asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount spent on slum clearance from October, 1964, until the latest convenient date; and what were the comparable figures for a similar period up to October, 1964.

In the four years from October, 1964, onwards some 68,800 houses were taken out of use, compared with 50,600 in the preceding four years. The largest element of expenditure on slum clearance is the cost of replacement; in these two periods the numbers of new houses completed were 151,600 and 115,900 respectively, but I cannot say what part of the cost of these houses was attributable to accommodating families affected by slum clearance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied that in the city of Glasgow existing services for cervical cancer smears are being used to the full and are adequate; and if he will make a statement.

The cervical cytology service in Glasgow, as elsewhere, is a developing service. More women are being tested each year, but it is disappointing that women in the older age groups in Glasgow, as elsewhere, do not come forward in larger numbers for testing. There is no reason to suppose that difficulty would be experienced in coping with an increased demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount spent on clearing derelict areas from October, 1964, until the latest convenient date; and what were the comparable figures for a similar period up to October, 1964.

From March, 1960, when grants first became available, to October, 1964, 46 schemes had been completed or were in progress, costing just over £1 million.From October, 1964, to December, 1968, work had been completed or was in progress on 111 schemes costing £3¼ million, and a further 12 schemes estimated to cost £¾ million were approved for grant purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the Crofters Commission's proposals for the owner-occupiership of crofts, in view of the representations made on this matter.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend on 24th January to my hon. Friend, the Member for Caithness and Sutherland (Mr. Maclennan).—[Vol. 776, c. 196.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the progress of work on the survey of Nigg Bay for industrial development; whether the results will be known before a decision is taken in the siting of the proposed petro-chemical complex; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. An interim report has already been made available to the public local inquiry, currently examining Ross and Comarty County Council's proposal for further industrial zonings in the Invergordon area. It would not be right for me to make any statement whilst this general question is sub judice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the latest position regarding the clearing of wind-blown timber.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made by the Forestry Commission and the private sector of the forestry industry, respectively, in the harvesting and marketing of wind-blown timber.

The Windblow Action Group has reported that up to 31st December, 1968, 34 per cent. of the Forestry Commission's timber and 42 per cent. of the privately-owned timber had been cleared and despatched to markets.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to initiate a review of the General Teaching Council; and what form the review will take.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my reply of 6th March to my hon. Friend, the Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mr. Hannan).—[Vol. 779, c. 173.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many murders took place in Scotland in 1968; and what were the comparable figures in 1965, 1962, 1959 and 1956, respectively.

The provisional annual figure for 1968 for cases of murder made known to the police in Scotland, uncorrected in the light of subsequent judicial determinations, was 41. The comparable figures for 1965, 1962, 1959 and 1956 were 32, 27. 13 and 13. Corrected figures for 1965, 1962, 1959 and 1956 were 29, 24, 12 and 12 respectively. A corrected figure for 1968 will not be available for some time yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average return on capital expenditure on local authority council houses completed throughout Scotland in 1967 and 1968.

The information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he is having with the appropriate bodies in Scotland about the net decrease of about 7,000 a year in jobs in Scotland in the last three years with a view to improving the position.

I am constantly in touch with the Scottish Economic Planning Council and regularly seek the advice of other bodies concerned with economic development in Scotland about ways of making our economic policies as effective as possible.The decline in total employment between 1967 and 1968 was proportionately less than in Great Britain as a whole; and all the major economic indications suggest that Scotland's relative position has significantly improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has now been made towards achieving the employment targets set out in Command Paper No. 2864, The Scottish Economy 1965–1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the net increase in new jobs provided in Scotland since 1965; and whether this corresponds with the targets in the White Paper on the Scottish Economy, Command Paper No. 3864.

So far as can be ascertained, the creation of new jobs has come up to expectation, but there has been a much faster run-down of employment in the older industries. Nevertheless, the latest unemployment rate in Scotland is now only 1½ times the Great Britain figure, as compared with more than twice the Great Britain figure in 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in achieving the target of 60,000 net increase in persons in employment by 1970; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to similar Questions by himself and the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will give his decision on the formal appeal lodged with him by Edinburgh Corporation against the requirements of the River Forth Purification Board in relation to Edinburgh sewage being placed in the Forth untreated.

I cannot yet say. I am awaiting further information from Edinburgh Corporation, and it may be necessary to hold a public inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for the development of nursery wings for three to four year-old children attached to newly-built primary schools.

Some nursery school provision will be built with Government assistance under the urban programme. How far this should be in separate nursery schools or nursery wings of primary schools is in the first instance for education authorities to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to increase the powers of the police and the courts in dealing with offences regarding the theft of non-ferrous metals; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware that the powers of the police and the courts to deal with detected offences involving the theft of non-ferrous metals are inadequate. I know that detection of such offences is often difficult, and I have under consideration whether existing powers to regulate metal dealing in Scotland are appropriate in modern conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps are being taken to improve and cheapen transport services in the Highlands and Islands.

We are constantly encouraging the operators to improve their services, and are providing substantial financial support in order to keep charges down.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland from what sources other than the normal public statistics he proposes to assist the Crowther Commission to gather new facts relevant to Scottish home rule proposals.

It will be for the Commission to decide whether it wishes to have additional information of this kind, and if so, by what method it should be obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether it is now his intention to publish a new planning document to relate the Scottish Plan to the new United Kingdom planning document.

The two are already related. In particular, the regional strategy outlined in the planning document is in full accord with the Government's declared aims for Scotland, as set out in the White Paper on the Scottish Economy.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now institute separate discussions with the Scottish National Farmers Union regarding the rating of intensive livestock units.

The Scottish National Farmers Union has already made its views known at meetings with me and with my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the rating of agricultural buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for amendment of the Rating (Scotland) Act, 1956, in so far as it affects agricultural heritages.

I am continuing to give urgent consideration to representations made by the farming and landowning organisations that intensive livestock buildings should be de-rated. I shall make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on the progress of his conversations about the rating of agricultural buildings.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply given today by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to Questions by the hon. Members for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur) and Banff (Mr. W. H. K. Baker).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to receive the report of the Boundaries Commission for Scotland on the general review of Parliamentary constituencies in Scotland; and when he plans to publish it.

The Boundary Commission for Scotland is required to submit its report by August, 1969. Until I have received the report and considered it, I am not in a position to say when I shall present it to Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when it is now proposed to start building the new general hospital in Dumfries.

The regional hospital board hopes that the tender for this scheme will be let towards the end of this year, with a start on site about the beginning of the financial year 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with local authorities regarding fire prevention in existing houses and in those at the design stage; and if he will make a statement.

As regards houses at the design stage, the Building Standards Regulations require adequate structural fire precautions to be provided in all buildings and means of escape to be provided in flats and houses over two storeys. The Building (Scotland) Act, 1959, enables local authorities to require the regulation means of escape to be provided in existing flats and houses over two storeys where this is reasonably practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking in conjunction with local authorities in Scotland to ensure that adequate fire escapes or exits are maintained in blocks of dwelling flats and similar buildings.

Under the Building Standards Regulations adequate means of escape must be provided in new buildings; and under the Building (Scotland) Act, 1959, local authorities may require that existing buildings should be made to conform to these provisions of the Regulations, where this is reasonably practicable. Local fire authorities are always prepared, on request, to advise on the maintenance of means of escape, and I know of no reason to think that local housing authorities do not maintain adequate means of escape from blocks of houses which they own.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will sponsor a special fire prevention campaign to increase public awareness of the dangers of accidents from fire in the home.

Yes. I hope, with the co-operation of the fire authorities, to mount such a campaign later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from Edinburgh Corporation about the exclusion of Edinburgh and Leith from Scottish Development Area status; and what reply he has sent.

No representations on this subject have been received from Edinburgh Corporation since 1967 but the Corporation has, of course, given evidence to the Hunt Committee, whose report will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the omission of the Edinburgh-Leith area from the Scottish development area.

I have recently received representations on this subject from a variety of interests in Edinburgh and in reply have pointed out that the position of the Edinburgh/Leith area has been under comprehensive review by the Hunt Committee whose report will be published shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will ensure that the replacement for Peel Hospital will be on the new hospital building programme starting in 1971.

Priorities in the South Eastern Region are in the first instance a matter for the regional board, which are at present considering its proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the construction of an outer ring road round the City of Edinburgh.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, North (Earl of Dalkeith) on 5th March.—[Vol. 799, c. 110.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take following the Scottish Special Housing Association's decision to stop supplying or maintaining gas and electric cookers to its tenants in Dundee from 1st April, 1969.

None. This is a matter which should be decided by the association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what submissions he has received from the Corporation of Glasgow about the Springburn-Sighthill Comprehensive Development Area.

I have received no submission about this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what submission he has received from the Corporation of Glasgow about the Partick Comprehensive Development Area.

Glasgow Corporation submitted draft proposals for the Partick Comprehensive Development Area to me on 11th December, 1967. A public inquiry opened on 20th January this year, but it was subsequently adjourned at the request of the corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what submissions he has received from the Corporation of Glasgow about the Elderslie-Govan Comprehensive Development Area.

I have received no submission about this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what submissions he has received from the Corporation of Glasgow about the Bridgeton-Dalmarnoch Comprehensive Development Area.

I have received no submission about this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for increasing the number of general practitioners; and if he will make a statement.

My aim is to enhance the attraction of general practice through modern premises, proper supporting staff and close professional links with other branches of the health service. Since the future scale and nature of general practice is closely bound up with the structure of the National Health Service and the arrangements for medical education, I also attach great importance to the fundamental issues raised in the Green Paper and in the Todd Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is taking action to encourage the establishment of caravan sites and picnic places in suitable places for tourist visitors, with appropriate facilities.

The provision of caravan sites is essentially a matter for local authorities, the Caravan Club and commercial interests. Suitable projects which are designed to meet tourist needs can be considered for financial assistance under the Countryside (Scotland) Act, 1967, as also can schemes for providing picnic places. Local planning authorities, acting where appropriate in concert with the Countryside Commission for Scotland, are primarily responsible for ensuring that particular attention is paid to amenity.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grants will be made available to caravan sites in 1969–70 for the provision of catering facilities and toilet and cloakroom facilities, respectively.

Such facilities can be considered for grant under either Section 7 or Section 67 of the Countryside (Scotland) Act, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to ensure that there are adequate caravan sites in Scotland before the summer of 1969 and that they do not detract from the scenery or local amenities.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the importance of amenity planting in Scottish woodlands, he will issue a directive to the Forestry Commission to increase such planting.

No. The Forestry Commission already pays due regard to amenity in the course of its normal planting.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will instruct the Forestry Commission in the Western Conservancy of Scotland, particularly in the county of Galloway, to employ a landscape architect to advise on the Commission's planting programme.

The Forestry Commission already retains the services of a landscape architect, who has given advice on its planting programme in the west conservancy and in Galloway.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to set up a committee representative of planning authorities and other interested bodies to consider the future economic planning of West Central Scotland.

My hon. Friend the Minister of State will be discussing on 14th March with local planning authorities in West Central Scotland proposals for improved machinery to co-ordinate planning in the Clyde Valley Area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which local authorities have now appointed directors of social work.

None has yet been appointed but 32 authorities have advertised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many directors of social work have now been appointed; and in which areas.

None has yet been appointed but 32 authorities have advertised.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what qualifications are required by his Department for applicants seeking appointment as directors of social work.

The qualifications are described in a general circular about the Social Work (Scotland) Act, 1968, which was issued on the 19th December. I am circulating the relevant paragraphs in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will celebrate the jubilee year of the Forestry Commission by seeking to arrange for the siting of the head office in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Lady to the reply I gave her on 6th December last.—[Vol. 774, c. 587.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how often he has had meetings with the Chairman of the Constitutional Commission.

No such meetings have so far been needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what machinery of consultation will exist between his Department and the Scottish membership of the Commission on the Constitution.

I expect that the Commission will invite evidence from my Department, and the Commission will be afforded every assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he estimates that the housing shortage will be brought to an end.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Members for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) and for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the margin in the number of houses over the number of householders in 1973.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated demand for and supply of houses in Scotland in 1973.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the hon. Members for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) and for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many local authorities completed schemes for improvement of council houses in each year from 1966 to the latest convenient date;(2) how many local authority houses have been improved under the improvement grant schemes from 1966 to the latest convenient date.

Information relating to work completed is not available. The following figures relate to improvements approved for grant in each year to houses originally built as council houses.

Year				Number of Houses	Number of local authorities
1966	…	…	…	2,487	15
1967	…	…	…	3,365	23
1968	…	…	…	9,553	35

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which year he proposes to earmark grant to the burgh of Rutherglen for the proposed realignment of Mill Street.

Probably in 1970–71, but this will depend on my decision on the Quinquennial Review of the Burgh Development Plan now before me, on the Town Council's progress with preparatory work, and on the funds available for the Scottish road programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to provide a residential college for the training of ambulance staff; and if he will make a statement.

The Central Committee of the St. Andrew's Scottish Ambulance Service is at present engaged in formulating proposals for training in accordance with the recommendations of the Working Party on Ambulance Training and Equipment, set up by my right hon. Friend, the then Minister of Health, and myself, including the possible establishment of a residential training school. I am awaiting formal proposals from the Central Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received in the last month against the British Standard Time experiment, in the light of the reduction in the number of road accidents since its introduction.

Since the Answers I gave in reply to Questions on 5th February, further representations have been received from four local authorities, five other representative organisations and nine private individuals. In addition, two hon. Members have sent me petitions signed by a number of their constituents.—[Vol. 777, c. 371–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many non-British citizens have received abortion operations in National Health Service hospitals since the passing of the Abortion Law Reform Act; and how many such operations have been performed on British citizens.

In the period from 27th April, 1968, the date on which the Act came into operation, to 31st December, 1968, 1,445 abortion operations were per- formed in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland. The information required under the Abortion (Scotland) Regulations 1968 does not include the nationality of the woman, but for operations performed in National Health Service hospitals in every case the usual place of residence shown on the notification form was in the United Kingdom and in all but five was in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the progress of the Housing Corporation in relation to the number and extent of schemes supported; and if he will make a statement.

Cost-rent and co-ownership started relatively slowly in Scotland, but the Housing Corporation now has in hand 30 schemes comprising 1,370 houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for consultations with local authorities following the submission of the report of the Wheatley Commission on Local Government.

The local authority associations will of course be consulted al the appropriate time. The precise nature of any consultations with individual local authorities must depend on the recommendations of the Royal Commission

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he will announce details of the transport subsidies he proposes for egg producers in remote areas.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, West (Mr. James Davidson) on 7th February. Details of the subvention to be given for sea transport are still being considered.—[Vol. 777, c. 188.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the examination of certain multi-storey blocks of flats in Scotland which may need strengthening.

At present there is nothing I can usefully add to the answers given to the hon. Gentleman on 19th February.—[Vol. 778, c. 115–17.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many claims for disturbance or damage caused by the construction of the Tay Road Bridge and its immediate road works are still outstanding.

This is a matter for the Tay Road Bridge Joint Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for what reasons he has not yet announced the results of his consideration of the Hunter Report on Fishing.

Because my right hon. Friend's consideration of the Report is not yet complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to Scottish local authorities as a result of the inquiry into the fire in James Watt Street, Glasgow.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 5th March, 1969.—[Vol. 779, c. 113.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations have reached him following the publication of his Green Paper on the reorganization

Subsidy				Year	Number of farm units in Banffshire in receipt of the subsidy*	Acreage	Acreage as a percentage of the total of agricultural land in Banffshire
Hill Cattle	…	…	…	1967	631	132,900	41
	…	…	…	1968	614	131,400	40
Beef Cow	…	…	…	1967	426	55,800	17
	…	…	…	1968	407	52,800	16
Hill Sheep	…	…	…	1967	114	78,700	24
	…	…	…	1968	111	76,800	23
*A farm unit may be in receipt of more than one of these subsidies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur) on 5th February. I am still awaiting the views of many of the interests concerned.—[Vol. 777, c. 98.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many qualified and experienced teachers have been dismissed, and are currently under notice of dismissal, respectively, for failure to register with the General Teaching Council.

Education authorities have adopted motions for the dismissal of 509 teachers who had not registered with the Council. The number of these teachers still unregistered is 248.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what sum of money will be made available to the Countryside Commission in Scotland during 1969–70.

The Estimates for 1969–70, which will be published shortly, will include provision for a grant-in-aid of £85,000 to the Countryside Commission for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many farm units in Banffshire were in receipt of the hill cow subsidy, beef cow subsidy or hill sheep subsidy in each of the past two years; what were the acreages under each category; and what percentage proportions the totals of each bear to the total of agricultural land in Banffshire.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further consultations he has held with local authorities regarding amalgamations for the purpose of fulfilling the requirements of the Social Work (Scotland) Act.

On 25th October a circular was issued asking local authorities to consider combining for the purposes of the Act and setting out the main factors which they should bear in mind. Subsequently my officials have had informal discussions with representatives of numerous local authorities and with their associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in encouraging voluntary amalgamations of local authorities in setting up social work departments under the Social Work (Scotland) Act, 1968.

Midlothian, East Lothian and Peebles have decided to combine and so have Greenock and Port Glasgow. Aberdeenshire and Kincardine have advertised jointly for a director of social work and are discussing combination.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has now been made in clearing timber blown down as a result of the hurricane in January, 1968; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, West (Mr. Stodart).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now hold a public inquiry into the problems encountered in repairing damage to houses in the West of Scotland following the hurricane in January, 1968, with a view to establishing what action can be taken to make such emergency action easier and quicker in future.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 5th March to the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell).—[Vol. 779, c. 110.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in implementing the Kay Report on allocation of council houses; and if he will make a statement.

Last October I sent a detailed circular with advice based on this report to local housing authorities: I do not have information to assess the progress made so far.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to make an order bringing into force Section 39 of the Police (Scotland) Act, 1967; and if he will make a statement.

I am at present considering, with the interests concerned, whether Section 39 should be brought into operation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received since October, 1968, concerning the further devolution of Governmental responsibility in Scotland; and what reply he has sent.

I have been informed of a resolution on this subject by the Presbytery of Dundee. The reply indicated that I had noted the terms of the resolution.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will approve the creation of a university at Inverness, in view of the industrial, technological and other developments now proceeding in the Highlands of Scotland.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend, the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary, gave to the hon. Member for Hamilton on 10th April, 1968.—[Vol. 762, c. 247.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has now completed consideration of the Report of the Monopolies Commission on Man-made Cellulosic Fibres of March, 1968; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend told the House on 12th February, we do not intend to take major policy decisions about the textile industry, including decisions on the Monopolies Commission's report on the supply of cellulosic fibres, until we have completed a thorough examination of the industry's structure in the light of the Textile Council's Productivity and Efficiency Study.—[Vol. 777, c. 1312–15.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the number and total value of capital grants made and authorised in the principality of Wales since their inception in their present form.

Up to 28th February, 1969, grants made under the Local Employment Acts and the Industrial Development Act amounted to £69 million. Information about the number of grants is not readily available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in the light of representations by the Milk Marketing Board and the National Farmers' Union in regard to an antidumping application, he will make a statement about his discussions with overseas suppliers.

The Board of Trade invited the Governments of the countries supplying cheese which were named in the application to comment upon certain allegations which were made therein. The Board also invited representations from interested parties. Comments and representations have been received, and will be taken into account in reaching a decision.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will give for the longest convenient stated period of time full details of the earnings and expenditure on imports and exports of bloodstock; and to what extent this business has assisted in balancing the United Kingdom's external payments situation.

Bloodstock are not separately distinguished in the trade statistics. Figures for the import and the export of horses (including ponies) are published each month in the Overseas Trade Accounts on pages 9 and 112, respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the increase in food imports from Eire in 1966, 1967 and 1968, respectively.

The value of food imports from the Irish Republic for 1966, 1967 and 1968 increased over each preceding year by 11 per cent., 34 per cent. and 4 per cent. respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the approximate quantity of waste paper salvaged in the United Kingdom yearly; what is the value in imports thus saved; and what steps he is taking to increase the quantity salvaged.

The quantity of waste paper consumed by paper and board mills in 1968 was 1,765,000 tons, most of it collected as salvage in this country. This would represent about £80 million in terms of woodpulp, and more if allowance is made for saving of paper and board imports. The supply of and demand for waste paper are now being kept under regular review by the Joint Waste Paper Advisory Council, which represents mills, merchants and local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the present programme for advance factories in the Northern Region; and how many have been built, tenanted and not yet allocated, respectively, to the latest available date since 1964.

The latest advance factory programme, of which my hon. Friend informed the House on 22nd January, 1969, includes fifteen, totalling 220,000 square feet, for the Northern Region. Eleven factories, totalling 235,000 square feet, authorised earlier, have yet to be built. Since October, 1964, thirty advance factories have been built in the Northern Region. Twenty-four are tenanted and six have yet to be allocated.

		General-purpose
Financial year ending 31st March		Loans	Grants	Building Grants	Plant and Machinery Grants	Investment Grants
1962–63	…	60	15	29	Nil	Nil
1963–64	…	100	29	152	274	Nil
1967–68	…	136	52	1,548	113	81,000
1968–69(11 months)	…	126	69	1,990	36	105,000
Note:
Some projects receive more than one form of assistance and some firms receive assistance in more than one year. Separate applications for investment grant are accepted for each establishment of a firm in respect of expenditure incurred during a calendar quarter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the United Kingdom share of imports in Malaya and Singapore; how this compares with each of the previous five years; and what aid the United Kingdom provides for these two countries.

The United Kingdom's share of imports into Malaysia (including the East Malaysian States of Sabah and Sarawak) and Singapore, for 1967 (latest full year for which statistics are available) and the preceding five years, were as follows:—

				Malaysia* Per cent.	Singapore Per cent.
1967	…	…	…	16·1	8·0
1962	…	…	…	21·7	9·5
1963	…	…	…	20·8	10·0
1964	…	…	…	20·0	10·1
1965	…	…	…	20·8	10·9
1966	…	…	…	20·2	10·0
*Excludes imports of crude oil from Brunei into Sarawak.

It is estimated that in the current financial year, the total of Britain's economic arid defence aid to Malaysia will amount to £7·25 million and to Singapore £5·25 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms received Board of Trade grants and loans, respectively, for the years 1962, 1963, 1967 and 1968.

Following are the numbers of grants and loans offered under the Local Employment Acts and the numbers of grants paid under the Industrial Development Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the importance of the flower growing industry in the United Kingdom, if he will make arrangements for a British stand at the Third Paris International Floralies which will last for nearly six months from 23rd April.

The horticultural industry was given the opportunity to take part with assistance from the Board of Trade. There was, however, no commercial interest, probably because opportunities for British horticultural exports to France are small.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) when he will invite civic representatives from Portsmouth to discuss commercial, office and industrial developments in the city following the Government's decision to reduce manpower in the dockyard;(2) when he will invite civic representatives from Portsmouth to discuss employment opportunities in the city following the Government's decision to reduce manpower in the dockyard.

The reduction in manpower at the Portsmouth Dockyard will take place over a long period and will be met largely from natural wastage. I do not consider that special discussions are necessary at this stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what studies he is making of the effect of the grant or refusal of industrial development certificates on the cost of goods intended for export.

The effect of the grant or refusal of an industrial development certificate on the production of goods for export is one of the many factors taken into account in considering applications.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what studies he is making of the effect on the cost of goods intended for export by the substitution in them of more expensive home made components.

None. I would expect British manufacturers to purchase components for their exports from the most competitive source.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he now expects to receive the Crowther Report on consumer credit.

I understand that the Committee hopes to be able to submit its Report in 1970.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that it is proposed that the Womb-well Main Colliery should be closed by the National Coal Board on 23rd May, 1969; and if he will make a statement on the action he intends to take to provide alternative employment for the men to be declared redundant.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave yesterday.—[Vol. 779. c. 268–9.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to associate the ownership, maintenance and operation of future British European Airways aircraft with the members of the European Free Trade Area.

No. Assessments of this kind are best left to B.E.A.'s judgment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what authority he has sanctioned half-price fares for Swedish wives travelling by air with their husbands from Sweden to London, without instructing the airlines concerned to offer similar reductions to British wives travelling with their hubsands from London to Sweden.

No question of Government sanction or instructions arises, as these fares are a matter of commercial judgment for the airlines concerned within I.A.T.A. rules.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Boeing 707/336s are now on order for the British Overseas Airways Corporation.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much has been borrowed from Government sources by the British Airports Authority to finance the development of Prestwick Airport since 1st April, 1966.

Since 1st April, 1966, the British Airports Authority has received interest bearing Government loans of £4 million, with a further loan of £1 million due to be taken up on 15th March. No specific allocation to particular airports or developments of the money raised through loans is made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements his Department has for long-term toxological studies to be made of all new substances used in food; and if he will make a statement.

None. The onus is on food manufacturers to ensure that all substances which they use in food comply with the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955. These prohibit the addition to food of any substance which renders it injurious to health. As regards those classes of additives for which there are permitted lists, it is for manufacturers to provide: evidence of safety for consideration by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give the known particulars of the numbers and the weight of salmon caught by inshore fishing and

		Smolts	Kelts
RECAPTURED IN 1967
England and Wales
Inshore Fishery	…	5 (From R. Axe, Devon)	1 (From R. Axe)
Drift Net Fishery	…	1*(From R. Severn)
Scotland
Inshore Fishery	…	17 (From R. Conon, Ross-shire)	2 (From R. Conon)
		3 (From North Esk, Angus)
		1 (From R. Tweed)
Drift Net Fishery	…	4*(From R. Conon)	1 (From R. Conon)
		2*(From North Esk)
		1*(From R. Tweed)
RECAPTURED IN 1968
England and Wales
Inshore Fishery	…	4 (From R. Axe)	1 (From R. Axe)
Drift Net Fishery	…	1 (From R. Axe)	1 (From R. Axe)
Scotland
Inshore Fishery	…	5 (From R. Dee, Aberdeenshire)
		2 (From North Esk)
		3 (From R. Tay)
Drift Net Fishery	…	3* (From R. Dee, Aberdeenshire)
		2 (From North Esk)
* These figures include tags recovered at a processing plant. The exact position of capture of the salmon is not therefore known and may in some cases not have been in the Greenland area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will give an estimate

Full details are not yet available, but our preliminary information is that the inshore catch is about 550 metric tons and the drift net catch about 640 tons. If these figures are confirmed the numbers of fish would be approximately 173,000 and 200,000 fish respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the number of salmon smolts and salmon kelts, tagged in the United Kingdom, which are known to have been recaptured within Greenland territorial waters and by drift netting on the high seas, respectively, in each of the years 1967 and 1968; and whether he will give particulars of the rivers in which any of these fish were tagged.

38 smolts and kelts tagged in the United Kingdom were recaptured at Greenland in 1967 and 22 in 1968. Of the 1967 total, 29 were recaptured in the inshore fishery and 9 in the drift net fishery; corresponding figures for 1968 are to date 15 and 7. The following table is an analysis of the recaptures:of the proportion of trade transacted outside the special arrangements for tin, sugar, wheat, coffee, butter and bacon, respectively.

The proportion of trade transacted outside the price range of the International Tin Agreement is very small and of no significance. For sugar and wheat, about 8 per cent. and 6 per cent. respectively of world exports in recent years were from countries which are currently not members of the recently concluded international agreements. For coffee, only 1 per cent. of world exports come from non-members of the International Coffee Agreement. There are no international agreements covering trade in butter and bacon, but the United Kingdom controls imports of these products by import quotas and the Bacon Market Sharing Understanding and these imports account for two-thirds and over 90 per cent. respectively of world trade in these products.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give an undertaking to maintain the policy of guarantees for agricultural produce following the recent decision relating to eggs.

I have no plans, apart from those announced for eggs, for removing commodities from the guarantees.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what amount costs have risen in the Northern Ireland agricultural industry during the 1968–69 agricultural year.

As I said in my reply to the hon. Member for West Derby (Mr. Scott Hopkins) on 26th February, estimates of cost changes taken into account at the Annual Review are not announced until the Review has been completed.—[Vol. 778, c. 1702.]

asked the Minister of Technology (1) whether he will state the total expenditure so far incurred on the Concorde project in Government research establishments which has not been specifically charged to the project;(2) what estimate he has made of the future expenditure likely to be incurred on the Concorde project in the years 1969, 1970 and 1971 in Government research establishments which will not, under the arrangements existing, be specifically charged to the Concorde project;(3) whether the total estimates of the cost of the Concorde project include expenditure in Government research establishments not charged specifically to the Concorde project.