asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is aware of growing unemployment in Hull and district, and what steps she is taking to combat this.

On 10th March, 1969, the rate of unemployment in the Hull travel-to-work area was 3·5 per cent. which, though above the corresponding national rate of 2·5 per cent., was lower than in March, 1968, when the rate for the area was 3·7 per cent.My local officers will continue their efforts to help those unemployed to find suitable work and to offer training opportunities where appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will take steps to set up an insurance fund, contributed to by industry as a whole, to recompense industries engaged in export against the effects of strikes.

No. This would not improve industrial relations or help the balance of payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many working days were lost through strikes and stoppages in 1968 in the nationalised industries and in bodies such as the Port of London Authority, which are controlled by other public authorities.

The number of working days lost in the United Kingdom in the nationalised industries during 1968 due to stoppages of work arising from industrial disputes was about 365,000. In the remainder of the public sector, as defined for purposes of National Accounts Statistics, the corresponding figure was about 335,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity following the equal pay for equal work provision in the recent Ford agreement, what is her policy regarding similar provisions in other companies and industries in relation to the achievement of equal pay for equal work.

The Government welcome any provisions in collective agreements which promote equal pay within the terms of the productivity, prices and incomes policy. This puts no bar or ceiling on differential increases designed to promote equal pay if the overall settlement conforms with the policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) what further steps she proposes to take towards the implementation of equal pay for work of equal value; and if she now proposes to introduce legislation to ratify the International Labour Office Convention 100;(2) if she will now indicate the date from which her seven-year phasing of the implementation of equal pay will start.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will now undertake to re-examine the time-table of the seven-year phasing of the implementation of equal pay for work of equal value in view of the issuing of a plan for national superannuation.

The inquiry into the costs of introducing equal pay in specific industries which my Department is conducting in agreement with the T.U.C. and C.B.I. is nearing completion. As soon as the results are available, I will be having further talks with both sides of industry on the timing and phasing of a programme of implementation, which will be framed with due regard to the Government's other social policies including the new proposals for earnings-related social security. The Government are not yet in a position to ratify I.L.O. Convention 100.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what visits have been made by inspectors of her Department to holiday camps owned by a company whose name has been sent to her in the United Kingdom arising from the provisions of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act; and if she will make a statement.

None. The Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act only applies to offices and shops in holiday camps and restaurants and bars if they are open to the public. Enforcement of the Act in these places is the responsibility of the appropriate local authority and my hon. Friend may wish to pursue any particular case with the local authority concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in her present economic planning, she is taking account of the maintenance of the present prices and incomes policy until 1972.

The Green Paper "The Task Ahead" says there must be continuing restraint on incomes and prices. The precise form of the prices and incomes policy after the end of 1969 is under review at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress she has now made in her discussions with the trades unions regarding the future of her prices and incomes policies after the expiration of existing legislation.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given to the hon. Member by my right hon. Friend on 20th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made in consultations between the Government, the Confederation of British Industry and individual employers' associations on the changes in organisation and services of employers' associations foreshadowed in "In Place of Strife".

We have been informed by the C.B.I. that employers' associations are actively reviewing the services they offer their members and are co-operating with the C.B.I. in preparing for the joint discussions on collective bargaining foreshadowed in the C.B.I.-T.U.C. statement of 23rd October last year. I welcome the fact that these associations are acting on the recommendations made in the Donovan Report and the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what consultations she has had with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Council about the definition of the term employers' association.

We have not yet consulted the C.B.I. and the T.U.C. on the implementation of the proposal in the White Paper "In Place of Strife" (Cmnd. 3888) for a new legal definition of the term "employers' association".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made in improving the deployment of the conciliation services of her Department, as foreshadowed in "In Place of Strife".

The main development in the conciliation services mentioned in the White Paper was that my Department will be more ready to take the initiative in proffering its help. Appropriate guidance is being given to my conciliation officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what consultations she has had with both sides of industry on possible amendments to the Contracts of Employment Act, 1963, to be included in an Industrial Relations Bill.

My right hon. Friend is consulting the T.U.C., the C.B.I. and the nationalised industries about the implementation of the proposals contained in the White Paper "In Place of Strife". One of these proposals is to amend the Contracts of Employment Act and it will be included in the consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made in consultations between the Government, the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress and wages councils on the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Industrial Relations with regard to wages councils; and whether she will make a statement.

Three separate meetings have been held with the chairmen and leaders of the workers' and employers' sides of the wages councils; the T.U.C. and C.B.I. were associated with the discussions with their respective sides. Other organisations of employers in the retail distributive trades are being consulted and I hope that it will be possible for discussions with the C.B.I. and T.U.C. to take place very shortly. Until these consultations have been completed I cannot make a statement about the Government's detailed proposals for wages councils.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what consultations she has held on experiments in the appointment of workers' representatives to boards of undertakings; and if she will make a statement.

This will be one aspect of the consultations now in progress with the C.B.I., T.U.C. and other interested organisations on all the proposals for legislation contained in the White Paper, "In Place of Strife".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what consultations she has had with the industrial training boards on the training of trade union officials.

Guidance from the Central Training Council on the development of shop steward training was sent to the training boards in 1967. Most boards now make provision in their schemes for grants towards the costs of attendance at approved courses of training for shop stewards in their industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made in consultations between the Government, the Trades Union Congress and individual trade unions on the trade union reforms outlined in "In Place of Strife"; and whether she will make a statement.

My Department has begun detailed consultations with the T.U.C. about the implementation of some of the proposals in the White Paper, and hopes to do so about the others shortly. We have not had any consultations direct with individual trade unions; those affiliated to the T.U.C. will no doubt express their views through it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what proposals she has for improving the training of management in industrial relations techniques.

This is under consideration in the light of the need to develop training in industrial relations to which we drew attention in the White Paper "In Place of Strife".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will make a statement of her policy in relation to those recommendations of the Donovan Commission which she has not accepted.

The White Paper "In Place of Strife" (Cmnd. 3888) indicates which of the Royal Commission's recommendations my right hon. Friend has specifically accepted or rejected. The remaining recommendations are being considered by the Government and will be discussed with those concerned; where appropriate they will be included in the Industrial Relations Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the labour force in the car industry in Scotland in each year from 1963 to 1968; and what is the projected manpower envisaged each year until 1970.

The reply to the first part of the Question is contained in the following table. As regards the second part of the Question, like my predecessors, I have never thought it a fruitful exercise to make forecasts about employment or unemployment.Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, in view of the fact that increases of wage rates in the road haulage industry exceed the 3½ per cent. criteria of the prices and incomes policy and carry no relative improvements of productivity, if she will refer them to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and if she will make a statement.

The National Board for Prices and Incomes reported on a number of agreements in the road haulage industry in December. In accordance with the Board's recommendations my Manpower and Productivity Service is now assisting the industry in the negotiation of productivity agreements. I do not think a further reference to the Board at this juncture would serve any useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will take steps to compile a central register of redundancies for the Greater London area.

No. I do not think that the cost of compiling and maintaining a special register of redundancies in the Greater London Area would be justifiable. A considerable amount of information is already recorded about redundancies notified to us under the provisions of the Redundancy Payments Act and in the course of our normal employment work, but as employers are under no obligation to tell us about all redundancies the information is not comprehensive.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity to what extent continuity of production is to be an additional criteria, under prices and incomes legislation, to allow increases of incomes in excess of the norm.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given on 24th March to the hon. Members for Harrow, West (Mr. John Page) and Leicester, South-West (Mr. Tom Boardman).—[Vol. 780, c. 204.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in coming to her decision on the bank employees' wage claim, she took into consideration the expectation of continuity of production in the banking industry and freedom from the effects of industrial disputes.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in view of the fact that on 15th March at Messrs. Tube Products Limited of Oldbury nine tons of hydrochloric acid was delivered by road tanker and was inadvertently pumped into a tank containing 19 tons of nitric acid, and that serious consequences were avoided only by the action of the Warley Fire Brigade, in the interests of safety she will make further regulations for the storage and handling of large quantities of toxic and corrosive acids in workplaces.

This incident has been investigated by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate. It was due to a load being delivered to the wrong firm after hours and unloaded, apparently contrary to instructions. No further regulations are contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will prepare and issue a green paper on the subject of safety precautions in establishments to which the Factory Acts are not at present applicable but where persons employed are subject to kindred accident hazards.

Proposals for legislation to replace the Factories Act, 1961, and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963, were circulated to interested bodies and organisations in December, 1967. As regards the application of the legislation, the Government's aim, which is reflected in the proposals, is to bring within scope as many as possible of the workers not at present covered by any safety, health and welfare legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on the progress that has been made on the revision of the Factories Act, 1961, and the

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity why she decided to issue an order to prevent the wage agreement concluded between the Electrical Contractors' Association and the Electrical Trade Union, affecting Scottish electricians, from being implemented.

No such order has been issued. Notice of intent to extend the standstill was published in the Edinburgh Gazette on 27th March, 1969. My right hon. Friend is meeting the parties to the agreement in the next few days and no decision will be taken until their representations have been considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) how many working days were lost per 1,000 employees in the motor vehicle industry in each of the last six years, giving separate figures for Scotland and England;(2) how many working days were lost per 1,000 employees in the shipbuilding industry during each of the last six years, giving separate figures for Scotland and England;(3) how many working days were lost per 1,000 employees in the docks during each of the last six years, giving separate figures for Scotland and England.

Following is the information:Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963; and when she expects to introduce legislation on this subject.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Oates) on 25th November last.—[Vol. 774, c. 23.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what increases in staff were recommended for Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate in the report of the Departmental Working Party on the Duties and Staffing of the Inspectorate; on what grounds were increases recommended; and how many increases were recommended in each grade.

The staffing requirements of the Factory Inspectorate are kept under continuous examination. Reports of Departmental working parties, which are confidential documents for internal use, are only one element in formulating policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when the General Branch of Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate was last at, or within 3 per cent. of, a full complement; how many applications were received in the first competition for Class IIA inspectors; how many of these applicants were called for interview; and how many have been offered and have accepted appointments.

Information on the first part of the Question is not available. 87 applications were received in the first competition for Class IIA inspectors; 13 applicants were called for interview; 6 have accepted appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she proposes to overcome the shortage of 85 inspectors of factories; and what is her Department's long-term policy on this matter.

It is proposed to arrange further open competitions to meet the present shortage of factory inspectors. My Department's long-term policy on this matter is under examination.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will consider making opportunities available for married women who were formerly employed in Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate to return to the Inspectorate on a part-time or full-time basis.

Yes. Opportunities already exist for this on a full-time basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what studies her Department has made of the numbers of married women in professional and managerial grades who do not work full time on account of the amalgamation of husbands' and wives' incomes for the purposes of tax assessment; and whether she will publish the results.

Although the effects of amalgamating marital incomes for tax purposes were not specifically studied, the Survey of Women's Employment in a national sample of 10,000 households commissioned by the Ministry of Labour in 1965, produced some indication of women's attitudes on this matter. Women interviewed during the survey were asked directly about the attractions and drawbacks for married women in going out to work. The attraction most frequently named was the financial one.The principal reasons given by married women for not going to work were the absence of need or wish to work, the need to look after children, and other domestic commitments. About 1 per cent. mentioned financial drawbacks. 85 per cent. of women—married and single—in professional and managerial occupations were working full-time compared with 62 per cent. of all working women.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in the light of the present industrial situation in Great Britain, she will introduce legislation to implement the proposals of "In Place of Strife" during the current Parliamentary session.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Goole (Mr. George Jeger) on Monday, 24th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 202–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will enter into discussions with the Chairman of the National Board for Prices and Income regarding the statements made by the Board in paragraph 14 of its Report number 85 on the Pay of Dundee Busmen.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether the 31½ per cent. ceiling on salary increases based on the principle of comparability between industries and professions will apply to adjustment of executive salaries in nationalised industries following the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes published on 25th March.

Any adjustment of executive salaries in the nationalised industries would have to conform to the principles governing increases in incomes laid down in the White Paper on Prices and Incomes Policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she was informed of the claim by workers at the Hawker Siddeley plant at Woodford, Cheshire; what percentage increase in estimated rates, earnings and producticity is involved in the claim; and what is the current state of negotiations.

The claim was notified to my Department on 21st November, 1968, and was for a substantial increase in pay. An agreement has been reached which will give the workers concerned an increase in rates but negotiations are still continuing on a bonus scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the estimated increase in rates, earnings, and productivity involved in the recent settlement between Swan Hunter and woodworkers employed in its five yards on the Tyne.

My Department has recently been notified of the details of this agreement and it is now being examined in the light of incomes policy requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the estimated percentage increase in rates, earnings and productivity arising from the wage settlement between the independent television technicians and their employers.

I have nothing to add to my Answer to the hon. Member of 10th March.—[Vol. 779, c. 218.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many local agreements the engineering industry have been concluded under the productivity guidelines of the national engineering award made in December, 1968; and what is the average increase in rates and earnings arising from these settlements.

I can add nothing to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 24th February.—[Vol. 778, c. 1064–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is now in a position to assess the estimated percentage increase in rates, earnings and productivity arising from the productivity plan proposed for employees of Smiths Industries, Witney.

I can add nothing to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 21st February.—[Vol. 778, c. 175.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made in the negotiations between Rootes Motors Limited and the trade unions concerning incomes at the company's Coventry plant; and what percentage increase in rates, earnings and productivity is involved in the claim by the unions.

An agreement giving sectional pay increases of about 6 per cent. to five groups of workers at the company's Coventry plants was approved by my Department on 28th February, 1969; the increases were offset by savings from productivity improvements. I understand that negotiations are still proceeding between Rootes Motors Ltd. and the trade unions concerned for a plant productivity agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress is being made with the new training centre at Darlington; and when she expects the centre to be open.

Good progress is being made with the building of this centre and I expect it to open in the autumn of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will give for the longest convenient stated period of time details of the wage and salary increases that she has referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes together with the result of their findings and similar details for price increases on goods and services as charged to the general public.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton) on 28th January.—[Vol. 776, c. 308–12.]. Since then 7 references have been made to the National Board for Prices and Incomes: 4 on prices questions and 3 on incomes questions.Below is a statement of these references.The Board's findings are available in the published Reports of the Board.1.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in the light of the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the salary scales paid to the higher-paid executives, she will take steps to increase the salary of her chief conciliation officer by 60 per cent. a year.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in the light of the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the salaries of the higher-paid executives, she will take steps to increase the salary of the Chairman of the National Board for Prices and Incomes by 60 per cent. a year.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she will make a statement concerning the recent report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the salaries of higher-paid executives and the chairmen of the nationalised boards; and when this report first reached her Department.

The report was submitted to my right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State on 7th March. The Secretary of State will be making a statement about it later this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will introduce legislation to provide a 60 per cent. a year increase in the salaries and wages of schoolteachers, nurses, engineers, dockworkers and civil airline pilots and a pension scheme of 66⅔ per cent. of such incomes upon retirement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the rules for deciding and revising establishments of individual hospitals; and how far local circumstances and needs are taken into account.

Certain senior medical and administrative posts are subject to central approval, but otherwise it is for hospital boards and committees to determine the staffing requirements of individual hospitals in the light of local circumstances and subject to guidance on particular aspects from my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ease the financial burden on hospital funds from the over-spending on drugs by hospital management committees.

The sums made available for the running costs of hospitals are increased each year to allow for development of the service including increased expenditure on drugs. It is for hospital authorities to make the appropriate provision in their estimates for the expected cost of each element of their expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware that uncertainty over the future of Bearsted Maternity Hospital at Hampton Court is preventing staff and patients being taken on there; and when he expects to reach a decision on the future of the hospital.

I have given most careful consideration to the future of the Bearsted Memorial Hospital, Hampton Court, taking account not only of the recommendations made to me by the regional hospital board but also of local opinion. I am aware that this hospital is held in high regard locally, but I have decided that the right course is to close it. All but two of the existing patients are now medically fit for discharge, and arrangements have been made for the transfer to other hospitals in the area of the others—whose babies are not due for several weeks—and of booked patients not yet admitted. The hospital will therefore close today, and the staff are being offered alternative employment in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has considered the proposals of Professor Brian Abel-Smith for a hospital ombudsman, a copy of which has been sent to him; and when he expects to be able to announce his plans for this office.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue advice to hospitals on the use of dipyridamole for cerebral vascular disease in the light of the trial undertaken at the North Staffordshire Royal Infirmary, Stoke-on-Trent.

Doctors have been advised by the Standing Joint Committee on the Classification of Proprietary Preparations that this drug is not of proven efficacy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of hospital beds in each of the new towns in England, together with the numbers that those beds serve.

The numbers of beds which contribute to the services provided for the area in which the new town is situated are shown in the list below. The residents of new towns are not exclusively dependent upon beds within their boundaries nor are those beds for their exclusive use.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what advice he received from the Consultancy Advisory Committee about the appointment of consultants; and if he will order an investigation into the extent to which the shortage of consultants is delaying operations, thus causing permanent hearing damage to children.(2) if he will estimate how many children have suffered permanent hearing damage resulting from a delay in performing operations.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to consultants posts in otolaryngology. Of five proposals for new whole-time posts made by hospital authorities in the past two years, three have been approved on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Consultant Establishments and one rejected. One recent proposal is under consideration. A sixth application was referred back to the hospital authority because the committee doubted whether a satisfactory appointment could be made on the part-time basis proposed. The number of authorised senior registrar posts, for training consultants in this specialty, has recently been increased by seven.I am advised that a direct connection between the length of the waiting period for tonsillectomy and the incidence of deafness in children has not been demonstrated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of children awaiting ear, nose and throat operations; and what proportion have been waiting over a year.

On 31st December 1967, the last date for which figures are available, 77,276 people were waiting for tonsil and adenoid operations of which it may be assumed the majority were children. Figures for waiting times are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in which regions there is a delay of over a year in operating on children requiring ear, nose and throat operations.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of revenue from charges to private patients in National Health Service hospitals in the first year of the new charging arrangements which came into operation on 1st April, 199; and how this estimate compares with revenue from charges in previous years.

The information for England and Wales is as follows:—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent charges for private patients in National Health Service hospitals are being increased under the new charges which come into operation on 1st April.

There are more than 650 hospitals with paybeds. It would involve a disproportionate amount of time to make the comparison in relation to each individual hospital. The new charges will result in an estimated increase in revenue of £1 million in 1969–70 over the previous year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the new charges for private patients in National Health Service hospitals relates to capital costs.

No precise statistics are available. On a very rough calculation, the average figure may be about 2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions he gives to regional hospital boards regarding the payment of examination fees for cadet nurses; and if he will make a statement.

I assume the Question relates to General Certificate of Education examination fees. Where for any reason they are not paid by the local education authority the hospital authority concerned would be authorised to pay them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) by what date it was estimated the new hospital at Walsgrave, Coventry, would admit its first in-patients;(2) when he now expects the new hospital at Walsgrave, Coventry, to admit its first in-patiens;(3) on what date he estimates the ear, nose and throat unit for in-patients at Walsgrave Hospital, Coventry, will be open;(4) what are the reasons for the delay in opening the hospital at Walsgrave, Coventry.

Patients are expected to be admitted to the new ward block of the Walsgrave Hospital towards the end of April, instead of in March as had been planned. The delay has been caused by difficulties, which are being overcome, in the provision and installation of equipment and with the heating system. The new ward block will be brought into use gradually and patients are expected to be admitted to the ear, nose and throat unit in about four months time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the present monthly cost of running the new hospital at Walsgrave, Coventry.

The monthly running costs of the new maternity hospital at Walsgrave are at present about £31,000. Monthly expenditure on the new ward block, mainly the cost of staff recruited for training in advance of the opening, is currently about £50,000. The monthly expenditure will rise gradually to about £130,000 as the block is brought into full use.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the National Board for Prices and Incomes report on the salaries of higher-paid executives, he will take steps to increase the salaries of all higher-paid executives employed in hospitals and other state organisations falling within his ministerial responsibilities by 60 per cent. a year.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for increased consumer participation in the administration of the National Health Service.

I shall be putting forward in due course revised proposals for the re-organisation of the National Health Service and the point raised by my hon. Friend is one which I am giving particular attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has resumed his consultations with the Confederation of British Industry, the Trades Union Congress and nationalised industries on the disqualification for unemployment benefit of persons affected by, but remote from, an industrial dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals he has for changes in Section 22 of the National Insurance Act, 1965, in accordance with the recommendations of the Donovan Commission expressed in paragraphs 980 and 991 of that Report.

I have no proposals to make on this matter, on which I hope to have consultations with both sides of industry shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the fact that a cheap plastic container with a safety locking device is now available for tablets, details of which are in his possession, whether he will take steps to promote their use by hospitals and pharmacists with a view to preventing children's accidents.

I am obtaining further information about containers of this type, and about the use of safety containers in other countries before reaching a decision on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress he has made in his discussions with those responsible for occupational pensions schemes; and whether he has now come to a decision as to the terms on which he intends to permit an occupational pension to take the place of pensions provided under his proposed scheme.

Good progress is being made in exploratory discussions and I hope that substantive consultations can start soon after Easter. It would be wrong for me to reach decisions on these matters in advance of the consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he intends that in the legislation foreshadowed in Command Paper No. 3883 rates of contribution shall be liable to be increased by statutory instrument.

I would ask the right hon. Gentleman to await the presentation of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Service why the manufacturers' advice that the use of the anti-measles vaccine Wellcovax should be immediately suspended was conveyed by his Department to general practitioners through letters to medical officers of health and not through the Press, radio and television.

The occasion was not such as to call for the methods of communication suggested by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in the light of the National Board for Prices and Incomes report on the salaries of higher-paid executives, he will take steps to increase the salary of the Chairman of the Supplementary Benefits Commission by 60 per cent. a year.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to increase the rates of all pensions and social security payments by 60 per cent. a year.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to set up an inquiry into the problems of baldness and into the activities of private clinics and commercial firms offering cures for this condition.

I have no evidence that public health considerations arise which would justify an inquiry into the activities of private clinics and commercial firms in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information he has of the number of recent brain injuries and deaths due to boxing; and what advice he gives to schools on this subject.

In 1965 one death was recorded in England and Wales as due to intracerebral haemorrhage resulting from injury received in a professional boxing bout. No deaths were recorded in England and Wales as due to boxing in 1966 or 1967. I regret that I have no information on non-fatal brain injuries from this cause. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has not issued advice to schools on the subject but relies on the discretion of local education authorities and teachers, advised by their medical officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the number of children who, in the last year, have absconded from the National Health Service children's convalescent home at Hornsea, East Yorkshire, giving as their reasons the conditions and punishments, and the numbers, respectively, who have been taken back by the police or who have succeeded in returning to their homes.

None. Three children said to have been homesick left the convalescent home without permission and of these one reached home and two were returned by the police who had been contacted by members of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to overcome the shortage of physiotherapists in rural areas in the South-West of England.

I am aware of no such shortage in the Health Service in this area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many tricycles have been issued under the National Health Service to children suffering from spina bifida in England and Wales during the past two years; and what proposals he has for encouraging research into the production of such vehicles for children suffering from this and similar forms of severe physical difficulty.

From 1st March, 1967, to 28th February, 1969, 168 tricycles were issued to disabled children. Their individual disabilities are not recorded.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total number of sight tests carried out by registered contracting ophthalmic opticians on the list of the Manchester Executive Council in 1967 and 1968, respectively; and how many such contractors, including all their practice addresses, carried out such sight tests in 1967 and 1968, shown in steps of 0–200 upwards to the maximum, shown as for each contractor.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors dispensed pharmaceutical drugs direct to patients in each of the years 1964 to 1968, inclusive.

The numbers of National Health Service doctors supplying drugs direct to patients (apart from emergency supplies for use before necessary drugs could be obtained from a chemist) were as follows:

asked the Minister of Transport how many freight trains were derailed in 1968; and what were the comparable figures in 1966, 1964 and 1962, respectively.

The provisional figure for freight train derailments in 1968 is 336. The comparable figures for 1966, 1964 and 1962 are 259, 208 and 175 respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport what percentage of trains did not arrive at the scheduled time in 1968, and what were the comparable percentages in 1966, 1964 and 1962, respectively.

The information is as follows:—Forty-four per cent. of express trains and 22·9 per cent. of other trains. This compares with the following percentages for 1966, 1964 and 1962, respectively:—

asked the Minister of Transport when he received proposals from British Railways for electrification of the main line north of Crewe; and if he will make a statement.

The project was formally put to me on 14th May last year. I am studying further information which the Railways Board gave me at the end of January, but at present I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Monro) on 5th November last.—[Vol. 772, c. 76.]

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what consideration he has given to successful prosecutions and what action he has taken since October, 1968, in respect of forged motor-taxation licence documents; and whether he will make a statement;(2) what consultations have taken place between his Department and police authorities as a result of recent successful prosecutions for selling forged motor taxation forms on the administration of and the machinery for the issue of motor taxation forms; and what steps he plans to take to prevent such forgeries, particularly in relation to the registration books and licence discs of second-hand vehicles.

Registration books and licence discs are already printed with a background designed to minimise risk of forgery and fraudulent alteration. I am consulting my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary about the implications of the case to which the hon. Member refers and whether any further steps are desirable in this respect.

asked the Minister of Transport what tests he arranged before giving safety approval to the type of centre-exit omnibuses which are being brought into use by Birmingham Corporation; and whether, in view of the fatal and other accidents connected with this type of exit and of public concern and the recommendations of the inquest jury, he will arrange new tests of the danger potential and the manner in which it can be reduced.

The type of vehicle in question was inspected before being brought into use, and approved by the area mechanical engineer and the traffic commissioners as satisfying the statutory safety requirements for public service vehicles including those relating to one-man operation. Present evidence suggests that the doors present no risk to the public provided they are correctly operated and used, but the matter will be kept under review.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the urgent need for improved transport facilities in Norfolk, what plans for road development in the county are under consideration.

The annual report, Roads in England, published on 6th November last lists those major road projects already in progress, those in an advanced stage of preparation and those being prepared for later years.In addition to the schemes listed, smaller schemes are continuously prepared and carried out in Norfolk.A proposed new strategy for future trunk road development beyond the present road programme is outlined in my recently published Green Paper, "Roads for the Future".

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now make a statement on the embargo on new applications for garages to join the car testing scheme which was announced on 20th December, 1967.

This embargo will be lifted on 1st April, 1969. I must, however, make it clear that since throughout the country as a whole there are already more authorised examiners than are necessary to carry out the tests and this situation is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, there is no need to increase the number from the point of view of road safety. Area mechanical engineers have, therefore, been instructed that essential work must not be disrupted or delayed by the consideration of applications to join the scheme.The speed with which applications will be processed will vary from locality to locality according to circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what was the total cost of damage to the stations, fittings and trains operated by London Transport on Saturday 22nd March; and if he will make a statement;(2) what was the cost to London Transport of vandalism in the most recent annual period for which figures are available.

The London Transport Board tell me that the cost of the damage to its stations, fittings and trains on Saturday 22nd March was approximately £800; this does not include the cost of delays to passengers and of the time rolling stock had to be out of action for repairs, which are not readily quantifiable. The board has not available figures of the cost to it of vandalism in any particular twelve-month period.I naturally deplore vandalism on the London Transport services, or elsewhere, and, in particular, injuries to the staff involved.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made, following his discussions with the Cheshire County Council, regarding traffic conditions and the accident rate at the junction of trunk road A51 with Barrow Lane, B5132, near Chester; and whether he will make a statement.

I have now authorised diagonally striped road markings of the type illustrated on page 42 of the Highway Code and described in Rule 54 to protect right turning traffic.

asked the Paymaster-General what proposals she now has for the increase of participation.

I have nothing at present to add to the Answer given to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 10th February. Naturally, I shall let the House know when I have any proposals. Meanwhile I shall be very ready to hear any views or suggestions which any hon. Member may wish to put to me.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of hours of overtime that were worked by staffs of individual Departments in 1964 and 1968, respectively.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what were the total number of working days lost by reason of sickness by non-industrial civil servants in 1964 and 1968, respectively.

I regret that the information is not available and that the cost of collecting it would be disproportionate to its value. A sample statistical survey is already being carried out; and when this has been completed I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that the restrictions now to be imposed on the amount of tax-free whisky available to foreign embassies and Commonwealth high commissioners in London for entertainment purposes will not cause the amount allowed to fall below the 1964 position.

The concession whereby excise duty is refunded on Scotch whisky purchased by foreign embassies and Commonwealth high commissioners in London has been from its inception in respect of "reasonable quantities" for official entertainment.

The detailed information required is readily available in respect of some Departments only.The following is the information:The formula for the calculation of reasonable quantities has existed since the introduction of the concession in 1964. It is intended to apply the formula more strictly than in the past but the quantity of whisky on which duty will be refunded in the next financial year is not likely to fall below the 1964 position.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the annual amount spent by the Government in Ocean Island; how much the Government receives from phosphate in Ocean Island annually; and by when the phosphate is expected to be exhausted.

The Government of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony incurred expenditure on Ocean Island during 1968 of £34,850; estimated expenditure for 1969 is £44,937.A table setting out the annual revenue payments made by the British Phosphate Commissioners to the Government of the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony from the sale of Ocean Island phosphate during the years 1958–1968 was contained in the reply I gave on the 19th December 1968, to the hon. Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley).The phosphate deposits on Ocean Island are expected to be exhausted in about 8–10 years according to circumstances.—[Vol. 775, c. 449.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government has taken on Resolution (68)30 adopted on the 31st October, 1968, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relating to measures to be taken against incitement to racial, national and religious hatred.

The United Kingdom Instrument of Ratification of the United Nations Convention for the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination was deposited on 7th March this year. Although this was not accompanied by an interpretative statement, Her Majesty's Government's recognition and support of the rights proclaimed in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms have been constantly demonstrated. Comprehensive legislation in the form of the Race Relations Act 1968 has recently been enacted in the United Kingdom.We regret that no progress could be made in the Third Committeee of the United Nations General Assembly at its Twenty-Third Session on the drafting of a convention for the elimination of all forms of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief. Her Majesty's Government have always supported the early adoption of an effective international instrument on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he now has to use armed forces to improve public services on the island of Anguilla.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence said on 26th March, possible tasks are being urgently investigated on the spot.—[Vol. 780, c. 1609–10.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to receive the report of the Duncan Committee.

The Duncan Committee has found that its work has involved a wide-ranging investigation as well as a substantial amount of travel. Its Report is now being drafted. Completion of it may take some weeks longer than was envisaged in the reply my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes) on 4th November last.—[Vol. 772, c. 22.]