asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of the Army General Reserve have undergone military training since their discharge; and what proportion of the Reserve he classifies as suitable for a reinforcement rôle in the event of a sudden emergency without any further training.

Members of the Army General Reserve have no training liability. The cost of finding out how many members of the A.G.R. have undertaken voluntary training would not be justified.The Reserve contains enough suitable men to meet our requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the strength of the Army General Reserve at the latest available date; in which years its members completed their periods of national service; and how many men were discharged in each of those years.

The strength of the Army General Reserve on 31st January, 1969 was 168,957.Its members completed their periods of National Service between 1963 and 1968 and the approximate annual rate of discharge was:

1963	60,000
1964	49,000
1965	38,000
1966	20,000
1967	1,500
1968	500

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why soldiers posted last month from Whittington Barracks, Lichfield, to the Persian Gulf were advised not to take with them any books by Jewish authors.

For the same reason as given in my right hon. Friend's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster (Mr. Henig) on 19th February.—[Vol. 778, c. 112.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the new facilities for dealing with nuclear-powered submarines at Devonport Dockyard will be ready.

Planning for the development of Devonport as the third nuclear dockyard is proceeding on the basis that dockings will be carried out from 1974 but that refits and refuellings will not be undertaken until some time later in the 1970s.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence which of the aircraft carriers, commando carriers and cruisers, in the fleet and in reserve, were laid down more than 20 years ago.

All of them, but the carriers have undergone major refits or conversions to fit them for further service and the cruisers joined the Fleet within the last 10 years. The assault ships, "Fearless" and "Intrepid", were laid down in 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what estimate he has made of savings in clerical staffs at Chilwell and Donnington Ordnance depots resulting from the location of the computer complex at Bicester;(2) what cost/benefit studies he has undertaken concerning the centralisation of ordnance clerical work at Bicester, Chilwell and Donnington depots; and what were the results.

Reductions in clerical posts now directly engaged on computer operation at Chilwell and Donnington Ordnance Depots are estimated at about 120 at each place when the new computer complex has been installed at Bicester. Costing studies are in hand on the distribution of the remaining clerical and other such work as between the Bicester, Chilwell and Donnington Depots and other R.A.O.C. Establishments.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make arrangements to allow Territorial Army other ranks to have payments due to them made into a bank account if they wish to do so.

The arrangements for making payments to T.A.V.R. soldiers are currently being re-organised and by the end of this year all will be paid by Giro Order. It will then be possible to consider payments into a bank account.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state his policy as to the number of hours per week permitted for flying training from Royal Air Force stations near to urban areas; how many evenings per week night flying practice is permitted from those stations; and at what hour the flying practice ceases.

The extent of the flying training undertaken at each R.A.F. station depends upon the type and rôle of the aircraft operating there. Night flying is an essential element of R.A.F. flying training and is completed as early as the available hours of darkness and weather conditions permit. Where R.A.F. stations are located close to urban areas flightpaths used during training have been modified to avoid flying over urban areas at low level to the maximum extent compatible with flight safety and effective training.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has for deploying a naval task force in the Far East after 1971 other than ships based on Hong Kong.

None; but ships will deploy to the Far East from time to time for training and exercises.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of the Greenwich Conference on Dockyards, in relation to Rosyth.

The object of this symposium was to explain to employees' representatives our plans in relation to all the Home Dockyards, with particular emphasis on those where reductions are to take place. The opportunity was taken to discuss the difficulties which have been met in increasing the labour force at Rosyth and what must be resolved before these difficulties can be overcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps he is taking to improve managerial efficiency in the Royal Dockyards.

A number of measures to obtain greater productivity with a smaller labour force are in hand. Details are set out in paragraphs 37–44 of Chapter VIII of the Statement on Defence Estimates, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated capital requirement for modernising the Royal Dockyards in the next three years.

In addition to the normal annual rolling programme for the repair and replacement of machinery and plant in H.M. Dockyards (of the order of £1·85 million annually) we are planning on the basis that capital expenditure of the order of £18 million will be committed between now and 31st March, 1972, on modernisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will outline the new methods of project-management involved in the H.M.S. "Resolution" refit at Rosyth in 1970; and if he will state the anticipated cost of the refit.

The new methods of project management involved in the refit of H.M.S. "Resolution" at Rosyth include:—

(a) the appointment of a senior officer of two star rank and with the title of Assistant Controller (Polaris), working under the joint superintendence of the Controller of the Navy and Chief of Fleet Support, whose responsibilities will include the oversight of the preparations for refits of Polaris boats, and their completion;

(b) the delegation to a designated officer (Director, Project Technical Submarines) of the responsibility for drawing up the "work package" for each refit, which will include full design information and documentation;

(c) the use of a fully integrated refit management team at Rosyth, and

(d) the full use of available management techniques and aids, including computers.

It will not be possible to provide an estimate of the cost of "Resolution's" first refit until full details of the work package are known.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress chasing he has done as a result of the recommendations of the Brighton Conference 1969 on oceanography at which his Department was represented.

Oceanology International 69 at Brighton included a conference sponsored by the Society for Underwater Technology consisting of a comprehensive programme of papers, discussions and technical sessions. Although some delegates included suggestions for possible future actions in their papers, the conference made no formal recommendations, nor was this its purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking following the presentation on the marine sciences by Vickers, the British Aircraft Corporation and Hawker Siddeley on Wednesday, 12th March and Thursday, 13th March at which his Department was represented.

The information obtained will be taken into account in the consideration of defence requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what joint ventures with private firms he is proposing for his Hydrographic Department.

The Hydrographic Department has currently a very wide range of co-operative ventures with private firms. These cover the development of equipments and techniques as well as the operation and servicing of equipments in use.Additionally data from surveys compiled by private firms is sometimes incorporated in Admiralty charts which are of course sold by commercial firms.All this co-operation will be continued and extended as appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what action he is taking to offer naval facilities to the Natural Environment Research Council to combat coastal pollution.

We are undertaking a study into the effects of natural factors on the movement, dispersal and destruction of oil at sea, and are organising and co-ordinating our research programme on this subject with those of other organisations. These are the major oil companies, Ministry of Technology (Warren Spring Laboratory), Ministry of Agriculture Fisheries and Food (Fisheries Laboratory), and the Marine Research Establishments of the Natural Environment Research Council including the National Institute of Oceanography and the Marine Biological Association, Plymouth. All these bodies have access to the research results generated by this study and to our available research facilities.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what discussions he is having with private firms in the development of gravel production from the seabed.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his visit to the Royal Navy Diving Establishment at Alverstoke.

I hope to visit this establishment next week.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will establish a course in marine engineering at the Royal Military College of Science at Shrivenham.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost in the current year of the military headquarters in Rhinedahlen, and the number of staff employed there, showing separately serving officers, retired officers, other ranks and civilians.

There are four military headquarters in Rhinedahlen two of which are wholly British and two are international N.A.T.O. Headquarters which have British elements. Their total cost in 1968–69 is about £4·35 million. Staff details are as follows:—

1. British Headquarters:
(a) H.Q. British Army of the Rhine:
Serving Officers	222
Retired Officers	31
Other Ranks	391
Civilians	481
(b) H.Q. R.A.F. Germany (at Rhinedahlen):
Serving Officers	145
Other Ranks	164
Civilians	81
2. British personnel in international Headquarters:
(a) H.Q. Northern Army Group:
Serving Officers	29
Retired Officers	Nil
Other Ranks	145
Civilians	Nil
(b) H.Q. Second Allied Tactical Air Force:
Serving Officers	45
Retired Officers	Nil
Other Ranks	188
Civilians	Nil

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the defence aspects of the United Kingdom nuclear reactor programme.

I am satisfied that adequate supplies of special nuclear materials will be available to meet current and future defence requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he has to use boom defence vessels for marine science research.

It has been the policy for some time to meet requests from other Government Departments, Scientific bodies and commercial interests for the hire of boom defence vessels whenever pressure of Ministry of Defence (Navy) work permits. These arrangements will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how the cost of Leander class frigates built in the Royal Dockyards compares with that of those built in commercial shipyards.

The latest ships for which comparisons are available are H.M.S. "Danae" built at Devonport Dockyard, costing £5,830,000, and H.M. Ships "Juno" and "Argonaut" built by commercial shipyards, costing £5 million each. These ships were completed in the 1967–68 financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the next nuclear powered hunter-killer submarine will be ordered; and when he expects it to be completed.

On the first part of the Question, I have nothing to add to the Answer I have given today to a Question from the hon. and gallant Member for Winchester (Rear-Admiral Morgan Giles); on the second part of the Question, it would be contrary to practice to say when we expect the submarine to be completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost in each of the last three years, of the three Services' recruiting offices in Brighton; and how many recruits enlisted in each of the three Services for the same period.

The cost of the three Services' Careers Information Offices, in Brighton for 1965–66, 1966–67 and 1967–68 was about £42,000, £46,000 and £47,000 respectively. The number of recruits who passed through these offices over the same period was:

	Royal Navy and Royal Marines	Army	Royal Air Force
1965–66	142	640	245
1966–67	123	641	434
1967–68	140	501

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the new cruisers will operate vertical/short take-off and landing aircraft; and when it is expected the first will be ordered.

No decision has yet been taken whether vertical and short take-off and landing aircraft should be operated at sea. It is too early to say when the first of the new cruisers will be ordered.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost of the increases in Service pensions and Service widows' pensions which will be introduced simultaneously with the 1969 Pensions (Increase) Bill; and what is the estimated additional cost of bringing the early codes up to the level of the 1956 code.

£7 million and £4 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement on the meeting between the Minister of State and local planning authority representatives to consider regional planning.

My hon. Friend the Minister of State met the Clyde Valley Planning Advisory Committee on 14th March 1969. My hon. Friend proposed to the Committee that its terms of reference should be revised to include the following objectives:—

(a) To carry out or commission whatever work is needed to produce and keep up to date an advisory regional physical plan for West Central Scotland which can be approved generally by the Secretary of State and adopted by local authorities as a basis for structure plans.

(b) To serve as a point of liaison with major interests concerned with planning in West Central Scotland, including particularly industrial and other interests concerned with economic development and any passenger transport authority that may be set up in the area.

(c) In appropriate cases to act as a forum for discussion of major development plan proposals by individual authorities or groups of authorities.

These proposals appeared to command general acceptance, and the Committee agreed to prepare for consideration precise terms of reference covering the new objectives and to consider the structure of sub-committees which will be needed for particular aspects of the work.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will make a study of the effects on loading and collecting stock for market by farmers following the introduction of British Standard Time;(2) what is the effect on agricultural fuel costs resulting from the introduction of British Standard Time;(3) what representations he has received about the effect of British Standard Time on the management of farm routine; and what reply he has sent;(4) what representations he has received about the effect of British Standard Time on the process of rural depopulation; and what reply he has sent;(5) what effect on wage bills in agriculture has resulted from the introduction of British Standard Time;(6) if he will make a study of the extent to which the work of veterinary surgeons in rural areas is affected by the introduction of British Standard Time;(7) what is the effect on the number of hours of overtime worked by agricultural workers in Scotland during the winter months following the introduction of British Standard Time.

I have received from the National Farmers' Union of Scotland a summary of a survey undertaken by the Union of the effects of British Standard Time on agriculture in Scotland over the past winter. The survey mentions the effects on loading and collecting of stock, fuel and wages costs, management of farm routine, rural depopulation, overtime and the work of veterinary surgeons in rural areas. The Union has been informed that its representations will be carefully considered. Meanwhile my Department is examining all these aspects of British Standard Time in the light of the information available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many representations he has received to date supporting and opposing British Standard Time since the proposal to introduce it was first announced.

Since 22nd June, 1967, when the Government announced their decision to introduce British Standard Time, I have received 91 representations opposing it from local authorities, 50 from other representative organisations and 67 from private individuals or firms. I have also received nine petitions. No representations in favour of British Standard Time have been received officially.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will send a circular to local education authorities advising them on methods of making use of clerical assistance with the object of relieving headmasters of clerical duties; and when his Department's forthcoming memorandum on clerical assistance in schools will be available to the profession's education bodies.

The Schools (Scotland) Code, 1956 requires education authorities to provide adequate clerical assistance for head teachers where necessary. Advice on this matter was included in Scottish Education Department Circulars 558 (29th April, 1964) and 584 (20th April, 1965). I am not proposing to issue more detailed advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new places in primary schools were created in each local authority area in Scotland in 1968.

The figures are given in the table below.

	Primary Places
Aberdeen	230
Dundee	2,280
Edinburgh	2,641
Glasgow	1,260
Aberdeen	692
Angus	189
Argyll	1,415
Ayr	460
Banff	—
Berwick	—
Bute	80
Caithness	90
Clackmannan	—
Dumfries	130
Dunbarton	3,554
East Lothian	270
Fife	80
Inverness	990
Kincardine	180
Kirkcudbright	325
Lanark	1,760
Midlothian	1,450
Moray and Nairn	245
Orkney	90
Peebles	—
Perth and Kinross	1,306
Renfrew	4,250
Ross and Cromarty	—
Roxburgh	297
Selkirk	—
Stirling	480
Sutherland	—
West Lothian	820
Wigtown	160
Zetland	—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many uncertificated teachers were recommended for dismissal from Lanarkshire by the panels set up under the General Teaching Council regulations; and how many are still employed by the education authority.

71. The Education Authority inform me that 49 of these are still employed but are not now engaged in teaching duties.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of the cost of reconstructing Ronan Point type blocks will be carried by the original construction companies.

Whether a contractor is liable for any part of the cost of strengthening an existing block, or one under construction, depends on the terms of his contract and no general answer can be given.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total amount of rate support grant from Her Majesty's Government to local authorities in Wales for this year; and how this figure compares with similar grants for the three preceding years.

The latest estimates of the total rate support grants to local authorities in Wales for 1967–68 and 1968–69 and of the corresponding grants for 1965–66 and 1966–67 are as follows:

1965–66	£78,882,157
1966–67	£86,999,789
1967–68	£97,200,238
1968–69	£103,075,982

asked the Minister of Transport how many speed restriction signs, including repeater signs, will need to be replaced if road speed limits in the United Kingdom are expressed in metric terms.

Few signs will need replacement. In England about 280,000 will need to be altered.

asked the Minister of Transport what have been, since the inception of parking meters in London, the total amounts of money spent on traffic wardens and administration, spent on the provision of car parks in London, and received from the meters and from fines, respectively.

The total expenditure on controlled parking zones by local authorities in London until 31st March, 1968 was £5,178,006. This includes £1,765,439 for traffic wardens where they act as parking attendants.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the official objections which he has received from the Romsey and Stockbridge Rural District Council and the Nursling and Rownhams Parish Council, he will authorise a public inquiry into the line of route of the proposed M27 south coast motorway, Ower to Chilworth section scheme 196.

Before a decision is reached, we hope to have further discussions about the grounds of objection.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many successful prosecutions of United Kingdom residents, other than those currently authorised to operate in foreign exchange markets, for speculation in foreign currency there have been during the last five months; and what was the value of the currency concerned in these prosecutions during this period;(2) how many successful prosecutions for currency speculation by United Kingdom citizens or institutions authorised to operate in foreign exchange markets have taken place during the last five months.

During the last five months, 27 people have been prosecuted under the Exchange Control Act, all of them successfully. None of them was an authorised dealer but one was an authorised depositary. I do not think that the subject of any of the charges could strictly be regarded as currency speculation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purchasing power on 31st December, 1968 of £1 invested on 15th October, 1964 in the Post Office Savings Bank, Ordinary Department and Special Investment Department, in National Savings Certificates and in War Loan, respectively, taking into account interest accrued during the period.

Post Office Savings Bank Investment Accounts did not start until June, 1966. Otherwise the amounts are about 19s. 0d., 19s. 7d. and 18s. 5d. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the purchasing power on 15th October, 1964 of £1 invested on 1st August, 1960 in the Post Office Savings Bank, Ordinary Department and Special Investment Department, in National Savings Certificates and in War Loan, respectively, taking into account interest accrued during the period.

Post Office Savings Bank Investment Accounts did not start until June, 1966. Otherwise the amounts are about £19s. 9d., £1 0s. 2d. and £1 1s. 8d. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many married women received income during the fiscal year ended 5th April, 1968 which, under the provisions of Section 354 of the Income Tax Act, 1952 was deemed not to be their income, but to be the income of their husbands.

It is not known how many wives had income of their own which is treated for tax purposes as the income of their husband.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer under what schedule for Income Tax purposes emoluments paid in lieu of perquisites in kind previously received are assessed.

Emoluments from offices and employments are assessable to tax under Schedule E.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will accept the recommendation of the Decimal Currency Board that equipment designed for working in decimal currency should be written off for tax purposes at the discretion of the purchaser.

My right hon. Friend has considered the board's recommendation very carefully, but he does not feel that special treatment for this particular type of equipment is justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now the number of the staff of the Chief Inspector of Taxes Branch of the Inland Revenue Department; and what was it in 1951 and 1961.

43,730 on 1st March, 1969, in 1951 the number was 31,058 and in 1961, 36,949.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the net effect on the index of retail prices of the Selective Employment Tax.

It is estimated that if the tax were fully passed on in increased prices it would have added a little over ½ per cent. to the retail price index when it was first introduced and a little of ¼ per cent. when the rates were increased last September. Although it is difficult to isolate the effects of S.E.T. from other price movements, experience suggests that the actual increase has been much smaller than this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will assist those car owners who cannot afford to pay a full year's road fund licence in one payment by making no surcharge on the issue of licences of four months' duration.

My hon. Friend will not expect me to comment on this suggestion just before the Budget.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the present policy concerning importation of meat products from countries where foot-and-mouth disease is endemic; to what extent restrictions have been removed; what is the present level of imports; and what it was in each of the last five years.

Imports of meat products—as distinct from carcase meat—from countries where we consider foot and mouth disease to be currently endemic are restricted to those fully cooked and processed products which we consider to represent no significant disease risk. There has been no relaxation of restrictions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations have been made to him by the Welland and Nene River Authority for an increase in its capital expenditure ceiling to enable it to carry out work to alleviate flooding at Grendon, Northamptonshire.

My officials yesterday received a deputation from the Authority. The existing arrangements for grant to river authorities for land drainage works enable each authority to choose on which approved works they will claim grant up to an annual capital expenditure ceiling but do not prevent work from being carried out above this ceiling without grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many suitably qualified candidates were accepted for courses in the academic year 1968–69 leading to a qualification entitling the holder to practise as a general practitioner or hospital doctor under the National Health Service; and what was the total number of suitably qualified applicants.

The number of candidates accepted for pre-clinical courses in medical schools in Great Britain for the academic year 1968–69 was 2,678. Figures are not available of the total number of candidates who applied; the number who applied through the Universities Central Council on Admission was 6,948. It is not possible to say how many of these candidates were suitably qualified since the requirements of universities vary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate he has made of the average cost to public funds of a medical student's education from enrolment as a student to qualification.

The cost to public funds, excluding any capital element, is of the order of £8,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if he will give the total cost to public funds in the current year of the Nature Conservancy and the number of qualified scientists and engineers and other staff employed there; and if he will list the five most expensive projects on which the Conservancy is working, showing the cost of each;(2) if he will give the total cost to public funds in the current year of the Research Vessel Unit, including R.R.S. "John Murray", and the number of qualified scientists and engineers and other staff employed there; and if he will list the five most expensive projects on which the unit is working, showing the cost of each;(3) if he will give the total cost to public funds in the current year of the Institute of Geological Science and the number of qualified scientists and engineers and other staff employed there; and if he will list the five most expensive projects on which the Institute is working, showing the cost of each;(4) if he will give the total cost to public funds in the current year of the Hydrological Research Unit and the number of qualified scientists and engineers and other staff employed there; and if he will list the five most expensive projects on which the unit is working, showing the cost of each;(5) if he will give the total cost to public funds in the current year of the Algal Culture Centre and the number of qualified scientists and engineers and other staff employed there; and if he will list the five most expensive projects in which the centre is working, showing the cost of each;(6) if he will give the total cost to public funds in the current year of the National Institute of Oceanography and the number of qualified scientists and engineers and other staff employed there: and if he will list the five most expensive projects on which the institute is working, showing the cost of each.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity d) how many married women were in full-time employment in professional and managerial grades during the 12 months ended 5th April in 1966, 1967 and 1968; and how many of those married women were continuously employed for more than six months during those periods;(2) how many married women ceased to be employed in the 12 months ended 5th April in 1966, 1967 and 1968.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what estimate she has made of the number of man-hours lost each year by the decision of married women not to give their services in return for remuneration which is deemed for Income Tax purposes to be the income of their husbands.

Information on which such an estimate could be based is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on the Report, Command Paper No. 3970, of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on Top Salaries in the Private Sector and Nationalised Industries.

I am studying the report and will make a statement as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to raise the question of the emplacement of nuclear weapons on the sea bed at the Geneva Disarmament Conference.

The question of the emplacement of nuclear weapons on the sea bed was raised at the opening session of the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee on 18th March. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 20th March in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. Archer), the efforts now being made to ensure that the sea-bed is not used for nuclear installations or other weapons of mass destruction have our full support.—[Vol. 780, c. 734–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what is the Government's policy regarding the Soviet draft treaty presented to the Geneva Disarmament Conference proposing to prohibit use of the ocean floor for military purposes;(2) what is the Government's policy regarding the proposal made by President Nixon to the Geneva Disarmament Conference seeking to prohibit the emplacement of weapons of mass destruction on the sea bed.

We are studing both the Soviet draft treaty and President Nixon's letter very carefully. The two documents have this in common, that they envisage a ban on the emplacement on the sea bed of nuclear weapons and other weapons of mass destruction. This objective has our full support, but our provisional view is that the Soviet draft treaty, as it stands, is too far-reaching.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the United Kingdom's interests in the Trucial State of Ras el Khaimah, he will make a statement on the present relations with the Sheikh of Ras el Khaimah, setting out such treaty obligations as still exist, the number and duties of British diplomatic and military personnel in that territory, and how he proposes to maintain the security of British interests there after the planned withdrawal of British forces from the Gulf.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for Chigwell (Mr. Biggs-Davison) on 26th February, 1968, in which I listed the principal treaties and agreements with the Trucial States, including Ras al Khaimah.There are no British diplomatic personnel in Ras al Khaimah itself. The Political Agent at Dubai, under the supervision of the Political Resident, is responsible for conducting Her Majesty's Government's relations with the Ruler. 150 Trucial Oman Scouts, including two British officers, are stationed there. They are responsible for internal security and are controlled by the Political Resident.The main British interest in Ras al Khaimah lies in its continued stability. The Sheikhdom's participation in the Union of Arab Emirates, with the good will of its neighbours, offers the best prospects for the future security of the area, and as the House are aware we welcome the development of that Union.—[Vol. 759, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what study he has made of the proposals of Senator Claiborne Pell on Government action to develop the marine environment, details of which have been sent to him; and what action he proposes to take.

We have noted Senator Pell's proposals with interest. The complex problems of the kind dealt with in these proposals are already being discussed by Governments in the United Nations and elsewhere and Her Majesty's Government is playing a positive part in these discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the effect on the structure of the Diplomatic Service of the amalgamation of the Foreign Office and Commonwealth Office.

The merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office has so far led directly to the saving of one hundred posts at home. These savings however, are additional to a total of 398 posts at home which have been saved between the creation of the combined Diplomatic Service in January, 1965 and the announcement of the proposed merger of the Foreign and Commonwealth Offices in March, 1968. The Review of Overseas Representation which is at present being conducted by the Committee under the Chairmanship of Sir Val Duncan will also affect the future structure of the Service.By early 1970 the total reduction of the number of posts in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office in the three most senior grades is expected to be approximately 30 per cent. compared with 1965. This sudden contraction has accentuated a promotion blockage that already existed in the middle administrative grades of the Service resulting from the reorganisations and recruitment policy during and immediately after the last war.To restore the balance and to give younger people the necessary responsibilities and opportunities in the higher posts in the Service, it will be necessary to retire prematurely a substantial number of officers in senior posts during the course of 1969 and 1970 under the provisions of the Superannuation Act, 1965. The officers concerned are persons of wide experience and proved ability who in normal circumstances would have expected to continue in the Service until the age of 60. About 17 per cent. of the present members of Grades 1–3 of the Diplomatic Service are affected, of whom the majority are serving as Ambassadors or High Commissioners.The premature retirement of so many experienced senior officers is a high price to pay for rationalising the structure of the Diplomatic Service; but it is necessary, both in the interests of the Service and in the national interests. It is also right that those officers whose careers are being terminated for the good of the Service as a whole, and for no other reason, should be fairly treated.Accordingly it has been decided that wherever possible the officers now being retired should be given 12 months notice. In addition to any immediate pension there will also be a short period of resettlement leave for those serving abroad and the boarding school allowances for children will be continued for a short time in appropriate cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many convictions there have been for dangerous driving during the last 12-month

Offence	Court	Convicted	Imprisoned	Disqualified	Disqualified over 12 months	Fined	Total of fines	Average fine
							£	£
Causing death by	Magistrates'	1	—	1	1	1	15
dangerous driving	Higher	542	58	388	349	457	22,028
	Total	543	58	389	350	458	22,043	48:2:7
Dangerous driving	Magistrates'	8,342	197	3,308	608	7,937	172,769
	Higher	570	88	172	72	438	14,136
	Total	8,912	285	3,480	680	8,375	187,085	22:6:9

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the Broderick Committee on Coroners, which was set up five years ago, is expected to report.

The Committee on Death Certification and Coroners was appointed in March, 1965. My right hon. Friend hopes to receive its Report towards the end of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an estimate of how many urgent messages are delivered by the police to members of the public each day.

The following are the figures for 1967 in England and Wales:

The information on which such an estimate could be made is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will estimate the total cost of giving a copy of Stones Justices Manual required by justices of the peace in England and Wales to such justices free of charge.

About £130,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what report has been made to the Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation concerning the civil defence policy of Her Majesty's Government.

This country, in common with other member countries, provided a report to the N.A.T.O. Senior Civil Emergency Planning Committee for its annual review of civil defence plans. It is not the practice to disclose the contents of these reports, or the proceedings of the Committee.

asked the Paymaster-General (1) when she expects to complete her review of the problems of youth; and whether she then plans to publish a White Paper;(2) whether she will undertake a special study, as part of her review of the problems of youth, of voluntary service among young people.

As I indicated in reply to the Question on this subject by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 10th February last, I see my responsibilities with regard to young people as being primarily an aspect of the more general question of participation. I shall, of course, take full account of the importance of voluntary service to which the Government are already giving encouragement and support in a number of ways.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will provide a breakdown of the profitability of the telegram service according to the types of traffic.

Information about the profitability of inland telegrams in the form asked for is not available. However, since revenue increases with message length, longer messages tend to be less unprofitable. Messages between large centres of population where the cost of hand delivery is lower, are also less unprofitable and in some cases may even show a small profit.

asked the Postmaster-General what new investment there has been in telegram equipment in each of the last 10 years.

Investment in telegraph equipment during the last ten years was as follows:

	Total
Year	£'000
1958–59	1,593
1959–60	2,810
1960–61	1,569
1961–62	2,485
1962–63	2,897
1963–64	3,508
1964–65	3,504
1965–66	4,248
1966–67	4,577
1967–68	5,019

Separate figures for investment for equipment for the public telegram service are not available.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of households he now expects will have telephones in each of the next 10 years.

The best estimate I can make at present is:

	Per cent.
1970	32·5
1971	36·0
1972	39·5
1973	43·0
1974	46·5
1975	50·0
1976	53·5
1977	57·0
1978	60·5
1979	64·0

asked the Minister of Power whether he has now received the offer of the National Coal Board to supply coal to Drax B Power Station at 3½d. per therm.

No. There has been correspondence between my Department and the National Coal Board about the likely cost of supplying coal for this power station but, despite reports to the contrary, no such offer has yet been made either to the Ministry or to the C.E.G.B.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many married women became entitled to retirement and widow's pensions and to maternity grants, respectively, in 1966, 1967 and 1968.

The numbers of married women to whom retirement pension, widow's pension and maternity grant were awarded during the last three years are as follows:—

	1966	1967	1968
Retirement Pension	210,000	210,000	215,000
Widow's Pension*	35,000	33,000	35,000
Maternity Grant	880,000	860,000	855,000
* This is the number of widows awarded widow's pension subsequent to widow's allowance. In addition the numbers who became entitled to either widowed mother's allowance or widow's basic pension were 29,000 in 1966; 27.000 in 1967; and 27,000 in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take action to review the rent allowance limit of £3 15s. exclusive of rates, in view of the increasing economic rent of council houses and the need to avoid discrimination between claimants for social security benefit; and whether he will make a statement.

The Supplementary Benefits Commission are empowered to provide for rents (including rates) which they consider "reasonable in the circumstances". The Commission has regard to all the circumstances, including those of the individual and the general level of rents in the locality.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what criteria are adopted in paying supplementary benefit to a family if both husband and wife are on strike and where a wife is on strike and the husband is not.

If both husband and wife are on strike, supplementary benefit is payable only for the requirements of any dependent children, and it is then subject to the resources of the whole family. If the husband is in full-time work, he, his wife and his children are not entitled to benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was paid, by localities, in supplementary benefit and unemployment benefit to those Ford workers laid off or on short time due to the recent strike; and whether he will give an estimate under the same headings of those who were not directly Ford employees but who were also affected.

Detailed information about claims for supplementary benefit or unemployment benefit from persons laid off on account of the Ford stoppage is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much was paid out in supplementary benefit to the families and dependents of those on strike at the Ford Motor Company during the course of the recent dispute, tabulated by localities; how many of his staff were involved and at what cost; and to what extent these figures are final.

The following are provisional figures for supplementary benefit payments for the families of men involved in the Ford trade dispute up to 18th March:—

Departmental Region	Amount
	£
London North (covering Dagenham and other Ford plants in Essex)	40,300
North Western (Merseyside) (covering the Ford plant at Halewood)	43,200
Yorkshire and Humberside	260
East Midlands and East Anglia	250
London, South	2,690
London, West	4,660
Wales	1,930
West Midlands	1,630
North Western (Manchester)	80
	£95,000

The number of staff directly involved has varied from day to day, with a peak of about 470; up to 21st March about 3,600 man-days had been worked and the cost was approximately £44,000. The offices specially opened to deal with claims arising from the dispute will mostly remain open for at least part of this week at an estimated cost of £12,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctor qualified in 1968; and what are the comparable figures for 1967, 1966, 1965, 1964 and 1960.

I understand that the numbers of students who obtained a first registrable medical degree or diploma a medical schools in Great Britain were as follows, for the academic years shown:

1960–61	1,844
1963–64	1,731
1964–65	1,805
1965–66	1,939
1966–67	1,933
1967–68 (provisional)	2,105

		Whole-time equivalent of whole-time and part-time staff in post
		Trained			Nurses in Training			Untrained Other
		Nurses
Hospital	Staffed beds allocated	SRNs	SENs	Midwives	Student Nurses	Pupil Nurses	Pupil Midwives	Auxiliaries	Nursing Staff
(1)	(2)	(3)	(4)	(5)	(6)	(7)	(8)	(9)	(10)
Orpington Hospital	518	90·5	43·4	—	94·0	59·1	—	54·5	2·7
Queen Mary's Hospital	358	82·6	17·9	29·3	131·0	—	33·0	36·7	3·7
Sidcup Cottage Hospital	13	4·0	3·3	—	—	—	—	2·6	—
Cray Valley Hospital	34	3·2	2·3	2·8	—	—	—	7·2	0·8
Sevenoaks Hospital	107	34·0	16·3	11·3	—	29·0	—	20·9	—
Emily Jackson Wing of Sevenoaks Hospital	30	5·5	2·0	—	—	—	—	10·0	—
Oak Lane Hospital	30	3·8	2·0	—	—	—	—	5·4	—
Sundridge Hospital	119	7·3	3·0	—	—	—	—	13·1	—
Cray Valley and Sevenoaks Group	1,209	230·9	90·2	43·4	225·0	88·1	33·0	150·4	7·2
		364·5			346·1			157·6

The nurse staffing establishment laid down by the South East Metropolitan Regional Hospital Board is in respect of trained and untrained nurses together and of nurses in training and it relates to the whole group. It is set out below.

Trained and untrained nurses and midwives	Nurses in training
502	332

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, based on the latest annual returns on venereal disease, made to his Department, the local regional hospital board and the medical officer of health in whose area the clinic is situated, what is the total number of cases for Basildon and Brentwood urban district councils areas; and how this compares with the figure for 1960.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Service if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing, for each of the hospitals in the Cray Valley and Sevenoaks Group, the number of beds, the number of trained nurses, pupil nurses, student nurses and of nursing auxiliaries, respectively, as at the latest convenient date; and if he will state in each case the establishment laid down by the regional hospital board.

The figures as at 30th September, 1968, were as follows:

asked the Minister of Technology what is the cost to public funds in the current year and in total, respectively, of the study of the effect of natural wind upon tall structures, bridges, and groups of buildings proposed in town planning projects; in which Government establishments it is being carried out; and what contribution towards cost is being made from the construction industry.

Expenditure on research in this field in 1968–69 was as follows:—

(1) Within Government Establishments:
National Physical Laboratory	£150,000
Building Research Station	£27,000
The N.P.L. figure includes £30,000 of repayment work.
(2) Government contribution to work at Research Associations:
Electrical Research Association	£40,000
Construction Industry Research and Information Association (C.I.R.I.A.)	£4,000
These sums are matched by approximately equal contributions from industry.
(3) University research supported by Science Research Council	£27,000

This level of research effort has been built up over a period of years and it is not practicable to give the total expenditure to-date.

asked the President of the Board of Trade from what other countries Rhodesian supplies of chrome have been replaced since the imposition of sanctions.

Most chromium is imported into this country in the form of chrome ore or ferro-chrome. In the last two years our imports of both have been lower than in the two years before the illegal declaration of independence. Comparing these periods, imports of chrome ore from all significant supplying countries have been lower. There have been several changes in the pattern of our supplies of ferro-chrome, including higher imports from the United States, Sweden, West Germany, the Netherlands and Czechoslovakia.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the work of the special committee of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development on preferences; what is the British representation on that committee; and whether he will give an assurance that, in co-operation with other Commonwealth Governments he will seek to protect the interests of the Commonwealth preferential area.

The UNCTAD Special Committee on Preferences, on which United Kingdom representation is provided by the Board of Trade, met for the first time towards the end of last year. Further meetings have been arranged to begin on 28th April and 30th June this year. It is hoped that the work of the prospective preference-giving countries in the O.E.C.D. will have progressed to the point at which substantive discussions with developing countries can be held at the meeting beginning on 30th June. Before any new preferential arrangements can be implemented, there will be full consultations with Commonwealth preference area countries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many firms or companies in Hamilton constituency were refused Board of Trade grants during 1968 to the nearest available date.

Information in this detail is not readily available and could not be collected without the expenditure of undue time and effort.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the reason for the recent increase in the registration fees applying to trade marks registered or renewed after 1st June, 1969; and, in view of the fact that this increase is in excess of the ceiling recently imposed by the prices and incomes policy of Her Majesty's Government, whether he will review the proposed increase at an early date with a view to its reduction.

Increases in trade mark fees are necessary because the expenses of the Trade Marks Registry, which is intended to be self-supporting, are greater than its income from fees. The Rules which will shortly be made prescribing the increases will not conflict with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent he makes checks on management consultants employed by small businesses in receipt of assistance under the grant's consultancy aid scheme; and if he will make a statement.

There was no list of approved consultants for the pilot scheme. We were concerned to ensure that each consultant was competent to carry out the particular assignment and that the fee proposed was reasonable. We were able to draw on a number of sources of information as appropriate including the B.I.M./C.B.I. Management Consulting Services Information Bureau, and referees provided by the consultants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the United Kingdom/Norwegian Trade Conference.

A Conference on Anglo-Norwegian trade was organised by the Norway Trade Centre in association with the Confederation of British Industries, the London Chamber of Commerce, the Federation of Norwegian Industries and the Export Council of Norway. The Conference took place in London on 20th March under the chairmanship of His Excellency the Norwegian Ambassador and was attended by some 250 Norwegian and British businessmen.The Conference was divided into two sessions. The first, introduced by the Norwegian Minister of Commerce and Shipping, Mr. Kare Willoch, covered questions of general interest such as future steps to European integration, the part to be played within E.F.T.A. by Nordic Union and bilateral trade matters of concern to both Norway and the United Kingdom. The second session which my right hon. Friend introduced dealt with specific Anglo-Norwegian trade questions and various practical ways in which the level of trade might be increased. Discussion at each session was led by a panel of eminent Norwegian and British business men.The Conference provided a valuable opportunity for direct discussions between business men of the two nations of problems of mutual interest and I hope that it will improve the prospects for trade between Norway and the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has yet decided on the appointment of a chairman of the Hearing Aid Council; and if he will make a statement.

When the Council is set up, I intend to appoint Mr. Harold Campbell as Chairman.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) how many applications have been received from authorities in Wales for additional subsidy under section 5(2) of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967; and how many have been granted and disallowed;(2) whether he will review the decisions of his Department in disallowing applications for additional subsidy under Section 5(2) of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967, where small local authorities are building houses for key workers to attract industries for Mid-Wales to combat rural depopulation.

Only one application has been received and this has been disallowed. I am re-examining the Departmental procedure for these applications.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration is being given to celebrations for the jubilee year of the Forestry Commission in the Principality; and if he will make a statement.

As its contribution to Croeso '69 and to celebrate its jubilee, the Forestry Commission is holding an exhibition of all aspects of forestry at Margam Forest (near Port Talbot) from 7th–12th July, and open weeks at Gwydyr Forest (near Betws-y-Coed) and Dovey Forest (near Machynlleth) during the week beginning 30th June. Special arrangements will be made for organised parties of visitors to these events.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the total amount that local authorities in Wales will require to raise through rates this year in order to meet their commitments; and how this figure compares with the amount raised in the three preceding years.

Figures for 1969–70 are not yet available. The estimated rate yields of local authorities in Wales for the preceding three years were as follows:

1966–67	£57,602,300
1967–68	£60,538,785
1968–69	£63,858,723