive means of helping Servicemen to obtain suitable civilian employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what advice he gives to Servicemen stationed in the Far East, due to be demobilised in the near future, about haw to contact industrial training boards.

Servicemen irrespective of location who wish to contact industrial training boards can obtain the name and address of the secretary of the board concerned through the Regular Forces Resettlement Service.If my hon. Friend has any particular difficulty in mind perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the nearest equivalent rank or rating in the Royal Navy and

		Aircrew	Ground (tradesmen in List I trades)	Others	Total
Warrant Officers (including master aircrew)	…	867	1,061	1,387	3,315
Flight Sergeants	…	611	1,337	1,556	3,504

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many men were serving in the Royal Air Force on 1st January 1969; and how many of these were commissioned officers, warrant officers, staff sergeants, and other ranks, respectively.

The strength of the Royal Air Force recorded on 1st January, 1969. was as follows:

Officers	…	…	19,469
Warrant Officers	…	…	3,315
Flight Sergeants	…	…	3,504
Other	…	…	83,898
Total	…	…	110,186

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many men were serving in the Army on 1st January, 1969; and how many of these were commissioned officers and other ranks, respectively.

166,842 adult British males, including 18,926 officers.

Queen's Regulations for each of the Services provide that the corresponding rank to chief technician for the purposes of rank, command and discipline is chief petty officer in the Royal Navy and staff-corporal or staff-sergeant in the Army.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many warrant officers, including master aircrew, and flight sergeants, respectively, were serving in the Royal Air Force on 1st January 1969, and what was the number in each category who were advanced tradesmen and aircrew.

The numbers of warrant officers, including master aircrew, and flight sergeants recorded as serving in the Royal Air Force on 1st January, 1969, were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many chief petty officers, other than artificers and mechanicians, were serving in the Royal Navy on 1st January, 1969.

There were 3,345 chief petty officers borne in the Royal Navy on 1st January, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of chief artificers, chief mechanicians, 1st Class artificers and 1st Class mechanicians, respectively, serving in the Royal Navy on 1st January, 1969.

The following are the numbers of artificers and mechanicians borne on 1st January. 1969:

			Chief	1st Class
Artificers	…	…	1,335	3,616
Mechanicians	…	…	313	1,964

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many men were serving in the Army as warrant officers Class 1, warrant officers Class 2, and staff sergeants, respectively, on 1st January, 1969; and how many of these in each category were technicians, Group A tradesmen, Group B tradesmen and non-tradesmen.

The number of those serving in the Army in these ranks on 1st January, 1969, was as follows:

Warrant Officers Class 1	…	2,366
Warrant Officers Class 2	…	5,670
Staff Sergeants	…	6,607

The breakdown by trade groups for 1st January, 1969, is not available but I will write to the hon. Member when the information is known in April. The figures for 31st December, 1967, were:

		WO I	WO II	S/Sgt.
Technicians	…	601	1,127	1,208
"A" Tradesmen	…	373	734	692
"B" Tradesmen	…	965	2,248	2,615
Non-Tradesmen	…	487	1,944	2,017
Totals	…	2,426	6,053	6,532

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total number of officers and ratings, respectively, other than Royal Marines and Women's Royal Naval Service, serving in the Royal Navy on 1st January, 1969.

There were 10,532 officers and 68,968 ratings serving in the Royal Navy on 1st January. 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what bearing the Ordfordness radar station will have on methods of early warning of missile attacks; and on which date he now anticipates the station will go operational.