asked the Minister of Overseas Development what proposals he has for giving further relief to India from interest and capital repayments in respect of her loans from the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement.

No decision has yet been taken. I hope and expect, however, that all the member countries of the Aid India Consortium will agree to the continuation this year of the multilateral debt relief scheme which was started in 1968–69. This amounts to £42 million per annum of which the United Kingdom share is £7·5 million.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he is satisfied with the progress of the work of the Population Bureau established in his Department and the use made of its services; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. In the six months since the Director took up his appointment attention has been concentrated on the recruitment of staff, and on the initiation of teaching and research in conjunction with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The Director has attended several conferences and visited a number of countries in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean to establish more precisely how our help can best be made available.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what has been the proportion of British aid channelled through multilateral programmes in each of the past nine years.

The proportion in 1968–69 will amount to 15 per cent. or 16 per cent., the highest proportion on record. The following is the information:

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much has been spent in each year from 1960 to the latest convenient date on improving public services on Anguilla.

Disbursements on Colonial Development and Welfare schemes approved specifically for Anguilla were as follows:

				£
1960–61	…	…	…	17,000
1961–62	…	…	…	2,000
1962–63	…	…	…	3,000
1963–64	…	…	…	3,000
1964–65	…	…	…	6,000
1965–66	…	…	…	21,000
1966–67	…	…	…	37,000
1967–68	…	…	…	31,000

In addition, £50,000 development aid was made available to Anguilla under the interim settlement during the financial year 1968–69. These figures do not include recurrent expenditure on public services met from the islands' budget as supported by budgetary aid. (A repayment of £17,000, not shown in the table, was made by Anguilla during 1964–65 in respect of over-disbursements on earlier schemes.)

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why maintenance payments received by a wife separated from her husband are treated as unearned income.

Because they are not earned income.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to reduce the age for repayment of post-war credits down to 55 years of age.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion but I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of shortfalls assessed to tax under Section 77 of the Finance Act, 1965, the amounts of tax so assessed and the amounts collected in the financial years 1966–67 and 1967–68.

In the year to 30th September, 1967, about £25,900 of net Income Tax was charged on shortfalls of about £65,000; in the year to 30th September, 1968, the figures were about £1·67 million and about £4·68 million respectively. The amounts paid are not known.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated proportion of salary between £7,500 per annum and £20,000 per annum which is retained by individuals after taxation has been paid, on the basis that they have no other source of income and are married with no dependent children.

21·1 per cent. of the extra £12,500.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that the United Kingdom is now unable to repay loans from the International Monetary Fund; and what consultation he proposes to have with the International Monetary Fund on this matter.

A mission from the International Monetary Fund is expected to arrive in London on 16th April, 1969, in order to conduct the normal Article VIII consultation. The discussion will cover our economic situation as a whole, including provision for the debt repayments due to the Fund in 1969 and 1970.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake to place in the Library of the House a copy of the Letter of Intent he addresses to the International Monetary Fund as part of the arrangement for a refunding of Her Majesty's Government's external indebtedness.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what date after the Budget he expects to receive in London representatives of the International Monetary Fund; what is the purpose of this proposed visit; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my answer given in reply to a similar Question today by the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne). The question of a Letter of Intent is hypothetical.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the annual average percentage rise in real personal saving between 1951 and 1964; and what it has been since 1964.

Revalued at constant 1958 prices, personal savings rose by about 17·6 per cent. per annum between 1951 and 1964 and by about 2·6 per cent. per annum between 1964 and the first nine months of 1968, taken as an annual rate. Complete figures for 1968 are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the revenue from Schedule 12 Income Tax on dividends net of offset for tax paid on franked investment income received during the current financial year.

The Budget Estimate for 1968–69 for Schedule 12 Income Tax on dividends and interest is £915 million. No estimate of the tax on dividends alone is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost of treating short-term capital gains in the same way as ordinary capital gains for Capital Gains Tax purposes.

About £2½ million for 1968–69.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the yearly average current account balance from 1965 to 1968, inclusive; and what it was in the years 1952 to 1964, inclusive.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the deficit on balance of payments on current account in 1968; and in what previous year it has been greater.

This information is available in published documents.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing, in each financial year since the war, the net effect of tax changes upon the economy.

It is not possible to identify in retrospect the effects of tax measures from other factors affecting the economy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the value of the travel allowance in October, 1951, in October, 1964, and at the present time, expressing each figure at constant prices.

Nil for the dollar area and £100 elsewhere in October, 1951; unlimited in October, 1964; and £50 now. The value of the allowance is of course dependent on varying movements in local price-levels and on the current exchange rate with the particular foreign currency purchased.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the highest rate of Purchase Tax in 1951, 1964, 1968 and February, 1969, respectively.

100 per cent., 25 per cent., 55 per cent. and 55 per cent. respectively. The last two figures include the 10 per cent. Special Surcharge introduced in November, 1968.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the annual average decline in the value of the sterling between October, 1964, and the latest date for which figures are available; and what was the corresponding figure for the period October, 1961, to October, 1964.

It is estimated that the value of the £ sterling declined at an annual average rate of 4·0 per cent. between October, 1964, and February, 1969, the latest date for which figures are available, and at an annual average rate of 2·5 per cent. between October, 1961, and October, 1964. These estimates are based on changes in the consumer price index between the calendar years 1961 and 1967 adjusted by movements in the retail price index between 1967 and 1968 and in the odd months at the beginning and end of the period.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what addition to the cost of the Gas Council's forthcoming loan of £31 million to be raised in Germany is being made by his Department; and how much of this represents a charge for the exchange rate insurance service to be provided on two-thirds of the total.

The additional cost to this borrowing charged by the Treasury will relate solely to the special arrangements designed to relieve the borrower of exchange uncertainties. The Gas Council have asked for this facility in respect of their recent public issue in Germany, amounting to about £20 million. The charge will be so calculated so as to leave the Gas Council a clear ¼ per cent. advantage over borrowing the same amount from the National Loans Fund.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a schedule of the salaries paid to the various grades of inspectors in the service of the Inland Revenue; what study has been made of the adequacy of such salaries in relation to those paid in industry for highly skilled people; and what is the percentage of such inspectors between the ages of 30 years and 40 years who left the service in the year ended 31st December, 1968.

The salaries of the various grades of Inspector of Taxes are:

	£
Chief Inspector	6,300*
Deputy Chief Inspector	5,240*
Senior Principal Inspector	4,905*
Principal Inspector	4,400–4,950
Senior Inspector	3,111–4,000
Inspector (Higher Grade)	2,220–2,979
Inspector	1,010–2,100†
* Subject to review in 1969.
† Special increases of up to £300 per annum are payable through scale maximum on successful completion of certain courses of training.

These salaries reflect the level of inspectors' qualifications and responsibilities in relation to the corresponding classes where pay is determined through fair comparisons with outside rates for similar work.In the year ended 31st December, 1968, the percentages of those who left the service between the ages of 30 and 40 years was: grades above inspector (higher grade) nil, inspector (higher grade) 0·7 per cent. and inspector 1·7 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek to exempt employers from the payment of Selective Employment Tax in respect of employees who are registered as disabled persons.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what limit he has set, for purposes of his 3½ per cent. ceiling on dividend increases, on the period over which a company may refer back for recoupment of dividend reductions in previous years, and why; and why 1937 falls on one side of this limit and 1958 on the other.

No single arbitrary limit has been set. The rule that a company may seek to restore its dividend to the level of an earlier year was designed to enable companies to reflect a recovery from misfortune and to meet a current shareholder's dividend expectation based on a more normal trend of distributable profits. But pre-war levels of distributable profits and rates of dividends are not regarded as a reasonable indicator of a current shareholder's expectations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much a single man, and a married man with one, two or three children under 11, needed to earn in January, 1969, to offset the increase in the cost of living compared with men in similar circumstances earning, respectively, £500, £1,500 and £3,000 a year in 1964, taking into account changes, in the internal purchasing power of the £ sterling, Income Tax, Surtax and family allowances.

The figures are as follows:

REQUIRED EARNINGS AT JANUARY, 1969 (ANNUAL RATE)
Annual Earnings 1964	Single man	Married man with one child under 11	Married man with two children under 11	Married man with three children under 11
£	£	£	£	£
500	620	602	581	564
1,500	1,866	1,884	1,897	1,912
3,000	3,715	3,733	3,746	3,761

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of current deposits under the Import Deposits Scheme; and if he will take steps to ensure that this sum is used to provide cheap credit for British exports.

Import Deposits totalled £255 million on 28th February, 1969. The answer to the second part is "No".

asked the Chancellor or the Exchequer when he expects to be in a position to assess the effect of the import deposits scheme upon Great Britain's balance of payments.

I cannot put a figure on the precise effect of the import deposit scheme, but I expect it to have a marginal, but significant influence in accelerating the underlying improvement in our balance of payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to increase the volume of investment in British industry by British investors.

The indications are that there will be a substantial rise in industrial investment this year, much of which will be undertaken and financed by United Kingdom investors.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that since the Government's announcements on housing mortgage interest rates, building societies have announced increased interest rates as from 1st May together with warnings of further increases; and whether he will seek powers to prevent these increases.

I am aware that a number of societies have announced increases conforming to the Building Societies Association's recommendation. I am not aware that any further increase in recommended rates is under consideration, and I therefore do not think that any further action is called for at present; but we shall continue to watch the situation carefully.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect of devaluation; and on what basis he reaches this conclusion.

The consequences of devaluation are complex. One effect has been to provide a strong stimulus to our exports. I base this conclusion on analysis of the figures of both United Kingdom and world trade over the past year in relation to previous trends.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that capital debts and revenue losses of over £2,000 million have been written off by the nationalised boards, including British Transport £487 million, National Coal Board £415 million, British Overseas Airways Corporation £110 million and British Railways £1,262 million, if he will refuse to allow further borrows, until they are run without making losses.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the fact that the Bank Rate is 3 per cent. in Germany, 2½ per cent. in Portugal, 3½ per cent. in Italy and Norway, and 3¾ per cent. in Austria, if he will give an undertaking not to increase the rate in the United Kingdom above 8 per cent.

The hon. Member will appreciate that I cannot comment or give undertakings on future changes in Bank Rate.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will reconsider his decision to strike only 1,500 silver 2¼-inch Prince of Wales Investiture medals, in the light of the fact that more than 6,100 applications were received within a few days of the issue being announced.

No. Having announced publicly the limited strike of 2¼-inch silver Investiture medals it would be a breach of faith to increase the number. As I said on 11th March—[Vol. 779, c. 245]—arrangements have now been made for a further 7,500 1¾-inch silver medals to be struck.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the 1969–70 net total expenditure of £73,611 on the Palace of Holyroodhouse, as shown in the Civil Estimates; and what are the reasons for the increase from £63,258 in 1968–69.

Details are as follows:

£
3,800	for new works. This is one job of alterations to staff accommodation including ventilation.
1,000	for supply of furniture and equipment.
303	for rents.
6,000	for custody.
61,870	for maintenance, including repairs to flooring and roofs, etc.
7,873	for fuel, gas, electricity, water.
5,500	for maintenance of furniture and equipment.
86,346
12,735	Appropriations-in-Aid.
73,611	Net total.

The increase is due to higher maintenance costs and to two items of special maintenance to floors and roofs costing £8,000 in the year. There is also a reduction in the Appropriations-in-Aid, due to accounting changes.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give full details of the net total expenditure of £41,595 at Kensington Palace in 1969–70, as shown in the Civil Estimates, Class IX, 2, Appendix IV; and what are the reasons for the increase from the £30,436 in 1968–69.

Details are as follows:

£
9,800	for new works.
6,000	for cleaning services (other than domestic).
8,100	for day-to-day maintenance.
6,350	for operation and maintenance of plant.
7,250	for special maintenance works, including external painting, repairs to brickwork, renewal of existing water mains, repairs to leadwork, etc.
3,271	for Parks and Custody services.
4,170	for fuel, gas, electricity and water.
44,941
3,346	Appropriations-in-Aid.
41,595	Net total.

The increase over 1968–69 is mainly on account of the new works provision, for bringing residential accommodation back into use.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what restrictions are placed upon the use by the National Front of his Department's premises at Palace Chambers, Bridge Street.

The League of Empire Loyalists occupies one room, which it held on lease when my Department took the premises over, subject to the condition that it is not to be used otherwise than as offices, stores or showrooms for the purpose of carrying out the business of a political organisation. There are also prohibitions, common to other tenants on the Bridge Street site, against using the premises for any noisy or offensive activities or bringing into the building any material likely to increase the normal fire risk.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give a detailed breakdown of the £309,576 net total expenditure on Buckingham Palace in 1969–70, as shown in the Civil Estimates, Class IX, 2, Appendix IV.

Details are as follows:

£
40,350	for new works of which:
	£
	12,000	for new lift to serve State Rooms.
	12,150	for re-organisation of kitchens.
	6,000	for re-occupation services in staff residences in Royal Mews on change of occupation.
	2,000	for fire precautions.
	2,900	for improvements to staff toilets.
	1,900	for improvements to basement accommodation.
	3,400	for minor new works.
4,000	for supply of furniture and equipment.
21,500	for cleaning services (other than domestic).
32,500	for day-to-day maintenance.
62,400	for operation and maintenance of plant.
73,960	for special maintenance of which:
	£
	22,750	for painting and decorating.
	6,000	for stonework and brickwork.
	6,750	for roofing works.
	5,000	for flooring work.
	5,500	for overhaul of chandeliers.
	27,960	for a miscellany of smaller maintenance jobs.
13,729	for Supplies and Parks services.
31,000	for maintenance of furniture and equipment.
34,750	for fuel, gas, electricity and water.
314,189
4,613	Appropriations-in-Aid.
309,576	Net total.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will provide a detailed breakdown of the 1969–70 net total expenditure of £193,634 on Hampton Court Palace, as shown in the Civil Estimates; and what are the reasons for the increase from £158,221 in 1968–69.

Details are as follows:

£
32,100	for new works, of which:
	£
	20,000	for security measures and reorganisation of the Ministry's works depot.
	6,000	for conversion of central boiler.
	3,100	for re-occupation services of staff residences on change of occupation.
	2,000	for modernising electrical wiring in the State Apartments.
	1,000	for minor new works.
1,850	for the supply of furniture and equipment.
12,600	for cleaning services (other than domestic).
35,200	for day-to-day maintenance.
20,800	for operation and maintenance of plant.
107,955	for special maintenance, including renewal of stonework, brickwork, chimney stacks, etc.; roofing works; maintenance of Longford River which supplies water for the Parks; resurfacing of roads and re-paving; renewal of obsolete water services; painting, polishing, etc.; a miscellany of smaller maintenance jobs.
17,864	for Supplies, Parks and custody services.
1,050	for maintenance of furniture and equipment.
16,203	for fuel, gas, electricity and water.
245,622
51,988	Appropriations-in-Aid.
193,634	Net total.

The increase from £158,221 in 1968–69 is accounted for by increases in wage rates and materials costs, and a larger special maintenance programme, in an attempt to make up arrears.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give details of the £275,751 net total expenditure at Windsor Castle in 1969–70 as shown in the Civil Estimates, Class IX, 2, Appendix IV.

Details are as follows:

£
27,450	for new works:
	£
	2,000	for a new lift.
	5,200	for extension of heating mains from central boilerhouse.
	1,650	for conversion of boilers.
	13,800	for re-occupation services for 6 staff residences.
	2,350	for improvements to sanitary arrangements in official residences.
	2,450	for minor new works.
25	for rents.
15,600	for cleaning services (other than domestic).
42,100	for day-to-day building maintenance.
51,835	for operation and maintenance of plant.
68,700	for special maintenance, of which:
	£
	13,800	for painting, decorating, etc.
	7,150	for renewal of stonework and brickwork.
	9,550	for roofing works.
	5,000	for drainage and water mains.
	33,200	for a miscellany of smaller maintenance jobs.
140	for Supplies services.
30,000	for maintenance of furniture and equipment.
44,274	for fuel, gas, electricity and water.
280,124
4,373	Appropriations-in-Aid.
275,751	Net total.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will give a detailed breakdown of the £114,304 to be spent on St. James's Palace in 1969–70, as shown in the Civil Estimates, Class IX, 2, Appendix IV.

Details are as follows:

£
11,500	for new works, of which
	£3,000 is for kitchen facilities for State rooms.
	£4,000 is for re-occupation services to 2 residences.
	£4,500 for work to heating installation.
750	for the supply of furniture and equipment.
14,500	for cleaning services (other than domestic).
25,800	for day-to-day maintenance.
10,950	for operation and maintenance of plant.
36,167	for special maintenance, including painting and redecorations including redecoration and renewal of a ceiling in State Apartments; roofing works; renewal of stonework and brickwork; renewal of lift, etc.

asked the Minister of Power what estimate he has made of the number of miners required to supply coal for the second stage of Drax Power Station, basing his figures on present production trends.

A meaningful estimate cannot be made on the information at present available.

asked the Minister of Power what facilities are being provided in the construction of the first power station at Drax capable of being used in a second power station on that site.

The power station is laid out to have a possible ultimate capacity of 4000 MW, of which the station now building represents 1980 MW. I am asking the Chairman of the C.E.G.B. to write to my hon. Friend about the facilities.

asked the Minister of Power if he is aware that lack of supplies of phurnacite in the West Midlands area is leading to great inconvenience for the public; and what steps he is taking to ensure a better and regular supply for those who want it.

The availability of particular types of solid fuel in particular areas is a matter for the producers and the distributors.

asked the Minister of Power what were the stocks of unsaleable coal at the latest available date; and what were the comparable figures for 1967 and 1968.

Undistributed stocks stood at 25·6 million tons on 15th March. The comparable figures in 1967 and 1968 were 20·1 million tons and 26·5 million tons.

asked the Minister of Power if, having regard to the explosion which occurred at the Llwyni Farm Substation, Abergavenny, on 21st February, 1969, he is satisfied that adequate provision is made for the safety of the public who may be in the vicinity of the 150 outdoor-type switchboards that are in service in South Wales; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The explosion was caused by the failure of insulation in 11 kV switchgear. I have consulted the Electricity Council which agrees with the Chairman of the South Wales Electricity Board that the hazard to the public is minimal.

asked the Minister of Power when he expects to announce his approval for the next electricity generating station.

asked the Minister of Power if he will undertake to announce his decision about the next power station to be built while the House is sitting, and not during a parliamentary Recess.

I am considering the phasing of the Central Electricity Generating Board's power station programme in the light of the latest forecasts of electricity demand and am not yet able to say when a decision will be reached on the next station.

asked the Minister of Power (1) whether, in the light of the National Board for Prices and Incomes report on the salaries of higher-paid executives, he will seek powers to increase the salaries of all higher-paid executives in the nationalised industries by 60 per cent. a year;

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions were taken in the Metropolitan Police area under Section 32 of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1963, in the years 1966, 1967 and 1968.

35, 22 and 107 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to implement the Welsh Language Act, 1967, by the provision of bilingual summonses in the magistrates' courts in Wales.

The new rules to which I referred in reply to a question by my hon. Friend the Member for Abertillery (Mr. Clifford Williams) on 14th March will enable bilingual summonses to be issued.—[Vol. 779, c.375.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what instructions have been given to local police stations in the Metropolitan Police area about prosecutions for infringement of the London Cab Act, 1968; and if he will investigate the use of the word taxi by a private hire company, details of which have been reported to him by the hon. Member for Orpington.

I have asked for information from the Commissioner of Police and I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in his review of apple or pear licences, he will take steps to ensure that they are granted only to British nationals or to British registered companies that do not remit profits overseas.

No. We see no reason to impose conditions in this trade which exist in no other.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the monthly average seasonally adjusted deficit on visible trade, including United States military aircraft, from January, 1965, to the latest available date for which figures are available, inclusive; and what it was in the years 1952 to 1964 inclusive.

The monthly average deficit on visible trade—including payments for United States military aircraft—in the years 1965–68 was £38 million; for the period 1952–64 it was £15 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will publish the results of the inquiry being conducted by the Board of Trade into the attitudes and experience of companies which moved location between 1964 and 1967.

The remaining stages of the inquiry and the full analysis of all the information obtained will not be completed until towards the end of the year. The question of publication will be considered at that time.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for industrial development certificates were approved during 1967 and 1968, respectively, in the Rugby Employment Exchange area; and how many applications were refused in each of the two years.

In the Rugby Employment Exchange area six applications for 99,000 sq. ft. were approved in 1967 and 10 for 153,000 sq. ft. in 1968. One application was refused in 1967 and none in 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the estimated number of new jobs created in Wales and the Northern Region of England, respectively, between mid-1964 and mid-1967.

The information requested is given in the following table:

PROJECTS COMPLETED FOR MANUFACTURING INDUSTRY* FOR WHICH INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES WERE ISSUED
			Estimated Additional Employment†
	Number	Area ('000 sq. ft.)	Males ('000)	Total ('000)
Wales
July-December, 1964	33	462	1·0	1·8
1965	64	1,396	1·5	2·8
1966	87	1,971	3·3	5·9
January-June, 1967	57	956	1·9	2·8
	241	4,785	7·7	13·3
Northern Region
July-December, 1964	51	1,144	1·9	4·0
1965	142	4,257	9·5	14·2
1966	147	4,562	11·3	15·1
January-June, 1967	86	2,393	4·8	6·6
	426	12,356	27·5	39·9
* The figures relate to projects over 5,000 sq. ft.
† Employment expected to arise when projects are fully manned as estimated by the applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs by how much the consumption of Scotch whisky purchased tax-free by foreign embassies and Commonwealth High Commissions exceeded the reasonable quantities allowed for official entertainment; what the consumption figures were; and what were the equivalent figures of other spirits.

The quantity of United Kingdom manufactured spirits on which duty was refunded to Heads of diplomatic Missions in the twelve months ended 30th of September, 1968, was 8,744 cases.To provide a breakdown of this figure into its components (whisky, gin and other spirits) would involve a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.The formula used by the authorities for the calculation of "reasonable quantities" is applicable to individual diplomatic Missions—not to the Diplomatic Corps as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of all visits by British Ministers to meetings of the secretariats and governing bodies of the specialised agencies of the United Nations during 1968.

Following are details of the three meetings of Specialised Agencies which Ministers attended in 1968:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many residents of the United Kingdom holding no British passport are in possession of passports issued by other countries; and whether they are limited to a British travel allowance.

As regards the first part of the Question, I regret that this information is not available. As to the second part of the Question, I understand that the position is that the restrictions on travel allowance apply to everyone who is resident in the United Kingdom for exchange control purposes, irrespective of nationality.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the reasons for the abstention of the United Kingdom in the voting on resolution 264, 1969, in the Security Council on 20th March, 1969.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 28th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 368.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that Edinburgh Corporation did not choose to have fluoridation of its water supplies, if he will direct the South Eastern Water Board to allow such water supplies to continue without fluoridation.

Water boards fluoridate only at the request of the local health authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give estimates of the costs of electricity sent out from Hunterston B nuclear power station on the basis of a 20-year depreciation period, with interest during reconstruction at 8 per cent. and including royalties payable to the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority.

The South of Scotland Electricity Board estimates that on the basis of a 25-year life, with interest at 8 per cent. and including the royalty payable to the Atomic Energy Authority on A.G.R. stations of 0·014d. per unit, the cost of electricity sent out from Hunterston B nuclear power station will be 0·51d. per unit. A 25-year life has been used as in the reply given to my hon. Friend by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power on 25th March, 1969: based on a 20-year life the corresponding unit cost would be 0·53d.—[Vol. 780, c. 261.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking regarding the future of the demonstration school attached to Jordanhill College of Education, Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

I have invited the governors of the college, who are responsible for the management of the school, which is selective and fee-paying, to review its future in the light of current educational developments including the proposal in the Education (Scotland) Bill for the abolition of fee-paying in education authority schools, and the movement towards comprehensive secondary education. The review is likely to take some time, and I have emphasised the need to have regard to the interests of existing pupils and staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many Scottish local government councillors and officers have been charged with corrupt practices in each of the last 10 years.

During the ten years ended 31st December, 1968, one local government councillor and one officer were charged with corrupt practices in the High Court of Justiciary (both in 1963). Figures of persons so charged in the sheriff courts are not readily available but are unlikely to be significant since charges of this nature, if serious, would normally be taken in the High Court.

asked the Postmaster-General when he expects to authorise the construction of a telephone engineering centre and motor transport workshop at Creebridge, Newton Stewart.

I have no immediate plans to develop this site, but I will have the matter reviewed and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General what study he has made of the effect of British Standard Time on the working conditions of Post Office workers.

Studies now in progress are nearing completion.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what has been the cost to public funds of officials travelling from London to Edinburgh in connection with recent disputes concerning the cleaning of offices occupied by the Civil Service.

One official from the Civil Service Department visited Edinburgh in this connection at a cost to public funds of £19 14s. 6d., excluding his pay.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service 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 executive civil servants by 60 per cent. a year.

No. The salaries of senior civil servants are under separate review by the Standing Advisory Committee on the Pay of tie Higher Civil Service.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service to what extent the policy of paying a full-time salary for a full-time chairmanship of a State or Government board is applied by the Government to persons so appointed who hold other appointments at full-time salary rates; and whether he will make a statement.

These circumstances do not in general arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has to publish a Green Paper outlining proposals for a network of trunk roads to be built in Wales in the 1970s and 1980s, giving possible starting dates.

The Government's proposals for a network of new and improved motorway and trunk road routes to be built in this period have already been set out in paragraphs 53 and 54 of the White Paper "Wales: The Way Ahead" (Cmnd. 3334) and have been generally accepted as right for Wales, most recently in the report prepared on behalf of the North Wales Counties for the Development Corporation for Wales. They will be implemented as quickly as the available resources and the requirements of the statutory procedures permit.These proposals will be kept under review in the light of changing circumstances and of the results of the Dee Barrage studies, and I am also prepared to consider responsible suggestions for new or improved routes other than those included in the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales in view of the threatened redundancies in forestry employment in Wales, if he will take steps to set up suitable Government-owned timber-using manufacturing plants, to prevent further unemployment or depopulation in the parts of rural Wales affected by these redundancies.

The hon. Member's Question suggests that he overestimates the fall in employment in forestry (which will entail relatively few actual redundancies) and under-estimates the scale on which timber-using factories have to operate to be economic. But, in any case, existing timber-using industries are capable of expanding to absorb all the production from Welsh forests in the foreseeable future.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows over 50 in the last convenient period have been refused widows' pensions on the grounds that they have not been married three years.

It is estimated that just under 300 widows a year fail to receive a succeeding benefit to widows' allowance because of failure to satisfy the three years' marriage rule.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows and widowed mothers receive less than the standard pension because of contribution deficiencies by their deceased husbands.

At the end of 1967, some 16,200 widows were in receipt of a reduced rate of National Insurance widows pension because the yearly average of contributions paid by or credited to the husband was less than 50. The corresponding figures for widows receiving a reduced rate retirement pension on the husband's insurance and a reduced personal rate of widowed mother's allowance were about 24,000 and about 15,600, respectively. Payments for children of widowed mothers are not reduced on account of a contribution deficiency.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration he has given to taking steps to allow the children of widows to keep their allowances on the remarriage of their mothers.

This suggestion is amongst those we have been considering in connection with our proposals for a new earnings-related scheme. It is still open to public discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now ease the earnings rule for retirement pensioners.

Not at present. The level at which the earnings rule for retirement pensions begins to operate is however continually under observation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what current rate of net immigration the General Register Office used in June, 1967, for the purpose of its projection of 3½ million coloured immigrants and their children resident in Great Britain in 1985 on current rates of net immigration and estimated fertility.

The rate of net inward movement at the time was estimated to be about 57,000, and it was assumed that this rate would continue throughout the projection period.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when a final reply may be expected concerning the case of Mr. M. J. Cornhill, about whom letters were sent to his Department on 27th February, 1967, 13th December, 1968. 7th January, 1969, and 3rd February, 1969.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to obtain the information necessary to enable him to give figures showing the annual cost of administering venereal disease centres.

To produce such information, hospitals would need to undertake a special costing of staff employed, and drugs and other supplies used, in the centres, including an apportionment of the costs of pathology departments and common services. I do not consider that the staff time involved would be justified.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that magistrates are imposing small fines for the offences of driving vehicles without a road fund licence, without roadworthy certificates, defective tyres and steering, and, in view of the danger to life and limb involved in these offences, he will introduce legislation to fix mandatory penalties.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what consultations he has had, or will be having, with interested organisations, pursuant to the powers conferred on him in Section 138 of the Transport Act, 1968, concerning the prescription of a formula for calculating the costs of travel concessions which would be recognised as fair both to local authorities and operators; and if he will make a statement.

Proposals for an Order under Section 138(7) of the Act are being prepared. Associations of local authorities and bus operators will be consulted as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now make a statement about his review of pensions for railway superannuitants.

It is the responsibility of the British Railways Board to initiate any proposals for increasing railway pensions. They have recently put proposals to me for increases in pensions already in payment which are generally in line with those of the Pensions (Increase) Act, 1969. I have now approved these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she has yet concluded her consideration of the pay proposals of the Port of London Authority for dock workers at the OCL-ACT terminal at Tilbury; on what date she was notified of the proposals; and if she will make a statement.

These proposals were notified to my Department under the early warning arrangements on 3rd February, but their implementation is linked, in the view of the union concerned, with current negotiations on the second stage of the Devlin modernisation programme; my Department is keeping in close touch with both sides with a view to assisting progress in these negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what requests she has now received from Messrs. Turriffs and/or the trades unions concerned for assistance from her Department's conciliation machinery in the industrial dispute at Ivy Bridge, Isleworth; and what action her Department intends to take in this matter in the immediate future.

My Department has received no such requests for help. My officers have however kept in touch with the parties throughout this dispute and have this week again offered their services.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the number of accidents which occurred in the building industry in Scotland during the early morning hours since the change to British Standard Time in Scotland in the six-month period from October, 1968, to date; and what was the number of such accidents for the same period in each of the five years preceding.

I regret that this information is not available.