asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now rehouse the Army families who are isolated on the Hampton Magna housing estate, formerly Budbrooke Barracks, near Warwick, and who have no proper road, footpath or track to allow them to reach the main thoroughfares of the area.

Yes. The 20 families concerned will be moved to vacant R.A.F. quarters at R.A.F., Honiley, about 5 miles away as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent in his decision to close Acklington as a Royal Air Force station he took into account the effects of the closure on the level of unemployment, on the rate of redundancy and on the general economy of the surrounding area.

I assure my hon. Friend that all these considerations were fully taken into account by my colleagues and myself.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the fact that the proportion of the gross national product spent on military defence, including military defence not included in the formal defence budget, rose from 6·82 per cent. in 1964–65 to 6·97 per cent. in 1967–68, if he will now take steps to reduce expenditure on arms.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to reduce defence expenditure which has risen from 6·7 per cent. of gross national product in 1965–66 to 7 per cent. of gross national product in 1967–68.

The reason for the apparent increase in the proportion of gross national product represented by "military defence" is that "military defence" includes not only expenditure for which I am not responsible but also expenditure which is not a charge on the Exchequer in the year concerned—for example the progress payments on the purchase of United States military aircraft, which are financed by borrowing from the Ex-Im Bank. The Exchequer bears the cost only when interest payments are made and the loans repaid. These payments are then included in the Defence budget, but deducted in calculating "military defence" expenditure.Since 1964–65 the Defence Budget as a proportion of GNP shows a decline from 6½ per cent. to about 6 per cent. in the current year. Substantial further reductions are planned, as was made clear in the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy 1968, despite the fact that the Defence budget in these years will contain the cost of repaying the loan for United States aircraft.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons whose normal civil domicile is in Gibraltar are at present serving in Her Majesty's forces.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what part of the costs of the proposed Anglo-German-Dutch centrifuge project for separating U-235 will be met from the British Defence Vote.

None. This is a civil project.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consultations have been carried out with the United States of America over the rôle within the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation of the Sentinel anti-ballistic missile system.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why Corporal H. J. Russell who wishes to withdraw his notice of termination after nine years' service and to complete 22 years in Her Majesty's service has been refused permission to continue as a soldier; and why the authorities have refused to give any reason for this decision.

I have nothing to add to my letter to my hon. Friend of 29th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what date the last British and Gurkha battalions will have left Malaysia and Singapore, respectively.

By 31st December, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to modernise the administration, methods of discipline, and types of task performed by prisoners in naval prisons.

We are at present examining the results of a comprehensive review of all aspects of the naval detention quarters. We will without doubt be making a number of changes but I will write to my hon. Friend immediately our examination is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will consult with Commonwealth Governments with a view to advising the abolition of distinctions between awards of gallantry for officers and other ranks in Her Majesty's forces.

Consultation with Commonwealth Governments is not a matter for me but for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. I am still considering the general issues arising from the abolition of distinctions between awards for officers and other ranks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his review of dockyards.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Defence White Paper tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total value of naval contracts placed with British shipyards by Her Majesty's Government in 1968; what were the comparable figures in 1966, 1964, 1962 and 1960, respectively; and what percentage of these orders were placed with Scottish yards in each of these years.

The total value of naval contracts placed by the Government with shipyards in the United Kingdom in 1968 was £38·4 million, of which 46 per cent. was awarded to Scottish yards. The corresponding figures for 1960, 1962, 1964 and 1966 were £26·2 million and 32 per cent., £36·6 million and 37 per cent., £30·6 million and 31 per cent., and £506 million and 13 per cent. respectively.These figures include orders for Commonwealth and foreign navies placed on a Government-to-Government basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what provision is made to ensure that Army personnel who have qualified as drivers of tanks and other tracked vehicles are issued with driving licences which include tracked vehicles when they apply for these on their return to civilian life.

Soldiers who qualify to drive tracked vehicles are issued with Certificates of Competence with which they can obtain civilian licences.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish the evidence he will be submitting to the Roskill Commission on the possible siting of the third London airport at Foulness.

It is for the Roskill Commission to decide what evidence to publish and at what stage. I am happy for the Commission to publish any information it obtains from the Ministry of Defence subject to any considerations of national security which the Ministry may have indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the purpose of his recent official visit to Munich; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to my visit to Munich from 31st January to 3rd February. This was not an official visit. I was invited in a personal capacity to attend the Wehrkunde Conference, which is organised annually in Munich to discuss defence problems.A copy of the speech that I made has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will direct that the custom at the Army Apprentice College by which members of the permanent staff are expected to attend church services of denominations to which they do not subscribe should cease.

There is no custom at Aborfield which requires a soldier to attend Services of a denomination to which he does not subscribe.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the normal working hours for civilian and service personnel working with the Armed Forces in Cyprus; and what is the length of the average working week.

The average normal hours for Servicemen are 39 to 41 hours a week, but these may be varied according to the duties and activities of the unit. The average hours of United Kingdom based civilians in Cyprus are generally 41 hours a week inclusive of the lunch hour, but hours vary for special groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what additional premiums are paid to civilian personnel working with the forces in Cyprus; and what are the grounds on which these premiums are paid.

When serving in Cyprus, or elsewhere overseas, all United Kingdom based civilian employees are entitled to certain additional allowances to compensate them for the disturbance involved and to enable them to meet the higher cost of living at the overseas station. These allowances vary according to the individual's salary scale, his marital status and whether or not he occupies official quarters.For those classes and grades entitled to overtime pay, the hourly rate of overtime applicable in the United Kingdom is increased by a zonal addition of 75 per cent. in Cyprus in recognition of the lower purchasing power of sterling.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether future contracts for nuclear submarines will be put out to competitive tender.

No. The programme is not sufficient to keep more than one yard economically employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the expenditure incurred on aircraft purchased from the United States of America in 1968.

Thirty-four million pounds. This represents the repayment of sums drawn under the American aircraft credit, together with payment of interest, and cash payment for certain spares not covered by the credit. It does not include the cost of British produced items.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what land forces are under the command of the Supreme Commander of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and what is the estimate of forces required in the event of aggression by conventional forces known to be available to the Soviet Union.

The United Kingdom assigns B.A.O.R. to the Supreme Allied Commander, Europe (SACEUR); 3 Division including 16 Parachute Brigade (less 1 battalion), and 22 Special Air Service Regiment are earmarked for assignment; and a Battalion Group and an Armoured Reconnaissance Squadron are allocated to the Allied Command Europe Mobile Force.It is not for me to specify the land forces that other N.A.T.O. countries assign or earmark for assignment to SACEUR. Provided 'that the present range of military forces now available to the alliance as a whole is kept effective, it should be sufficient to deter an attack at any level by a rational enemy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of parachute battalions which Great Britain has been asked to provide by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and where these battalions are now stationed.

Two parachute battalions have been declared to N.A.T.O. as part of the increased contribution which I announced in the House on 10th May, 1968. The battalions are stationed at Aldershot.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many warships of the Royal Navy are assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation; and what they are.

Virtually the whole of the Royal Navy is earmarked for assignment to N.A.T.O. The only warship assigned at present is H.M.S. "Dido", our current contribution to the Standing Naval Force Atlantic.Other ships are assigned from time to time for exercises. The ships concerned vary according to availability and N.A.T.O. requirements at the time.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what squadrons of the Royal Air Force are assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

The following information relates to the position today:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many, and what types of aircraft are held in the Royal Air Force's operational conversion units.

Operational training is carried out in operational conversion units on all types of operational aircraft with the exception of transport aircraft, where the training is mostly done in the squadron. The number of aircraft in operational conversion units varies in accordance with the type and rôle of aircraft, the number of operational squadrons and the complexity of the training task.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians are employed at naval headquarters organisations in the United Kingdom.

The number of civilians employed in Naval Command Headquarters in the United Kingdom on 1st January, 1969 was 660. This figure includes 20 part-time employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement concerning the future of the aircraft carriers.

The Government's plans for the aircraft carriers remain unchanged, that is to say they will be phased-out after our military withdrawals from Malaysia, Singapore and the Persian Gulf have been completed in December, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in view of the increasing volume of North Atlantic Treaty Organisation sea-power and of Plymouth's special facilities for accommodating ships and its geographical position as a good base for North Atlantic Treaty Organisation sea exercises, if he will reconsider his decision to close the Western Command headquarters at Devonport.

The changes in command structure which are planned at Devonport arise from the review of the home commands, first announced in the February 1967 Statement on Defence (Command 3203). They are designed to simplify the command and control organisation and to save staff. I can assure the hon. Member that they will in no way detract from the ability of the Plymouth area to provide the services that she has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the cost of bringing the retired pay and pensions of all Armed Forces personnel, including widows, who were retired or discharged before 1945 up to the current 1945 code.

No detailed estimate of the cost of such a proposal has been made, but in the short time available we have estimated that the cost might be of the broad order of £300,000 before taking account of the Pensions (Increase) Measure.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what trades in the Armed Forces receive civil recognition from City and Guilds or trade unions, listed by service and including the women's services.

As the lists are very long covering over 350 trades, I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserves I and IV are to be retained in separate categories with the Territorial and Army Volunteer Reserve; whether the new establishment of 54,000 includes or excludes these elements; and if he will make a statement about their future.

The TAVR will be a unified force. The present establishment of TAVR II is 54,500; to this the units now in TAVR I are being added, bringing the establishment up to 56,000. TAVR IV, with an establishment of 5,600, will be integrated with TAVR II to form the unified TAVR.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what date in 1971 British troops will have been withdrawn from east of Suez.

By 31st December.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the time it will take to fly troops from the United Kingdom to Fiji to deal with any trouble after British forces have been withdrawn from the Far East.

It is not the practice to disclose the planned timings of possible operational deployments. In any case these depend on the amount of warning received and the size and nature of the force required.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he has now completed his feasibility study of a multi-rôle combat aircraft; and whether it will have a maritime capability.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given earlier today to the hon. Members for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker) and Bolton, East (Mr. Robert Howarth). The need for new maritime aircraft will not arise for some considerable time. But we certainly hope that the multi-rôle combat aircraft—as its name implies—would have a capability for maritime operations.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether British scientists sponsored by his Department will be serving with the group of consultant experts appointed to advise the Secretary General of the United Nations on chemical and bacteriological weapons.

Each member of the consultant experts advising the Secretary-General of the United Nations on Chemical and Bacteriological (biological) weapons has been appointed in his individual capacity. But it is open to them all to seek such assistance as they may require. To that extent scientists sponsored by my Department are available to, and have been consulted by, the British representative.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposal he has to purchase Lockheed C5 and super-transports.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer I have given earlier today to the hon. Member for Bolton, East (Mr. Robert Howarth).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the basic wage rates for all grades of manual workers in Her Majesty's dockyards.

The basic rates for adult male workers in the Royal dockyards relate to a 40 hour week. Incentive payments, allowances and overtime are payable in addition. The basic rates are:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence following the Women's Royal Naval Service recent move into new accommodation in H.M.S. "Drake", what plans he has for redeveloping the site at St. Budeaux.

The future of the site at St. Budeaux recently vacated by the W.R.N.S. is still being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will take steps to compensate Alnwick Rural District Council for the large capital outlay made in recent years in providing necessary social services, drainage, sewerage and water, at Acklington Royal Air Force Station on the understanding given by the Royal Air Force that it intended to remain for a long period at Acklington.

I am not aware of any particular item of capital expenditure incurred by Alnwick Rural District Council on behalf of R.A.F. Acklington. Any assistance to a local authority in circumstances such as the present would have to be provided through the normal machinery of local government finance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he intends to vacate Acklington Royal Air Force Station.

Acklington will be vacated by the Royal Air Force shortly after the move of No. 18 Squadron, about August, 1969. I am not yet in a position to say whether an alternative defence task will be found for the station.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the detailed calculations which have led him to conclude that the eventual transfer of H.M.S. "Condor" to Lee-on-Solent would result in a saving of £1,200,000 per annum.

The present annual running cost of the Air Engineering School at H.M.S. "Condor" is about £1·26 million; and of the Air Electrical School at Lee-on-Solent about £1·1 million. Since the training task will be roughly halved when fixed-wing flying comes to an end in the Fleet Air Arm the total running costs of the two combined schools would achieve a saving of about £1·2 million a year, provided that the amalgamation took place at Lee-on-Solent.This station houses other units as well as the Air Electrical School and these could not be accommodated elsewhere if the school were moved.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now take steps to introduce the rank of warrant officer in the Royal Navy.

A full study of this subject has recently been undertaken. There are, however, complicated practical problems to be resolved and these are still being examined. A final answer must depend on the results of the examination, which is bound to take some few months yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will now make a statement on the future use of the Royal Air Force airfield at Leconfield for scheduled civil air services on a continuing basis.

It is the practice of the Ministry of Defence whenever possible to permit the civil use of R.A.F. airfields. However, with the concentration of our forces in this country and the greater need for range training time, increasing use is planned for the Cowden Range by the new types of R.A.F. aircraft coming into service and the necessary low level approaches to the range are incompatible with continuous scheduled civil movements at Leconfield.This long-term defence need would restrict the availability of the airfield for scheduled civil services to Saturdays and Sundays and to the period between 6.30 p.m. and 9 a.m. on other days throughout the year. It is for local interests and potential operators to decide whether, within these times, a viable service could be operated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the number of applicants for enlistment in Her Majesty's forces who have been rejected on grounds of physical fitness alone during each of the last 10 years; and whether, in such cases, he will seek powers to refer them to hospital or to physical fitness training courses, with a view to their being accepted for Her Majesty's service after such courses.

As the answer to the first part of the Question contains a number of figures I will publish these in the OFFICIAL REPORT.The applicants are civilians who may, if they wish, seek treatment from their own doctors in an effort to raise their medical standard of fitness to an acceptable level. It would be contrary to medical ethics for the Services to do more than provide the applicants' doctors with medical details if required.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the financial saving which would result from the transfer of H.M.S. "Daedalus" at Lee-on-Solent to Arbroath and its amalgamation with H.M.S. "Condor" there.

£200,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of recruits to the Scottish Division were provided during 1968 by the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Up to 30th June, 1968, men were recruited either into the Highland or Lowland Brigade and thereafter into the Scottish Division. Only after the recruit has arrived at his divisional depot is he allocated to a regiment. It is thus wholly misleading to speak of a regiment providing recruits.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has, following the official participation of the Minister of Defence, Equipment, in the Edinburgh University teach-in on chemical and biological warfare, for further official participation by Ministers in his Department in university teach-ins on subjects relating to defence.

My colleagues and I are ready to consider any invitation to participate in such discussions. It is one of my aims to encourage serious discussions of defence problems in academic circles.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what response he has had from local authorities to his circular, Military Aid to the Civil Community.

Local authorities have been aware of the scheme for some time so that we have not received any marked increase in the number of requests for assistance as a result of the pamphlet. In general, the pamphlet has been very well received.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons whose normal civil domicile is in the Falkland Islands are at present serving in Her Majesty's forces.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to receive the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on service pay.

I have nothing to add to my answer to the hon. Member for St. Albans (Mr. Goodhew) of 23rd January, 1969. [Vol. 776, c. 168.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will rescind his ban on the sales of United Kingdom defence equipment to South Africa, in the light of the decision by the United States Government to withdraw restrictions on the sale to South Africa of equipment incorporating components manufactured in or subject to licence from the United States of America.

The Government's policy on the export of arms to South Africa, which has been explained on many occasions previously, remains unchanged. I have no reason to believe that United States policy has been altered in any way.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what instructions have been given to members of Her Majesty's Forces serving in the Persian Gulf about reading material carried with them; and if he will make a statement;(2) what instructions have been given to members of Her Majesty's Forces serving in the Persian Gulf about brand names on their clothes; and if he will make a statement.

Members of Her Majesty's Forces have been advised that they may encounter difficulties if they import into Bahrein items including reading material and clothing which are listed as prohibited by the Bahreini custom authorities.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the relaxation of the ban on the importation of brushed new potatoes from France.

Unwashed new potatoes grown in an area where Colorado beetle occurs may not be imported without a licence. A licence may be issued if my right hon. Friend is satisfied that alternative treatment will be as effective as washing in preventing the import of Colorado beetle. One was issued to a packing station in France in 1968.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of his laboratories in England undertake brucellosis testing.

Sixteen.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate his Department has made of the growth of the flower and bulb industry on a yearly basis since 1950.

Official statistics of output do not distinguish between flowers, bulbs and hardy nursery stock, but I estimate that at constant prices the United Kingdom

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total amount of agriculture grant and subsidy paid per head of the population in Wales for the latest available financial period; and what is the comparable figure for England.

Using the farming grants and subsidies paid in the financial year ended 31st March, 1968, the approximate amount paid per head of population in Wales was £3 13s. 6d. The comparable figure for England was £1 9s. 9d. It is not possible to include payments under the agricultural price guarantees in the calculations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce amending regulations in order to enable himself to authorise the payment of grants dom output of flowers and bulbs rose by about 2 per cent. per annum between 1953–54 and 1967–68.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate his Department has made of the percentage of glasshouses primarily used for food production in 1967 and 1968.

The figures are as follows:for the improvement of roads serving livestock rearing land in crofting areas in cases where at present grants are being withheld, either because the holdings concerned are not registered crofts or because they are over 75 acres in size.

Such grants are available under the Hill Land Improvement and Farm Improvement Schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications have been made to the Mental Welfare Commission in the last two years alleging improper detention of patients; how many formal hearings have taken place; and what has been the result of such applications, both when there has been a formal hearing and when there has not.

I understand that during the two years ending 31st December, 1968, the Mental Welfare Commission considered 306 applications for discharge; in no case was the patient found to be improperly detained, but the Commission think it likely that in a number of cases their consideration led to a change in the patient's circumstances, e.g., discharge by the responsible medical officer or leave of absence from the hospital.It is not the practice of the Commission to investigate applications for discharge by formal hearing unless in exceptional circumstances, as in their view this procedure is more appropriate for appeals to the sheriff.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of his veterinary laboratories in Scotland undertake brucellosis testing; and to what extent there is delay in undertaking these tests owing to pressure of work.

Brucellosis testing is done at the seven veterinary investigation

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange to place in the Library the Paper on Civil Defence, of Mr. John M. Reid, regional scientific training officer, West Region, Civil Defence, Scotland, delivered at the seminar of the Scottish Council on 8th February at Dunblane.

No. I have no responsibility for any personal views expressed by Mr. Reid, who is not a Government servant.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants will be paid to local authorities in Scotland to meet the expenses of strengthening multi-storey buildings where this laboratories operated by the three Scottish Colleges of Agriculture. Certain tests are also done at the Lasswade laboralory under the control of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. I am not aware of any delays at present, but I shall keep this under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the monthly totals of serious road accidents and deaths, respectively, since the introduction of the breathalyser tests, and the corresponding figures for the same months in the year prior to its introduction.

Breath tests were introduced on 9th October, 1967.Following is the information:is now necessary although they were built in accordance with safety standards stipulated by appropriate authorities at the time, to cover removal expenses of tenants who have to be moved out of such buildings, and to reimburse local authorities for loss of income where such buildings have to remain unoccupied, respectively.

I shall discuss this with the local authorities as soon as possible. I am awaiting information about the work they consider necessary and its probable cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) which local authorities in Scotland have been requested by him to appoint consultants to advise whether strengthening is required of multi-storey buildings following the Ronan Point Inquiry; how many of such buildings in Scotland are affected; and in how many cases so far strengthening has been advised by consultants;(2) how many multi-storey buildings completed by local authorities in Scotland are unoccupied because they may need strengthening following the Ronan Point Inquiry.

All local authorities were advised to have an appraisal made by a structural engineer of any multi-storey blocks in large panel load-bearing construction in their areas. Provisional returns show that there are about 170 such blocks in use or at various stages of construction, in 17 local authority areas.I cannot yet say how many will require strengthening and I have no information about the number completed but not occupied.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the safety considerations involved, he will, in consultation with Glasgow Corporation, undertake an inquiry into the measures required to make multi-storey flats safe, into the evacuation and rehousing of the tenants and into the question of meeting the cost of the whole operation.

I see no need for an inquiry. I have already given housing authorities technical advice, and when Glasgow and the other authorities concerned have considered the structural appraisals of their multi-storey blocks they will be putting forward proposals for my consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the default orders under the Education (Scotland) Act, 1962, which he has issued against certain local authorities permit such local authorities to continue to pay teachers dismissed under the terms of such orders beyond 28th March in cases where the teachers' contracts of employment entitle them to payment beyond that date.

The default orders require the education authorities concerned to comply with the requirements of the Schools (Scotland) Code regarding the employment of teachers. Any consequential arrangements that may be necessary are matters between the education authority and the teacher concerned, as employer and employee respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many law graduates there were in the universities of Scotland in the years 1963 to 1968; and how many of them in the same period qualified by passing the Law Society Examination.

When I have obtained the information requested in the first part of the Question I shall write to my hon. Friend.As regards the second part of the Question, my hon. Friend would have to obtain this information from the Law Society of Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to abolish the post of honorary sheriff-substitute in Scottish courts; and if he will make a statement.

No. It is essential that someone should be available to preside over courts during the absence of a sheriff-substitute, or to assist during a period of pressure. The Grant Committee examined these arrangements and recommended that they should continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the decision to close Inverurie Workshops has yet been notified to his Department; and what progress has been made with the Government's plans to find an alternative use for the workshops, and so minimise the effects on industry and employment in North-East Scotland.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson) on 3rd February.Plans to find an alternative use for Inverurie workshops in the event of British Railways finally deciding to close them are well advanced, and were discussed in detail by my hon. Friend the Minister of State with representatives of the local authorities at a meeting last week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to reduce the present primary class maximum; and if he will make a statement.

I have this matter under consideration, but I am not yet ready to make a statement. I have to take into account not only the improvement in prospect in the supply of primary teachers, but their distribution, and also the demand that a reduction in the maximum class sizes would make on building resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make an estimate of the ratio between average council house rents and average incomes in Scotland on the lines of that already made in England and Wales.

I estimate that the average standard rent (i.e., rent before deduction of rebates or addition of surcharges, and excluding rates) charged by Scottish local authorities in 1968 was equivalent to about 4½ per cent. of the average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in industry in Scotland.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent review he has made of prices, in particular of the practice of recommended resale prices by suppliers of goods; and what steps he proposes to take to encourage more price competition.

As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker) on 12th February, the Monopolies Commission Report on Recommended Resale Prices will be published very shortly. A statement before then would be premature.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation requiring all hire-purchase deposits to remain the property of the intended purchaser and to be retained in a separate banking account of the hirer until the goods are delivered.

I am not convinced that a person acquiring goods on hire purchase should be treated more favourably than one who pays in advance for goods under some other form of contract, such as a cash transaction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his latest estimate of the annual loss of trade to Great Britain with Rhodesia and South Africa, respectively, as a consequence of the sanctions policy.

I cannot say what United Kingdom trade with Rhodesia would have been but for the illegal declaration of independence. In 1965, prior to comprehensive sanctions, our exports to Rhodesia were £31 million and our imports from Rhodesia were £29 million. I have no evidence that sanctions against Rhodesia have caused any loss of trade with South Africa.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will make a statement of his findings with regard to the Pilot Consultancy Grants Scheme in the Bristol area; and if he will make an interim statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the future of the Board of Trade Consultancy Grants scheme, indicating how much has been spent on grants so far and with what result; and to what extent consideration is being given to its continuance on a wider basis.

The closing date for applications will be 28th February. Up to 14th February, 238 assignments (83 in Bristol and 155 in Glasgow) had been approved involved £366,000 in grants (£110,000 in Bristol and £256,000 in Glasgow). Other applications are currently under consideration. Grant is paid only when the assignment has been completed and a report by the consultant has been received. Only 15 payments, amounting to £9,400 have been made so far.We are now examining the results of the pilot scheme and the possibility of a national scheme, but it will be some time before a decision is reached.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the amount of imports from and exports to Finland from Great Britain in each of the years 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968.

Annual figures of trade between Finland and the United Kingdom, together with figures for the preceding year, are published in the December issues of the Overseas Trade Accounts (page 283 in the 1965 to 1967 issues, page 284 in the 1968 issue).

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the advance factory being built on the Lady Lewis Site, Ynyshir, Rhondda, is now expected to be ready for occupation; what prospects there are for it being tenanted; and what further action he intends to take to provide additional value of imports of timber in Great Britain from Finland in each of the years 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968.

Annual figures of imports of timber from Finland into the United Kingdom, together with figures for the preceding year, are published against the heading "Wood, lumber, and cork" on page 35 of the December issues of the Overseas Trade Accounts since 1965 and on page 47 of the December issues of the Trade and Navigation Accounts up to 1964.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the amount invested by industry in Wales and Monmouthshire for each successive year from 1960 to 1968; if he will give details of the Government grants paid for industrial expansion over the same period, classified as Government owned, publicly owned and privately owned, respectively.

The available information is set out in the table below:employment for the unemployed of Rhondda.

Difficulties with site works have delayed completion of the factory, which is not now expected until May this year. Negotiations with a prospective tenant are proceeding. Every effort is being made to attract suitable firms to the Rhondda and adjacent areas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total number of men and women, respectively, employed in the advance factories which have been built and tenanted since 1964 in the counties of Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, Merioneth, Denbighshire and Flintshire.

One hundred and seventy-nine men and 57 women are at present employed in the four Board of Trade advance factories built since 1964 at Blaenau Ffestiniog, Pwllheli, Holyhead and Caernarvon.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his criterion for the optimum number of companies for each industry in the light of his policy on amalgamation; what steps he now proposes to take to secure the minimum of competition to ensure efficiency, and how soon he expects to complete his scheme of monopoly control.

Questions of the desirable structure of individual industries and the degree of concentration in them are best tackled not by applying a single general criterion but by looking carefully at the particular circumstances of each case. This is the approach which underlies the legislation on monopolies and mergers and effective use of this legislation can make a significant contribution towards achieving a sound balance in industrial structure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he is giving to the possible use of Acklington Airport when it is vacated by the Royal Air Force.

The area is already well served by Newcastle Airport which has capacity to spare and it is, therefore, difficult at the moment to envisage a civil rôle for Acklington.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what conclusions were reached by his Department as to the feasibility of placing a protective barrier around the wreck of the munitions ship "Richard Montgomery" in the Thames Estuary.

The Ministry of Defence has been considering this matter in consultation with the Board of Trade and the Medway Conservancy Board. It has been decided that further technical information is required before a decision can be reached and the Hydraulics Research Station of the Ministry of Technology has been asked to undertake a survey of the immediate environment of the wreck and to conduct model studies into the feasibility of safeguarding it by a protective barrier.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional measures he intends taking to induce British shipowners to use British shipyards for repair work.

I do not think that it would be in our ultimate interest to try to influence the judgment of shipowners, who have to face intense international competition, in making what is essentially a commercial decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made with Germany to offset the foreign exchange costs of the British Army of the Rhine in 1969–70.

None as yet. We are in constant touch with the Germans about the offset problem and shall in due course be discussing with them what arrangement will be required following the expiry of the current Anglo/German Offset Agreement on 31st March, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests for defence aid have been received from the Government of Zambia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests have been received from the Government of Zambia for assistance with the defence of that country.

We have received no specific requests from the Zambian Government for defence aid, since our decision in March, 1965 to offer the Zambian Government £10 million of aid, of which up to £2 million was subsequently offered as a defence grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in accordance with the recent recommendation of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe, he will consult with the Foreign Ministers of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries with a view to taking concerted action to stop the supply of arms from European countries which are being supplied to both sides in the Nigerian Civil War from unofficial sources.

I understand that a motion on this subject in the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe is to be considered by the Assembly's Political Committee. We shall be better placed subsequently to decide what action, if any, it would be practicable to take on it in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation or elsewhere, but I know of no unauthorised arms supplies from this country to Nigeria.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of Malta's importance to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's southern flank, he will open negotiations for a new defence agreement with Malta.

No. Our present Agreement with the Malta Government on Mutual Defence and Assistance does not expire until September, 1974.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will submit evidence to the ad hoc working groups of experts set up by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights to report on the treatment of political prisoners in Rhodesia and on trade union rights in that territory.

No. Her Majesty's Government are not in a position to submit evidence of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the estimated contribution of the United Kingdom to the expenses of the United Nations Force in Cyprus from 1st January to 15th June, 1969.

Our current pledge for the quarter ending 15th March, 1969, involves expenditure of approximately £438,000. If our contribution in terms of cash and manpower continued at the same level until 15th June, 1969, our estimated total expenditure for the period cited would be approximately £800,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what changes he proposes making in the disposition of British Consulates in the United States of America; which ones are to be closed; and what savings he expects to make as a result.

The current reorganisation of consular representation in the United States will result in the regrouping of consular staff and resources at centres within larger and fewer geographical areas across the country. The main centres for consular work will be in Washington, New York, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Atlanta. We have established a separate Trade Development office in New York to coordinate our trade promotion efforts throughout the United States.This redeployment, which is principally intended to give greater emphasis to commercial work at consular posts within the financial and manpower resources at present available, involves the closure of Her Majesty's Consulate-General at New Orleans and Her Majesty's Consulate at Denver. These closures will produce annual savings in salaries, allowances and rents of approximately £55,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated cost to agriculture in a full year of the rating of agricultural buildings.

No rates are leviable on agricultural buildings as defined in the General Rate Act, 1967. Information is not readily available about the total amount of rates now levied or leviable on other buildings used in food production, but it has been estimated that rates amounting to about £¼ million were levied in 1967–68 on intensive livestock buildings situated on agricultural holdings of over one acre in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken on the special allocation of a sum for distribution either by the University Grants Committee, or by another body, which might be applied for specifically by disabled students attending universities.

I fully sympathise with the hon. Member's concern for these students, but I am not aware of a need for a special fund. I shall be glad to consider any proposals the hon. Member may put to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total annual cost to public funds in 1968, including student grants, of the universities.

The cost for Great Britain in the financial year 1967–68 was £290·3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the recurrent grants to universities.

Grants in aid of the universities' recurrent expenditure for the current quinquennium, ending in July, 1972, were announced in October, 1967. Last December, I announced that financial provision would be made for increases in academic salaries recommended by the National Board for Prices and Incomes to take effect from October, 1968.I have now again reviewed the grants in the light of advice from the University Grants Committee and of information about increases in prices, other than increases in academic salaries, between July, 1967 and July, 1968.I have also had regard to the current economic situation. As a result, I have decided to make further supplementary grants of £1·785 million, £5·550 million, and £5·750 million in the academic years 1969–70, 1970–71 and 1971–72 respectively. These grants will be paid from April, 1970 onwards and will fall in the financial years 1970–71 to 1972–73.The total estimated provision for the last three years of the quinquennium revised to take account of salary and price increases (but excluding rates, which are the subject of separate grants) may therefore be compared as follows with the original allocations announced in October, 1967:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of students in British universities at Michaelmas, 1968.

The provisional total number of full-time students at universities in Great Britain in the autumn of 1968 was 211,750.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many Government training centres there are in Wales; how many places are available in each centre; and what plans she has for further centres in South Wales.

There are three Government Training Centres in Wales. By arrangement with the Ministry of Defence, Government training courses are also provided at the Royal Air Force Station at St. Athan. On 10th February, 1969 the number of places was as follows: