Written Answers To Questions
Thursday, 15th May, 1969
Wireless And Television
Public Meetings (Television)
1.
asked the Postmaster-General if, in view of the relationship between television coverage and disorder at public meetings, he will introduce legislation to prevent the televised broadcasting of such proceedings.
No.
Saddleworth (Bbc2 Reception)
36.
asked the Postmaster-General when licence-holders in Saddleworth will be able regularly to receive B.B.C.2 television pictures of normal quality.
The B.B.C.2 relay station at Saddleworth is expected to open this summer.
Colour Television Sets
37.
asked the Postmaster-General if he will issue advice to owners of colour television sets to enable them to reduce potential hazards from radiation; and if he will make a statement.
No. Radiation hazard from colour television sets used in this country is negligible.
Post Office
Postmen (Dogs)
19.
asked the Postmaster-General how many postmen were bitten by dogs in each of the last three years.
2,942 in 1966, 3,046 in 1967 and 3,183 in 1968.
Post Office Corporation (Mckinsey Recommendations)
28 and 29.
asked the Postmaster-General (1) what structure McKinsey recommended for the board of the proposed Post Office Corporation;(2) whether he will place two copies of the McKinsey recommendations affecting the Post Office in the Library far the information of hon. Members.
It is unusual to publish recommendations made by management consultants, and I see no reason why I should depart from this practice.
Staff
31.
asked the Postmaster-General what further discussions he plans to have with the Post Office Engineering Union about future staff conditions.
Discussions are continuing with all the Staff Associations on the proposed pension scheme for the Corporation.
Unst, Shetland (First-Class Mail)
32.
asked the Postmaster-General if he is aware that mail from New Zealand now reaches Unst in Shetland as quickly as first-class mail from Perthshire; and if he will take steps to improve the Perthshire performance.
Because of bad weather the air services to Shetland have sometimes been cancelled and this has caused delay in the transmission of mail to Unst. We shall continue to do all we can to minimise these delays.
Special Stamps
33.
asked the Postmaster-General if he will now include in the new series of special postage stamps depicting British Cathedrals stamps which will depict cathedrals in Wales and Northern Ireland in addition to stamps which will depict cathedrals in England and Scotland.
No. It is now too late to add to the series.
London-Londonderry (Postal Service)
38.
asked the Postmaster-General whether he will cause an improvement to be made in the postal services between London and Londonderry.
First and second class letters go by air in both directions. We try to minimise the occasional delays when flights are disrupted.
Envelopes (Sizes)
asked the Postmaster-General if he will give an assurance that appropriate sized envelopes for passports, bank books, deposit account books and building society books will be available for posting when the new regulations for envelopes come into effect.
Generally the sizes of the articles mentioned allow them to be posted in envelopes within the Post Office preferred range for which the limits are:
Minimum 3½″ × 5½″: maximum 4¾″ × 9¼″.
Commercial Communication Satellites
asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement about his Department's policy towards the use of commercial communication satellites.
They are regarded as essential for the proper development of the international communications system. The Post Office is now the second largest investor in the international consortium and its second largest user.
Letter Addresses (Legibility)
asked the Postmaster General to what extent the use of the new system of using numbers and letters at the end of addresses has caused delays to letters owing to the illegibility of the numbers and letters and the misreading of them by sorters.
We have no precise record but we estimate the number of cases to be small.
Mail Deliveries (London)
asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that it is still taking three and more days for a letter posted in one Greater London borough to be delivered to the adjoining borough; and whether he will give an assurance that all mail posted first class in Greater London to another Greater London borough will be delivered next day and that second class postage will not take longer than two days to be delivered from one London borough to another.
The service aims are already achieved for the vast majority of London letters and although some failures are inevitable they represent a very small proportion of correspondence posted.
Employment And Productivity
S G Brown Limited, Watford (Closure)
39.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what will be the effects on the employment situation in Watford of the threatened closure of S. G. Brown Limited; and whether she will make a statement.
The closure of S. G. Brown Limited should have little effect on the employment situation in Watford. There is a wide choice of alternative jobs for those workers made redundant, either in Watford or in areas within reasonable daily travelling distance, where shortages exist for the sort of skills likely to be released by this firm.
Unemployment (Portsmouth)
40.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the age distribution of the unemployed in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area.
Following is the information:
| AGE ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED IN THE PORTSMOUTH TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREA AT 13TH JANUARY, 1969 | |||
| Males | Females | Total | |
| Under 18 | 156 | 109 | 265 |
| 18 and under 20 | 233 | 88 | 321 |
| 20 and under 25 | 599 | 138 | 737 |
| 25 and under 30 | 431 | 42 | 473 |
| 30 and under 35 | 382 | 42 | 424 |
| 35 and under 40 | 341 | 25 | 366 |
| 40 and under 45 | 346 | 32 | 378 |
| 45 and under 50 | 302 | 68 | 370 |
| 50 and under 55 | 267 | 69 | 336 |
| 55 and under 60 | 279 | 80 | 359 |
| 60 and under 65 | 738 | 3 | 752 |
| 65 and over | 11 | ||
| Total | 4,085 | 696 | 4,781 |
41.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what are the numbers of unemployed men and of unemployed women in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area; and what are the numbers of job vacancies for men and for women.
At April, 1969, 3,870 men and 568 women were registered as unemployed and 761 notified vacancies for men, and 1,064 for women, remained unfilled.
University Technicians (Dispute)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps are being taken to resolve the dispute between university authorities and the appropriate trade unions on the pay of university technicians.
A joint meeting was held under the Department's chairman-
| TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE DEVELOPMENT AREAS | ||||||
| South Western | Merseyside | Northern | Scottish | Welsh | ||
| 13th June, 1960 | … | 3,513 | 24,090 | 33,588 | 65,475 | 16,452 |
| 12th June, 1961 | … | 2,378 | 21,226 | 26,877 | 56,795 | 15,565 |
| 18th June, 1962 | … | 2,689 | 30,821 | 43,246 | 68,539 | 19,509 |
| 10th June, 1963 | … | 4,199 | 36,766 | 58,440 | 90,370 | 22,107 |
| 15th June. 1964 | … | 3,189 | 27,326 | 39,782 | 67,483 | 15,635 |
| 14th June, 1965 | … | 3,468 | 19,306 | 29,219 | 53,209 | 16,678 |
| 13th June, 1966 | … | 3,068 | 16,334 | 27,430 | 49,996 | 16,811 |
| 12th June, 1967 | … | 4,506 | 24,941 | 49,984 | 73,483 | 26,842 |
| 10th June, 1968 | … | 4,674 | 24,859 | 57,393 | 74,098 | 26,175 |
| 9th April, 1969 | … | 6,892 | 28,082 | 65,132 | 74,606 | 29,113 |
Firemen (Pay)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the average pay given to a member of a fire brigade with a wife and two children.
I am making inquiries and will write to the hon. Member.
Central Training Council
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she intends to commence her review of the administration and functions of the Central Training Council; what form this review will take; and whether a report will be published.
I announced the setting up of the review committee in reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks) on 4th March.
ship on 24th April, but no agreement was reached. Officers of the Department are in close touch with both sides and are continuing their efforts to find a solution.
Development Areas (Unemployment)
42.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total number of unemployed in each of the development areas in each year since 1960.
Unemployment statistics for the development areas are available for each month from August, 1966. They have also been calculated retrospectively for June in each year back to 1956 but not for other months.Following is the information for June in each year from 1960 to 1968 and for April, 1969:No decision has yet been made about the publication of the report.—[Vol. 799, c. 95–96.]
Warehouse Fire, Glasgow
8.
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is now able to indicate the conclusions of the Government on the recommendations of the jury in the fatal accident inquiry into the fire at the premises of A. J. and S. Stern Limited in James Watt Street, Glasgow, on 18th November, 1968.
Yes, I have now considered the jury's recommendations with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for the Home Department. In the course of our study we have had discussions with members of a special subcommittee set up by the Glasgow Corporation to consider the Inquiry's findings. In reaching our own conclusions we have taken fully into account what the Corporation's representatives said to us, and we are grateful to them for the careful and painstaking thought which they gave to the problems.2. The jury's first recommendation was that local and fire authorities and the appropriate Government Departments should collaborate in the preparation and use of a register of factory managements found to be in serious breach of statutory fire provisions. While we take the view that it would be impracticable to create and keep up to date a comprehensive register on the lines envisaged, we do accept the need, brought out by the Inquiry, for existing arrangements for the exchange of relevant information between Factory Inspectors and fire authorities about cases where occupiers move to new premises to be made more systematic. The need is for arrangements to ensure early attention to firms which move to new premises and whose practice in relation to fire hazards has persistently and materially fallen below the statutory requirements. Factory Inspectors are accordingly being instructed that they should ask the fire authorities to give priority to cases of this kind as regards both means of escape certificates, where these are required, and any inspections which they may be undertaking on behalf of the Factory Inspector as allowed by the Act. The Factory Inspector will, of course, accord the same priority in his own inspections.3. The second recommendation was that bars on the windows of factories should be prohibited. The Government recognises that not all bars are necessary and fully accepts that something needs to be done to improve the present situation. The tragedy of James Watt Street has shown that because of human fallibility perfectly good and authorised means of escape can be out of action at the time they are needed. The major cause of the disaster was the fact that the fire exit was padlocked contrary to the law and the warnings given by the Factory Inspector. In such a situation windows which can be opened might help to save life. The fire authority can accept any window as part of the means of escape in the event of fire and in such cases bars or other obstructions would already be unlawful. In general however fire authorities do not take account of windows in deciding what means of escape are required from a particular premises. I am advised that this is a fundamental fire service principle. Moreover there are many cases where it is reasonable for windows to be obstructed to stop people from getting in and I do not therefore consider that a legislative ban on window bars or other means of obstruction is justified. I intend however to press for the removal of unnecessary bars and Factory Inspectors are being instructed to do this. The fire authorities are being urged to take parallel action. We will keep a close watch on the position and if the action we are taking does not yield satisfactory results we shall consider in the context of the new safety, health and welfare legislation now being prepared whether any compulsory powers are necessary.4. In their third recommendation, the jury suggested that the storage and use of foam plastics and other inflammable materials which give off toxic fumes when ignited should be controlled. The law already includes important safety provisions relating to inflammable materials. Under section 45(
d) of the Factories Act, 1961, every factory, however small, in or under which highly inflammable materials are stored or used must have a certificate as to means of escape in the event of fire and limitations may be imposed as to the quantities of such materials. Special additional requirements have been imposed in relation to the storage and use of certain materials which carry a specially high risk of fire, for example, because they give off a flammable vapour at relatively low temperatures, or because they burn at an abnormally high speed. Foam plastics, though they are liable to burn rapidly, do not have characteristics which would justify their selection in preference to many other materials found in industry for special storage and use regulations comparable to those which already exist, for example, in the case of cellulose solutions, celluloid or magnesium. What is of the utmost importance in the case of materials like foam plastic is that the means of escape should be adequate and unobstructed. In spite of repeated injunctions by the Factory Inspector, the law as to means of escape was not obeyed on the day of the fire in Stern's factory; if it had been the outcome would have been very different. It is not clear that the addition of yet further legislative requirements to those already in existence would
lead to a real improvement. Nevertheless, stringent though the existing legal requirements as to means of escape are, we propose to consider whether they might be further strengthened. Another matter which we think needs examination is the level of penalties provided under present legislation for breaches of the fire provisions. We are not satisfied that these sufficiently reflect the gravity of the risks. We shall be giving this matter the closest attention in preparing the new safety, health and welfare legislation. We also feel that there is a real need for a better understanding, both by occupiers and their workpeople, of the risks involved in the handling of inflammable materials such as foam plastic. In the months since the Glasgow Fire, Factory Inspectors have paid special attention to upholstery works in an effort to ensure that the lessons of the fire have been learned.
5. The fourth recommendation was that restrictions on smoking in factories should be extended. The Government accept that there is a strong case for further legislation to restrict smoking in certain circumstances in the interests of safety. I shall consider, in the light of the jury's recommendation, the inclusion in the new safety, health and welfare legislation of a prohibition of smoking in places where highly inflammable materials are present and the circumstances are such that smoking would give rise to a risk of fire.
6. In their fifth recommendation, the jury urged that there should be more frequent inspection of factories having a high fire risk. In the light of the jury's recommendation, Factory Inspectors are now being instructed to ensure that high fire risk factories of all kinds are inspected at least once in each twelve months to check compliance with the fire provisions of the Factories Act, 1961. Where the factory is not due for a general inspection in any year, a special visit will be made, either by the Inspector or, if the Inspector thinks fit and the fire authority agrees, by an officer of the fire brigade.
7. The sixth recommendation called for the more effective allocation of responsibility for fire prevention and for the enforcement of statutory regulations relating to fire between the authorities at present responsible; and the application of more extensive resources to fire preven- tion The division of responsibility between Factory Inspectors and fire authorities under which the fire authority deals with means of escape certification and the Factory Inspector with the other provisions will be reviewed in the context of the proposed new safety, health and welfare legislation, and in the light of any relevant recommendations made by the Departmental (Holroyd) Committee on the Fire Service. It would, however, be wrong to suggest that the existing arrangements for the enforcement of the statutory fire requirements were failing because of this division of responsibility or that they are not working satisfactorily in most cases. Although the Factory Inspector is responsible for all fire matters other than the certification of the means of escape, he can, under section 148(1) of the Factories Act, authorise an officer of the brigade to enter factories for the purpose of reporting to him on any of officers have been so authorised. Moreover, both Factory Inspectors and fire authorities give the most meticulous attention to fire matters, and co-operation between them is generally very close indeed. Within the local authority sphere I am aware that, in Glasgow, the responsibility for certifying means of escape under the Factories Act rests with the Master of Works and not with the Fire-master. I do not know whether the jury had this situation in mind in making their recommendation, but the House will realise that this is a matter within the discretion of the fire authority. The Holroyd Committee may, however, wish to comment upon this kind of situation. Meanwhile, the Glasgow, and other fire authorities whose practice is similar, may wish to take note of what the jury said. As regards the devotion of increased resources to fire prevention, the fire authorities are well aware of the need, and have, in fact, been steadily adding to the numbers of full-time fire prevention staff in recent years. Moreover, fire authorities in England and Wales are increasingly making use of operational staff for inspection work, a practice which the Home Office encourage. In Scotland, a Working Party of the Scottish Central Fire Brigades Adivsory Council has been set up to consider adopting similar arrangements.
8. The seventh recommendation proposed the extension of the power of entry which fire authorities enjoy in relation to means of escape under section 41(2) of the Factories Act to cover all aspects of fire prevention. I am advised that section 41(2) does give the fire authority many opportunities of inspecting premises, but this, again, is a matter which we shall review in connection with the proposed new safety, health and welfare legislation and any relevant recommendations which may be made by the Holroyd Committee. I have, however, already referred to the widespread use which is made of the power to authorise fire brigade officers to check compliance with the Factories Act fire provisions. In view of this and the closeness of the co-operation between the Factory Inspectors and the fire authorities it seems doubtful whether any serious difficulty arises from the present statutory position.
9. In their eighth recommendation the jury suggested the introduction of a time limit of six months within which a means of escape certificate should be granted and further proposed that these certificates should apply to the occupier and not (as at present) to the premises. There are strong legal and practical arguments against the suggestion that a means of escape certificate must be issued within a period of six months. A longer period is frequently necessary for alteration to premises and it would be wrong to put an occupier in a position in which he could not legally use his premises because an arbitrary time limit had been passed. As regards the second part of the recommendation, the suggested attachment of the certificate to the occupier would also not be acceptable; an occupier can radically change the conditions in a factory whereas there may be a change of occupier without any significant change in the fire conditions. It may be that we should provide that a relevant change of conditions, whether by the existing or a new occupier, should call for a new or revised fire certificate and I shall consider this in connection with the proposed new safety, health and welfare legislation. Moreover, while we do not feel able to accept the jury's recommendation, the House will wish to know that I intend, without commitment at this stage, to consider in relation to the new legislation two suggestions made by the Glasgow Corporation. The first of these was that a new occupier of a factory should be under an obligation to apply immediately for a certificate of means of escape in case of fire but should continue meanwhile to be bound to keep available the means of escape prescribed in the certificate granted to any previous occupier. The point here is that, while it is right that the certificate should attach to the premises and not to the occupier, a change of occupier increases the likelihood of alterations to the premises and it may therefore be desirable for the fire authority to be alterted. The second suggestion was that occupiers who had been required by the fire authority to make alterations to their premises before being granted a means of escape certificate should be required to exhibit notices stating that alterations had been required, that they were being carried out, and that in the meantime extreme care should be exercised.
10. Finally, I would stress that the Government fully share the concern expressed by the jury about this tragic case. While they have not felt able to accept all the jury's recommendations, they believe that the action they propose will represent a real and effective addition to our protection against fire hazards.
Raf Station, Norton (Use)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if, in the light of the Hunt Report, she will consider further the possibility of using the now vacant Royal Air Force station at Norton for a period of years as a Government training centre to serve South Yorkshire and the Erewash Valley.
We are making further provision for these areas by expanding the present Sheffield centre and opening a new one at Wakefield by the end of this year. I see no present prospect of our needing another centre near Sheffield.
Legal Profession (Practices)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in her forthcoming Industrial Relations Bill, she will include proposals to end the present restrictive practices in the legal profession so as to speed up legal work and reduce the costs of litigation and payments for legal advice.
No. The Monopolies Commission is currently examining the professions, including the legal profession.
Commission On Industrial Relations (References)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will make a statement on the three cases affecting Birmid Industries Limited, Octel Company and the General Accident Insurance Company Limited which she proposes to refer to the Commission for Industrial Relations; when she first decided upon this course; and when she intends to make a formal reference.
My right hon. Friend has referred the three cases to the Commission on Industrial Relations today. The terms of reference are as follows:(1)
Reference of a Matter to the Royal Commission on Industrial Relations concerning Birmingham Aluminium Casting ( 1903) Company Limited, Dartmouth Auto Castings Ltd., and the Midland Motor Cylinder Co. Ltd.
The First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity refers to the Royal Commission on Industrial Relations for examination the functioning and development of institutions and procedures for the conduct of industrial relations between the Birmingham Aluminium Casting (1903) Co. Ltd., The Foundaries, Smethwick, Warley, Worcestershire, Dartmouth Auto Castings Ltd., Dartmouth Road, Smethwick, Warley, Worcestershire, and the Midland Motor Cylinder Co. Ltd., Dartmouth Road Foundries, Smethwick, Warley, Worcestershire, on the one hand, and the Companies' employees and their representatives on the other hand; and for consideration of any measures which seem necessary for promoting improvements in such institutions, procedures and relations, taking account of any changes in institutions, procedures and relations which may occur in the engineering industry while the reference is under examination; and to report.
(2) Reference of a matter to the Royal Commission on Industrial Relations concerning the Associated Octel Company Limited.
The First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity refers to the Royal Commission on Industrial Relations for examination the functioning and development of institutions and procedures for the conduct of industrial relations between the Associated Octel Company Limited, 20 Berkeley Square, London, W.1, on the one hand, and supervisory and technical staff employed by the Company at Ellesmere Port on the other hand, with particular reference to the Company's policy in the matter of trade union recognition in respect of this group of employees; and for consideration of any measures which seem necessary for promoting improvements in such institutions, procedures and relations; and to report.
(3) Reference of a matter to the Royal Commission on Industrial Relations concerning the General Accident, Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Limited and certain other companies.
The First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity refers to the Royal Commission on Industrial Relations for examination the functioning and development of institutions and procedures for the conduct of industrial relations between the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation Limited, General Buildings, Tay Street, Perth, the Yorkshire General Life Assurance Company, 2 Rougier Street, York, the Road Transport and General Insurance Company Limited, General Buildings, 77–83 Upper Richmond Road, London, S.W.15, the Scottish General Insurance Company Ltd., 136–138 Hope Street, Glasgow, C.2, and the Yorkshire Insurance Company Ltd., 2 Rougier Street, York, on the one hand, and the respective employees of the Companies on the other hand, with particular reference to the policies of the Companies as respects the recognition of trade unions to represent their respective employees; and for consideration of any measures which seem necessary for promoting improvements in such institutions, procedures and relations; and to report.
Prices And Incomes Policy (Public Companies)
asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she has considered the second and third communications from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, giving details of further cases in which a public company has evaded the Government's policy on prices and incomes; and what action she proposes to take in these instances.
My Department is asking for further information from the companies.
Education And Science
Monkwearmouth School, Sunderland
45.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the proposed extensions to the Monkwearmouth Comprehensive School, Sunderland.
I was not able to include these extensions among the projects on which authorities can begin design work now with the aim of starting building in 1970–71. I will consider the project again for the following programme, in the light of further information which the authority has been asked to provide.
School Teachers, Durham (Dispute)
46.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further action he has taken to facilitate a settlement in the dispute between members of the National Association of Schoolmasters and the Durham County Education Committee.
As my right hon. Friend implies, this is a dispute between some of the teachers and the local education authority as their employer, and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science has no power to intervene. However, he is very concerned about the adverse effect on the children and is in touch with both sides.
Comprehensive Schools
47.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the percentage of secondary age pupils in England and Wales in comprehensive schools for each of the last 10 years for which figures are available.
Pupils in maintained comprehensive schools as a percentage of pupils in all maintained secondary schools, from 1959 to 1968 inclusive, were:—4·1, 4·7, 5·0, 5·6, 6·4, 7·0, 8·5, 11·1, 14·4, and 20·9.
48.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of comprehensive schools in England and Wales in September 1968.
In January, 1968, the last date for which figures are available, there were 745.
Handicapped Children (Teachers)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when legislation will be introduced to bring the education of handicapped children under the jurisdiction of his Department; and if he will take steps to incorporate the pay and conditions of qualified teachers of the mentally handicapped into those of other qualified teachers.
As soon as possible. I am consulting interested bodies on major questions affecting staff.
School Places, Daventry
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school places have been provided at Daventry as part of the overspill housing development.
1,520 places have been built in Daventry and a further 450 have been allocated as the first instalment of a new comprehensive school to be opened in Southbrook in 1971.
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school places are unfilled in Daventry; and what is the estimated number that will be unfilled at the end of 1969.
828 and about 500 respectively.
Bleddfa School (Closure)
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has now decided on the proposed closure of Bleddfa V.P. School by the Radnorshire Education Committee; from what date is the closure operative; to which primary schools the pupils will be transferred; and whether all of them will be conveyed to the schools.
Radnorshire local education authority was notified on 12th March, 1969 of my approval of its proposal to close Bleddfa Church in Wales Primary School. It is now for the authority to decide the date on which the school is to be closed. I understand that this will not be before the end of summer term 1969.Parents of pupils will have the option of having their children transferred to either the Llanfihangel Rhydithon County Primary School or the Dame Anna Child's Endowed Voluntary Aided Primary School, Whitton. All of the pupils will be conveyed to the alternative school of choice.
Secondary Reorganisation, Nuneaton
asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will announce his decision on whether the secondary reorganisation scheme of a sixth form college for Nuneaton is acceptable.
These proposals are part of the Warwickshire local education authority's plan for the county as a whole. My Department is now analysing this and I shall make my decision as soon as possible.
Home Department
Betting Offices
49.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many registered betting offices there are now; how this compares with three years ago; and what evidence has been submitted to him on the growth of illegal betting.
On 1st June, 1968—the latest date for which figures are available—there were 15,782 licensed betting offices; the figure on 1st June, 1966, was 15,741, and on 1st June, 1965, 15,638.I have received no recent evidence of a growth of illegal betting other than a small number of representations about individual cases.
Commonwealth Immigration
50.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what criteria he now uses to define the category of Commonwealth citizens admitted for settlement in his official statistics; and what is the relationship between the figure of 10,118 of such admissions in the first quarter of 1969 and the official net immigration figure of 23,573 for the same quarter.
The figure of 10,118 comprises those Commonwealth citizens classified in the Home Office statistics as employment voucher holders, dependants and other persons coming for settlement. There is no direct relationship between this figure and the net figure of 23,573, which represents the balance of all arri- vals over all departures, including visitors, students and others admitted temporarily.
51.
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the net immigration from Commonwealth territories other than Canada, Australia, New Zealand and those in the Mediterranean in the first quarter of 1969; and how this compares with the number for the corresponding period of 1968.
Figures of admission for settlement provide the only reliable indication of the rate of immigration from the Commonwealth. The comparative settlement figures for the first quarters of 1968 and 1969, excluding those countries referred to, are as follows:
| ADMISSION FOR SETTLEMENT FROM COMMONWEALTH COUNTRIES OTHER THAN AUSTRALIA, CANADA, CYPRUS, GIBRALTAR, MALTA AND NEW ZEALAND* | ||
| January-March, 1968 | January-March, 1969 | |
| Voucher holders | 927 | 714 |
| Dependants | 11,210 | 7,788 |
| Others admitted for settlement | 440 | 775 |
| 12,577 | 9,277 | |
| * United Kingdom passport holders not included. | ||
Police Records (Children)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what conclusion he has reached on the question of erasing from police records the names of children who appeared before the courts only once while minors before the Children and Young Persons Bill becomes law.
Whatever merit there might be in my hon. Friend's proposal present methods of recording make it impracticable to destroy selected police records as proposed by my hon. Friend.
Unpaid Court Fines
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the total amounts of unpaid court fines on 31st December, 1968, and 31st March, 1969, respectively.
On 31st December, 1968, the "arrears"—which include fines the time for payment of which had not expired—in courts in England and Wales outside Inner London amounted to £3,749,625. The figure for 31st March, 1969, is not yet available.
Urban Programme, Sheffield
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what sum has been requested by the City of Sheffield under Stage II of the Urban Programme.
The proposals submitted are as follows:
| Estimated Capital Costs | Estimated Recurrent Costs | |
| £ | £ | |
| Education (immigrant language classes, nursery classes, aid to playgroups and adventure playgrounds) | 87,500 | 41,230 |
| Health (grants to local voluntary organisations) | — | 5,875 |
| Child Care (children's homes and grants to local voluntary organisations) | 60,000 | 33,575 |
| Totals | 147,500 | 80,680 |
Boarded-Out Children
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a working party to advise him on the fostering and boarding out of children with particular regard to the welfare of the fostered child if the lawful parent demands his or her return, with a view to the introduction of legislation in this matter.
The review of adoption law which my right hon. Friend proposes to set up will accommodate this particular point mentioned by my hon. Friend.
Motor Dealers, Hornsey (Court Case)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the results of a case heard at Highgate Magistrates' Court on 14th April, 1969, where a firm of motor dealers in Priory Road, Hornsey, N.8 were summoned for keeping unlicensed vehicles.
Fines totalling £129, back duty totalling £60 13s. 4d., and 15 guineas costs were ordered in respect of 18 offences.
Race Relations (Committee)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has for obtaining advice from outside his Department about research under the Race Relations Act, 1968.
I have decided to appoint a committee to advise me on the discharge of my functions under Section 26 of the Race Relations Act, 1968. Professor Kenneth Little has accepted my invitation to be the chairman. The other members will be:
- Professor M. Banton.
- Mr. L. Bloom.
- Dr. H. O. M. Bryant.
- Dr. F. Hashmi.
- Professor Marie Jahoda.
- Mr. E. F. Jackson.
- The Reverend David Mason.
- Professor H. Tinker.
- Mr. A. R. Truman.
- Mr. T. G. Weiler.
- Mr. S. Yasin.
"To advise the Secretary of State on a programme of research likely to be relevant to the formulation of policy concerning the relations between people of different colour, race or ethnic or national origins settled in Great Britain, and on the priorities for Government expenditure under section 26 of the Race Relations Act, 1968".
The Race Relations Board and the Community Relations Commission have been invited to send observers to meetings of the committee.
Poisons And Drugs (Thefts)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that cyanide poison was recently stolen from a London factory, that several such cases of the loss of poisons and drugs have recently occurred; and whether he will ensure that such dangerous articles are properly looked after and prevented from falling into unauthorised hands.
I have asked the Commissioner of Police for a report on this incident. While thefts occur from time to time I have no reason to think that, in general, dangerous poisons are not properly safeguarded in trade or industry. The preparation of new statutory requirements for the safe-keeping of controlled drugs is proceeding in consultation with the various interests.
Meeting, Derby (Police Attendance)
asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will obtain from the Chief Constable a report as to the number of police officers on duty at a meeting on 2nd May held near Derby and addressed by the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West; and if he will state at whose request they were sent there;(2) if he will obtain from the Chief Constable a report stating on whose decision police were sent to the meeting near Derby on 2nd May addresed by the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West;(3) if he will obtain from the Chief Constable a report stating how many of the police force on duty at the meeting near Derby on 2nd May, and addressed by the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West, were paid for by the organisers of the meeting, and stating what was the cost to police funds;(4) if he will obtain from the Chief Constable a report stating which police force or forces supplied officers for duty at a meeting near Derby on 2nd May which was addresed by the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West, and stating which of these forces are undermanned and to what extent;(5) if he will obtain from the Chief Constable a report stating the effect which the presence of 150 police officers at the meeting at Derby on 2nd May, addressed by the right hon. Member for Wolverhampton, South-West, had on staffing arrangements in the areas from where they were drawn, and stating the extent to which these duties were able to be covered by the remainder of the police force in these areas.
No police officers were on duty inside the hall. About 60 men were on duty outside the hall in accordance with arrangements made by the Chief Constable on his own initiative to control traffic and deal with possible demonstrations. He had a reserve of 100 officers who would not ordinarily have been on duty.All the men were drawn from the Derby County and Borough Constabulary, which is 380 below its authorised establishment. They were found by reallocating rest days and there was no reduction in the number of men available for ordinary duties. The cost of transport and subsistence was £62.There was no request from the organisers for police assistance and no charge was made.
Import Saving
Q4.
asked the Prime Minister whether, as chairman of National Economic Development Council, he will call a conference of interested industries to study methods of import saving.
Consultations with industry on the Economic Assessment, which take into account import saving, are already in progress. Imports and import saving will also be considered at the next meeting of the National Economic Development Council.
North East (Nationalised Industries)
Q10.
asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the high unemployment rate in the North East, he will now arrange for the transfer to the North East Coast of the headquarters of some of the nationalised industries.
As I have said in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 22nd April, the nationalised industries are already well aware of the need to take account of dispersal and regional development policy so far as is consistent with the continued efficiency of their operations.
Minister Without Portfolio (Duties)
Q11.
asked the Prime Minister if he will allocate further duties to the Minister without Portfolio.
As the hon. Gentleman will be aware, it is not customary to give details of the responsibilities of non-Departmental Ministers. I can however assure him that my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio already carries out a wide range of non-Departmental duties.
Prime Minister's Visits To Rhodesia And Moscow (Television Operator)
asked the Prime Minister what was the cost of taking a television prompting machine operator to Rhodesia in October, 1965, and to Moscow in February, 1966, respectively; what was the additional cost of taking the necessary equipment; and for how many minutes his television appearances lasted on both occasions.
The total cost—including hire of equipment and operator, air freight of equipment, insurance, operator's expenses and air fare—was about £800 in the case of the visit to Rhodesia and about £300 in the case of the visit to Moscow. It did not prove possible to make a broadcast in Rhodesia but the broadcast in Moscow which lasted about 10 minutes was seen, according to the estimate in the Daily Telegraph, by 40 million Russians.
European Economic Community (Questions)
asked the Prime Minister which Minister is now responsible for answering Questions on the Common Market; when he decided to transfer this responsibility from himself to other Ministers; and why the change in responsibility has not been announced to the House.
There has been no change in responsibilities. My general practice is to transfer to my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary any Question relating to Foreign and Commonwealth affairs, unless exchanges with other Heads of Government are involved or there is some similar reason which makes it more appropriate that I should reply.
Agriculture, Fisheries And Food
Northern Pennines Development Board (Boundary)
asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has now considered the objections to the boundary of the proposed Northern Pennines Rural Development Board; and when he will set up the Board.
Some minor modifications to the draft boundary have been recommended to me by the Inspector who heard objections earlier this year. These would add some 10 square miles to the Board's area in Westmorland while excluding some 54 square miles elsewhere, mainly in the North Riding of Yorkshire. I propose to accept all these recommendations and have informed the objectors accordingly. I hope to lay an Order for the Board's establishment before the House for approval next month.
Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs
Mr Gerald Brooke
asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his further representations to the Russian authorities, both in Moscow and London, about Mr. Gerald Brooke.
We are continuing our efforts on behalf of Mr. Brooke and are in touch with the Soviet authorities; his case was discussed with them most recently when the Soviet Ambassador called at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 9th May.
National Finance
Market Transactions
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the composition of the item net receipts from market transactions, provisional out-turn 1968–69, as given in the financial statement and Budget Report, 1969–1970. Table 16, as between marketable securities and market Treasury bills.
The figures will be given in the May issue of Financial Statistics, to be published shortly.
Selective Employment Tax (Direct Labour Employees)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how much revenue is collected by way of selective employment tax in respect of direct labour employees in local authority building departments;(2) what is the loss to the Inland Revenue as the result of refunding selective employment tax in respect of the direct labour employees of local authority building departments engaged on maintenance work.
I regret that this information could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.
Quit Rents (Northern Ireland)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of quit rents in Northern Ireland which are collected by the Customs and Excise office in Belfast; what is the average amount of these rents; and what is the cost of collecting them.
There are 8 quit rents in Northern Ireland which are now collected on behalf of the Crown, not by the Customs and Excise office in Belfast, but by the Crown Estate Commissioners. The average annual amount of the rents is £2 2s. 4d. and the total estimated cost of collection is 15s. a year.
Value-Added Tax
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the yield from a value-added tax of 10 per cent.
This would depend on the form and coverage of the tax.
Personal Export Scheme
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of transactions completed under the Personal Export Scheme annually during the last 10 years broken down for air and sea passengers.
I regret that the information requested is not available.
Private Capital (Confiscation)
asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the total sum to be realised from the confiscation of all private capital over and above that necessary to yield an annual gross income of £2,000.
There are too many variables involved in the proposition for it to be possible to make any worth while estimate.
Scotland
Teachers (Registration)
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many teachers have now re-registered with the General Teaching Council; and what estimate he has made of the numbers who have not re-registered;(2) what advice he has now given to local authorities regarding the position of teachers who have not re-registered with the General Teaching Council.
I have nothing to add to the reply of my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State on 5th May to the hon. Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) except that, according to the announcement of the General Teaching Council on 13th May, 42,427 teachers had by then registered for the year commencing on 1st April.
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers have been deprived of their teaching positions in Scotland as a result of their failing to re-register or register with the General Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement.
Twenty-two certificated teachers have been dismissed because they are not registered and eight are under notice of dismissal. Of the teachers dismissed two have been reinstated on subsequent registration.
General Teaching Council
asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made in the review of the functions of the General Teaching Council.
I have asked interested parties to let me have their views on this matter by 30th June.
Social Services
Swan Committee's Report
asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to receive the Report of the Swan Committee.
At the end of the year.
Board Of Trade
Computers And Equipment (Investment Grants)
asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware that a letter addressed by the Chairman of the Computer Service Bureaux Association to an official of his Department on 15th May, 1968, still remains unanswered by that official; and if he will now cause a reply to be sent.
As I pointed out in answer to the hon. Member's Question of 10th July, 1968, the points in the Association's letter of 15th May, 1968, were the subject of correspondence and discussion. These discussions continued in the ensuing months and the hon. Member himself was active in pressing upon us the desirability of certain changes in eligibility for investment grants for computers and related equipment. The major outstanding question was that of investment grants for peripheral and ancillary equipment used by customers of computer bureaux. This was dealt with on Friday, 9th May, 1969, in answer to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) and was the subject of a letter to the Association dated 12th May, 1969.
Industrial Development Certificates
asked the President of the Board of Trade how many companies have applied for industrial development certificates in each year since 1964; and how many have been granted in Devon and in the West Riding of Yorkshire, listing the approximate site wherever possible.
Industrial Development Certificates approved and refused in Devon and the West Riding of Yorkshire are given in the following tables. To provide details of sites would involve, however, the expenditure of undue time and effort.
| INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES APPROVED AND REFUSED* | ||
| DEVON | ||
| Approvals | Refusals | |
| 1964 | 41 | — |
| 1965 | 36 | 1 |
| 1966 | 36 | 2 |
| 1967 | 62 | — |
| 1968 | 64 | — |
| Employment Exchange Areas: Ashburton, Axminster, Barnstaple, Bideford, Bovay Tracey, Brixham, Cullompton, Dartmouth, Devonport, Exeter, Exmouth, Honiton, Ilfracombe, Kingsbridge, Newton Abbot, Okehampton, Paignton, Plymouth, Plympton, Seaton, Tavistock, Teignmouth, Tiverton, Torquay and Totnes. | ||
| WEST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE | ||
| Approvals | Refusals | |
| 1964 | 266 | 2 |
| 1965 | 236 | — |
| 1966 | 230 | — |
| 1967 | 352 | 1 |
| 1968 | 372 | — |
| Employment Exchange Areas: Barnoldswick, Batley, Broadford, Brighouse, Dewsbury, Elland, Guiseley, Halifax, Hebden Bridge, Horsforth, Huddersfield, Keighley, Leeds, Morley, Otley, Rothwell, Shipley, Skipton, Sowerby Bridge, Spen Valley, Stanningley, Todmorden, Wakefield, Saddleworth, Barnsley, Castleford, Dinnington, Doncaster, Askern, Goldthorpe, Mexborough, Normanton, Pontefract, Royston, South Kirby, Thorne, Wombwell, Chapeltown, Rotherham, Sheffield, Attercliffe, Woodhouse, Stocksbridge, Wetherby, Tadcastle, Harrogate, York, Ripon and Selby. | ||
| * All industries including buildings converted to industrial use. | ||
Transport
Freight Corporation And Holding Company (Acquisition Of Businesses)
asked the Minister of Transport what businesses have been acquired by the National Freight Corporation since its establishment; and what was the cost of each acquisition.
We are informed by the National Freight Corporation that it has acquired Leeds Car Collection Service Ltd. It would not be in the best interests of the Corporation to provide information on the price paid for individual undertakings.
asked the Minister of Transport what businesses were acquired in each of the calendar years 1966, 1967 and 1968 by the Transport Holding Company; and what was the cost of each acquisition.
We are informed by the Transport Holding Company that it or its subsidiaries acquired undertakings as listed below in 1966, 1967 and 1968. It would not be in the interests of that Company, the National Freight Corporation, the National Bus Company or the Scottish Transport Group to provide information about the prices paid for individual undertakings.
1966
Road Haulage Undertakings
- E. G. Smith Ltd.
- Castle Bros. (Hauliers) Ltd.
- James Smith (Bickner) Ltd.
- West Coast Transport (Argyll) Ltd.
- James McPhee Ltd.
- *Bridges Transport Ltd.
- Lawther & Harvey Ltd.
Crowther Group
- †Tartan Arrow Services Ltd.
- F. Crowther & Son (Wakefield) Ltd.
- F. Crowther & Son (Sandal) Ltd.
- Arthur Cooper, Haulage (Wakefield) Ltd.
- Pashley's (Newmillerdam) Ltd.
Morton Group
- Morton's (Coventry) Ltd.
- Morton's (Liverpool) Ltd.
- Morton's (Scottish Transport) Ltd.
- Morton's (Garage) Ltd.
- Morton's (Fuel & Supplies) Ltd.
1967
Road Haulage Undertakings
- †Tartan Arrow Services Ltd.
- J. & E. Transport Ltd.
Road Passenger Undertakings
- West Riding Automobile Co. Ltd.
- W. S. Ledgard.
Travel and Tourism Undertakings
- Pickford's and Hay's Wharf Shipping & Forwarding Co. Ltd.
- ‡Skyways Coach/Air Ltd
1968
Road Passenger Undertakings
§ British Electric Traction (Road passenger interests only).
The above list does not include a number of very small undertakings also acquired during the years in question.
NOTES:
* Acquisition of 75 per cent. shareholding.
† Partial interest acquired in 1966, 100 per cent in 1967.
‡ Acquisition of 50 per cent. shareholding.
§ Acquisition of balance of shareholding bringing total holdings up to 100 per cent.
Coal
Retail Coal Distribution
asked the Minister of Power if he will take steps to extend the activities of the National Coal Board into the retail distributive coal trade, in view of the evidence of overcharging by certain retailers given by the Chairman of the National Coal Board to the meeting of the National Economic Development Council on 7th May, 1969.
The National Coal Board already has substantial interests in retail coal distribution. I understand that the Chairman's reported remarks related to a specific case of packaged fuel which was being sold at a greengrocer's.
Electricity
Power Stations, Bedford
asked the Minister of Power (1) what is the capacity of the power station scheduled in the plans submitted to him for a site south of Bedford;(2) what plans have been submitted to him to increase the capacity of Goldington Power Station, Bedford.
The Central Electricity Generating Board has not submitted any plans to my right hon. Friend either for a power station to the south of Bedford or to increase the capacity of Goldrington Power Station.
Wales
Trunk Road Picnic Areas (Public Conveniences)
asked the Secretary of State for Wales to what extent his Department will financially assist local authorities to erect public conveniences at areas on trunk roads which have been designated as picnic areas.
Guidance about policy on picnic sites has recently been issued to local authorities by the Country- side Commission. It is for the local authorities to consider in the first place whether any particular layby or other area near a trunk road would be appropriate for use as a picnic site under the provisions of the Countryside Act, 1968, which enables grant to be paid up to 75 per cent. in respect of expenditure incurred in the provision of such areas, including public conveniences. As regards laybys generally, the matter will be reviewed when the results are available of a pilot scheme under which public conveniences have been erected on some trunk roads in England.