asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will now state the exact date on which he expects to publish the Report of the Hunt Committee.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's reply on 17th April to a similar question by my hon. Friend the Member for Lancaster (Mr. Henig).—[Vol. 781, c. 288.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to the report on students' co-operative dwellings, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will seek powers to provide suitable places for students to live in at a price they can afford; and whether he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend will study carefully the report on Student Co-operative Dwellings which he has just received and will write to my hon. Friend about it as soon as he can. My right hon. Friend and I are aware, as are the institutions concerned, that students are anxious about the level of hostel charges and we recently had some discussion about this with a deputation from the N.U.S. Universities and other institutions of higher education already provide residential accommodation by various means, and some interest ing experimental schemes are now in progress. At universities alone the number of students in residence increased from about 32,000 in 1961–62 to over 70,000 in 1967–68 and may further increase to about 80,000 by 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will name the Scottish domiciled person whose appointment was made within his patronage, giving the title of the appointment and the remuneration received.

The Scottish domiciled person referred to in my reply of 27th February, 1969, is Dr. H. W. Wilson, who is a member of the Radioactive Substances Advisory Committee. He receives no remuneration for this public service.—[Vol. 778, c. 364.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement on his policy regarding a single school leaving date in England and Wales.

The Government have carefully considered this matter and have concluded that the balance of advantage lies in retaining two leaving dates in the school year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will name the 40 offices of her Department which operate the Professional and Executive Register.

The Professional and Executive register provides a nation-wide service through 41 offices situated at Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Burnley, Cambridge, Cardiff, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Coventry, Darlington, Dundee, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Gloucester, Grimsby, Hanley, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Luton, Maidstone, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Swansea, Warrington, Wrexham.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further progress has been made in the Council of Ministers of the Council of Europe regarding the restoration of democratic government in Greece; and if he will make a statement.

The proceedings of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and their Deputies are confidential. But the matter has been under consideration by Ministers' Deputies and it is likely to be discussed by the Committee of Ministers of the Council at their meeting in London on 5th and 6th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the discussions he has held with the Governments of the Republic of the Argentine and of the Republic of Uruguay on the effects of the first report of the Northumberland Committee.

The Report is still under consideration by Her Majesty's Government and has therefore not been the subject of any such discussions. My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has already informed the House that he will be making a statement when the report is published on 1st May or as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the cultural agreement with the State of Israel will be concluded.

The text of the proposed Anglo-Israel Cultural Convention has now been agreed with the Government of Israel. A date for signature has not yet been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish the names of those who signed the joint Anguillan declaration.

In addition to my right hon. and noble Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Lord Caradon, the following signed the declaration: Messrs. Ronald Webster, Emile Gumbs, Kenneth Hazell, Wallace Rey, Atlin Harrigan, and John Hodge.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the numbers of children who were adopted in the latest convenient years; and what is his estimate as to the balance between the number of prospective adopting parents and of children in need of adoption.

22,802 in England and Wales in 1967 and 24,858 in 1968, compared with 13,304 in 1958. The responsibility for arranging adopttions rests with the adoption agencies, but I understand that in spite of the steady increase in the number of adoptions there is still no general shortage of suitable adopters.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what study he has made of the extent to which limitations regarding religion prevent children from being adopted who would otherwise be so.

My right hon. Friend has received certain representations about the right of the natural parent to specify the religion in which the child is to be brought up. This is one of the matters to be considered in the review of adoption law which he has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what assessment he has made of the children least likely to be adopted; and whether he will take steps to encourage and assist people to adopt handicapped children.

My right hon. Friend has no direct responsibility for the placement of children for adoption, but the Advisory Councils on Child Care for England and Wales and for Scotland are preparing a handbook on adoption practice for the guidance of adoption agencies, and this is likely to include advice on the placement of handicapped children.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what provision is being made by the Greater London Council at its Thamesmead Development to ensure that employment will be available for the population; if he will state the number of square feet of industrial space to be provided in the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972, the number of firms who have given firm undertakings to Thamesmead and the number of jobs involved.

The Thamesmead scheme makes provision for about 170 acres of industrial land and some local office employment. It has always been assumed that some residents will travel to work outside the area. It is not possible to state the amount of industrial space to be provided in particular years, since this will depend on decisions by private industrialists as well as by the Council. I understand that the Council is building twelve unit factories totalling 36,000 square feet which it hopes will be completed at the end of this year with the first firm in operation early in 1970. Unit factories have been reserved for five prospective tenants. Seven firms are interested in securing sites to build their own factories.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many units of accommodation will be made available at the Greater London Council's Thamesmead Development in the years 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972; and what are the estimated number of employable persons for each of these years moving into Thamesmead.

In 1967 the Greater London Council estimated that between 1,000 and 1,300 houses would be completed annually between 1969 and 1972, but I understand that it is now reviewing this estimate. It is not possible to give an estimate of the number of employable persons likely to move to Thamesmead in each of these years.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in view of the compulsory application of Parker Morris standards, he will consider raising the cost yardstick for council house building; and if he will make a statement.

The Housing Cost Yardstick takes account of Parker Morris standards. It was increased on 1st April, 1969. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales will be sending my hon. Friend a copy of the relevant circular.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average percentage of net income at present devoted to housing by an average council tenant and the corresponding figure for the average house purchaser taking advantage of the option mortgage scheme.

The precise information requested is not available.On the basis of the small sample covered by the Family Expenditure Survey, 1967, the average net rent in that year of council tenants in England is estimated to have been about 13 per cent. of the average gross income of the head of the household. At present the annual charges on an averaged sized option mortgage for a 25-year term are estimated to be about 18 per cent. of the average income, as recorded by building societies, of house purchasers using the Option Mortgage Scheme in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government under what conditions a house is treated for the purpose of his regulations as being of a tolerable standard in England.

The expression "tolerable standard" does not occur in any regulations made by my right hon. Friend.The criteria by which a house is judged to be fit or unfit for human habitation in England are listed in Section 4 of the Housing Act, 1957. There is a proposal in Clause 72 of the Housing Bill to add one further item to the list.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what was the number and value of rebates granted to individual ratepayers in the boroughs of Faversham and Queenborough-in-Sheppey, and its predecessors, the urban district of Sittingbourne and Milton and

	Average number of rebate recipients		Average individual rebate granted
Local Authority	1966–67	1967–68	1966–67		1967–68
			£	s.	£	s.
Faversham B.	305	305	10	17	11	16
Queenborough B.	90	73	10	1	10	1
Sheerness U.D.	514	453	11	3	10	13
Sheppey R.D.	551	410	12	7	14	8
Sittingbourne and Milton U.D.	695	607	13	17	13	14
Swale R.D.	373	310	11	19	11	11

Figures for 1968–69 are now being collected from rating authorities and should be available within a few weeks.Apart from a very few occupiers of mixed properties, only domestic ratepayers receive rebates.No relief was granted in any of these areas in the four years 1964–65 to 1967–68 under Section 2 of the Rating (Interim Relief) Act, 1964.No estimates were made in the Department of the number or value of rebates in individual rating areas.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will name the four Scottish domiciled persons whose salaried appointments were made within his patronage, giving in each instance the title of the appointment and the remuneration received.

The following individuals have Scottish addresses:

Mr. E. Clark—Member (part-time) of the Housing Corporation—£1,000 p.a.

The average numbers of recipients of rate rebates under the Rating Act, 1966, and the average rebates for the years 1966–67 and 1967–68 are as follows:Mr. J. Farquharson—Member (part-time) of the Land Commission—1,000 p.a.Mr. W. S. Gauldie—Member (part-time) of the National Building Agency—£500 p.a.Lord Mitchison—Member (part-time) of the Harlow New Town Development Corporation—£500 p.a.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware of the Greater London Council's proposals to build a large office block for their staff on the Addington Street roundabout at the eastern approach to Westminster Bridge; and whether, in view of its proximity to the Houses of Parliament, he will arrange for hon. Members to have an opportunity of studying details of the scheme before a final decision is taken on it.

Yes, I am aware of this scheme. With the co-operation of the Greater London Council I have arranged for an exhibition illustrating the council's proposals to be held in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday, 21st April to Wednesday, 23rd April inclusive. I shall be glad to receive any comments which hon. Members may have about the scheme and to pass them on to the council.

asked the Postmaster-General why advertisements inserted in the Press by his Department for overseas telegraph operators fix an age limit of 36 years; and whether he will, in future, engage people on merit rather than age.

We do recruit overseas telegraph operators up to age 59, and I will ensure that the position is made quite clear in future advertisements. However, because of the digital dexterity required, we find that candidates over about 35 have great difficulty in training up to our standards unless they already have typing or teleprinter skills.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will name the eight persons whose salaried appointments were made within his patronage, giving in each instance the title of the appointment, the remuneration received and the home address of the recipient.

The eight persons are the members of the Council of the Agrement Board. Their names and remuneration were included in my reply of 5th March to a Question from the hon. Member for Londonderry (Mr. Chichester-Clark). I have no doubt that their addresses can be found in appropriate publications.—[Vol. 779, c. 130.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what esimate he has made of the increase in the cost of building a house as a result of the proposed increase in Selective Employment Tax.

The increase for a three-bedroom house which costs £3,000 to build is estimated to be about £25.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has made of the cost in a full year to the building and construction industry in Scotland of the proposed increase in Selective Employment Tax.

About £5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the details of the work and costs involved in the estimate of £66,000 which the Manchester Regional Hospital Board has given to the hon. Member for Westmorland as the cost of converting Ethel Hedley Hospital at Windermere into a geriatric hospital.

Details of the estimate will now have been received by the hon. Member from the Secretary of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many staff, according to grades, are estimated by the Manchester Regional Hospital Board to be needed to operate the Ethel Hedley Hospital at Windermere as a geriatric hospital.

19 Nursing staff, 1 clerical worker and the equivalent of 13 ancillary grades. Medical and technical staff needs remain to be determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what particular difficulties in running Ethel Hedley Hospital at Windermere as a geriatric hospital the Manchester Regional Hospital Board put forward as likely to be experienced in their letter JW/CG/N28R/10 of 25th February, 1969.

Principally staffing on a long-term basis, running costs and isolation from treatment for acute conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the latest figures available for geriatric beds per 1,000 population and per 1,000 population aged 65 and over in the North Lancashire and South Westmorland area of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board's area.

1·48 geriatric beds per thousand population and 9·22 geriatric beds per thousand population aged 65 and over.

PATIENTS LEAVING BROADMOOR IN THE FIVE YEARS ENDING 31ST DECEMBER, 1968
	Duration of treatment
Disposal	Under 1 year	Over 1 year but less than 3 years	Over 3 years but less than 5 years	Over 5 years but less than 10 years	Over 10 years
Remitted to Prison	7	12	5	—	—
Repatriated	5	15	13	7	5
Transferred:—
Ordinary Hospital	12	58	58	78	175
Special Hospital	14	26	6	14	11
Discharged:—
Conditionally	13	29	18	17	15
Absolutely	17	32	12	3	2

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients are under treatment at Broad-moor; and how many doctors, psychiatrists and other trained staff are in attendance.

Seven hundred and ninety-six on 1st April, 1969.On the same date the numbers of staff in post (whole time equivalents) were:

Doctors (all psychiatrists)	9½
Psychologists	3
Nursing and Occupations Staff	369

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will estimate the cost of adding 25 new geriatric beds to Kendal Green Hospital at Kendal.

28 new beds are now proposed at an estimated cost of £75,000, including furniture and equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultation took place between the hospital authorities and the local health authorities in the Greater Manchester area concerning the outbreak of gastro-enteritis among children in the area; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary for Social Services how many patients have been released in the last five years from Broadmoor after one year's, three years', five years' and 10 years' treatment respectively.

Following is the information:—

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what communications there were between the hospital authorities and the local health authorities in the Greater Manchester area concerning the outbreak of gastroenteritis among children in the area; and if he will make a statement.

I await the full report on the outbreak which I have called for from the regional hospital board.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether full X-ray facilities are available at All Saints' Hospital, Chatham, and other hospitals in the Medway towns.

Adequate X-ray facilities are available at All Saints' Hospital, Chatham, and at five other hospitals in the Medway and Gravesend Group. A new X-ray department is under construction at Medway Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consideration has been given to the setting up of joint consultative committees at the Hull Royal Infirmary and the Hull Maternity Hospital.

I understand that the hospital management committee has in the past made various proposals to the staff interests concerned for joint consultative committees to be established at the Hull Maternity Hospital and reestablished at the Royal Infirmary, and that they are ready for further discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the fact that money is not available for capes for auxiliary nurses at the Hull Maternity Hospital, he will arrange to supply black umbrellas of the pattern supplied by the Royal Air Force to their female other ranks.

Money for capes is now available and they are being purchased.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will arrange to exhibit in the Palace of Westminster an up-to-date model of the plan for the rebuilding of St. Thomas's Hospital.

The model will be displayed in the Upper Waiting Hall from Monday, 28th April to Friday, 2nd May inclusive. A member of the firm of architects concerned will be in attendance on the Tuesday and Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the 25 homes for unmarried mothers that were closed down in 1968; and if he will give the reasons for the closure in each case.

These homes are mostly run by religious and other voluntary bodies and the information requested is not available centrally. But I am making further inquiries and will write to my hon. Friend as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his plans to assist the development of rainbow trout fishing in waters owned by the Forestry Commission, hydro-electric board and other public bodies.

I have no proposals for this at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which areas, such as shallow lochs, he proposes to develop coarse fishing.

This is primarily a matter for owners of fishing rights: I have no proposals at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what measures he is now taking to control drift-net fishing for salmon.

The Salmon and Migratory Trout (Prohibition of Drift-net Fishing) (Extension) Order, 1968, extending until 1971 the ban on drift-net fishing for salmon in waters around Scotland which was first imposed in 1962, was approved by a Resolution of the House on 29th January, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he is doing to implement Recommendation 18 of the Hunter Report that changes to new commercial fishing methods should be gradual, and should begin with a commercial scheme and research scheme.

I should prefer not to comment on individual recommendations until I have completed my consideration of the Report as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has to introduce commercial catch quotas for salmon, based on the previous season's catching.

I have no powers to do this but I am, of course, taking account of the relevant recommendation of the Hunter Committee in my consideration of its Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made at Faskally Research Centre, Pitlochry, into the improvement of brown trout fishing.

In the course of its work on factors affecting the number, size and growth of brown trout in Scottish waters the laboratory undertook a wide range of research on such matters as the biology and behaviour of trout, their food requirements, the conditions under which they spawn and the productivity of Scottish freshwaters, including chemical fertilisation of lochs, control of aquatic weeds and elimination of predators. A great deal of information on these and other factors of value for the management of trout waters was obtained and published. Although its work has for some years been mainly concerned with salmon, the laboratory continues to be engaged in experimental trout improvement schemes and to advise angling clubs and proprietors on trout matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers have now re-registered with the General Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement.

The most recent figure announced by the Council was given in my reply to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 16th April.—[Vol. 781, c. 249.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to divide the run of salmon in suitable proportions between a commercial catch on the one hand and the angling stock and breeding escapement on the other.

The Hunter Committee proposed a system of management of salmon fisheries to achieve this, and I am examining its proposals in the course of considering the Committee's Report as a whole.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will name the Scottish domiciled person whose appointment was made within his patronage, giving the title of the appointment and the remuneration received.

Mr. I. W. MacDonald. He is a part-time member of the Board of the National Research Development Corporation. As such he is paid £1,000 a year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional measures he intends taking to stimulate the export efforts and the foreign currency saving potential of industries in the South-West.

The Government are taking a wide range of measures to encourage exports and import saving. These measures apply to industries in the South-West, part of which is also eligible for development area benefits.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for the disposal of buildings on the old Renfrew Airport site; and what stage these plans have reached now.

In line with local wishes, we sought to sell the terminal buildings for use for communal purposes but this has not proved possible and the buildings are now on offer to the local authorities. The other buildings at present in industrial use are also on offer to the local authorities which are considering whether to seek the re-zoning of the area for residential purposes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has identified the origin of a piece of metal tubing which crashed from a great height on to a workshop in Sudbury, Wembley, in Easter week and narrowly missed a young man.

Officials of the Board of Trade have examined the metal tubing and, while they have not been able positively to identify its origin, it resembles part of a discarded industrial or domestic fire extinguisher and not part of an aircraft. We have no evidence that the object fell from a great height.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will name the 245 persons whose paid appointments are within his patronage, giving in each instance the title of the appointment, the remuneration received and the home address of the recipient.

As the information would take up considerable space in the OFFICIAL REPORT, I am writing to the hon. Lady.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is his estimate of the cost of the proposed increase in Selective Employment Tax to the hotel industry; and what will be the cost to the industry in a full year of the tax at the proposed higher rate.

It is estimated that the increases proposed from 7th July in the rate of Selective Employment Tax

Name	Appointment	Salary
ord Taylor of Gryfe	*Member of British Railways Board	£1,000 p.a.
Mr. J. A. R. Falconer	*Director of Transport Holding Company	£1,000 p.a.
Mr. W. M. Little	*Member of National Bus Company	†unpaid
Sir Robert A. Maclean	*Member of National Freight Corporation	£1,000 p.a.
Mr. A. G. McCrae	*Member of National Ports Council	£1,000 p.a.
Mr. A. B. Birnie	Chairman of Traffic Commissioners	£4,950 p.a.
* Part-time appointments.
† Is full-time member of, and receives a salary from, the Scottish Transport Group.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a further statement on the construction of a bridge across the River Wyre at or near Wardley's.

Lancashire C.C. has proposed that a scheme to provide a new will add about £8 million, making the net cost to the hotel and catering industry as a whole about £35 to £36 million in a full year. Separate figures for hotels only are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will consider the restriction of the noise level of internal short distance flights to a lower level of sound in view of public anxiety and the fact that the present level often causes discomfort and loss of amenity to the public over which the aircraft pass.

Aircraft on short distance flights are normally quieter than others and, while fully appreciating the sort of considerations the hon. Gentleman has in mind, we see no need for special noise restrictions on them.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will name the seven Scottish domiciled persons whose appointments are made within his patronage, giving in each instance the title of the appointment and the remunerations received.

Since my reply to the hon. Member's Question on 24th February, 1969, the number of appointments held by persons living in Scotland has changed from seven to six. These are:route between a point near Thornton and the A588 north of Hambleton, including a new crossing of the River Wyre at Wardley's Ferry, should be considered for inclusion in the Minister's principal roads programme. The scheme's priority is, however, likely to be low in relation to other proposed road schemes.

asked the Minister of Transport on what date he expects the public inquiry on the extension of the north orbital road in Hertfordshire to begin.

As my hon. Friend is aware, we need the results of a traffic survey before we can reach a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what local authorities in Wales do not operate the rent rebate scheme for their local authority housing.

Fifty-eight local authorities are operating rent rebate schemes based on or in most essentials similar to the illustrative scheme shown in the Appendix to Circular 41/67. Others may be operating schemes allowing varying degrees of rent relief; but detailed information is not available about these and it is therefore not possible to say which authorities operate no scheme for rebating rents.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give further details of his plans involving the postponment of district and cottage hospital projects, in order to make available limited finance towards improving hospital conditions.

The Secretary of State for Social Services and my right hon. Friend are continuing discussions with the chairmen of regional hospital boards about the reallocation of resources in order to improve hospital conditions.

asked the Minister of Transport what further proposals he has received for the future development of the railway line from Glasgow to East Kilbride.

Any development of this line is a matter for the Railways Board, and I have received no proposals from it.