asked the Postmaster-General if he will give directions to the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to take joint steps to avoid the continued coincidence of almost identical programmes on both channels, in view of the fact that this practice is preventing a real choice of viewing.

No. The responsibility for the content of programmes rests with the Chairman and Governors of the B.B.C. and the Chairman and Members of the I.T.A.; and I do not intervene.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the number of further occasions on which members of local broadcasting councils have broadcast on political or industrial controversies and the fact that members of the boards of Independent Television Authority programme companies broadcast on such matters on British Broadcasting Corporation programmes, he will now amend Section 3 of the Television Act to enable members of these boards to broadcast on independent television programmes other than those emanating from their own companies.

No. Impartiality might be put in question if directors of the companies which together produce the programmes for the independent television service were free to use it to advocate their own views on matters of public controversy.

asked the Postmaster-General what categories of old people's homes are allowed television licences which enable separate sets to be used without separate licences; how many such homes there are; and how many old people are required to live in a home before such a licence is given.

I cannot say exactly how many of these homes there are: they are defined in the Regulations I laid before the House last November.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) how many private telephone subscribers in the county of Midlothian, to date, share a party line; what is the waiting list of private subscribers who require their own line; and how many applications he has received from people who have no telephone facilities at present;(2) how many people, respectively, in Scotland, England and Wales who are private telephone subscribers share a party line; how many of such categories have their own line; how many who have party lines are on the waiting list for their own line; and what is the waiting list for people who wish to have a telephone.

I regret that figures for residential subscribers who require exclusive lines are not available.Followins are the figures:

	Number of private Shared Service subscribers	Number of private Exclusive line subscribers	Number on waiting list
Midlothian	2,275	6,164	219
Scotland	142,784	339,275	9,213
England	1,149,536	3,261,838	86,964
Wales	58,084	140,754	3,787

asked the Postmaster-General what is his estimate of the extent to which faults in the telephone service are due to delays in delivery by those privately-owned companies which are in an oligopoly in the supply of equipment.

I cannot say what proportion is directly due to delays in supply, because the statistics are not kept in that form. But the elimination of these delays will go a very long way towards removing congestion from the system and abolishing the waiting list.

asked the Postmaster-General what action he is taking to halt the deterioration in the telephone service in the Beckenham and Penge areas.

Much of the telephone plant in this area is now being replaced. The new equipment will be commissioned starting next month and thereafter the service should progressively improve.

asked the Postmaster-General what procedure is followed before price increases for telephone apparatus are authorised.

In the light of the return on investment in a particular sector and the need to achieve overall financial objectives, proposals for increases are made to Ministers and, where appropriate, referred to the Prices and Incomes Board.

asked the Postmaster-General how the introduction of decimal currency will affect postal charges.

It is too soon to say.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many research and development establishments there are in Wales, either run by Government Departments or by private enterprise.

There are 14 research and development establishments in Wales which are run or sponsored by Government Departments. With permission, I will circulate a list of the establishments in the OFFICIAL REPORT. There are also a number of research and development establishments run by nationalised and private industry but a comprehensive list of these is not available.Following is the list:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will ask the Welsh Tourist Board to ascertain to what extent those who regularly visit North Wales in July will have to pay increased charges for rooms this year as a result of increased prices due to the Investiture of the Prince of Wales.

The board has already investigated and roundly condemned, as I do, some instances of overcharging, but it is satisfied that there will be plenty of accommodation available in the area in July at sensible and realistic prices.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to collect, centrally, statistics of electorates in England and Wales, as shown on the new registers published on 16th February.

It will take a few months to collect all the statistics from electoral registration officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he

TABLE 6
MURDERS KNOWN TO THE POLICE TOGETHER WITH OFFENCES REDUCED TO MANSLAUGHTER BY REASON OF DIMINISHED RESPONSIBILITY
Estimated Number of "capital" and "non-capital" offences
			"Capital"		"Non-Capital"		Total
			Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.	Number	Per cent.
1952	…	…	17	12·1	124	87·9	141	100·0
1953	…	…	17	12·1	123	87·9	140	100·0
1954	…	…	22	15·2	123	84·8	145	100·0
1955	…	…	15	11·3	118	88·7	133	100·0
1956	…	…	30	20·0	120	80·0	150	100·0
1957	…	…	22	12·8	150	87·2	172	100·0
1958	…	…	19	12·5	133	87·5	152	100·0
1959	…	…	23	14·3	138	85·7	161	100·0
1960	…	…	31	18·7	135	81·3	166	100·0
1961	…	…	20	12·6	139	87·4	159	100·0
1962	…	…	28	15·2	156	84·8	184	100·0
1963	…	…	22	11·6	167	88·4	189	100·0
1964	…	…	26	13·8	162	86·2	188	100·0
1965	…	…	38	18·9	163	81·1	201	100·0
1966	…	…	41	20·12	162	79·8	203	100·0
1967	…	…	54	24·10	171	76·0	225	100·0
Before Homicide Act (1.1.52 to 20.3.57):
Annual Average	…	…	20	14·2	121	85·8	141	100·0
After Homicide Act (21.3.57 to 31.12.67):
Annual Average	…	…	30	16·2	153	83·8	183	100·0

I hope that the 1968 figures will be available in May.The division between "capital" and "non-capital" offences is hypothetical wherever the case did not come to trial, and is so in every case since 9th November, 1965, when the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act, 1965, came into force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what advice he has given to non-county-boroughs and non-county local authorities which assist pre-school play groups; what limitations he imposes on the assistance given by these authorities; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will issue a circular giving guidance to all local authorities which

Following is the information in relation to England and Wales:either directly or indirectly give help to approved and efficient voluntary preschool play groups; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he will take steps to assist local authorities which give assistance to recognised voluntary pre-school play groups; and if he will make a statement.

Expenditure by local authorities which will help voluntary playgroups to serve areas of special social need is among the projects which can be eligible for grant under the second phase of the urban programme. The detailed arrangements for this phase were set out in a joint circular issued by the Home Office, the Department of Education and Science and the Department of Health and Social Security on 7th February. I am sending a copy to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many warrants giving electricity or gas board officials the right to enter premises for the purpose of disconnecting or discontinuing the supply of electricity or gas because of non-payment of accounts have been issued by magistrates in the years 1966, 1967 and 1968, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the procedure now applying to requests made by gas and electricity boards and any other public authority supplying services for payment for the issue of magistrates' warrants to obtain entry to the premises of their customers.

No. But I am sure that the public authorities and the magistrates appreciate the need to exercise particular care.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what new proposals he has for recruiting prison governors.

Prison governors are at present recruited through an annual limited competition and, to the extent that insufficient recruits are obtained in this way, by open competition. In the past, the majority of vacancies have been filled from outside the Prison Service by the latter method. It is my aim that promotion from within the service should be the normal method of filling governor vacancies and for this purpose I have appointed a working party with the following terms of reference:(1) To recommend what changes are necessary to secure that over a period a one-tier system is introduced into the Prison Service in England and Wales and that meanwhile an increasing proportion of the vacancies in the governor class is filled from within the Prison Service; and for this purpose(2) to examine—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an immediate investigation to be made to ascertain the reasons why by 9th February, 1969, the hon. Member for West Ham, North, had not received a reply to his communication of 22nd November, 1968, making complaint of Metropolitan police officers breaking the law in using unlicensed vehicles; why the information for which the hon. Member had asked was given in a Press release; and what disciplinary action is being taken against the officers involved.

If my hon. Friend has in mind his letters of 12th and 21st November, replies were sent on 3rd December, 30th January and 25th February, besides my written reply to his Oral Question on 30th January. The Home Office made no statement to the Press on the matter. The question whether disciplinary action should be take is for the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, but he cannot settle this until the court proceedings are concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is now able to state what progress has been made regarding the report made to him concerning the police officer using his private vehicle, licence No. 904 KMM, whilst unlicensed; what was the result of the prosecution for this offence; and whether similar action is intended with regard to the police officers practising this offence in the Barnes area, details of which have been supplied to him.

As my hon. Friend is aware, proceedings brought by the Greater London Council against the owner of vehicle number 904 KMM resulted in convictions on three charges for vehicle excise offences, and the imposition of fines and orders for back duty and costs that totalled over £40 in all. I have nothing to add at present to the information I have given my hon. Friend about the police officers at Barnes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in view of the fact that the Chairman of the Racecourse Betting Levy Board was given a 20 per cent. increase in salary above that of his predecessor on appointment, he has now agreed to increase the present payment of £4,800 a year to £6,000 a year; and whether he will make a statement.

On Lord Wigg's appointment the salary fixed was for a part-time post, which has now become full-time. The new salary is the full-time equivalent of what was paid before, and is in accord with incomes policy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, why information regarding the incidence of offences involving taking money from prepayment gas and electricity meters in the Bristol area in the last five years is not available.

Because the criminal statistics do not distinguish between larcenies from prepayment gas and electricity meters and larcenies from other types of automatic machines and meters. Moreover, if such offences involve entry into premises, they are recorded under the appropriate classification, within which thefts from prepayment meters within the premises are not separately classified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those countries which have signed the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty to date.

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons was opened for signature in London, Moscow and Washington on 1st July, 1968. According to information received up to 24th February, 1969, the following countries have signed the Treaty in one or more of the depositary capitals:

Afghanistan.	Liberia.
Austria.	Libya.
Barbados.	Luxembourg.
Belgium.	Malagasy Republic
Bolivia.	Malaysia.
Botswana.	Maldives.
Bulgaria.	Mauritius.
Cameroon.	Mexico.
Canada.	Mongolia,
Ceylon.	Morocco.
Chad.	Nepal.
Columbia	Netherlands.
Congo (Khinshasa).	New Zealand.
Costa Rica.	Nicaragua.
Cyprus.	Nigeria.
Czechoslovakia.	Norway.
Dahomey.	Panama.
Denmark.	Paraguay.
Dominican Republic.	Peru.
Ecuador.	Philippines.
El Salvador.	Poland.
Ethiopia.	Rumania.
Finland.	San Marino.
The Gambia.	Senegal.
Ghana.	Somali Republic.
Greece.	Southern Yemen.
Guatemala.	Sudan.
Haiti.	Sweden.
Honduras.	Syria.
Hungary.	Togo.
Iceland.	Trinidad and Tobago.
Iran.	Tunisia.
Iraq.	Turkey.
Irish Republic.	U.S.S.R.
Italy.	United Arab Republic.
Ivory Coast.	United Kingdom.
Jordan.	U.S.A.
Kenya.	Upper Volta.
Republic of Korea.	Uruguay.
Kuwait.	Venzuela.
Laos.	Republic of Vietnam.
Lebanon.	Yemen.
Lesotho.	Yugoslavia.

In addition, signatures have been appended in Washington on behalf of the Nationalist Chinese authorities, and in Moscow on behalf of the East German authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will support the setting up of a supranational federation for Western Europe; and if he will make a statement.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the replies which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to the hon. Gentleman the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas) on 4th February, and to the hon. Gentlemen the Members for Cheltenham (Mr. Dodds-Parker) and Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths) on 6th February. Our aim remains full membership of the European Communities.—[Vol. 777, c. 203–4; Vol. 777, c. 583–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will propose at the United Nations measures to promote the maximum of security and safety for passengers using middle eastern airlines; and what further steps he has taken to achieve a settlement of the problems in the Middle East.

The United Kingdom representative and his colleagues on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation are investigating means of preventing any acts which unlawfully interfere with international civil aviation, and its facilities, with danger to life and property.My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary have just had valuable discussions about the situation in the Middle East with President Nixon and Mr. Rogers. The House will not expect me to go into detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library of the House a report on the annual meeting of the Central Treaty Organisation economic experts held in Ankara in January.

I have been asked to reply.A copy of the report is being placed in the Library of the House, as requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement on the working of the Northern Economic Planning Council.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Morpeth (Mr. Will Owen) on 20th February, 1969.—[Vol. 778, c. 740–742.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs how many statutory appointments are within his patronage; and how many of the recipients of this patronage are of Scottish domicile.

The only statutory appointments for which my right hon. Friend is responsible are to the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation. Of the present eight members of the Corporation, including the chairman, none lives in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what is the amount in payments for development in the Northern Region, in grants and loans, for the years 1962, 1963, 1967 and 1968.

Assistance of all kinds offered under the Local Employment Acts in 1962–63 and 1963–64 totalled nearly £6 million and £13 million respectively in Development Districts in the Northern Region. In 1967–68 preferential assistance to the Northern Development area, following the abolition of Development Districts, totalled approximately £48 million. In addition to L.E.A. offers, this includes the regional employment premium and the differential element of investment grants. Currently, Government assistance to the Region is running at an annual rate of about £100 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied with the security arrangements affecting the safety of aircraft at Heathrow Airport following the recent act of international piracy at Zurich airport; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bodmin (Mr. Bessell) on 25th February.—[Vol. 778, c. 286.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many firms have informed his Department that they are now prepared to set up factories in Millom and Cleator Moor, in view of the fact that they both come under special development areas;(2) what difficulties are preventing firms from going to Millom; and what steps he has taken to overcome these difficulties in view of the fact that over 11 per cent. are out of work there;(3) how many firms have made inquiries about factory sites at Cleator Moor; how many have notified his Department that they propose to go there; and if he will give further encouragement to these projects, in view of there being 14·4 per cent. unemployment there.

Millom and Cleator Moor are geographically remote and the decline of employment in traditional industries has caused particular difficulties. We have recognised this by designating them special development areas. The Board of Trade encourages suitable firms to take advantage of the additional incentives available there, and we believe that there are good prospects for securing some new projects before long. An advance factory is to be built at Millom, two have already been let at Cleator Moor, a third is under construction there and a fourth will be considered as soon as the third is allocated.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make an official visit to Scandinavia in the near future.

Yes. I am looking forward to making an official visit to Sweden in early July at the invitation of the Swedish Government.

asked the Prime Minister what Departments submit data to the Central Statistical Office.

Pretty well all of them.

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite President de Gaulle to visit London this year.

I have no immediate plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what further steps he plans to take to ensure the more effective co-ordination of the Government's information services.

None.

asked the Prime Minister what is the present practice of his Administration about placing documents in the Library for inspection by Members of Parliament.

My right hon. Friends and I place relevant documents in the Library whenever it is considered that this would be for the convenience of hon. Members.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the Overseas Bankers Club on 3rd February on public expenditure represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in his recent talks, he raised with President Nixon the calling of a new World Monetary conference; and what is the present policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding such a conference.

asked the Prime Minister what consideration was given to world finance and world trade in his discussions; with President Nixon; and whether he will make a statement on the conclusions they reached.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with President Nixon.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on his talks with President Nixon.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his meeting with President Nixon.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on his discussions with President Nixon.

asked the Prime Minister whether, following his recent disclosure of French proposals to the German Government, he will disclose to President de Gaulle the contents of his talks with President Nixon.

I would refer to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) and Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) and the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) earlier today.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has for a further meeting with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

I have nothing at present to add to my Reply to a Question by my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Hector Hughes) on 28th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 1103–4.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give the reasons why he will not have discussions with the East German régime.

Her Majesty's Government do not recognise the East German régime nor the existence of a State in Eastern Germany, and would see no useful purpose in seeking to initiate discussions with the régime.

asked the Prime Minister what progress has been made in the preparation of the petroleum volume of the official history of the Second World War; and when he expects it to be published.

The author expects to have completed the text by the end of April, 1969; publication may be expected about 18 months thereafter.

asked the Prime Minister how many statutory appointments are within his patronage; and how many of the recipients of this patronage are of Scottish domicile.

As far as paid appointments are concerned, I would refer the hon. Lady to the Answer I gave on 3rd December to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton). The number of unpaid appointments for which I have similiar responsibility amounts to approximately 200. Information on how many holders of these appointments are of Scottish domicile is not readily available.

asked the Prime Minister if he will define the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Scotland in relation to the administration of the Official Secrets Act.

In common with other Ministers, the Secretary of State for Scotand is responsible for ensuring that the provisions of the Official Secrets Acts are brought to the notice of the staff in his Departments so that they are fully aware of the consequences which may follow any breach of those provisions.

asked the Prime Minister if he will define the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Scotland regarding the administration of Scottish local government.

My right hon. Friend is responsible in Scotland both for general policy in regard to local government organisation and finance, and for a large number of matters related to particular services provided by local authorities

asked the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for encouraging savings.

The primary responsibility rests with my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in view of his decision with regard to the future arrangements for Finningley Royal Air Force establishment, whether he will consider releasing part of Lindholme Royal Air Force Station for civilian use; and if he will make a statement.

No. The new flying training task at R.A.F. Finningley will involve an increase in air activity in the area, and will be incompatible with civil aircraft movements at neaby R.A.F. Lindholme beyond what is permitted under present arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the percentage of the British gross national product now being spent on total defence expenditure; and what is the equivalent percentage in other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and European countries of which he has information from international or other sources.

Provisional figures in respect of 1968 for N.A.T.O. countries including the United Kingdom, based on a standard N.A.T.O. definition of defence expenditure, are as follows:

	Defence expenditure as per cent. of Gross National Product at factor cost
Belgium	3·4
Denmark	3·3
France	5·9
Federal Republic of Germany	4·5
Greece	5·7
Italy	3·5
Luxembourg	1·1
Netherlands	4·1
Norway	4·2
Portugal	8·0
Turkey	5·5
United Kingdom	6·4
Total N.A.T.O. Europe	5·0
Canada	3·4
United States	10·0
Total NA.T.O. North America	9·6
Total N.A.T.O.	8·0

The NA.T.O. definition gives for the United Kingdom a percentage higher than that for the Defence Budget because it includes, in addition, expenditure on military aid and allied services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total amount of unemployment pay in 1968.

The amount of unemployment benefit paid in 1968 was £125,319,133 and the amount of supplementary allowance paid to persons registered as unemployed was £58,197,600.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what amount of unemployment benefits has been paid to persons signing on at the Whitehaven and Cleator Moor employment exchanges and Millom employment exchange.

The amount of unemployment benefit paid in 1968 was:

	£	s.	d.
Whitehaven	151,456	3	1
Cleator Moor	116,291	12	10
Millom	81,286	19	5

In addition supplementary allowance was paid to persons registered as unemploysd:

	£	s.	d.
Whitehaven	138,782	15	7
Cleator Moor	103,619	19	2
Millom	9,351	17	8

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many statutory appointments are within his patronage; and how many of the recipients of this patronage are of Scottish domicile.

It is my business to appoint the chairman and the other members of the Board of the Commonwealth Development Corporation. At present there are nine other members. None of them is of Scottish domicile.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will make a statement on the recent decision that his Department is to co operate with the British Broadcasting Corporation to finance a television production centre in London for overseas students; and whether the cost of this course is to be made from existing funds.

There has been no recent decision in the terms referred to. I have, however, set up a committee under the chairmanship of Lord Morris of Grasmere with the object of ensuring that a new organisation, capable of covering the whole field of educational development overseas and of carrying on the work of the Centre for Curriculum Renewal and Educational Development Overseas as well as that of the Overseas Visual Aids Centre and the Centre for Educational Television Overseas, is legally incorporated and in a position to begin operations by 1st April, 1970. The B.B.C. is represented on this committee, and I hope that it and a number of other organisations working in this country will be associated with the new Centre. Financial provision will be made from within the aid programme.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will provide a table for the years 1965 to 1968 setting out the aid given to recipient countries by grants and loans; and indicate the rate of interest payable on each loan.

This information, up to 1967, is set out in British Aid Statistics, copies of which are available in the Library. The 1965 figures are in Table 19 (pages 24 to 31) of the 1967 edition and the 1966 and 1967 figures in Table 20 (pages 28 to 35) of the 1968 edition. Details for 1968 will be sent to my hon. Friend as soon as they are complete.About 90 per cent. of loan commitments (excluding lending by the Commonwealth Development Corporation) since 1965 have been interest-free, while the remainder have carried interest at the current Exchequer rate, waived in some cases for varying initial periods. A breakdown of figures is given in the various editions of

asked the Minister of Power what steps he is taking to publicise the local committees for dealing with disputed applications for benefit under the Redundant Mineworkers (Payments) Scheme, 1968.

The mining unions, represented on each committee, are taking steps to ensure that their members are kept informed and the National Coal Board will shortly be publishing details of the committees in Coal News, which is widely circulated among mineworkers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children are on the register of Scottish local authority and grant-aided special schools; how many of these are resident; and how many children are so handicapped as to be incapable of attending school at all.

At January, 1968, 11,820 children were on the rolls of education authority and grant-aided special schools; 947 of these were resident. In recent years the average number of children reported to local health authorities as unsuitable for education or training in special schools has been about 170 a year, but the total number of such children who are still of school age is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give his approval to the application by Dundee Corporation to spend £2,000 on an alteration to the traffic signals at the Seagate/Trades Lane/St. Andrews Street junction in Dundee, to enable them to reduce the danger to pedestrians at this crossing.

I gave the Corporation the necessary borrowing consent on 19th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the funds paid in National Insurance and Health contributions is taken up by administrative expenses.

The cost of collecting National Insurance and National Health Service contributions is just under 0·9 per cent. of the amounts collected.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he has made of the cost of exempting women pensioners between the ages of 60 and 65 from prescription charges.

About £500,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to set up the proposed Radiological Protection Board; what will be its functions; and who will be its members.

The Government intend to bring together the Radiological Protection Service, the Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee and part of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority Health and Safety Branch, into one organisation under a new National Radiological Protection Board. Legislation to establish the Board will be introduced as soon as time permits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what advice he has given to local education authorities regarding the payment for compulsory medical checks on voluntary workers in pre-school play groups; and if he will make a statement.

The Nurseries and Child-Minders Regulation Act, 1948, places the duty of registering and supervising voluntary and private nursery establishments upon local health authorities. My Department has given these authorities guidance (a copy of which I am sending my hon. Friend) about declarations of health and chest X-rays of persons engaged in the day care of young children. We have no evidence of need for advice on payments in this connection and none has been given.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost per cord to the National Health Service of spare hearing aid cords; and when the supply will enable clinics to allow patients to be issued with spares.

It is not the practice to disclose contract prices. Recent forecasts indicate that stocks will be sufficient to meet normal demands, including the issue of spares, by the end of next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received the report following the in quiry into the Ely Hospital, Cardiff; and when that report will be published.

Yes. The Report was addressed to the Welsh Hospital Board, and forwarded to me together with the views of the Board and of the Cardiff and District Hospital Management Committee, which I am considering. I intend to publish the findings and make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Technology what machinery of consultation exists between his Department, private industry, the universities and the Royal Navy in researches in oceanography and marine science.

Research in oceanography and marine sciences is the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science, who is advised by the Natural Environment Research Council. The Council has established consultation with the interests referred to by my hon. Friend primarily through the Oceanography and Fisheries Committee. The Department maintains close liaison with the Natural Environment Research Council by joint membership of the Committee on Marine Technology and by having representatives on the Council's Oceanography and Fisheries Committee. There is also important and productive informal contact at all levels between interests in this field.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the income of the British Railways accrues from the carriage of goods.

About 57 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the mileage of British Rail lines in operation in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively

According to accepted practice, statistical information relating to nationalised industries is provided only for the country as a whole.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent and in what way he assesses the value of goods traffic on railway lines which receive grants under section 39 of the Transport Act.

Grants are paid in respect of unremunerative railway passenger services—and not railway lines. I am not required by Section 39(1) of the Transport Act, 1968, to have regard to the value of freight traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport whether the £47·217 million to be given in grant-aid to English railway lines is the total of the sum which will be given in 1969.

Yes, subject to the qualifications given in my Answer to the hon. Member on 24th February.—[Vol. 778, c. 208.]

asked the Minister of Transport how the grant-aid of £2·812 million in 1969 is distributed amongst Welsh railway services.

The grants payable in 1969 under Section 39(1) for railway passenger services wholly within Wales are:—

	£ thousands
Cardiff—Rhymney	260
Cardiff—Penarth	63
Cardiff—Coryton	48
Barry Island—Cardiff—Tre-herbert/Merthyr	687
Macynlleth—Pwllheli	337
Swansea—Carmarthen—Milford Haven	345
Llandudo Junction—Blaenau Ffestiniog	72
	1,812

The grants payable in 1969 in respect of Anslo-Welsh services are:—

	£ thousands
Shrewsbury—Aberystwyth	359
Wolverhampton—Wrexham—Chester	481
Chester—Llandudno—Holyhead	561
Newport—Bristol	105
	1,506

Apportioned on a mileage basis, it is esimated that £1 million of this sum relates to the operation of these services in Wales.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to raise the sum of grant-aid in 1969 for railways in Wales which now stands at 4·5 per cent. of the total for England, Scotland and Wales.

None; I look at each service on its merits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated amount of the United States of America investment in the United Kingdom and of the United Kingdom investment in the United States of America in the last convenient 12 months.

The attribution of total overseas private investment by individual countries is not precisely known, but during 1967 United States private investment in the United Kingdom was about £200 million (net of disinvestment), and the corresponding figure for United Kingdom investment in the United States was about £60 million; this latter was financed largely by borrowing in foreign currency and the profit retentions of United Kingdom subsidiaries already operating in the United States of America. Both totals are likely to have been considerably larger in 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated total cost to industry of administering Pay As You Earn in each of the last five years.

I am afraid that there is insufficient information to make an estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated total cost to industry of administering National Insurance and allied funds in each of the last five years.

I am afraid that there is insufficient information available to make an estimate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when the urban district of Bed-worth will be informed of the amount of rate support grant that it will receive for the forthcoming financial year; and how this will compare with the two previous years.

The Bedworth Urban District Council was informed of the estimated amounts of rate support grants for the year 1969–70, together with revised estimates for the years 1967–68 and 1968–69. on 3rd January, 1969.The amounts are as follows:

	967–68	1968–69	1969–70
	£	£	£
Resources element	128,652	131,870	134,153
Domestic element	14,790	30,726	47,722
Total	143,442	162,596	181,875

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total amount of financial assistance granted to the county borough of Stockport from Government sources for the financial years 1963–64, 1964–65,

	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70
	£	£	£	£	£	£	£
Rate support grant:
Needs element					2,870,505	3,056,030	3,351,557
Resources element					776,249	761,790	721,383
Domestic element					60,876	123,899	192,463
Total					3,707,630	3,941,719	4,265,403
Specific revenue grants (other than police grant):
Education (including youth employment)	190,277	204,683	228,800	249,017	10,701
Local Health	—	8,098	1,208	1,339	1,151
Parks	1,000	1,000	1,000	1,000	—
Air Pollution	10,550	6,701	6,496	22,179	14,548
Care of aged	4,953	4,632	4,168	3,747	4,500
Protection of children	2,267	2,688	3,012	3,479	3,320
Improvement grants	4,976	6,761	7,641	9,328	10,791
Highways	1,390	1,242	3,292	3,507	123
Administration of justice	20,499	24,166	25,298	27,415	30,069
Civil Defence	9,542	10,789	11,161	11,356	11,958
Miscellaneous	—	—	43	—	—
Capital grants	—	—	—	—
Housing subsidies	143,298	174,082	197,937	229,115	313,977
General grant	1,718,170	1,815,137	2,116,333	2,346,850	—
Rate deficiency grant	544,790	597,542	629,108	636,077	—
Grantsunderthe Rating (interim Relief" Act 1964		15,887	17,962	19,505
Rating Act 1966—rate rebates	—	—	—	30,878	25,693
Totals (excluding police grant)	2,651,712	2,873,408	3,253,459	3,594,792	4,134,461
Police grant*	185,351	218,538	239,909	241,937	64,462
Totals	2,837,063	3,091,946	3,493,368	3,836,729	4,198,923
* From 1st July, 1967 responsibility for the police service was transferred to the Cheshire Police Authority

Details of the Exchequer grants made to the County Borough of Stockport for the years 1963–64 to 1967–68 and the estimated amounts of the rate support grants for 1968–69 and 1969–70 are given in the table below. Particulars of other grants for 1968–69 and 1969–70 are not available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what amount of direct rate relief has been given to the Cumberland County Council, the Whitehaven Borough Council, the Ennerdale Rural District Council, and the Millom Rural District Council in 1962–63

			1962–63	1966–67	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70
			£	£	£	£	£
Cumberland C.C.
General grant	…	…	3,085,364	4,583,742	—	—	—
Rate-deficiency grant	…	…	1,123,146	1,450,290	—	—	—
Highways	…	…	488,236	444,800	—	—	—
School milk and meals	…	…	433,977	787,831	—	—	—
Rate support grant:
Needs element	…	…	—	—	6,265,170	6,557,395	7,111,215
Resources element	…	…	—	—	1,593,790	1,663,577	1,695,182
TOTAL	…	…	5,130,723	7,266,663	7,858,960	8,220,972	8,806,397
Whitehaven B.C.
Rate-deficiency grant	…	…	64,825	54,971	—	—	—
Rate support grant:
Resources element	…	…	—	—	60,938	68,915	70,352
Domestic element	…	…	—	—	8,896	18,099	28,113
TOTAL	…	…	64,825	54,971	69,834	87,014	98,465
Ennerdale R.D.C.
Rate-deficiency grant	…	…	45,764	34,773	—	—	—
Rate support grant:
Resources element	…	…	—	—	42,034	41,693	45,956
Domestic element	…	…	—	—	8,896	18,338	28,483
TOTAL	…	…	75,764	34,773	50,930	60,031	74,439
Millom R.D.C.
Rate-deficiency grant	…	…	28,974	34,639	—	—	—
Rate support grant:
Resources element	…	…	—	—	37,783	34,282	34,791
Domestic element	…	…	—	—	4,222	8,586	13,335
TOTAL	…	…	28,974	34,639	42,005	42,868	48,126

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the amount of grant received by the Whitehaven Borough Council, the Ennerdale Rural District Council and the Millom Rural District Council in respect of those claiming relief because of low incomes for 1962 to 1964 and 1966 to 1968.

No grants were payable towards relief to ratepayers with low incomes in 1962–63 and 1963–64.The Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964, enabled rating authorities to afford relief to individual householders suffering hardship because of rate increases after 1962–63

The latest estimates of rate support grants for the years 1967–68 to 1969–70 and the amounts of the corresponding grants for 1962–63 and 1966–67 are as follows:63, and provided for a Government grant of 50 per cent. of the amount of relief given. In 1964–65 Whitehaven Borough and Ennerdale Rural District gave relief under the Act and received grants of £5 and £3 13s. 9d. respectively. No such relief was given by these authorities in the years 1966–67 and 1967–68 and, therefore, no grant was payable.The Rating Act, 1966, provided for rate rebates for domestic ratepayers with low incomes, and for Exchequer grants of 75 per cent. of the total amount of the rebates afforded. The amounts of grant payable to the authorities concerned are as follows:—

	1966–67	1967–68
	£	£
Whitehaven Borough	6,494	6,054
Ennerdale Rural District	4,325	4,155
Millom Rural District	2,084	1,622

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what amount has been received in the form of grant for projects in Whitehaven Borough Council; and what are the figures for the Enncrdale Rural District Council and the Millom Rural District Council for 1962–63 and 1966 to 1968.

Leaving aside housing subsidies and grants paid in aid of rates generally the grants for the years 1962–63, 1966–67 and 1967–68 were as follows:

	1962–63	1966–67	1967–68
	£	£	£
Whitehaven Borough Council	1,541	1,060	1,286
Ennerdale Rural District Council	3,633	7,038	6,859
Millom Rural District Council	3,340	6,060	5,761
Source: Epitomes of Accounts.

asked the Minister of Housing aid Local Government what was the amount of housing subsidies given to the Whitehaven Borough Council, the Ennerdale Rural District Council and the Millom Rural District Council for 1962 to 1964 and 1966 to 1968.

The subsidy payments made to these councils in respect of housing provided by them under the Housing Acts were as follows:

	Whiteheaven Borough Council	Ennerdale Rural District Council	Millom Rural District Council
	£	£	£
1961–62	73,011	62,237	8,959
1962–63	72,929	61,792	9,019
1963–64	82,220	61,374	10,174
1964–65	81,108	72,575	10,698
1965–66	84,126	71,884	10,917
1966–67	91,981	78,434	11,159
1967–68	99,523	88,542	12,368
1968–69	96,460	99,842	12,090

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many periodical publications in Scotland and England, respectively, receive Arts Council assistance; and what is the total sum involved in each instance.

The grants to publications made in England by the Arts Council and in Scotland by the Scottish Arts Council in 1967–68 were as follows:

England	£
Adam International Review	150
Agenda	800
Ambit	30
Censorship	300
Circuit	225
Expression	100
London Magazine	2,000
Modern Poetry in Translation	200
New Measure	270
New Worlds	1,200
New Writers	1,000
Outposts	200
The Review	250
Transatlantic Review	1,200
Scotland
Akros	250
Gairm	250
Lines Review	300
Poor Old Tired Horse	75
Scottish International Review	1,500
Scottish Poetry	400

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many stautory appointments are within his patronage; and how many of the recipients of this patronage are of Scottish domicile.

The appointments which I may make under direct authority given to me by statute (excluding appointments made under Charter) number about 90, but nearly 70 of these are made under statutes which apply only to England and Wales or to specific institutions situated in England. Of the remaining appointments, one is at present held by someone living in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on what progress has been made in establishing negotiating machinery for university teachers.

My hon. Friend the Minister of State has, at their request, had exploratory discussions, without commitment by any body, about machinery for settling university academic salaries with the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and Principals and with the Association of University Teachers. I cannot anticipate the outcome of these discussions which will take some time to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date he received the letter from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, concerning the complaints made by Mrs. Gladys Jacobs over charges being increased for golf at the Greater London Golf Courses; and on what date he replied.

The letter from my hon. Friend was received on 13th May. It was acknowledged on the same day and the reply was sent on 18th February, 1969. As I told my hon. Friend on 21st and 30th May, 1968, the issues involved required interdepartmental discussion. After full consideration of all the factors it has been decided that these increases fall within the discretion of the Local Authorities. I regret the delay but the policy considerations necessarily took some time to settle.—[Vol. 765. c. 61; Vol. 765, c. 264.]