asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made by her Department in establishing a voluntary severance scheme for registered dock workers.

The industry's National Joint Council has agreed on a scheme which will be administered by the National Dock Labour Board and will come into effective operation on 2nd June. The scheme will be financed by the industry but the Government have agreed to make a temporary bridging loan.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many pay settlements approved by the National Board for Prices and Incomes during the last 12 months were in excess of the norm.

Seven were in excess of the 3½ per cent. ceiling.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will introduce legislation to alter the definition of what constitutes a lawful trade dispute.

I am considering whether the present definition of a trade dispute gives adequate protection to trade union activities but the Government do not intend, to enact a general definition of lawful trade disputes which would make disputes not covered by it unlawful.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will now make a statement on the consultations with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress on changes in the law relating to contracts of employment.

My right hon. Friend hopes to send in the near future to the T.U.C., C.B.I. and nationalised industries a document setting out proposed changes as a basis for discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will set up an inquiry into the bargaining agent principle and its application to industrial relations in Great Britain.

The subject is already within the competence of the Commission on Industrial Relations, and it will be for the commission to consider the application of the principle in the cases referred to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will request the Commission for Industrial Relations to review the employment situation in the docks.

No. Industrial relations and the employment situation in the docks were examined thoroughly by the Committee of Inquiry under the chairmanship of Lord Devlin.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the average figure of unemployment in Scotland in April in the last five years, and the corresponding average figure in the previous five years.

About 75,000 in the period 1965–69 and 87,000 in the period 1960–64, including temporarily stopped workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in view of the fact that she has now withdrawn her proposals for imprisonment and compulsory wage detachments in relation to unofficial strikes, if she will introduce legislation to prevent repayment of Pay-As-You-Earn and to deny all welfare payments as alternative deterrents to unofficial strikers.

As the White Paper "In Place of Strife" makes clear, it was never intended that there should be a liability to imprisonment as a result of breach of an order imposing a conciliation pause, and as I explained to the House on 16th April, attachment of earnings is envisaged not as an automatic penalty but as a procedure of last resort. The hon. Gentleman has therefore wrongly stated the Government's proposals. In any case the alternatives he suggests would be totally unacceptable to the Government.—[Vol. 781, c. 1185–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she proposes to take to resolve the present labour troubles in the London Docks, in view of the fact that lightning strikes and work-to-rule have prevented many importers obtaining their goods until some 40 days after the arrival of the boats.

A lasting improvement in industrial relations in the London Docks depends primarily upon the successful implementation of the second stage of the Devlin modernisation programme. My Department is in close touch with the industry, both through the National Modernisation Committee and directly with two sides, to help forward negotiations to this end.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what further consideration has been given to introducing legislation to compel employers to establish safety committees in industry.

A sub-committee of my right hon. Friend's Industrial Safety Advisory Council, which has been considering the question of joint consultation on safety, met on 15th May. The sub-committee considered the results of the second survey of the arrangements for joint consultation on safety in factories employing more than 50 people carried out by the Factory Inspectorate earlier this year. It also had before it a report from a delegation of the subcommittee which visited Sweden in April to look at the statutory arrangements for joint consultation on safety in that country. We are now considering further action in the light of the sub-committee's advice.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many workers are employed in agriculture and kindred occupations subject to the Agriculture, Horticulture and Forestry Training Board.

Approximately 280,000 regular, whole-time workers as defined in the board's levy order.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she is taking to ensure workers' representation on the management safety committee at Kingsnorth Power Station.

The management safety committee on this site includes representatives of the 22 firms involved. Some of these firms have safety committees on which employees are represented. Her Majesty's Inspector of Factories made four visits to the site in 1968 to discuss the matter but the management concerned was not willing to enlarge the management safety committee to include workers' representation. My right hon. Friend has no powers to compel it to set up a joint site safety committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will publish in full in the OFFICIAL REPORT the replies of the management safety committee at Kingsnorth Power Station to the representation of Her Majesty's District Inspector of Factories that it should set up a joint committee with workers' participation.

There have been no written communications between the Inspector and the management on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will seek from the National Joint Council, following its meeting of 28th October, 1968, an accelerated decision about the recommendations on higher pensions for dockworkers made by the Wordie Committee in March, 1968 particularly for those men receiving only 11s. 6d. a week.

The National Joint Council has agreed that increased pension benefits for dock workers should be introduced on 2nd June, 1969. Men currently getting 11s. 6d. per week will have their pension increased to 25 shillings.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the average number of severely disabled persons for whom sheltered employment was provided in each of the last five years.

The question is best answered separately for blind people and for others. The annual totals for blind people in sheltered work for the five years 1964–68, inclusive, were 4,837, 4,756, 4,320, 4,116 and 3,873. This trend reflects a diminishing need; blind men and women are increasingly able to take up ordinary employment. There is, however, a growing need for sheltered employment for other kinds of severe disability, and the corresponding totals for sighted severely disabled persons are, 8,096, 8,643, 8,845, 9,060 and 9,414.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what extension of industrial training facilities is being planned for the area of the South Yorkshire coalfield in the light of the recommendations of the Hunt Committee.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to his Question on 15th May, 1969.—[Vol. 783, c. 254.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what were the norms for increases in earnings and dividends over the last 12 months; and what increases actually took place.

The Government's policy for earnings and dividend increases, based essentially on a 3½ per cent. ceiling, is set out fully in the White Paper "Productivity, Prices and Incomes Policy in 1968 and 1969" (Cmnd. 3590).The latest earnings figures are for February, 1969. Between March, 1968 and February, 1969 earnings rose by 5½ per cent. Figures of aggregate dividend increases reflecting the performance of the dividend restraint scheme are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made in her consultations with employers' organisations over the projected legislation on industrial relations and if she will make a statement.

I am consulting the C.B.I. fully about the Government's proposals to be included in the Bills to be introduced this Session and subsequently.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she proposes to take to make more widely known her proposals for improving industrial relationships.

I intend to publish a White Paper with the first Industrial Relations Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is her latest estimate of the proportion of manual workers in the building industry working on a labour-only subcontract basis.

The latest estimate I have is that quoted in the Report of the Phelps Brown Committee of Inquiry, which was published in July, 1968. The number of operatives working under labour-only sub-contract in the construction industry was then thought to be between 165,000 and 200,000 out of a total labour force of 1¾ million, or between 9 per cent. and 12 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what references she has so far made to the Commission for Industrial Relations; and when she expects to receive the Commission's first report.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend to the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on Thursday, 15th May. I have set no time limit for a report in these cases, which is therefore

HOTEL AND CATERING INDUSTRY TRAINING BOARD MEMBERSHIP OF THE BOARD
Chairman		Interests represented
Mr. Julian Salmon, C.B.E., B.A., F.H.C.I., Deputy Chairman, J. Lyons and Co. Ltd.		—
Employer Members
Mr. C. M. Cockerill, F.H.C.I., M.B.I.M., Joint Managing Director, Berni Inns Ltd.		Restaurants.
Mr. H. R. Duffield-Harding, F.H.C.I., G.C.F.A., Chief Officer of the Catering Department, Greater London Council and Inner London Education Authority.		Local Authority Catering.
Miss J. E. P. Flett, Organiser of School Meals, Edinburgh Corporation.		Local Authority Caterinl.
Mr. J. M. Hannay, Vice-Chairman, The Savoy Hotel Ltd.	…	Hotels.
Mr. L. J. Phillips, F.H.C.I., Managing Director, J. G. C. Phillips Limited.		Public Houses.
Mr. R. L. Stinton, F.H.C.I., Chief Catering Adviser, Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd.		Industrial Catering.
Mr. J. L. Tregoning, M.B.E., T.D., F.H.C.I., Managing Director, Trust House Hotels Ltd.		Hotels.
Mr. L. D. West, F.H.C.I., Proprietor, Carlton Restaurant, Blackpool.		Restaurants.
Employee Members
Mr. B. R. Armstrong, Union of Shop Distributive and Allied Workers.		Restaurants and Public Houses.
Mr. F. A. Baker, National Industrial Officer, General and Municipal Workers' Union.		Hotels.
Mr. A. Butterworth, National Officer, National Union of Public Employees'		Local Authority Catering.
Mr. D. A. MacKenzie, Assistant General Secretary, Transport Salaried Staffs' Association.		Managerial and Clerical Grades.
Mrs. C. M. Patterson, B.A., National Woman Officer, Transport and General Workers' Union.		Industrial Catering.
Mr. S. E. Robinson, Area Organiser, Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.		Restaurants and Public Houses.
Mr. E. G. Romp, District Organiser, General and Municipal Workers' Union.		Hotels.
Mr. S. Weighell, Assistant General Secretary, National Union of Railway men.		Railway Catering.
Educational Members
Miss J. G. Hellawell, F.I.M.A., Head of Institutional Management Department, Elizabeth Gaskell College of Education.
Mr. R. E. Hodd, B.Sc.(Econ.), Chief Education Officer, Blackpool County Borough.
Mr. D. J. Massey, F.H.C.I., Head of the Catering Department, Brighton Technical College.
Dr. O. G. Pickard, B.Sc.(Econ.), M.Com., F.I.O.M., Principal, Ealing Technical College.
Mr. W. H. Potter, F.H.C.I., F.C.F.A., M.R.I.P.H.H., Head of Department of Food Industries, Cassio College, Watford.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is now the composition of the Hotel and Catering Industry Training Board; and what interests they are qualified to represent.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will schedule a Government training centre for the Oldham, Rochdale, Ashton-under-Lyne area to meet the redundancies foreshadowed in the spinning side of the cotton textile industry.

We have no present evidence that there are likely to be substantial redundancies in this area which would materially increase local demand for the accelerated training for skill given at Government training centres. Redundant workers who want and are suitable for such training can obtain it at the Manchester centre, or at any of the other 41 centres where the trade of their choice is taught.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity to what extent she proposes to exercise her powers under the Prices and Incomes Act, 1968 during the remainder of this year.

To whatever extent is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity why she approved the new three-year wage agreement concluded by the heating, ventilation and domestic engineering industry, in view of her refusal to sanction the three-year agreement in the building industry reported on by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in their Report No. 92.

There is no incomes policy bar on three-year agreements, although the National Board for Prices and Incomes recommended against one on the building industry in paragraph 196 of its Report No. 92 for reasons which are set out fully in that paragraph. The agreement of three-years' duration in the heating and ventilating industry was approved largely because it introduced a major revision of the structure of grades with a view to improving flexibility and efficiency, and because it included a commitment to a significant reduction of unnecessary overtime.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will make a statement concerning the causes of the various strikes which took place on 1st May, 1969; and what action she has taken or intends taking to remove the cause of these strikes.

I understand that the strikes were in the nature of a political demonstration rather than arising out of a trade dispute. It did not seem appropriate for my right hon. Friend to intervene.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when the new asbestos regulations will be made; and if their protection will extend cover to laggers.

The Asbestos Regulations have been signed and are being laid before the House today. Their protection will cover all workers, including laggers, potentially at risk from asbestos dust.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she proposes to take to ensure that the arrangements for registering home-workers in the hat-making industry are improved.

Factory inspectors examine lists of out-workers when making a general inspection of factories employing persons in the prescribed classes of work. The Government's proposals for new safety, health and welfare legislation indicated that premises used only as dwellings and by out-workers living there would be excluded from the scope of the legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what plans her Department has to help young people find jobs in industry in Okehampton.

Careers officers will continue to make every effort to help young people to obtain suitable employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in view of the difficulties and delays experienced in collecting civil fines, she will introduce new methods of collection in her proposed legislation to enforce payment of fines against strikers.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the proposals made by my right hon. Friend for the collection of financial penalties in the Budget debate on 16th April. [Vol. 781, c. 1185–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied with the standards laid down by his Department for the provision of parking spaces in connection with the construction of new schools; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The capital allocation for every new school building contains an element for car-parking spaces designed to cater for essential users. Additional spaces could only be provided at the expense of educational needs and I am not prepared to allow a further diversion of educational funds for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what specific projects in the comprehensive education system he now proposes to authorise; and in what way these projects will be financed.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to add more comprehensive school building projects to programmes already announced. The second part of the Question does not therefore arise. Last February my right hon. Friend was able to announce the addition of 18 projects to the 1969–70 school building programmes specifically to help secondary reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made in settling the dispute in the county of Durham between the National Association of Schoolmasters and the Durham County and Easington Education Authorities.

I understand that the local education authority and the National Association of Schoolmasters have agreed to ask the Government's conciliation officers to help in settling the dispute. I hope that there will be a successful outcome to this useful initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what information the local authority have been asked to provide regarding the proposed extensions to the Monkwearmouth Comprehensive School.

I have asked for completely up-to-date supporting information about estimated pupil numbers and accommodation in other schools in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many crimes involving the use of firearms were known to the police in 1968; how many of these crimes involved killing or wounding by shooting; and in how many cases were firearms fired at, presented at or used for striking the victim.

The number of indictable offences known to the police in England and Wales in 1968 in which a firearm was used or presented was 875. Of these, 392 offences involved killing or wounding by shooting; in 396 offences the firearm was presented only as a threat; and in 22 offences it was used for striking the victim. In three offences the firearm misfired; and in 62 offences the firearm was fired without causing injury, but information is not available whether it was fired at a person.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain from the chief constable a report on the reasons for moving the police headquarters from Okehampton to Launceston.

This matter has still to be considered by the police authority. The chief constable has recommended that Launceston should become the headquarters of the enlarged Launceston/Okehampton division because he considers that control and supervision of the division can be more effectively exercised there than from Okehampton. He proposes that there should be a sub-divisional headquarters, and certain other facilities, at Okehampton.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the fact that parking meters are available within a few yards of the Home Office, and that a parking ground is available at the rear, under what authority cars are being allowed to park for periods in excess of 20 minutes in this no waiting area.

The enforcement of the law is a matter for the Commissioner of Police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that the police have been informed on numerous occasions during the past 12 months that vehicles have been and are illegally parked in single and double yellow banned areas for long periods, thereby causing persistent obstruction in Yonge Park, North, Durham Road, North, and other streets in this area; and if he will ascertain why the law has not been enforced.

Waiting restrictions apply only to short lengths of Yonge Park and Durham Road, and have done so for less than eight months. Neither the Commissioner of Police nor I can trace having received complaints about vehicles parking in contravention of the restrictions. The police do what can reasonably be done to enforce the restrictions.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what plans the Northern Economic Planning Council has made or considered for the migration of people from Sunderland to Washington; and if he will make a statement.

I can assure my right hon. Friend that no plans of the kind which I think he has in mind have either been made or considered by the Council.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now announce the name of the Chairman of the Post Office Corporation.

I have invited Viscount Hall to be the first Chairman of the Board of the Post Office Corporation and he has accepted. Mr. Whitney Straight will serve as a Deputy Chairman, Mr. A. W. C. Ryland will be a Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive, and Mr. Edward Fennessy will be appointed to the Board as Managing Director (Telecommunications) in succession to Mr. Ryland.All these appointments will be full-time with the exception of that of Mr. Straight who will serve half-time.Their annual salaries will be on the basis of those recently approved by the Government for the boards of major nationalised industries, that is to say:

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the delay in supplying the Offerton Neighbourhood Unit, Stockport, with a post office, he will open a temporary or mobile sub-post office in the area to cater for the needs of the people there.

I regret that I can see no reasonable way of providing temporary facilities pending the completion of the Offerton shopping centre.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the fact that the current usage of 5d. stamps is now only 30 per cent. of the whole, he will now review the proportion of 4d. as compared with 5d. stamps in the 10s. stamp book.

Our checks indicate that private correspondents use the first class service for about 40 per cent. of their mail; and the 10s. stamp book is provided mainly for their use. I am, however, currently reviewing the makeup of all stamp books.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will consider the issue of a stamp to mark the 60th anniversary of the death of the honourable Charles Stewart Rolls in the next year's anniversary series of commemorative postage stamps.

Yes, I am considering this anniversary, together with others which have been suggested to me.

asked the Postmaster-General what proportion of total annual engineering costs was accounted for by labour costs in 1967–68 and 1968–69; and what he estimates the proportion will be in 1969–70 and 1970–71.

In the years 1967–68 and 1968–69 the proportion was 33 per cent. and 34 per cent. respectively: the estimated proportion in 1969–70 is 32 per cent. Estimates are not available in sufficient detail to provide figures beyond 1969–70. The increase in the proportion for 1968–69 over that for 1967–68 is due to changes in the accounting for certain engineering salaried staff, as mentioned in paragraph 30 of the White Paper "Post Office Prospects 1969–70" (Cmnd. 3959.)

asked the Postmaster-General what was the total number of minor engineering grades at the end of 1968–69; what he estimates the numbers will be at the end of 1969–70 and 1970–71; and what he estimates the wages bill for these grades will be for 1969–70 and 1970–71.

The total number of minor engineering grades employed at the end of 1968–69 was 97,971, and the estimated number at the end of 1969–70 is 101,000.The estimated wages bill for these grades for 1969–70 is about £.131½ million.A review of the programme for 1970–71 is at present in progress.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will now widen the scheme for mini postal bus services to include rural parts of Herefordshire, following the experiment with this service in the counties of Montgomeryshire and Devon.

No. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Postmaster-General whether it is intended to set up an ultra-high frequency main transmitter in an inland position in Mid-Wales in view of the fact that a high proportion of people are unable, at present, to receive more than one of the present programmes via very high frequency.

I understand from the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. that they do not plan to build a main ultra high frequency station in Mid-Wales, because that would not be the best way to serve the area.

asked the Postmaster-General when he now expects to receive proposals from the British Broadcasting Corporation about the reorganisation of radio services.

I have nothing to add yet to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend last Thursday.—[Vol 783, c. 1624.]

asked the Postmaster-General if he will make a statement on the progress of the telephone exchange conversion programme to subscriber trunk dialing in Northern Ireland.

S.T.D. has now been extended to 98 exchanges in Northern Ireland, serving 85 per cent. of telephone customers. I expect that by the end of next year 95 per cent. of customers will have S.T.D.

asked the Postmaster-General what he estimates will be the total number of telephone stations and exchange connections in service at the end of 1969–70 and 1970–71.

My estimate is:

	Exchange Connexions	Telephone Stations
1969–70	8,513,000	13,875,000
1970–71	9,288,000	15,155,000

asked the Postmaster-General when Robertsbridge will be given subscriber trunk dialling facilities.

1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will estimate the financial consequences, in terms of entitlement to unemployment benefit, of the abolition of the grade or class provision, and the abolition of the existing rule regarding the financing of particular disputes; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Kenneth Baker) on 5th May.—[Vol. 783, c. 13–14.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry regarding his proposal to abolish the grade or class provision, and the rule regarding the financing of particular disputes; and how many individual trade unions and employers have so far written to him about his proposals.

The proposed changes in the trade dispute disqualification for unemployment benefit have been discussed with the Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry. The T.U.C., whilst welcoming them, has represented that the disqualification might be further relaxed in certain directions. The C.B.I., however, believes that any relaxations at the present time could increase the incidence and prolong the duration of strikes. No individual trade unions or employers have written to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, in view of the banning of the drug chlorphentermine in West Germany and Sweden, if he will ensure that slimming pills of the like nature on sale in this country are not injurious to health; and if he will make a statement.

Following the withdrawal of certain anti-obesity products from the market in West Germany and Sweden, the Committee on Safety of Drugs considered the need for action in this country. I am advised that the Committee has no evidence which would suggest that chlorphentermine is injurious to health; but it has nevertheless drawn the attention of doctors to the reports from West Germany and has asked them to report any cases of pulmonary hypertension following treatment with appetite suppressants. There is evidence that pulmonary hypertension is associated with the use of aminorex, the second product concerned, and in September, 1968 the Committee declined to release it for clinical trial. The third drug, cloforex, is not on the market here.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the value of all hospital equipment purchased by National Health Service hospitals in 1960 and 1968; and what was the value and proportion of this equipment which was made by foreign manufacturers.

£24·5 million in 1959–60 and £51·9 million in 1967–68, for medical, surgical and domestic appliances and equipment. Figures showing the value or proportion made by foreign manufacturers are not separately maintained.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement upon the report of the Holland-Martin Committee upon safety of the trawling industry.

I have received the report on trawler safety from Sir Deric Holland-Martin and his Committee and I am most grateful for the exceptionally valuable work which they have done. The report is being printed and should be published about the beginning of July. I hope to make a preliminary statement then.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has regarding the future of the mother ships service to the deep-sea trawling fleet in view of the successful voyage of the "Orsino"; and if he will consider increasing the number of vessels used.

I am at present examining the future of the weather advisory service for trawlers in the light of the operation of the "Orsino" last winter. I have also recently received the Report of the Holland-Martin Committee on Trawler Safety, and I am now considering this in consultation with my colleagues. I hope to make a statement when the report is published.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the percentage increase in United Kingdom exports in the past 12 months over the preceding 12 months, by volume, compared with the corresponding increase for West Germany, France and Italy, from information available to him from international sources;(2) what was the percentage increase in imports to the United Kingdom in the past 12 months over the preceding 12 months, by volume, compared with the corresponding increase for West Germany, France and Italy, from information available to him from international sources.

The increases in the calendar year 1968 compared with 1967 were:

	Exports Per cent.	Imports Per cent.
United Kingdom	14	11
German F. R.	16	18
France	12	16
Italy	19	7

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the results of the pilot consultancy grant scheme for smaller firms in Glasgow and Bristol; and whether he now intends to extend a similar scheme to cover the whole country.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend told the House during the Budget debate on 17th April.—[Vol. 781, c. 1354.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has to reduce unemployment in the Okehampton area.

The Board of Trade will continue to give sympathetic consideration to applications for industrial development certificates at Okehampton.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whom he intends to appoint as members of the Hearing Aid Council.

I intend to appoint:

• Mr. Harold Campbell as Chairman.
• Professor M. W. Beresford.
• Mr. S. J. Driver.
• Mr. A. Georgevic.
• Mr. S. C. Ingram.
• Mr. Harold Ludman.
• Mr. B. de C. S. Montagu.
• Mr. L. A. Pavitt, M.P.
• Mr. C. G. Rice.
• Mr. L. C. Smith.
• Mr. Roger Sydenham.
• Mr. R. W. T. Wescombe.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made by the Joint Liaison Committee on Documents in their efforts to standardise the documents used internationally in the export trade; and if he will make a statement.

Industry has been unexpectedly reluctant to adopt the aligned series of export documents sponsored by the Joint Liaison Committee on Documents. I hope that the Simplification of International Trade Procedures Committee under Lord Thorneycroft which has taken over this work will stimulate new interest in this important subject.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is aware of the concern of the 1,200 pilots employed by the British Overseas Airways Corporation at the delay on the part of his Department in reaching a settlement concerning the recent industrial dispute; and what action he proposes to take to expedite his decision concerning this matter, in order to avoid the danger of another strike.

The Government's decision on the pilots' pay settlement was announced on 15th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the total estimated commitments outstanding on 31st March last in respect of new construction and major improvements for trunk roads and for principal roads, including loans to highway authorities, respectively.

The information is as follows:

	£ million
Trunk roads (including motorways)	41·1
Principal roads (grants)	24·6
Loans	Negligible
	65·7

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has made, and what consultations he has had with local authorities, to combat oil pollution on the Solway coastline.

At my request the Scottish local authorities in the area are preparing schemes to deal with oil pollution, which they are discussing with Cumberland County Council. I understand that oil pollution officers have already been designated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of Dumfries and Galloway Constabulary about the conditions prevailing at premises at Gretna, the name of which has been sent to him.

I have already received a report from the Chief Constable about these premises and have conveyed the substance of it to my hon. Friend. The Chief Constable is satisfied that there are no grounds for police action.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why he wrote to the county council about the standard of hygiene and sanitation at certain premises at Gretna; and if he will make a statement.

As I informed my hon. Friend in my recent letter, these matters have been brought to the attention of the county council by the chief constable.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to prohibit the export of puppies not accompanied by owners unless it can be proved that they are over four months old.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the sterling value of imported Temperate food for each month of 1969, and for the corresponding months of 1968.

The values of imports of those foods and feedingstuffs of a kind which can be produced in this country, for each of the first three months of 1968 and 1969, are as follows:—

	£ million c.i.f.
	1968	1969
January	94	97
February	80	86
March	87	92 (provisional)

About half this increase is attributable to higher import prices and the other half to a rise in volume—chiefly of beef as a result of increase of beef imports from the low levels in the first quarter of 1968 when beef imports were curtailed because of the foot-and-mouth epidemic.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the Government of the Argentine Republic on his proposed implementation of some of the recommendations of the First Report of the Northumberland Committee.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from the Argentine Government which he is considering.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now remove the ban on the importation of certain Italian smoked ham, normally called parma ham.

No. Our policy is to accept no uncooked pork products from any country where African swine fever occurs.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) what steps he intends to take to protect the British Distant Water Fleet from unfair competition following the Icelandic Government's decision to allow fishing by their own vessels within its 12-mile limit;(2) whether he will take steps to limit the amount of fish allowed to be landed at British ports by Icelandic vessels following the decision of the Icelandic Government to allow its vessels to fish within the 12-mile limit off Iceland;(3) what representations he has made to the Icelandic Government concerning the effects on the British fishing industry of their decision to allow the Icelandic fleet to fish inside the 12-mile limit whilst excluding the British fleet;(4) what estimate his Department have made of the effect on fish stocks following the implementation of the Icelandic Government's decision to allow Icelandic vessels to fish within the 12-mile limit off Iceland.

I am aware that a bill has been introduced into the Icelandic legislature which would allow limited trawling within Iceland's fishery limits on an experimental basis. Our acceptance of the present Icelandic limits was not conditional on the continued prohibition of trawling, and there are no grounds for taking retaliatory action if, like other countries, including the United Kingdom, Iceland decides to permit some trawling within her limits. I am not yet in a position to assess any effect which the proposed changes might have on fish stocks or on the British fishing industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representation he has received from the British fishing industry about the effects of the Icelandic Government's decision to allow their fleet to fish within the 12-mile limit off Iceland.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what communication was sent by the Icelandic Government to Her Majesty's Government regarding fishing within Icelandic territorial waters when she extended her fishing limits from four miles to 12 miles; and if he will make a statement.

		1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
Cattle	…	321,000	298,000	321,000	350,000	333,000
Sheep	…	1,055,000	1,016,000	1,130,000	1,098,000	1,032,000
Pigs	…	1,067,000	1,195,000	1,124,000	1,028,000	1,082,000

The average slaughterings shown above represented 63, 64, 65, 65 and 65 per cent. of United Kingdom supplies of carcase meat, offal, bacon and ham in the years 1964 to 1968 respectively.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the percentages of imported and home-produced wheat, barley, beef, lamb, bacon, pork, and milk products for the years 1938–39, 1951–52, 1964–65 and forecasts for 1968–69; and what was the aggregate percentage which home-produced supplies of temperate food requirements constituted of total requirements in each year.

				1938–39		1951–52		1964–65		1968–69 (forecast)
				(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)	(a)	(b)
				Imported Supplies	Home Produced	Imported Supplies	Home Produced	Imported Supplies	Home Produced	Imported Supplies	Home Produced
				Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Wheat (including flour as wheat equivalent)			…	76	24	68	32	52	48	55	45
Barley		…	…	51	49	38	62	4	96	2	98
Beef and veal			…	51*	49*	26	74	30	70	25	75
Mutton and lamb			…	64*	36*	68	32	60	40	59	41
Pork	…	…	…	21*	79*	10	90	2	98	3	97
Bacon and ham			…	68*	32*	47	53	64	36	65	35
Butter		…	…	91	9	95	5	94	6	88	12
Cheese		…	…	76	24	78	22	58	42	59	41
Cream		…	…	10	90	—	100	20	80	16	84
Other milk products				34	66	46	54	24	76	18	82
* Averages of years 1934–38 for imports and of years 1936–37 to 1938–39 for home-fed meat and home-cured bacon.

The Exchange of Notes between the Icelandic Government and Her Majesty's Government (Cmnd. 1328) did not refer to fishing by Icelandic vessels within Iceland's limits.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give the average monthly number of slaughterings of cattle, sheep and pigs over the last five years; and what proportion of United Kingdom demand this constituted in each of those months.

The average number of monthly slaughterings in each of the years 1964 to 1968 were:

The percentages of imported and home-produced supplies for these commodities are given in the attached table.Home-produced supplies of food in 1938–39 provided about half of the United Kingdom's requirements of temperate foods. Home output has risen substantially, and by 1968–69 the share provided by home agriculture will have increased to about two-thirds of requirements.Work is in progress on a time series designed to measure the degree of the United Kingdom's self-sufficiency in food in recent years, and results should be available later this year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now take steps to ensure that local authorities in areas threatened by the presence of warfarin resistant rats are given special grants to enable intensive campaigns to be mounted against this menace, and, in view of the increase in the number of such rats, if he will reconsider his policy in this matter announced in December, 1966.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what other forms of poison have been tried for killing off warfarin resistant rats; and whether rats have developed immunity to these particular poisons.

Coumatetralyl, norbomide and zinc phosphide. In some cases resistance to coumatetralyl has developed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the extent of the area in Mid-Wales and the Welsh borders in which warfarin resistant rats are now found; and by how much the area has increased in the past two years.

The area is approximately 400 square miles and has not increased in the past two years, although a few cases of resistance have been or are being dealt with just outside it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many houses, apart from Dr. Hyde's, were burnt in Anguilla in 1968 and 1969; how many of these fires were not accidental; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any house, apart from Dr. Hyde's, being burnt in Anguilla in 1968 and 1969. However, in March, 1967, the warden's house was burnt down; whether by accident or otherwise was not determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has received Sir Val Duncan's report on the functions and scale of foreign and Commonwealth representations abroad; and when he intends to publish it.

I have not yet received the report from Sir Val Duncan although I expect to do so in the near future. I shall then reach a decision in consultation with my Ministerial colleagues on the question of publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many arms were possessed by Mr. Holcombe before he left Anguilla.

As I said in the debate on 25th March, we know that there were arms on the island. We do not know all the details regarding the possession of these arms.—[Vol. 780, c. 1551.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a further statement on his efforts to secure the release of Mr. Gerald Brooke and Mr. Anthony Grey.

The case of Mr. Brooke was discussed further with the Soviet Ambassador on 19th May. On the case of Mr. Grey, I have nothing to add to the reply which my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State gave the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 19th May.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what consultations have taken place with the Icelandic Government in connection with their decision to allow Icelandic trawlers to fish within that country's 12-mile limit; and if he will make a statement.

A Bill at present before the Icelandic Parliament provides for Icelandic trawlers of all sizes to fish in certain zones within the twelve-mile limit at certain seasons only. The Bill is experimental and will be valid in the first instance only until the end of 1971.There have been no consultations with the Icelandic Government. In accordance with the Exchange of Notes of 1961 fishing within the twelve-mile limit falls entirely within Icelandic jurisdiction.

asked the Prime Minister why the Chancellor of the Exchequer has been given permission to visit the United States of America.

I would refer the hon. Member to the replies given by my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary to Questions by him on 2nd and 8th May.—[Vol. 782, c. 321; Vol. 783, c. 121.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will recommend the extension of the Queen's Award to Industry to those exporting companies upon whose efforts the export of manufacturers' products depends.

As I said in reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Londonderry (Mr. Chichester-Clark) on 10th December, 1968, the whole question of eligibility and the scope of the Award will be considered when the Scheme is reviewed. An announcement about the review will be made later this year.—[Vol. 775, c. 96.]

asked the Prime Minister which trades union annual conferences he has been invited to address in an official capacity this year.

I addressed the Conference of the Union of Post Office Workers at Bournemouth on 11th May. I have also received an invitation from the National Union of Furniture Trade Operatives, which I have been unable to accept, and I am considering whether it will be possible to accept an invitation from the Confederation of Shipbuilding and Engineering Unions to its Annual Conference at Scarborough on 23rd June.

asked the Prime Minister whether any approaches have now been made to him by the Government of the United States of America with a view to setting up a permanent United Nations peacekeeping force; and what representations on the matter he has made to the President of the United States of America.

No such approaches have been made by either side. In our view a more hopeful approach to peacekeeping is through the development of a system of commitment of national contingents, better training and improved United Nations co-ordination, and this is the policy which we have put forward in the United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will define the new responsibilities given to the Paymaster-General; and if he will arrange for her to have additional opportunities to answer Parliamentary Questions on such matters.

My right hon. Friend's responsibilities were outlined in my Answer of 24th October last to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Emrys Hughes) and she already has very adequate opportunities to answer Questions on these matters.—[Vol. 770, c. 366.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will list his Ministerial television broadcasts, since he became Prime Minister, during which a television prompting machine operator was employed at public expense, stating the cost on each occasion for both operator and equipment.

None.

asked the Prime Minister what were the subjects dealt with in his discussions with Major Chichester-Clark.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave earlier today.

asked the Prime Minister what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government as to the relative priorities of comprehensive secondary school reorganisation and the development of the National Health Service.

I have nothing to add to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. Maurice Macmillan) last Tuesday.—[Vol. 783, c. 65–6.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a transcript of his statement made on British Broadcasting Corporation television concerning the economic situation on 20th May, 1969.

I did so on 21st May.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he is yet in a position to announce a decision on the future of the method I entry into the administrative group of appointments to the Civil Service.

Method I will be discontinued after the examination of 1969. Before reaching this decision the Government had been informed that University opinion was overwhelmingly in favour of this course and that the Davies Committee, whose report will be available soon, have no doubts about the fairness of Method II which they think should continue in broadly its present form.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what policy is being adopted in London for contract cleaning of Government offices; how many directly employed cleaners have been declared redundant during each of the last three years; and how many contract cleaning employees are now doing the work previously undertaken by the directly employed cleaners.

New arrangements regarding the cleaning of Government offices generally are at present being negotiated on the National Whitley Council; and I will be ready to give the details when the negotiations are complete. The reductions in the number of cleaners in each of the past three years (in terms of full-time equivalents) were: 618 in 1966–67; 127 in 1967–68 and 1,363 in 1968–69. No information is available regarding the number of employees used by cleaning contractors on work previously undertaken by Departments' directly employed staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when he now expects to make a statement regarding the future of Northern and Western Commands.

Studies of the command structure in the United Kingdom are continuing. I am not in a position to make a statement for some little time yet.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the purpose of the presence of two British warships in Orkney harbours; what reasons Russian ships have given for making a prolonged visit to Orkney harbours; and, in view of local concern, if he will give the reasons for the stationing of a military guard over wreckage which has been washed up on a northern island of Orkney.

H.M. Ships Wotton and Wasperton have been operating in and around the Orkneys on routine fishery protection patrols. I am aware of no prolonged visit by Russian ships to Orkney harbours. No military guards have been placed over any wreckage in the islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many tanks are normally kept at Warcop Ranges in Westmorland; how many tanks were taken to Warcop for training purposes during 1968; what was the average time that they stayed there; and what was the cost of the necessary transportation.

Four tanks are normally kept at Warcop Ranges for firing purposes. The average length of their stay at the range is four months. During 1968 nine tanks were taken to the ranges and nine were returned to the Catterick area. The total cost of these moves, by military transporters which were available in the area, was £944. The cost by civilian transport would have been considerably higher.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish the report of the working party on the Royal Dockyard Colleges; and if he will make a statement in regard to his decision concerning these colleges.

I have nothing to add to the answer I gave the hon. Member on 24th October last year.—[Vol. 770 c. 371.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress has now been made since May, 1963 towards the payment of service pensions direct into pensioners' bank accounts.

As regards the Royal Navy and the Army I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) on 12th February, 1969. Additionally, the Royal Air Force will be offering the same option to new pensioners next month and will extend the same option to existing pensioners progressively.—[Vol. 777, c. 327.]