asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much land has been reclaimed from the sea in the period from 1920 to the most recent convenient date; and how much has been lost through coast erosion.

Comprehensive records of reclamation are not available but in the Wash area some 8,800 acres have been reclaimed for agriculture since 1920, and 135 acres are currently being reclaimed in the Humber. In addition, small areas of land have been reclaimed for industrial use. It is not known how much land has been lost by erosion.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further proposals he has for the promotion of co-operative marketing in horticulture; and if he will make a statement.

None. The promotion of co-operative marketing in horticulture has been vested in the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation, which the Government set up in 1967 to promote co-operation in agriculture and horticulture and to administer a grant scheme. The response of growers to the scheme has been encouraging. In the 18 months since the scheme began, grants of over £¼ million have been approved for horticultural marketing co-operatives.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his latest estimate of the cost to consumers of replacing the present system of agricultural support with one based on quotas and levies.

To eliminate the deficiency payments, consumers would have to pay 4 to 7 per cent. more for their food. The Opposition's further proposals to impose levies on milk pro ducts and to give producers additional incentives and compensation for loss of stability would increase the cost to consumers considerably.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the mortality amongst sheep during the winter months; and what steps he is taking to mitigate the financial losses of sheep farmers, especially those in hill and upland areas.

This has been a difficult winter for sheep farmers in some parts of the country but it is too early yet to make a full assessment of the losses. The Annual Review award, of 1½d. lb. on the price of fat lambs, following the increase of 2½d. last year, should be welcome to flockmasters in all parts of the country but I must remind the right hon. Member of the general principle that the Government does not guarantee farmers against the hazards of bad weather.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the average net income per farm for livestock and cropping, respectively, in 1969–70.

The Review award should increase profitability on these farms but I cannot give precise estimates of their incomes since these will be affected by such unpredictable factors as the weather and cost changes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has considered the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North dated 24th March together with enclosures regarding his Department's failure to act when a constituent of the hon. Member for West Ham, North requested an investigation into an example of overcharging in a supermarket store just before Christmas; why the person was advised by the Department to go back to the manager of the store to settle the dispute herself; and whether he will make a statement.

I am writing to the hon. Member about this case. In my view there can be little doubt that an assistant had made a mistake in marking the price on the packet. This would have been immediately put right had a complaint been made to the manager of the shop.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the Report of the Committee of Investigation into a complaint by milk producers in the South East Region concerning regional price differentials.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply on 31st March to my hon. Friend the Member for Bury and Radcliffe (Mr. Ensor).—[Vol. 781, c. 46–7.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will direct the Forestry Commission to maintain its own direct labour force, and to cease the practice of using outside contractors; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the debate on the Forestry Commission's labour policy on the Motion for the Adjournment of the House on 20th December, 1968.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total tonnage of continental feed wheat and feeding barley imported into the United Kingdom since 1st July, 1968, which has been registered for delivery up to 30th June, 1969.

The total amount of commitments of continental feed wheat for import during the current season 1st July, 1968–30th June, 1969, so far notified to the Ministry is 630,000 tons.The commitment figures do not distinguish between feeding and other barley. The total amount of commitments of barley from all sources for arrival during the period 1st July, 1968–30th June, 1969, is 250,000 tons, of which 40,000–60,000 tons (depending on sellers' options) would be continental barley.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the total tonnage of continental feed wheat and feeding barley imported into the United Kingdom since 1st July, 1968, to date.

During the period 1st July, 1968–28th February, 1969, 251,000 tons of denatured feed wheat was imported into the United Kingdom from the Continent.Official trade statistics do not distinguish feeding barley from other barley. Total United Kingdom imports of barley during the period were 92,800 tons, of which 4,000 tons was shipped from the Continent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the additional £250,000 cost incurred by farmers as a result of rating of agricultural buildings was apportioned between different commodities at the 1969 Price Review.

At the Annual Review total cost changes are assessed for all products and for guaranteed commodities. The figures are shown in Appendix III of the Annual Review White Paper but are not apportioned between individual products. However, the hon. Member may like to know that from a survey of local authorities in England and Wales carried out by my Department in December, 1967, it is estimated that about two-thirds of the total of £250,000 rates was incurred on broiler houses and that much of the remainder related to egg production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the expansion in the home producers' share of the bacon market as a result of the guaranteed price fixed for pigs at the 1969 Price Review.

It is not possible to estimate the specific effect of Annual Review determinations on the production of bacon, as many other factors are involved for the curing industry. However, my right hon. Friend is satisfied that the increase in the guaranteed price and the raising of the middle band should maintain the expansion in pig numbers necessary for a continuing increase in basic production as well as meeting the demands of the pork market.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food what progress is being made to meet the targets recommended by the Economic Develop-men Council's Report on Agriculture.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Yeovil (Mr. Peyton).

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the dilution of milk prices to the producer in 1969–70 as a result of imports of dairy produce and of expansion in beef production.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect of the increased importation of skim milk powder and similar products on the pool price of milk.

Imports of skim milk powder have declined by nearly 40 per cent. since 1964, whilst imports of whole milk powder fell by one-third in 1968.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what increase there has been in farm amalgamations in Northern Ireland in 1967, and in 1968.

There are no precise figures for the total number of farm amalgamations. In recent years, the decline in the number of units in the agricultural census and the annual fall in the number of full-time farm businesses in Northern Ireland has averaged about 500. The Government's amalgamation scheme has so far attracted 437 applications in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the progress of his talks with the Irish Republican Government on the Anglo-Eire Trade Agreement.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply my hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Mr. Henry Clark) on 26th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 1614–5.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what further incentives he now proposes to encourage part-time farmers to sell their holdings.

We are reviewing the progress of the measures to improve farm structure in the light of experience. The outgoer's payments, however, are intended for farmers who are mainly dependent on their farms and not for those part-time farmers who obtain much of their livelihood from other sources.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representation he has received from the farming community in relation to the import of Marvel milk; and what reply he has sent.

I have not had any such representations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that the agricultural industry will have the resources necessary to close the gap between agricultural wages and industrial wages; and if he will make a statement.

Although there may be difficulties in some places, labour productivity has shown a substantial rise and farmers have so far been able to retain the labour force needed.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the decision of his Department to support work on tidal or low-headed turbines different to that adopted in France, details of which are in his possession; and what future export potential is anticipated.

A statement would not be appropriate at this stage. The work has, however, considerable export potential.

asked the Minister of Technology whether, in establishing an intergovernmental committee to supervise collaboration between Great Britain, the Netherlands and West Germany in producing an advanced gas centrifuge for the enrichment of uranium, he will give an assurance that hon. Members will be kept informed of developments on the safeguards of nuclear material, siting of plants and any extension of the work to include other countries.

Discussions about this project are still in progress and no decisions have yet been taken by the Governments concerned. However, the functions of the proposed joint committee would comprise inter alia the subjects mentioned and would be dealt with in the intergovernmental agreement which we would conclude with our partners. I shall be keeping the House informed in the usual way.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) if he will give details of contracts placed by his Department with foreign organisations for industrial investigation, survey or research;(2) what criteria were applied by his Department in placing the contract for the survey of the British die and mould manufacture with a United States research organisation; and if he will make a statement.

In the past year no such contracts have been placed but a contract with the Battelle Institute Limited, London, for a technical and economic survey of the manufacture of dies and moulds will be carried out with the assistance of the contractor's overseas associates.The proposal submitted by the Battelle Institute Ltd. was considered by the Department to be the most appropriate; the same conclusion was reached independently by the U.K.A.E.A.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the present state of negotiations about the manufacture of a European airbus.

As I informed the House on 5th March, my Department has been evaluating both the A300B and the BAC3–11.I shall be meeting French and German Ministers in London on 10th April to discuss the project.—[Vol. 779, c. 406–8.]

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will place in the Library a copy of the report by Professor T. E. Williams of Southampton University commissioned by his Department about possible vertical take-off and landing sites in British cities.

Yes. The final report is expected in about six months' time and will then be made available to the House.

asked the Minister of Technology which cities have been surveyed on behalf of his Department for possible vertical take-off and landing sites; and which other cities and towns are to be examined for this purpose.

Professor Williams, of Southampton University, will report on the availability of sites in London and has reported on Glasgow, Manchester, Leicester, Cardiff, Sheffield, Southampton and Newcastle. Brian Colquhoun and Partners, a firm of consulting civil engineers, will report on the wide range of problems that the development of particular VTOL sites would generate in London and Glasgow. It is not the purpose of either of these surveys to earmark particular sites, but to identify problems in anticipation of the development of an inter-city VTOL aircraft.

asked the Minister of Technology what estimate he has made of the cost of replacing instruments in British aircraft already in use with those graduated in the metric system.

No decisions have been taken on the timing and the method of changeover of the graduation of aircraft instruments to metric units, and no estimate of costs can therefore be given.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers have to date paid the £1 registration fee to the General Teaching Council for 1969–70.

I understand from the Council that at 31st March the number of registrations was 17,230.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the 208 representations and nine petitions he has received, all opposing British Standard Time, he will reconsider his policy to continue this time experiment in Scotland.

Unless the Government's assessment of the effects of British Standard Time during the past winter indicates clearly the need for earlier action, I propose to await the outcome of the full-scale review to be held after the winter of 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received concerning the designation as trunk roads of the approach roads to the Forth Road Bridge; and what reply he has sent.

Hon. Members and the local authorities concerned have made representations to this effect over a period of years. The answers given have been that the approach roads cannot be trunked in isolation from the bridge itself, and that the trunking of the bridge raises complex issues, including the need for legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the new five-year hospital building programme; and whether he will give an assurance that it will include provision for the building of a new general hospital in West Fife.

I am not yet in a position to say when I shall be able to make a statement about the hospital building programme during the next few years. Priorities in the South-Eastern Region are in the first instance a matter for the regional board, which is at present considering its proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that adequate facilities are available for cervical cancer tests for women over the age of 35 years.

In general, the existing facilities are coping with current demand from women of all ages. There is sufficient spare capacity to cope with any likely increased demand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many women died of cancer of the womb in each of the last five years.

The information is set out in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase has taken place in the last five years in facilities for cervical cancer testing; and what is the nature of the educational propaganda designed to encourage the use of such facilities.

While the pattern of provision varies according to local circumstances, the cervical cytology services have expanded in all regions of Scotland, the number of women examined in 1967 being more than double the number examined in 1964. It is expected that statistics for 1968, when available, will show a further increase.General publicity is a matter for the local health authority in the first place. Various media are used such as advertisements in daily newspapers and in public transport, and talks given to women's organisations. Family doctors also have a substantial part to play in persuading their patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of women who have had cervical cancer tests in each of the last five years.

The number of women who have been examined for cervical cancer in the years 1964–67 is given below. The statistics for 1968 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many qualified language teachers are now teaching languages in schools administered by the Midlothian Education Authority.

On 16th December, 1968, 51 teachers qualified to teach modern languages and 16 teachers qualified to teach classical languages were employed whole-time by the education authority. Information about the numbers actually teaching languages can best be obtained from the authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the additional £133,000 cost incurred by farmers as a result of rating of agricultural buildings was apportioned between different commodities at the 1969 Price Review.

The figure of £133,000 represents the estimate of total cost incurred by farmers in Scotland in respect of rating of intensive livestock buildings in 1967–68. The estimated additional cost in Scotland in 1968–69 was £40,000 and this was taken into account at the 1969 Annual Review, but no precise allocation to individual Review products is possible. A substantial proportion of this cost relates to broiler production which is not a review commodity.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking to promote the development of food processing in Scotland using Scottish agricultural produce.

In the interests of both industrial diversification and the future well-being of agriculture, I am anxious to encourage more processing in Scotland of Scottish grown produce.The National Farmers Union of Scotland and my Department are working together to ensure that processors have the information they need about what Scotland has to offer. They will also work closely with the Board of Trade. This will be a continuing exercise, and a start is being made with potato and vegetable processing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make regulations to ensure that training flights should be mainly undertaken at airfields remote from built-up areas, except where experience of an operational airfield is esential.

As I said on 27th March in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris), I am doubtful whether there are grounds for any general restriction. An examination of the need to introduce any special limitations is being made.—[Vol. 780, c. 358.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what decision he has reached regarding inclusive tour prices for next winter.

The experimental tariff which has applied in this last winter has made winter holidays cheaper and amply achieved its object of increasing winter inclusive tour traffic on both scheduled and charter services with corresponding benefits to the public and to the airlines. Accordingly we shall repeat the experiment for next winter without any change except that Gibraltar will be included in the arrangements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to assist the Sunderland Corporation in publicising the need for new industry in the Wearside area.

The Board of Trade regional office in the North East works closely with the Sunderland Corporation in drawing the attention of suitable firms to the advantages of locating on Wearside.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT from information available to him from international sources all international commodity agreements at present in force and indicate those to which Great Britain is a party.

The United Kingdom is a Member of all five international commodity agreements which are at present in force. These are:

• The International Olive Oil Agreement, 1963, extended by a Protocol of 1967.
• The Third International Tin Agreement of 1966.
• The International Grains Arrangement, 1967.
• The International Coffee Agreement, 1968.
• The International Sugar Agreement, 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the number of companies that have been registered for the purposes of sponsoring local commercial radio stations, together with the names of the directors of these companies.

I regret that the information could not be ascertained without an undue expense of time and labour.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will consider referring to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the recent substantial increases in the charges made by insurance companies for green insurance cards for cars going overseas.

Insurers terminated in 1967 the arrangement for making a uniform charge of £2 for the issue of a green card after a Report by the Monopolies Commission on the matter. Each insurer now decides independently what additional premium to charge for insurance against risks overseas in the light of claims experience. I understand that this premium varies considerably, from nil upwards, and usually includes the administrative cost of issuing the green card.The nature of insurance requires some flexibility in relating premiums to claims experience and it is not proposed to refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the premiums now being charged to motorists for insurance against risks overseas.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that British Exports to the Soviet Union increased from £63 million in 1967 to £102 million in 1968, and to Rumania from £10 million to £31 million; and what action he proposes to take to promote the continued expansion of exports to these and other countries in Eastern Europe.

Arrangements providing for increased trade exchanges in the coming year have recently been concluded with the Soviet Union and Rumania and negotiations are in train for the renewal of the five-year trade agreement with the Soviet Union which expires in June. Further, in view of the increase in our exports to the Soviet Union and Rumania, I have decided to remove from the 1st May restrictions on imports from these countries on a range of goods imports of which from other East European countries have for some time been unrestricted. I am confident that this change will encourage further expansion of our trade on a mutually beneficial basis.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to announce his decision on the application of the farmers' unions and the Milk Marketing Board on the imposition of anti-dumping or countervailing duties on certain imported cheeses.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress he is making in regard to the dumping of cheese.

I have now completed my examination of the application and am satisfied that exports of cheddar and certain other types of cheese to the United Kingdom from Australia, Canada, the Irish Republic, France and the Netherlands have been and are being dumped and subsidised on a considerable scale, and that this dumping and subsidisation has caused and threatens to cause material injury to the United Kingdom cheese producers. In considering whether it would be in the national interest to impose antidumping or countervailing duties, I am particularly concerned about the threat arising from the now excessive level of stocks of imported cheese. I have decided to await the outcome of the discussions which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has had and proposes to have with the countries concerned about the voluntary restraint by them of the level of their exports of cheese to the United Kingdom. As the House is aware, the Governments of New Zealand, Australia and the Republic of Ireland, which supply most of our imports of cheddar-type cheese, have agreed to co-operate in a scheme of voluntary restraint in deliveries to our market in the period up to 31st March, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the cost to public funds of the exhibition of tank driving at Bovington on 20th March; what was the cost of the tank; and if he will make a statement.

No significant costs to public funds were incurred.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement about the work of the Royal Engineers in Anguilla and elsewhere in the Caribbean.

Following their reconnaissance, the Royal Engineers have discussed possible tasks with Her Majesty's Commissioner and the British Development Division in the Caribbean. The major tasks under consideration are the erection of school buildings, road improvement and the provision of an improved jetty. A number of minor tasks will be carried out as soon as the soldiers have settled in.The only other Royal Engineer task currently being undertaken in the Caribbean is the construction of Beef Island Airfield in the British Virgin Islands which is now nearing completion.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost to public funds of the expedition to Anguilla.

No precise information is available yet, but the extra cost is unlikely to be very significant.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what assessment he has made of the value of Operation Military Aid to the Civil Community of work in Great Britain to situations such as the current work of the Royal Engineers in Anguilla.

Military Aid to the Civil Community in the United Kingdom is directly relevant to the execution of similar schemes overseas, and experience gained in this country will clearly be of value to the Royal Engineers in Anguilla.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will increase through the Royal Warrants, by an especially high rate, pensions of widows and provide an additional bonus for officers and widows over seventy.

No. The terms of the Pensions (Increase) Act have been fully debated in the House and we will be following the provisions of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the Royal Warrant announcing increased pensions for the Services and for widows will be issued; and from what date the increases will operate.

The Royal Warrant for the Army was signed on 19th March. The Queen's Order for the Royal Air Force is expected to be signed shortly. The Order in Council for the Royal Navy

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the aggregate value of work completed both for home and export orders in respect of each Royal Ordnance Factory listed separately for the years 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will take steps to increase the pay of all Servicemen by 60 per cent. per annum and to ensure to them a 66⅔ per cent. pension scheme on the enhanced rates on retirement.

The National Board for Prices and Incomes is reviewing Service rates of pay and allowances. I cannot anticipate its Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the value of work completed for export orders and for home orders, respectively, for the Royal Ordnance Factories taken as a whole in the years 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968.

The value of work completed for export orders and for home orders, respectively, for the Royal Ordnance Factories administered by the Ministry of Defence taken as a whole for the four financial years 1964–65 to 1967–68 is as follows:

The aggregate value of work completed for home and export orders in each Royal Ordnance Factory administered by the Ministry of Defence for the four financial years 1964–65 to 1967–68 was:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the average number of weekly hours worked by all employees of the Royal Ordnance Factories administered by his Department for each Royal Ordnance Factory, listed separately, in the years 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968.

The number of hours worked per employee in a representative week in October in each of the four financial years 1964–65 to 1967–68 was:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what study he has made of the evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for Glasgow, Bridgeton, that hydrofoils are being developed extensively abroad for military use; and what consideration has been given to the use of hydrofoils within the United Kingdom's defence programme.

Possible naval uses for hydrofoils are kept under continuing review. I am writing to the hon. Member about the evidence referred to in the first part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what will be the cost of converting to the metric system all the measurements at present made by the Meteorological Office.

The Meteorological Office already makes extensive use of metric measurements. The cost of further conversion to the metric system is expected to be negligible.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what preference is given to development areas in the award of naval shipbuilding contracts; and what proportion, by value, of such contracts has been awarded to firm's in development areas over the last three years.

Shipbuilders in development areas are given every suitable opportunity to tender for naval shipbuilding contracts. They receive preference over firms outside these areas in the allocation of orders, if all other considerations are equal.The proportion by value of naval shipbuilding contracts awarded over the last three years to firms in development areas was 83 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the considerations which led to Vospers being awarded the contract to build the first Tyne 21 frigate in preference to Yarrows.

The contract to build the first Type 21 frigate was placed as a result of competitive tendering and was awarded on the merits of the tenders received.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether the advice to British servicemen not to take books by Jewish and Israelite authors to certain postings includes the Bible.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will take steps to increase the security arrangements at the Royal Air Force airfields in West Germany.

The security of R.A.F. airfields is kept under review in the light of changing circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list the British Army units of the Rhine Army which are now over four per cent. below their peace-time establishment.

It would not be in the public interest to give this information.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he has completed his study of the Aberystwyth inquiry into the Rural Development Board; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I have completed our study of the report of this inquiry and a letter conveying our decisions is being sent to the interested parties. I have arranged for copies of the report and the letter to be sent to the hon. Member.The report concludes that the proposed area of the board, regarded as a whole, contains the problems and needs for which a rural development board is designed and could profit from the operations of a board. It suggests, however, that there is a case for modifying the area originally proposed so as to exclude certain portions amounting to about one-eighth of it. My right hon. Friend and I accept these suggestions and we intend, after completing the statutory processes relating to a modification of the area, to seek the authority of Parliament to establish a rural development board accordingly.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which, and how many, of the priority housing authorities have notified him that they propose, as an act of policy, to cut down on their forward building programmes.

Programmes for the major house building authorities for 1969 and subsequent years are in most cases still under negotiation. It would be premature to attempt to publish a comprehensive list when in many cases final decisions have yet to be taken.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will revise and reprint the booklet describing the Mortgage Option Scheme and circulate copies of it to solicitors.

The booklet is in course of revision and, when reprinted, will be circulated to qualifying lenders. Copies will be available to solicitors on request.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the number of council houses started since May, 1968, compared with the similar period in 1967–68.

137,600 local authority dwellings were started in Great Britain in the period 1st May, 1968, to 28th February, 1969, compared with 151,400 in the corresponding period 1967–68.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give an estimate of the effect of restrictions imposed on the sale of council houses in his circular to local authorities issued in July, 1968.

Early last year the indications were that sales could reach a total in excess of 13,000 for the year, the bulk of these being in the four main conurbations where there is a shortage of housing to let at moderate rents. In the event, the restrictions resulted in total sales being limited in England and Wales to 8,728, including sales for which a sale price had been agreed before the circular of July, 1968. I expect that the number will fall substantially lower in 1969.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of housebuilders registered with the National Housebuilders Registration Council; and what proportion of all new houses currently being built for sale will carry the Council's guarantees.

At 22nd March, 1969, 11,805 housebuilders were registered with the Council and applications from a further 786 were under consideration. It is estimated that over 95 per cent. of all new houses for sale currently being started will carry the Council's guarantees which give purchasers comprehensive protection for two years and protection against major structural defects for 10 years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made towards the implementation of the full Parker Morris standards in local authority housing.

The proportion of houses built to the full Parker Morris standards rose from 14 per cent. in 1964 to 70 per cent. in 1968. All dwellings in schemes submitted after 1st January of this year have been required to conform to Parker Morris standards for space and heating, and the housing cost yardsticks are related to the full Parker Morris standards.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many tenants of regulated tenancies who have applied for reductions in rent under the rent regulations system have secured these.

From the start of rent regulation in 1966 up to the end of January, 1969, 24,500 applications by tenants for the registration of a fair rent have been analysed. 85·6 per cent. of these resulted in a reduction of the previous rent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what steps he proposes to take to mark the occasion of the opening of the Cleveland Way.

The Cleveland Way will be officially opened by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Secretary—the hon. Member for Hayes and Harlington (Mr. Skeffington)—on 24th May, at a ceremony organised by the Countryside Commission at Helmsley Castle, Helmsley, Yorkshire.The presence of hon. Members would be welcomed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress has been made in implementing the provisions of the Countryside Act, 1968, regarding country parks and picnic sites.

The Countryside Commission has already decided to recommend grant for seven such projects and is discussing more than 20 others with local authorities.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will report on the outcome of the coastal conferences held under the auspices of the National Parks Commission in 1967 and 1968.

The Countryside Commission has published nine regional reports on these Conferences and is now working on its final report and recommendations. I should like to congratulate all concerned on the excellent compilation of the Reports.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his present estimate of the number of ratepayers receiving rate rebates; and what is the average amount of rebate afforded.

In 1967–68 about 786,000 ratepayers received rate rebates. From 1st October, 1968, my right hon. Friend increased the qualifying income limits, and I now estimate that about 860,000 ratepayers are receiving rebates. The average amount of rebate in 1967–68 was £15 13s. 0d. and I estimate that this has risen to about £16.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what progress is being made in the reclamation of derelict land in England.

During the financial year 1968–69 some 87 schemes for 1,350 acres at a gross cost of £1,800,000 were given final approval, allowing work to start. About £436,000 was paid in grant, compared with about £245,000 during 1967–68. Local authorities have many more schemes in preparation and know that loan sanction and grant are rowdily available for this purpose.

asked the Minister of Transport how much of the total of over £5 million authorised by him for the replacement of obsolete vehicles by National Carriers Limited has so far been spent; what rate of interest is being charged on this sum; and by whom is the interest paid.

The way in which approved investment expenditure is phased during the year is a matter of management for the National Freight Corporation. The purchase will be financed by the corporation from its own resources or from the usual sources of loan capital. Any borrowings from the National Loans Fund will attract interest at the current rate, now 8¾ per cent. for ten-year loans.

asked the Minister of Transport how many road freight vehicles and trailers transferred from British Railways to National Carriers Limited and Freightliners Limited have so far been tested under his Department's testing schemes, and with what results; and how many more vehicles and trailers it is planned to submit for testing.

The National Freight Corporation tells me that, in the period up to 22nd February, the latest date for which details are available, 14,244 vehicles and trailers were tested, and there were 34 failures. It proposes to submit about another 16,000 for testing in the course of 1969.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will seek to ascertain the number of local authorities which have used the provisions of Section 138 of the Transport Act, 1968, which widen the discriminating powers of those authorities over the granting of travel concessions to pensioners, blind persons and others; and if he will make a statement.

No. The powers of local authorities are discretionary and their use is not reported to me.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he has now completed his consideration of a route for the Kendal link road which would avoid Levens Park; and if he will make a statement.

Consideration of the route recently put forward on behalf of the owners of Levens Park will not be completed until a site inspection has been made by my Landscape Advisory Committee and I have received their recommendations.However, as this route would adversely affect the Sacred Heart Convent, be inferior in standards of alignment and gradient and cost at least £150,000 more than the scheme line, my engineers are urgently examining the possibility of moving the interchange with the A6 trunk road further north and re-routing the Kendal link road well clear of Levens Park, Park Head and the Convent buildings. When I have received all the reports I will consider whether it is desirable to vary the present line.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement regarding the negotiations between the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation and the British Trawlers Federation in the matters of mergers in the deep-sea fishing fleet.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given earlier today by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to a Question by the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make arrangements to publish in advance of the full Report of the Hunt Committee that part of it relating to Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what action is being taken by the Northern Economic Planning Council regarding the special unemployment difficulties affecting Sunderland.

The Councils are, of course, advisory but the right hon. Gentleman will be aware that the Northern Economic Planning Council is today publishing its outline strategy for the Northern Region up to 1981. This envisages the Tyne/Wear Sub-Region as one of the areas of major economic growth.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what was the estimated cost in grants to industry per new job created for the Northern Region of England and for Wales, respectively, between 1964–65 and 1967–68, inclusive.

The only form of assistance to industry in respect of which meaningful estimates of the type requested can be made is that given under the Local Employment Acts, 1960–66, which is linked to the provision of employment. All forms of assistance—grants, loans and factory building—offered during the period April, 1964—March, 1968, in the Welsh Development

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs which regions or countries of Great Britain he estimates will have the greatest economic development, average economic development, and least economic development, respectively, over the next five years.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member on 17th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 115]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1) what was the total Government assistance to industry for the financial years 1964–65 to 1967–68, inclusive, for the Northern Region of England and for Wales, respectively;(2) what was the average assistance to industry per head of population for the years 1964–65 to 1967–68, inclusive, for the Northern Region of England and for Wales, respectively.

The following is the information.Area involved an average commitment of £642 for each job which firms estimated would eventually be created. The comparable figure for the Northern Development Area—including the Furness peninsula—for April, 1966—March, 1968, was £660; estimates of employment arising out of assistance offered in the preceding two financial years is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement about the reappointment of the South East Planning Council.

The period of appointment of members expired at the end of March. I have now appointed members, including some new members, to serve from 1st April and I am circulating a list of names in the OFFICIAL REPORT.I am glad to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the excellent work done by those members who have served hitherto.ECONOMIC PLANNING COUNCIL FOR

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will make a statement about the re-appointment of East Anglia Economic Planning Council.

The period of appointment of members expired at the end of March. I have now appointed members, including some new members, to serve from 1st April and I am circulating a list of names in the OFFICIAL REPORT.I am glad to take this opportunity to pay tribute to the excellent work done by those members who have served hitherto.ECONOMIC PLANNING COUNCIL FOR THE EAST ANGLIA REGION

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will express the present total annual cost of the non-industrial Civil Service as a proportion of the equivalent total in October, 1964.

There are several ways of making this calculation. I will write to the hon. Member and let him know the figure, as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is his policy regarding the employment in the Civil Service of workers between the ages of 65 and 69 who are fit and willing to work; and to what extent his policy has the support of the National Joint Advisory Council.

Departments may employ them provided that they are efficient and there is a need for their services. This general policy is of long standing and we have not consulted the Council about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the total annual cost to public funds of the work of the Social Science Research Council; and how many staff have been employed by this body in each year since it was established.

The expenditure of the Social Science Research Council and the staff complements, for the years to 31st March, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969 are £22,000 and 15; £590,000 and 29; £870,000 and 43; and £1,470,000 (estimated) and 64 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement about Government assistance to the Tate Gallery towards the purchase of "Kill at Ashdown Park" by James Seymour.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer has agreed that Parliament shall be asked to approve a special purchase grant of £20,000 for the purchase of this picture. A supplementary estimate will be laid before Parliament in due course. Meanwhile the money will be advanced from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many polytechnic schemes have been submitted to him; and how many make provision for student representation on the governing body.

Such provision is made in 22 of the 27 schemes submitted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present ratio of pupils to qualified teachers in the schools; and how it compares with that of a year ago.

In maintained primary and secondary schools 23·5 as at 1st February, an improvement of 0·3 of a pupil on the figure twelve months previously.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to secure the implementation of the recommendations in the Gittins Report about the teaching and use of Welsh in schools in Wales.

I have just issued a circular to local education authorities in Wales which makes it clear that I support most of the main recommendations of the Gittins Council on this subject, and am doing what I can to assist authorities in implementing them. For example, I have already authorised additions to the teacher quotas of all Welsh authorities which asked for additions to enable them to implement their language policies. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of this circular.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how many men and women students, respectively, were admitted to courses of initial teacher training at colleges of education in Sepember, 1964 and 1968.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total change in male employees in employment and total employees in employment, respectively, between mid-1964 and mid-1967 for the Northern Region of England and for Wales, respectively.

Following is the information:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer at what level of income a council house tenant with two children who pays the national average rent for a new council house has less of this income left after payment of all taxes and rent than a house owner with two children on the same income who buys a £4,000 house on an 80 per cent. mortgage over 25 years whose mortgage repayments are made in the form of a premium to an insurance company.

Any answer to this Question would depend on such a number of assumptions that it could only be regarded as hypothetical.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated annual increase in revenue, at current rates of Income Tax to be gained from making all benefits paid from the National Insurance Fund and those for which the Department of Health and Social Security is responsible and all other payments made from Government sources, respectively, which are at present not liable to Income Tax, subject to taxation in the same way as unearned income.

No accurate estimate can be made but the yield would be several hundred millions of pounds.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why his Department sent to road fund licensing authorities a special directive on or about Friday, 28th March, 1969, instructing them not to issue renewal road tax licences before 1st May, 1969, in anticipation of the Budget; and whether such instructions were issued in 1967 and 1968, and on what dates.

No such directive has been sent in this or any other year. The Road Vehicles (Registration and Licensing) Regulations, 1964, as amended in 1967, provide that licences may be applied for not more than fourteen days before they are to have effect. Licences falling due to be renewed on 1st May can therefore be taken out from Thursday, 17th April.