asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the future protection of the common seal.

The Government's views will be made known shortly in connection with legislation that has just been introduced in another place.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes regarding the culling of seals following his consultations with the National Trust and the Natural Environment Research Council.

My right hon. Friend is continuing discussions with a view to preparing the way for further culling on the Farne Islands.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many people are now working

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what increase in agricultural production is estimated to be required in order to feed the

There were 323,900 regular whole-time workers in agriculture—including horticulture—in the United Kingdom at June, 1968, compared with 538,100 in June, 1958.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the production of all cereals crops from the 1969 harvest: and what increase or decrease this represents compared with production in 1968.

It is too early in the season to make such estimates.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the percentage increase the real net income of farmers in each year since 1960; and how this compares with the increase in the cost of living and with other incomes.

The information is as follows:population of the United Kingdom when it reaches a total of 70 million people, assuming the present volume of food imports.

One could calculate simply on the basis that home output now meets two-thirds of the needs of 55 million people for temperate foods, that the increase required would be 40 per cent., but no realistic estimate is possible because one cannot predict the changes in consumption patterns and in technology that may occur.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the numbers of egg producers in England and Wales registered with the Egg Marketing Board in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date.

The following is the Answer:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the throughput of hen eggs by the Egg Marketing Board in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date for England and Wales.

The figures for the April-March years 1964–65 to 1968–69 are respectively 21·0, 19·1, 18·2, 17·7 and 16·3 million boxes of 360 eggs. These include second quality as well as first quality eggs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now list the ways in which British Standard Time has assisted British agriculture as a result of the experiment so far.

No. The interim assessment referred to by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 29th April, 1969, is still in progress.—[Vol. 782, c. 212.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to withdraw the United Kingdom from the Wheat Trade Convention.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will refer the prices charged for frozen foods to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, together with the rising prices of food in general.

I see no justification at present for making such references.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to assist the production of British wine from grape juice imported from sterling area countries.

Grape juice from the Commonwealth preferential area is already exempt from import duty, and producers in this country will also benefit from one of the changes proposed in Schedule 7 of the Finance Bill.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the importance to the fishing industry in the North Sea and further north fishing grounds of modern echo meters and other scientific instruments to keep a register of unusual recordings and reachings, he will take steps to improve the scanners and other apparatus now in use for these purposes.

The Ministry's fisheries laboratory will continue to play an active part, with other Departments concerned and the White Fish Authority, in assisting the development of improved fish finding equipment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will propose to the next meeting of the North East Atlantic Fisheries Commission a 10-year ban on salmon fishing on the high seas of the North Atlantic.

At the recent meeting of the Commission the United Kingdom delegation proposed that the high seas fishery for salmon in the North-East Atlantic should be prohibited. The Commission decided by a majority to recommend such a ban within its area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek the agreement of the United States and Canadian Governments to the complete suspension of salmon fishing on the high seas of the North Atlantic Ocean for a period of 10 years.

We are in close contact with both those countries in working, within the international fisheries commissions concerned, for a prohibition on the North Atlantic high seas fishery for salmon.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, how many workers are shown by recent farm statistics collected by his Department to be engaged in agriculture, horticulture and forestry at the latest convenient date.

The Agricultural Census Returns for June, 1968, show that there were in all 367,400 workers in England and Wales, of whom 71,500 were on holdings classified as horticultural. 262,600 of these workers were in full-time employment. At the same date the Department of Employment and Productivity estimate that the number of employees in employment in forestry was 11,500 in England and Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has recently received from the National Farmers' Union of England and Wales in connection with the anomalies which have arisen over the application of rating law to farm buildings; and whether he will make a statement.

Ministers have received a deputation from the Union on this subject and my right hon. Friend has had written representations. The Union's points are being considered and my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government will, I know, be announcing the Government's conclusions as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to assist farmers who wish to purchase farm land, in view of the Agricultural Mortgage Corporation's recent increase of interest rates to 10¼ per cent.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his current estimate overall of imports which will be saved in 1969 by increased agricultural production; and which commodities will make the greatest contribution.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answers given on 2nd April in reply to Questions by the hon. Members for Norfolk. South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill) and for Devizes (Mr. Charles Morrison).—[Vol. 781, c. 473–4.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date he now expects to receive the report of the committee investigating the use of diphenyl-trichloro-ethane: and if he will make a statement.

The Advisory Committee's review, which also covers other important pesticides, is now in its final stages. My right hon. Friends expect to receive the report by late summer. A statement will be made at the earliest practicable date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now seek powers to require food manufacturers to make application to his Department before using cyclamates in food; and if he will make a statement.

No. I see no need for powers additional to those provided by the Food and Drugs Act, 1955, under which regulations controlling the use of cyclamates have been made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he expects to issue a White Paper containing his observations on the Report from the Select Committee on Agriculture.

I would like to take this opportunity of thanking my hon. Friend and his colleagues for their Report. My right hon. Friend is considering it carefully and will keep my hon. Friend informed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will authorise a start on construction of the new market at Nine Elms to replace Covent Garden.

I have informed the Covent Garden Market Authority that it may plan to start major construction of the new market in January 1971. The Authority can now intensify its preparations to meet this date.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what discussions he has held with the Government of the Argentine Republic on the changes in trading from carcase to boneless beef from 1st October, 1969; and if he will make a statement.

Discussions with the Argentine Republic on the matters arising out of my statement in the House on the Government's decisions on Part I of the Report of the Committee of Inquiry on Foot-and-Mouth Disease will take place as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the reduction in the import of beef from Argentina resulting from the change-over to boneless beef on 1st October, 1969.

I hope to see a reasonable flow of trade in boneless beef, but I cannot forecast actual sendings after 1st October.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food out of the 110 rejections of the agricultural investment grant between 15th May and 31st October, 1967, how many were specifically refused because the machine had been sold before the application was received.

I regret that this information is not available, but it is likely that a substantial proportion of these rejections were because the machine had been sold before the application was received.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the production of timber by the Forestry Commission for use in the construction and building industry in each of the last five years; and to what proportionate extent this has reduced the use of imported timber in the industry.

The Forestry Commission does not supply timber direct to the construction and building industry, and statistics on this type of end-use for its production are therefore not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what assessment he has made of the 1969–70 contract offered by bacon curers to pig producers, details of which are in his possession; if he is satisfied that this contract will fulfil his intention of expanding home bacon production; and if he will make a statement.

The terms of contracts offered by curers and entered into by pig producers are matters for the commercial judgment of both parties. I am satisfied that the Government's actions affecting both pig producers and bacon curers have provided the opportunity and encouragement necessary to expand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy regarding co-operative marketing schemes by horticultural growers.

The Government's policy, implemented through the Central Council for Agricultural and Horticultural Co-operation, is to encourage the co-operative marketing of horticultural produce. The Council has the functions of promoting and developing agricultural and horticultural co-operation generally and of administering a scheme of grants.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a further statement on the progress being made by the shipbuilding industry in Clydeside.

Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited are expected to submit new proposals to the Shipbuilding Industry Board in the next week or so. Meanwhile the Board is making, with my right hon. Friend's approval, a further grant to the company for essential expenditure.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the cost of distributing General Notice to Contractors No. 34; and what was the purpose of changing the name of the Inspection Division to the Quality Assurance Division within his Department.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the cost of preparing, issuing and distributing General Notice to Contractors No. 34 of 17th April, 1969 by the Contracts Division of his Department; how many copies were sent out; and why contractors were informed that the word "Inspection" had been replaced by the words "Quality Assurance" in six titles within his Department.

6,000 copies of the notice were distributed at a cost of approximately £140. The change of name was necessary to describe more accurately the current functions of the division.The notice was necessary to avoid the need to amend the many thousands of contracts specifying the Director General of Inspection as the Inspecting Officer.

asked the Minister of Technology when he will establish a centre of technology in Portsmouth.

The Department has no plans at present to establish a centre of technology in Portsmouth; and no discussions have taken place with local interests to that end.

asked the Minister of Technology how many official visits he paid to Scotland in 1968; what bodies or organisations he met; and how many meetings he addressed in his Ministerial capacity.

My right hon. Friend made three official visits to Scotland in 1968. He has made four further visits this year.Following are the details:

asked the Minister of Technology what progress has been made on the sale of a steam generating heavy water power station to Greece; and to what extent the agreement is dependent on the British purchase of Greek tobacco.

An agreement has been signed with the approval of the British and Greek Governments which provides that U.K.A.E.A. and the Public Power Corporation of Athens will negotiate a contract for the sale of a nuclear power station to Greece, and that, in parallel, a separate contract will be negotiated for the supply to Britain of Greek tobacco.

asked the Minister of Technology what is now the extent of short-time working in the motor vehicle and motor car industry; and how output so far in the current month

asked the Minister of Technology what has been the output of motor cars and motor vehicles to date this year; and how this figure compares with production over the previous year.

In the 13 weeks to 29th March, 1969, 572,001 cars and commercial vehicles were produced by United Kingdom manufacturers. The total for the corresponding period in 1968 was 571,831.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the personnel and details of the committee he has appointed to examine the effects of the 1966 revaluation on commercial subjects and to recommend changes in the relevant law and practice.

Particulars of the Committee's membership are as follows. For its terms of reference I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 18th July, 1968, to my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Gorbals (Mrs. Cullen).—[Vol. 768, c. 279.]

Details of current short-time working and output in the motor industry will not be known until the end of June. The latest available figures are as follows:J. W. Gordon Barr, Esq., F.R.I.C.S., Chartered Surveyor and Valuation Consultant.E. W. Craig, Esq., O.B.E., formerly Scottish Divisional Officer of Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.J. R. Finnie, Esq., F.I.M.T.A., Town Chamberlain, Greenock.J. S. Greig, Esq., Director, Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society.Councillor T. Morgan, City Treasurer, Edinburgh.Councillor H. B. Sneddon, O.B.E., Motherwell and Wishaw.H. B. Sturgeon, Esq., F.R.I.C.S., A.A.I., F.R.V.A., City Assessor, Aberdeen.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people are employed by the North of Scotland Water Board in its office.

I am asking the North of Scotland Water Board to send this information to the right hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide a table of statistics in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the number of murders in Scotland in each of the last nine years, indicating how many such murders involved an assailant or victim who was either drunk or had been drinking excessive alcohol immediately prior to the crime.

I do not think that it would be appropriate for me to attempt an authoritative estimate of the degree of intoxication of murderers and victims of murder. I am, however, grateful to the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology at Edinburgh University for a provisional assessment of Scottish murder cases which suggests that in the two years 1962 and 1963 4·9 per cent. of offenders had consumed a considerable amount of alvohol and 19·5 per cent. had consumed a lesser but significant amount, the comparable figures for victims being 2·4 per cent. and 14·4 per cent. The provisional assessment for the two years 1966 and 1967 suggests that 16·2 per cent. of offenders had consumed a considerable amount of alcohol and 29·4 per cent. had consumed a lesser but signifi-

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether in view of the level of Government grants to manufacturing industry in the Scottish development area, he will increase Government assistance to residential housing in order to prevent an undue concentration of building resources on manufacturing industry.

No. I see no signs of such an undue concentration. Housing will continue to make much larger demands than manufacturing industry on our building resources.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much wheat has been imported from Canada and the United States of America, respectively, during the last three years, and at what prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what were the numbers of egg producers in Scotland registered with the Egg Marketing Board in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date;(2) what was the throughput of hen eggs by the Egg Marketing Board in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date in Scotland.

The information is as follows:

Imports of wheat, by quantity and value, in the last three years are given on page 16 of the December issues of the Overseas Trade Accounts. Information is not available on the prices at which consignments were imported.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the net earnings of United Kingdom shipping in overseas trade in 1968; and whether the net expenditure on the employment of foreign shipping increased or decreased, and by how much.

The figures are not yet available, but it is expected that the net overseas earnings of United Kingdom shipping will have increased considerably more in 1968 than net expediture on overseas shipping.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total cost of importing timber in every form, including pulp and paper, in 1968 as compared with 1967; and what proportion of the increase was due to devaluation, a rise in prices overseas and an increase in the quantity of material imported, respectively.

£643 million in 1968 and £529 million in 1967. Nearly half of the increase was in the quantity imported; the remainder was due to price changes, but the effect of devaluation on these changes cannot be distinguished from that of other factors.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what is the total of factory space in square feet built by the Government in each successive year since 1960;(2) what is the total cost in each successive year since 1960 of Government-built factories.

Following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will make a statement on his proposal to provide nursery factories of 1,000 to 2,000 square feet in Sunderland to be occupied by firms with limited resources;(2) what proposals he has made for a large scale clearance of industrial slums and other slums to provide more sites for industrial development in Sunderland.

I have made no proposal to provide small nursery factories in Sunderland, but I understand that the County Borough have already arranged to do so. A proposal for slum clearance is, in the first place, a matter for the local authority and it is for them to submit their proposals for the clearance of particular areas to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what figure he now proposes to reduce the tariff of 20 per cent. on boneless meat imports; what discussions he has had on this matter, and with whom; and if he will make a statement.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food foreshadowed in his statement of the 1st May, the Government are entering on discussions with the Governments of the countries concerned and also with our domestic interests. The level of the tariff will be decided in the light of the views expressed in these discussions, which are bound to take some time, and an announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has decided the level of the quotas of British films to be shown by exhibitors during the year beginning 1st January, 1970.

We have decided to accept the advice of the Cinematograph Films Council and to leave the exhibitors' quota at 30 per cent. for first feature films and at 25 per cent. for supporting programmes for the year beginning 1st January, 1970.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many Government-built factories remained unoccupied at the end of 1968, giving the date of completion of construction in each case.

At the end of 1968 Board of Trade advance factories unoccupied numbered 35. In addition, 25 previously occupied factories were vacant at that date because of tenancy changes. These unoccupied factories represented in total 3·6 per cent. of all Board of Trade factory space. The unoccupied advance factories were:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken following his undertaking on 18th November, 1968, to improve the housing/jobs imbalance under the Daventry overspill scheme; and how many new jobs have been created in Daventry since that date.

We will continue to grant industrial development certificates in Daventry for suitable firms from the Birmingham conurbation. Industrial development certificates issued for Daventry since November, 1968, are expected by the applicant firms to provide an additional 164 jobs of which 134 will be jobs for men.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many applications for industrial development certificates have been received for Daventry since November, 1968; and how many have been granted.

Since November, 1968, three industrial development certificates have been granted for the Daventry Employment Exchange area and none has been refused.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what were the value of the United Kingdom's exports to, and imports from, Austria, Denmark, Finland, West Germany, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Holland, Turkey and Ireland in each of the last five years.

This information is published in Table IV of the December issue of the Overseas Trade Accounts for each year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of food imported into Great Britain in 1968 compared with 1967; and what percentage increase or decrease this represents.

Imports of food and feedingstuffs—Divisions 01 to 09 of the Overseas Trade Accounts—were £1,655 million in 1968 and £1,558 million in 1967, an increase of 6 per cent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now announce his decisions following the Monopoly Commission's report on the brewing industry; and when the Government propose to introduce legislation to give effect to some of the Commission's recommendations.

As my right hon. Friend has already promised, he will be making a statement shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of imports by air were carried in British aircraft in 1968, by value; and what was the increase on the previous year.

Separate statistics of the value of imports carried by British and foreign airlines are not available. 41 per cent. of imports by air, in terms of weight, were carried by British airlines in 1968 and 45 per cent. in the previous year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the result of the investigation by the Chief Inspector of Accidents of the fatal collision between two light aircraft near Fyfield, in Essex, on 24th April, 1969; and whether his report will be published.

The investigation is not yet complete but when it is the report will be published in the normal way.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will make a statement about further purchases of Boeing 707's by the British Overseas Airways Corporation.

B.O.A.C. is ordering, with my approval, two further Boeing 707–336 aircraft at a cost of about £8 million, for delivery early next year. These aircraft will meet a demand for additional capacity on certain routes and will strengthen B.O.A.C.'s position as a major earner of foreign exchange. The purchase will be financed through borrowing overseas over a period of seven years.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he proposes to institute the Rural Development Board in Wales.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to his Question of 13th May.—[Vol. 783, c. 1203.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he plans to take to preserve lobster fishing off the Pembrokeshire coast and to regulate against overfishing.

There is already a statutory prohibition on landing undersized lobsters in Great Britain and I have no evidence to suggest that supplementary measures are needed off the Pembrokeshire coast.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will report on the result of the meeting of the National Whitley Council of Nurses and Midwives held on 13th May.

The Council agreed that £6 of the existing annual lodging charge paid by all resident staff should be regarded as a payment for beverages supplied outside mealtimes. Agreement was not reached on a further offer by the Management Side to reduce the annual lodging charge by £18 in respect of meals for younger students, pupils, nursing auxiliaries and nursing assistants; or on a claim by the Staff Side for either an increase of £1 a week for these groups or meals vouchers to an approximate equivalent amount.A further meeting will take place shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many geriatric beds are now available in the area governed by the Worksop and Retford Hospital Management Committee; and how many will be available after the Closure of Carlton Geriatric Hospital, Worksop;(2) if he will prevent Sheffield Regional Hospital Board from closing the Carlton Geriatric Hospital, Worksop until the proposed district hospital is erected at Kilton Hill, Worksop.

There are 117 geriatric beds. I have received no proposal from Sheffield Regional Hospital Board to close Carlton Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the price reductions which have taken place since 1962 in the main items purchased for the National Health Service from Company A referred to in paragraph 27 of the Civil Appropriation Accounts 1966–67.

The following list shows for each main item the total percentage reduction since 1st January, 1962—or date of introduction when later:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research he is conducting into the incidence of rheumatism and arthritis in certain occupations involving wet conditions of work; and if he will refer this matter to the Industrial Injury Advisory Council for its consideration.

A considerable programme of research on various aspects of rheumatism and arthritis is already being undertaken by, for example, Medical Research Council establishments and university departments. The powers under the Industrial Injuries Act to promote research are related to diseases which can be contemplated for prescription. There is currently no evidence that the conditions for prescription are satisfied by these complaints. In these circumstances, it would serve no purpose to refer the matter to the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she has taken to relate future training in agriculture to the projected expansion of home output.

It is the responsibility of the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Industry Training Board to provide or secure the provision of such courses and other training facilities as may be needed to meet the immediate and foreseeable requirements of the industry. The developments being fostered by the Board should help the industry to achieve the gain in productivity which is a key feature of the Government's extended selective expansion programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will cause to be separately published monthly the figures and percentages of unemployment in each of the Highlands and Islands counties, in view of the underestimate of the unemployment situation in certain areas which results from publication of only one set of figures for the whole Highlands and Islands region.

No. It is not the practice of my Department to provide in the monthly table "Area Statistics of Unemployment" in the Employment and Productivity Gazette, figures and percentage rates by county. The table, however, draws attention to an article in the August, 1968, issue of the Gazette which explains that figures and percentage rates are available to those interested for every individual employment exchange in the Highland Planning Region except Dingwall and Invergordon for which a combined rate only is available. I am making arrangements for my hon. Friend to receive these figures regularly.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will publish a table showing by Ministerial rank how many members of both Houses of Parliament were holding paid Government positions in January, 1964, and January, 1969; and what was the total annual cost of Ministerial salaries at those dates.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the names of those disreputable persons, other than the armed group who forced the Under-Secretary of State to leave Anguilla, who were gathering round Mr. Webster prior to the landing of British forces.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs said in the House on 23rd April.—[Vol. 782, c. 491–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, following reduction of the sentences of Chinese prisoners in Hong Kong he will make further representations in Peking for the release of Mr. Anthony Grey.

The reduction of sentences is part of a general review of the cases of prisoners in Hong Kong serving long-term sentences for crimes committed during the 1967 disturbances.We shall continue to make further representations both here and in Peking to secure Mr. Grey's early release.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) how many different units trained at Warcop in Westmorland during the last year; how many were regular and part-time units; and for how many of them were the same facilities available nearer their home base;(2) what is the approximate cost of transporting a large tank from Catterick camp to Warcop camp in Westmorland;(3) what other camps in the North of England duplicate each of the facilities available for training at Warcop Camp in Westmorland;(4) what permanent units are based at Warcop Camp in Westmorland; and how many men are permanently based there;(5) what are his future plans for War-cop Camp in Westmorland; and what facilities are available there for training.

21 regular units, 18 T & AVR units and 19 Cadet Force contingents trained at Warcop in 1968. The information for the last part of the first question is not readily available but I will write to the hon. Member.The cost of transporting a tank by the normal method of civilian hired transport is about £235.The facilities available at Wareop camp are: tank and armoured car firing for which there are no alternative facilities; general tactical training, including support weapon firing, for which Catterick and Otterburn training areas offer similar facilities; artillery firing for which Otter-burn offers similar facilities; and engineer training for which Ripon offers similar facilities.There are no units based at Warcop Camp. There is a permanent staff of 1 officer, 1 soldier, 2 retired officers and 42 civilians who are engaged in maintenance and administration duties in connection with training.We plan to retain our existing facilities at Warcop Camp which will shortly be improved by the construction of two electric target small arms ranges.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the recent modernisation of the barracks at Ballater, Aberdeenshire; and if he will adapt the barracks for a long-term rôle as an Army centre for skiing and mountaineering training.

The decision to reprovide the accommodation at Victoria Barracks, Ballater, was taken because the huts had reached the end of their economic life. The project was completed in July, 1968, at a cost of £42,000, and the old huts were demolished.The barracks accommodate the Royal Guard when the Sovereign is in residence at Balmoral Castle. From late October

asked the Lord President of the Council what progress has been made in making arrangements

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish a list of the 16 areas in which local authorities decline to allow careers officers to visit schools.

No. A great deal of hard work and effort is expended by the Service careers officers who seek to improve relationships. To name the areas concerned might jeopardise the efforts continually being made to achieve greater co-operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constables concerned on the extent of the shortage of police in West Yorkshire, Lancashire and South Wales, respectively.

The table below indicates the changes in establishment and strength. In 1966 most police establishments were substantially increased as a result of the recommendation of the Royal Commission on the Police that establishments should be realistic.for the Members' Dining Room and other dining facilities to be used by visitors during the Summer Recess.

I have nothing to add to the Answer I gave to a similar Question from my hon. Friend on 13th May, 1968.

asked the Postmaster-General what he now estimates the capital invested in the Post Office Giro will amount to when it is fully operational; what the annual running costs will be; how many accounts have now been opened; and what is the average amount in them.

The National Giro is fully operational; the capital invested to 31st March, 1969, was about £17 million, including about £5½ million of preliminary expenses.Annual operating costs, including interest on capital and costs of counter and mail services, are estimated at about £18 million for the year ending 31st March, 1970. By the end of April, 1969, 109,000 accounts were opened.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will give an undertaking that, under the management of the proposed Post Office Corporation, the pension available to existing Post Office workers who elect to retire at 60 years of age will not be any less favourable than that available to a corporation employee who is compulsorily retired at the same age; and if he will give an assurance to his present staff that the pension option at 60 will not be rescinded later.

No. It is quite usual in contributory schemes for immediate pension to be paid to employees who are compulsorily retired and for different terms to be applied to employees retiring voluntarily. I can however give the assurance that the option to go at 60 will stand subject to continuation of the present retiring age in the Civil Service.

asked the Postmaster-General how many offices or centres there are from which telegrams are distributed.

65.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the maximum distance in radius from a postal centre that is expected to be covered by a telegram delivery man.

There is no specified maximum. This depends on a variety of local factors, such as the terrain, the means of transport, and the type, number, and time of arrival of the messages for delivery.

asked the Postmaster-General what percentage of telegrams are greetings telegrams.

33 per cent. in 1968.

asked the Postmaster-General how many sub-post offices and rural offices are involved in delivery telegrams and on what financial basis.

5,064 scale payment sub-offices deliver telegrams. Payment for delivery is on a mileage basis. No separate figures are available for rural offices.

asked the Postmaster-General to what extent the present statistics for telegram demand over the next few years are dependent upon maintaining present prices for telegrams; and what proposals he has for a further increase in the price of telegrams.

Current forecasts are based on a continued decline in demand even at the present uneconomic level of tariffs. Any proposals for a price increase must await the conclusions of the current review of the inland telegram service.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the recent judgment of the Court of Appeal, he will undertake further studies of the need for amending the law to remedy the lack of redress for injury for a passenger where such injury is not covered by insurance.

I announced my intention to introduce legislation in this respect, as soon as there is a suitable opportunity, in Answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin) on 10th March. I do not regard further studies as being necessary.—[Vol. 779, c. 960.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he will undertake studies into improved hazard warning devices for motor vehicles, whereby in case of emergencies winking lights are simultaneously switched on, similar to the device in use in some Continental countries.

This type of device enables all the direction indicators to be flashed simultaneously as an emergency warning signal if the vehicle breaks down, or is forced to stop in the road. Some motorists have fitted it in this country, and it is a standard fitting on some new British cars.I am now studying its road safety value and cost in comparison with the other main type of hazard warning device, the advance warning triangle.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated cost of the erection of a two-way Bailey bridge over the Watford Road to give access to the Harrow College of Technology and Art and the new Northwich Park Hospital; and what is the estimated cost of temporary access roads to serve such a bridge.

The Greater London Council expect to start work later this year on a scheme to improve this part of Watford Road and give satisfactory access to the College and Hospital. A Bailey bridge and approach roads would cost in addition some £50,000 and £150,000 respectively, excluding land.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will authorise a wider reservation for all future con- struction of motorways and dual carriageway roads.

No. In the light of experience to date I am satisfied that the additional cost and land involved in providing wider central reserves cannot be justified. Increased widths are permitted to meet particular situations.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made in the discussions between his Department, the National Farmers' Union and the British Railways Board, about additional safety measures at private farm level crossings.

As a result of this series of discussions, in which the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food also participated, a basis has been agreed for a programme of safety improvements at some of the private level crossings used only by farmers or landowners and their invitees. The vast majority of these crossings are little used accesses between fields, where the existing gates are adequate protection.In a letter to the National Farmers' Union today, the Railways Board, while making it clear that their statutory liabilities are in no way altered, have confirmed they are ready to make an ex gratia payment of up to £20,000 a year for the next five years towards the cost of additional safety measures at some of these private crossings, subject to certain conditions—namely: