asked the Secretary of State for Defence what consideration he gave to refitting nuclear submarines in commercial yards before deciding to spend £5 million in providing facilities at a third naval dockyard.

Every aspect of the matter was fully considered before the decision was announced that Devonport would be developed as a third nuclear dockyard. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence told my hon. Friend the Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks) on 10th March, it will not be possible to produce a detailed estimate of the cost of providing the necessary facilities at Devonport until planning has reached a more advanced stage. This remains the position.—[Vol. 779, c. 231-232.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what length of lease is offered to persons seeking to rent property in defence establishments vacated as surplus to requirements.

To enable surplus property to be disposed of as quickly as possible, any lease of property awaiting disposal is normally for less than three months.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what progress is being made towards a greater Government involvement in the industrial problems of defence as a result of the setting up of the National Defence Industries Council.

Preliminary discussions have already been held with representatives of the industrial side of the Council in preparation for the first meeting of the Council to be held later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what engines will be installed in the medium range combat aircraft to be ordered for the Royal Air Force.

I have nothing to add at this stage to the statement on the M.R.C.A. project made by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on 14th May.—[Vol. 783, c. 1411–1417.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what steps are being taken to provide for the air defence of the Fleet and the Merchant Navy when out of range of land bases.

Outside the range of shore based air support, the main defence of H.M. ships and merchant shipping against air attack will be provided by existing Sea Cat and Sea Slug surface-to-air missile systems; the more advanced Sea Wolf and Sea Dart systems are under development.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many representations he has received in the current year about the use by the Army of ranges firing facilities and manoeuvre areas in the South of England.

99.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the total cost, including cancellation charges, incurred on the purchase of United State military aircraft since October, 1964; and what is the total value of offset orders from the United States of America obtained in return.

On the first part of the Question I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary to the Treasury in reply to a similar question from the hon. Member on 11th June. The Answer to the second part of the Question is about £80 million.—[Vol. 784, c. 264–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will institute an inquiry into the unauthorised flight of a C130 United States Air Force plane from Mildenhall; and if he will include in the terms of reference the general question of flights of United States service aircraft over this country.

As I explained in the debate on Adjournment on 12th June, the United States Air Force has appointed its own board of inquiry into the unauthorised flight of an American C130 Hercules aircraft from Mildenhall Airbase on 23rd May last. We shall be fully informed by the United States authorities of the outcome of this inquiry.As I also explained in that debate, it would be altogether mistaken to conclude from this incident that anything remotely comparable could have occurred with an aircraft possessing a nuclear potentiality.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if, following the theft of a military aeroplane from Mildenhall United States Airbase by an American Air Force sergeant, he will hold an inquiry into the need for United States nuclear air bases in Great Britain and into the question of the danger of nuclear war by accident, miscalculation or an irrational individual act;(2) if he will take steps to ensure that an incident similar to that occurring at Mildenhall United States Airbase, when a military transport aeroplane was stolen by an American Air Force sergeant, does not take place with an aeroplane loaded with nuclear weapons.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will hold an independent inquiry into the circumstances in which Sergeant Paul Meyer made an unauthorised flight out of the United States base at Mildenhall in order to ascertain the extent of the risks involved in the presence of United States nuclear bases in the United Kingdom.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the Answer I have given earlier this afternoon to a question from the hon. Member for Norwich, South (Mr. Norwood).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards exist or are proposed to prevent the danger of nuclear war by accident, miscalculation or an irrational individual act.

As I explained in the debate on the Adjournment on 12th June, very elaborate procedures are applied to ensure that there is no possibility of the unauthorised use of nuclear weapons. It would not be in the public interest to describe these procedures in detail.—[Vol. 784; cols. 2073–82.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence to what extent at the Ministerial meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's Nuclear Planning Group, or subsequently, there has been a reconsideration of the policy of posing a nuclear threat to a conventional attack.

N.A.T.O.'s deterrent strategy is based on presenting a range of appropriate responses, both nuclear and conventional, to various levels of possible aggression. There has been no recent reconsideration of this policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since the City of Portsmouth Fire Brigade took over responsibility for firefighting in Portsmouth Dockyard it has been called to fires within that dockyard; how many of those fires were in ships; how many in shore establishments; and whether he will make a statement.

The answers to the three parts of the Question are 84, 50 and 34 respectively. Of the total 13 were false alarms, 12 were planned exercises and 48 were minor fires, involving no loss. Only two, those in H.M. ships "Blake" and Leopard", were major fires.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in view of the shortage of workers for the Admiralty Dockyard in Gibraltar, if he will give an undertaking that, before considering the employment of Maltese or Moroccans, he will offer the employees in Her Majesty's Dockyards in Great Britain the option of taking up jobs there, in view of the fact that their numbers are to be reduced.

The question of reinforcing certain trades by industrials from the home dockyards is now being urgently considered. There are signs that some limited help will be needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether, in view of the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on Service Pay, he proposes to deal with Service pensions now in operation and for the future on a basis which complements the proposals accepted by him for future Service pay.

In line with the interim increase in Service pay, retired pay, pensions and terminal grants which commence on of after 1st April, 1969, will be increased by 4 per cent. and a review of the future Services pensions structure is also being carried out. The Government has already undertaken to review the arrangements for increasing existing public service pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will amend the regulation which refuses the granting of household removal expenses to married officers and airmen, Royal Air Force, if under the age of 25 years.

Yes. This is one of the recommendations made by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in its recent report No. 116 and accepted by the Government. We are now working out the executive arrangements necessary to give effect to this and other immediate recommendations made by the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a further statement concerning the future of Acklington Royal Air Force Station, Northumberland.

Yes. I am sorry to say that, despite a long and exhaustive examination, it has not been possible to find an alternative defence task for Acklington, and the Station will close shortly after the move of No. 18 Squadron in August, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many requests he receives from parents of boys who enter the Services for their release after the first few years; and if he will now alter the regulations relating to the release of boy recruits from the Services.

There are no separate records of the numbers of requests received from parents of boys for their release after the first few years.As for the alteration of present regulations I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my late right hon. Friend the Minister of Defence for Administration on 16th December, 1968. I have nothing to add to that statement.—[Vol. 775, c. 903–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in view of the fact that his Department has recently erected a sign on the A66 road at Warcop directing people to the General Training Area camp on a site where a notice had recently been refused permission by the local planning authority, what consultation took place before the erection of an ammunition store at Warcop Ranges on a skyline which mars the view of the Pennine Fells from the A66 road.

No such sign has been erected recently by the Ministry.I will write to the hon. Gentleman about the ammunition store.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many British nationals have now been displaced by Germans to do civilian work in British Army of the Rhine camps; and what is his policy on the future employment of British nationals in this work.

None. Our policy has always been that in accordance with the Status of Forces Agreement all locally entered vacancies are offered to the German labour market before being offered to British nationals.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many houses bought by his Department for Servicemen withdrawn from overseas are now no longer required; how they are being disposed of; and what is the financial loss involved.

181, of which 160 are being disposed of by private treaty without loss; the disposal of the other 21 houses is still in its early stages.

asked tary of State for Defence what progress he has made to date in finding alternative uses for the site of H.M.S. "Condor". Arbroath.

I am still considering possible alternative service uses for Arbroath. Meanwhile, in addition, the usual consultations are taking place with other government departments to establish whether there is any other possible governmental or government sponsored use for the station.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what revised plans he is making concerning the use of defence facilities in Malta; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to expand the functions of the Defence Operational Analysis Establishment at Byfleet.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member has in mind one of the recommendations of the recent Report on Defence Research by the Select Committee on Science and Technology. This Report is at present under examination by Her Majesty's Government and I must ask the hon. and gallant Member to await Her Majesty's Government's reply on the Report as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give for the most convenient period of time the number of accidents which have occurred affecting his Department, indicating the proportion of the financial costs met by his Department and by the local authorities, respectively.

If my hon. Friend will give rather more details of the type of accident he has in mind, I will gladly consider what information is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the proposed number of the intake of yard boys in Her Majesty's Dockyards; and how many boys were recruited in 1966, 1967 and 1968.

There is no complement laid down for yard boys for any H.M. dockyard; they are recruited as and when they are required and the extent of recruitment in 1969 will depend upon a number of factors including how many boys choose to leave the yard in the course of the year. As the figures below indicate recruitment of yard boys has not diminished significantly in any yard in the period in question.

Dockyard	1966	1967	1968
Portsmouth	194	270	276
Devonport	213	192	216
Chatham	121	94	115
Rosyth	42	51	44
	570	607	651

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what co-operation is taking place between Great Britain and France in strategic planning and military exercises.

Strategic planning is a matter for N.A.T.O. French forces take part periodically in N.A.T.O. exercises together with British forces; in addition there are occasional bilateral exercises involving each of the three Services and bilateral military staff talks take place from time to time on matters of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will arrange a meeting with M. Debré.

I have no doubt that my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence hopes to meet M. Debré, as he did M. Messmer from time to time, on matters of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the last discussions were held in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation about the setting up of an Atlantic nuclear force.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given earlier this afternoon to a Question from the hon. Member for Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths).

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reassessment he has made of the potential threat to the Fleet by Russian long-range surface-to-surface missiles; and what steps he is taking to give adequate protection to the Fleet.

Potential threats to the Fleet are kept continually under review. As regards long range surface-to surface missiles, I am satisfied that an effective defence is being provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will now make a statement on service pay and allowances, indicating by what criteria and at what intervals future regular adjustments will be made.

I would refer the hon. and gallant Gentleman to my right hon. Friend's statement on 16th June. Tables of the new rates of Service pay, retired pay, pensions and gratuities were placed in the Library on 17th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how far the Regular army is short of its peace-time establishment; what is the estimated shortfall in 12 months on the basis that present recruiting trends continue; and what proposals he has to rectify this situation.

On 1st April, 1969, the Army was some 9,450 short of the peacetime establishment. If the present trend in recruiting continues I estimate the shortfall on 1st April, 1970, as about 8,750.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence when the last exercise was held by the Royal Navy and other Commonwealth navies in the Indian Ocean area; which countries took part; and what further such exercises are proposed.

During January and February, 1969. The countries taking part were Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia. Further Commonwealth exercises will include the major Five Power exercise in 1970 in which substantial naval forces will be engaged.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what reciprocal arrangements his Department has with the United States Air Force for the security of United States airfields in Great Britain.

The United States Air Force authorities are responsible for all security arrangements within airfield boundaries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have recently been made under the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Treaty to expand the British-aided facilities in Malaysia for training in jungle warfare and counter-subversion.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total expenditure last year on furnished hirings for Service personnel.

£15 million for furnished and unfurnished hirings world wide.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will give details of the £330,000 worth of damage caused to German civilian property during the winter exercises by the British Army of the Rhine between September, 1968, to March, 1969; and why the cost of these exercises exceeded £1 million.

The £330,000 covers the costs of claims for damage to roads, agricultural land, property and crops. The £1·1 million also included the normal training costs for B.A.O.R., including moving 6 Brigade from the United Kingdom and training it in Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the April and May figures for recruiting to the Army, the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, respectively; by how much they fall short of or exceed the required total laid down in the 1969 Defence White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him earlier this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether Her Majesty's Government are deploying nuclear weapons other than the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation's committed Polaris missiles.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the cost of posters, leaflets, the exhibition and tattoo and other publicity connected with the recruiting event ARMEX 69, in Manchester and also in other centres; and if he will discontinue official collaboration with the Daily Telegraph in such events.

The cost of the publicity for the Manchester display will be about £23,000. Similar costs for the other displays are not readily available. These displays have provided useful publicity for the Army.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to make mandatory the present voluntary ban on the use of aldrin for dressing spring-sown wheat.

Proposals for legislation which would provide such powers are now being considered in the light of comments received from interested organisations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of his recent conversations with the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries during his official three-day visit to Great Britain indicating what international agreements were reached.

There were no official discussions during this visit by the Norwegian Minister of Fisheries, the object of which was to see activities of interest to him here.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number and results of prosecutions of foreign trawlers which have taken place during each of the last five years for fishing in British waters with too-small mesh fishing nets, and for other offences; and what further steps he took in each case to protect British fishing grounds.

There have been 63 prosecutions for nets offences and 73 for other

			Nets Offences		Other Offences			Total
			Prosecutions	Successful Prosecutions	Prosecutions	Successful Prosecutions	Total Prosecutions	Successful Prosecutions
1964–65	…	…	6	6	17	17	23	23
1965–66	…	…	19	19	11	11	30	30
1966–67	…	…	11	11	13	13	24	24
1967–68	…	…	10	10	19	19	29	29
1968–69	…	…	17	17	12	11	29	28

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure an adequate supply of meat when the ban on carcase beef from South America comes into effect; what percentage of the market he anticipates the home industry will be able to supply; and from which foreign or Commonwealth countries he anticipates that additional supplies will be imported.

There is no reason to suppose an inadequate supply of meat will result from the decision to confine imports of South American beef to boneless after 1st October. As my right hon. Friend explained on 1st May, it is the Government's intention to reduce the rate of tariff on boneless beef so that a reasonable level of trade may still flow. Discussions have been taking place with all the interests chiefly concerned, and the new rate will be announced as soon as possible. Home-fed beef normally represents about three-quarters of the market supply and production is expected to increase as part of the Government's selective expansion programme for agriculture. Imports of beef from our traditional suppliers are expected to continue at much the same levels as hitherto.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, if he has completed his study of reports from the Embassy in Tokyo regarding British

Yes. Our inquiries have revealed no evidence that British dogs exported to Japan are used for laboratory purposes or that they meet a cruel end; it is of course impossible to say that no such dog will ever become a stray.I am well aware of the concern which has arisen because of the absence of welfare legislation in Japan, a concern which is shared by Japanese dog-lovers, and on this subject I would refer the hon. Member to the reply made by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 16th June.

asked the Minister of Technology what are the total amounts of the grants made to or being made to shipbuilders under Section 2 of the Shipbuilding Industry Act, 1967, for each of the main shipbuilding areas, respectively.

The Shipbuilding Industry Board's first Annual Report showed that Section 2 grants of about £77,000 were made to Scottish shipbuilding undertakings, about £35,000 to those in North East England and about £10,000 to those on the South Coast.

asked the Minister of Technology what are the total amounts of grants or loans made to shipbuilders under Sections 3 and 4 of the Shipbuilding Industry Act, 1967, for each of the main shipbuilding areas, respectively.

Under Sections 3 and 4 of the Shipbuilding Industry Act Scottish Shipbuilders have so far received £3·5 million in grants and £4·7 million in loans, North East shipbuilders have received £3·2 million in grants, while Northern Ireland has received just over £100,000 in grants and £6·8 million in loans.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the total research and development contribution to be made by each of the participating countries to the European multi-rôle combat aircraft; on what criteria this allocation has been made; and what arrangements are proposed for recouping part of this expenditure by a levy on sales to other countries.Mr. J. P. W. Mallalieu: As I said on 16th April, it is not customary to give estimates of this nature. The participating countries will, however, contribute to the programme as a whole in proportion to their aircraft requirements. Suitable arrangements will be made for recovering part of the expenditure on development by a levy on sales to other countries, but at this stage of the project these have not yet been worked out in detail.—[Vol 781, c. 1133.]

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to assist British manufacturers to produce pressure gas compressors and process plant equipment in the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement on immediate prospects in this field.

Large process gas compressors are an important part of many process plants, which are at present often imported. The Ministry of Technology has been discussing with process companies and the manufacturers of such equipment means of increasing the British capability in this field. The Process Plant Expert Committee is expected to make recommendations fairly soon on measures to promote the efficiency and competitiveness of plant suppliers. The immediate prospects for the plant industry are hopeful: the Process Plant Working Party's latest forecast shows a sharp increase in demand for plant by the United Kingdom chemical industry and growing opportunities in export markets.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make available a summary of the particular scientific and technical subjects on which information has been exchanged between the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and the United Kingdom under the terms of the agreement for co-operation in the fields of science and technology other than that available from open international publication in the normal tradition of science engineering and technology.

There are no formal intergovernmental exchanges of information as such under the terms of the AngloSoviet Technological Agreement. Its objects are to encourage closer contacts between Soviet and British industry, and to identify specific opportunities for promoting industrial collaboration and trade between the two countries. Information made available by either side is directed towards these ends.

asked the Minister of Technoliogy if he will state the changes in curriculum, teaching and practice resulting from his appointment of Dr. G. H. Burgess as Director of Torry Research Station, Aberdeen; and if he will make a statement on the resulting future of that station.

The Torry Research Station, of which Dr. Burgess was appointed Director on 28th May, 1969, will continue to be concerned with research and development on fish technology. The Station will, as before, run courses for the fishing industry and its relationship with the University of Aberdeen will remain unchanged.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct new town corporations to use the solid fuel appliance, details of which have been sent to him, which burns smoky coal smokelessly.

I am about to notify local authorities and new town development corporations of the exemption of this appliance from the provisions of Section 11 of the Clean Air Act, 1956.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to make a further statement about those teachers in schools who have not reregistered with the General Teaching Council.

From information received from education authorities the number of teachers in the schools who have not renewed their registration was 2,486 at 24th June. I understand, however, that this figure does not take fully into account the 750 registrations, not necessarily all of teachers serving in the schools, that have been effected with the Council since 9th June.Education authorities are bound to comply with the provisions of the Schools (Scotland) Code which require that, with certain exceptions, only registered teachers may be employed in the schools, and I shall expect them to initiate as soon as possible any action that may be necessary to secure compliance with the Code in their areas.Should any teacher lose his employment through failure to register, as 21 did last year, I should regret it very much. Registration is, however, a statutory condition of employment. I have made it clear on previous occasions that the continuation of the Council and its success must depend on the willingness of teachers to support it. The minority of teachers who have not re-registered have not only disqualified themselves for employment. They are also prejudicing the current review of the constitution and functions of the Council and indeed threatening the continued existence of the Council itself.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers currently employed by the education authorities of the counties of Argyll, Stirling, Clackmannan and Fife, 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 24th 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
Argyll	22
Stirling	33
Clackmannan	16
Fife	66

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will set up a departmental inquiry into the failure by his officials to obtain accurate figures of British exports during the past five years;(2) why the inaccuracy in United Kingdom balance of trade returns due to the exclusion by some exporters of their returns for sterling area exports was not discovered for more than five years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement as to how the mistakes in the valuation of exports arose; for how long they have been continuing; whether he is satisfied that no other major mistakes in statistics are being made by his Department; and what are the corrected figures.

I have already had an inquiry carried out. The inaccuracy was caused by the failure of some exporters and export agents to declare exports to the Customs, who collect and compile statistics from these declarations. The error as a proportion of total exports is small and has developed over a period. The under-recording was difficult to establish, and only after an extensive and systematic inquiry could the error be estimated and made public. A comprehensive checking of declarations against manifests is being instituted, steps are being taken to obtain more complete compliance by exporters with the statutory requirements for documentation, and consideration is being given to what else may usefully be done to ensure full recording.I trust that official statistics are free from major errors. In many instances, however, their exactness depends upon the accuracy and completeness of information supplied by industry, and often it is impossible to make a cross check on its quality.I am considering the possibility of publishing corrected figures.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent there has been an underestimating of the value of British exports in the last few years; and what steps he is taking to ensure the provision of more accurate statistics.

I refer my hon. Friend to the note on page 1686 of the Board of Trade Journal of 18th June giving an account of the under-recording and explaining that a comprehensive checking of export declarations is to be instituted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied with the accuracy of the returns made to him of British exports; and what machinery exists to check their authenticity.

The compilation of the export trade figures has always been subject to numerous control procedures. In the light of the results of the recent investigation, however, checking is being intensified to eliminate under-recording as quickly as practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will compile and set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT accurate quarterly figures of British exports for each of the last five years taking into account the non-inclusion of exports to the sterling area by many exporters during each of these years.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Farnham (Mr. Maurice Macmillan) on Thursday, 19th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 149–50.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the British Steel Corporation as to the accuracy of the balance of payments export figures during the last five years; and what replies were given.

A number of queries relating to the recording of individual shipments have been received. These revealed a few instances of misrecording and a few others of omission from the export statistics. In addition some data were received which suggested that the total of steel exports might have been under-recorded. These representations were factors in the decision to carry out a systematic investigation of the documentation of export trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received from the chemical industry as to the accuracy of the balance of payments export figures during the last five years; and what replies he has given.

A small number of relatively minor queries about export statistics for specific commodities have been received from the chemical industry since 1966. Records of queries before 1966 are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the recent official conclusion that the trade figures and balance of payments figures as published since 1964 have been incorrect; and what steps he is taking to ensure that the latest amended figures are accurate.

There is little I can add to the note published on page 1686 of the Board of Trade Journal of 18th June, 1969. The Customs are instituting a comprehensive checking of export declarations against manifests, and steps are being taken to secure from exporters and agents the co-operation in securing complete recording which is legally owing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the prospective sale of a nuclear reactor to Greece is unconditionally attached to the sale of Greek tobacco to this country.

The Protocol signed in April provided for the simultaneous negotiation of separate though parallel contracts. This reactor appears ideally suited to Greek requirements. It is therefore to be hoped that a way can be found to complete the sale of the nuclear power station.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the comparable rate of levy and dues payable on Norway pout landed in the United Kingdom compared to that landed in Denmark on the basis of information available to him from international sources.

In the United Kingdom, the White Fish Authority imposes a levy of 1d. per stone landed and harbour dues vary from port to port, generally ranging from 3d. to 6d. in the £ on the landed value of the fish. In response to an application from the Association of Fish Meal Manufacturers, an Order will be laid before the House on the 27th June suspending the 10 per cent. import duty on Norway pout landed by foreign vessels for six months from the 3rd July. In Denmark, there is no levy and no import duty on Norway Pout, but direct landings by foreign vessels are normally prohibited.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give details of the changes he proposes to increase the safety of workers at sea and on land in the trawling industry.

A Code of Safe Working Practices was published on 28th February. Further measures to improve the safety of fishermen on trawlers will be considered in the light of the Report of the Holland-Martin Committee which will be published shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what disciplinary action has been taken in respect of the Britannia of Caledonian Airways which violated the regulations concerning low flying when approaching Gatwick Airport at approximately 11.50 a.m. on 5th May.

At the time the aircraft was being used for a rare type of competency check which is required by the Board of Trade in the interests of safety. This manœuvre involves a slightly more shallow angle of approach than 3° and the aircraft was therefore somewhat lower than usual. I regret the disturbance caused. As much pilot training as is practicable takes place at other airports.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what equipment is now available at Gatwick Airport to estimate aircraft approach heights now that the position approach radar equipment has been withdrawn.

Pilots report their height as shown by altimeters when air traffic control need this information. Sample monitoring for noise abatement purposes of adherence to glide-path height will be resumed as soon as the radar equipment now being prepared can be brought into operation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of flights scheduled to land and take off from Wick Airport was cancelled in each of the last four years.

The figures for the last four years ended on 31st March are:

	Per cent.
1965–66	4·6
1966–67	3·4
1967–68	3·4
1968–69	10·3

The sharp rise for 1968–69 was caused by an unusually high proportion of weather cancellations (8·3 per cent. compared with an average of 3·2 per cent. for the previous three years) and 2 per cent. because of an industrial dispute at the airport.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions are taking place with the Federal Government of Germany to offset the foreign exchange costs of the British Army of the Rhine for 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have yet reached agreement with the Federal German Government on support costs for the British Army of the Rhine for the current financial year; and whether he will make a statement.

As I indicated in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Salford, East (Mr. Frank Allaun) on 23rd June I am currently negotiating future arrangements with the Federal Government. Meanwhile we have made interim arrangements with the Federal Government to ensure that we do not lose any foreign exchange benefit pending the conclusion of the new agreement.—[Vol. 785, c. 192.] 78. Sir E. Bullus asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what percentage of the offset agreement with Germany for 1968–69 was realised.

Final figures are not yet available, but the indications are that the out-turn has been generally satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the recommendations in the recent Declaration on Europe between Her Majesty's Government and Italy on technological collaboration, if he will make a statement on the official proposals for an exchange programme of young scientists and technicians between the two countries; and how many such exchanges of personnel have taken place under official sponsorship in recent years.

During the Italian President's visit it was agreed to establish a Committee for scientific and technological collaboration between Britain and Italy, with among other tasks the encouragement of interchange of scientists and experts. During the two years ended 31st March, 1969, 47 such Italians of varying ages visited Britain and 37 British similarly visited Italy under arrangements assisted from public funds.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the naval training team assigned by Her Majesty's Government to the Federal Government of Nigeria will take up their duties; and how long it will take them to perform their rôle.

The team is at present being recruited with a view to the first member taking up his duties early in August. The date for the termination of the training agreement will be decided in the light of progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will, in concert with other interested countries, initiate discussions with the authorities in Cyprus for the progressive assimiliation of Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot personnel into the United Nations Peacekeeping Force, without impairing the international character of that force.

In spite of the improved situation in the island I do not think that U.N.F.I.C.Y.P. could at present act effectively and impartially if Greek and Turkish Cypriots were incorporated in it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT a full list of all contributions made by member or non-member states of the United Nations towards the cost of the United Nations Force in Cyprus.

Pledges to the special account of the United Nations force for the period 27th March, 1964, to 15th June, 1969, as at 8th January, 1969, are as follows:

(in U.S. dollars equivalents)
Government	Total pledges
Australia	1,159,875
Austria	680,000
Belgium	1,334,003
Botswana	500
Cambodia	600
Congo (Democratic Republic of)	20,000
Cyprus	582,600
Denmark	1,245,000
Federal Republic of Germany	6,500,000
Finland	325,000
Ghana	11,667
Greece	6,850,000
Iceland	3,000
Iran	18,000
Ireland	50,000
Israel	26,500
Italy	2,202,618
Ivory Coast	30,000
Jamaica	13,800
Japan	525,000
Laos	1,500
Lebanon	997
Liberia	4,500
Libya	30,000
Luxembourg	45,000
Malawi	5,590
Malaysia	7,500
Malta	1,820
Mauritania	2,041
Morocco	20,000
Nepal	400
Netherlands	921,000
New Zealand	42,000
Niger	2,041
Nigeria	10,800
Norway	1,134,352
Pakistan	8,800
Philippines	2,000
Republic of Korea	16,000
Republic of Viet-Nam	4,000
Singapore	2,500
Sweden	1,900,000
Switzerland	1,095,000
Thailand	2,500
Trinidad and Tobago	2,400
Turkey	1,839,253
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland	20,220,476
United Republic of Tanzania	7,000
United States of America	40,100,000*
Venezuela	3,000
Zambia	28,000
	89,038,633
* Maximum amount pledged, part of which will be dependent on contributions of other Governments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give the names of the 59 Member States of the United Nations who on 10th June requested an urgent meeting of the Security Council to discuss Rhodesia.

A letter requesting an urgent meeting of the Security Council to consider the situation in Rhodesia, was addressed to the President of the Security Council, dated 6th June, 1969. This was signed by the representatives of the fifty-eight following Member States: Afghanistan, Algeria, Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Ceylon, Chad, Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of the Congo, Dahomey, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kenya, Kuwait, Laos, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mongolia, Morocco, Nepal, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Phillippines, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Singapore, Somalia Southern Yemen, Sudan, Swaziland, Syria, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Turkey, Uganda, United Arab Republic, United Republic of Tanzania, Upper Volta, Yemen, Yugoslavia, Zambia. The representatives of Cyprus and Ivory Coast subsequently indicated that they wished to add their names as signatories of this letter.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish a list of, respectively, the dependencies to which Great Britain has obligations for the conduct of their external affairs and defence, and of those Commonwealth nations to which this country has defensive commitments, with a summary of the obligations and commitments.

Her Majesty's Government are responsible for the defence and external affairs of the Assocated States of the Eastern Caribbean and all British dependencies which are listed in the Commonwealth Year Book, a copy of which is available in the Library of the House.In addition Britain has bilateral defence agreements with Malaysia, Malta and Mauritius and is a partner in N.A.T.O. with Canada and in S.E.A.T.O. with Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan Britan and Pakistan are also members of CENTO. Under the 1960 Treaty of Guarantee, Britain, together with Greece and Turkey, also has certain obligations in respect of the independence, territorial integrity and security of Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether special facilities are being provided by his Department for people from this country wishing to work in Gibraltar on a temporary basis; and to whom such people should apply.

At the request of the Gibraltar Government all such offers are being referred direct to the Central Employment Exchange, Line Wall Road, Gibraltar.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the proposal to retain H.M.S. "Belfast" in Portsmouth Harbour as a floating naval museum.

A proposal that H.M.S. "Belfast" should be converted into a floating museum when she is decommissioned is under consideration. Account will be taken of the interests of Portsmouth and other claimants. When a decision is reached I shall make an announcement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what corrections he can now make to the balance of payments figures for each of the last five years, respectively, in the light of his conclusion that exports have been under-estimated for some years.

None at present, but I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Board of Trade on 19th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 149–50.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he proposes to take in connection with the demonetisation of the halfpenny.

The Queen has today, with the advice of the Privy Council, made a Proclamation under Section 11 of the Coinage Act, 1870, calling in all halfpennies by 31st July, 1969, after which date they will not be current coin or legal tender. The minting of halfpennies has already ceased and no further issues will be made by the Royal Mint after the end of June.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he has yet made a decision on the siting of the Midlands Inland Revenue Schedule E computer centre; and if he will make a statement.

The location of this Centre is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to make the payment of compensation to Ronald Avard.

I hope to communicate with Mr. Avard's solicitors shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs whether he has completed his inquiry into the seasonal adjustment of the returns for industrial production.

Further to my reply of 27th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Blyth (Mr. Milne), the fall of two points in the seasonally adjusted index in January was caused mainly by lower activity in the construction industry and by comparatively low demand for gas and electricity due to relatively mild weather compared with the preceding month. The level of industrial activity may also have been affected by the conclusion of a new holiday agreement in the engineering and shipbuilding industries and some reported absenteeism at the New Year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated total annual public expenditure on housing in the latest year for which figures are available; and what percentage of this figure is represented by expenditure which involves a test of financial means or subsidy.

It is estimated that in 1967 total public expenditure on housing in the United Kingdom was £1,125 million. Of this £196 million was paid in subsidy and £21 million was in capital grants to the private sector. Exchequer housing subsidies are paid to public authorities without any test of the tenant's means. Most authorities however use part of these subsidies for rent rebates and some authorities make rate fund contributions towards the cost of rent rebates.The figures of subsidy which I have given do not include any allowance for option mortgage subsidy (which had not then started) or financial assistance by way of tax relief on interest payments (which is not normally classified as public expenditure).

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that the water supply to Reading is adequate in a dry summer; and if he will make a statement.Mr. K. Robinson: Responsibility for meeting demands in Reading rests with the Thames Valley Water Board. They inform me that their sources are adequate to meet the foreseeable needs of a dry summer and that they already have further distribution works in hand to guard against a local shortage in the Reading area. If such a shortage occurred meanwhile because of a prolonged dry spell it would not, I understand, mean more than a temporary ban on the use of hose-pipes and similar measures.

asked the Minister of Power what estimates his department has made about the growth of fuel oil consumption in power stations between now and 1972; and how this estimated proportionate increase compares with that of coal, nuclear power and natural gas.

The amount of fuel oil to be used will depend in part on decisions yet to be taken as to the support to be given to coal at the time. I cannot, therefore, quote a figure.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement concerning the overflow of fuel oil from the depot at Padworth in Berkshire on Saturday, 14th June.

A light petroleum product was being transferred from a pipeline into storage at Padworth Site when a mistake was made in the operation of a valve. About 300 tons of the product was released into the Site's drainage system and some overflowed into a nearby stream. Concerted action by the Ministry's Agents at the Site, the Police, Fire Service and the River and Water authorities averted pollution of the nearby River Kennet and thus any threat to Reading's water supply. Damage to property in the area proved to be small. An investigation is being carried out by the Ministry's engineers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of persons currently classified as being in professional occupations; what is the percentage of such persons employed in professions to which admittance is secured exclusively by formal examinations; and what were the respective figures and percentages for 1949 and 1959.

The only available data relevant to the Question are the numbers of persons in the Occupation Order XXV—Professional, technical workers, artists—from the Census of 1951, 1961 and 1966, which are given below. It is not possible to identify in the Census those professions to which admittance is exclusively by formal examination.

	1951	1961	1966
Professional, technical workers, artists	1,237,254	1,880,090	2,374,850

asked the Minister of Transport if, in drafting legislation to take the ports into public ownership, he will, in order to extend worker participation, provide for local joint control committees involving representatives of all sections of workpeople in the industry with functions including safety, promotion, operation of equipment and labour and overtime working.

I intend that the National Ports Authority should have a duty to consult appropriate organisations with a view to establishing agreed machinery, at national and local levels, for the settlement by negotiation of terms and conditions of employment and for the promotion and encouragement of all measures affecting efficiency, safety, health and welfare.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in drafting legislation to take the ports into public ownership, he will make provision for only one employer of labour in each port with the duty of ensuring a fair deal for the workers at a time when major reductions in the labour force and changes in working practices are required.

It is the intention that all employees in the industry should have a fair deal by being guaranteed terms and conditions of employment not less favourable than those obtaining under the National Ports Authority for similar work in the same area. The White Paper proposes that the National Ports Authority shall have the dominant voice on the employers' side of the industry.

asked the Minister of Transport if, in drafting legislation to take the ports into public ownership, he will make provision for representatives of workers' interests on the proposed National Ports Authority to be drawn directly from the trade unions involved in the industry.

The exact method of ensuring employee participation and involvement in the new ports organisation has yet to be determined.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of geriatric beds in England and Wales; how many patients are awaiting admission to a geriatric unit; and how the national ratio compares with that of the South-West Regional Hospital Board area.

The following are the figures at 31st December, 1968:

	Geriatric and chronic sick beds	Patients on waiting lists	Ratio of patients on waiting lists to beds
England and Wales	59,903	8,748	1:6·85
South-Western Regional Hospital Board area	4,948	704	1:7·03

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his present estimate of the number of patients in England and Wales awaiting minor and non-urgent operations; and of this number how many are gynaecological cases.

On 31st December, 1968, 500,217 patients were awaiting non-urgent operations, of whom 82,787 were gynaecology cases. Minor operations are not defined or recorded separately.