asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the average delay in the repayment of income tax overpaid due to a change in the marital, family, or other circumstances of the taxpayer which would entitle him to a refund.

This is not known, but tax offices have instructions to deal promptly both with claims for repayment of tax and with claims for amendment of P.A.Y.E. code numbers where any refund of tax is normally made by the employer.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps by means of publicity to inform those whose yearly earned income is less than £4,000 that the highest deduction of income tax from any £ sterling of those earnings is 6s. 5d. and not 8s. 3d.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor stressed this point in his Budget speech and is arranging for a leaflet about it to be sent out with P.A.Y.E. coding notices this autumn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total net amount of selective employment tax paid in Scotland; and what are the estimates for the current financial year.

I regret that the information is not available in the form requested. At the original rates of tax the net yield in Scotland was estimated at £30 million in a full year; at the September 1968 rates of tax £45·5 million in a full year; and at the new rates £58 million. Scotland also receives some £40 million a year in regional employment premiums.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now study further the possibility of introducing an interest equalisation tax to discourage the flow of capital out of this country to other advanced industrial countries.

Present arrangements under exchange control and the voluntary programme go a good deal further than the interest equalisation tax. They are working well and I see no reason for modifying them.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what studies are being made by his Department of ways of stimulating the flow of capital from this country to poor developing countries without allowing an unlimited outward flow to rich industrial countries.

None. There is already preferential freedom for private investment in developing countries of the sterling area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total net increase in National Savings in the first six months of 1969; and what were the comparable totals in the first six months of each of the previous five years.

The provisional figures show an increase of £3·5 million in the first six months of 1969.Comparable figures were:

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer when he will review the size of the overseas tourist travel allowance.

As I told the House on 30th June, the position will be reviewed in the autumn and an announcement made before the next travel year begins on 1st November.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what circumstances he based the decision to locate the Inland Revenue Computer Centre for the eastern counties at Washington; and if he will make a statement.

Washington was selected because it both met the operational requirements of the Inland Revenue and was the best place in the South Tyneside area from the regional planning point of view.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will hold discussions with the Channel Islands to invite them to contribute a proportion of the United Kingdom cost of defence and overseas representation.

Among the matters being considered by the Commission on the Constitution is whether any changes are desirable in the constitutional and economic relationship between the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands. I do not think it would be appropriate in advance of the report of the Commission to seek any contribution from the Channel Islands towards the United Kingdom cost of defence and overseas representation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he now has for the simplification and reform of the system of direct personal taxation.

I have nothing to add at present to the Answer which was given to the hon. Member by my hon. and learned Friend the Minister of State on 1st July.—[Vol. 786, c. 227–8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish the review of selective employment tax.

Professor Reddaway's Report will be published.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to end the present discrimination between retail shops of electricity boards and private traders in the application of selective employment tax, when both are selling the same commodity.

The effect of this difference in treatment for S.E.T. has not so far been shown to be sufficient to justify any action, but my right hon. Friend the Chancellor is keeping the matter under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what changes he has ordered in the methods employed in compiling statistics for his Department, in view of the inaccuracy of the figures provided for the balance of payments situation during the past few years; and if he will make a statement.

Statistical methods and sources are under continual review. With regard to the export statistics comprehensive checking is being introduced.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what further consideration he has given to the matter of the registration of public schools as charities.

The registration of public schools as charities is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Education and Science. If my hon. Friend is thinking of the fiscal consequences of registration, my right hon. Friend the Chancellor has no statement to make on this point at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total of Government expenditure abroad in 1952 and 1968, respectively; and why it is added to the private invisibles figure, in view of the fact that this may mislead.

Gross Government expenditure on services and transfers was £226 million and £504 million respectively in these two years. Interest payments for 1952 were not published but those for 1968 will appear in the Pink Book in September. I do not accept the premise in the second part of the question; this expenditure is grouped with the corresponding private expenditure in order to show the total amount the United Kingdom spent overseas in this way.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total amount of interest lost to bearers of four per cent. Exchequer Stock 1968 due to the proclamation of bank holidays on 15th and 16 March 1968.

No estimate is possible, since the effects of the closure of banks on the days in question would have varied with the circumstances and intentions of different holders of the stock.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action was taken by, and what directions were given to the Bank of England and to Government Departments with regard to the charging or allowing of interest on capital sums, the payment of which was deferred due to the proclamation of bank holidays on 15th and 16th March, 1968.

None.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much of the national indebtedness of £33,960 million, including central bank transactions and borrowing by public corporations and nationalised industries, has been incurred since October, 1964.

Figures for the period from October, 1964 are not readily available but since the end of the financial year 1964–65 the total National Debt has increased by approximately £3,520 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the number of tax districts in the United Kingdom to which individual tax payers make their tax returns; and if he will reduce the number to fewer than 10.

There are at present 744 tax offices receiving tax returns from individuals. Over the next 10 years nine regional computer centres will be set up to handle the tax affairs of employees in Great Britain, including the issue and examination of returns.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has of the cost of Rhodesian sanctions to the Exchequer from their imposition to the latest convenient date.

The direct cost to the Exchequer between i.d.i. and 31st May, 1969 was £37·7 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether doctors in the National Health Service who borrow money from banks to improve their premises will be able to continue to obtain tax relief on the interest they pay.

Yes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will now take steps to ensure that elderly people, who draw two pensions and whose tax liability is increased and not decreased by the Finance Bill, obtain relief in accordance with his undertaking in the Budget;(2) if he will appoint a representative committee to report on the matter of tax liabilities of elderly people with more than one pension whose tax liability has increased and not decreased as a result of the Budget; and if he will make a statement.

The Finance Bill implements the undertaking my right hon. Friend gave in his Budget speech to increase the tax exemption limits for people over 65 this year broadly in step with the increases in national insurance retirement pensions which will be payable in 1969–70. The appointment of a committee does not arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of civil servants and other persons for whom his Department are responsible who have not received an increase in their wage or salary since October 1964 together with the rate of pay received in each instance.

The Treasury employs about 1,000 civil servants and others. All of them have received an increase in wages or salaries since October, 1964.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the light of the information sent to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, together with a communication from a French lady, giving details of a British citizen evading the currency restrictions, what steps he has taken or plans to take to prosecute in this and similar cases.

It is our regular practice to investigate any suspected contravention of exchange control, and to provide evidence which appears to justify prosecution to the Director of Public Prosecutions for his consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what are his revised estimates of the levels of capital investment in the public and private sector, respectively, including specifically industrial investment, and in total for 1969 and expressed per head of those employed and per head of population, respectively; and how these figures compare with equivalent figures available to him from international sources in other major industrial countries and with actual investment in this country for the previous five years.

My right hon. Friend published his forecasts of public and private investment in 1969 in the "Financial Statement and Budget Report 1969–70", and a fortnight ago, in our debate on the Letter of Intent, he said that he expected a good increase in private investment during the year ahead in line with his Budget forecast. As to the second part of the Question, I will, with permission, include the relevant figures in the OFFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his revised estimate of the level of capital investment in total and in the public and private sector, respectively, including specifically industrial investment, for 1969; how this compares with actual investment in each of the past five years, and expressed as a percentage of gross national product; and how these figures compare with equivalent figures available to him from international sources for other major industrial countries.

As to the first part of this Question, I would refer the hon. Gentleman to my answer to his preceding Question. As to the rest, I will, with permission, include the relevant figures in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated amount of foreign currency brought into the United Kingdom by the 800 or more women who have come here for the purpose of having an abortion.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in view of the refusal of the National Economic Development Council at its meeting on Wednesday, 2nd July, 1969 to establish a committee or similar organisation to promote the Government's policy of imports substitution, what estimate he has made of the deficit or surplus on the balance of payments in 1969.

I would refer the Member to the replies I gave to similar questions from the hon. Members for Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon) and Meriden (Mr. Speed) today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether it is the Government's intention that form R62 shall continue to be used by banks for any interest paid to them and that the decisiton on whether it is allowable for tax purposes will be the responsibility of the Inland Revenue.

A new form of certificate will be needed for claims to relief under the Finance Bill. It will be for the Inland Revenue to decide whether a claimant has proved his title to relief, subject to the usual rights of appeal.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the effect which the control of dividends has had on the productivity of new capital formation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the letter of 12th June from the Association of Consulting Engineers to the Financial Secretary about taxation has been received; and when a reply may be expected.

Unfortunately a copy was not received until 7th July. I hope to be in a position to reply shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the list of books which Customs officials have instructions to seize as part of their duties in preventing the import of obscene publications.

There is no reason to suppose that, by comparison with other much more significant influences on the productivity of new capital formation, the present form of dividend restraint would have any noticeable effect.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will show the actual receipts to his Department in each of the first six months of this calendar year in respect of payments of surtax; and if he will give a breakdown of each monthly figure to show how much of it was attributable to tax due in respect of each financial year as far back as 1960–61.

The figures required apart from the breakdown of the June receipts, which cannot yet be given are given below.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will undertake to publish his reply to the Confederation of British Industry's request for a change in Government policy on dividend restraint after the present legal controls come to an end at the end of 1969.

As I stated on 1st July, information will be given to the House as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now Great Britain's total indebtedness to the International Monetary Fund.

$2,700 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer on what dates he is expecting to receive the team of inspection from the International Monetary Fund during the next 12 months.

No dates have been fixed, but the next consultation will probably be in August, and subsequent consultations quarterly thereafter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has now made of the rate of economic growth in 1969.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Dickens).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated proportion of total national research devoted to military development, health, agriculture, housing and industry, respectively, in the latest available 12 months.

I am afraid the information requested is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what amount service charges on Her Majesty's Government's overseas indebtedness have been increased by the rescheduling of debt repayments.

Rescheduling or refinancing does not necessarily increase the service charges. We shall pay the usual charges on our drawing from the International Monetary Fund. If we draw the full $1,000 million as expected, these charges will amount to about £12 million up to the end of 1970. Later charges will depend on the Fund's holdings of sterling at that time. But charges on other debt repaid will be reduced.

asked the Minister of Power, in view of the recent reduction of generating capacity at Thorpe Marsh Power Station, arising from alleged constructional deficiencies, if he will now institute an independent inquiry into the technical faults which have developed at this station since it was first commissioned.

No. The general question of delays in the construction and commissioning of C.E.G.B. power stations has been examined and reported upon (Cmnd. 3960), but the operation of particular power stations such as Thorpe Marsh is a matter within the day-to-day management and operational responsibilities of the C.E.G.B.

asked the Minister of Power whether he will publish a table showing the average temperature measured in degrees centigrade and Farenheit for the last quarter of 1968 and the first quarter of 1969 compared with the average temperatures in the same quarters for any convenient number of the immediately preceding years not less than five, and with the average monthly gas consumption by domestic consumers.

The following is the reply:

asked the Minister of Power whether he will publish a table showing, for any convenient period not greater than 12 months each, the extra quantities of coal consumed by the Central Electricity Generating Board under the 1967 Coal Industry Act.

Additional coal consumption by the C.E.G.B. under Section 6 of the Coal Industry Act, 1967, is estimated at:

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the present position with regard to the development of new apparatus for burning smoke-producing fuel in a smokeless manner; and what plans he has for assisting the greatest possible usage of this new apparatus.

The National Coal Board has developed and carried out satisfactory field trials of a domestic appliance of the roomheater type, known as the Housewarmer, designed to burn selected bituminous coal smokelessly. They are being installed to test the market in some 2,000 houses, with the prospect of extending the number, mainly in the Midlands and on local authority housing estates. If, as the Board expects the public are receptive, the appliance will be made more widely available. The appliance has been tested and approved by the Domestic Solid Fuel Appliances Approval Council. In the commercial field, it is not my policy to promote the claims of any one appliance in competition with others.

asked the Minister of Power if he will make a statement on the agreement between the National Coal Board and the United States National Air Pollution Administration for the exchange of information on new ways of controlling pollution from coal burning.

Yes. The Board and the National Air Pollution Control Administration have signed an agreement for an exchange of basic information on fluidised combustion. Laboratory work has shown that fluidised bed combustion can be operated so as to control sulphur oxide emissions, and it is this aspect of the technique which is of particular interest to N.A.P.C.A. The agreement will allow each side to benefit from the other's work and experimental facilities during the exploratory phase without prejudicing future commercial exploitation. The initial request for the agreement came from the United States.

asked the Minister of Power what was the pithead price of coal in Scotland in each of the past five years.

The average colliery proceeds per ton of coal in the Scottish Division for the financial years 1964–65, 1965–66 and 1966–67 were 104s. 6d., 103s. 5d. and 109s. 9d. respectively. Since 1967–68 the Division has been split into two Areas, Scottish North and Scottish South, and in the last two years the average colliery proceeds per ton have been as follows:

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a statement on the arrangements to be made for the financial security and audit of the British contribution to the research and development costs of the multi-rôle combat aircraft.

An International Management Organisation has been set up to control the programme and this will pay particular attention to cost control. The United Kingdom contribution will consist largely of payment for work done in the United Kingdom and this will be subject to the usual audit by the Ministry. In addition there will be appropriate exchanges between the participating countries to ensure that their auditing arrangements are mutually satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Technology whether the agreed British financial contribution to the multi-rôle combat aircraft project is subject to any break clauses or to any modification in the light of changes in the exchange rates of the currencies of participating states.

The M.R.C.A. programme is divided into a number of phases and the countries taking part commit themselves only to one phase at a time. There are also provisions for withdrawal during a phase if certain conditions are not met. There are also provisions for consultation between the participating countries if there is a change in exchange rates.

asked the Minister of Technology what assessment he has made of the cost of the multi-rôle combat aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

As I told the hon. Member on 16th April, it is not customary to give estimates of this nature.

asked the Minister of Technology what machinery of consultation exists for obtaining independent advice in assessing the cost of advanced military aircraft projects, involving three or more nations.

None. It would not be possible to get a competent source of advice which would be disinterested.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he has for reviewing Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community, in view of the formation of a new administration in France.

None; the application we made in 1967 stands.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give notice under the terms of the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement that after 1974 Great Britain will not undertake to pay a price per ton of sugar in excess of the price paid by sugar refiners in Canada, who at present pay less than half the price which is paid by British refiners.

No. It is impossible to forecast what Canadian refiners will be paying for sugar after 1974 or to say whether this would be an appropriate or practicable maximum price under the terms of the Agreement. I understand that, on the basis of the current world price, Canadian refiners purchasing from Commonwealth sources would have to pay only about 20 per cent. less than the maximum price payable under the Commonwealth Sugar Agreement to the developing country members during the three years 1969 to 1971.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what weight of salmon caught per year at Greenland it is estimated originated in British waters.

The information at present available does not permit a reliable estimate to be made.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food from which countries the United Kingdom imports boned meat where foot-and-mouth disease is endemic; and whether the United Kingdom imports bones from the same countries.

Argentina and Brazil are the only such countries. We also import bones for industrial purposes from these countries. As to our future policy, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Oakes), on 21st May.—[Vol. 784, c. 95.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will list the objectors to the North Pennine Rural Development Board, stating briefly the nature of their objections and the alterations which have been made to deal with each objector's case.

I would refer the hon. Member, as regards the first part of his Question, to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to him on 23rd April, 1968, and as regards the second part, to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wallsend (Mr. Garrett), on 15th May this year. The proposed area of the Board, a map of which has been placed in the Library of the House, incorporates with one exception all the modifications referred to in the latter reply.—[Vol 763, c. 14–15 and Vol. 783, c. 266.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the acres of common land in the area of the North Pennine Rural Development Board, giving the acreage for each county.

I estimate that about 550 square miles, or between one-fifth and one-sixth of the Board's area is common land. Much of this lies in the counties of Durham and Westmorland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the cost of running the North Pennine Rural Development Board over the first year, including individual items such as salaries and rent.

The acquisition of premises for the Board is likely to cost about £15,000. Other administrative expenses, including salaries, in the first year may be of the order of £20,000.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many staff will be employed by the North Pennine Rural Development Board; of what grades they will be composed; and to what extent it is proposed to alter this figure after the first year.

The Board will initially employ a Secretary and a Chief Land Agent and some half-dozen supporting staff. The Secretary and the Chief Land Agent will be employed in grades analogous to Senior Chief Executive Officer and Regional Land Commissioner respectively in the Civil Service. The future staffing requirements will be reviewed as the Board's work develops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food where the headquarters of the North Pennine Rural Development Board will be situated.

My right hon. Friend is negotiating on behalf of the Board for premises near Appleby in Westmorland.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take in view of the representations of the National Farmers Union over the £22 million barter deal with Roumania to supply Great Britain with agricultural products in exchange for a large irrigation system; and if he will undertake to publish his reply to the National Farmers Union on this matter.

No such representations have been received. No barter deal is involved but I understand that, within the existing Anglo/Roumanian trade arrangements, two British importers have contracted to purchase some £30 million of agricultural produce over the next ten years.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement about the future level of liquid milk prices.

It has been decided that the following changes should be made in the maximum retail prices of milk. For the five weeks beginning Sunday, 27th July this year, the price of ordinary pasteurised and untreated milk will be reduced from 10½d. to 10d. a pint. Prices of other grades of milk will remain unchanged, except that the maximum price of Channel Islands and South Devon farm-bottled milk will be increased by ½d. to 1s. 1d. a pint. The resulting schedule of milk prices will be increased by 1d. a pint at all points from Sunday, 31st August this year. The seasonal pricing arrangements for Channel Islands and South Devon milk introduced in 1965 will be discontinued.In deciding on these adjustments, the Government have followed their policy of keeping the retail prices of milk as low as possible consistent with the objective of meeting without subsidy the established costs of providing a sufficient remuneration for those engaged in producing. processing and distributing milk. With the demonetisation of the halfpenny at the beginning of August, it will no longer be possible for milk prices to contain odd halfpennies. Taking these two considerations together, the Government have found it possible to give the ordinary consumer the benefit of a price reduction of a halfpenny a pint for the five-week period from 27th July.Milk which is supplied under the Welfare Foods Service at 6d. a pint for the basic grades is not affected by these changes.The necessary Orders will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of the increase in the number of school children living in Burton Latimer, Northants, since 1945; and why no new school has been opened in Burton Latimer in the last 24 years.

Yes. In 1945 the Burton Latimer Schools took all the children from the ages of 5–14. Since 1953, children over 11 go to secondary schools in Kettering, leaving enough places in Burton Latimer Schools for the primary age children, despite the increase in their numbers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to be able to publish the figures for immigrant pupils in January, 1969, corresponding to those already published in 1968.

Statistics on immigrant pupils in January 1969 should be available in September 1969 and will appear in Statistics of Education, 1969 Vol. 1, which it is hoped to publish by the end of this year. Figures for January, 1968, already made available to the House in answer to the Question asked by my hon. Friend the Member for Huddersfield, West (Mr. Lomas) on 30th June, will be published in Statistics of Education, 1968, Vol. 1 in a few weeks time.—[Vol. 786, c. 41–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the percentage increase in the school building programme between 1963–64 and 1968–69.

75 per cent.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library copies of his public speech on the Common Market delivered at Eastbourne on 16th June to the Socialist International Congress.

I did so on 17th June.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to co-ordinate the work of Ministers responsible for the nationalised industries to ensure that the pricing policies of the industries are so organised that they complement the Government's regional policies.

For the Government's policy on nationalised industry prices, I would refer the hon. Member to paragraph 18 of Command Paper 3437 published in November, 1967.

asked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to remove or modify the time limit under which the Parliamentary Commissioner operates.

The Parliamentary Commissioner already has a wide discretion to override the time limit if he sees fit, and I cannot at present see any case for amending legislation.

asked the Prime Minister if he will, during his forthcoming visit to Scandinavia, have discussions with a view to improving the trade relations and international communications between Scandinavia and North-East Scotland.

My hon. Friend will be glad to know that in our discussion of the possibilities of collaboration in the field of civil nuclear energy the Swedish Government showed considerable interest in our pioneer work at Dounreay on fast-breeder reactors.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his visit to Sweden.

Following his visit to the United Kingdom last year, the Prime Minister of Sweden invited me to make an official visit to his country. At the beginning of the visit I had the honour of being received by His Majesty The King of Sweden, for whom we in this country have the highest and most friendly regard. Anglo-Swedish relations are, of course, traditionally close and cordial. I am glad to say that the discussions which I had with Mr. Erlander and other members of his Government on this occasion confirmed once more a broad identity of views on the major issues on which we touched.Our talks, which were, of course, confidential, were not restricted to European or bilateral questions. We had a full discussion on Nigeria. In particular, we welcomed the progress which has been made in the last few days in talks between the Federal Government and the I.C.R.C. on the institution of daylight flights. We also had a thorough review of the problems of European integration, and we touched on a number of other matters of international interest, including East/West relations, the Middle East and Vietnam. I was glad to be able to discuss disarmament with the Swedish Government and to inform them of our ideas on the prevention of biological warfare.I also had a series of discussions with the Swedish Prime Minister and other members of his Cabinet at his country residence at Harpsund, where we were joined by the Finnish Prime Minister, the German Foreign Minister and others. These discussions covered a wide range of subjects and particularly European integration.

asked the Prime Minister what further steps he is taking to discuss with heads of States of countries comprising the European Economic Community and the European Free Trade Association a policy for European trade policy unity and integration.

I would refer the hon. Member to Answers I gave to Questions earlier today.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will commission a report from efficiency consultants to advise the Services Committee how Members might best be further helped in the discharge of their duties.

I thank my hon. Friend for his suggestion, which I will carefully consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many unemployed male adults there were in the Nottingham area at the last monthly return; how many of these were in the building and construction industry; and what was the difference per annum on average over the last seven years between the high and low points in unemployment in that industry.

In the area covered by the Nottingham and Basford and Bulwell Employment Exchanges there were at 9th June, 1969, 3,975 men registered as unemployed, of whom 1,011 last worked in Construction (Minimum List Heading 500 of the 1968 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification).During the years 1964 to 1968 the average difference between the highest and lowest unemployment figures recorded each year for this industry in this area was 408. This information is not available for earlier years.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will consider taking steps to make day release or block release for training purposes part of the contracts of employment for junior clerical workers.

The terms of a contract of employment are for the parties concerned to agree. My right hon. Friend has no power to ensure the inclusion of a provision on the lines proposed, and it is by no means clear that it would command the support of both sides of industry. On the general question of the further education courses to be associated with the training of young people, I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by the then Minister of Labour on 26th July, 1965, in reply to a Question from the Member for Burnley (Mr. Dan Jones).—[Vol. 717, c. 28–29.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if her Department will consider initiating, in consultation with the Trades Union Congress, a planned programme of exchanges between younger trade unionists in Great Britain and their counterparts in the member states of the European Economic Community.

There are a number of schemes which assist young trade unionists and other young workers in this country to obtain industrial experience in the countries of the E.E.C., and for young workers from E.E.C. countries to come here for a similar purpose. In addition, exchanges of young workers are arranged by direct contact between employers in different countries. I think that the present arrangements are adequate for the purposes my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in view of the fact that the continuing dock strikes are weakening sterling, and making it more difficult to produce a £300 million balance of payments surplus, if she will make new proposals to the Trade Union Congress to end unofficial strikes.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 19th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 700–14.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he has caused Mr. Grewal to be detained at Risley Remand Centre a fortnight after his arrival at Manchester Airport; and whether he will allow him to stay with his relatives for a limited period of three weeks.

Mr. Grewal arrived at Manchester Airport on 9th June and sought admission as a visitor. The immigration officer was not satisfied that Mr. Grewal was genuinely coming for a visit and refused admission. My hon. Friend subsequently made representations to me but, after full consideration, I could find no grounds for thinking that the immigration officer had come to the wrong conclusion. An application was then made to the High Court on Mr. Grewal's behalf, but on 4th July the Court dismissed the application. Accordingly, arrangements are being made for Mr. Grewal's return.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation requiring that bailiffs and private detectives are restricted to persons who do not have criminal records.

My right hon. Friend is not of the opinion that this matter requires legislation at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many and which villages in Norfolk have been designated as conservation areas.

No conservation areas have yet been formally designated by the Norfolk County Council. I understand however that an initial list of conservation areas in 24 towns and villages is being considered and that in four (Aylsham, Holt, Reepham and North Walsham) surveys have been substantially completed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he proposes to make an order prescribing the representative rate of interest for purposes of the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967.

I am about to lay a draft order for the approval of the House.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the amount paid in rate fund contributions to housing revenue accounts in England for the year 1958–59, 1963–64, 1967–68 and 1968–69; and what he estimates will be the figure for 1969–70.