asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a statement about the new constitution for Gibraltar.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Under-Secretary on 12th June to my hon. Friend the Member for Goole (Mr. George Jeger).—[Vol. 784, c. 296–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the present situation in Gibraltar; and what action is being taken to protect the way of life of its people.

The withdrawal of Spanish labour is presenting fewer complications than might have been expected. In most respects the life of the community continues normally. I pay tribute to the energy and enthusiasm displayed by the people of Gibraltar, who under the leadership of the Governor and his Ministers have responded admirably to the challenge.The authorities in Gibraltar are grateful for the many offers of help from people in this country, which will be answered as soon as possible.I am keeping in close touch with the Governor about further economic measures which may be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent conversations he has had with the French Government about their co-operation in the work of the Western European Union; and if he will make a statement.

I have had no conversations on this matter with the French Government since my talk with M. Debré about which I told the House on 5th May. At the recent Ministerial meeting of W.E.U. at The Hague we all agreed in hoping that France would soon resume her rightful place in the W.E.U.—[Vol. 783, c. 12–13.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether it is still the policy of Her Majesty's Government that Berlin should remain a nuclear-free zone.

There is no change in our policy in respect of Berlin, which continues to be a demilitarised area as provided in the Potsdam Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has to meet the French Foreign Minister.

I have as yet no specific plans for doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for United Nations supervision of the act of choice by the people of West Irian to determine the future of that territory to be held this year; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) and West Lothian (Mr. Dalyell) on 16th June.—[Vol. 784, c. 13–15.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for United Nations supervision of the act of choice in West Irian to determine the future of West Irian; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Oxford (Mr. Luard).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning the conference on the future of Intelsat shortly to be resumed in Washington.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, at the forthcoming Conference in Washington, he will seek a larger share for Great Britain in the future organisation of Intelsat.

It is the policy of Her Majesty's Government to build on the firm foundation provided by the Intelsat Interim Agreement and to work for a new constitution which will give member states a greater measure of responsibility in determining policy and afford fair opportunities in the supply of equipment for the system.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations Her Majesty's Government are making for the Intelsat renegotiations in November 1969; whether he will seek to convene a meeting of the European Space Conference or C.E.T.S. to agree tasks for the European space organisations and industries in the field of telecommunications by satellite; and what steps he is taking to promote collaboration between European and United States space organisations for assisting developing countries in the use of satellite television systems.

Her Majesty's Government will play an active part in meetings of the Intelsat Preparatory Committee, whose task it is to try to reach the basis of agreement on a permanent charter for the organisation prior to a second plenary conference scheduled for November. The Committee of Senior Officials of the European Space Conference is drawing up a programme of collaborative activities including projects in the satellite telecommunications field. Assistance to developing countries in the use of television broadcasting satellites was a major issue at the United Nations Outer Space Conference held in Vienna in 1968. Detailed consideration of this question is being given by other United Nations bodies to whose work the United Kingdom, United States and other European countries are contributing.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about the recent meeting of the Central Treaty Organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the outcome of his meeting with representatives of the Central Treaty Organisation at Teheran.

The sixteenth Ministerial Council meeting of the Central Treaty Organisation provided me and my colleagues with an opportunity of hearing an account from the Secretary-General on the year's activities and of receiving reports from the subsidiary committees. We also had a useful discussion on a number of current problems during the review of the international situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will instruct Her Majesty's Government's representative at the United Nations to raise as a contravention of Article 25 of the Convention on the High Seas, the proposal by the United States of America, to dump 27,000 tons of obsolete nerve gas and mustard gas in the Atlantic.

No. The United States Administration is studying such a proposal, but I understand it has not yet taken up any attitude towards it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps have been taken by Her Majesty's Government to comply with the provisions of Article 25 of the Convention on the High Seas, concerning pollution of the sea.

The Radio-active Substances Act, 1960, lays down conditions for the disposal of radio-active waste at sea which are in accordance with the recommendations of an expert panel of the International Atomic Energy Agency and are generally more stringent than those recommended by the panel. Non-radio-active wastes dumped outside British territorial waters are subject to a voluntary system of control designed to ensure that suitable locations are selected and appropriate containers used.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the speech made by his Deputy Under-Secretary to the Dortmund Chamber of Commerce on 29th May on the need to change the European Economic Community into a Federal Union was made with his authority.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister of State told my hon. Friend the Member for Harrow, East (Mr. Roebuck) on 12th June, the speech was made with my authority. But it contained no reference to a Federal Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he is having with the Polish Government, in the light of Mr. Gomulka's official proposals for discussions on recognition of the Oder-Neisse line; and what consultations he is currently having with the West German Government on this problem.

We are not at present engaged in consultations with either the Polish or the Federal German Governments on this problem. We have, however, noted with interest Mr. Gomulka's speech on 17th May and the statements made by leaders of the West German Government in this context since then.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress the Four Power talks in New York have made towards a settlement of the Israeli-Arab conflict; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common- wealth ffairs if he will make a statement on the current progress of the Four Power talks on the Middle East.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the situation in the Middle East and on the progress made following the Four-Power Conference in respect of the invitations to the Arab States by Israel to meet them with a view to discussions taking place between them to arrive at a permanent peaceful settlement.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) and other hon. Members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a statement on the constitutional future of the Seychelles.

A new constitution was introduced in Seychelles in November, 1967. We have received no precise proposals for changes, but we are aware that political leaders in Seychelles would like to discuss constitutional matters with us. My right hon. and noble Friend Lord Shepherd will visit Seychelles later this year, and that will afford a suitable opportunity for such discussions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the negotiations to secure the release of the British ships detained in the Canal; and when he expects the Suez Canal to be reopened.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. and learned Member for Antrim, South (Sir Knox Cunningham).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will protest to the present régime in Greece against their inflicting torture on women.

The Greek Government are already aware of our deep concern at their treatment of their political opponents. Allegations of torture in Greece are among the questions now being considered by the European Commission of Human Rights, which will be reporting before long.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with the French Government regarding the sale of Jaguar aircraft to South Africa.

We are naturally in continuing touch with the French authorities on matters relating to this important project. The French Government are, of course, well aware of our policy on the sale of arms to South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the official visit to Indonesia of the Minister of State at the Foreign Office.

My right hon. and noble Friend visited Indonesia at the invitation of the Indonesian Government from 9th to 17th June. The purpose of his visit was to strengthen our relations with that country, which are already close and cordial, and to exchange views. He had the honour of being received by President Suharto. He had frank and informative discussions with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Cabinet Ministers and Parliamentary, political and military leaders.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the circumstances under which a Junior Commercial Attaché at Her Majesty's Embassy in Tokyo, whose name has been sent to him, left the service of the Foreign Office.

The person, whose name the hon. Member kindly sent to my right hon. Friend, resigned voluntarily from the Diplomatic Service in December, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why it is his policy that hours of work in the clothing industry among the dependent territories should be a matter for collective bargaining and not for regulation on an international basis.

It is my right hon. Friend's policy, as it has been that of his predecessors, to promote the establishment of internationally acceptable labour standards in the dependent territories. To this end, these territories have been encouraged to work towards the regulation of hours of work in the clothing and other industry either through collective bargaining or through legislation, as may be appropriate in the local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what subjects were discussed with the Israeli Prime Minister during her visit to the United Kingdom.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 19th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 145.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now formally propose in the Security Council the creation of a United Nations inspectorate to supervise effectively the operation of sanctions against Rhodesia.

No. Such a proposal would involve an interference in domestic jurisdiction which is unlikely to be acceptable to the generality of United Nations members.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether a representative of the British Embassy in Rome will be present at the trial of the five British citizens to be tried on smuggling charges at Trani on 7th July.

No. As my hon. Friend was informed on 3rd March, our Consul at Bari has responsibility in this matter and arrangements will be made for attendance at the trial by a member of the Consulate.—[Vol. 779, c. 22.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he intends to take, following recent cases of torture in Greece, with regard to the continued membership of Greece in the Council of Europe.

On the continued membership of Greece in the Council of Europe, I have nothing to add to the statement my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made in the House on 7th May. On the allegations of torture in Greece, I would refer to my reply earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Putney (Mr. Hugh Jenkins).—[Vol. 783, c. 458–64.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many tons of custard have been dispatched from Great Britain as part of Her Majesty's Government's relief operation in the Nigerian war; and at what cost to public funds.

None. That part of Her Majesty's Government's direct contribution to Nigerian relief which has been devoted to the purchase of food has been spent on rice, tinned meat, whole egg and food concentrates.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many states have acceded to the Beirut Agreement of 1948 and the Florence Agreement of 1950 relating to the international circulation and importation of educational, scientific and cultural materials; and whether the Beirut Agreement has now been published by Her Majesty's Government as a Command Paper.

There are at present twenty-three contracting States to the Beirut Agreement for Facilitating the International Circulation of Visual and Auditory Materials of an Educational, Scientific and Cultural Character, and fifty-seven contracting States to the Florence Agreement on the importation of Educational, Scientific and Cultural Materials.The Beirut Agreement has not been published as a Command Paper since the United Kingdom is not a party to this Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is satisfied that Great Britain's obligations for the external and defence affairs of her dependencies can be met; and if he will make a statement.

Her Majesty's Government are satisfied on this score.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about the imprisonment of Mr. Anthony Grey.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave earlier today to my friend the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement about his official talks with the Shah of Iran.

My talks with the Shah were, of course, confidential. The problems of the Persian Gulf, oil matters and other questions featured in them. I would not, however, wish to go into more detail at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will propose to the Western European Union Council that Denmark and Norway be invited to join the organisation.

We have received no indication that Denmark or Norway wishes to accede to the Western European Union Treaty.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will recognise travel documents issued by the German Democratic Republic and substitute an ordinary visa procedure for the present requirement to submit to vetting in West Berlin.

We do not propose to recognise travel documents issued by the East Germans or to make changes in the current visa procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give a list of his public engagements, including the time of each, on Monday, 16th June.

Only one of my engagements on Monday, 16th June, was publicly announced: a call by the Sudanese Ambassador at 4.15 p.m.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government towards the recommendation of the United Nations Committee of 24 that soldiers fighting in irregular or guerilla forces for national independence should be accorded the protection of the 1949 Geneva Convention in the event of capture.

Her Majesty's Government share my hon. Friend's concern that captured guerilla fighters should at all times receive humane treatment. But the question of whether they should be accorded protection under the 1949 Geneva Convention is a matter not of policy but of law, and depends entirely on the circumstances of each case.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on negotiations with West Germany about offsetting the foreign exchange cost of maintaining the British Army of the Rhine.

I am currently discussing future offset arrangements with the Federal Government and shall inform the House when an agreement is reached.—[Vol. 785, c. 24–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many occasions the National Health Service has provided a consultant pathologist and free blood and plasma to the New Cross Nursing Home since the passing of the Abortion Act; what is his estimate of the cost of these services; and if he will make a statement.

Blood has been provided on four occasions to this nursing home. The cost, including the associated laboratory services, was approximately £20.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the setting up of a working party to consider the organisation and development of the rehabilitation services and at the same time announce the terms of reference and the date on which the working party will commence its inquiry.

My right hon. Friend's Standing Medical Advisory Committee has set up a sub-committee under the Chairmanship of Professor Sir Ronald Tunbridge. Its terms of reference are "to consider the future provision of rehabilitation services in the National Health Service, their organisation and development, and to make recommendations." The sub-committee started work last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will announce the date of a meeting of the National Whitley Council to reconsider the pay structure for nurses.

This is for the Whitley Council itself to decide.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why pocket money for patients in general hospitals is paid directly by the Department of Social Security; and why pocket money for patients in psychiatric hospitals is paid by hospital management committees out of the money made available to them for all purposes by the regional hospital boards with no provision for recovering moneys so disbursed.

This has been the practice since the early days of the National Health Service. I am, however, reviewing the arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the negotiations with the pharmaceutical industry on the voluntary price regulation scheme.

A great deal of ground has been covered in the negotiations but they are not yet completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated annual expenditure on health and social security benefits administered by his Department for the latest year for which figures are available; and how this figure divides between universal benefits and those given after some selective test of resources.

Estimated public expenditure on health and welfare services in Great Britain in 1968–69 was £1,770 million: tests of resources are not applied except in relation to the assessment of ability to meet certain charges. Estimated expenditure on social security benefits in 1968–69 was £3,180 million, of which £430 million was for supplementary benefits.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the estimated total mileage of the Birmingham to Exeter Motorway; what mileage is open to traffic, under construction, has had contracts placed, is awaiting the return of tenders, has the line confirmed, has a proposed line, and has no proposed line, respectively; and what are the proposed dates of completion of the motorway.

The total mileage is approximately 170 miles, of which 34 miles are open and 34 miles are under construction. A contract has recently been awarded for 6 miles and tenders received for the Avon Bridge and approaches (1 mile). The line has been made for the remaining 40 miles to Edithmead in Somerset, draft line proposals have been published for a 10 mile length beyond Edithmead but not yet published for a further extension of 45 miles to Exeter. The Motorway is expected to be completed as far as Almondsbury in Gloucestershire by the end of 1971, to Edithmead by the end of 1972 and to Exeter by the mid 1970's.

asked the Minister of Transport what progress is being made with work on the Carlisle bypass; and what is the estimated completion date.

It is anticipated that the planned contract completion date of December 1970 will be met.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the present size of the lorry fleet now registered in Aberdeenshire; what are the categories of licences into which they are divided; and what total volume of freight they can handle.

About 8,700 goods vehicles hold excise licences issued in Aberdeenshire, including Aberdeen Borough Council. Of these 3,900 weigh unladen 1½ tons or less. A division between the various categories of carrier's licences is not readily available. The total volume of freight these vehicles can carry must depend upon the nature of the freight and the journeys undertaken, but if national averages for past operations are taken as a basis, the road goods vehicles registered in Aberdeenshire may be carrying about 12 million tons of freight a year.

asked the Minister of Transport what further consideration he has given to the report by consultants acting for the National Ports Council and Government Departments on the physical suitability of the flats east and west of Newport, Monmouthshire, for development as maritime industrial development areas; and if he will make a statement.

It is expected that a statement will shortly be made about the Government's plans for studies of the wider economic and industrial aspects of the

Establishment					Rank		Instruction	Administration	Total
Staff College	…	…	…	…	Officers	…	48	6	54
					N.C.O.s	…	—	12	12
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst				…	Officers	…	65	16	81
					N.C.O.s	…	75	26	101
Mons Officer Cadet School			…	…	Officers	…	15	6	21
					N.C.O.s	…	30	43	73

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give details of the representation of each of the Services on the Inter-Services Committee on Special Ceremonies during their deliberations on the ceremonies connected with the 25th D-Day anniversary in Normandy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proposals he is making to keep the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's nuclear weapons under more effective political control.

The present arrangements are satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied that the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's nuclear weapons are under effective political control; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, I am satisfied.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many regular officers and non-commissioned officers are posted to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, the Staff College, Camberley, and to the Officer Training Course at Mons, Aldershot, respectively; and how many of these are actively engaged in instruction duties and administrative duties, respectively.

The details are given below:

Each Service is normally represented on the Committee of Special Ceremonies by a Grade 1 and a Grade 2 staff officer. In addition, membership of the Committee includes representatives of the financial and secretarial branches, and public relations staff, of the Ministry of Defence, together with a representative of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. The Committee meets under the chairmanship of an Assistant Secretary of the Defence Secretariat.The ceremonies connected with the 25th D-Day anniversary in Normandy were discussed in the course of a number of meetings by the Committee's normal membership. They were subsequently approved by the Principal Personnel Officers Committee, consisting of the Chief Adviser Personnel and Logistics, the Chief of Naval Personnel, the Adjutant General, the Air Member for Personnel and the Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Administration.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what communications his Department has received complaining that the Royal Navy's representation at the 25th D-Day anniversary ceremonies in Normandy was inadequate; and what replies have been sent.

The Chief of Naval Staff has received one letter from a retired naval officer who was invited onboard H.M.S. "Wakeful" for the passage to Caen. The Chief of Naval Staff has replied that he considers the Royal Navy, the only Navy present, was well represented.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give an analysis of the action taken on all the 746 representations in respect of low flying by military aircraft received during the last 12 months.

All representations were checked against the records of low flying sorties and in 43 cases full-scale on-site investigations were undertaken. Full replies were sent to all representations. 188 claims for compensation were received during the same period of which 33 were accepted by the Department at a cost of £1,051, 13 were rejected, 15 were not pursued and 127 are being processed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in how many of the three cases of complaints about low flying in which disciplinary action was taken during the last 12 months was damage to property or loss of life either of human beings or livestock involved.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations have been made to him about future rail passenger and freight facilities for new towns; and what action he proposes to take.

Representations about passenger services for East Kilbride, Cumbernauld and Irvine have been received and are being considered. My right hon. Friend has received no representations about freight services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the opposition by local authorities to the financial requirement imposed upon them for strengthening of high rise flats carried out at his instruction, he will now meet representatives of local authorities, with a view to seeking a mutually agreed solution to this problem.

The local authorities concerned have received an offer of grant, and have been told that my noble Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State will be prepared to discuss with them matters arising from the offer, if they so desire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the responsibility of the National Building Agency for the approval of the design for high rise flats, he will provide for a proportion of the increased cost to be paid by this agency; and if he will make a statement.

The agency appraises systems of industrialised building, but this does not relieve local authorities of responsibility for the design of buildings which they commission. The agency's funds come entirely from the Government, who have offered to meet 40 per cent. of approved expenditure on remedial works.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated cost of the strengthening of the high rise flats in Coatbridge; and what amount will be paid by the Government and the Coatbridge Town Council, respectively.

No proposals for carrying out such work have yet been received from Coatbridge Town Council, but, along with other authorities concerned, the council has been told that the Government will pay grant equal to 40 per cent. of the net approved expenditure on strengthening blocks and of other reasonably incidental expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total cost to public funds of the Countryside Commission in the year 1968–69.

£37,785.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now publish a table giving details of the effect on costs to consumers in each area of the setting up of regional water boards.

The effect of the creation of the boards cannot be separated from the effect of other changes in costs. Details of domestic water rates will be given in the return of "Rates and Rateable Values in Scotland 1968–69" to be published shortly. Charges for non-domestic water supplies are published locally by the water boards.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of grants offered to local authorities in the years 1968–69 for projects under the Countryside (Scotland) Act; and what is the total of such grants.

Five, totalling £17,500.

NUMBERS OF FARM WORKERS IN SCOTLAND AT 4TH JUNE
			1951	1954	1958	1961	1964	1968
Farm Workers
Regular full-time		…	87,710	78,029	70,591	65,634	55,685	40,544
Regular part-time			(a)	7,050	7,056	7,614	6,467	4,987
Casual and Seasonal			16,390(b)	12,281	10,774	8,921	6,284	4,714
Total	…	…	104,100	97,360	88,421	82,169	68,436	50,245
(a) Not separately available.
(b) Including regular part-time workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to implement the Sewerage (Scotland) Act 1968.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 11th March to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk, & Peebles (Mr. David Steel).—[Vol. 779, c. 262.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he now expects to be open, as motorways or dual carriageways, the A8, Newbridge-Newhouse, the A8, Glasgow-Port Glasgow, the A74-A80, Stonehouse-Maryville-Mollinsburn, and the A90, Inverkeithing-Milnathort.

The estimated dates are:—

• M8 Newbridge-Newhouse: End 1970.
• M90 Inverkeithing-Milnathort: 1971.
• M74-A80 Stonehouse-Maryville-Mollinsburn: 1972.
• A8(M) Glasgow-Port Glasgow: 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people were engaged in agriculture in Scotland, as self-employed and employed, respectively, in 1951, 1954, 1958, 1961, 1964, and in 1968.

The numbers of farm workers (excluding occupiers) employed at June in each year are shown below. There is no regular series of numbers of self-employed but it is estimated that the number of working occupiers was 60,000 in 1951, 55,000 in 1958 and 49,000 in 1968. In 1968 more than half of the working occupiers were on part-time holdings.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to implement the Birsay Committee's report on General Medical Services in the Highlands and Islands.

The committee's recommendations have been the subject of extensive consultation with representative bodies, and effect has already been given to a number of them. Several of the most important recommendations are being considered in conjunction with the related issues raised by the report of the Royal Commission on Medical Education and the Green Paper on the administrative structure of the health services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers currently employed by the education authorities of the counties of Dumfriesshire, Kirkcudbrightshire, Wigtownshire, Ayrshire and Bute, respectively, have failed to re-register with the General Teaching Council since 1st April; and if he will give an undertaking that no action will be taken against them.

At 9th June the position was as set out below. As to the second part of the Question, the answer is "No".

Education Authority	Teachers in the schools who have not re-registered
Dumfries	24
Kirkcudbright	1
Wigtown	6
Ayr	241
Bute	3

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish the information he has so far received from education authorities regarding the number of teachers in schools who have not re-registered with the General Teaching Council.

At 9th June, 2,698 teachers in the schools had not renewed their registration. I understand, however, from the General Teaching Council that, since that date, 620 teachers have registered. The council is unable to say how many of these teachers are serving in the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on what date he asked local education authorities how many teachers in school had renewed their registration with the General Teaching Council; on what dates he received this information from those authorities which have replied; and which authorities have not yet replied.

I wrote to education authorities on 21st May asking for a return of the position at 9th June to be sent to me by Monday, 16th June. All authorities have now replied, some by telephone. The last reply was received on 19th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with education authorities regarding the position of those teachers in schools who have failed to re-register with the General Teaching Council.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made with the survey of travellers announced in December, 1968.

A census was held on 19th March, and the first results from this have been incorporated in a circular sent to local authorities today. A second census to ascertain the summer situation is being arranged for the middle of August.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when his Department was first consulted in connection with the proposed sale of the Territorial Army Drill Hall, Walton Road, Woking; and when he expects to be able to authorise this to proceed.

The Inland Revenue district valuer was formally asked for his opinion of the value of the property on 21st March, 1968 and gave it on 19th November. I understand that the position has not changed substantially since my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Defence replied to an earlier Question on this topic on 6th May, but that the legal formalities in this complex case are proceeding as quickly as possible.—[Vol. 783, c. 64.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what income tax allowances, or other concessions, are given to Commonwealth immigrants in the United Kingdom whose dependants here include second wives, to whom they are legally married according to religious or tribal custom in their country of origin; and what tax concessions are permitted in respect of the children of such second and other wives.

A married man's allowance is £375, and this is not increased if he has more than one wife; child allowance would be due, subject to the conditions which apply to United Kingdom residents generally, for children of the second marriage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the cost to the Exchequer in the financial year 1969–70, of allowing wives, whose income is at present aggregated with that of their husbands, to be treated as single persons for the purposes of income tax and surtax; and if he will give the corresponding figure of confining such treatment to wives' earned income.

If married couples were taxed as single persons on their separate incomes the revenue would gain; and it would also gain if the new arrangements were confined to earned income. If the husband continued to be entitled to the higher personal allowance no estimate can be made on the first part of the Question; on the second part the cost is estimated at about £9 million for a full year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he received the provisional out-turn estimate of the central Government borrowing requirement for 1968–69.

The provisional out-turn estimate, as published in the Finan-cial Statement, was finalised on 14th April, the day before publication.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the cost to the revenue of relieving from income tax all those with incomes of less than £1,000 per annum.

Treating wives with earnings separately, this would cost about £850 million for 1969–70, leaving aside the very heavy extra cost of any marginal provision to secure that people with £1,000 and over were not left worse off than people with just under £1,000.

asked the Minister of Power (1) what is the value attributable to outside shareholders in the overseas investments interests and assets of the British Steel Corporation in each country concerned and in total;(2) if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the outside interests, in each case and in total, in the fully-owned and partially-owned overseas subsidiary companies and interests of the British Steel Corporation, the book value of these interests at the present time in each case and in total, and the turnover, profit and return on capital in each case and in total.

Information about the Corporation's own interests in these companies is given in their annual report and accounts, (Statement D and Appendix B, Statement III), in accordance with the provisions of the British Steel Corporation (Accounts) Regulations, 1969, which reflect those of the Companies Act, 1967, Section 3 and 4.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will give a general direction to the National Coal Board concerning the public relationships of the Board with local authorities in whose areas its operations may cause problems relating to air pollution and preservation of housing standards.

The National Coal Board are always prepared to discuss such problems with local authorities.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the transcript of his Ministerial broadcast on industrial relations on 19th June 1969.

I did so on 20th June.

Date Appointed			Title	Date of Publication of Report		Chairman
April, 1965		…	Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers' Associations.	June, 1968	…	Lord Donovan.
September, 1965		…	Royal Commission on Medical Education.	April, 1968	…	Lord Todd.
February, 1966		…	Royal Commission on Tribunals of Inquiry (Evidence) Act 1921.	November, 1966		Lord Justice Salmon.
May, 1966	…	…	Royal Commission on Local Government in England.	June, 1969	…	Lord Redcliffe Maud.

Similar information in respect of all Government-appointed inquiries is not readily available and could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what exchange programmes exist between younger members of the Civil Service and their counterparts in member countries of the European Economic Community; and to what extent Her Majesty's Government are encouraging such programmes.

There is a regular annual programme of study visits, between our younger civil servants and their counterparts in member countries of the European Economic Community, sponsored by the Public Administration Committee of the Western European Union.Other study visits to member countries of the European Economic Community or to the headquarters of the Commission of the E.E.C. are made by civil servants attending courses at the Centre for Administrative Studies.Civil servants from countries of the European Economic Community are received

asked the Prime Minister if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT all Royal Commissions and Government-appointed inquiries which have reported and been set up since 8th October, 1964, together with the date of publication of their report and the name of the chairman of each.

The information in respect of Royal Commissions is as follows:in this country from time to time to attend training courses or for similar purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what action he proposes to take to assist industry in the Huddersfield and Colne Valley area to re-equip and modernise.

The prime responsibility for industrial modernisation must rest, of course, with industry itself, but the normal range of Government assistance and encouragement is available in addition to investment grants. The I.R.C., which has been active in the wool industry, has recently provided assistance for the merger between Allied Textiles Limited and F. H. Hartley Limited and it is taking a continuing interest in the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he has received the Area Study of Huddersfield and Colne Valley made by the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council and Board; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. This is a valuable report which I am sure will receive close consideration in the region as well as contributing, together with the council's other area studies, to its overall regional strategy.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs when he now expects the final report by the Central Unit on Environmental Planning on the Severnside Study to be published.

It is as yet too early to forecast just when the Severnside Report will be submitted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to deal with the shortage of teachers of mathematics; and to what extent he proposes to adopt the recommendations which have been made to him on this subject by the Institute of Mathematics and Its Applications.

My right hon. Friend and I are very concerned about this shortage. We have encouraged colleges of education and university departments of education to give high priority to the admission of potential teachers of mathematics and science. The Department has concentrated in its advertising for teachers on mathematics and science graduates and will do so again next year. It has collaborated with universities in arranging meetings to discuss modern developments in mathematics and science teaching, and has been exploring ways of attracting mature graduates in mathematics and science to teaching.The Schools Council has accepted as common ground with the universities the aims of reducing specialisation, broadening the scope of study in the sixth form and delaying the choice by pupils of subjects for study in higher education. In the long term, this should be a contribution to easing the shortage of teachers of mathematics.The Institute's "First Report on the Shortage of Teachers of Mathematics" includes an indication of the action which my Department is taking, or preparing to take, on such of the recommendations as are addressed to it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many ex-miners were retrained in Wales in 1968–69; and how many found employment.

Figures for training carried out in industry as a whole are not available. During the 12 months ended 9th June, 1969, 65 ex-miners completed courses at Government training centres in Wales; 59 of these have so far been placed in employment in their training trades.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many jobs were lost in Wales in the year 1968–69; and how many new jobs were created.

I regret that the information is not available. Comprehensive figures of jobs lost and jobs created cannot be compiled but estimates of the total numbers of employees in employment can be compared to show net changes. The estimates for March, 1969, will be available later this year, and comparisons with March, 1968, can then be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what number of men were at work in Wales at the last date for which the figure is available; and what number were at work in the corresponding month in 1964.

At September, 1968, the latest date for which information is available, it is provisionally estimated that there were 632,000 male employees in employment in Wales. Comparable information is not available for September, 1964. The figures for June, 1964, and June, 1968, were 673,000 and 629,000 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what percentage of the registered male employees are at work in Wales and the United Kingdom, respectively.

At September, 1968, the latest date for which information is available, the number of male employees in employment expressed as a percentage of the estimated total number of male employees (that is, employed and unemployed was 95·2 for Wales and 96·8 for the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, what percentage of the home population are at work in Wales and the United Kingdom, respectively.

At June, 1968, the numbers in civilian employment, expressed as a percentage of the home population, were as follows:—

Wales	50·4
United Kingdom	59·1

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the estimated percentage increase in rates, earnings and productivity deriving from the recent settlement concerning pottery workers; what period elapsed between notification and approval of the claim; and what was the estimated percentage increase in productivity of these workers in the calendar years 1967 and 1968.

The Department was notified of a settlement on 10th April, to be effective from 1st July. Discussions with the parties were held during the course of the next two months and approval for implementation of revised proposals was given on 13th June. These proposals have not yet been formally agreed between the parties. It has been estimated that in 1968 output per employee in the pottery industry increased by more than 8 per cent. The corresponding figure for 1967 was about 5½ per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many immigrant doctors are at present working in hospitals in Wolverhampton; and what percentage they represent of the total number of doctors employed there;(2) how many immigrant nurses, both qualified and in training, are at present employed in hospitals in Wolverhampton; and what percentage they represent of the total number employed there;(3) how many immigrant porters, kitchen staff, maids and other hospital staff besides doctors and nurses are at present employed in hospitals in Wolverhampton; and what percentage they represent of the total in these categories employed there;(4) how many immigrant domiciliary widwives are at present employed in Wolverhampton; and what percentage they represent of the total number of widwives so employed;(5) how many immigrant doctors are working as general practitioners in Wolverhampton at present; and what percentage they represent of the total number.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) how many immigrants are at present employed as drivers and conductors by the Wolverhampton Passenger Transport Authority; and what percentage they represent of the total number employed;(2) how many immigrants are at present employed by British Railways as drivers, guards, porters and cleaners; and what percentage they represent of the total employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) how many factories in Wolverhampton at present employ more than 20 per cent. immigrant workers; and how many of these factories are contributing significantly to the export drive;(2) how many immigrants are at present employed by the building industry, particularly by those main contractors largely engaged on building houses, schools, hospitals, and roads.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) how many immigrants are at present employed by building firms and local authority direct labour departments concerned with house building and repair and maintenance work;

I have been asked to reply to the series of Questions my hon. Friend put down about the immigrant contribution to employment, nationally and in Wolverhampton in particular. Although it is not possible to answer all of them in the detail requested as many employers do not keep an accurate count, sufficient is known to show that workers from Commonwealth countries are doing many jobs which are vital to the social services and to the industries of places like Wolverhampton.Many immigrants were attracted to this country in the first place because there were vacancies in necessary work in hospitals, in transport, in building and in manufacturing industries which were not being filled by local labour. They were and are meeting a vital need.The following detailed information is available about the position in the West Midlands and Wolverhampton:6 per cent. of all men employed in manufacturing industry in the West Midlands in 1966 were from India, Pakistan and West Indies. 67 per cent. of the platform staff employed by Wolverhampton Corporation Transport Department in May of this year were from the new Commonwealth countries. 50 doctors born outside the United Kingdom and Irish Republic are at present employed in hospitals in Wolverhampton, representing 36 pet cent. of all doctors working in the group.On 1st October, 1968, 19 doctors born outside the United Kingdom and Irish Republic worked as general practitioners in Wolverhampton, representing about 19 per cent. of all family doctors working there. Fifty-eight trainee nurses, including trainee midwives from overseas are at present employed in hospitals in Wolverhampton, representing 18 per cent. of trainee nurses and midwives there. Information is not available for qualified nurses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what opportunity there will be for the Sherborne Urban and Rural District Councils to put forward their views on the proposals of the Redcliffe-Maud Report to transfer them to West Somerset, in view of their lack of affinity with that area in Somerset and Taunton in particular.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 11th June when he made it clear that the process of consultation on the Redcliffe-Maud Report will include the question of boundaries.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will allow adequate time for local authorities to make representations on the effect of the Redcliffe-Maud Report in their areas; and whether he will extend this item at least until the end of November.

I shall shortly be issuing invitations to local authorities and others to send me comments on the report. I propose to proceed by stages, dealing first with general structure and later with boundaries and other more detailed points.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in addition to discussing with the local authorities associations a method of distribution of the 40 per cent. grants allocated for the strengthening of tower blocks which will favour the authorities with the heaviest financial burden, he will also undertake to discuss such arrangements with the London Borough of Newham.

The borough council is a member of the London Boroughs Association and has provided one or more of the association's representatives at the various meetings which have been held since the report of the tribunal of inquiry. I expect therefore that it will be aware of the terms in which local authorities' views are represented to my right hon. Friend on this matter, and will be in a position to decide whether separate representations are necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government to what exent he estimates the London Borough of Newham will be involved in costs in carrying out his advice on the strengthening of high tower blocks resultant upon the Ronan Point disaster; how much his 40 per cent. grant will assist this council; and how much rate increase will have to be imposed upon the local ratepayers to obtain the remaining 60 per cent. of these costs.

The answers to these questions depend on how much strengthening work the London Borough of Newham decides should be done, on whether any part of the cost is recoverable from the designers or builders of the blocks, and how the council decides to raise the money to meet any residual costs falling on it after payment of grant under whatever arrangements are finally made.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether the local authorities associations accepted the offer which he made on 6th June for a 40 per cent. grant towards the net expenditure of strengthening high tower blocks unconditionally or with reservations.

My right hon. Friend has not yet had replies from any of the local authority associations to this offer.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the total number of members of rent assessment committees operating in England and Wales who on appointment were notified to his Department as being members of a political party; what were the number of members of each party; and how many were notified to him as not being members of a political party.

There are 675 members in England and Wales. Information about membership of political parties is frequently given but the details could be obtained only with undue cost.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what requests he has received from the Carlisle City Council for assistance with its house building programme.

No special requests have been received, but our regional office is in regular touch with Carlisle over its housing problems, and help and advice are given as required.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will give details of the number of houses built by the local authority and by private builders, respectively, in the county borough of Carlisle each year from 1961 to 1968.

The figures required are:

DWELLINGS COMPLETED IN CARLISLE C.B.
	For Local Authority	Private Sector
1961	166	244
1962	94	151
1963	87	80
1964	140	176
1965	311	106
1966	153	116
1967	191	143
1968	180	98

asked the Postmaster-General whether he is aware that, due to his policy of refusing to increase telephone services, valuable export trade is being lost; and whether he will give consideration to the way in which this policy is adversely affecting the export trade and the business of Centransco Overseas Containers Limited, Abbey Road, Stratford, London, E.15; when he received representations from that company; what reply he has sent; and whether he will make a statement.

There is no policy of restricting expansion of the telephone service. The vast majority of orders particularly from business customers are met as required, but there are localised shortages. The export trade is given special priority.Gentransco Overseas Containers Limited applied on 24th January, 1969, for seven exchange lines and a private automatic exchange in premises in course of erection. Due to shortages of lines and equipment we were able to supply only three exchange lines and a manual switchboard by the date required (19th April 1969). We have since provided four additional lines with restricted service. Full service will be given on these lines shortly. The automatic switchboard is now available and will be installed in place of the existing manual board by September.The company wrote to me on the 5th June and I shall be replying to them on similar lines.

asked the Postmaster-General what is the cost of new telephone and telephone exchange equipment installed during the past four years, not including buildings; and how much of this equipment was of non-British origin.