asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further communications he has sent to the Government of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics about the possibility of an embargo on all arms to the combatants in the Nigerian Civil War; and what reply he received.

None. My right hon. Friend explained the attitude of the Soviet Government on 16th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will place in the Library copies of the further reports he has received on the conduct of the war in Nigeria.

Yes. The International Observer Team which is observing the conduct of Federal Nigerian troops has now produced a report on its activities during the period 24th November, 1968–13th January, 1969. A fourth report has also been issued by the representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations.Copies of these reports, the findings of which are broadly similar to those of earlier reports, have been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he gave instructions for the preparation of an appropriate instrument for the eventual transfer of the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands to Argentina.

My right hon. Friend gave no such instructions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what opportunities the business community in Singapore were given to represent their views in private to the Duncan Committee, when it visited Singapore, on the activities of Her Majesty's Diplomatic Service in promoting British trade and commercial interests in the area.

Sixteen representatives of the British business community in Singapore had a meeting with the visiting members of the Review Committee and subsequently lunched with them in the High Commissioner's house.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has had from the British Embassy in Warsaw regarding the conditions of detention of Mr. T. Brown, ship's engineer, of 93 Bristol Road, Hull, in Stettin Prison; whether he has now been moved to another gaol; when this case is due for appeal; and if he will make a statement.

Second Engineer Thomas Brown, of s.s. "Deer Wood", was visited by our Vice-Consul in prison at Szczecin on 24th December. Our Vice-Consul has obtained permission to visit him again on 12th February in prison near Katowice, where he was transferred on 22nd January.Mr. Brown was sentenced on 11th December to four months' imprisonment for allegedly assaulting a waitress in a restaurant. Bail was refused. His appeal is to be heard on 17th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the Government research establishments for which his Department is responsible showing the location, date of foundation, numbers of staff employed on 1st January 1960, 1965 and 1969, respectively, and the cost of each establishment to public funds in the years 1959–60, 1964–65, and the estimate for 1968–69.

The Government establishments for which my right hon. Friend is responsible and which undertake some research and development are the Government Communications Headquarters and the Communications-Electronic Security Department. They are located in Cheltenham and London and were founded in 1946.The numbers of staff employed and their cost, as provided for in the Diplomatic Service Vote for the years in question, are as follows:

		Numbers	Cost
			£
1959–60	…	1,505	2,000,000
1964–65	…	1,761	3,000,000
1968–69 (estimate)	…	2,022	4,000,000

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the latest figures in his possession which indicate the extent of British participation in the Assembly of Western European Union; and how such figures compare with the equivalent figures for other member-States.

The latest figures in my possession for the extent of British participation in the most recent meeting of the Western European Union Assembly (October, 1968) are as follows:

	Number of Speeches	Number of persons having spoken
Belgium	6	3
France	6	5
Federal Republic of Germany	18	8
Italy	11	7
Luxembourg	4	3
Netherlands	13	5
United Kingdom	31	17

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a date has now been fixed for the trial in Bari of the five British subjects arrested on the Motor Vessel "Conqueror" in January, 1968.

I regret that the Italian authorities have not yet set a date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the number of those now held by the illegal régime in Southern Rhodesia in detention on political grounds; and what action is being undertaken by Her Majesty's Government in regard to these British subjects.

On 17th January Mr. Lardner-Burke told the Rhodesian Legislature that there were 142 persons in detention in Rhodesia and 237 in restriction camps. I do not know how many of these are detained or restricted on political grounds.The interests of the people of Rhodesia as a whole would be best protected by a return to constitutional rule; and that is what we are working for.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on his efforts to achieve British membership of the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add to my answer today to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if a Foreign Office Minister will attend the forthcoming meeting of five Commonwealth nations on the subject of future British co-operation in Far East defence.

It is not at present intended that a Foreign and Commonwealth Office Minister should attend.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what resolutions have been passed by the Security Council of the United Nations, the purpose of which has been to impose a settlement of the conflicts in Vietnam and Nigeria.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in view of the failure of a London firm, details of which have been supplied, to meet commitments entered into in connection with the visit of the Omsk State Ensemble to the North of England, she will issue no future labour permits to the firm to employ foreign companies until their commitments to the constituent of the hon. Member for Tynemouth have been met.

No. An alleged debt is not a matter my Department can properly take into account when deciding whether to issue a permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and

LIST OF INDUSTRIAL TRAINING BOARDS NOW IN OPERATION WITH FIGURES EXTRACTED FROM BOARDS' ANNUAL REPORTS IN RESPECT OF YEAR ENDED 31ST MARCH, 1968
Board	Levy	Exchequer Grant received	Proportion of total wages paid in Levy	Total sums paid to employer	Total Expenditure
	£	£	Per cent.	£	£
Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry.	—	616,367	—	7,545	678,949
Carpet	173,046	1,910	0·9	69,726	124,616
Ceramics, Glass and Mineral Products.	3,095,944	6,305	0·75 (Standard rate) *	2,464,217	2,646,855
Chemical and Allied Products	—	31,639	—	951	31,639
Civil Air Transport	—	40,851	—	1,128	40,929
Construction	15,845,149	118,320	1·0	21,477,216	23,610,314
Cotton and Allied Textiles	641,453	46,390	0·4	280,077	353,998
Electricity Supply	74,130	54,597	0·025	57,303	106,692
Engineering	86,490,435	402,595	2·5	81,539,709	85,112,059
Furniture and Timber	747,568	896	0·9	922,767	1,077,709
Gas	747,381	6,085	1·25	389,405	431,291
Hotel and Catering	2,749,636	301,775	1·0	1,655,074	2,258,114
Iron and Steel	4,346,283	33,174	Per capita levy (£18 per employee)	4,916,482	5,151,880
Knitting, Lace and Net	401,691	1,763	1·0	121,830	206,784
Man-made Fibres Producing	40,864	2,992	0·2	4,640	27,581
Petroleum	—	55,381	—	151	55,381
Road Transport	11,345,690	166,436	1·6	9,095,000	9,864,321
Rubber and Plastics Processing	—	32,742	—	52	35,556
Shipbuilding	1,287,300	6,980	1·55	712,592	847,302
Water Supply	492,674	29,057	1·1	265,757	714,779
Wool, Jute and Flax	2,103,183	12,499	1·5 (Standard rate)*	1,877,477	2,037,570

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will make a statement on the proposed payments of £11,500 to

The information is published in the Annual Reports of industrial training boards which are laid before Parliament. It is as follows:the Chairman and £6,500 to members of the Commission on Industrial Relations in the light of the Government's prices and incomes policy; and whether she will refer them to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

The levels of pay for these new posts were fixed having regard to those for comparable responsible posts. This is consistent with incomes policy and there is no case for referring them to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a further statement on the number of deaths due to scrotal cancer.

The figures given in my reply to my hon. Friend on 27th January, 1969, related only to cases of scrotal cancer notified under the Factories Act to Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate. These notified cases are the only ones in which the occupational origin has been definitely established by investigation by my Department. We know that notification is not complete; the reasons for this are discussed in the Annual Report of the Chief Inspector of Factories for 1967.—[Vol. 776, c. 234.]

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AREAS IN PEMBROKESHIRE
				Registered Unemployed			Percentage Rate
				13th January 1969	8th January 1968	9th January 1967	13th January 1969	8th January 1968	9th January 1967
Fishguard	…	…	…	178	130	123	6·2	4·5	4·3
Haverfordwest	…	…	…	437	240	246	5·7	3·2	3·2
Milford Haven	…	…	…	735	389	433	10·2	5·4	6·0
Pembroke Dock	…	…	…	317	231	243	5·4	3·9	4·2
Tenby	…	…	…	214	189	192	*7·l	*6·4	*7·l
Narberth	…	…	…	91	89	116
* Percentage rates of unemployment can be calculated for the whole of the travel-to-work area which comprises Tenby and Narberth but not separately for its constituent parts.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is aware that Penallta Colliery, Ystrad Mynach, Glamorgan, is threatened with closure by August, 1969; and whether she will make plans for the 1,100 miners at the colliery to be absorbed into other employment.

I understand that while this colliery, which has a current labour force of 933, is in jeopardy, no decision about closure has yet been made by the National Coal Board. In the event of closure the Board hopes that there would be no redundancies. Eighty men would be retained on salvage work

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many questions as to whether the requirements of the Fair Wages Clause in Government contracts are being observed she has referred to an independent tribunal for decision in each of the last three years.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will state the numbers of unemployed registered at each employment exchange in Pembrokeshire at the latest convenient date and the percentage of the insured workers in each case; and what are the comparable figures for 1967 and 1968.

Following is the information:and the remainder would be offered transfers to other nearby pits.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) whether she is aware that a number of racehorse owners are receiving tax-free incomes of amounts varying between £20,000 and £97,000 and that these are to be increased during the year; and whether she will refer the matter to the National Board for Prices and Incomes;(2) whether she is aware that a number of racehorse owners are receiving £20,000 to £97,000 a year tax-free, mainly from the Horserace Betting Levy; and whether this payment falls within the Government's prices and incomes policy.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire, North-East (Mr. Swain) on 10th December.—[Vol. 775, c. 167.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the estimated percentage increase in rates, earnings and productivity deriving from the pay claim of dockers manning the OCL-ACT container terminal at Tilbury; and if such increases fall within the incomes policy.

Details of the pay proposals of the Port of London Authority for their dock workers who will be employed at this terminal are at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity on what criteria she determines whether or not the recent pay settlement affecting 600 fitters employed by Swan Hunter and Tyne Shipbuilders falls within the incomes policy, in view of the fact that information indicating the estimated percentage increase in rates, earnings and productivity arising from that settlement is not available.

This settlement has been examined in the light of the criteria set out in the White Paper "Productivity, Prices and Incomes Policy in 1968 and 1969" (Cmnd. 3590), and the company has supplied my Department with sufficient information for that purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of employment exchange areas in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region showing which had a percentage of unemployment above the national average and which had a percentage below the national average in January, 1969, giving the percentage in each case.

Following is the information:

Percentage rates of unemployment at 13th January 1969 for Employment Exchanges or travel-to-work areas in the Yorkshire and Humberside region.
	percent.
Filey	9·6
Bridlington	9·5
Hemsworth and South Kirkby	8·9
Skegness	7·6
Mablethorpe	7·1
Maltby	6·7
Mexborough and Goldthorpe	6·0
Dinnington	5·4
Barnsley, Hoyland, Royston and Wombwell	4·6
Doncaster, Askern and Thorne	4·6
Goole	4·5
Rotherham	4·4
Gainsborough	4·2
Castleford, Knottingley, Normanton and Pontefract	4·1
Hull, Beverley and Hessle	3·7
Louth	3·4
Ripon	3·3
Grimsby	3·1
Stockbridge	2·7
Great Britain	2·6
Horncastle	2·6
Wetherby	2·6
Sheffield, Attercliffe, Chapeltown and Woodhouse	2·5
Driffield	2·5
Selby	2·4
Leeds, Horsforth, Morley, Rothwell, Seacroft and Stanningley	2·4
Harrogate	2·3
Scunthorpe and Barton-on-Humber	2·3
Wakefield	2·3
Bradford and Shipley	2·2
Dewsbury, Batley and Spen Valley	2·2
York	2·1
Keighley	2·0
Pocklington	1·8
Skipton	1·8
Otley	1·6
Tadcaster	1·5
Todmorden	1·4
Barnoldswick	1·2
Brighouse	1·0
Huddersfield	1·0
Halifax, Elland and Sowerby Bridge	1·0
Guiseley	0·8
Hebden Bridge	0·6

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will state the total number of men and women, separately, who, during 1968, earned less than £12, £14, and £15 a week for full-time employment.

The latest information available is for 1967, and was given in my reply to my hon. Friend on 19th November, 1968.—[Vol. 773, c. 264.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will set out the professional qualifications of Commonwealth immigrants who entered the United Kingdom under the voucher system of the 1965 Immigration Act; and the total number of all immigrants, other than dependants, for 1967 and 1968.

I assume the hon. Member is seeking information about the numbers admitted, under the voucher scheme, for permanent settlement and employment.The numbers are:

COMMONWEALTH CITIZENS ADMITTED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM WITH VOUCHERS ISSUED TO THEM BECAUSE THEY HELD ONE OF THE QUALIFICATIONS SPECIFIED IN CMND. 2739 PUBLISHED IN AUGUST, 1965
	1967	1968
Teachers	565	447
Doctors	938	1,010
Nurses	148	116
Dentists	41	23
Engineers	276	187
Civil Engineers	147	95
Scientists	246	157
Professions Ancilliary to Medicine	29	60
Agricultural Scientists	81	48
Lawyers	29	5
Architects	31	40
Miscellaneous	59	58
	2,590	2,246

The total number of voucher holders who entered the United Kingdom.

1967	1968
4,978	4,691

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity by what percentage the Index of Retail Prices has increased during the four-year periods from October, 1960, to October, 1964, and from October, 1964, to October, 1968.

The Index of Retail Prices rose by 13·8 per cent. between October, 1960, and October, 1964, and by 17·1 per cent. between October, 1964, and October, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity by what percentage manual workers' average weekly earnings have increased during the four-year periods from October, 1960, to October, 1964, and from October, 1964, to October, 1968.

According to the results of my Department's half-yearly inquiries into the earnings and hours of manual workers, the percentage increases in average weekly earnings of all full-time manual workers were 24·1 and 28·9 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what are the Government's proposals for the future of the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Industrial Training Boards; and if she will make a statement.

In company with Agricultural Ministers I have today seen representatives of the National Farmers' Unions, the National Union of Agricultural and Allied Workers and the Training Board to present to them Government proposals designed to help the Board to develop its work in co-operation with the industry. These proposals provide for the reconstitution of the Board's Area Committees in close consultation with employer and employee organisations concerned; for strengthening the rôle of these Committees and for an alternative means to the levy for financing the Board in future. I have asked the organisations concerned to consider these proposals as a matter of urgency. At the same time my right hon. Friend has decided to lay before the House shortly a levy Order to enable the Board to finance its work for the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the hospital facilities planned at Thamesmead; and if he will make a statement.

The planning of health services for Thamesmead is still in the formative stage, but I am satisfied that the foreseeable needs for hospital facilities for the proposed increase in population in the area, both for inpatient treatment and for diagnostic and consultative services, are being taken fully into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present waiting time for a tonsillectomy in the Coventry area; and how this compares with the national average.

The average waiting time for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy was 33·9 weeks in Coventry in 1967, and 22 weeks in England and Wales in 1966, the latest year for which a national figure is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board has made for the transfer of children's wards in Nuneaton's hospitals to the new Coventry Hospital at Walsgrave.

None. But the ear, nose and throat and ophthalmic in-patient services to which I referred in my replies to my hon. Friend on 2nd and 5th December, 1968, include services for children.—[Vol. 774, c. 236, 562.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what he anticipates will be the increase in the number of places available, by the end of 1970, in special units provided for the care of the younger chronic sick.

A memorandum recommending the establishment of special units for the younger chronic sick was addressed to hospital authorities by my right hon. Friend, the former Minister of Health, in July last year. I am not able to forecast the extent of the additional provision which will be made for these patients, but my right hon. Friend intends to call for a progress report in the course of next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that there are adequate numbers of physiotherapists available in the West Riding of Yorkshire; and if he will make a statement.

Although the whole-time equivalent number of physiotherapists in posts in hospitals in England and Wales has increased by over 400 (10·3 per cent.) in the last five years, the West Riding is one of the places where more would be welcomed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what inquiries are made by the responsible authorities as to the origin of cats and dogs acquired alive by establishments within the National Health Service for research.

I regret that the information is not available. Such inquiries as I have made indicate that live animals are bought only from established breeders and dealers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, whether, in view of the current drugs problem, he will prohibit the sale of ex-Government hypodermic syringes of the type mentioned in the advertisement, details of which have been sent to him.

I do not consider that such action would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the implementation of the Seebohm Report.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to my hon. Friends an 27th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 205–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in view of the growing practice of his Department of taking from five to 12 weeks to send substantive replies to the communications of Members of Parliament, whether he will take action to revert to the previous practice of sending replies within one or two weeks.

It is not always possible to answer quickly if detailed investigation is needed and a comprehensive reply given. If, however, my hon. Friend will let me have details of specific cases, I will look into them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many working days were lost in Scotland due to industrial accidents in 1968.

I regret that the information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people at 31st December, 1968, had been excused paying National Insurance contributions on the grounds of low incomes.

At that date approximately 160,000 insured persons, of whom 110,000 were women, held certificates of exception from liability to pay contributions because of small incomes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the gross national product was devoted to cash benefits paid as social security in each year from 1949 to the latest available date.

The proportions which payments of Social Security cash benefits have borne to the gross national product have been as follows:

Year					Per cent.
1949	…	…	…	…	5·4
1950	…	…	…	…	5·3
1951	…	…	…	…	5·0
1952	…	…	…	…	5·4
1953	…	…	…	…	5·6
1954	…	…	…	…	5·3
1955	…	…	…	…	5·5
1956	…	…	…	…	5·5
1957	…	…	…	…	5·4
1958	…	…	…	…	6·3
1959	…	…	…	…	6·4
1960	…	…	…	…	6·2
1961	…	…	…	…	6·4
1962	…	…	…	…	6·5
1963	…	…	…	…	7·0
1964	…	…	…	…	6·8
1965	…	…	…	…	7·3
1966	…	…	…	…	7·5
1967	…	…	…	…	8·1

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated proportion of persons in receipt of retirement pensions, sickness benefit, unemployment benefit and widow's benefit who are receiving supplementary allowances at the latest available date.

The figures are for September, 1968, except for unemployment benefit which is November, 1968.

Unemployment benefit	20·2
Retirement pensions	27·9
Sickness benefit	16·0
Widow's benefits (excluding widows basic pensions)	21·3

For retirement pensions the proportion is given on a household basis because, while a man and wife living together will often both be National Insurance beneficiaries, only a single payment of supplementary benefit is made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of weekly allowances of supplementary benefits paid in 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968 compared with 1961, 1962, 1963 and 1964.

The table shows, in thousands, the number of recipients of regular weekly payments of national assistance (1961 to 1965) and supplementary benefits (1966 to 1968) as at the end of each year.

Year				No.
1961	…	…	…	1,844
1962	…	…	…	2,007
1963	…	…	…	1,971
1964	…	…	…	1,961
1965	…	…	…	1,997
1966	…	…	…	2,495
1967	…	…	…	2,577
1968	…	…	…	2,654

STANDARD RATES OF THE PRINCIPAL SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS AS A PERCENTAGE OF AVERAGE EARNINGS (1)
			Retirement Pension Widow's Pension			National Assistance Supplementary Benefit Scale Rates
			Single Person	Married couple with no children (R.P.)	Family Allowance for a three child family	Single Householder	Married couple with no children
January, 1945 (2)(a)	…	…	8·4	16·8	—	—	—
April, 1950	…	…	17·8	28·8	6·9	16·5	27·4
April, 1955 (3)	…	…	18·4	29·9	7·4	17·2	29·0
April, 1960	…	…	17·7	28·4	6·4	17·7	30·1
April, 1964	…	…	19·2	30·9	5·1	18·0	29·7
April, 1968	…	…	20·2	32·8	7·2	19·3	31·7
October, 1968	…	…	19·6	31·7	8·3	19·8	32·4

			Sickness Benefit Unemployment Benefit				Injury Benefit
			Flat-Rate		Including Earnings Related Supplement		Flat-Rate		Including Earnings Related Supplement
			Single Person	Married couple with no children	Single Person	Married couple with no children	Single Person	Married couple with no children	Single Person	Married couple with no children
January, 1945 (2)(b)	…	…	20·1	33·5	—	—	—	—	—	—
January, 1945 (2)(c)	…	…	15·1	15·1	—	—	—	—	—	—
April, 1950	…	…	17·8	28·8	—	—	30·9	41·9	—	—
April, 1955 (3)	…	…	18·4	29·9	—	—	31·0	42·5	—	—
April, 1960	…	…	17·7	28·4	—	—	30·1	40·8	—	—
April, 1964	…	…	19·2	30·9	—	—	32·6	44·4	—	—
April, 1968 (4)	…	…	20·2	32·8	38·4	51·0	32·6	45·1	50·8	63·3
October, 1968 (4)	…	…	19·6	31·7	38·9	51·1	31·5	43·7	50·9	63·0

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the policy governing the payment of unemployment benefit to those

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in table form the percentage of average earnings represented by the various social security benefits at the latest available date and in 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, and 1964, respectively.

The information requested is set out in the following table:persons who are laid off as a result of an industrial dispute in which they are not themselves directly involved.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 7th February.—[Vol. 777, c. 181.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will amend the National Insurance Regulations so as to provide for a contribution stamp free of charge to be allowed for insured persons who are unemployed because of compulsory jury service.

No. Many employed persons already have contributions paid for them in the normal way through their employers while they are on jury service; in other cases there are the compensatory allowances payable to jurors by the courts to fall back on.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give instructions to local offices regarding the grant of allowances for pensioners affected by the increase in the cost of a television licence.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what guidance he has issued to local offices for making increased allowances to pensioners directly affected by the increased charge for television licences;(2) what guidance he has issued to local offices for making increased allowances to disabled people directly affected by the increased charge for television licences.

No specific instructions have been given. The cost of television licences is included in the index to retail prices, which is taken into account in determining supplementary benefit scale rates. These rates, which were increased last October, contain a margin for amenities which people can, if they wish, spend on items like television.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what savings in terms of staff and administrative costs have resulted from the merging of the Ministries of Health and Social Security.

I have little to add to my reply to similar questions from the hon. Members for Harwich (Mr. Ridsdale) and Surbiton (Mr. Fisher) on 2nd December, 1968. The main purpose of the merger of these Departments was to secure better co-ordination of social security policy and no significant savings of staff or administrative costs are expected to arise.—[Vol. 774, c. 1009–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it took his Department from 7th January to 3rd February to send an interim reply concerning the matter raised with him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding the personal case of Gordon Richards; and when a substantive reply may be expected.

My hon. Friend's letter of 7th January was acknowledged on 9th January. When it became clear that, because of inquiries about Mr. Richards' insurance record while he was abroad, the reply might take longer than expected, my hon. Friend was informed on 3rd February that he would be sent a full reply as soon as possible. This has now been done.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will announce the names and salaries of the members of the Freight Integration Council.

The members of the Freight Integration Council will be:

• Mr. A. G. B. Burney, O.B.E. (Chairman)
• Col. F. T. Davies
• Mr. S. F. Greene, C.B.E., J.P.
• Sir Henry Johnson, C.B.E.
• Mr. A. H. Kitson, J.P.
• Mr. J. A. McMullen, O.B.E.
• Sir Reginald Wilson.

The Chairman's salary will be £3,000 per year; the other members of the Council will be paid allowances in respect of their out-of-pocket expenses. The appointments are all on a part-time basis and are for a period of three years in the first instance.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the boards and authorities for which he is responsible, and which have to submit items of major capital expenditure for his approval, stating the limits in each case; in the latest financial year, in each case, respectively, and in total, what were the amounts submitted for his approval, and what amounts he sanctioned; and how this compares with the original sums budgeted for by him.

1969(a) IN £M. AT MARCH, 1968 PRICES
		Programme submitted	Approved ceiling	Expenditure level above which at present individual projects are normally subject to authorisations
British Railways Board (b) (c)	…	109·7	95 (d)	0·25(h)
London Transport Board	…	20·2	19·5	0·25
British Transport Docks Board	…	18·7	18·7	0·5
Transport Holding Company (b) (c)	…	32·7	32·7 (e)	0·25 (i)
British Waterways Board	…	1·6	1·6	0·04
National Freight Corporation (b)	…	—	(e)(f)	(i)
National Bus Company (b)	…	—	(e) (g)	(i)
TOTAL	…	182·9	167·5(f)(g)
Notes
(a) The nationalised transport industries work on a calendar year basis.
(b) On 1st January, 1969, various activities of the Railways Board and the Transport Holding Company were transferred to the National Freight Corporation and National Bus Company.
(c) The programmes submitted by the British Railways Board and the Transport Holding Company in 1968 for 1969 included provision for their successor bodies.
(d) The approved total after allowing for subsequent allocation to the National Freight Corporation and Scottish Transport Group was £84·6m.
(e) Of this, £32·3m. was subsequently allocated to the National Freight Corporation, National Bus Company and Scottish Transport Group.
(f) The ceiling allocated to the National Freight Corporation is £27·1m.
(g) The ceiling allocated to the National Bus Company is £13m.
(h) This is not a hard and fast level; depending on the nature of the scheme smaller projects may be individually authorised, while larger ones are sometimes left to the Board's discretion.
(i) This limit also provisionally applies to the National Freight Corporation and National Bus Company.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he has considered the estimate in Appendices VI, VII and VIII of the 1963 White Paper on the Channel Tunnel that the number of accompanied vehicles crossing a bridge comprising a road capacity of six lanes and two emergency lanes as well as a double track railway would be 10 per cent. greater than accompanied vehicles through a double track railway tunnel; and what account has been taken of this estimate;(2) what estimate he has made of the comparison between the annual tonnage of goods crossing a Channel bridge or tunnel;(3) what estimate he has made of the comparison between the number of un-accompanied

The nationalised transport undertakings submit annual investment budgets covering a five-year period, on the basis of which ceilings are imposed on their capital expenditure for an appropriate period ahead.Within these ceilings, projects are subject to individual authorisation above a specified level of cost. The detailed information is as follows:passengers crossing a Channel bridge or tunnel.

The assumptions given in the 1963 White Paper (Cmnd. 2137) about the relative levels of traffic demand for a Channel Bridge and Tunnel were incorporated in the calculation, described in Chapter 5 of the White Paper, of the comparative economic benefit of the tunnel, the bridge and the established means of crossing. Over the whole range of assumed levels of traffic, the tunnel gave more than twice the economic return of the bridge. The White Paper assumed that there would be no appreciable difference in demand for the bridge and the tunnel in respect of train passengers and goods; I see no reason to doubt the validity of these assumptions.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the lengths of motorway on which crash barriers have been installed and on which they are at present being installed.

Lengths of motorway on which crash barriers have ben installed in the central reserve total 34·95 miles and are:M.1. From a point approximately 2½ miles north of the M.1/M.10 junction at Beechtree northwards for 9 miles.M.1. From a point approximately ¼ mile south of the M.1/A.45 at Upper Heyford junction northwards for 9 miles.M.1. A length of approximately 2 miles on the Hendon Urban Motorway from its present southern terminal to Scratchwood.M.2. A length of 2 miles, 1,050 yards on the Medway Bridge and on its eastern approach.M.4. From the Chiswick Flyover to the London Airport Spur, a length of approximately 8·7 miles, which is centrally lighted.M.4. A length of 1·9 miles over the Aust Viaduct, Severn Bridge and Wye Bridge.M.6. A length of 1¾ miles on Preston Bypass, where there is a substandard central reserve following widening from dual two-lane to dual three-lane.Lengths of motorway on which crash barriers are at present being installed are:M.1. A length of 1,500 yards northwards from the M.1/M.10 junction to the M.1/A.4147 junction, for which tenders have been invited.The above do not include protection provided for bridge piers or other obstructions in the central reserve of all motorways.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the additional revenue from motoring taxation resulting from the increase of taxes imposed in March and November, 1968, he will give new instructions to local authorities cancelling those previously given to them to reduce, by at least 15 per cent., their expenditure on road maintenance.

No.Taxation collected from motorists, in common with other tax revenue, goes into the Consolidated Fund and has no direct relationship with expenditure on the roads.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent there was an increase in road accidents involving schoolchildren in November and December, 1968, over the same period for previous years; and if he will publish figures for the whole country on a county basis, showing the times of such accidents.

Following are the national figures for November. Figures on a county basis are not readily available, and would in any case be too small for useful statistical comparisons. I will let the hon. Member have similar information for December as soon as the statistics are compiled.

FATAL AND SERIOUS CASUALTIES TO PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS AGED 5–14: MONDAYS TO FRIDAYS IN NOVEMBER
Hour	1968 (22 days)	1967 (21 days)	Change
Midnight-7 a.m.	—	2	−2
7 a.m.-8 a.m.	12	10	+2
8 a.m.-9 a.m.	92	95	−3
9 a.m.-4 p.m.	142	151	−9
4 p.m.-5 p.m.	161	153	+8
5 p.m.-6 p.m.	96	86	+10
6p.m.-10 p.m.	141	97	+44
10 p.m.-Midnight	6	3	+3
ALL HOURS	650	597	+53

asked the Minister of Transport (1) when he expects work will commence on the bypass for Blaby, Leicestershire;(2) if he has approved the details of the plan for the bypass for Blaby, Leicestershire.

Outline approval has been given to the proposed alignment of the route, but the county council has not yet submitted detailed plans. It is therefore too early to say when work will commence

asked the Minister of Transport what study he has made of the plan for a gyratory traffic system in Blaby, Leicestershire; and with what conclusion.

No plan of this proposed gyratory system has been submitted to my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that white belts with an orange day-glow stripe make children more visible to drivers of vehicles at night; and if he will seek to arrange to have some worn by schoolchildren as an experiment in road safety.

In our publicity we are encouraging pedestrians, particularly children, to wear white or light coloured clothing at night. Fluorescent material is useful in twilight, but has no particular advantages in darkness. An experiment on the lines suggested would be a matter for local education authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the purpose, and what were the findings of the traffic census carried out in Bridge Street, Tadcaster, on or about 3rd January, 1969.

A count of vehicles and pedestrians was conducted in connection with the possible need for

TOWN BY-PASS SCHEMES ON WHICH WORK IS EXPECTED TO START WITHIN 12 MONTHS
						Estimated Cost £m.
TRUNK ROADS
Kent	A20(M)	Ditton By-pass	…	…	…	6·6
Devon	A38	Plympton By-pass	…	…	…	4·3
Gloucestershire	A417	Cirencester By-pass	…	…	…	0·3
Lancashire	A59	Whalley and Clitheroe By-pass	…	…	…	3·4
Durham	A108	Sunderland By-pass	…	…	…	6·8
Cumberland	A74	Gretna By-pass (English Section)	…	…	…	0·4
Yorks (East Riding)	A63	Elloughton By-pass	…	…	…	1·7
Essex	A12	Springfield and Boreham By-pass	…	…	…	3·5
Essex	A12	Stanway By-pass	…	…	…	4·7
Huntingdonshire	A1	Eaton Socon By-pass	…	…	…	1·9
Buckinghamshire	M40	Beaconsfield By-pass	…	…	…	2·4
PRINCIPAL ROADS
Hampshire	A31	Alton By-pass	…	…	…	2·0
Kent	A21	Tonbridge By-pass	…	…	…	5·3
Surrey	A25	Old Oxted By-pass	…	…	…	0·5
Berkshire and Buckinghamshire	A404	Marlow and Bisham By-pass	…	…	…	3·9
Warwickshire	A452	Kenilworth Western By-pass	…	…	…	0·5
Birkenhead	A41	Rock Ferry By-pass	…	…	…	0·9
Birkenhead		Bidston By-pass	…	…	…	0·9
Lancashire		Eccles By-pass	…	…	…	6·4
Lancashire		Whalley Eastern By-pass	…	…	…	0·4
Lancashire		Liverpool Outer Ring Road, Stage I	…	…	…	2·8
Gateshead/Durham		Gateshead Western By-pass	…	…	…	7·1
Westmorland		Kendal By-pass	…	…	…	1·5
Essex		Stanford-le-Hope By-pass	…	…	…	3·0
East Suffolk	A45	Trimley and Walton By-pass	…	…	…	2·2

asked the Minister of Transport what was the cost in each case of road realignment and improvements recently carried out on the Wetherby-Harrogate road, near Spofforth, and the York-Harrogate road, near Green Hammerton.

The estimated costs of the improvements near Spofforth and Green Hammerton are £24,470 and £19,564 respectively. The final costs are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the individual estimated cost of the town bypass schemes on which work is expected to start within 12 months and which are in the Forward Programme, respectively.

Following is the latest information available:

asked the Minister of Transport how many schemes of road improvements not exceeding £150,000 in cost have been initiated or completed in Yorkshire in the years 1967 and 1968; and if he will itemise each scheme and its particular cost.

One hundred and ninety-nine trunk road schemes and 389 grant-aided local authority schemes. I will send lists of them and their costs to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Transport by what percentage the volume of traffic on the Ml south of Coventry exceeds or falls short of the volume of traffic for which that stretch of motorway was designed.

The traffic flow on Ml just south of the M45 (Coventry) intersection exceeds by 10 per cent. the volume for which that stretch of motorway was designed.

asked the Minister of Transport what studies are currently in progress on road communications across the Pennines between Sheffield and Lancashire.

Project feasibility studies are being carried out in the south Pen-nines Peak area to determine the relief that should be given to roads passing through the National Park area. One study is examining the need to construct a high standard road between Sheffield and Manchester. Final reports on the Studies are expected at the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Transport what studies are currently in progress on road communications between Sheffield and the north and south banks of the Humber.

Adequate road links between Sheffield and the north and south banks of the Humber have already been constructed or are in course of preparation. No further studies would be justified at present.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make compulsory the painting of a broad white stripe on the rear offside and rear nearside corners of heavy vehicles.

I am considering proposals to require most heavy vehicles and trailers to carry a rear marking consisting of fluorescent and reflective materials to make them more conspicuous at night and in poor daylight.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in referring to the area Transport Users' Consultative Committee the action of British Rail in cancelling Sunday services on the Wickford-South-minster branch line, he will also forward to that committee copies of the representations he has received on this matter from hon. Members and from other persons and organisations; and if, in considering the committee's recommendations, he will take into account these representations.

The answer to both parts of the Question is, "Yes".

asked the Minister of Transport what action has been taken to ensure that there will be no recurrence of the maladministration revealed by the inquiry of the Parliamentary Commissioner which occurred in relation to the consent to the closure of Manchester Central Station; and whether disciplinary action is proposed.

The Parliamentary Commissioner found that there had been a defect of administration in this case in that the Ministry did not, before imposing the first of several conditions to consent, check whether it would be enforceable by direction. He did not consider that this was maladministration which had caused injustice to the complainant. Moreover he was satisfied that it was not unreasonable for the Minister to rely on the Railways Board's assurances of their technical ability to comply with this condition. While I do not consider that disciplinary action is necessary, I am satisfied that there will be no recurrence.

asked the Minister of Transport what railway lines in the Coventry and Nuneaton areas are at present in receipt of grants to cover unremunerative operations as specified in the Transport Act, 1968; and what are the amounts of these grants.

The unremunerative railway passenger services in the Coventry and Nuneaton areas which I have undertaken to grant-aid under Section 39(1) of the Transport Act, 1968, and the amount of grant payable in 1969 are as follows:

Rugby-Nuneaton-Stafford	£141,000
Rugby-Coventry-Birmingham	£251,000
Birmingham-Leicester-Nottingham	£170,000
Euston-Northampton-Birmingham	£264,000

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give a general direction to British Railways to introduce facilities for staggered working hours for headquarters' offices in London.

No. On the question of staggering working hours I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 3rd February.—[Vol. 777, c. 25–6.]

asked the Minister of Transport in view of his decision relating to grants for unremunerative rail services between Aylesbury and Marylebone, what were the total receipts for each of the years from 1964 to 1968, for traffic from Marylebone to Great Missenden, Wendover, Stoke Mandeville and Aylesbury and from these stations to Marylebone; and to what extent he took into account the income in these years at these stations from car parks, rentals of other space and from advertising.

I regret that information relating to receipts to and from these individual stations is not readily available. The costing of services for grant purposes does not cover ancillary activities such as car parking, letting or advertising.

asked the Minister of Transport when his decision on the proposal to withdraw the Ashford-Ore railway may now be expected.

I have not been able to reach a decision on the future of this line owing to the need for further detailed examination of what a grant under Section 39 of the Transport Act, 1968, would cost. I expect to complete this examination within the next few weeks.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from the oil companies concerned in Milford Haven regarding the proposed nationalisation of the port; and what reply he has sent.

Representations were received from the oil companies last year about the possibility that cross-subsidisation between the nationalised ports might lead to higher dues at Milford Haven. I replied that I would give full weight to this and other points made in previous representations. The hon. Member will have seen the assurance I gave about Milford Haven in the House on 29th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 336.]

asked the Minister of Transport what information he has been given as to the reason for the bottleneck in the London Docks which has delayed New Zealand meat shipments over the past month.

Delays have been caused by labour difficulties, together with the bunching of ships and shortages of transport. The Port of London Authority, shipowners and other port employers, in collaboration with the meat trade are endeavouring to find a solution to the problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total work force of the Royal Ordnance factories on 1st January, 1961, 1st January, 1965, and 1st January, 1969.

The total work force of the active Royal Ordnance factories administered by the Ministry of Defence—and previously by the War Office—was 26,363 on 1st January, 1961, 20,627 on 1st January, 1965, and 20,301 on 1st January, 1969. These figures, which include non-industrial and industrial employees, exclude constabulary.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why the cost of the nuclear missile depot at Coulport is to exceed the original estimate by £3 million.

Higher costs were mainly due to wage rises, extra accommodation and devaluation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the cost, in dollars and sterling separately, over a 10-year period, including initial purchase price, spares, replacements, contribution to United States of America research and development costs, running costs and all interest payable as a result of the credit terms arranged, of the Phantom and Hercules aircraft, separately.

The estimated costs over a 10-year period are as follows:

		Dollar	Sterling	Total
		£m.	£m.	£m.
Phantom	…	445	350	795
Hercules	…	114	73	187

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent the rents of airmen's married quarters are related to the standard of accommodation provided; and if, in view of the bad state of the properties in Vincent Square, Biggin Hill, he will reduce the rents charged for them.