asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ensure that the appointment of a director to the proposed Natural Environment Research Council's New Forest research unit is not made or advertised till a review of the need for such a unit has been completed.

No. As indicated in my reply on the 5th February, 1969 to the noble Lord, the Member for Edinburgh, North (Earl of Dalkeith) and the hon. Member for Galloway (Mr. Brewis), I am satisfied that the decision of the Natural Environment Research Council to establish a Forestry Research Institute was reached only after a most careful review.—[Vol. 777, c. 114.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has had from the Workers' Educational Association concerning recent cuts in grants by local education authorities; and what replies he has sent.

I have received representations from the W.E.A. about the effects upon their organisation of economies by some local education authorities and I have arranged to discuss these matters with them. I have also received representations from a number of hon. Members about the position in the West Midlands.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in considering the future enlargement of the Tate Gallery.

This matter is being thoroughly considered but I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps he is taking to make available to schools from surplus Service equipment counters, meters, oscilloscopes, motors and gearboxes;(2) to what extent project technology is assisting schools to purchase Service surplus ballraces, transistors, gears and similiar components, desirable in the teaching of technical subjects;(3) whether he will give a progress report on the work of the Inter-Departmental Working Party on Engineering and Technology in encouraging the transfer of obsolete Government equipment to schools.

With the support of my Department and the Inter-Departmental Working Party for Publicity on Engineering and Technology, the organisers of the Schools Council Project Technology are continuing their investigation of the possibility of devising a special scheme for the purchase by schools of Government surplus equipment; their conclusions are awaited. Project Technology has purchased and supplied some equipment to schools on an experimental basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he has taken to review the provision of adult education.

As announced on 4th February, 1969, my right hon. Friend has set up an independent Committee of Inquiry to examine the purpose and structure of adult education and to make recommendations for its future development.—[Vol. 777, c. 232–237.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the 208 children born since 1st January, 1962, with defects of sight and hearing, of whom 44 are deaf and blind, are in units or schools designed specifically for the handicaps of deafness and blindness, deafness, blindness, subnormality and physical handicaps, respectively.

Of these 208 children 34 were on 31st December, 1967, in special schools, and 13 in special classes or units attached to ordinary or special schools, as follows:

21	in schools for the deaf.
3	in schools for the blind.
3	in schools for the partially hearing.
2	in schools for the deaf and the partially sighted.
2	in schools for the physically handicapped.
1	in a school for the partially sighted.
5	in units for the deaf/blind.
3	in units for the partially hearing and partially sighted.
2	in units for the partially hearing.

There were also 2 children in special schools and 3 in special classes where the category of handicap provided for was not stated.16 children were attending junior training centres and 29 were in mental sub-normality hospitals of whom at least 7 were in the deaf-blind unit at Lee Hospital.The majority of these children had not then reached school age.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many places are available in schools or units designed specifically for children with defects of both sight and hearing; and how many children are on a waiting list for entry to such school and units;(2) how many local authorities either alone or in collaboration provide schools or units designed specifically for children with defects of both sight and hearing.

Sixty-five places are available at present in 6 units providing specifically for children with defects of both sight and hearing; three of these units are maintained by 3 local education authorities. In December, 1967, 11 of the children included on the returns were on the waiting list for special schools or classes, including four for units providing specifically for children with defects of both sight and hearing.I have no information about the length of the waiting list of children with defects of both sight and hearing born before 1st January, 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to assist those local authorities who do not already do so, to provide special facilities for those children with defects of both sight and hearing.

Because of the small number of children with defects of both sight and hearing, the majority of authorities do not need to provide special facilities but make use of those provided by other authorities or by voluntary bodies. In some cases children may be suitably placed in schools providing in the normal way for blind or for deaf pupils, or in other special schools or classes, and a few may be able to attend ordinary nurseries or schools. A conference on the needs of children with defects of both sight and hearing was organised by my Department last year and was attended by several local education authority representatives and by a number of teachers. A further short course for teachers will be held next June. As I said in my reply to my hon. Friend of 5th February, a further inquiry is being made to ascertain whether the needs of these children are being met by existing facilities and to what extent additional provision might be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the 208 children born since 1962 with defects of both sight and hearing are in day schools or units or centres more than 10 miles from their homes; and how many are in boarding schools more than 50 miles from their homes.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are the figures of Government and local authority expenditure on facilities specifically intended for the training and education of children with defects of both sight and hearing, during each of the last 10 years.

This expenditure cannot be separately identified.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many applications for new facilities or extension of facilities for children with defects of both sight and hearing were refused during the last two years; and what was the total amount of money involved.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the numbers of children with defects of both sight and hearing, born before 1962 and still under school leaving age; and what provision is made for these older children in units specifically designed for those with the dual handicap.

Information on which to base an estimate is not available. Places for these older children are provided in some of the special units.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will provide a table showing the total amount of grants under the Physical Training and Recreation Act in each of the last five years broken down so far as is possible into appropriate categories.

The amounts paid under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, in respect of sport and physical recreation in England and Wales in recent years and the provision made in the Estimates for 1968–69 are as follows:

			(a)	(b)
			Current Grants	Capital Grants
			£	£
1963–64	…	…	332,331	153,793
1964–65	…	…	403,801	311,126
1965–66	…	…	488,753	627,051
1966–67	…	…	557,275	634,094
1967–68	…	…	638,603	833,794
1968–69	…	…	736,000	982,000

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many schools in Northamptonshire are still without inside toilet facilities.

The authority tells me that 112 schools have toilets detached from the main building, but 55 of these are roofed and 20 are at schools which also have some indoor toilets.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals have been submitted to him for the building of a new primary school at Earls Barton, Northamptonshire; when these proposals will be approved; and what action is being taken in the meantime subject to his approval to improve the present facilities.

The authority has proposed a new junior school for inclusion in the 1971–72 building programme, to be followed by the remodelling of the present junior department to accommodate infants and the demolition of the existing infants' department. I hope shortly to authorise the authority to make a start on this project next year by building a first instalment comprising a hall, three classrooms and perhaps some additional accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is satisfied with the proposals submitted to him by the Northamptonshire County Council Education Committee for the reorganisation of secondary education on a comprehensive basis; and if he will make a statement.

I have approved in principle the authority's proposals. Implementation has begun in two areas but, in others, will have to wait the development of schools of viable size.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for ensuring that polytechnics are of equal standard to universities in the provision of library facilities.

I recognise the importance of improving these and other facilities in polytechnics, and am ready, so far as resources permit, to consider sympathetically proposals put to me by the local education authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many offences involving the use, or threatened use, of shotguns were recorded in each of the years 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968.

This information is available: for the last two years only. In 1967, shotguns were used or presented in 183 indictable offences known to the police in England and Wales and short-barrelled or sawn-off shotguns in a further 17 cases. The corresponding figures for 1968 are 200 and 49, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will add to the membership of the Parole Board at least two rehabilitated ex-prisoners.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further instructions he has given the Holroyd Committee on the fire service following upon the Glasgow fire disaster.

The recommendations of the jury which inquired into this fire are being studied and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity will shortly be making a statement. I shall see that the Holroyd Committee is kept fully informed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the effect on supervisory work in the workshops at Winson Green Prison of the need to release prison officers to accompany women on remand from Midland courts to and from Holloway Prison.

None. Women remanded from Midland courts to Holloway are escorted by women prison officers from Holloway.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the increase in fees for music and dancing licences from 5s. to £5 under Section 51 of the 1890 Act applies to renewals and transfers; and if he will make a statement.

The effect of the relevant provisions in the Act is not free from doubt. My right hon. Friend's own view—though he has no authority to determine a question of law—is that the fee payable on renewal is £5 and that on transfer is 5s.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in accordance with Section 29 of the Police Act, 1964, he will require the police authority to call upon the Chief Constable of Durham to retire.

Section 29 of the Police Act, 1964, empowers me to require a police authority to call upon a chief constable to retire in the interests of efficiency. The Chief Constable of Durham has recently uttered some highly coloured personal views about putting criminals to death. I completely dissociate myself from these views. But this matter is not his professional concern and in this respect I have no reason to suppose that the discharge of his official duties will be affected. The answer to the Question is therefore, "No".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the enlargement of the Inspectorate and the reconstitution of the Advisory Committee in the four years since the Little-wood Committee on Animal Experiments made its report; and if he will make a statement.

Two additional inspectors were appointed in 1967 and arrangements are in hand for further appointments this year. The question of a new Advisory Committee is being considered in relation to the structure of the legislation required to replace the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent legislation to implement the recommendations of the Littlewood Committee on Animal Experiments has been deferred in order to obtain information from an enlarged Inspectorate and a reconstituted Advisory Committee; when such advice is expected to be available; and how soon afterwards legislation will be introduced.

Legislation to replace the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, will be introduced when opportunity permits. At this stage I cannot say when that will be, but it does not depend on enlarging the Inspectorate or reconstitu-ing the Advisory Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the date when it was first officially announced that the Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board was to hold office on a part-time basis; and whether this was before or after his first increase in salary of 20 per cent. from £4,000 per annum to £4,800 per annum.

Lord Wigg has not previously had an increase of salary as Chairman of the Board. His salary was fixed at £4,800 when he was appointed on 16th November, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that arrangements are being made for amusement machines to be placed in a number of betting offices; and if he will take steps to prevent this.

The Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1963, provides that betting offices may not be used for any purpose other than betting transactions. If my hon. Friend will send me particulars of the cases to which he refers, I will have inquiries made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the membership of and progress in establishing the Constitutional Commission.

I cannot yet add to the reply I gave on 20th February to a Question by the hon. Member for Bournemouth, East and Christchurch (Mr. Cordle).—[Vol. 778, c. 141.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will lay before the House the full calculations made by Her Majesty's Government and used as a basis for the proposal concerning the size of the Chamber of the House of Lords, the maximum age of retirement and the minimum attendance requirement.

The proposals to which my hon. Friend refers were based on the Government's judgment of what would be an appropriate size for the voting House and an appropriate attendance requirement for the exercise of voting rights. They took into account the details of attendance in the House of Lords which are published in the Journals of that House. The age of retirement was set at a level which will give a sufficient turnover in membership to accommodate the new creations needed on a change of Government, and which will also correspond approximately with the age at which persons retire from other occupations, for example bishops and law lords. The Government's conclusions correspond with those of the Inter-Party Conference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will have consultations with the London taxi trade, with a view to taking steps to stagger shift change-overs, so that a continuous service is available during the rush hours.

This is a matter for negotiation between the taxicab proprietors and the drivers concerned, and my right hon. Friend has no authority to intervene. I understand that the Committee on the London taxicab trade are considering ways of improving the taxicab service in peak hours.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Miss Vivian Gemot of the Argentine, at present staying in Heywood, has not had her passport returned and a decision given on her request, made in December, 1968, to be allowed to extend her stay in Great Britain.

Miss Gemot's permitted stay does not expire until 18th October, 1969, and no need to extend her stay has arisen. I much regret the delay in dealing with her application for permission to take employment. Her passport was returned to her on 27th February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when an additional assize court will be built at St. Georges Hall, Liverpool.

Development Areas (1)		Cost of Government assistance to industry (2) (Financial years 1965–66—1967–68 inclusive (3))				Estimated population as at mid-1967 (4)	Assistance per head of population	Change in estimated totals of employees in employment, mid-1964-mid-1967 (5)
		(To nearest £ million)				(thousands)	£	(thousands)
		1965–66	1966–67	1967–68	Total
Scottish	…	16	23	84	123	4,706	26	-22
Northern	…	14	18	86	118	3,415	35	2
Welsh	…	4	10	35	49	1,935	25	-28
Merseyside	…	8	13	51	72	1,713	42	-2
South Western	…	1	1	3	5	434	12	2
Notes:
(1) These Areas were designated under the Industrial Development Act 1966. Prior to their creation assistance under the Local Employment Acts and other regional development measures, including the facility of free depreciation, were available in Development Districts. Northern Ireland is not a Development Area but is covered by separate though similar legislation. Questions about mensures under this legislation are within the responsibility of the Government of Northern Ireland.
(2) The question refers to the cost of assistance to public funds. Figures for most items of public expenditure are not available for the Development Areas and the figures given in the table only cover the following items: assistance offered under the Local Employment Acts and assistance for industrial training during the whole of the stated period; investment grants paid in 1967–68 (including the regional differential element); selective employment premium and the regional employment premium from their introduction in September, 1966 and September, 1967 respectively; and assistance provided by the Highlands and Islands Development Board since its establishment in November, 1965. Figures for the Furness peninsula are included in the Northern Development Area in the case of L.E.A. assistance but in Merseyside in the case of the other measures. No regional breakdown is available of the value of free depreciation and investment allowances available in the former Development Districts.
(3) Assistance offered under the L.E. Acts in 1964–65 totalled £40·6 million. No regional breakdown of this figure is available for part of the financial year.
(4) These figures are approximations since population estimates are made in respect of local authority areas whereas Development Areas are defined in terms of employment exchange areas.
(5) It is not possible to provide figures on a basis consistent with the information in the rest of the table. The latest employee estimates relate to June, 1967. The first payments of investment grant were made in the financial year 1967–68 and the R.E.P. did not become payable until September, 1967

The Liverpool City Council proposes, with my right hon. Friend's approval, to provide a new criminal court and other improvements in the financial year 1969–70. I am informed that preparations are now in hand and that building will begin as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the cost to public funds of assistance for each development area in the United Kingdom since October, 1964, together with figures of the population in each area, the amount of assistance per head of the population therein and the net increase in the number of persons in employment therein.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) what steps he is taking to implement the Government's policy expressed in "The Task Ahead", that the economy of the Northern Region is rebuilt on a new firm foundation;(2) what additional action he is taking together with the Economic Planning Council in view of the need to provide jobs in the Northern Region for men displaced from traditional industries.

My hon. Friend will be aware of the wide range of measures, summarised in Chapter 9 of "The Task Ahead", which we have taken to encourage industrial development and which are increasing proving their worth. We are regularly in close consultation with the Northern Economic Planning Council about employment prospects in the region. The forthcoming publication of the Council's proposals for an economic development strategy will mark a further important step towards putting the region's economy permanently on a sounder footing.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what discussions were held with the Skefco Bail-Bearing Company in connection with the restructuring of the ball and roller bearing industry; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 25th February to the hon. Member for Horsham (Mr. Hordern).—[Vol. 778, c. 273–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will analyse by function the totals of public expenditure listed as "Other programmes" in Table 5.1 of "The Task Ahead".

An analysis of these figures is given in Tables 1 and 2 of Cmnd. 3936 (Public Expenditure 1968–69 to 1970–71).

asked the Postmaster-General on what grounds he imposed the 150 per cent. increase from £1 to £2 10s. in the cost of a licence for a radio installed in a glider; and why this increase was not referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

The fee had remained unchanged since 1954. It was increased in 1968 to bring it into line with current costs. The increase was referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

asked the Postmaster-General what sections of the Post Office Savings Department he proposes to move to Durham.

The whole of the Savings Certificate Office of the Department for National Savings is in course of moving to Durham. The move is expected to be completed in about a year's time.It is not yet possible to give further information about plans for the establishment of other Savings Department work in Durham, but I hope that a statement will not be long delayed.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will abandon the plan to extend the telephone exchange at Manor Way, Whitchurch, Cardiff, in view of the proximity of many residential bungalows in adjacent streets, and behind the telephone exchange buildings.

No. There has been a public inquiry. The extension is necessary if we are to meet the future demand for telephones. We shall take measures to protect the privacy of the residents in the bungalows nearby.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will commission a survey of the factors affecting investment by industrialists in the Principality, with a view to making recommendations; and if he will make a statement.

An inquiry already being conducted by the Board of Trade into the attitudes and experience of firms throughout the country which moved between 1964 and 1967 will throw light on the factors influencing investment by industrialists in the Principality and elsewhere

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action has now been taken about the export of the Russell Papers.

I understand that legal proceeding will be started shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether arrangements for a loan to the Cunard Company made in 1963 under the Shipbuilding Credit Act, 1964, included conditions as to the design of the ship or its propulsion machinery or the yard in which it was to be built.

As with all loans offered under this Act the general specification was approved but no conditions were placed on the design of the ship or its propulsion machinery. Exceptionally in this case the company was required to invite tenders from all suitable British yards.

asked the Minister of Technology what arrangements he is making for a full-scale test of Concorde's sonic boom; and when he will indicate what areas of Great Britain are likely to be affected.

Concorde's sonic boom will be measured during its flight test programme. The test routes on which Concorde will fly supersonically have not yet been decided.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) why the Driving and Motoring Manual is being published by the Stationery Office; if he is aware of publisher's concern about the use of Her Majesty's Stationery Office for commercial purposes; if he will give an assurance that this decision will not be regarded as a precedent in future; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many copies of the Driving and Motoring Manual have been printed; how many he expects to sell in the first 12 months after release; what are the selling price and the profit per copy, respectively; and to what purpose any profits are to be applied.

The White Paper on Road Safety (Cmnd. 3339) stated that, as one of the special measures to raise the standard of driving instruction, the Ministry of Transport would issue an official driving manual. H.M.S.O., as the Government publishing organisation, will produce it as is usual with such official material. I am not aware of any concern on the part of commercial publishers. The print and price have not yet been fixed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the net cost to public funds in 1968–69, assuming the abolition of tax allowances for children and the payment of a tax-free family allowance of 30s. a week per child, including the first born.

About £320 million, if introduced in the 1968 Budget. There could be some savings on other social security benefits depending on what adjustments were made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the break-even point for the standard rate taxpayer with one, two, three or four children, respectively as a result of abolishing child tax allowances and of paying family allowances at a rate of 30s. per week, tax free, to all children, including the first-born.

Virtually all parents liable at no more than the standard rate would be better off.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give his estimate of the sums collected in Wales in 1967–68 for road fund licences and fuel tax, respectively.

£13 million and approximately £37 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing, on the same basis as in his statement on 30th January, 1968, his estimates for public expenditure in the years 1967–68 to 1969–70, inclusive, at 1965 survey prices; if he will give comparable figures for 1964–65; and if he will show for

ESTIMATES OF PUBLIC EXPENDITURE, 1964–65 TO 1969–70
				£ million, 1965 Survey Prices
	1964–65*National Plan Table 18·1	1967–68*Cmnd. 3515	1968–69*Cmnd. 3515	1969–70 National Plan*Table 18·1	1969–70 Cmnd. 3515*	1969–70 Cmnd. 3936 Table 2
Defence Budget	2,071	2,020	1,973	2,075	1,949	1,879
Roads	403	508	524	569	552	509
Public Housing Investment	508	639	661	676	646	662
Housing Subsidies, etc.	153	208	245	257	266	286
Education (with school meals and milk)	1,458	1,740	1,806	1,923	1,876	1,900
Health and Welfare (with welfare foods)	1,236	1,418	1,439	1,528	1,494	1,483
Benefits and Assistance (with family allowances)	2,120	2,719	2,903	2,920	2,922	3,060
Total	7,949	9,252	9,551	9,948	9,705	9,779
Other (excluding S.E.T. additional payments, R.E.P. and investment grants)	2,851	3,489	3,706†	3,347	3,678†	3,611
Total	10,800	12,741	13,257	13,295	13,383	13,390
S.E.T. additional payments, R.E.P. and investment grants	—	359	516	—	511	522
Grand Total	10,800	13,100	13,773†	13,295	13,894†	13,912
* Functional totals differ from those given in the National Plan Public Expenditure: Planning and Control (Cmnd. 3515) and in the statement of 30th January, 1968 because sales of fixed assets have now been allocated to functions.
† These totals correspond to those given in Cmnd. 3515 plus £31 million for the estimated cost of the 1968 Farm Price Review as given in the Financial Statement, 1968–69 (H.C. 151).

The table beneath gives estimates of public expenditure for 1964–65, 1967–68 and 1968–69 on the same basis as in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Belfast, North on 30th January, 1968, together with successive estimates for 1969–70 published in Table 18.1 of the National Plan, Command Paper No. 3515 and Table 2 of Command Paper No. 3936. Further items of expenditure for 1964–65 were distinguished in Table I of Appendix II of "Public Expenditure: Planning and Control" (Cmnd. 3915). A functional analysis of the estimate for 1967–68 at 1967 Survey Prices was published in Command Paper No. 3515 and of the estimates for 1968–69 and 1969–70 at 1969–70 Estimates prices in Command Paper No. 3936.—[Vol. 757, c. 269–70.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the annual increase in public expenditure at constant prices between 1959–60 and 1966–67, showing the percentage increases between each year, and of the percentage increases for each of the three succeeding years, the monetary totals for the years 1959–60 to 1969–70, and the monetary totals of this expenditure for these same years at current or latest survey prices.

The average annual percentage increase in public expenditure at constant prices from 1959–60 to 1966–67 was 4½ per cent. The year-to-year percentage increases over the period 1959–60–1969–70 are as follows:

	Percentage Increase
1960–61 on 1959–60	4
1961–62 on 1960–61	7½
1962–63 on 1961–62	1½
1963–64 on 1962–63	5½
1964–65 on 1963–64	3½
1965–66 on 1964–65	6½
1966–67 on 1965–66	4
1967–68 on 1966–67	7
1968–69 on 1967–68	4
1969–70 on 1968–69 (estimate to estimate)	1

These calculations exclude capital expenditure of the nationalised industries, the broadcasting authorities and the Covent Garden Market Authority, and debt interest, and, to provide comparability over this run of years, additional payments under the selective employment tax system introduced in 1966 and investment grants and the regional employment premium introduced in 1967.Totals of public expenditure at outturn prices for 1959–60 to 1967–68 are given in the Treasury Analysis of Public Expenditure in "National Income and Expenditure, 1968". Estimated outturn at outturn prices for 1968–69 is shown in Table 1 of Cmnd. 3936, and an estimate for 1969–70 at 1969–70 Estimates prices is given in Table 2 of the same White Paper.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer 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.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of Government advertising in each of the following newspapers in 1968, namely, the Daily Express, Daily Mail, Daily Mirror, Daily Sketch, Daily Telegraph, The Guardian. The Times, The Sun, Financial Times, Morning Star, Evening News, Evening Standard, Sunday Express, Sunday Telegraph, News of the World, The People, The Observer, The Sunday Times and The Sunday Mirror.

The following table shows the cost in 1968 of display advertising in the newspapers named.

AMOUNTS PAID BY GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS (EXCLUDING THE POST OFFICE) ON DISPLAY ADVERTISING SPACE IN CERTAIN NEWSPAPERS IN 1968.
Newspaper			Expenditure
			£
Daily Express	…	…	340,735
Daily Mail	…	…	102,271
Daily Mirror	…	…	488,888
Daily Sketch.	…	…	45,951
Daily Telegraph	…	…	307,470
Financial Times	…	…	47,884
Guardian	…	…	46,673
Morning Star	…	…	—
Sun	…	…	59,042
Times	…	…	65,807
News of the World	…	…	143,603
People	…	…	154,593
Sunday Express	…	…	173,442
Sunday Mirror	…	…	276,460
Sunday Telegraph	…	…	34,567
Sunday Times	…	…	314,651
Observer	…	…	143,418
Evening News	…	…	30,026
Evening Standard	…	…	34,956

NOTES:The amounts are those paid to advertising agents.Comparable information for semi-display and classified advertising is not readily available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost of Government advertising on B.B.C.1, B.B.C.2 and independent television in 1968.

There is no advertising on B.B.C.1 and B.B.C.2 The cost of advertising time bought by the Central Office of Information for Government Departments on independent television in 1968 was £976,335. This does not include any direct expenditure by the Post Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated number of persons who have in each of the last five years included in their income tax returns additional income received from totting.

Information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the product of 1s. income tax from Northern Ireland.

1s. in the standard rate by itself yields about £4 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the cost to the Exchequer of limiting the top rate of income tax and surtax confined to not more than 50 per cent. of any income assessment.

I am not sure what the hon. Member has in mind; but to reduce all the surtax rates to 1s. 9d. would cost £180 million for the full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in order to safeguard against a revaluation of the deutschemark he will prevent any public sector institution from borrowing in German Currency.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if his estimate that the expenditure on the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon of £200,000 includes the extra expenditure on police and traffic regulation; and if he will make a statement on these costs.

The figure of £200,000 does not include police expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales, whether the £200,000 to be spent on the Investiture at Caernarvon in July includes the costs of the 4,000 police, the wages of the 2,500 armed military personnel and the vessels of the Royal Navy.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many housing authorities in Wales are at the latest convenient date advancing money for house purchase; how many have discontinued this service to house purchasers; and how many have deferred their decisions whether or not to make such advances.

143 local authorities, including three county councils, have adopted schemes of lending for house purchase; 20 of these have not made loans in the current financial year; 73 authorities suspended lending on 31st January, 1969. Local authorities are not required to notify me when they defer decisions whether or not to make advances.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what the status of the Pyle Bypass is to be.

I intend to build the road under motorway powers as part of the eventual extension of the M4.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the average time between the dates of public inquiries and the announcement of his decisions in planning appeals during the last 12 months.

12 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what additional road improvements he will initiate to ensure better communications to the South Wales ports.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave earlier today to his similar Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what further discussions he has had, and what further decisions he has reached, regarding the possible establishment of a Welsh Bank.

I am awaiting the report of the Welsh Council's study of the availability of private and public capital before forming any view of my own on the possible need for new financial institutions in Wales. It will not, of course, be for me to take decisions in this matter.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what has been the cost to British public funds over the past three years of engaging British firms of consultants and other public or private bodies in this country to provide consultancy and management services as technical assistance for developing countries.

The cost was £624,000 in 1966; £544,000 in 1967 and about £1 million in 1968, that is, a total of over £2 million for the three years. Contracts for such services entered into in 1968 involved financial commitments in that and later years totalling £1·6 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will consider appointing a special inquiry to assess the progress of decasualisation in the Port of London.

Decasualisation, which formed part of the first stage of the Devlin programme of modernisation for the docks, was introduced in London, as in the other ports covered by the Dock Labour Scheme, on 18th September, 1967. The present need is to make progress on the second stage of the programme. I do not consider, therefore, that an inquiry into decasualisation would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in how many of the appeals against industrial death benefit at the North Staffordshire tribunal in each of the years 1964 to 1968, inclusive, which were referred by the insurance officer to the commissioner was the decision of the local tribunal upheld in favour of the claimant; and in how many of those cases rejected by the local tribunal and taken to the commissioner was the claimant successful.

I regret the information for the years 1964, 1965 and 1966 is no longer available. For 1967 and 1968, the answer to both parts of the Question is "none".

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many appeals against disallowance of industrial death benefit were heard at the North Staffordshire local tribunal in each of the years 1967 and 1968; in how many of these cases the claimants were successful; how many of the successful cases were referred by the insurance officer to the commissioner; and how many cases rejected by the local tribunals were also taken to the commissioner.

The information requested is as follows:—

		1967	1968
1.	Number of appeals heard by the North Staffordshire local tribunal against disallowance of industrial death benefit	12	20
2.	Number included at I above where the claimant was successful	3	4
3.	Number included at 2 above referred by the insurance officer to the Commissioner	3	4
4.	Number included at I above rejected by the local tribunal and taken to the Commissioner	3	2

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many and what percentage of retirement pensioners, public service pensioners and unemployed persons are in receipt of supplementary benefits, rate and rent rebates.

This information about public service pensioners and rent rebates is not available. In September, 1968 just over 1½ million retirement pensioner households (about 28 per cent. of the total) were supported in some degree by supplementary pension; some of these households contained more than one pensioner; when a husband and wife, living together, are both retirement pensioners, a single supplement is paid. At 4th November, 1968, about 190,000 unemployed persons (34 per cent. of the total) were receiving supplementary allowances. The available informtion about rate rebates is an estimate that of 785,000, the average number of recipents in England and Wales in the 1967–68 year, approximately 80 per cent. were retired people. Persons receiving a supplementary benefit whose rent and rates have been allowed in full in assessing their requirements do not normally receive a rate rebate unless their benefit is subject to the wage-stop.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take action so that the retirement pension is payable by a monthly cheque to all those who are willing to make use of such additional facilities.

It would be very costly at present to provide payment of retirement pension by monthly cheque as an alternative to payment weekly by pension order book or quarterly by payable order. Before the end of this year, however, a new computer installation will begin to take over the issue of order books and once this new system is working smoothly it is hoped to be able to offer at an economic cost the further alternative of monthly payment by cheque.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the establishment of mental welfare officers for Tower Hamlets, together with the actual numbers employed for the year 1967;(2) what were the rehabilitation facilities, including the number of the following existing in Tower Hamlets and the number of ex-patients there, in day centres, in industrial retraining centres or sheltered workshops, in hostels and in social centres or clubs, respectively;(3) what rehabilitation facilities are provided with his approval jointly by Tower Hamlets and hospitals in the area or by volunteer bodies with local authority grant aid; what changes have been made in these since 1967; and what expansion is projected.

The establishment of mental welfare offices for Tower Hamlets in 1967 was 12 and that was the number employed. Rehabilitation facilities for the mentally ill provided by the London Borough of Tower Hamlets comprise a day centre, some places in an industrial training centre and two social clubs. Work should start on a hostel in 1969–70. The Psychiatric Rehabilitation Association, a voluntary body which receives a grant from the local health authority, runs two day centres, one of them in local authority premises, a hostel and three social clubs. Attendances at the day centres average about 80 a day and at the social clubs vary between 20 and 60 a day. At present 23 of the 24 places in the hostel are occupied and another 19 persons are resident at the expense of the local authority in hostels provided by voluntary bodies elsewhere.There is close co-operation between the local authority and the hospital authority, and local authority social workers regularly attend St. Clement's Hospital. One of the hospital social workers has recently been seconded to the local authority for a trial period of one year. I am not aware of other changes in joint provision since 1967 nor of plans for further expansion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what study he has made of the recent proposals made at a mental health conference by Dr. Alexander Mitchell, consultant psychiatrist at two hospitals, concerning staff shortages in the United Kingdom psychiatry service, in particular psychiatric teaching, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will take steps to institute an inquiry into recruitment to the psychiatry service.

I have seen the press report sent to me by my hon. Friend and have also studied a transcript of Dr. Mitchell's address. The recommendations of the Royal Commission on Medical Education regarding the teaching of psychiatry are a matter for the universities to consider. Within the National Health Service in England and Wales the number of staff occupying training posts in the psychiatric specialties increased from 713 to 891 (an increase of approximately 25 per cent.) between September, 1964 and 1968. The numbers of consultants in those specialties increased by some 30 per cent., from 799 to 1,040 in the same period. I do not consider that any special inquiry into recruitment of psychiatrists is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are now on the waiting list for plastic burn treatment in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area; and how many of these are resident in Nottinghamshire.

The number of patients on the waiting list for plastic surgery in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area at 31st December, 1968, was 2,531. Of these, 1,233 were waiting for treatment in Nottingham; but information on their places of residence is not readily available. Emergency treatment of burns injuries is of course undertaken without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of expenditure on hospital projects in 1967–68 related to fully industrialised buildings built and fitted out with prefabricated components according to an assembly system, or to industrialised components in other buildings; and what is the estimated proportion for 1968–69.

In 1967–68 the proportion was approximately 22 per cent.; it is estimated that in 1968–69 it will have increased to 25 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will list those hospital boards which invited more than six firms to tender for building contracts in 1968; and whether he will now improve his statistical services so that he will be able in future to give the details of tendering policy which his Department were unable to give to the Economic Development Committee for Building when it was preparing its survey, Action on the Banwell Report.

The information requested is not available. Hospital Boards are aware, and have recently been reminded, of the policy to restrict tender lists to a select list of six contractors. Although tabulations in the form initially requested by the Economic Development Committee for Building could not readily be produced, alternative information acceptable to the Committee was provided, and I do not think that a change in the form of statistical information available is necessary.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware of the delay in deliveries of coal, coke and coalite in the south-east coastal area; and what action he proposes to take.

In general supplies of solid fuel are adequate, but there are shortages of particular varieties in some areas. Local availability is a matter for the producers and distributors, but if the hon. Member has evidence of serious delays perhaps he will let me know.

asked the Minister of Power if he will introduce legislation to protect the buyers of solid smokeless fuels from the short measure arising when fuel is sold containing a high proportion of moisture.

The practicability of controlling the moisture content of smokeless fuels by legislation and by voluntary measures is being examined by my Department with other Government Departments, producers, distributors and consumers. I hope that we can reach a conclusion this year.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether he will now require the firm of contractors engaged in building the Midland motorway link in the borough of Warley to provide safe and reasonably clean footways in all the thoroughfares affected by their works and, in particular, in the neighbourhood of Titford Lane, Oldbury;(2) whether the terms of the contract between his Department and the firm now engaged in constructing the Midland motorway link in the borough of Warley provide for the maintenance of accessibility by the public to their homes, free from danger and encumbrances.

As I informed my hon. Friend the Member for Eccles (Mr. Carter-Jones) in reply to his Questions, on 3rd February, any contractor executing roadworks on behalf of the Department is required by the terms of his contract:

(i) to conform with all Acts of Parliament, Regulations and Byelaws of any local or other statutory authority which may be applicable;

(ii) not to interfere unnecessarily or improperly with the public convenience or the access to use and occupation of public or private roads or to or of properties; and

(iii) to keep existing highways, including private roads affected by the works, free from mud and all things deposited thereon by vehicles labour or plant which might either constitute a nuisance or interfere with the public use of such highways or private roads.

I am looking into the matters to which my hon. Friend refers.—[Vol. 777, c.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost of the section of the Midland motorway link spanning the borough of Warley.

As this section comprises parts of two contracts a precise estimate is not readily available, but the approximate cost is £9½ million.

asked the Minister of Transport how much was spent by central and local government on all Cornish roads in the latest year for which figures are available.

Expenditure in 1966–67 was £1·57 million by central government and £1·55 million by local government.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will estimate how many private cars are owned in Cornwall; and what this number amounts to per adult in Cornwall and in the United Kingdom.

It is estimated that there were 90,000 private vehicles in Cornwall in the third quarter of 1968; this amounted to 0·34 per person aged 17 or over, compared with 0·27 in the United Kingdom as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in the light of the recent evidence contained in the report of Surrey County Council, a copy of which is in his possession, he will reconsider his decision not to hold a public inquiry into the subject of floods in the Thames Valley, with particular reference to the flooding of the tributary streams.

My right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government will shortly be replying to petitions on this point and I will write to the hon. Member at that time.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many licences have been issued for new, or extended, private slaughterhouses in local authority areas wholly or partly within a radius of 30 miles of Manchester which were not included in slaughterhouse reports submitted by local authorities in accordance with the provisions of the Slaughterhouses Act, 1958; and what slaughtering capacity, or increased slaughtering capacity, has been created as a result of the issue of these licences.

Twenty-five such licences have been issued. Of these two were for completely new enterprises, seven were for replacement slaughterhouses and two for premises transferred from a local authority. The remaining 14 covered material extensions to existing premises.Minor extensions are not considered to require new licences. Many factors influence slaughtering capacity and it is not possible to assess the overall increase.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy on the issue of licences for new private slaughterhouses or extensions to existing slaughterhouses in regions where existing facilities in municipal slaughterhouses are under-used.

Under the Slaughterhouses Act, 1958, my right hon. Friend must approve a licence for a new slaughterhouse if he is satisfied that it is necessary in order to secure adequate facilities or is expedient for special reasons. Material extensions are dealt with as "new" premises.We are required to consult all local authorities who appear to be affected.Where neighbouring local authority facilities may be adversely affected, no new licence is approved unless there are special reasons, which may be, for example, improved hygiene or overall efficiency.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were liquid milk sales in gallons for January, 1968, and January, 1969; and if he will estimate how much of any change was due to the ending of the secondary school milk scheme.

The Milk Marketing Board's figures for liquid milk sales through the marketing scheme for England and Wales are 1260 million gallons in January, 1968, and 123·7 million gallons in January, 1969. It is estimated that out of the total reduction of 2·3 million gallons about 0·9 million gallons may represent the loss due to the ending of the secondary school milk scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost of an extra 300 front-line aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

This depends entirely on the types of aircraft my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he expects to present guidelines of nuclear policy which have been worked out with the German Minister of Defence; and if he will make a statement.

Current studies are designed to establish guidelines for the tactical use of nuclear weapons within the context of N.A.T.O.'s strategy of deterrence by posing the threat of escalation. The results will be considered by the next Ministerial meeting of the N.A.T.O. Nuclear Planning Group in May.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has of the extra number of Europe-based North Atlantic Treaty Organisation forces required to form a conventional deterrent.

I cannot give a precise estimate, but the order of increase in N.A.T.O. conventional forces that would be necessary without the possible use of nuclear weapons to deter effectively an all-out conventional attack by Warsaw Pact forces is beyond the realm of practical possibility in present circumstances. For this and other reasons, as I explained to the House on 4th March, the only strategy which is compatible with the views and interests of the European N.A.T.O. members involves a mixture of conventional and nuclear capability along the lines which N.A.T.O. is now following; and in terms of numbers of major units the present level of N.A.T.O.'s conventional forces is a reasonable one although there is scope for improving their effectiveness.—[Vol. 779, c. 242.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the cut of over £30 million which will be made in the defence research and development programme for 1970–71, referred to in paragraph 13 of Chapter V, of The Task Ahead, is to be borne by defence research establishments, and what proportion by research contracts to private industry.

About 20 per cent. will be borne by defence research establishments, about 80 per cent. on extramural effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give the number of qualified engineers, scientists and technicians that he estimates will be freed as a result of the cut of over £30 million which will be made in the defence research and development programme for 1970–71 referred to in paragraph 13 of Chapter V of The Task Ahead.

We now expect cha forecasts of manpower savings up to 1970–71 which were given in paragraph 42 of Chapter VI of the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy 1968 (Cmnd. 3701) to be exceeded.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the defence research establishments affected by the cut of over £30 million which will be made in the defence research and development programme for 1970–71, referred to in paragraph 13 of Chapter V of The Task Ahead;(2) if he will list the development projects which will be affected by the cut of over £30 million which will be made in the defence research and development programme for 1970–71, referred to in paragraph 13 of Chapter 13 of The Task Ahead.

The savings will be secured across the whole of the research and development programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that the revised estimates of Glasgow Corporation to meet the city's urgent housing requirements now total £276,619,550; and what further proposals he has to assist the city to carry this burden.

I have read newspaper reports to this effect but I have no official knowledge of these estimates which apparently relate to a period extending well beyond the five years ahead which are brought under review in the central planning of public expenditure on housing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received for an early review of the General Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement.

I have received representations for an early review from the three main teachers' associations, and the local authority associations have indicated that such a review would be acceptable to them.In these circumstances, I now propose to put in hand a review of the constitution and functions of the Council and I shall shortly be inviting the interests concerned to let me have their considered views on these matters and any specific proposals for change that they wish to make. The review will necessarily occupy some time. I am therefore proposing, subject to consultation with the Council, the interests represented on it and the three main teachers' associations, to exercise my powers under paragraph 6(1) of Schedule 1 to the Teaching Council (Scotland) Act, 1965, to extend the period of office of the present Council by six months, so that any change in the constitution of the Council resulting from the review may be made before the start of the procedure for the election of teacher-members to the next Council.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will give, for each year since its inception, the number of staff employed by the National Building Agency, indicating for each year how many were technical and professional staff; and how many were managerial and clerical.