asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement as to the future of Acklington Airport following the representations made by the county council and other local authorities concerning the proposed closure.

I have nothing to add to my reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Morpeth (Mr. Will Owen) on 25th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 265–6]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if a decision has yet been reached on the rôle of H.M.S. "Ark Royal" after 1971.

I have nothing to add to the replies given by my right hon. Friend on 7th May, 1969 to Questions from the hon. Member for Bebington (Mr. Brooks) and others.—[Vol. 783, c. 440–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in the light of the further information supplied to her on 22nd June by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding salary increases in excess of the norm paid to themselves by company chairmen, she will now take steps to stop these increases.

The information supplied by my hon. Friend relates to an individual. As I have said before, it would be inappropriate for me to answer questions relating to an individual's salary.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what requests she received to address the Conferenece of the National Union of General and Municipal Workers; and what official engagements she had during the week of this conference which prevented her from accepting this invitation.

I received no such requests.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the estimated percentage increase in rates, earnings and productivity, arising from the recent settlement of the strike at the five Lancashire factories of British Leyland.

Although some measure of agreement has been reached, negotiations between the parties concerned are still taking place.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what representations her Department made to the Trades Union Congress concerning the recent strike of women lavatory cleaners at Joseph Lucas; and with what result.

My officers discussed the strike with the T.U.C. on 20th June. The strikers met on 21st June and decided to return to work on 23rd June, but unfortunately production was later affected by a further dispute at one of the factories concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the number of persons who have been registered this year as unemployed whose unemployment is attributable to take-overs and mergers; how many of such persons are in managerial and technological categories; how many are skilled technicians; and what were the corresponding figures for 1958, 1960, 1964 and 1966.

I regret the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what will be the responsibilities of Mr. J. Harvey, who has recently been recruited to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and to what extent this appointment will affect the expenditure by the Board on outside consultants.

Mr. Harvey will head a new management operations branch, formed by a regrouping of existing staff. The branch will be the focal point for expertise among the board's staff in modern management techniques other than industrial relations and accountancy.Subject to the size and nature of the future workload, the board's intention is to increase the relative extent to which fieldwork studies of management efficiency are conducted by the board's own staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is now able to make a statement about the results of her investigation into the pay of homeworkers in the hat trade in the Luton area.

In the course of their special investigation following the publication of Report No. 110 by the N.B.P.I., wages inspectors examined the records of eighty-three homeworkers employed by seven firms in the Luton area, and sixty-three of these workers were visited at home. In no case was infringement of the regulations on pay revealed, but four cases were encountered where, because of disability, lack of proper training or inexperience, the homeworkers were unable to earn amounts which would be paid to workers with average output. The survey does not provide any evidence of exploitation among such workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recognition Her Majesty's Government at present affords to the illegal régimes in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

Her Majesty's Government recognise that the Baltic States have been de facto absorbed into the Soviet Union but have not recognised this de jure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what diplomatic or consular representation Her Majesty's Government maintains in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation No. 558 on the general policy of the Council of Europe which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 16th May, 1969; and whether they have instructed their Permanent Representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Recommendation Number 558 on the general policy of the Council of Europe which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 16th May, 1969; and whether their permanent representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe was instructed to vote in favour of the proposals contained in this recommendation.

A meeting of the Ministers' Deputies is taking place this week in Strasbourg, when this recommendation is being discussed; the proceedings of the Committee of Ministers Deputies are, of course, confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to Recommendation No. 485 on the ratification of Protocols No. 2, 3 and 4 to the European Convention on Human Rights which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1967, whether they will now ratify the Protocol No. 4.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs with reference to Recommendation Number 485 on the ratification of Protocols numbers two, three and four to the European Convention on Human Rights which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 26th January, 1967, whether Her Majesty's Government are now prepared to ratify the Protocol Number 4.

Not at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government propose to take in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe on consideration of Recommendation 470 concerning a draft Convention on European Co-operation between local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he has given his representative in the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe for the debate on Recommendation Number 470 concerning a draft convention on European co-operation between local authorities.

The Committee of Ministers has already decided not to include this subject in its programme of intergovernmental work for the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government have taken on Resolution (69)13 adopted on 19th April, 1969, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relating to financial contributions by member states to the International Committee of the Red Cross.

Our ability to increase our annual contribution to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which in the current financial year amounted to £10,000 and which was the fourth highest contribution made by member states, depends on the total amount of money available for expenditure overseas and would have to be considered with other competing claims. The United Kingdom Government have already given to the International Committee of the Red Cross, in the context of Nigerian Relief, a cash contribution amounting to £950,000. This is in addition to our own Governmental assistance towards the I.C.R.C. relief programme in Nigeria totalling £1·12 million either spent or allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Resolution No. 412 on the situation of the Jewish communities in European non-member countries which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 16th May, 1969; and what action the Government has taken or proposes to take on it.

Ministers' Deputies at the Council of Europe are discussing this resolution at their meeting in Strasbourg this week. In December, 1968 the United Kingdom Representative in the United Nations Third Committee raised the question of the treatment of Jews in the Soviet Union and Poland in the context of the human rights to be accorded to all racial and religious minorities. Her Majesty's Government will continue to take a deep interest in this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government with regard to Resolution No. 413 on the suppression of traffic of arms and munitions of war into Nigeria which was adopted by the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe on 16th May, 1969; and what action the Government has taken or proposes to take on it.

We sympathise with the objectives of the Council of Europe resolution in seeking to find a solution to the Nigerian problem and to increase humanitarian aid, but we must also bear in mind the O.A.U. resolution calling on all member states of the United Nations to refrain from any action likely to impede the peace, unity or the territorial integrity of Nigeria. The Council of Europe resolution is still under consideration by Ministers' Deputies and has not yet been put to member Governments. But, as my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs made clear in the House on 13th March, in our view an arms embargo alone would not be a practicable step towards a cease fire; it could only be effective if it formed part of a ceasefire agreement. Careful control is already exercised over all arms sales from this country.—[Vol. 779. c. 1692.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the results of the referendum in Rhodesia, he proposes to continue to make financial assistance available to Rhodesian public servants.

As my hon. Friend will know, the British Government's scheme of assistance to persons in the Rhodesian public service who resigned from their posts on grounds of conscience or who were suspended or dismissed by the illegal régime in Rhodesia because of their refusal to support it or to carry out unlawful orders was announced in the House on 22nd December, 1965, by the then Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations, and was further expanded by the statement in the House made by the then Minister of State for Commonwealth Relations on 14th June, 1966. It has been decided that, in the present circumstances in Rhodesia, it would be inappropriate to continue indefinitely to accept fresh beneficiaries under the scheme. We propose therefore to cease to accept fresh beneficiaries after 31st August this year. Rhodesian public servants who have left Rhodesia and can demonstrate that they have left their posts in one of the ways described, and who wish to be considered for benefits, should apply to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office or to a British post outside Rhodesia before that date.—[Vol. 722, c. 469–70; Vol. 729, c. 1214–15.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made to the South African Government about their detention of two British subjects without trial; on how many occasions and with what results; and what further steps he intends to take.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to Mr. Philip Golding and Mr. J. R. Schlapobersky, both detained in South Africa under the Terrorism Act. Following the representations which my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary reported to the House on 9th June, the South African authorities made arrangements for the Consul to see Mr. Golding on 11th June. The Vice-Consul is seeing Mr. Golding again today and his report is awaited. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs has also had an opportunity of speaking directly to the South African Foreign Minister, who is aware of the serious view taken in this country whenever British subjects are detained without specific charges being made. I am keeping this case constantly in view.No representations have been made to the South African Government about Mr. Schlapobersky since we have been given to understand that he holds South African nationality. Accordingly, although he is also a British subject, we have no formal right to provide protection to him in South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the English constituencies whose electorates will be 100,000 or more by the latest statutory date the present Parliament can sit.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent he based his decision relating to the delaying of the implementation of the Parliamentary boundary redistribution proposals on the present population growth in individual constituencies.

I explained the reasons for the proposals in the Bill now before the House in the debate on 19th June.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will categorise in the OFFICIAL REPORT each of the difficulties which emerge from his interim assessment of the effects of British Standard Time, together with an explanation, in each case, of the ways in which they were foreseen and taken into account by Her Majesty's Government during the passage of the British Standard Time Act.

The interim assessment showed that the change in the hours of darkness had caused difficulty to outdoor industries, particularly agriculture and building, and to people, especially schoolchildren, who had to travel early in the morning. Throughout the passage of the British Standard Time Act, the Government acknowledged that such difficulties would arise, and the new time system was introduced for an experimental period in order that these difficulties, as well as the advantages, of British Standard Time could be properly assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a complete schedule of the statistics of accidents in industry and agriculture on which he based his interim assessment of the effects of British Standard Time.

I have arranged for a copy of these figures to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will publish an analysis in the OFFICIAL REPORT of correspondence from members of the public examined during the course of his interim assessment of the effects of British Standard Time, showing the numbers of letters received in favour of, and opposed to, the continuation of the experiment;(2) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a complete list of the representative organisations which submitted views which were examined during the course of his interim assessment of the effect of British Standard Time, together with a summary of the views expressed, in each case.

Between 1st October, 1968 and 1st April, 1969 my right hon. Friend received a total of 630 letters about British Standard Time. 543 of these were from members of the public; 48 from local authorities; and 39 from the representative organisations listed below. 40 of the letters were in favour of British Standard Time. The main reasons given for opposition to the new time system, both by individuals and by organisations, were the possibility of adverse effects on children going to school, the fear of an increase in road accidents, and the general inconvenience and discomfort caused by the dark mornings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the constituencies proposed by the English Parliamentary Boundary Commission whose boundaries will cross the new local authority boundaries proposed by the Royal Commission on Local Government.

The 94 constituencies whose boundaries would cross those of the proposed 58 unitary local government areas or of the 20 metropolitan district areas comprised in the three metropolitan areas are listed below.Following is the list:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the existing constituencies in England whose boundaries contain two, three, four and five or more first tier local authorities, respectively.

There is none, if by "first tier local authorities" the hon. Member means existing county and county boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consultations he has had with the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England since 21st April, 1969.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total time taken for each review by the Parliamentary Boundary Commission for England to carry out their investigations and submit them to his Department in the reviews undertaken since the passing of the House of Commons (Redistribution of Seats) Act, 1949.

There have been two general reviews. In the first the interval between notice of intention to commence the review and the report was 15 months and, in the second, four years and two months.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list the size of the electorates in 1969 of the proposed new constituencies of Epping, Chigwell, Sevenoaks, Reigate, East Surrey, and South-East Hertfordshire.

The 1969 electorates would be:—

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has considered the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North regarding the warning by the Metropolitan Police to motorists purchasing forged car test certificates; and if he will take steps to increase the penalties for forging, issuing and using these certificates.

I have received my hon. Friend's communication: and am replying to him with an explanation that the cases that have come to notice do not suggest that there is any need to amend the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases were brought against persons issuing fraudulent cheques for the years 1966, 1967 and 1968, respectively; and how many convictions were obtained.

I regret that this information is not available: the statistics do not distinguish between offences of issuing fraudulent cheques and other offences of obtaining goods by false pretences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that police warrant cards have been forged in the print shop of Maidstone Prison and that Home Office stationery is printed in this prison print shop; and whether, in view of the danger to law and order, he will institute an investigation.

I am aware that there have been such forgeries. Investigation has been made by the prison authorities and the police, who are satisfied that all the forged documents have been recovered. The Director of Public Prosecutions has decided not to take criminal proceedings but a prisoner has been charged with an offence against prison discipline.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many houses, flats, shops and office premises in Wmbley have been broken into since 1st January, 1969; and how many of the housebreakers have been arrested.

From 1st January to 3rd April, 1969 there were 284 burglaries, by forcible entry or otherwise, from residential and non-residential premises in the Wembley sub-division, and 33 arrests in respect of those offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prosecutions of drivers of vehicles have resulted from accidents to pedestrians and collisions with roadside property in Harrow Road, Wembley, between Bovingdon Avenue and The Triangle since 1st January, 1968.

Proceedings are pending against one person on counts arising out of an accident involving a pedestrian; and one person has been convicted on three charges following a collision with roadside property.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to assist in curtailing the danger of fire in private houses.

Existing legislation already enables the provision of means of escape to be required in blocks of flats and houses in multi-occupation, and imposes requirements relating to household articles such as oil-heaters, fireguards and children's nightdresses. The possibility of enlarging this statutory contribution to safety in the home is kept under constant review, but no law can prevent the lack of care or thought which is the cause of many fires. A continuing programme of fire prevention publicity and education is, therefore, undertaken by central and local Government, safety organisations, insurance interests and others.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects to announce his decision on the Sittingbourne and Milton Town Map.

My right hon. Friend expects to be able to announce his decision early in July.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers currently employed by the education authorities of the counties of Perthshire, Kinross, Kincardineshire and Aberdeenshire, 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, I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 25th June to the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur).—[Vol. 785, c. 277.]

asked the Minister of Technology of the staff employed in the Press section of his Department on 1st June, 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969, respectively, how many were employed in Scotland.

The staff of the Press section serve the whole U.K. and visit

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will take steps to indemnify companies against losses sustained through compulsory revelation of turnover under the Companies Act.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the investigations carried out by his Department on the economic effects of advertising on price levels in the field of retail distribution.

The Board has conducted no investigations into this subject generally, though it has considered the effects of advertising on particular price levels.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what are the total amounts required to be paid annually for colonial pensions and compensation under treaties of independence by Singapore, Bermuda and the Bahamas. respectively, and by all other British ex-colonial countries, and by Hong Kong.

The estimated costs for the year 1969–70 in respect of overseas officers are as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute an inquiry into the retail price, manufacturing costs, research expenditure and the amount spent on advertising of detergents and associated articles in the light of his decision to allow detergent manufacturers to increase their prices: and if he will make a statement.

No. I have already taken into account factors of the type referred to by my hon. Friend in deciding to raise no objection to the proposals by Unilever to increase the prices of certain of its household detergents. I would consider the same factors in examining any other proposals under the voluntary early warning arrangements.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the United Kingdom imports of cigars by countries in 1966, 1967 and 1968, stating the quantities and values from each country.

Detailed figures of imports of cigars (including cheroots) for the years 1966 and 1967 are available in Volume II of the Annual Statement of Trade. The information for 1968 is:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the tonnage and value of wine imported from Spain in 1968.

The quantity (in gallons) and the value are given on page 30 of the Overseas Trade Accounts for December, 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many industrial development certificates have been granted to firms established in Cardiff to move to adjacent development areas in each year since 1966; and whether he will refuse future applications for industrial development certificates to Cardiff firms to move to adjacent development areas.

Three industrial development certificates were issued in 1966 to firms in Cardiff intending to move to adjacent development areas, none in 1967, two in 1968 and two in 1969. The intermediate area incentives now proposed for Cardiff will lessen the disparity between it and the nearby development area; but we will not prevent firms from locating in the development areas if they wish to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what assistance his Department has given to Scottish fashion enterprises in connection with future British Weeks.

At least ten Scottish firms will be featured in the British Week in Vienna. Twelve Scottish firms have so far been chosen for the fashion display in Tokyo. These displays are being organised for the Board of Trade by the Clothing Export Council whose membership includes manufacturers throughout the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the figures in oil tonnage and monetary value for oil bunkering in Spanish ports by British ships for the last convenient period available.

The value in 1966, the last year for which figures are available, was £112,000; the corresponding tonnage is not exactly known.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what machinery of consultation exists between the Civil Aviation Department of the Board of Trade, the Ministry of Technology and the Ministry of Defence on matters relating to air traffic control; and if he will make a statement on future arrangements in this field.

The Controllerate of National Air Traffic Control Services is a joint civil/military organisation and the controller is responsible to my right hon. Friends the President of the Board of Trade and the Secretary of State for Defence. The three Departments referred to in the question provide the members of the Air Traffic Control Board and participate in the work of the Civil Aviation Control Advisory Committee. The Board of Trade and the Ministry of Defence are each represented at Eurocontrol, and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Royal Air Force and I are members of the Permanent Commission of that organisation. There are, of course, continual consultations between the three Departments at all levels through the normal channels. No decision to change the present arrangements has been made.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will authorise the design of standard footbridges of modular construction so that highway authorities can erect such footbridges to enable pedestrians to cross dangerous sections of highways where the need for such bridges may have a limited time duration due to ultimate major improvements.

A number of standardised types of demountable footbridge for individual spans up to 90 ft. are already available. Special authorisation is therefore not required.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received for the development of a fast rail link between Prestwick Airport and Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is now the total of the dual carriageway roads completed west of Swansea; what mileage is under construction, has had contracts placed, is awaiting the return of tenders, has the line confirmed and has a proposed line; and what are the proposed dates of the completion of sections as far as St. Clears.

The position in relation to trunk roads is as follows: