asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what grounds Stationery Office publications are excluded from the arrangements under which hon. Members may order on a green demand form non-Parliamentary publications required for the discharge of their Parliamentary duties; and whether he is satisfied with the manner in which this policy is implemented.

Stationery Office publications in the categories noted at the head of the green form, namely historical, technical and scientific works and similar classes, such as reference books, guides and catalogues are excluded from the supply arrangements for reasons of economy.I am satisfied that in interpreting the rules the Stationery Office strikes a fair balance between the need for economy and the convenience of Members.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the relationship between the official use of the terms domestic credit expansion and the expansion of domestic credit; and whether he will avoid the use of terms likely to cause confusion.

These are merely different terms for the same concept.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the effect on the index of retail prices of all increases in indirect taxation, including the selective employment tax, since 1964.

I estimate that the effect since October, 1964 has been to raise the index by about 6½ per cent. above the level it would otherwise have reached.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates has been the effect to date of devaluation on the index of retail prices, and of increases in indirect taxation, including the selective employment tax, respectively since November, 1967.

I estimate the effect of devaluation at rather less than 3 per cent. and that of increased indirect taxation, including S.E.T., at about 3 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average annual rate of growth of the Gross Domestic Product at 1963 prices between 1958 and 1964; and what it was between 1964 and 1968.

3¾4 per cent. and 2¼ per cent. respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the purchasing power of the £ sterling at the latest convenient date, taking its value as 20s. in October, 1964, July, 1966, November, 1967, and 12 months ago.

The figures for May, 1969, the latest date available, are 16s. 4d., 17s. 10d., 18s. 5d. and 19s. 0d. respectively. These figures are based on the consumer price index for complete years, adjusted for the months at the beginning and end of the periods by reference to the index of retail prices.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will now make a statement on his revised assessment of the balance of payments surplus following the official conclusion that export figures have been underestimated for the past five years.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend said on the subject of the debate on the Letter of Intent on 25th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 1521–34.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent his Budget statements were based on the balance of payments figures now officially admitted to be incorrect; when these mistakes first came to light; and what steps he is taking to ensure the accuracy of the figures in future.

The Budget statement was prepared before the errors in the recording of exports were known, but the overall strategy it contains is not affected by them. As regards the latter part of my hon. Friend's Question, I would refer him to the note published on page 1686 of the Board of Trade Journal of 18th June, 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what study his Department has made of the invisible element of the balance of payments concerning Government receipts and expenditure, which is expressly excluded from the terms of reference of the Committee on Invisible Exports.

Government receipts and expenditure are kept constantly under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he has considered the recent Report of the Bank for International Settlements, a copy of which is in his possession; and what action he proposes to take on those recommendations in the Report which deal with the United Kingdom economy.

I see nothing in this document which causes me to wish to modify or add to my present policies.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated effect on the balance of trade of abolishing the current restrictions on travel expenditure with effect from 1st October, 1969.

An estimated deterioration of the order of £25–£30 million per year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a table showing public expenditure as defined in the Treasury analysis in National Income and Expenditure 1968 at constant prices, using the annual comparisons of public expenditure as a price deflator, per head of population for the financial years 1946–47, 1950–51 and 1959–60 to 1968–69, inclusive, and showing the average annual rate of change in 1946–47 to 1950–51, 1950–51 to 1964–65, and 1964–65 to 1968–69.

The average annual increases in public expenditure^*, as defined in the Treasury analysis in "National Income and Expenditure 1968 ", at constant prices per head of population over the periods 1959–60 to 1964–65, and 1964–65 to 1968–69 were of the order of 3½ per cent. and 4½ per cent. respectively. For the reasons explained to the hon. Member in my reply of 18th February, 1969, I do not feel able to publish actual figures of public expenditure per head of population at constant prices.Public expenditure, as defined above, for financial years prior to 1959–60 is not available.

asked the Minister of Power how much of the £60 million cost in 1968–69 of delays in the commissioning of power stations of all types was incurred in Scotland; how much of this sum is attributable to coal and gas, respectively; and what compensation is involved and to whom it will be payable.

The estimated cost referred to covers only England and Wales. Questions about power stations in Scotland should be put to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Minister of Power by how many degrees Fahrenheit he estimates that the average temperature in England in each of the manths January, February, March and April, 1969 was higher or lower, respectively, than in the corresponding months of 1968.

The differences were:

• January, 1969—1·9 Degrees Fahrenheit higher.
• February, 1969—1·9 Degrees Fahrenheit lower.
• March, 1969—5·6 Degrees Fahrenheit lower.
• April, 1969—1·2 Degrees Fahrenheit lower.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether, in view of the need to dispose of contaminated medical waste on controlled tips in the Sheffield area because of the closure of an incineration plant, he will now extend the terms of reference of his Working Party on Refuse Disposal under the chairmanship of Mr. J. Sumner to include medical waste and contaminated articles from hospital and local health services.

I am glad to inform the hon. Member that the terms of reference of the Working Party on Refuse Disposal are wide enough to cover these matters.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what circulars he has already issued to local authorities, and, in view of recently disclosed practices in Sheffield, what advice he now intends to give local authorities about the disposal of contaminated medical waste, including human waste material, and infected articles from hospital, home nursing, and midwifery services, on controlled tips; and under what circumstances incineration is required as the means of disposal.

I understand that appropriate sanitary precautions were taken in this instance, and all local authorities have expert professional advice on such matters from their medical officers of health. On the evidence available my right hon. Friend does not see the need to issue guidance.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Govern ment what consultations have taken place with the Greater London Council regarding the building of a barrage across the Thames at or near Greenwich; and whether it is now the Government's intention to proceed with such a project.

As my right hon. Friend said in answer to a Question from the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke) on 20th February, 1968, the Greater London Council has undertaken to investigate, in consultation with the Port of London Authority and the navigation interests, the relative advantages of a movable barrier and a fixed barrage, and the most suitable site. It is considering the whole length of the river, from the City of London downstream. Throughout the investigation, there has been regular consultation between the Department and the council, and I expect to receive the final report by the end of this year.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a detailed list, for any convenient stated period of time, of national or local disasters for which his Department has met part of the financial costs, indicating the respective contributions made by his Department and the local authorities.

Since October, 1964 extra-statutory grants paid by the Department towards national or local disasters have been as follows:

FLOOD DAMAGE, 1964
	£
Government contribution to flood relief fund	1,249
Other contributions—not known.
THE TORREY CANYON AFFAIR
Government Grants	256,241*
Estimated net cost borne by local authorities	66,902
FLOODS IN THE SOUTH-WEST, 1968
(a) Local authority losses: Government grants	361,620
Estimated net cost borne by local authorities	959,629
(b) Local relief funds for private Government contribution losses:	175,000
Local authority contributions	122,650 (est.)
Private contributions	65,031

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the Land Commission has put in an application for planning permission on approximately 20 acres of land at present

	Newark Rural District Council			Southwell Rural District Council			Newark Borough Council			All County District Councils in Nottinghamshire			Nottinghamshire County Council	Total for Nottinghamshire
Rate rebates
Value of rate rebates	£1,899			£5,293			£5,246			£108,658			—	£108,658
Number of recipients*	212			724			425			10,183			—	10,183
	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.	£	s.	d.		£	s.	d.
Average amount paid to each recipient for the year	8	19	0	7	2	6	12	6	8	10	13	2	—	10	13	2
Government grant towards rebates.	£1,424			£3,970			£3,945			£81,493			—	£81,493
Rate support grant †
Needs element	—			—			—			—			£15,430,066	£15,430,066
Resources element	£50,833			£91,979			£48,439			£1,445,129			£3,096,433	£4,541,562
Domestic element	£11,146			£34,058			£19,812			£510,422			—	£510,422
Total rate support grant	£61,979			£126,037			£68,251			£1,955,551			£18,526,499	£20,482,050
* Average of the numbers in the two six-monthly periods.
† Latest estimate.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will institute an official inquiry into the circumstances in which certain Sheffield Corporation vehicles were used both for the conveyance of medical waste and for meals on wheels and school meals services.

I am told by Sheffield Corporation that it discontinued some

The Land Commission has applied for planning permission with a view to bringing this land forward for development for housing.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the value of rate rebates granted in the past year in the rural districts of Newark and Southwell, the Borough of Newark and the County of Nottinghamshire; how many claimants there were in each area; what was the average amount paid to each; and what was the total value of rate relief granted by Her Majesty's Government to ratepayers in each area through rate relief grants and through local authority rate support grants.

The figures for 1968–69 are as follows:time ago the use of meals vehicles for carrying waste. No inquiry by my right hon. Friend would appear to be necessary.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, in view of the increasing nuisance and danger of litter, if he will consider what further steps should be taken to deal with this problem.

I think that the most profitable action is education and persuasion of the public, and to this end the Government give financial and other support to the Keep Britain Tidy Group. Provisions in the Civic Amenities Act, 1967 relating to abandoned vehicles and other dumped rubbish will, I believe, in time also make a significant contribution to reducing the problem. I should be happy to consider any suggestions the hon. Lady has to make.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will issue a circular to local authorities advising them against the employment as bailiffs of individuals who threaten tenants in evictions.

I deplore the use of threats. I am confident, however, that local authorities in general will act both humanely and firmly without advice from my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what rent increases he has approved for the Audenshaw Urban District Council in the past two years; and what conditions he has placed on the implementation of the increases.

My right hon. Friend has agreed to one flat rate increase of 7s. 6d. a week to be effective from 4th August, 1969. No conditions were attached to his agreement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is aware that the Huddersfield and Colne Valley Area Study conducted by the Yorkshire and Humberside Economic Planning Council and Board estimate that 21,000 new dwellings will be required in the County Borough of Huddersfield by 1981; and what action he proposes to take.

The report states that the study area as a whole is likely to need between 9,000 and 21,000 new dwellings by 1981. However, a continuation of the recent building rate in the area would meet only the lower estimate of requirements. No separate estimate is made of the needs of Huddersfield itself. But the report shows the very poor housing conditions prevalent in Huddersfield and suggests that a much larger new building programme is needed. My right hon. Friend would be happy to do all he can to help Huddersfield in achieving this.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many dwellings built by housing societies, the local authority and private builders, respectively, he estimates will be completed in the city of Bradford in the years 1970 and 1971.

I am unable to forecast completions by individual local authority areas. These would involve assumptions about the likely progress of individual local authority schemes, and about the market demand which private developers will seek to meet, which would be unreliable.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses have been completed by Manchester Corporation, Denton Urban District Council and Audenshaw Urban District Council in each year since 1964; what is their future programme; and what restrictions the Government are placing on this programme.

The Government have not restricted building by these authorities, but future programmes have not yet been fixed for Denton and Audenshaw. Details of past performance and Manchester's published estimates of future completion levels are as follows:

COMPLETIONS
	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
Manchester C.B.	3,939	3,435	2,659	2,784	2,346
Audenshaw U.D.	44	—	98	154	49
Denton U.D	8	35	40	62	8

I am not in a position to forecast the performance of individual authorities but

the Manchester Corporation has published the following estimate of completions:

1969	1970	1971	1972
3,232	3,784	4,546	4,531
1973	1974	1975	1976
4,502	4,064	1,300	525

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the amount of housing subsidy paid to Manchester County Borough, Audenshaw Urban District Council and Denton Urban District Council in 1964 and 1968; and how many houses each authority built in those years.

The subsidy payments made to these authorities in respect of housing provided by them under the Housing Acts were as follows:

	Manchester County Borough Council	Audenshaw Urban District Council	Denton Urban District Council
	£	£	£
1963–64	1,076,852	13,796	26,067
1964–65	1,414,455	10,901	27,682
1967–68	1,725,759	30,566	30,699
1968–69	1,863,870	26,608	33,282

The houses completed were as follows:

1964	3,939	44	8
1968	2,346	49	8

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the effect of changes in interest rates since 1967 on the cost of building new council houses and on the repayment of loan charges on old council houses.

The effect on local authorities of changes in interest rates on the cost of building new council houses is slight because the broad effect of the Housing Subsidies Act 1967 is to enable local authorities to provide new housing at an interest rate of 4 per cent. I cannot estimate the effect of changes in interest rates since 1967 on the loan charges on older houses because I have insufficient information on the current composition of local authority debt, which varies from authority to authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of Her Majesty's Government regarding the sale to South Africa of civil and military aircraft manufactured jointly with France.

Her Majesty's Government observe an embargo on the sale of arms to South Africa in line with Security Council Resolution 191 of 1964. We would take account of this embargo in considering the sale to South Africa of aircraft manufactured jointly with France.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why non-negotiable conditions additional to the "Fearless" proposals were laid down for a settlement with Rhodesia.

No non-negotiable conditions additional to the "Fearless" proposals were laid down for a settlement with Rhodesia. The points of difference described in the House by my right hon. Friend the Minister without Portfolio on 18th November, 1968, were all differences about matters in respect of which the régime wished to depart from the "Fearless" proposals—[Vol. 773, c. 896–912.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action is now being taken to protect the lives of United Kingdom citizens working in Nigeria.

We are very much alive to the dangers involved for people working in or near the fighting areas in Nigeria and our offices in Nigeria are in regular contact with United Kingdom nationals outside the secessionist area. We are also maintaining the closest touch with the Federal authorities, who have given assurances that every effort will be made to safeguard United Kingdom nationals. We also maintain close liaison with the International Committee of the Red Cross with regard to those few United Kingdom nationals remaining in the secessionist area.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government proposes to resume full participation in the work of the United Nations Committee of 24.

We play an active part in the work of the Committee of 24. We do not, however, participate in its overseas tours, which we consider expensive and unnecessary. Nor do we participate in discussion of Oman or the Caribbean Associated States, which are self-governing and therefore lie outside the Committee's competence.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the position of Anthony Grey, held in Peking, in relation to the recent improvements in the conditions under which he is detained.

I am informed that Mr. Grey has reported in a letter to his mother that since 30th May there has been an improvement in the conditions of his detention. This is encouraging, but I must emphasise once again that we regard anything short of Mr. Grey's early release from his unjustified detention as unsatisfactory. We shall continue to press the Chinese Government to this end.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in order to assist the Trades Union Congress to deal with unofficial strikes, he will introduce legislation to make it legal for unemployment pay, tax rebates and public assistance to be withheld from participants in such strikes.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an estimate of the number of pensionless widows who will have died between 1st June, 1969 and 31st March, 1972 based upon the number who died in 1967.

It is estimated that the number of such widows under age 60 will be about 2,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the pensionless and 30s. widow will be required to pay the increased National Insurance contributions due later this year; and how much he estimates such contributions will amount to in a full year.

Yes. Any widow who is liable to pay contributions will have to pay the increased contribution later this year in the same way as anybody else. It is estimated that the total amount of N.I. contributions payable by the widows to whom the question refers will amount to something of the order of £5 million in a full year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that up-to-date explanatory pamphlets on widows' pensions are available in his Department's offices throughout the country.

There are three such leaflets: N.I.13, explaining widows benefits, including pensions, N.I.15A explaining retirement pensions for widows and N.I.51 which deals mainly with the contribution liability of widows. These are up to date and readily available through local offices. I am not aware of any problem but if the hon. Member has experience of difficulty perhaps he would write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to introduce legislation to provide pensions for the chronically sick and disabled.

We have already announced our intention to introduce a Bill next Session which will give effect to our proposals for the future of national insurance. Among these are proposals for long-term earnings-related sickness benefit and the new attendance allowance for the very severely disabled, including housewives. In the meantime, the present provisions of the national insurance and supplementary benefit schemes will continue for chronically sick and disabled people who are incapable of work or too old to work. The benefits under both schemes are being increased in November next.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has now been made with the introduction of incentive bonus schemes for building trade operatives in hospital service; and if he will make a statement.

Five are now in operation. Hospital authorities have decided to start 16 more, and in 13 of these the necessary work study is in progress. Several others are expected to reach this stage by the end of the year but generally the rate of progress depends on the availability of work study staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Sevices what was the number of operations for termination of pregnancy, septic abortions and incomplete abortions undertaken in hospitals in England and Wales, in the quarter ended 31st March, 1967, and the quarter ended 31st March, 1969.

I regret that comparable data for the two periods are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what information his Department has about the availability of surgical sessions in gynaecological wards in connection with operations for the termination of pregnancy; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of such sessions in the Metropolitan regional boards, showing where shortages exist.

Information about sessions in individual hospitals is not collected centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, of the 662 consultant gynaecologists holding office under the National Health Service in Great Britain, how many are in Scotland.

107.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will not implement the recommendations of the Plowden Committee on the pay of the higher paid senior civil servants until this report has been submitted to the House for consideration.

I have been asked to reply.I have nothing at present to add to the reply which my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister gave to a Question by my hon. Friend on 19th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 145.]

asked the Prime Minister what responsibilities have been transferred from the Secretary of State for Scotland to the Secretary of State for Social Services.

I have been asked to reply. None.

asked the Prime Minister which Secretary of State will now exercise the executive authority of Southern Rhodesia on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen; and what additional salary he will receive.

I have been asked to reply.The executive authority of Southern Rhodesia may be exercised under the Southern Rhodesia Order, 1965, by a Secretary of State; and if occasion arises for the exercise of such authority it would normally be exercised by my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary. No extra salary is envisaged.

asked the Prime Minister what steps he is taking to co-ordinate the activities of the Departments of Defence and Overseas Development, with a view to promoting Operation Military Aid to the civil community activities abroad.

There are regular meetings between the Ministry of Defence, the Ministry of Overseas Development and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to consider requests for assistance and to plan such activities well in advance.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure on nursery education for each year from 1960 to date; and what plans he has for the expansion of nursery education in the coming year.

Expenditure on nursery schools by local authorities in England and Wales since 1960–61 is shown in the table below. Figures for expenditure on nursery classes, which form part of primary schools, are not available.

	Current	Capital	Total
	£m.	£m.	£m.
1960–61	2·4	0·1	2·5
1961–62	2·5	0·2	2·7
1962–63	2·8	0·2	3·0
1963–64	2·9	0·2	3·1
1964–65	2·9	0·2	3·1
1965–66	3·2	0·2	3·4
1966–67	3·5	0·2	3·7
1967–68	3·6	0·2	3·8

Four hundred and sixteen new nursery classes have so far been programmed during 1969 under the urban programme at a capital cost of about £2·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement about Government assistance to the National Gallery towards the purchase of the allegorical painting by Tiepolo which was purchased on their behalf at Christie's on 27th June.

The Government have agreed that Parliament shall be asked to approve a special purchase grant to the National Gallery towards the purchase of this picture. The precise amount will be determined in the light of such contributions as the gallery may be able to obtain from outside sources. I shall inform the House of the amount of the grant as soon as it is known, and a Supplementary Estimate will be laid before Parliament in due course.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the nature of the construction work currently taking place on the grass outside the Whitehall entrance of the main Ministry of Defence building; and when the work will be completed.

An additional fuel storage tank is being installed underground, to serve the boiler house of the Whitehall district heating scheme which is situated in the basement of the main Ministry of Defence building. The work, including reinstatement, is due to be completed at the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many transplant operations have taken place to date in Scotland.

52.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospitals in Scotland carry out cervical cancer screening services; and in what constituencies are these situated.

Facilities for cervical cancer screening are available for patients in all hospitals where specialist obstetric and gynaecology staff are available for consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of fines outstanding in Scotland at the latest convenient date; and how long on average have these fines been imposed without settlement.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 9th June.—[Vol. 784, c. 194.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland of the total housing subsidy paid to Lanarkshire County Council for the years 1964 to 1968, what proportion was in respect of the Hamilton Constituency.

This information is not available, because the location of housing schemes is not analysed by constituencies. Payments of housing subsidy to Hamilton Town Council were as follows:

	£
1964–65	155,765
1965–66	161,920
1966–67	169,197
1967–68	171,758

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which primary, secondary, special and approved school educational building projects approved, started and completed in 1968 were in the Hamilton constituency.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent he estimates that the disparity of building costs between Scotland and the rest of the United Kingdom affects the Scottish housing programme.

I have no evidence that this has an effect on the level of housebuilding in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many nursery school places there are at present in Glasgow; and how this compares with the comparable period in 1964.

There are at present 3,285 children attending education authority nursery schools and classes in Glasgow. In 1964, the figure was 2,407.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many abortions were carried out in Scottish hospitals during 1968; and how this figure compares with each previous year since 1963.

This information is not available prior to 27th April, 1968, the date on which the Abortion Act, 1967 came into effect. As regards the period since that date, I refer to the reply given to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. David Steel) on 11th June.—[Vol. 784, c. 254–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers in Scotland have so far failed to re-register with the General Teaching Council; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 25th June to the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur).—[Vol. 785, c. 277.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers currently employed by the education authorities of Ross-shire, Caithness, Sutherland, Orkney and Shetland, 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).

Education Authority	Teachers in schools who have not re-registered
Ross and Cromarty	11
Caithness	11
Sutherland	7
Orkney	1
Zetland	1

—[Vol. 785, c

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers in Scotland have re-registered with the General Teaching Council since the last permitted date for such re-registration; and on what authority these applications were accepted.

This is a matter for the General Teaching Council under its registration rules.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of men and women certificated or registered teachers employed in 1968 full-time by education authorities and managers of grant-aided educational establishments in each of the following categories, namely, nursery and primary schools, secondary schools, special schools, teachers attached to more than one type of school, organisers and educational psychologists, further education, and administration.

I would refer the hon. Member to the last column on page 111 of Scottish Educational Statistics 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received on the subject of the review of the constitution and functions of the General Teaching Council; and what replies he has sent.

I have received and am considering representations on a variety of aspects of these matters. No replies have been sent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what organisations he consulted before making the Teaching Council Scotland Act, 1965 (Amendment of the Constitution of the Council) Order, 1969.

I consulted the following bodies:

• General Teaching Council for Scotland.
• Scottish Counties of Cities Association.
• Association of County Councils in Scotland.
• Association of Directors of Education.
• Universities in Scotland.
• Governing Bodies of Central Institutions.
• Association of Principals of Colleges of Education.
• Educational Institute of Scotland.
• Scottish Secondary Teachers Association.
• Scottish Schoolmasters Association.
• Education Committee of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
• Scottish Hierarchy of The Roman Catholic Church.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with the Scottish Trades Union Congress on the number of deaths through pneumoconiosis in industry last year; and what conclusions have been reached.

The Scottish Trades Union Congress has not approached me on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many social workers there are in the hospital service in Scotland; and if he will list the hospitals and the number employed in each.

157 whole-time and 47 part-time. I shall send my hon. Friend a list of the hospitals concerned and the number employed in each.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many doctors in Scotland in the years 1967 and 1968, respectively, obtained refunds of health service superannuation contributions and gave as their reasons for leaving the health service that they were going abroad; and how many of these were engaged at the time in general practice.

120 and 175 in 1967 and 1968, respectively of whom 35 and 38 had been engaged in general practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hill farms have been purchased by the Forestry Commission and private groups, respectively, for planting in each of the last five years; and what was the total acreage in each case.

The following is the information for purchases in Scotland by the Forestry Commission:

	Hill farms purchased by the Forestry Commission
Year	Number	Total acreage of land for planting
1964	15	18,100
1965	17	23,500
1966	17	23,000
1967	29	30,600
1968	31	34,400
Total	109	129,600

Comparable figures for purchases by private groups are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of unstaffed beds, and the total bed complement, respectively, in Scottish hospitals for each year since 1966 for which figures are available.

The following is the information:

	30th September 1966	30th September, 1967	30th September. 1968
Number of un-staffed beds	1,476	1,247	1,109
Total bed complement	64,803	64,977	65,293

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost to the Exchequer of medical prescriptions for Scotland during the financial year 1968–69; and what estimate he has made for 1969–70.

£16·73 million and £16·22 million, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of pupils who will be on the rolls in 1972–73 of local authority primary schools, local authority secondary schools, grant-aided primary schools, and grant-aided secondary schools, respectively.

Estimated school rolls at January, 1973, are as follows:

EDUCATION AUTHORITY SCHOOLS
Primary	Secondary
626,000 (including 7,800 pupils in nursery schools and classes)	332,300
GRANT-AIDED SCHOOLS
Primary	Secondary
10,000 (including 500 pupils in nursery schools and classes)	12,900

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what in 1968 was the total number of pupils on the rolls of education authorities' primary schools, education authorities' secondary schools, grant-aided primary schools and grant-aided secondary schools, respectively.

The information requested is published in Scottish Educational Statistics 1968, Table 4 (page 20) and Table 7 (page 24).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the departmental report "Education in Scotland, 1968" was published; and when it will be available to Members of Parliament.

I have been asked to reply.Publication of this annual report was originally intended for 30th April but had to be postponed because of the industrial dispute in the Stationery Office's publications warehouse. Copies were put on sale in Edinburgh on 24th June but, owing to a misunderstanding in the aftermath of the strike within Her Majesty's Stationery Office, copies were not made available to Members or put on sale in London until 26th June. The Controller apologises for this unfortunate incident.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of capital spent on primary education and secondary education, respectively, in each of the years since 1962 for which official figures are available.

The value of work done was as follows:

Year	Primary Schools	Secondary Schools
	£m.	£.m.
1962	4·8	8·7
1963	5·3	9·9
1964	6·4	10·5
1965	6·1	10·7
1966	6·0	9·1
1967	7·9	10·7
1968	9·7	15·8

Expenditure on grant-aided school building projects started before 1964 is included.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of persons employed in the hospital service in Scotland, naming the numbers in their separate categories, the shortage of staff in each category, and the estimated extra cost of filling all vacancies.

Staffing needs are determined locally and it is not practicable to compile a central list of vacancies nor to calculate the cost of filling them. The following table gives the numbers of staff (whole-time equivalents) employed in the Hospital Service in Scotland at 30th September, 1968.

Medical and Dental	3,870
Nursing and Midwifery	35,193
Professional and Technical	4,687
Works Staff and Domestics	24,594
Administrative and Clerical	6,153
Total	74,497

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many uncertificated teachers were employed full-time in 1968 by education authorities and managers of grant-aided educational establishments in primary schools, secondary schools and further education establishments, respectively.

The figures for December. 1968, were as follows:

Education authorities
Primary schools	52
Secondary schools	654
Further education establishments	1,055
Grant-aided establishments
Primary schools	1
Secondary schools	6
Further education establishments	616

The figures for schools include special schools, and are for teachers who were neither registered, conditionally registered nor certificated.Registration is not a condition of employment in further education. The further education figures include conditionally registered teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of men and women admitted in sessions 1967–68 and 1968–69, respectively, to main courses of teacher training leading to primary and to secondary certificates, respectively.

The information is as follows:

NUMBERS ADMITTED TO COLLEGE OF EDUCATION COURSES
	1967–68	1968–69 (provisional)
Men
Primary Certificate Teaching Qualification (Primary Education)	328	315
Secondary Certificate Teaching Qualification (Secondary Education)	835	923
Bachelor of Education	38	46
Women
Primary Certificate Teaching Qualification (Primary Education)	2,435	2,728
Secondary Certificate Teaching Qualification (Secondary Education)	1,133	1,364
Bachelor of Education	158	186
Total	4,927	5,562

The course for the degree of B.Ed. may lead to a primary or a secondary qualification or both.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland of the gross expenditure on health and welfare services in Great Britain of £5,382 million in the four years to 31st March, 1968 and £4,174 million in the four years to 31st March, 1964, what proportion of each of these sums was spent in Scotland.

Gross expenditure in the four years to 31st March, 1968, was in fact £5,832 million. Of this, £614 million

AVERAGE CLASS SIZE
	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
* Primary—Education Authority Schools	33·0	32·7	32·8	32·8	32·9	32·9	33·0	32·9	32·8
* Primary—Grant-Aided Schools	28·7	28·8	28·8	27·7	27·8	27·4	28·9	29·5	29·8
†Secondary—Education Authority Schools	20·9	20·9	20·3	19·5	19·1	18·9	19·1	19·1	19·4
†Secondary—Grant-Aided Schools	18·9	18·7	18·6	17·9	18·9	19·4	19·2	17·6	17·7
* Excludes special and nursery classes and special and nursery pupils.
† Includes practical and non·practical classes, but excludes special classes.

For the sake of comparability the average class sizes given in the table have all been calculated by dividing the total number of pupils (including pupils engaged in private study at the time of the census) by the total number of classes.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has yet completed his revision of the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, 1951; and if he will make a statement.

Revised regulations, entitled the Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations, 1969, have now been made and a copy is available in the Library. The revised regulations take into account, among other things, the recommendations of the Cairns Committee. In particular, they specifically state that the main purpose of accident investigation is to determine the cause of the accident rather than to ascribe blame; they retain, with some was spent in Scotland. £428 million was spent in Scotland in the four years to 31st March, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average size of classes in primary schools and secondary schools managed by education authorities and managers of grant-aided educational establishments, respectively, in each of the years from 1960 to 1968.

The following is the information requested.modifications, the obligation on the part of the Inspector of Accidents to take into account, before completing his report, representations made to him by parties directly interested; they provide further that any person directly interested may request a review by an independent tribunal of findings and conclusions in the report from which it appears that any degree of blame may be attributed to him. The new regulations introduce some changes in the procedure for public inquiries; they provide, as did the old regulations, that public inquiries may be ordered by the Board of Trade in place of Inspectors' investigations when it is deemed to be expedient in the public interest.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give an estimate of how much Government research expenditure was devoted to basic research and how much to applied research for the most recent year for which figures are available.

I have been asked to reply.Information on research expenditure by type of research is collected only for recurrent expenditure within Government establishments.In 1966–67 the gross expenditure on basic research within Government establishments was £34,700,000; the corresponding figure for applied research was £62,598.000. (Corresponding figures for 1964–65 were published in the first volume of Statistics of Science and Technology, Table 8.)

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give the figures for Government research expenditure spent on civil and defence research, respectively, including all overheads, broken down between work done within Government research establishments and work done outside them, for the most recent year for which figures are available.

I have been asked to reply.The figures for Government research expenditure for 1966–67 are given in the following table. The figures are for gross expenditure; that is, including appropriations in aid. Expenditure on work done outside the United Kingdom is included; local authority expenditure is not included.

GROSS GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 1966–67
£ Thousand
	Expenditure within Government research establishments*	Expenditure outside the government sector	Total
Defence	86,670	182,907	269,577
Civil	118,315	146,248	264,563
Total	204,985	329,155	534,140
* Including research councils.

asked the Minister of Technology how many hours of flying in the vicinity of the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford, there were in April and May, 1969 and 1968, respectively.

The figures for R.A.E. aircraft are as follows:

April, 1968	118 hours
May, 1968	123 hours
April, 1969	137 hours
May, 1969	99 hours

Records are not maintained of the movements of other aircraft in the vicinity.

asked the Minister of Transport which public bodies have submitted to him proposals in accordance with Section 48(4) of the Transport Act 1968; what were the specific schemes of manufacture or construction submitted by those bodies; and what was his decision on each proposal.

No formal proposals have been submitted so far, but I expect to receive some shortly from the British Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport how many appeals against refusal of a test certificate were submitted during 1968; and of these how many were successful.

57, of which 28 succeeded in full and nine were partly successful.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the estimated dates for the completion of improvements to Manchester Road, A57, Denton, and A6017, Audenshaw, Lancashire.

The provision of dual carriageways on Manchester Road A57 at Denton is expected to be completed in August, 1969.The improvement of A6017 in Audenshaw between Martin Street and Enville Street was completed last December, and it is hoped that work on the length between Enville Street and Nelson Street will start in January, 1970, and be completed by July, 1970.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) what study has been made by his Department of the road communications necessary to serve a third London airport and the need to relate this road pattern to the National Motorway and Trunk Road Programme:(2) what estimate he has made of the expected traffic flow between Central London and the third London airport.

We are co-operating with the research staff of the Commission on the Third London Airport in studies of these problems. I understand that the Commission proposes to publish the results before Stage V of its inquiry. The approach adopted is outlined in Chapters 4 and 7 of the Commission's publication "Assessment of the Short-Listed Sites: Proposed Research Methodology ", a copy of which is in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will send a circular to local authorities asking them to review their hostel and welfare homes accommodation in order that patients who are at present in psychiatric wards in hospitals and whom the hospital authorities consider could leave if alternative accommodation was available may do so.

I do not propose to send a circular to local authorities at this stage. Officers of my Department are discussing the problem with the Welsh Hospital Board, and meetings with the local authorities most concerned will be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will revise his proposals for local government reorganisation in South Wales in the light of the proposal of the Royal Commission on Local Government in England to remove the distinction between county boroughs and county councils.

Following the publication of the Royal Commission's Report, all Welsh local authorities have been given an opportunity to alter or add to the views they have already expressed about the Government's proposals for local government reorganisation in Wales. I will consider the position further when I receive the local authorities' observations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will make a statement on the progress made in overcoming the damage to buildings, private and public, caused as a result of the Aberfan disaster; and to what extent the local authority concerned has met the costs from its local rates.

The disaster at Aberfan caused heavy damage, requiring demolition, to the junior and infants schools and to forty privately-owned houses, and repairable damage in varying degrees to a number of other privately-owned houses. The cleared sites of the demolished buildings have been acquired by the Trustees of the Aberfan Disaster Fund, who have built a memorial garden on the site of the schools and intend to build a community centre on the site of the houses. The local authority has built on another site new schools which were officially opened by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 20th June. Compensation is payable by the National Coal Board to the council and to private owners in respect of damage to their property.