asked the Paymaster-General to what extent she proposes to have consultations with local authority and other organisations following the publication of the Maud Report on the future structure of local government.

As explained in the statement made on the 11th June by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister, the Government's consultations with local authority and other organisations will be carried out by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government with the co-operation of other Ministers as appropriate.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service why an advertisement inviting people with experience of responsible work at a senior level to apply for posts in the Home Civil Service, inserted in page 11 of The Guardian on 4th June last, stipulated that candidates should be under the age of 52 years, save for existing temporary members of the administrative class of the Civil Service; and whether he will make the posts offered available to people of suitable experience and ability above that age.

The advertisement in question was for permanent and pensionable posts as principal in the administrative class, and the age limits were fixed, in accordance with general policy, in the light of such factors as the nature of the work, the age structure of the class, and the length of training that a new entrant will need. On this basis the upper age limit was set at 51, except for people already serving in the administrative class in a temporary capacity to whom the foregoing considerations do not apply to the same extent. A higher upper age limit would not be realistic, since new entrants to the administrative class have a good deal to learn whatever their background; and the present age limits ensures that they can give a reasonable period of useful service before they reach the minimum age of retirement. I therefore regret that I cannot accept the suggestion in the last part of the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his latest efforts to promote peace talks between Nigeria and Biafra.

We are constantly on the watch for an opportunity to help in any way we can to bring about peace talks. Our willingness to do this is known to both sides as well as to the Emperor of Ethiopia, whose efforts as Chairman of the Organisation of African Unity's Committee on Nigeria to promote a peaceful settlement have our full support.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many former members of the staff of the British Embassy in Tokyo are, with the consent of his Department, now employed by the Chikuken Company of Tokyo; and what steps are taken by his Department in advance to establish the purposes of such employment.

My right hon. Friend's consent is not normally required where former members of the Diplomatic Service take up employment after resignation or retirement with private firms where there is no connection between those firms and Her Majesty's Government and where the former member of the Service has not had access to technical information which might be regarded by the new employer's competitors as their own trade secrets.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the meeting of the Council of Ministers of the Western European Union on 5th to 6th June.

The meeting was constructive and useful. Support for enlargement of the European Communities was again strongly expressed. My right hon. Friend made clear that we wanted an early and positive reply to our application for membership. There was valuable consultation on foreign policy and it was agreed to continue and develop this.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the recent visit to London by Mr. James Mancham, Chief Minister of the Seychelles.

Mr. Mancham called at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 3rd and 4th June and arrangements were made for him to see my right hon. and noble Friend, the Minister of State, when he returns to this country. Similar arrangements are being made for Mr. René. Mr. Mancham and Mr. René are each Chairmen of Committees of the Governing Council in Seychelles.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is aware that the Prime Minister of Israel is due to visit Great Britain; and whether he will extend to her an official invitation to talks on the Middle East problems.

Mrs. Meir is in Britain on a six day unofficial visit, to attend the triennial congress of the Socialist International at Eastbourne. My right hon. Friends the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs have already had talks with Mrs. Meir.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of recent events in the Lebanon, he will make a statement on Anglo-Lebanese relations.

It is not for me to comment on the internal affairs of another country. But let me emphasise our close and friendly relations with the Lebanon, which we admire as a country where political tolerance is practised, and whole contribution to the stability of the Middle East we much value.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from the Japanese Government on the matter of the treatment of British dogs exported to Japan.

None. The treatment of animals in other countries, and the legislation governing such treatment, are matters for the people and governments of the countries concerned. I understand that the Japanese animal welfare societies strongly support the introduction of legislation prescribing high standards for the treatment of animals, including dogs in particular. These societies and the Japanese authorities have been most helpful in providing information on this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has now had with the Chief Minister of Gibraltar regarding the measures required to strengthen the economy of Gibraltar, in view of the recent steps taken by the Spanish Government.

The Governor has been keeping the economic situation under close review with the Chief Minister and his other advisers, and will I am sure, put forward any proposals which he thinks would be helpful in the present situation. As my right hon. Friend said in reply to the right hon. Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Sir Alec Douglas-Home) on 9th June, it remains the declared policy of Her Majesty's Government to support Gibraltar and we will continue to sustain its people.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representation he has now had from the British Honduras Government regarding their Independence Constitution; and when it is his intention to hold discussions in London upon this matter.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 18th November, 1968.[Vol. 773, c. 191.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will seek to extend the existing officially supported British/German Youth Exchange Scheme to other member states of the European Economic Community.

Her Majesty's Government are conscious of the need to balance the existing exchanges conducted with Western Germany by increased exchanges with other Western European countries and are considering how these might be encouraged. We believe, however, that in this country the main impetus must come from voluntary initiative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what measures of co-operation are being undertaken by Her Majesty's Government and fellow North Sea States to prevent future disasters caused by the pollution of the sea by oil.

An Agreement between the eight states bordering the North Sea and English Channel to co-operate in dealing with oil pollution was signed on 9th June by Her Majesty's Ambassador in Bonn and by representatives of the Governments of the Federal Republic of Germany, France, Belgium, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. It will enter into force on 9th August, 1969.The Agreement requires Contracting States to request shipping and aircraft to report major oil slicks. States will also be under an obligation to circulate to other Contracting Parties reports on the presence, extent and movements of slicks. If one state whose coasts are threatened requests assistance in disposing of the oil, the others must use their best endeavours to help.In the North Sea, zones of responsibility for each Contracting State have been established for this purpose: south of the Thames Estuary and in the English Channel there will be two zones of joint responsibility which will serve the same purpose.The Agreement should help Britain and the other signatories to obtain information about oil slicks which might endanger their coasts. It will also provide means of obtaining assistance, where possible, in the event of a major spillage for which individual national resources are inadequate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the purpose of sending a British naval mission to Lagos; and if he will give an assurance that it will in no way take part in the war in Nigeria.

As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs indicated in his reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson) on 23rd May, the purpose of the team is to help train the Nigerian Navy for its post-war rôle. Under the terms of the agreement the team will not be involved in the war in any way.—[Vol. 784, c. 154.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many rounds of ammunition for the anti-tank rifle discovered in Anguilla have been found.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why Great Britain voted on 10th June against the United Nations Assembly Committee's resolution to make sanctions against Rhodesia more effective.

The United Kingdom delegate voted against the Committee of 24 Resolution because it contained objectionable language and called on the British Government to use force against the illegal règime. As regards the implementation of sanctions, however, our delegate voted in favour of paragraph 6 of the resolution explaining that we shared the Committee's condemnation of the failure of certain Governments to comply with mandatory sanctions imposed by the Security Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent approvals he has given to schemes to improve the provision of community centres for the elderly in Bognor Regis.

My right hon. Friend informed the urban district council in February that he was prepared to consider proposals for the provision of a social centre with facilities for the elderly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) in regard to the test census to be inaugurated shortly, what instructions his Department has given questioners in regard to privacy and confidentiality, and on the optional nature of replies, in regard to the personal incomes of persons questioned;(2) what personnel, Civil Service or otherwise, are to be employed on the test census when asking people to divulge their personal incomes; and if he will arrange for an oath of secrecy to be administered to interrogators.

The field staff of the test census carried out in April were most of them registrars of births and deaths or officers of local authorities or Government Departments. They were required to sign the Official Secrets Act before taking up their duties and it was impressed upon them that all information obtained during the census is confidential and that it is an offence to divulge or misuse any of it. Enumerators were instructed to invite the co-operation of the public but not to press anyone who was unwilling to take part in the test. It was open to any respondent to send his form direct to the controlling officer, by-passing the enumerator.No personal information collected in the census or in a test will be passed to the Board of Inland Revenue or to any other authority or person outside the census organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the Seebohm Committee's Report following the publication of the Royal Commission on Local Government.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told my hon. Friend on 11th June, the Government will make their views on the report known as soon as possible. [Vol. 784, c. 1460–75.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will ask his standing advisory committee to expedite its report on transplant surgery in view of public and medical concern over the recent case of Nurse Margaret Sinsbury.

I expect to receive the Standing Group's advice very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now reverse the policy under which, despite the establishment of legal sanction in the courts, no hospital may purchase medicines which are subject to patent restrictions.

I am continuing the policy under which any decision to buy patented drugs for hospitals from unlicensed sources would be taken centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute an inquiry into the alleged assault on S. Okolo, a patient in Broadmoor, which occurred at 11.30 a.m. on 20th May, 1969, details of which have been sent to him.

I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of geriatric beds per 1,000 people over 65 years of age in the Mid-Worcester area; and how this figure compares with the national average.

14·4; the national average is 9·8.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have been carried out in England and Wales since the Abortion Act came into operation in April, 1968; how many of these were carried out under the National Health Service and under private auspices, respectively; what proportion of the total abortions carried out they represent; and how many were carried out at approved places, other places, and National Health Service hospitals, respectively.

Up to 27th May, 1969, 41,496 abortions were notified of which 16,650 (40·1 per cent.) were in approved places, 101 (0·2 per cent.) in other places and 24,745 (59·6 per cent.) in National Health Service hospitals.Separate figures for National Health Service and private patients are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have been carried out as emergencies since the Abortion Act came into operation.

Up to 27th May, 1969, 66 notifications in England and Wales.Mr. St. John-Stevas asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have been carried out where the operating practitioner did not join in granting the certificate; and what percentage of the total abortions carried out does this represent.

For 1968, 10,727 (45·4 per cent.) (England and Wales).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have been carried out since the Abortion Act came into operation, on the grounds of risk to the life of the pregnant woman, and of risk of injury to the physical or mental health of the pregnant woman, respectively; and what percentage of the total abortions carried out they represent.

Notifications in England and Wales up to 27th May 1969 were 1,827 (4·4 per cent.) and 29,954 (72·2 per cent.) respectively, excluding emergencies.In addition, there were 690 (1·7 per cent.) on combined grounds of risk to health of the woman and risk of abnormality in the child.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many places have now been approved for the purposes of carrying out abortions under Section 3 of the Act; what are the names of those who have applied for approval and the addresses of the approved places; and how many licences have been withdrawn or suspended.

Re-approval has been given to 54 of 55 applicants as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many abortions have been carried out since the Act came into operation on women whose usual place of residence is abroad; and what percentage this represents of total abortions carried out;(2) how many abortions have been carried out since the Abortion Act came into operation on women whose usual place of residence is abroad under the National Health Service.

Up to 31st December 1968, 1,103 (5·0 per cent.) of women on whom abortions were carried out gave a place of usual residence outside the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and Channel Islands. Of this number, 30 attended National Health Service Hospitals. Figures for 1969 are not yet available. (These figures relate to notifications for England and Wales.)

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have been carried out on women since the Abortion Act came into operation on, respectively, married women, single women, widowed women, and divorced women; and what percentage of the total number of abortions carried out they represent.

Up to 27th May, 1969, notifications in England and Wales totalled 18,322 (44·2 per cent.) for married women, 19,617 (47·3 per cent.) for single women and 3,416 (8·2 per cent.) for widowed, divorced and separated. This last category is not readily subdivided.Marital condition was not stated in 141 cases (0·3 per cent.).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths have occurred as a result of abortion since the Abortion Act came into operation; and what was the annual death rate for abortion in the year before the Act came into operation.

Provisional death registrations for all forms of abortion numbered 42 from 1st April 1968 to 31st March 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many abortions have been carried out since the Abortion Act came into operation on the grounds, respectively, of risk to the physical or mental health of existing children of the family and of risk that the child, if born, would have suffered from physical or mental abnormalities which would render it seriously handicapped; and what percentage of the total abortions carried out they represent.

Up to 27th May, 1969, 1,629 notifications (3·9 per cent.) and 1,232 notifications (3·0 per cent.) respectively in England and Wales.A further 690 (1·7 per cent.) were attributed to combined grounds of risk to health of mother and risk of abnormal child and 6,098 (14·7 per cent.) on two or more grounds including risk to health of existing children.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultant gynæcologists holding office under the National Health Service there are in Great Britain; and how many retired such persons there are.

662; the number of retired consultant gynaecologists is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will require state registered nurses employed in the National Health Services to refuse to accept free gifts from a gripe water manufacturer embossed with the name of the company.

There is standing advice in the National Health Service that staff should decline gifts offered by suppliers, except for trivial articles such as calendars and diaries clearly issued as advertisements. If my hon. Friend has evidence of impropriety in this regard I should like to see it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what, for the most recent period of five years for which figures are available, is the average time intervening between the approval by him of plans for capital projects in National Health Service hospitals and the initiation of building work upon such projects.

New hospital building procedures were introduced in 1967. These have accelerated the planning of projects but it is not yet possible to give a meaningful average figure for the planning stage mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what increases in nurses' salaries have been implemented since October 1964; and what increases were implemented in the comparable period leading up to October 1964.

The increases in nurses' salaries implemented since October, 1964 have been:

Operative Date	Increase
1st July. 1965	Averaging slightly less than 11 per cent.
1st October, 1967	9 per cent. (14 per cent. for certain grades).*
1st January, 1969)
* 4 per cent. of the increase was given from 1st October, 1967 and the balance from 1st January, 1969. The settlement included a reorganisation of the salary structure and, in addition to the salary increases, there were improvements in special payments and allowances which made the settlement as a whole equivalent to an average increase of about 16 per cent. This does not include the meals allowance of £48 per annum for younger nurses agreed on 30th May.

The increases implemented in the comparable period leading up to October, 1964 were:

Operative Date	Increase
1st December, 1960	5 per cent.
1st April, 1962	7½ per cent.
1st July, 1963	Averaging 6½ per cent.
1st July, 1964	3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals in the United Kingdom have temporarily suspended cervical cancer screening services because of staff shortages; and if he will make a statement.

Two. Queen Charlotte's Maternity Hospital and Chelsea Hospital for Women.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will refer the recent increases in the charges for private beds in hospitals to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

The charges now in force were determined by me in accordance with the provisions of the Health Services and Public Health Act 1968.They reflect actual costs, averaged within classes of hospitals, and are consistent with the Government's prices and incomes policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what additional action he proposes to take in view of the evidence presented by Lord Cohen of Birkenhead to the Medical Women's Federation Conference, details of which have been sent to him, that it would be possible to cut down mortality from coronary thrombosis, chronic bronchitis and cancer of the lung by 50,000 a year if people could be prevented from smoking excessively.

I cannot at present add to my replies on 4th November to my hon. Friends the Members for Falmouth and Camborne (Dr. John Dunwoody), and Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon), and on 19th May to my hon. Friend the Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton).—[Vol. 772, c. 462–464, Vol. 784, c. 5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many nonresidents receive treatment of various kinds in the United Kingdom under the National Health Service; and what was the cost of such treatments over the most recent period of 12 months for which figures are available.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of producing and distributing to the medical profession the quarterly magazine Health Trends; what is the purpose of this magazine; and what representations he has received from the medical profession regarding its value as an addition to existing publications.

The production cost of the first issue was £2,581, or just over 10d. a copy. Distribution was arranged through individual Health Service authorities and the cost is not readily ascertainable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many deaths in each of the last 10 years were attributable to boxing accidents.

The only figures available are for the years 1963 to 1967. There was one such death in 1965, in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will restrict the prescription of Stimplete for National Health Service patients to be issued only by hospitals.

Since there is little evidence of abuse of Stimplete, there is no good reason for picking out this particular product in this way.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to require all local health authorities to maintain a confidential register of drugs users, including those using soft drugs.

I do not think this would be practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what was the cost to public funds in the last period of 12 months for which figures are available and for the immediately preceding period of 12 months for the treatment of drug addiction;(2) what was the cost to public funds in the last period of 12 months for which figures are available and for the immediately preceding period of 12 months for skin grafting as the result of the removal of tattooing;(3) what was the cost to public funds in the last period of 12 months for which figures are available and for the immediately preceding period of 12 months for hospital accommodation, care and treatment of the younger chronic sick;(4) what was the cost for the last period of six months for which figures are available and for the immediately preceding period of six months of abortions carried out under the National Health Service.

Separate costing figures are not produced in respect of the treatment of different medical and surgical conditions and I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what decision he has made regarding the right, under his regulations, of doctors in rural areas to dispense medicines as an alternative to the dispensing of prescriptions by chemists; what representations have been made; and with what result.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Fortescue) on 5th May. Further representations of protest have since been made by individual pharmacists and by their professional bodies; but I have not received any alternative proposals of the kind mentioned in my earlier reple.—[Vol. 783, c. 10.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce legislation to give protection to the public who have chiropody treatment privately to the same extent as that given to National Health Service patients.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the former Minister of Health on 21st October, 1968 to a similar Question by the hon. Member for Harrow, West (Mr. John Page).—[Vol. 770, c. 212.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the organisers of the National Campaign for the Young Chronic Sick regarding the increased National Health Service charges; and what reply he has sent.

The Secretary of the National Campaign for the Young Chronic Sick wrote to me on 9th May criticising the proposed increase in existing charges for dentures and lenses; her letter was acknowledged and I have since explained to her that I do not believe the small increases which have been proposed would be likely to bear heavily on the unfortunate young people in whom she is so rightly interested.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount spent on health between 1964 and 1968, and between 1960 and 1964.

Gross expenditure on Health and Welfare Services in Great Britain amounted to £5,832 million in the four years to 31st March 1968 and £4,174 million in the four years to 31st March 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated additional cost of allowing women on reaching the age of 60 years to be exempt from prescription charges.

About £1 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if his plans for the new administrative structure of the National Health Service will lie within the framework of the proposals for local government contained in the report of the Royal Commission.

I am giving further consideration to the administrative structure of the National Health Service in the light of the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government in England and shall bring forward proposals in due course.

asked the Minister of Transport why 18 motorway and other trunk road contracts, with an estimated cost of over £100 million, listed by his department in October 1968 for starting in 1969, were postponed at the beginning of March by an average of nearly six months each.

As my right hon. Friend explained in answer to Questions on 9th June there have been no deferments of schemes in the programme.—[Vol. 784, c. 946–8.]

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to be able to announce a decision on the local inquiry which was held on 9th April, 1969, at Dudley to hear objections to the proposed stopping up of a length of Vicarage Road at Amblecote.

My right hon. Friend announced his decision on 11th June.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is satisfied with the safety record of the Red Gate junction improvements on the A5 trunk road north of Nuneaton; and if he will make a statement.

There has been only one slight injury accident in the period of over nine months since this improvement was completed, compared with 2 fatal, 25 serious and 29 slight injury accidents between 1st January, 1964, and 31st October, 1967. This is a most satisfactory improvement, but we shall continue to keep the position under review.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the accidents causing fatal or serious injuries on the A45 road between the Coventry and Birmingham city boundaries during the last convenient 12-month period.

From 1st June, 1968, to 31st May, 1969, there were 4 fatal and 25 serious injury accidents, causing 4 deaths, 39 serious and 19 slight injuries. I am sending the hon. Member further details.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total expenditure on road building within Portsmouth approved in each of the past four years.

The total expenditure approved for road building within Portsmouth in each of the past four years was:

1965–66 £115,730; 1966–67 £386,212; 1967–68 £3,651,162; 1968–69 £282,320.

asked the Minister of Transport how many pedestrians have been knocked down and injured by cars, vans or lorries on Harrow Road, Wembley, between Bovingdon Avenue and The Triangle since 1st January, 1968; and how many vehicles have left the road on this stretch and crashed into the walls or railings of the gardens of houses.

Police records show that during the period from 1st January, 1968 until 9th June, 1969, fifteen pedestrians have been involved in accidents on this length of road and four vehicles have collided with roadside property.

asked the Minister of Transport what stage has been reached in preparations to build a bypass round Newmarket; and when he expects construction to start.

The proposed line of the bypass has been published and objections to this are now being considered. I cannot yet give a firm date for start of construction.

asked the Minister of Transport what stage has been reached in preparations to build a bypass round Bury St. Edmunds; and when he expects construction to start.

It is hoped to publish draft proposals for the scheme around the end of the year. I cannot yet give a firm date for start of construction.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total amount spent on building and maintaining all categories of roads between 1964 and 1968, and between 1960 and 1964.

The following is the information:

SPENDING ON NEW AND IMPROVED ROADS AND MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING ROADS IN GREAT BRITAIN
Financial Year	£ million
1960–61	165.1
1961–62	188.5
1962–63	215.4
1963–64	274.6
Total for 4 years 1960–61 to 1963–64	843.6
1964–65	308.9
1965–66	315.6
1966–67	350.6
1967–68 (provisional)*	455.0
Total for 4 years 1964–65 to 1967–68	1,430.1
* Including expenditure on cleansing and watering of roads and snow clearance.

Firm figures for the most recent financial year will not be available until returns are received from local councils later on this year. However it is estimated that total spending in Great Britain in 1968–69 was over £500 million.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) in how many cases British Railways have disposed of land to local authorities;(2) in how many cases negotiations have broken down when land is being bought by local authorities from British Railways;(3) in cases of land disposal by British Railways to local authorities, and agreements made, what is the shortest and longest period taken.

The British Railways Board say that precise information is not readily available. The estimate, however, that of the land they have disposed of during the past twelve months 50 per cent.-60 per cent. in terms of money value went to local authorities. Some transactions with local authorities have been completed within three months, but others are still outstanding after more than three years. Cases in which negotiations have broken down after failure to agree on price represent a very small proportion of total transactions with local authorities.

asked the Minister of Transport what proportion of privately-owned vehicles with A and B licences have had Ministry of Transport tests and are now plated.

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the number of teachers currently in schools who have failed to re-register with the General Teaching Council this year.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 11th June to the hon. Gentleman and to his hon. Friend the Member for Fife, East (Sir J. Gilmour).—[Vol. 784 c. 1436.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what grounds he decided to treat the failure of teachers to register with the General Teaching Council in 1968–69, and the failure of teachers to re-register since 1st April, 1969, as separate matters.

I have made no such distinction.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects the Cameron Committee on the regulation of fishing to report.

I understand that the Committee hopes to report by about the end of 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has completed his discussions on the Agricultural Lime Scheme; and if he will state what consideration he has given to lowering the relative cost of lime in remoter areas of Scotland.

Discussions on proposed amendments to the Agricultural Lime Scheme are to take place very shortly between my Department and the National Farmers' Union of Scotland, the Scottish Landowners' Federation and the Scottish Lime and Limestone Association. The proposals take account of representations by the Crofters Commission and the Highlands and Islands Development Board. They include increased land and sea transport allowances for the Crofting Counties and Bute.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the flooding of 300 acres of

SCHOOL BUILDING, SCOTLAND 1968
Schools			Projects approved		Projects started		Projects completed
			Value (£000)	Number of places	Value (£000)	Number of places	Value (£000)	Number of places
Nursery and Primary			6,824	20,842	10,288	31,669	8,159	26,064
Secondary	…	…	28,884	61,928	24,457	51,788	8,851	19,594
Special and Approved			1,140	992	754	701	1,321	1,236

I understand that flooding of a considerable area at Auchlossan has been a problem for many years and has recently been aggravated by the choked culvert to which the hon. Member refers. Remedial action is, in the first instance a matter for the proprietors of the lands concerned, who may, if they wish, apply for an improvement order under the Land Drainage (Scotland) Act, 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to link education in commercial subjects with the needs of industry and commerce.

In further education the Scottish Council for Commercial Administrative and Professional Education which includes members with industrial and commercial backgrounds keeps all aspects of commercial education under review. The Council has established, and continues to develop, links with commercial bodies, professional institutions and industrial organisations, including industrial training boards, Both in secondary and in further education there is a wide variety of contacts between teachers, college lecturers, education authority advisers and H. M. Inspectors on the one hand and those concerned in industry and commerce on the other. I welcome and encourage such contacts.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the costs of primary, secondary, special and approved school educational building projects approved, started and completed in 1968; and how many places will be provided under each of these headings.

The information is set out in the table below:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost of the rent officer service in Scotland in 1968.

About £40,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many decisions were made by rent officers in Scotland in 1968.

In 1968 rent officers registered 4,936 rents.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many rent officers are currently employed in Scotland; and how many of these are employed on a full-time and how many on a part-time basis.

Twenty-three, of whom 13 are full-time and 10 part-time.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the estimated amount of revenue lost by the British Broadcasting Corporation because of licence fee defauters in Scotland and in England and Wales, respectively; and what steps he now intends to take to use his powers under the terms of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1967, to deal with this problem.

Over £1 million and £6 million, respectively. Since January 1968, television dealers have, in accordance with Part 1 of the Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1967, notified all new sales and rentals of television sets to the Post Office. I am considering what further measures are necessary to reduce evasion.

asked the Postmaster-General what new appointments he is proposing to make to the Independent Television Authority Board of members to replace the six who will be retiring on 29th July.

I am re-appointing Sir Ben Bowen Thomas for a further year as the member making the interests of Wales and Monmouthshire his special care. I am also appointing three new Members, Sir Frederick Hayday, C.B.E., for four years, Mr. Stephen Keynes for five years, and Professor John Millar Meek, for three years. I have decided not to fill the two remaining places but instead to use my powers under Section 1(1) of the Television Act 1964 to reduce the size of the Board from thirteen to eleven Members.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will give comparative figures for the cost of the combined broadcasting and television licence fee in Great Britain and with other individual countries and the average cost from figures available to him from international sources.

According to the latest information available, the fee for a combined television and sound broadcast receiving licence in the following countries, expressed in sterling, is:

Belgium	£8	0s.
Denmark	£11	13s.
France	£8	9s.
Norway	£11	13s.
Sweden	£14	10s.
Australia	£9	5s.
Japan	£4	8s.

The average of these figures is £9 14s., compared with £6, the combined licence fee in the United Kingdom.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the cost to public funds repairing damage to telephone kiosks in the City of Londonderry between October, 1968, and 1st May, 1969; and how this compares with similar periods in previous years.

£625. Figures for similar periods in previous years were 1967–68 £10, 1966–67 £50.

asked the Postmaster-General how many private telephone subscribers in Batley and Morley, respectively, have a line of their own; how many share a party line; how many who have a party line have applied for a line of their own; and how many people are on the waiting list for a telephone.

The information is as follows:—

	Residential Subscribers
	With exclusive service	With shared service	Waiting List
Batley Exchange	1,595	518	Nil
Morley Exchange	1,986	566	Nil

No records are kept of applications for conversion from shared to exclusive service, but 19 Batley and 13 Morley current applications are being dealt with.

asked the Postmaster-General how many private telephone subscribers there were in Batley and Morley, respectively, in each of the years from 1964 to 1968, inclusive.

The information is as follows:

Year ending 31st December	Batley Exchange	Morley Exchange
1964	1,212	1,335
1965	1,389	1,554
1966	1,596	1,879
1967	1,662	1,937
1968	1,981	2,377

asked the Postmaster-General why some post offices, including some in inner London, no longer include the time of the collection in their postmark.

First class letters posted in letter boxes are given a time stamp for control purposes. Since 1922 times have been omitted from most printed papers, and more recently from second class mail, because in this case the date is sufficient.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the latest convenient stated date the total amount of fines outstanding; and how long on average these fines have been imposed without settlement.

On 31st March, 1969, the "arrears" in courts in England and Wales outside Inner London amounted to £4,070,279; but this figure includes fines the time for payment of which had not expired. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to ensure that widows of policemen and firemen killed while carrying out similar duties at special service incidents receive in each case an augmented pension.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now take steps to ensure that full pensions are paid as a result of any death or injury to a fireman on any kind of public duty.

The firemen's and the police pensions schemes have for long made special provision for firemen and policemen who retire as the result of injuries sustained on all kinds of duty; and for a special pension to be paid to the widows of men who die as a result of those injuries.Both schemes provide additionally for an augmented special pension and a gratuity to a widow whose husband's death resulted from an injury in certain specified circumstances. Under the firemen's scheme, the circumstances are where, in the opinion of the fire authority, the fireman's death resulted from an injury received in attempting to save or prevent the loss of human life in the course of fire-fighting duty, and there was an intrinsic likelihood of his receiving a fatal injury. This provision was intended to be analogous to that for the police, regard being had to the different duties and risks of the two services.My right hon. Friend has now agreed that the conditions for the payment of a widow's augmented award under the firemen's scheme should apply whether or not the duty was for fire-fighting purposes. A draft amendment to the scheme has been sent to the local authority and fire service associations and to the Central Fire Brigades Advisory Councils for their consideration.Any consequential amendment to the Police Pensions Regulations is initially a matter for consideration by the Police Council for Great Britain, to whom the matter is being referred. I shall be pleased to consider their recommendations in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to standardise the necessary powers of the police in towns throughout the country.

My hon. Friend probably has in mind the powers of the police in certain localities to stop, search and detain persons reasonably suspected of having, or conveying, anything stolen or unlawfully obtained. Studies of these powers are at present in progress in preparation for a more general review of police powers and procedure, but I cannot promise an early outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about Mr. Michael Schofield continuing as a member of his Advisory Committee on Drugs.

I am considering, in consultation with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Social Services, the letter which the Chairman of the Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence recently sent to me on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, until the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics applies to Mr. Gerald Brooke the full benefits of the Anglo-Soviet Consular Convention, he will withdraw or suspend that part of Home Office Circular No. 83/1969 which advises chief police officers of the rights of Soviet nationals, arrested in Great Britain, to have prompt and recurrent access to Soviet consuls.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue advice to police authorities that they should discontinue the practice under which they encourage informants to participate in crime, of which they have previously imparted information to the police authority.

It is a well recognised principle, of which I have recently reminded chief constables, that no member of a police force, and no informant, should counsel, incite or procure the commission of a crime.

asked the Prime Minister if Investiture Day will be declared a Bank holiday in Wales.

No. The local education authorities are, however, arranging for school children to be given a day's holiday.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will establish a commission to investigate the practicability of a Court of Administrative Law, as recommended by the Law Commission.

The Government are considering the Law Commission's recommendation for an inquiry into certain aspects of administrative law, but in view of the fact that the Commission's report has been received only recently, it seems appropriate to allow time for public comment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of full-time agricultural workers employed in the East Riding of Yorkshire for each of the last 20 years.

Following is the information:

NUMBER OF REGULAR WHOLE-TIME AGRICULTURAL WORKERS IN THE EAST RIDING OF YORKSHIRE
June Census	Male	Female	Total
1948*†	11,476	934	12,410
1949*	11,858	850	12,708
1950*	11,951	825	12,776
1951	11,877	539	12,416
1952	11,510	603	12,113
1953	11,357	578	11,935
1954	11,352	635	11,987
1955	10,883	601	11,484
1956	10,455	578	11,033
1957	10,380	525	10,905
1958	10,215	474	10,689
1959	10,108	473	10,581
1960	9,719	399	10,118
1961	9,106	403	9,509
1962	8,841	407	9,248
1963	8,693	390	9,083
1964	8,166	344	8,510
1965	7,536	343	7,879
1966	7,119	340	7,459
1967	6,786	330	7,116
1968	6,295	280	6,575
* Includes Women's Land Army.
† Includes prisoners of war.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many civilians are now employed at H.M.S. "Sea Eagle"; how this compares with 1st January, 1969; and how many he estimates will be employed there at 1st September, 1969.

The total number of civilians at present employed at H.M.S. "Sea Eagle" is 301. Making allowance for day-to-day fluctuation this was the total number at 1st January, 1969, and is the total number expected at 1st September, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why an advertisement for Royal Air Force clerical staff, inserted by his Department in page seven of the Daily Telegraph of 4th June last, stipulated that candidates should be under 60 years of age; and whether he will make the posts offered available to people of suitable experience and ability above that age.

This was an advertisement inviting applications for permanent posts in the Air Force Department as distinct from posts which might have to be filled to meet some unusual temporary flow of work. The rules for filling this type of post that have been agreed between the Civil Service Department and the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council prescribe an upper age limit of 59. This is the maximum age at which staff can be established, i.e. given permanent and pensionable status, and this limit is governed by the minimum age of retirement for established staff, i.e. 60. There is no age limit for the recruitment of temporary staff. If the response to the advertisement in question is disappointing I should be willing to consider applications from older people.

asked the Attorney-General if he will move against the London Borough of Brent in respect of the breach of their undertaking given in the High Court on the South Kilburn Development Area.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the case of Grant and Others v. the Minister of Housing and Local Government and the London Borough of Brent. If the hon. Gentleman can refer me to any undertaking that was given by the London Borough of Brent in those proceedings, I will certainly consider the matter.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the proposals of the Law Commission which, respectively, have and have not yet been translated into law; and what plans he has for legislation for the latter.

The following is a list of the Law Commission's reports containing proposals for law reform. As will be seen, there are only three in respect of which Bills have not yet been brought before Parliament. Those on proceedings against estates and interpretion of statutes are recent reports, which the Government are considering. A Bill on Civil Liability for Animals will be

Titles of relevant Reports	Date of Publication	Whether implemented
Proposals to abolish certain ancient criminal offences (Law Com. No. 3)	22. 6.66	Criminal Law Act 1967
Proposals for reform of the law relating to maintenance and champerty (Law Com. No. 7)	22.11.66	Criminal Law Act 1967
Report on the powers of appeal courts to sit in private and the restrictions upon publicity in domestic proceedings (Law Com. No. 8: Cmnd. 3149)	23.11.66	Domestic and Appellate Proceedings (Restriction of Publicity) Act 1968
Transfer of Land: Interim report on root of title to freehold land (Law Com. No. 9)	14. 2.67	See (1) below
Imputed criminal intent (Director of Public Prosecutions v. Smith) (Law Com. No. 10)	28. 2.67	In part by section 8 of the Criminal Justice Act 1967
Transfer of Land: Report on restrictive covenants (Law Com. No. 11)	22. 3.67	See (1) below
Civil liability for animals (Law Com. No. 13)	21.12.67	No
Blood tests and the proof paternity in civil proceedings (Law Com. No. 16)	31.10.68	See (2) below
Landlord and Tenant: Report on the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 Part II (Law Com. No. 17)	22. 1.69	See (1)
Transfer of Land: Report on land charges affecting unregistered land (Law Com. No. 18)	22. 3.69	See (1)
Proceedings against estates (Law Com. No. 19)	2. 5.69	No
Interpretation of Statutes (Joint Report with Scottish Law Commission) (Law Com. No. 21)	11. 6.69	No
Statute Law Revision: First Report (Law Com. No. 22)	Laid 14. 5.69	See (3) below
(1) The Law of Property Bill now before Parliament, if passed, will give effect to the proposals in Law Com. Nos. 9, 17, 18 and in part 11.
(2) The Family Law Reform Bill now before Parliament will, if passed, carry out the proposals contained in Law Com. No. 16.
(3) The Statute Law (Repeals) Bill now before Parliament will, if passed, carry out the proposals contained in Law Com. No. 22.

asked the Attorney-General when the Report of the Royal Commission on Assizes and Quarter Sessions will be published.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, East (Mr. Edward Lyons) on 9th June, the Royal Commission has reached an advanced stage in its work and will certainly report in the course of this year; but I cannot yet say whether it will be before or after the Summer Recess. The report will be published as soon as can be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether, in view of the dissension from the Hunt Report by Professor Brown, he will examine the need to revise regional policy so as to encourage more capital-intensive industrial development in areas of low earnings such as Norfolk.

My right hon. Friend's statement on 24th April indicated in broad terms the intermediate areas to be assisted and announced the form of assistance we propose for them, following through consideration of the recommendations of the Hunt including Professor Brown's sent.—[Vol. 782, c. 668–83.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the student wastage rate in universities in Scotland, England and Wales in percentage and numbers from 1963 to the nearest available date.

Annual figures for student wastage are not available. The University Grants Committee's report Inquiry into Student Progress, which was published by H.M. Stationery Office last year, gives information about 1966. Table 57 shows that the percentages of students due to graduate in that year who left without obtaining a first degree were 12·2 per cent., 13·4 per cent. and 18·6 per cent. for universities in England, Wales and Scotland respectively. Comparisons between these figures are subject to the reservation that they do not take account of differences in educational systems, in the mix of disciplines in individual universities and in the levels and standards of individual universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to what extent there are officially supported exchange programmes between young teachers in the United Kingdom and European Economic Community countries; and to what extent his Department contributes towards such programmes.

The Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges, which is financed by the Education Departments, has arranged for about 30 British teachers to teach in countries of the European Economic Community and for 54 teachers from those countries to teach here during the current academic year. British teachers receive small grants to offset the effect on their salary of the November, 1967, devaluation of sterling which at present involve a charge to my Department of about £1,000 a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will assist local education authorities to install link indoor car simulators for use by 15, 16 and 17-year-olds so they can be prepared for their on-the-road instruction before taking their driving tests.

It is for local education authorities to decide whether to provide simulators for the use of pupils in their areas out of their total financial resources.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what pay settlements have been concluded concerning university technicians since the notification of the claim by the Association of Scientific and Managerial Staff on 29th November; and what percentage increases in productivity, earnings and rates arise from these settlements.

Agreement has been reached on a 7 per cent. increase from 1st April, 1969. This includes an element in anticipation of improvements in efficiency expected to result from a job evaluation exercise to be undertaken by the manpower and productivity service of the Department of Employment and Productivity. Any further increase justified as a consequence of this exercise will be effective from the same date.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the £7 million provided specially to assist the introduction of comprehensive education has been asked for by the London Borough of Bromley.

I received no specific bids from the authority before I allocated the £7 million available in each of the two years 1968–69 and 1969–70. I have, however, authorised extensions to the Ravensbourne School costing £143,000 out of the resources for 1968–69, and two further secondary projects costing £832,000 in the 1970–71 major building programme. These will help considerably with implementation of the authority's reorganisation plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date he last received an assurance from the London Borough of Bromley that its timetable for gradual introduction of comprehensive education was being maintained.

My officers are in regular touch with the authority. The three secondary projects which I have authorised, costing almost £1 million, will enable considerable progress to be made in the implementation of its plans. Meanwhile local discussions are continuing about the interim arrangements for changes in the method of selection.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he now expects to be able to announce

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN SCOTLAND
					(Thousands)
					June, 1964	June, 1965	June, 1966(a)	June, 1966(b)	June, 1967	June, 1968
Manufacturing industries (Orders III to XVI of the 1958 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification)	…	…	…	…	720·7	742·5	740·4	756·4	731·5	728·3
Construction (Order XVII)				…	183·6	188·1	194·0	185·6	184·9	185·5
Service industries (Orders XIX to XXIV)	…	…	…	…	1,041·9	1,043·9	1,042·0	1,034·8	1,029·1	1,027·2
Between June, 1966 and June 1967 the industrial classifications of many establishments were corrected. The estimates for June, 1966 are shown (a) excluding and (b) including the effects of reclassification.