asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the exercise of their powers by local health authorities in arranging for the provision of domiciliary midwives for attendance on women in hospital; and if he will make a statement.

Domiciliary midwives are already undertaking confinements in hospitals in some areas, but it is too early to make any general assessment of the use of these powers, which only came into effect in September last.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reconstruction he intends to make at Shelton Hospital, Shrewsbury, following the fire and at what cost; and whether he will give an assurance that the ward in which recent casualties occurred will not be restored to its former design.

Reinstatement of the fire damage and minor improvements at a cost of £17,500; the Answer to the second part of the Question is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans have been submitted to him for the provision of local ante-natal facilities in Woking after the closure of the Woking Maternity Hospital.

I have not yet reached a decision on the board's proposal to close Woking Maternity Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that the hospital-building programme set out in Command Paper No. 1604, A Hospital Plan for England and Wales, is being carried out without amendment, and on time; and if he will make a statement.

The Hospital Building Programme of May, 1966, revised the original Hospital Plan of 1962 (Cmnd. 1604). Capital development is being carried out in accordance with the former. But it is a flexible programme as Cmnd. 3000 stressed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many foreign nationals have had hospital treatment under the provisions of the Abortion Law Reform Act in National Health Service hospitals, in the London area, since the Act became operative.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many alien women have been aborted, under the National Health Service, since the coming into force of the Abortion Act.

My information relates to country of ordinary residence, not nationality. Up to the end of September, 1968, 18 women not normally resident in this country were treated under the Act in National Health Service hospitals in England and Wales, presumably as private patients, 14 of them in the London area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied with the working of the Abortion Act and the effects of its operation; what plans he has to introduce amending or other legislation; and whether he will make a statement.

It is too early to reach conclusions but I am watching the situation closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the trend in the number of people waiting for hospital beds in North Devon, particularly in Bideford and Barnstaple; and what plans he has to reduce the waiting list.

Over the 12 months ending 31st December, 1968, there was a small reduction in the overall waiting lists for North Devon. The regional board plans to provide a second operating theatre this year at the North Devon Infirmary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the quarterly food cost return for each hospital of each group for the county of Devon for each quarter in 1967 and 1968.

I am obtaining the information requested and will send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the actual cost of food per week per patient in hospitals as compared with the recommended figure of between 32s. 10d. to 35s. 6d.

I would refer the hon. Member to my hon. Friend's reply to him of 5th November last which gives the latest available figure of cost.—[Vol. 772, c. 73.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to remove the anomalies in the pay structure within the nursing profession as a result of the implementation of the recommendations of Report No. 60 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

This would be a matter for the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council but I am not aware of any anomalies so serious as to override the recommendation of the National Board for Prices and Incomes that the new pay structure should last until 31st March, 1970.

asked the Secretary of Stale for Social Services if he will arrange for a clearing house to be set up for hospital beds in the area of Kent centred on Maidstone and reaching from Pembury to the Medway Towns and Charing.

Admission arrangements are a matter for the hospital authority concerned. I understand that arrangements have recently been made whereby if a general practitioner seeks an emergency admission at the West Kent General Hospital in Maidstone and no bed is available there it is the hospital's responsibility to find a bed elsewhere in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients were admitted to psychiatric hospital beds in North-West Surrey during each of the past three years because no geriatric hospital beds were available for them.

No patients not in need of psychiatric care have been admitted to the psychiatric hospital for the area during this period.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many temporary nurses were hired by the National Health Service hospitals from private agencies during each of the past three years; and what was the total extra cost to the National Health Service over and above the cost of employing regular staff for the same duties.

The numbers in post at 31st March, 1966, 1967 and 1968, were 1,291, 1,139 and 1,431 respectively. The total extra cost is not known, but such information as is available suggests that it may not be great.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that there are sufficient nurses at the Cumberland Infirmary to cover the hospital over a 24-hour period; and if he will make a statement.

The number of nurses in post is 25 below the approved complement and the shortage is temporarily aggravated by the incidence of sick leave. The Authority is continuing its recruitment efforts, and it is hoped that the group nurse training school to be established will in due course support these efforts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that there are sufficient trainee nurses coming forward to staff the hospitals in Carlisle and Cumberland in the future; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, with the exception of Cumberland Infirmary. This hospital is approved for training student nurses, and the number at present in training is 44 below the complement authorised. It is comparatively easy to recruit pupil nurses for which the City General Hospital is approved for training. It has therefore been decided to set up a training school for the group, combining both student and pupil nurses, by about the middle of the year, and to decrease the complement of student nurses and increase that of pupil nurses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are on the waiting list for admission to hospital in the Hartlepools; and what proportion of these are over 60 years of age.

1,466, of whom 210 are over 60 years of age.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nurses are working on split shifts in the Hartlepool group of hospitals; and what are the highest hours worked in each of the past eight weeks by any nurse.

One hundred and twenty-six. Of these 104 work only one split shift per week.During the past eight weeks there have been three instances of nurses working more than the normal 42-hour week. Two worked 46 hours and one 47. These nurses were given off-duty time to compensate for the excess hours and in no case worked more than 84 hours in a fortnight.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many new nurses have been employed in the Hartlepool group of hospitals in each of the last three years; how many have left the employ of the group in the same years; and how many new applicants for nursing are receiving training.

Nurses recruited in 1966, 1967 and 1968 were 100, 104 and 96: those leaving were 80, 82 and 68 in the same years. One hundred and thirty-two are in training.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the staff allocation in administrative grades for catering officers down to head cooks allowed per hospital unit against the number of beds in the hospital and the numbers of hospital personnel being catered for.

This is a matter for the hospital authority subject to the relevant Whitley agreements. The agreements at present relate to the total number of midday meals served to patients and staff; the minimum number of midday meals for the appointment of staff of each grade from catering officer down to head cook is as follows:elsewhere in the Group may be given general supervisory authority and paid an allowance for this responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what uniform allowance is given to nurses in the Hartlepool group of hospitals; what items nurses are expected to provide with that allowance, or what uniform provision is made in lieu of an allowance; and how often replacements are allowed.

No uniform allowance is given except to the hospital matrons who are in accordance with the relevant Whitley Agreement given an allowance to purchase their own uniforms. This allowance is £60 on first appointment and £40 for replacements in each succeeding year.Nurses are provided with the following items of uniform—2 dresses, 3 caps, 12 aprons, 4 collars and 2 belts. Replacements are made as required.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to increase the number of mother/child units in Welsh hospitals.

In a number of hospitals in Wales, arrangements can be made to accommodate the parents of a seriously-ill child. In new building the provision of accommodation for mothers to be admitted to hospital with their children is now accepted particularly for children under five years of age.Accommodation of this nature is included in the new University Hospital of Wales under construction and will be included in the second phase of the Nevill Hall Hospital, Abergavenny, and in the new district general hospitals at Rhyl and Gurnos (Merthyr Tydfil) to be started in the period up to 1971/72. It will be included in all new children's wards in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans have been submitted to him designed to meet the need for geriatric beds in the Hartlepool group of hospitals; and if he will make a statement.

The first phase of the new Hartlepool District General Hospital is due to start building in May 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many geriatric patients are in hospital in Hartlepool; how many are on the waiting list; and, of these, what proportion have been waiting for admission for more than three months.

One hundred and thirteen in geriatric beds, and there are 11 patients at present occupying other hospital beds who are awaiting transfer to geriatric beds. There is no waiting list for geriatric beds for patients not already in hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has considered the report entitled, "British Hospitals, Home and Overseas", of the British Hospitals Export Council, a copy of which is in his possession; what action he plans to take; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I am glad to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the achievements of the British Hospitals Export Council. Information supplied by the Council shows that British architects, engineers and building contractors are at present involved with hospital building overseas worth £180 million. In addition, exports of hospital and medical equipment are approaching £20 million per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, to relieve the long waiting lists for hospital admission in Wales, he will provide that a greater proportion of consultant staff employed should work full time for National Health Service hospitals.

The number of consultants employed in the hospitals in Wales has risen in recent years and the Welsh Hospital Board are considering special measures to alleviate the position in those groups where waiting lists are excessive. The existing contracts of consultants cannot however be changed without their consent; and under an agreement made with the Joint Consultants Committee a consultant who is prepared to give substantially the whole of his time to a post in the Hospital Service can normally choose between a whole-time or a maximum part-time contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients were in the Central Hospital, Warwick, on 31st December, 1968, and on 31st December, 1967, respectively.

1,133; 1,193.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of those on the waiting list for geriatric hospital beds in North-West Surrey during 1968 died before admission.

16·2 per cent.; this includes people waiting in local authority homes and private nursing homes as well as those waiting at home.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the criteria for inclusion on the geriatric hospital waiting list in North-West Surrey.

No general criteria are laid down. Each case is considered on its merits by the geriatrician concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average length of time spent on the waiting list for a geriatric hospital bed in North-West Surrey.

It is not possible to give a meaningful figure of average waiting time for geriatric beds. All patients are assessed on their current medico-social circumstances which govern the degree of priority they are given in relation to other patients who are awaiting admission.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many additional geriatric hospital beds have been provided in North-West Surrey during each of the past four years; and how many, on present plans, will be provided in each of the next four years.

20 in 1965, 13 in 1966, 12 in 1967 and none in 1968. I understand that the regional hospital board has at present no plans to provide further additional geriatric beds in this area over the next four years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many Commonwealth immigrants have been repatriated at public expense in the last 12 months.

In the 12 month up to 31st December, 1968, supplementary benefit payments were made to 93 individuals or families to enable them to return to their countries of origin in the Commonwealth and elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has as to the total number of former immigrants who emigrated from Great Britain in each of recent months.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. In the four quarters up to September, 1968, the estimated outward movement of persons who were not citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies—excluding traffic to the Irish Republic—and who had spent at least one year in this country and intended to be overseas for at least one year was respectively 17, 13, 13 and 26 thousand.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will exercise the reserve powers contained in Section 1 of the National Health Service (Family Planning) Act, 1967, to ensure that the borough of Brent provides an adequate family planning service in accordance with the terms of the above Act.

The council has increased the local facilities substantially since the Act came into force and is considering further expansion. I do not think it would be justifiable to act as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of applications in 1968 from disabled persons for shared cars under the Department's scheme; and how many were provided.

294 applications for motor cars were received from National Health Service patients, of which 224 were accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the evidence of Professor Semple, details of which have been sent to him, concerning the danger of salmonellosis in broiler chickens, he will consider the speedy introduction of compulsory post mortem inspection of poultry.

Inspection of poultry is undertaken by local authorities under the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, and the Food Hygiene (General) Regulations, 1960. Visual inspection, however, does not reveal the presence of salmonella organisms, and the safety of this food lies, as indicated by Professor Semple, in the hygienic handling and proper thawing and cooking of the birds.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he has taken under Sections 18(1) and (2) of the Civil Aviation Act, 1949, to make arrangements to prevent danger to public health from aircraft arriving at airports in this country, having regard to the fact that excessive noise can constitute a danger to public health; and if he will make a statement.

Although aircraft noise can clearly cause considerable annoyance, I have no evidence that noise normally encountered domestically and socially (as distinct from occupational exposure to intense noise) produces any direct and measurable physiological effect on the average person or on mental health.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will now make a statement on the Royal Commission's comments on the reliance of the National Health Service on reinforcements of doctors from overseas and the need to reduce such reliance;(2) if he will make a statement about medical manpower and the Todd recommendations.

As I said in reply to Questions by the hon. Member on 27th January, I am in sympathy with the Royal Commission's comments on reliance on overseas doctors. My consultations on the Royal Commission's recommendations about medical manpower are now nearly completed but I am not yet ready to make a statement.—[Vol. 776, c. 916–19.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will make a statement on the research being conducted by his Department; and what aspects of poverty and need are being studied by the team his predecessor announced at the end of September, 1968.

My Department is conducting a very extensive programme of research in the fields of medicine, health and welfare services, and social security, including work on clinical and social medicine, aspects of hospital building, engineering and equipment, and inquiries into problems arising in the welfare and social security services. The main activity of the unit described by my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General in September, 1968, will be to study the financial circumstances of families with children, paying special attention to one-parent families.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals are being considered at present for moving sections of the administration or research activities of his Department from the London area to other parts of England or Wales within the next five years, or for establishing new centres of administration or research outside the London area within the next five years.

I plan to use computers outside London for some of the social security benefit work of local offices in London, and for certain salaries and wages work still being done in London.The Regional Office for London (West) will shortly be moving from Central London to Basingstoke.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that the percentage reduction, in relation to actual earnings, in the lump sum retiring allowance for a married officer can represent more than the percentage paid for the actual retirement pension, if he will amend the National Health Service Superannuation Regulations to provide that the lump sum retiring allowance shall be reduced by one half for persons required to provide for a widow's pension.

No. I am advised that the cost of widows' pensions at the basic rate is actuarially equivalent to the two-thirds reduction of lump sum retiring allowances currently provided for by the Regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) to what extent it is calculated that the contributions of entrants to the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme could be reduced on the basis of funding the Scheme to the extent by which the optants of previous schemes do not pay the full actuarial amounts of the benefits they receive;(2) what estimate he has made of the actuarial effect to date on the National Health Service Scheme of taking over the optants of previous schemes and of the trend of this effect in future.

Following his investigation of the National Health Service Superannuation Scheme as at 31st

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study his Department has made of the comparative levels of contribution to, and benefit provided by, the National Health Service Superannuation Regulations and the corresponding schemes operated by the nationalised industries; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is represented on the Standing Inter-departmental Committee which co-ordinates policy on superannuation schemes in the public sector, including those of the nationalised industries. The provisions of the National Health Service Scheme are generally in line with those to be found in the nationalised industries. Such variations as exist result for different circumstances in the various fields of employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the value of the retirement pension for a married couple in January, 1968, and January, 1969, and these values as a percentage of average industrial earnings at the same dates.

The information requested is set out in the following table:—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the present arrangements for the conveyance of National Health Service patients by rail; and, in the case of stretcher cases, what facilities are available in trains where there are no separate compartments.

For patients for whom rail transport is considered most suitable, local health authorities make arrangements direct with British Rail. An entire compartment is reserved where necessary; otherwise the patient travels as an ordinary passenger in a reserved seat. Stretcher patients cannot be conveyed in trains which have no separate compartments.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in view of the fact that under his regulations it will be compulsory from 3rd March for pharmacists to dispense in metric weights, it will not at the same time be compulsory for doctors to prescribe in metric weights; and what arrangements he is making to compensate pharmacists for the extra work involved in converting prescriptions from Imperial weights to metric weights.

The provsions of the Weights and Measures Act 1963 under which the regulations are made do not relate to the prescribing of drugs, but only to one fulfilling of the order in a prescription.A sample inquiry into chemists' costs, arranged jointly by the Department and the Chemist Contractors Committee, which begins in April, will disclose the staff time spent in National Health Service work including extra work resulting from metrication; the results of the inquiry will subsequently be used in reviewing chemists' remuneration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many health centres have been opened in Wales since 1964; how many are being built, have been approved, or are being actively considered.

Nine since 1964; six are being built, 15 have been approved and eight under consideration by the Welsh Board of Health.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to establish a Passenger Transport Authority for Leicester and Leicestershire.

No. I think the public transport problems in this area can better be tackled in other ways and moves are already afoot.

asked the Minister of Transport how much was spent by the nationalised transport undertakings on advertising during the latest period of 12 months for which figures are available; and how this compares with the previous 12 months.

I am told by the nationalised transport industries that they spent £3,424,000 on advertising in 1968, and £3,439,000 in 1967.

asked the Minister of Transport how many new vehicles were licensed in January, 1969; and what were the comparable figures in the same month of 1968 and 1967, respectively.

The numbers of new registrations in Great Britain were as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport what consultations he has had with heavy goods vehicle manufacturers, road haulage operators and trade unions about the introduction of articulated lorries of 38 or 42 tons gross weight; and whether he will make a statement.

Engineers of my Department have been exploring, with organisations representing goods vehicle manufacturers and operators, the technical aspects of a new and more flexible system of regulating vehicle weight limits in relation to bridge capacities. Such a system, if feasible, could provide for some increases in the present gross weight limits for rigid and articulated vehicles, but the extent of the increases is undecided.As soon as firm proposals can be formulated they will be widely circulated in the usual way for comment.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals are being considered at present for moving sections of the administration or research activities of his Department from the London area to other parts of England or Wales within the next five years, or for establishing new centres of administration or research outside the London area within the next five years.

The central office of the new organisation to be set up under the Vehicle and Driving Licences Bill now before Parliament will be at Swansea. Ultimately this office will have between three and four thousand staff; some of those planning the project are already there and more will join them shortly.

asked the Minister of Transport what regulations he has made regarding the use of plugging for damaged tyres; if he will completely ban the use of this type of dangerous repair; and if he will make a statement.

No regulations have been made.I have no evidence justifying a ban on plugging which is usually an effective means of temporary repair for simple punctures. Isolated instances of externally inserted plugs blowing out at high speed have demonstrated the advisability of strengthening these repairs as soon as practicable by vulcansing on the inside of the tyre. This procedure, and examination of the punctured tyre for internal damage, is advocated by the tyre industry and by my Department.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the fact that the container deck at Tilbury now turns round ships with 15 men in 12 hours against 12 days with 100 men under the old system, what steps he is taking to secure the adoption of this modern system of handling cargo in all British ports.

My right hon. Friend has approved about 15 container berths so far, including those at Tilbury. The initiative for further developments of this kind rests with port authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport by what percentage investment in British Railways this year will vary from the 1964 investment total at constant prices.

Any direct comparison is affected by the transfer, under the Transport Act, 1968, of some railway activities to the National Freight Corporation and the Scottish Transport Group. After taking account of the likely investment in these transferred activities, the overall reduction will be of the order of 19 per cent.

asked the Minister of Transport what representations he has received from local authorities about methods of subsidising the Birmingham—Leicester—Nottingham railway line; and what reply he has sent.

None. But we have received a letter from the hon. Member for Harborough (Mr. Farr) telling us that the local authorities concerned have reached a formal decision.

asked the Minister of Transport for how long has the half-mile warning and direction sign at exit 17 on the northbound carriageway of the M1 been so damaged as to be useless; and when it is proposed to replace it.

This sign was damaged in an accident in September, 1968, and it is expected that it will be replaced at the end of April.

asked the Minister of Transport why, in view of the deteriorating and dangerous condition of Crow-land Road, Haverhill, he refused to agree to Haverhill Rural District Council's suggested improvement scheme.

An application by Haverhill Urban District Council for sanction to raise a loan to finance the proposed works in Crowland Road was refused because of financial stringency. However, this application has now been reviewed and a recommendation for loan sanction will be made forthwith.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of the traffic on the A5 trunk road in the Borough of Tamworth he estimates is through-traffic and what proportion is local traffic; and what changes he envisages in these proportions when the Midlands motorway link is opened.

On the basis of the national census in August, 1965, the proportion of through traffic is estimated to be about two-thirds and local traffic about one-third. As a result of the opening of the Midland Link Motorway, it is estimated that about half of the total A5 traffic will divert to the M6; of the remainder about a quarter will be through traffic and about three-quarters local traffic.More accurate figures should be available when the consultants have finished their work on the development of the road pattern for the New Town.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since the organisations of United Kingdom citizens have disbanded in Nairobi has the British High Commission called meetings of its honorary correspondents; and whether the membership of this body has been recently reviewed by the High Commission.

In response to a request received on the 24th of February, our High Commissioner has called a meeting of his Nairobi Asian honorary correspondents for 5th March.Our High Commission has frequent discussions with individual correspondents, who are appointed on a personal basis to represent a geographical area. Replacements are made when necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since the passing of the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1968, the British High Commission in Nairobi has made representations to the Kenya Government on behalf of individual United Kingdom citizens of Asian origin.

I regret I cannot enumerate the number of occasions. Our High Commission in Nairobi is in almost daily contact with the appropriate departments of the Kenya Government over immigration and other problems of individual United Kingdom citizens of Asian origin.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are imprisoned by the Italian authorities at Trani, Bari, Italy: what are their names and ages; for what period each has been imprisoned or held without trial; and on how many occasions the British Consul at Bari has visited them since January 1968.

Five. Messrs. J. R. Castle, T. P. Guerin, J. A. Haywood, B. W. Reay and L. F. Taylor, none of whom is a minor. The five men have been detained by the Italian authorities since 3rd January, 1968. Our Consul at Bari has visited the men 16 times since this date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the imprisonment of five British citizens at Trani, Bari, Italy; what replies he has sent; what further representations he has made concerning their imprisonment; and whether he will make a statement.

Representations have been made by certain hon. Members, in addition to approaches by relatives to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and to our Consul at Bari. Our replies have indicated Her Majesty's Government's continuing concern for the general welfare of the prisoners and that the trial should be held at the earliest possible date. Our Embassy in Rome and our Consul in Bari will continue to emphasise to the Italian authorities the desirability of holding an early trial.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what information he has concerning the health of the five British citizens held without trial at Trani, Bari, Italy, since January 1968; how often he has been informed by the Italian authorities of the probable date of their trial; what explanation he has received from the Italian authorities for the delay in bringing them to trial; what charges have been brought against them; and what is now the probable date of trial.

Our Consul in Bari visited the prisoners on 18th February. They were well and had no complaints to put to him. Tentative estimates of the trial date given by the Italian authorities have been amended three times. Delay has been caused by the complex international ramifications of the case, the extent of investigation found necessary in a matter involving over 30 suspects (some outside Italy) and the time involved in the delivery of summonses. Charges have been brought against all five of conspiracy to smuggle, smuggling and tax evasions in two categories; and one of them is additionally accused of failure to obey a warship's order to stop and of certain breaches of the Italian navigation regulations. It is now estimated that the trial may be held in April or May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British subjects are currently imprisoned in Italy; and how many are awaiting trial.

Nine United Kingdom citizens of whom eight are awaiting trial. I have no information on British subjects who are not United Kingdom nationals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will arrange for a visit to Trani Prison, Bari, by a senior member of the British Embassy staff at Rome to ensure that the needs of British citizens currently imprisoned there are catered for; and if he will arrange for a representative from the Embassy to be present at their trial.

No, it is not necessary to do so.Our Consul at Bari has responsibility for the general welfare of these men and will arrange for attendance by a member of the Consulate at the trial.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make arrangements to ensure that close relatives of British citizens imprisoned at Trani, Bari, Italy, are kept informed of the condition of the detainees; and why he has not done so to date.

The five men are accorded prison postal facilities and are thus able to communicate themselves with their relatives and to receive letters. They are regularly visited by the Consul and are in a position to request his assistance in the transmission of any exceptional messages. The Consul would of course deal promptly with any emergency matter requiring to be brought to the attention of relatives. In these circumstances, I do not feel that any other special arrangements are called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many individual petitions from residents in the United Kingdom have been presented to the European Commission on Human Rights under Article 25.

Up to the end of last year 148 petitions had been presented to the European Commission of Human Rights since Her Majesty's Government accepted the right of individual petition under Article 25 of the European Convention on Human Rights. Only 30 petitions under Article 25 have been referred by the Commission to Her Majesty's Government for observations. We have filed our observations on 16 of these petitions; only one of them has as a result been declared admissible by the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his Department's policy in cases where British citizens are held for upwards of a year in foreign countries without trial.

Our aim is to secure treatment which is in accordance with civilised standards, to see that they suffer no discrimination and are brought to trial within a reasonable period.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will raise the question of detention without trial and the sentencing policy of Governments which are members of the Council of Europe at the Councils of Ministers with a view to securing a more uniform approach.

No. However, it would be open to any delegate to raise this matter in the appropriate committee within the Council of Europe with a view to discovering the degree of support for such a proposal.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British citizens are serving sentences of upwards of one year's imprisonment in European countries; and on what charges.

Fifty-three. Twenty are serving sentences on narcotics offences; the remainder are serving sentences variously for fraud, theft, robbery, murder or manslaughter, anti-Soviet activity, and sexual or currency offences.

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

About 35, of which four are paid. It would not be practicable to try to distinguish the holders of these appointments who are of Scottish domicile.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is aware that 20 per cent. of men engaged in the construction industry claim to be self-employed; and what steps she now proposes to take with the two sides of the industry to ensure that this development should be consistent with good industrial practice.

The number of employers and self-employed in construction in mid-1967 is estimated to have been around 230,000 or 12 per cent. of the total engaged in construction. My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Minister of Public Building and Works are discussing with the industry the proposals in the Phelps Brown Report for legislation to regulate self-employment in the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in carrying out Section 117(1) of the Factories Act, 1961, in regard to the employment of women on night work, it is her practice to consult with the appropriate trade union before permission is granted.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what percentage of male workers were registered as unemployed in each of the last three months and in February, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968 in Camborne/Redruth, in Falmouth, in Helston, in the South-Western development area, in the development areas as a whole and in Great Britain outside the development areas.

Unemployment statistics for development areas have been calculated monthly since August, 1966, and were produced retrospectively for

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a further statement on the consultations she is having with interested organisations about the proposals in the White Paper, "In Place of Strife", Command Paper No. 3888.

I am consulting the T.U.C., the C.B.I, and the nationalised industries. National organisations affected by the Government's proposals, but not covered by these bodies, who wish to be consulted are invited to get in touch with my Department without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she has yet held discussions with the National Federation of Building Trades Employers and the National Federation of Building Trades Operatives regarding the implementation of the Phelps Brown Report.

My right hon. Friends the Secretary of State and the Minister of Public Building and Works met the N.F.B.T.O. on 30th January and the N.F.B.T.E. on 18th February to discuss the Phelps Brown Report. Officials of interested Departments are now engaged in more detailed consultations with the industry about the legislative proposals in the Phelps Brown report.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that on appointment the Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board received a salary 20 per cent. higher than his predecessor and that this is to be increased from £4,800 a year to £6,000 a year; and whether he will refer this matter to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to his Question on 27th February.—[Vol. 778, c. 341.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consideration he has given to the representations which he and the Attorney-General have jointly received from the Guild of British Newspaper Editors and other bodies on the provision of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, which restricts reports of committal proceedings; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend and I have carefully considered the points that have been put to us since the Act came into force, and I have issued a further circular to magistrates' courts, a copy of which has been placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether the improvement of the Scottish economy in relation to that of the United Kingdom remains the basic aim of the Government's policy for the development of Scotland; to what extent this aim was achieved in 1968; and what statistical evidence he uses as a measure of progress.

Yes. During the year there was a further fall in the ratio of the Scottish unemployment rate to that for Great Britain. There was a fall in net outward migration both overseas and to the rest of the United Kingdom. Approvals for new industrial development remained at a high level.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many principal doctors were on Executive Council lists in Scotland for the year 1968; and what was the average number of patients per principal doctor in that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of doctors practising as principals in the National Health Service at the end of 1968.

On 31st December, 1968, there were 2,592 doctors practising as principals on Executive Council lists in Scotland, and the average number of patients per principal was 2,106.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many children in Scotland and in each local education authority area, respectively, under Section 63 of the Education (Scotland) Act, 1962, require special educational treatment; how many places are available; and how many children are suffering from a disability of mind of such a nature or to such an extent as to make them unsuitable for education or training in a special school.

At 17th January, 1968, 11,820 were receiving special education in education authority or grant-aided special schools and there were 13,930 places available for such children. 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.The figures for individual education authority areas are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much public money has been received in Scotland under development area schemes each year since 1960; what has been the net increase in the number of persons in employment each year, excluding central and local government non-industrial civil servants; and how much per capita of the additional numbers in employment the annual receipts represent.

Expenditure under the main development area schemes in Scotland between 1960 and 1968 is as shown below; figures for employment are not available in the form requested; on the question of the per capita cost of development area assistance, I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Monro) on 22nd January, 1969.—[Vol. 776, c. 114.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will be advising police authorities in Scotland of his decision to terminate the current restrictions on police recruitment; and from what date the restrictions will cease to operate.

I propose to issue a circular to police authorities this week on the relaxation of current restrictions on recruitment: it will be effective immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total of net recruitment to Scottish police forces over the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable net figures in the previous four 12-month periods, respectively.

Net recruitment in Scottish police forces in each of the years 1964 to 1968 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of crimes of violence made known to the police in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable figures in the previous four 12-month periods, respectively.

The number of crimes of violence made known to the police in Scotland in each of the last five years was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give an assurance that Section 201 of the Local Government (Scotland) Act, 1947, will not be invoked against the members or officials of any local authority on which he has served a default order and which continues to pay non-registered teachers in its employ after 28th March in fulfilment of contracts of employment between the teachers and the authority.

This would be a matter for the auditor in the first instance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present debt burden of local authorities in Scotland; and what were the comparable totals in 1964, 1965, 1966 and 1967, respectively.

The figures for 1966–67 and previous years are given in Column 12 of Table VIII of the Local Financial Returns (Scotland) for 1966–67, published on 27th September, 1968. Later figures are not available from that source, but a figure for 1967–68 is given on page 106 of Financial Statistics, Volume 81, January 1969, published for the Central Statistical Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the cost to local authorities in Scotland of the further increase in Bank Rate.

The cost to local authorities of any change in interest rates depends on how long the new rate is maintained. They are, however, protected to a large extent from the effect of higher interest rates by the current housing subsidy arrangements and by the provision for redetermining the rate support grants to take account of price variations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what was the number of secondary school teachers required by each education authority in Scotland as at December, 1967, and December, 1968; and what was the pupil-teacher ratio;(2) what are the numbers of secondary school teachers required by each local authority in Scotland; what is the present deficit or surplus of qualified or registered secondary school staff; and if he will make a statement.

The numbers of teachers in post in December 1967 and estimates by education authorities of the additional teachers that they required are given on pages 156 and 157 of "Scottish Educational Statistics 1967". More recent figures are not available. Pupil-teacher ratios for January 1968 are given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of appointments of untrained teachers referred by each local authority to their respective reference panels up to the end of February, and the number disapproved by the panels.

The information is as follows: