asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the posts of United Nations Assistant Secretary General for the Department of Security Council Affairs, Assistant Secretary General for the Department of Political and Security Council Affairs, Under-Secretary for the Department of Political and Security Council Affairs and Under-Secretary General for the Department of Political and Security Council Affairs have always been held by citizens of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or Yugoslavia; what are their precise duties; to what extent such appointments are rotated among different nationalities; and whether he will make a statement.

This post has been held by citizens of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics or Yugoslavia as part of the geographical balance within the United Nations Secretariat which the Secretary General must observe in accordance with the repeatedly expressed wishes of the General Assembly. It is within the competence of the Secretary General as Chief Administrative Officer of the Organisation to rotate such appointments within the appropriate geographical area. The exact functions of the post now described as Under Secretary General for the Department of Political and Security Council Affairs are as follows:"To provide substantive services, secretariats and documentation for the Security Council, for political committees of the General Assembly, for the Disarmament Commission, the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee and other organs or bodies of the United Nations concerned with disarmament negotiations, for the Committee on the Peaceful uses of Outer Space and the Special Committee on the Policies of Apartheid of the Government of the Republic of South Africa; to provide staff and substantive services for other subsidiary committees or commissions established by the Security Council or the General Assembly and concerned with matters relating to the maintenance of international peace and security;To follow, in accordance with Article 54 of the Charter, the activities of regional agencies pertaining to the maintenance of international peace and security;To arrange for the provision to the Military Staff Committee of services necessary for its due functioning as provided for by the Charter;To assist the Secretary General in the discharge of his political responsibilities under the Charter and in pursuance of resolutions of United Nations organs."

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Great Britain abstained in the recent vote at the United Nations on South-West Africa.

Our reasons for abstaining were set out by my right hon. and noble Friend, Lord Caradon, in his statement to the Security Council on 20th March, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names, ages and present posts of those senior officials in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office who are to be retired prematurely in the interests of the Service; on what basis he made this selection; and what arrangements will be made to compensate those retired for loss of earnings.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, East (Mr. Robert Howarth) on 26th March. All these officers are in the top three grades of the Diplomatic Service. The precise dates on which the retirements will take effect have not all been finally settled. However, I expect that with one exception, who will be aged 53, all the officers will be between 54 and 60 on retirement. All but six are at present serving overseas. It would not be appropriate, nor fair to the individuals concerned, to single them out by giving their names.In selecting the officers for retirement, I was assisted by the recommendations of the Senior Selection Board, which is composed of both Ministers and officials. The recommendations were unanimous. We reviewed the prospects, rather than the present performance, of all officers in the three senior grades. The officers eventually selected were those for whom it was difficult to foresee either promotion or continued employment in their present grade beyond 1970 without disturbing the career structure of the Service.The special measures to alleviate hardship, in addition to the immediate pensions and lump sums to which the officers will be entitled under the Superannuation Act, 1965, were outlined in my reply of 26th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 318–19.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government has taken on Resolution (69)3 adopted on the 25th January, 1969, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relating to wider support for European Schools Day at national level.

Her Majesty's Government have made provision of £1,750 in the 1969–70 Estimates for aid to the United Kingdom National Committee of the European Schools Day, which is the same as for 1968–69, but £150 more than that for 1967–68.I regret that Her Majesty's Government cannot undertake to make a further increase for 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the effect on Service recruiting figures of the invasion of Anguilla.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why troops sent to Anguilla have been supplied with tear-gas canisters.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave in the House on 26th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Chislehurst (Mr. Macdonald).—[Vol. 780, c. 1610–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in how many colleges of education is a course on divinity or religious instruction a required subject on the curriculum.

In no college is a course in divinity or religious education a required subject. The majority of colleges offer such a course and in about a third of the colleges it is taken by all students who do not wish to be excused on grounds of conscience. About 8 per cent. of students opt to take religious education as a main subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will instruct the official representatives on the Burham Committee to seek publication of the criteria by which claims for the recognition of professional qualifications as good honours degrees are assessed.

There is no such assessment. As I told my hon. Friend in a written reply on 3rd February, the Burnham Committee accepts for the group III scale honours and higher degrees, but not professional qualifications.—[Vol. 777, c. 41.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action the Government has taken on Resolution 69(2) adopted on 25th January, 1969, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relating to an intensified modern language teaching programme for Europe.

I welcome this Resolution and my Department will continue to encourage modern language teaching in the terms of the Resolution which reflects current thought and developments in this country.Local Education Authorities and teachers are responsible for curricula, but the aims of the Resolutions are becoming more widely accepted through the work of such agencies as the Schools Council, the Nuffield Foundation, the Modem Language Association and through courses and conferences organised by Her Majesty's Inspectorate and Local Education Authority advisers.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will institute such administrative reorganisation of the Pay As You Earn system as is necessary to obtain separate statistics on Schedule E income tax for England and Wales.

To publish separate statistics of P.A.Y.E. tax collected in England and in Wales could be misleading because the place where the tax is collected from the employer may often be different from the place where the employment is exercised.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out the total of bank overdrafts for the private sector and for public sector companies and organisations, respectively, at the present time, three months ago, and one year ago, respectively.

The hon. Gentleman will find the information he is seeking in Table 30 of Financial Statistics. The latest figures available relate to end-December, 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase is paid on the matured national certificates of each issue where these are not cashed; whether interest continues to be paid on the amount of the matured bond or whether it is paid on the total each year of bond and interest; and whether interest ceases after any given number of years in each issue.

Matured National Savings Certificates continue to increase in value by increments which are added at intervals in accordance with prescribed scales. I will send my right hon. Friend a leaflet giving full particulars.Certificates of the 1st to 6th Issues inclusive may be held, and will continue to earn interest, indefinitely. The currency of matured certificates of subsequent Issues has been extended for fixed periods, but as these periods terminate it is the practice to announce terms on which the certificates may continue to be held for a further period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the cost of issuing a motor vehicle taxation licence.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer given on 25th March, 1969, by the Minister of Transport to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Oakes).—[Vol. 780. c. 263.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the extra charge imposed on motorists who tax their vehicles at four-monthly intervals instead of annually.

10 per cent., as prescribed by Section 2(2)(b) of the Vehicles (Excise) Act, 1962.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the number of office blocks vacant in London and elsewhere, he will introduce legislation to make rates payable in full on empty office and other buildings.

My right hon. Friend has at present no proposals for amending the existing legislation under which

		1962–63	1963–64	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68
		£	£	£	£	£	£
Rate support Grants
Resources element	…	—	—	—	—	—	959,841
Domestic element	…	—	—	—	—	—	18,745
Total	…						978,586
Rate-deficiency grant	…	559,659	630,709	685,309	766,726	831,234	—
Rating (Interim Relief) Act, Sections 1 and 5	…	—	—	10,035	11,485	12,790	—
Rate rebates	…	—	—	—	—	15,169	15,714
Specific Revenue Grants
Improvement Grants	…	26,336	32,094	37,955	44,279	50,950	56,752
Highways	…	795	1,149	9,428	1,260	1,530	9,962
Miscellaneous	…	—	8	—	872	913	16
Housing Subsidies etc	…	51,487	54,953	69,298	72,324	79,765	84,214
Capital Grants
Town and Country Planning	…	—	—	—	—	—	63,750
Miscellaneous	…	1,442	114	4,489	—	—	70,500
Totals	…	639,719	719,027	816,514	896,946	992,351	1,279,494
Source: Epitomes of Accounts and Departmental Records.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that Mr. Jack Pearce, an old age pensioner, aged 76 years and his wife Ida aged 73 years of Jasmine Cottage, Chaddleworth, have received a betterment levy demand from the Land Commission of £554 on the sale of part of their garden for £1,800; if he will introduce an extra statutory concession to relieve hardship in this case; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that this case is still under consideration by the Land Commission.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to ascertain the capital

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give details of the amounts granted from public funds to Rhondda Borough Council for each financial year from 1962–63 to 1967–68.

The details of the grants to the Rhondda Borough Council for the years 1962–63 to 1967–68 are as follows:value of all land and property secured by local authorities by means of compulsory purchase orders and of the purchase and sales thereof.

No. I do not think that the value of this information would justify the work and expense involved in its collection.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is aware that, arising out of the Land Tribunal's decision in Durham, local authorities levy rates on spoil heaps at disused collieries that are being removed to provide motorway material and for other constructive purposes, with the result that opportunities to improve amenities and reclaim land are lost; and if he will introduce legislation to ensure that such removals will not be rate-borne.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals for exempting from the normal liability to rates spoil heaps which are in beneficial occupation. However, if my hon. Friend has any evidence that opportunities for reclaiming such heaps are being lost on account of rating, I shall be pleased to consider it.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will provide specimen income and expenditure accounts for the telecommunications side of the Post Office, drawn up on the basis of the same depreciation arrangements as are employed by a telephone rental company, details of whose arrangements have been sent to him.

The depreciation arrangements of the telephone rental company are much the same as those of the Post Office. Provision is made on a straight line basis, at rates designed to cover the cost of assets within the estimated life of those assets. The only major difference is that the Post Office makes a supplementary provision, as shown in Note 6 to the 1967–68 Post Office Accounts. With the exception of this provision (£22 million in 1967–68) the accounts of the Post Office if drawn up on the basis suggested would be the same as those already published.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applications for telephone installations are outstanding on the Toll Bar (Coventry) Telephone Exchange; and when he expects these outstanding applications to be cleared.

There are 199. Of these 14 will have service shortly and the remainder by the end of October, providing exchange equipment is installed by the manufacturer on time.

asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that callers asking for a telephone number on the former Central Exchange are being informed that they are asking for a spare line, instead of being told that the Exchange has been converted to all-figure numbering; and if he will ensure that all such calls are intercepted and the caller given correct information.

At present calls to telephone numbers on the former Central Exchange are automatically connected to the new all-figure numbers, and no one calling one of these numbers should be told that the line is spare. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind and will let me have details I will investigate.

asked the Postmaster-General what research is currently being done by his Department to investigate the effects of violence on television; when the results will be available; and whether he will consult with the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to seek their assistance in carrying out his research.

None. The Television Research Committee, established in 1963 has submitted its report to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. It is being studied

asked the Postmaster-General if he will name the Scottish-domiciled recipient of his patronage, giving the title of his appointment and his salary.

Dr. W. Macfarlane Gray, O.B.E., O.St.J., J.P., Member of the Independent Television Authority. In accordance with paragraph 1 of Schedule 1 of the Television Act, 1964, he was appointed to make the interests of Scotland his special care. His salary is £1,000 per annum.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will now give details of the British Steel Corporation's corporate plan for the steel industry; and if he will make a statement.

I am discussing the Corporation's planning work with them and hope to say more about it during the debates on the forthcoming Bill dealing with steel. The Corporation will also be publishing a brochure, indicating the broad lines on which they are working. Meanwhile, I would refer my hon. Friend to Chapter 4 of their Annual Report for 1967–68.

Site and Location		Type of Coal			Decision
Hirwaun Common East (Revised), Glamorganshire	…	Coking coal	…	…	Granted
* Llanilid, Glamorganshire	…	Coking coal	…	…	Refused
Pant-y-Felin, Carmarthenshire	…	Anthracite	…	…	Granted
Oak Villa, Carmarthenshire	…	Anthracite	…	…	Granted
Fountain Extension (South), Glamorganshire	…	Coking coal	…	…	Granted
Dunraven (Glyneithinog) Extension, Glamorganshire	…	Anthracite	…	…	Granted
Hirwaun Common East Extension, Glamorganshire	…	Coking coal	…	…	Pending
Poplars North East Revised, Staffordshire	…	Industrial coal	…	…	Pending
Bryn Defaid, Glamorganshire	…	Dry steam coal	…	…	Pending
* Llanilid, Glamorganshire	…	Coking coal	…	…	Pending
Abercrave/Gwaunton Extension, Breconshire	…	Anthracite	…	…	Pending
Anker, Staffordshire and Warwickshire	…	Industrial coal	…	…	Pending
Park Wall (Sunniside Extension). Co. Durham	…	Power station coal		…	Pending
* The National Coal Board have made a second application for this site.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works why he officially invited hon. Members to apply to Spink and Son Limited for silver Prince of Wales investiture medals, in view of the fact that such medals had been over-subscribed by 13th February.

The invitation was prepared before 13th February but I regret that events overtook its publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many dwellings demolished in each of the last five years were classified as unfit.

Available information relates to houses demolished or closed. The total numbers are as follows:

	Houses classified as unfit	Other Houses	Total
1964	11,997	2,395	14,392
1965	12,549	2,985	15,534
1966	12,766	3,884	16,650
1967	14,447	4,640	19,087
1968 (to 30th September)	10,974	2,853	13,827

asked the Minister of Power if he will list the applications for opencast coalmining he has received since November, 1967, the type of coal relating to each application and his decision on each application.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost of the public inquiry into his proposals to increase Forth Road Bridge tolls.

It will not be possible to assess the total cost of the inquiry. As the Reporter is preparing his report the inquiry is not yet complete, and the costs which can be calculated are not yet known.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many children under 16 years of age were killed in domestic fires in each of the last five years.

For children under 15 years the figures are as follows:—

England and Wales
1964	166
1965	191
1966	178
1967	139
1968	185

Figures for children under 16 are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the cost to the general medical and pharmaceutical services of non-proprietary preparations in each of the years 1950, 1958, 1965 and the latest year for which figures are available, and of proprietary preparations in each of those same years.

The estimated total net ingredient cost of proprietary and nonproprietary drugs dispensed by chemists in contract with Executive Councils in England and Wales was:

£ million
	1950	1958	1965	1967
Proprietary preparations*	6·6	30·2	77·6	91·2
Non-proprietary preparations	9·3	8·7	5·1	6·6
* Including preparations prescribed by nonproprietary name but available only in proprietary form.

Many of the new drugs introduced over this period were available only in proprietary form.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the amount of money expended on the TSR2 since it was cancelled; and how much of this sum is in respect of work done before the date of cancellation.

£53 million and £48 million respectively.

asked the Minister of Technology when he now expects the first commercial reactor of the Dounreay type to be in operation.

Preliminary design work for a commercial fast reactor has already started and, subject to a decision by the generating boards as a result of technical and economic evaluation, it is anticipated that a power reactor of this type could come in service by the latter half of the 1970s.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to obtain from local authorities figures showing the number of representations they receive, under the terms of the Trade Descriptions Act, about the content of public advertisements of cures for baldness.

No. If a local weights and measures authority intends to prosecute in such a case, it will inform the Board. I do not think that the further information mentioned by the hon. Member would—if available—be of sufficient value to justify its collection.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to secure compliance with Section 17 of the Companies Act, 1967; what advice he has issued to directors of companies in this matter; and what further steps he proposes to take to ensure that directors of firms engaged in two different classes of business do not treat them as a single class for the purpose of the section.

The Section leaves it to the directors to form an opinion whether the company is carrying on substantially differing classes of business. We have, therefore, given no general advice how their discretion should be exercised.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will undertake a reappraisal of the lifesaving techniques used by those engaged in rescue work at sea; and if he will give consideration to requiring the inclusion of a frogman as a member of lifeboat crews.

The inclusion of a frogman as a member of life-boat crews is a matter for the Royal National Life-boat Institution and I understand that they are at present considering this. The improvement of life-saving techniques used in rescue work at sea is always in our minds.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of all industrial development certificates were granted for projects in Scotland, the South-East and the West Midlands, respectively, in each of the years during which the system has operated.

The information asked for is given in the table below for the years

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES APPROVED * PERCENTAGES OF GREAT BRITAIN TOTALS
			By numbers			By floor area‡
			Scotland	West†Midlands	South East	Scotland	West Midlands	South East
1956	…	…	5·8	14·6	34·3	6·7	12·8	31·9
1957	…	…	6·0	15·9	31·5	6·4	16·4	28·4
1958	…	…	6·2	15·2	33·2	8·7	13·3	34·9
1959	…	…	6·3	15·0	33·0	10·4	12·8	32·8
1960	…	…	5·7	13·1	29·9	—	—	—
1961	…	…	5·4	11·6	31·7	—	—	—
1962	…	…	6·4	12·0	32·2	—	—	—
1963	…	…	8·3	11·5	28·8	—	—	—
1964	…	…	7·3	12·6	24·8	—	—	—
1965	…	…	9·2	12·3	23·6	—	—	—
1966	…	…	6·8	11·6	25·8	—	—	—
1967	…	…	6·0	11·3	25·6	11·6	8·2	23·6
1968	…	…	6·1	11·4	23·6	10·7	10·5	19·2
* Figures relate to all projects over 5,000 sq. ft.
† Before 1966 the West Midlands was named the Midlands; the coverage was the same.
‡ Proportions by floor area are not given for 1960–66 because the figures for Scotland were not comparable with those for the West Midlands and the South East in this period.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether during his inquiry into the wrecking of the vessel "Irene" and the loss of the Longhope lifeboat, he will take account of the position of the ship as radioed by the master of the vessel on 17th March compared with the position at which the vessel was later found; and if he will give an assurance that the master and crew will be examined before they are allowed to leave the country.

The Board of Trade preliminary inquiry will cover all the relevant factors affecting the casualty to the "Irene".

asked the President of the Board of Trade what mining areas have received assistance as a consequence of being scheduled special development areas; what industries have been attracted to these areas; how many jobs are involved; and what is their location.

The following mining areas are eligible for special development area benefits.

Scotland
Girvan.	Sanquhar.
Lesmahagow.	Shotts.
Leven and Methil
Wales
Abertillery.	Neath.
Ammanford.	Newbridge.
Bargoed.	Pontardawe.
Blackwood.	Pontlottyn.
Brynmawr.	Resolven.
Cymmer.	Tonypandy.
Ebbw Vale.	Tredegar.
Ferndale.	Treorchy.
Garnant.	Ystalyfera.
Maesteg.	Ystrad Mynach.
Northern Region
Ashington.	Durham.
Aspatria.	Haltwhistle.
Bedlington.	Houghton-le-Spring.
Birtley.	Lanchester.
Bishop Auckland.	Maryport.
Blyth.	Seaton Delaval.
Chester-le-Street.	Shildon.
Cleator Moor.	Spennymoor.
Cockermouth.	Stanley.
Consett.	Whitehaven.
Crook.	Workington.

The firms attracted to these areas include representatives of most of the major sectors of industry. It is not possible to show how many jobs are being created in each of the special development areas without disclosing confidential information about individual firms: but 1,330 new jobs are expected to arise within the next four years in authorised new industrial buildings and in existing buildings taken over by manufacturing firms in special development areas in Scotland, 4,600 in Wales and 17,610 in the Northern Region.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made in the provision of a new bridge over the canal at Thorne.

Work is expected to start early in April and be completed in October.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) upon what figure of annual loss on that service he based his proposal about the future of the High Wycombe-Marylebone railway service;(2) what method of assessing the profitability of a railway service was used in deciding the future of the High Wycombe-Marylebone service;(3) on what evidence he based his assessment that better interchange facilities are available for passengers at Paddington Station than at Marylebone;(4) in what respects he decided that the diversion of the High Wycombe-Marylebone service to Paddington represents better value for money.

The estimated loss on the Aylesbury - High Wycombe - Marylebone service in 1969 is £552,000. This figure is calculated on the same basis as that used for all the grants announced in my Answer on 28th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Central Ayrshire (Mr. Manuel), and is that recommended by the Joint Steering Group, described in the Annex to the White Paper on Railway Policy (Cmnd. 3439). The grant was assessed by deducting estimated earnings of £620,000 from estimated total costs of £1,172,000.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans British Railways has submitted to him for the development of Caerphilly station.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport how many objections have been received to his proposals for parking restrictions on the A41 in Berkhamsted; and whether he will hold a public inquiry.

1,054 people have objected to the proposals. I am arranging for a public inquiry to be held.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now completed his inquiries into the representations he has reecived as to the inconvenience suffered by the residents of Warley arising from the construction of the Midlands motorway link in that borough; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. Following a thorough inspection, the contractor has been reminded of his responsibilities under the contract referred to in the reply to my hon. Friend's Question on 6th March. I understand that the circumstances which gave rise to the representations to which my hon. Friend refers have now been remedied with the exception of some damage to the drive of a house; the matter has been referred to the contractor's insurers. I will continue to keep an eye on the situation.—[Vol. 779, c. 167–68.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of rents raised and lowered, respectively, following applications to rent officers under the Rent Act, 1965; how many of such applications came from landlords and how many from tenants; how many rent officers' determinations were raised and lowered, respectively, by rent assessment panels; and how many tenants have made use of the plan for surveyors' assistance to date.

Out of some 69,400 cases analysed to date in England and Wales, the previous rent was reduced in 22,900, increased in 40,000, and left unchanged in 6,500. 33,900 cases resulted from landlords' applications, 24,500 from tenants' and 11,000 were joint applications. Among the cases analysed, an appeal to the rent assessment committee was made in 6,671 cases. The rent decided by the rent officer was reduced in 1,103 of these cases, confirmed in 2,438 and increased in 3,130.All the above figures exclude cases where the basis on which the rent officer determined the rent was not comparable to the basis on which the previous rent rested.During 1968, the first year of operation of the Surveyors' Aid Scheme in Greater London, 39 tenants responding to landlords' appeals and 32 tenants initiating their own appeals, applied for and received assistance under the Scheme.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the latest figures in a table showing the farming aggregate net income at constant market values with the forecasted index figure for 1968–69.

The estimates of aggregate farming net income are as follows:

	Adjusted to constant 1954–57 prices by the Consumer Price Index	As an index at constant 1954–57 prices, with the average of 1954–55 to 1956–57=100
£m.
1954–55	326	97·4
1955–56	350	104·5
1956–57	328	97·9
1957–58	351½	105·0
1958–59	306	91·4
1959–60	330½	98·6
1960–61	352	105·1
1961–62	369½	110·2
1962–63	377	112·5
1963–64	337	100·7
1964–65	377½	112·7
1965–66	353	105·4
1966–67	358	106·8
1967–68	372½	111·1
1968–69 (Forecast)	328	97·9

The above figures take account of the most recent statistical information available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information his Department has on the yield of crops planted on land that has previously been subject to open-cast coal working.

My Department has direct responsibility for the land only during the period when it is being prepared for return to the owner. During this period the cultivations are mainly temporary grass crops, and no detailed records of cropping are maintained. The Department's advisory officers do however maintain contact with the land after its return to the owners so as to keep a watch on the progress of its recovery.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what machinery his Department's views are given when open-cast mining applications are made that involve the permanent or temporary loss of agricultural land.

My Department is among the bodies consulted by the National Coal Board before the Board applies formally for authorisation from the Minister of Power. This consultation covers both the general aspects of the proposal and in particular the measures required to safeguard agricultural interests if open-cast working is authorised.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware that imported barley is being offered for sale below the minimum import price and that this is depressing the market for home-grown cereals; and if he will take steps to enforce import levies.

I am aware that feeding barley is on offer for import into the United Kingdom at prices below the minimum import price level and that purchases have been made at these prices. In consequence, import levies of 15s. per ton were imposed on Canadian barley on 11th March and were increased to 20s. per ton from 13th March. A levy of 15s. per ton on Australian barley has been operative since 12th March. Levies of 5s. per ton on barley from six European countries were imposed on 19th March and were increased to 15s. from 26th March. A general levy of 15s. per ton, applicable to barley from all countries not co-operating in the minimum import prices scheme, was imposed on 11th March and increased to 20s. from 13th March. On the same dates prospective levies of the same amounts were announced for future months of shipment.The market for home-grown barley has not been undermined; and returns received by my Department show that the average landed price—exclusive of levy—of imported feed barley for all future months of shipment will be above the minimum import price level.