asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details giving particulars of fines for penalties imposed at the Hartlepool Magistrates' Courts for the road traffic offences of speeding, parking and excess of the prescribed limits of alcohol, respectively, for first offenders.

I regret that separate information is not available about first offenders.I will however, with permission, circulate a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT giving figures for all offenders for 1968.Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation requiring any scientist to obtain a special licence to perform experiments involving cruelty in battery units.

Any person who wishes to perform an experiment calculated to cause pain to any living vertebrate animal must obtain a licence under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many hours of police manpower have been taken up by the investigation of complaints of unlawful behaviour by the Metropolitan Police during the years 1967 and 1968.

About 26,000 hours in 1967 and 30,000 hours in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied with the working of those sections of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, which relate to suspended sentences; and if he will make a statement.

A full assessment of the effects of the introduction of the suspended sentence will not be possible for some time. In the first year of operation, sentences of imprisonment passed on over 32,000 offenders were suspended. Of these offenders, 4,700 committed in that period a further offence which activated the suspended sentence and 4,200 of them were committed to prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the increase in the number of police in the Metropolitan Police force and in the provincial police forces from 1st January, 1968, to 31st March, 1969.

514 and 470 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many inspectors his Department now has to supervise experiments on live animals and how many he estimates there will be by the end of 1969, and in 1970, respectively.

Nine at present, including the Chief Inspector. My right hon. Friend hopes to appoint three more by the end of 1969. I cannot yet say how many additional appointments might be made in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to co-ordinate fire services throughout the country and to ensure satisfactory standards; and whether he will make a statement.

Co-ordination of standards is sought through Her Majesty's Inspectors of Fire Services; the work of the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council; central training courses; and in the normal course of business between the Home Office and fire authorities. These arrangements are amongst the matters under review by the Departmental Committee on the Fire Service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now intends to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Littlewood Report.

I am still not in a position to say when it may be practicable to introduce legislation to replace the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the number of recent fires in such premises, he will now introduce legislation to strengthen and rationalise the existing law relating to fire precautions in residential establishments, places of resort, old persons homes and nursing homes.

These premises will be covered by the new legislation to which I referred in my reply on 3rd April to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Cleveland (Mr. Tinn).—[Vol. 781, c. 152.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now made a decision on the question of amending the 1968 Amendment Order to the Firemen's Pension Scheme 1966, so that the widow of Bolton Fireman Liptrot, who died on the 16th April, 1968, while trying to rescue three girls trapped at Brackley Colliery, will receive the enhanced pension and gratuity available in certain defined circumstances.

My right hon. Friend is considering the question and he hopes to reach a decision soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what action is being taken to co-ordinate the work of Departments concerned with the recommendations of the Hunt Report.

The necessary action falls within my general responsibility for the co-ordination of regional policy. I would refer the hon. Member to my statement on 24th April.— [Vol. 782, c. 668–672.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is satisfied with the success of his policies in promoting regional development; and if he will make a statement.

Substantial progress has been made since 1964 in promoting regional economic development. I announced our proposals for promoting industrial development in the new intermediate areas on 24th April.—[Vol. 782, c. 668–672.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he is satisfied with the contribution which the nationalised industries are making to regional development; and if he will make a statement.

There is close and continuing discussion about regional development between the Government and the nationalised industries and they are co-operating in this field consistently with the objectives which we have laid down for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what part of the estimated £260 million of incentives to industrial development in the development areas during 1968–69 arose in Scotland.

The figure of £260 million represents the estimated cost of preferential assistance to industry in all development areas (over and above what they received under national schemes) in 1968–69. Details for individual areas are not yet available, but in the case of Scotland the sum involved is expected to be about £90 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she has considered the effect on organised labour of the increases proposed in the salaries to the chief officials of nationalised industries and others; whether these are in accord with the restrictions of the prices and incomes policy; and if she will refuse to sanction these increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will now make a statement upon the disequilibrium created by the proposals of the National Board of Prices and Incomes recommendations that certain chairmen of State boards receive a 60 per cent. advance in salary to £20,000 per annum, having regard to the policy of Her Majesty's Government on prices and incomes.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend on 3rd April, and to her speech in reply to the Adjournment debate which followed.—[Vol. 781, c. 659–68 and c. 681–4]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will indicate the total number of persons who were denied unemployment benefit in 1966, 1967 and 1968 due to the operation of the grade or class provision, or due to their financing of particular disputes.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT each of those disputes in the motor vehicle industry which have, in the years 1961 to 1969, inclusive, involved losses of more than 10,000 man-days, the actual amount of time lost, directly or indirectly, in each such dispute and the estimated loss of production caused during each such dispute.

As the answer consists of a table of figures, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I regret that official estimates are not available for the loss of production involved.Following is the information:

asked the Postmaster General what steps he is taking to improve the telephone service between Bristol and Monmouth.

Within the next few weeks the capacity on this route will be increased by 20 per cent. Equipment now being installed will give Bristol S.T.D. access to Monmouth in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present level of rescue services, in particular helicopter services, in the North-East; how this compares with the position two years ago; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that, covering the area between Berwick-upon-Tweed and the River Humber, there are 19 regular, 11 auxiliary watching and 3 auxiliary coastguard stations; 18 lifeboats; and 14 inshore rescue boats; the inshore rescue scheme in the area, organised jointly by the R.N.L.I. and the Coastguard, can call on the voluntary services of many private boat owners. In addition, there are two Royal Air Force Whirlwind detachments (at Acklington and Leconfield) established for military purposes, which are also available for general rescue in emergencies.The Royal Air Force station at Acklington is due to be closed in August, 1969. The two Whirlwind helicopters based there will then be transferred, at least temporarily to R.A.F. Ouston and then to another location in the same area.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what are the percentages of Great Britain's gross national product devoted to military expenditure covering that in the Defence Budget, the military defence as defined in the national income accounts statistics and the sum as defined by the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, respectively, for 1968–69 and as planned for 1969–70.

The provisional out-turns for 1968–69 represent just over 6 per cent. and about 6½ per cent. and 6⅓ per cent. respectively. The estimates for 1969–70 are expected to be about 5¾ per cent., just over 6 per cent. and 6 per cent. respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food with what countries other than New Zealand, Australia and the Republic of Ireland he is having discussions about voluntary restraint by them of the level of their cheese exports to the United Kingdom; when he opened discussions, showing each country separately, and when he intends to reopen them; and how long he estimates they will continue.

My right hon. Friend's discussions extend to all overseas suppliers sending significant quantities of cheddar and cheddar-type cheese to our market except for countries in Eastern Europe whose supplies are limited by quota, but I do not think it would be meaningful to list the dates of all the many meetings and communications involved. A statement on the outcome wil be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Technology what consultations he has had regarding the pending removal of the Transformer Division of C. A. Parsons from Tyneside to Edinburgh in the light of its effect on the electrical plant industry; and what assurances he obtained regarding its effect on the high rate of unemployment on Tyneside.

No such move has been announced by C. A. Parsons Limited. The company is fully aware of my close interest in the possible consequences of its proposed merger with Bruce Peebles Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assurances he gave the Hospital Matrons Association at his meeting with it on 25th April on the subject of the difficulties arising over nurses' conditions of service.

I said that a letter was going to hospital authorities saying that reasonable basic meals should be available at the prices laid down in the Ancillary Staffs Council agreement. I sent the hon. Member a copy of this letter in connection with her Question on 28th April.—[Vol. 782, c. 939–44.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the further development on the Watford General Hospital will start; and when work on the main building will start.

The position indicated in The Hospital Building Programme (Cmnd. 3000) is unchanged and the next stage of development of Watford General Hospital remains one of the higher priorities in the North West Metropolitan Region. The Board is at present reviewing its programme and I cannot be more specific about the date when the further development will take place.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now publish the findings of the inquiry into the gastro-enteritis outbreak on Teesside; and if he will make a statement.

I am satisfied that no useful purpose would be served by now publishing this report, since it adds nothing of significance to the advice which is already available to hospital authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which employees in the hospital service have a pension provision whereby each year's service after 20 years counts double, and which do not.

Only members of the staff of a hospital for the treatment of persons suffering from mental disorder who devote the whole or substantially the whole of their time to the treatment or care of such persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what benefits are paid to people engaged in a full-time occupation upon absence due to sickness and how these payments differ between those under 65 years of age and those over 65 years of age.

Payments for incapacity for work are fiat-rate sickness benefit plus any earnings-related supplement to which the particular claimant may be entitled. From retirement age there is flat-rate sickness benefit of an amount equal to the flat-rate retirement pension to which the claimant would have been entitled if he had retired at that age.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if Her Majesty's Government will support the recommendation of the Council of Europe Assembly that Greece should be suspended from membership at the forthcoming Committee of Ministers' meeting.

I have nothing to add to what I told my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Brightside (Mr. Eddie Griffiths) on 28th April.—[Vol. 782, c. 156]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that the present political regime in Greece is in breach of the requirements of the Charter of the Council of Europe; and whether Her Majesty's Government's representative at the meeting of Ministers to be held in London on 5th May, 1969, will initiate or support appropriate proposals in the light of this fact.

We are well aware of the situation in Greece. The deep con- cern to which this situation has given rise is reflected in the Recommendation by the Consultative Assembly which my right hon. Friend and his colleagues will be discussing next week. But it would not be helpful if I were to disclose in advance of the meeting the line we propose to take.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of each case of significant arson in Anguilla in 1968 and 1969.

During the night of 20th/21st January, 1968, a Piper Aztec aircraft operated by the St. Thomas Air Taxi Service was extensively damaged by fire on Wall Blake Airfield.The house of Dr. Hyde was totally destroyed by fire at 10.30 p.m. on Friday, 8th March, 1968.In both cases arson was suspected.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of all murders committed in Anguilla in 1968 and 1969.

There was a suspected case of murder on 2nd January, 1968. A person has now been committed on a charge of manslaughter in this connection.

asked the Prime Minister when he intends to make his next official visit to Scotland.

I would refer to the reply I made to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 18th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 201–3.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make an official visit to Northern Scotland.

I would refer to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 18th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 201–3.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will visit Edinburgh officially prior to 1970.

I would refer to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 18th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 201–3.]

asked the Prime Minister what plans he has to meet the Scottish Trades Union Congress to discuss job opportunities in Scotland.

asked the Prime Minister when he next intends to pay an official visit to Scotland to have discussions with the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

On my own plans for visiting Scotland, I would refer my hon. Friends to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 18th March.The Secretary of State for Scotland and a number of my other Ministerial colleagues recently met the Scottish Trades Union Congress General Council and had a most useful discussion of a number of matters affecting the economic situation in Scotland, including job opportunities in Scotland.—[Vol. 780, c. 201–3.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to Lanarkshire, including in his itinerary the Bellshill Industrial Estate.

I would refer to the Answer I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 18th March.—[Vol. 780, c. 201–3.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the existing arrangements for co-ordination between Ministers with responsibilities relating to the Commission on the Constitution; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question by the hon. Members for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell) and Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur) on 7th November, 1968.—[Vol. 772, c. 159–60.]

asked the Prime Minister what steps he has taken to co-ordinate the consideration and implementation of the reports of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Scotland and the Royal Commission on Local Government in England.

All steps which are necessary.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the Ministerial arrangements for dealing with pit closures and special development areas in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now transfer the functions of the Minister of Public Building and Works within Scotland to the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Responsibility in Scotland for ancient monuments, Royal parks and palaces was transferred to the Secretary of State for Scotland from the Minister of Public Building and Works on 1st April.

asked the Prime Minister if he will have discussions with Heads of Governments with a view to general disarmament under which the nuclear weapons of all countries would be reduced and eventually eliminated under effective international control.

No. We believe that at present the best way to work towards our objective of general and complete disarmament under effective international control is through the negotiations in the Eighteen Nation Disarmament Committee.

asked the Prime Minister what recent proposals he has received from Mr. Ian Smith with a view to the settlement of the Rhodesian problem.

I have nothing to add to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Louth (Sir C. Osborne) on 29th April.

asked the Prime Minister what replies he has sent to the representations of the Scottish Area of the National Union of Mineworkers on pit closures and the contraotion of manpower.

I am not sure what representations my hon. Friend has in mind but on colliery closures in Scotland I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Power to questions by my hon. Friend and other Members on 11th February.—[Vol. 777, c. 1093–4.]

asked the Prime Minister what study he has made of the interim statement of the Scottish Trades Union Congress on devolution in Scotland, a copy of which has been sent to him; and what action he now proposes to take in this matter.

I understand that this statement was accepted by the Congress as a basis for the preparation of its evidence to the Commission on the Constitution. It will be for the Commission to consider the evidence of the Congress in due course.

asked the Prime Minister what steps he plans to take to improve the co-ordination of the activities of the Paymaster-General and the Secretary of State for Scotland on the problems of devolution.

I would refer to my reply earlier today to a Question by the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Monro).

asked the Prime Minister what initiative he plans to take to improve the co-ordination of the activities of all those Ministers involved in the furtherance of industrial development and growth in Scotland.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply earlier today to Questions by the hon. Members for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Clark Hutchison), North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) and South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne).

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination existing between the Department of Economic Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government in considering the question of the Wash Barrage; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My right hon. Friends are in close consultation on this matter.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Secretary of State for Education and Science to the annual conference of the National Union of Teachers at Douglas, Isle of Man, on 8th April, on education, represents Government policy.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to improve the co-ordination between Ministers responsible for industrial development in areas which are not designated as development areas, such as Corby, Northamptonshire.

My right hon. Friends already work very closely together on these matters.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is aware that the price of one sausage served in the Strangers Cafeteria varies from 1s. to 1s. 2d.; and if he will give instructions that there should be a reduction in the price charged for this item.

The price of sausages in the Strangers' Cafeteria varies with size.Prices in the Refreshment Department are under constant review.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish details of the method by which pension transfer values are calculated, and transfers effected, for the purpose of protecting the rights of local government officers on change of employment between authorities.

The method of calculating transfer values under the local government superannuation scheme is set out in the Local Government Superannuation (Transfer Value) Regulations 1954 (S.I. 1954 No. 1212) as modified by the National Insurance (Modification of Local Government Superannuation Schemes) (No. 2) Regulations 1961 (S.I. 1961 No. 405) and the National Insurance (Modification of Local Government Superannuation Schemes) Regulations 1963 (S.I. 1963 No. 2060). The transfer value represents an adjustment between superannuation funds and does not affect the reckonability of the employee's service. The right to reckon earlier contributing service on transfer between local authorities is conferred by Section 13 of the Local Government Superannuation Act, 1937.

asked the Minister of Transport what discussions he has had with the International Road Transport Union and the American Department of Transportation about the acceptability of T.I.R. carnets to the United States Government.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport what studies his Department has made of the profitability of wagonload traffics of European railway systems, from information available to him from international sources, in connection with the recent request of the British Railways Board for financial assistance in providing new freight wagons.

The British Railways Board has made no request to me for such financial assistance, but it has recently sought my approval in the normal way to its proposal to build a large number of new freight wagons. No studies have been made by my Department of the experience of other European railways with wagonload traffics; the widely differing circumstances in other countries would make such examination of doubtful value in the present context.