asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he will now indicate, in the light of the Hunt Committee recommendations, the future intentions of the Government towards the Merseyside Development Area.

As I explained on 24th April, the Government do not accept the Hunt Committee's recommendation for the de-scheduling of Merseyside.—[Vol. 782, c. 668–72.]

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what action he proposes to increase the industrial diversification of Stoke-on-Trent following the Hunt Committee's Report.

Stoke-on-Trent should derive particular benefit from the higher rate of grant for clearance of derelict land.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he will take steps to establish in Stoke-on-Trent a small business centre to stimulate small creative and expanding businesses as recommended by the Hunt Committee for the North-West, Yorkshire and Humberside.

The Government is considering the recommendation of the Hunt Committee on small business centres in the light of the experience gained at the pioneer centre at the University of Aston and in the context of other assistance to industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what are the most northern and southern points of the Erewash Valley he has determined for the implementation of the Hunt Report; and what are the local authority areas involved.

My right hon. Friend is consulting the Economic Planning Councils about the precise boundaries of the new intermediate areas.

asked the Postmaster-General how many would-be telephone subscribers were waiting to be connected to the Cheltenham exchange on 15th April; how many had been waiting for 12 month or more; when he expects to provide those individuals with telephone service; and what is the longest period any individual has been waiting.

1,086—150 for more than 12 months. The longest waiting period is two years. 1,050 will have service by the end of the month. Most of the remainder are on new estates where cables will be laid as site conditions permit. All will be connected this year.

asked the Postmaster-General what official advice is given to subscribers when making a telephone call on whether to give the name or code number of the exchange of the number they are calling.

The exchange name except for calls to six major towns.

asked the Postmaster-General how many times in the latest annual period for which figures are available telephone users in London endeavouring to dial numbers in Scotland have been advised that the lines to Scotland are engaged and that they should telephone later.

We estimate on 1 per cent. of the calls.

asked the Postmaster-General what steps he is taking to improve the telephone service between London and Scotland.

Additional equipment in the Edinburgh and Glasgow exchanges will improve the service. At Edinburgh the extra equipment will come into service this weekend. Installation of the Glasgow equipment will be completed later this year.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is satisfied with the reliability of the telephone service operated to the small isles of Rhum, Eigg, Muck and Canna, in view of the need to ensure that the islanders are not cut off from regular contact with the mainland; and if he will make a statement.

Service to these islands is mainly by radio links, any faults are normally repaired quickly, but occasionally weather conditions prevent maintenance staff from reaching the islands for several days. The absence of public electricity supplies on the islands presents special difficulties. To overcome this and to improve the service we are installing transistorised equipment and renewed aerial systems. The exposed position of the islands makes it impossible to guarantee our normal service, but the measures being taken should provide as reliable a service as possible.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will, in consultation with the Minister of Transport and the President of the Board of Trade, arrange the installation of Telex as a facility in all concessions granted for airports and motorway service areas.

My Department is discussing the possibility with the Board of Trade and the Ministry of Transport.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) whether he is aware that a communication posted in London, S.W.1 on 18th April addressed to the hon. Member for West Ham, North in London, N.13 did not arrive until 22nd April; and why it takes periods of this length to deliver mail from one London borough to another;(2) Whether he is aware that a letter sent to the hon. Member for West Ham, North from London, W.C.2 on 17th April did not arrive at the House of Commons, S.W.1, until 22nd April; and whether he will take action to improve the present delivery service.

If my hon. Friend will let me have the envelopes of the letters concerned, I will make inquiries.

asked the Postmaster-General (1) what is the value of the equipment on order for the London switchboard of the International Telex Exchange; why installation dates are in some cases two years behind schedule; and what steps he is taking to make improvements;(2) which contractors are behind with their delivery dates for equipment for the London switchboard of the International Telex Exchange; by how much; what is the nature and the value of the orders concerned; and what explanations have been given for late delivery.

We estimate that the cost of the equipment will be £112,000.The contract for the International Telex Exchange switchboard in London will provide an additional 48 operating positions. The contractor has had manufacturing difficulties and the project is now approximately five months behind schedule. The Post Office is attempting to secure an early completion date by deferring some other projects placed with the same contractor, thus permitting full effort to be devoted to the international telex switchboard.It is contrary to established practice to give details of individual contracts.

asked the Postmaster-General how many staff are employed on the London switchboard of the International Telex Exchange; how many more staff are required; what is the reason for the present shortfall; and what steps he is taking to make this good.

372 operators. Our immediate need is 456 and 528 later in the year as more switchboards are brought into use.The present shortfall has arisen from our difficulty in recruiting staff for round the clock duties in London, and, the need to avoid over-depleting other overseas telegraph units in London. We are giving priority to the transfer of operators to the Telex exchange.

asked the Postmaster-General how many new circuits are needed to enable the London switchboard of the International Telex Exchange to meet the present and anticipated demands on it; and when these will be in operation.

We need 130 more circuits to meet present demands. To meet growth over the next 12 months we estimate we shall need a further 90 circuits. These additional circuits will be progressively available from next month. Plant should be available in this country for most of the circuits by the end of this year and for all of them in 12 months' time. But because there is a world-wide shortage of telex equipment, overseas countries may not have sufficient equipment at their exchanges to cope with our increased circuits.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what estimate she has made of the number of working days lost and the number of stoppages due to industrial disputes from 1st January, 1969, to the latest convenient date.

It is provisionally estimated that in the period from 1st January to 31st March, 1969, 1,502,000 working days were lost as a result of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the United Kingdom. The number of stoppages beginning in the same period and which came to the notice of my Department was 626.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and pro ductivity (1) how many cases have been referred by her to the Commission for Industrial Relations;(2) from what date salaries have been paid to members and staff of the Commission for Industrial Relations; how much has been paid to date; and what inquiry is being currently worked on by the Commission.

Salaries amounting to about £9,000 have been paid from 1st March, 1969. The Commission has been engaged in preparatory work on organisation, staffing and in planning their procedure for dealing with references. My right hon. Friend hopes to make the first references in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if, in view of the shortage of crews for trawlers in Aberdeen fishing fleets, she will now permit the coming into operation of the new increased rates of wages; and if she will give figures and details of basic pay plus the minimum earnings based on days spent at sea, and also the proportional increases in holiday pay.

My Department has agreed to the implementation of the new agreement referred to. Under this, basic pay for a deck-hand will be increased by 1s. 9d. a day to a rate of £1 18s. 9d. Minimum earnings are calculated on the basic rate for days spent at sea plus the existing poundage rate. For a deck-hand, this would produce a minimum earnings level of £26 6s. 9d. for ten days at sea on a weekly-fortnightly vessel that is the inshore trawlers, and £28 18s. 11d. for ten days at sea on other vessels. Holiday pay will be increased from 3s. 1d. to 3s. 3d. for very day spent on articles.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many job inquiries were made by women at the recent Jobs for Women Convention sponsored by her Department in Oldham; and what is the estimated volume of recruitment.

The object of the Convention was to stimulate interest in different types of work available locally, and not specifically to recruit. The information is therefore not available in precise terms. Over 1,400 persons attended the Convention including many women who inquired about job opportunities. It is hoped and expected that the effects of the interest aroused will be spread over a long period.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress is being made in the joint Governmental committee set up to establish a European Institute of Science and Technology; and whether he will make a statement on its possible siting.

I would refer by hon. Friend to the Written Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to a similar Question on 29th April.—[Vol. 782, c. 206–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the cost of the project for a new school in East Devon at Honiton; and what this is as a percentage of the total building programme in 1970–71.

£60,545 representing about 0·06 per cent. of the total major programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to improve the machinery for consultation between local authorities and Government Departments dealing with the social problems affecting both immigrants and those areas with a large immigrant population.

A good deal of effort has been devoted to making adequate arrangements for this purpose, and I have not received any representations to suggest that they are operating unsatisfactorily. If the hon. Member has any information to suggest that the machinery is proving defective I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the recent representations made to him for the immediate restoration of capital punishment for murder, by the police and prison officers, if he will now introduce the necessary legislation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the increased expenditure he estimates will be incurred by the Gwynedd Police Authority as a result of the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon, giving details of the various items.

The Gwynedd police authority have set aside £25,000 for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the cost to be incurred by Birmingham City Police in sending 103 police to the Investiture of the Prince of Wales at Caernarvon, and on how the cost will be met.

The costs attributable to officers being employed in Gwynedd on the occasion of the Investiture instead of their own police area is to be met by the Gwynedd police authority. The amount could not be estimated until after the Investiture.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now finally assessed the statement made by Dr. A. E. Laurence on 19th April last and the results of the searches; and what decision he has come to.

I hope to be able to make a statement soon.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what profit before tax must be earned by a company to enable it to distribute a dividend of £100 net after the payment of corporation tax at 45 per cent. and Schedule 12 income tax; and what was the profit required to distribute the same dividend after the payment of profits tax and income tax in 1964.

About £309 and £216 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what adjustment falls to be made to his forecast of a 1 per cent. increase in public sector expenditure during the current year to take account of the Agricultural Price Review and the forthcoming increase in pensions.

Account was taken of both the cost of the 1969 Agricultural Price Review and the forthcoming increase in pensions in the public sector tables given in Part II of the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1969–70" (H.C.211). As is stated in the Introduction to those tables the estimates of public expenditure in the tables imply an increase within the target figure of 1 per cent. at constant prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount granted in increased foreign travel allowances for business purposes in the last year; and how this compares with the last year before the £50 travel allowance was imposed.

No separate record is kept of applications granted for extra allowances for business travel, but the provisional balance of payments figure for expenditure outside the sterling area for this purpose in 1968 is £39 million. In 1965 it was £31 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount granted in increased foreign travel allow ance on health grounds in the last year; and how this compares with the last year before the £50 travel allowance was imposed.

No separate record is kept of applications granted for extra allowances for travel on health grounds, nor is expenditure for this purpose separately identified for balance of payments purposes. The figures available suggest, however, that there was no increase in 1968 as compared with 1965.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his latest estimate of the savings to the balance of payments arising from the restrictions on foreign travel allowance, after taking into account increased foreign travel on health, business and other grounds; and if he will make a statement.

Between £25 million and £30 million a year; I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer said in the House on 15th October, 1968.—[Vol. 770, c. 187–88.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what are the terms of the gold guarantee given last September to external holders of sterling in terms of the United States dollar; and what provision was made for alterations in the relative values of sterling or the dollar;(2) what is his estimate of the total amount of sterling balances, subject to the gold guarantee at September, 1968, at 5th April, 1969; and whether an upper limit has been fixed for these balances;(3) what are the terms of the gold guarantee given last September to external holders of sterling balances, expressed in terms of the weight of the gold content of the £ sterling;(4) whether the terms of the gold guarantee given to external holders of sterling are the same for individuals, institutions and external governments.

The sterling agreements concluded last summer do not include a gold guarantee; the guarantee—the terms of which are set out in the agreements published in Cmnd. 3834—is of the sterling value in terms of the U.S. dollar of the eligible balances. The sterling agreements, under each of which an identical guarantee is available, were offered to and concluded with only Governments of sterling area countries and certain monetary authorities covering more than one such country. No upper limit has been fixed for the amount of the balances guaranteed, but all such balances must satisfy the definition set out in the agreements—as published in Cmnd. 3834. The latest available figure of the amount of guaranteed balances is for end-December 1968; they were then about £1,750 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish as a White Paper the various savings schemes he considered before deciding on the contractual scheme proposed in the Budget.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the additional loan he has arranged recently on his visit to Washington; what is the amount, the date of repayment, and the terms of repayment; and whether repayment has to be made in terms of dollars.

No new loan was sought by my right hon. Friend during his visit to Washington.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of the per capita average incomes for each county in England and Wales.

The figures which relate to 1966–67 are given in the following table:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of loans raised abroad by local authorities; how much of this was raised in Germany; and what estimate he has made of the increased cost to public funds following a German revaluation of 10 per cent., arising from the Government guarantee of these loans against changes in exchange rates.

No foreign currency loans have yet been raised by local authorities. It was only very recently that it was announced that the Government wished to encourage local authorities who had the necessary statutory powers to consider borrowing foreign currency, and that the Finance Bill would remove an existing impediment to this.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made, in the light of the first four months trading figures, of the balance of payments for 1969.

The trade figures for April are not yet available: they will be published next week. As for forecasts for 1969, I have nothing to add to the information published in "The Financial Statement and Budget Report, 1969–70".

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the strike now taking place at Her Majesty's Stationery Office warehouse.

The strike at H.M.S.O. Publications Warehouse in Cornwall House, London, which commenced at 8.0 a.m. on Tuesday, 29th April, 1969, is over the details of a pay and productivity agreement. Negotiations are continuing but so far the Chapel has refused to return to work pending their completion.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take to ensure that the provision of jobs keeps pace with the provision of homes in overspill town developments.

Government Departments and local authorities already work closely together on these matters. Where planned development seems likely to be held up in an overspill town the I.D.C. policy will be operated flexibly in respect of firms considering a move from the exporting area.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the reason for, and the effect of, the revised seasonal adjustment programme for export figures referred to in recent copies of The Monthly Digest of Statistics.

The adjustments for the varying number of working days in each month have been slightly modified to reflect changes in working arrangements in the ports. The new adjustments reduce a little the month to month fluctuations in the series.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what the figures for exports of goods and services and imports of goods and services represent in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1969–70; whether he will give 1969 estimates of imports of goods, free on board, and exports plus re-exports of goods, free on board, less United States military aircraft, at 1958 and current prices; and whether he will now express these export figures as a percentage of the import figures.

The figures are on the normal basis used in official statistics as described, for example, on pages 441 to 444 of "National Accounts Statistics—Sources and Methods". As I have already said in answer to a previous Question by the hon. Member on 29th April, 1969, I do not wish to add to the published forecasts.—[Vol. 782, c. 202.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the latest available figures relating to the importation of dairy products from China into the United Kingdom.

252 tons valued at £66,000 (c.i.f.) in the twelve months ended 31st March, 1969.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a further statement of Government policy on the future of the British ball bearing industry.

In answer to a Question on 27th March, 1969, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster explained that the I.R.C.'s takeover of Brown Bayley was the first stage in a plan to strengthen the British ball bearing industry. The Corporation has since announced its support for an offer by Ransome & Marles Limited for the Pollard Ball and Roller Bearing Company Limited.The Government agrees with the I.R.C. view that it is desirable to retain a strong British controlled element in securing the most effective rationalisation of the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement on the position of teachers who have failed to re-register with the Scottish Teaching Council since 1st April.

According to the announcement by the General Teaching Council on 6th May the number of teachers who have registered exceeds 40,500. Otherwise I have at present nothing to add to the reply that I gave to the hon. Member on 5th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of fatal accidents, and of total accidents, respectively, on the roads between 27th October, 1968 and 15th February, 1969 between 7 a.m. and 10 a.m., and between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m., and what were the corresponding figures for the previous year.

The information is set out in the table below. The casualties in the hours mainly affected by the change to B.S.T. and used in previous comparisons of the past two winters (7 a.m. to 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.) are also given.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he now expects to reach a decision on the proposals for redevelopment of the Woking town centre.

My right hon. Friend's proposal to approve this scheme subject to modifications has been advertised and one objection received. He is considering this objection and if it can be dealt with satisfactorily he hopes then to be able to give his final approval to the proposals.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what recent study has been made of the level of fall-out from Rugby Portland Cement premises in Rugby; and whether he will make a statement.

The Department's Alkali Inspectorate are studying the figures of dust deposits recently sent to me by the Rugby Borough Council. These reflect a long period of adverse wind conditions, together with intermittent difficulties arising from newly-installed arrestment plant. The Inspectorate are confident that improvements can be achieved and will continue to visit the works frequently.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he made during his visit to Nigeria about the employment of Egyptian pilots in bombing raids by Nigerian forces.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to what I said about my discussions with General Gowon on air operations in Nigeria in my statement of 2nd April.—[Vol. 780, c. 486.]

asked the Prime Minister whether he will co-ordinate the activities of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Secretary of State for Wales in relation to the ulcerated adermal necrosis fish disease and an international control of salmon fishing on the high seas.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food already acts in close consultation with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales on any Welsh aspect of the matters referred to by the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Prime Minister if he will define the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Wales for the veterinary services in Wales.

The official veterinary services in Wales come under the direction of the Chief Veterinary Officer for Great Britain and are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food. This arrangement ensures unified control of veterinary operations against animal diseases, and facilitates the most effective and economic deployment of the professional staff, especially in emergencies. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales is however in close touch with the Minister of Agriculture on any policy questions relating to veterinary matters which are of particular concern to Wales.

asked the Prime Minister when the responsibility for educating mentally handicapped children will be transferred to the Department of Education and Science; what advance preparations are being made on this transfer; and if he will make a statement.

As I told the House on 26th November, the Government have decided that responsibility for mentally handicapped children in England and Wales will be transferred to the education service. Within the next few days my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science will be sending to the local authority, professional and other bodies concerned a paper which has been prepared as a basis for consultation on major questions affecting staff. The date of the transfer will depend on the outcome of those consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the calibre and approximate age of the arms found and surrendered in Anguilla to the British authorities.

One ·38 automatic, one ·765 mm. pistol, one ·22 pistol, one ·38 revolver, and one 30–30 rifle, two ·30 carbines—all believed to be of fairly recent manufacture. Four ·303 rifles, four ·22 rifles, one rifle of calibre not yet known—all believed to be several years old. Twenty-two shotguns—age unknown. One ·5 anti-tank rifle—old but in excellent condition.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give details of the evidence for suspecting that the destruction by fire of Dr. Hyde's house on Anguilla on 8th March, 1968, was premeditated arson.

There are signs that the fire had started in the garage attached to the house or at a point outside the house. At the time, there was no car or petrol in the garage, nor was there any other reason to suppose that the fire could have been started accidentally or by spontaneous combustion. A person was arrested by the Anguillan régime in connection with the case but was later released because the so-called authorities considered that the evidence was in-insufficient to inculpate him.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the names of those disreputable persons known to him to have been gathering round Mr. Webster on Anguilla prior to the landing of British forces.

I take it that the hon. Gentleman is referring to the armed group which forced me to leave the island on 11th March. I did not have the opportunity of learning their names.