asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on the work of the Commission on Industrial Relations to date; and what plans it has in hand for the next year.

I have so far referred three cases to the C.I.R. Details were given in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 15th May. I have under consideration possible references involving general questions of industrial relations in particular industries and individual companies and complaints of non-recognition.—[Vol. 783, c. 255–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether the Commission on Industrial Relations has completed its examination, or made recommendations, in respect of visits to particular sections of British industry.

Members and officers of the Commission are visiting the companies concerned in the three references at present before it. We expect these examinations to be completed and to receive the Commission's conclusions in the autumn. In addition, a number of industrial visits have been made to collect background information for the Commission's work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many company and factory agreements have now been referred to the Commission on Industrial Relations.

Replies to my first invitations to companies to register their procedural agreements are still coming in. They are being examined in my Department and I have not referred any of them to the C.I.R. In dealing with the three cases currently under reference concern ing particular companies, the Commission will no doubt examine all the agreements it considers relevant.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many complaints of racial discrimination in employment were made in the first six months of the Race Relations Act, 1968.

427 complaints of discrimination under Sections 3 and 4 of the Act were made or referred to my Department during the period 26th November, 1968 to 31st May, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps are taken to ensure that delegates representing this country at international labour conferences reflect the policy of the Government.

All United Kingdom Government delegates to international labour conferences are briefed in the light of existing Governmental policy as it affects each item on the agenda. My hon. Friend will appreciate that the members of the United Kingdom delegation representing employers and workers are in no sense Government representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many meetings of the Industrial Safety Advisory Council have been held since January 1968; and on what dates they were held.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she is now taking, in view of the recent agreement with the Trades Union Congress, to obtain accurate statistics of days lost through unofficial strikes, and in particular days lost through official lock-outs and shutdowns because of the non-availability of materials from factories subject to official or unofficial strikes.

When a stoppage occurs in one establishment, there are formidable practical difficulties in getting accurate statistics of the consequential loss of working time in other establishments. They were explained in my Department's evidence to the Royal Commission on Trade Unions and Employers Associations. An estimate of such stoppages is made in respect of the motor industry, which is particularly affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will now take steps to make the statutory Spring Bank Holiday a non-working day, as against Whit Monday, and, where appropriate, Whit Tuesday.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will seek powers to examine working and living conditions in British holiday camps prior to the issuing of work permits to overseas nationals.

No. Permits are issued to foreign nationals to work in this country on the same terms and conditions as British workers. As I explained to my hon. Friend on 31st March, the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act, 1963, already covers certain parts of holiday camps. It is proposed to extend this coverage under the new safety, health and welfare legislation to all parts of the premises where persons are employed.—[Vol. 781, c. 3.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when the proposed cost of living index for pensioners will start to be regularly published.

Regular publication of the retail price indices for one person and two-person pensioner households started in the June, 1969, issue of the Employment and Productivity Gazette, published on 26th June, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what consultations occurred between her conciliation officers and Stephenson Clarke and Company and the Transport and General Workers Union prior to a cheque for £5,000 being handed over by the employers to the fund of the Union's convalescent home; whether such a settlement of the strike of transport drivers was made with her consent; and whether she will make a statement on her general policy towards settlement of an industrial dispute by such means.

Officers of my Department took part in talks between the company and the Transport and General Workers Union in November, 1968 about arrangements for union recognition. These talks were not concerned with the understanding reported to have been reached between the company and the union in May, 1969, of which my right hon. Friend had no advance information. My right hon. Friend will be informed of the outcome of the inquiries which the T.U.C. is making following a complaint from the United Road Transport Union, and will consider, in the light of the information received, whether any statement of policy or other action is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will introduce legislation to authorise payments by employers to trade union welfare funds to settle disputes.

There is no legislative obstacle to such payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will refer to the Commission on Industrial Relations all aspects of wages, organisation, consultation and negotiation procedures at present applying to ambulance personnel with a view to obtaining a report soon.

The terms and conditions of employment of ambulance crews are dealt with by the local authorities' negotiating arrangements, and any change in those arrangements is primarily a matter for the parties to that machinery.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will ask Sir Jack Scamp to undertake an official inquiry into the activities of Mr. Law of the Transport and General Workers Union in relation to industrial negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will refer the question of the negotiating practices of the Transport and General Workers Union for the Midlands to the Commission on Industrial Relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will ask the Commission on Industrial Relations to carry out an investigation into the activities of the Transport and General Workers Union in their dealings with road hauliers in the West Midlands.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will refer to the Commission on Industrial Relations the activities of Mr. Alan Law, the Midlands regional trade group secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, in relation to industrial negotiating practices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether her attention has been drawn to the activities of Mr. Alan Law, a Midlands secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, in demanding cash payments from employers to maintain industrial peace in their organisations; and whether she will refer this matter to the Commission on Industrial Relations.

Following a complaint from the United Road Transport Union, the T.U.C. is making inquiries of the Transport and General Workers Union and of the U.R.T.U. The T.U.C. has readily agreed to inform my right hon. Friend of the outcome of their inquiries, in the light of which she will consider whether any further action will be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in which years since 1945 the unemployment rate in June was 3·5 per cent. or above in Wales, the Northern Region and Scotland, respectively; and when was the last period, in each of these regions, in which the June rate was at this level for three years in succession.

As the answer to the first part of the Question consists of a table of dates, I will, with permission, circulate it in the OFFICIAL REPORT. It will show information since the introduction of the current series of unemployment statistics in July, 1948.The answer to the second part of the Question is 1967 to 1969. Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the percentage increase in average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in engineering, shipbuilding and ship-repairing, chemical and iron and steel manufacturing industries, respectively, in 1968, and whether these increases were in accordance with the Government's incomes policy.

The increases between January, 1968, and January, 1969, were, respectively, 10·6 per cent., 11·1 per cent., 6·4 per cent. and 11·0 per cent. These are changes in gross earnings affected by increased output and increased hours worked and also by local settlements, some of which may have been productivity deals. National settlements in these industries approved by my Department were consistent with the incomes policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the change in the numbers of wholly unemployed, seasonally adjusted, between May and June 1969 in the Northern Region, Scotland and Wales.

Increases of 2,000 for the Northern Region, 3,300 for Scotland and 1,400 for Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in drawing up the criteria for prices and incomes policy after the end of 1969, she will exempt from restrictions increases granted to adults earning less than £15 a week for a full week's work.

We are studying the content of the incomes policy after the end of 1969 and we are giving particular attention to the treatment of the low paid under the policy. I cannot yet say what our conclusions will be but my right hon. Friend will be consulting the C.B.I. and T.U.C. before reaching final decisions.

I will, with permission, circulate the table in the OFFICIAL REPORT.The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what the percentage increase has been in the general level of wages and salaries, prices and dividends from the date when all three items were covered by the Government's statutory prices and incomes policy to the latest convenient date; how these percentages compare with the prices and incomes policy norms; and what conclusion she draws from these figures.

Between March 1968 and April 1969 wage and salary earnings rose by 9·2 per cent. and retail prices by 7·4 per cent. Information about dividend payments is not yet available. There are no norms for price or pay increases, although pay increases are subject to a ceiling of 3½ per cent. a year unless justified by productivity agreements. A part of the rise in earnings is due to increased output and longer hours and increases above the ceiling negotiated under productivity agreements. A major part of the rise in prices is the result of devaluation and tax increases following devaluation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will state, for the period ended Monday, 7th July, the number of cases that have been referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes concerning salaries and wages, the numbers of workers affected and the average wage in each group; and in how many of these cases the salaries of company chairmen and directors were referred back to the Board for further investigation.

80 references on incomes questions have been made to the National Board for Prices and Incomes. Information on the numbers of workers affected and the average wage of each group is not available. No cases have been referred back to the Board for investigation of the salaries of company chairmen and directors. The Board has, however, reported on Top Salaries in the Private Sector and Nationalised Industries.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether the recent agreement between the Banking Employers Federation and the Banking Staff Council that salary increases negotiated last year should be backdated to July 1968 is in accordance with the Government's incomes policy.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on Monday, 30th June, 1969.—[Vol. 786, c. 45.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she intends to establish a Government training centre in a central situation in the Yorkshire coalfield sub-region.

A new centre is to be opened at Wakefield by the end of this year, and the present Sheffield Centre is being expanded. These centres are well placed to serve the Yorkshire coalfield.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in determining the future areas of employment exchanges, she will have regard to the use now made of employment exchange areas for selective employment tax relief and for intermediate area treatment.

No. The areas of employment exchanges are determined on a geographical basis designed best to fulfil the functions of my Department and to give the most effective service to the public. The main criteria for fixing the boundaries are the needs of the local labour market, ease of communications and the production of an economic workable unit.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is satisfied with productivity in the container facilities in the London docks and Thames estuary; and if she will make a statement.

A meeting of interested parties is taking place at my Department this afternoon with a view to finding a basis for removal of the T. & G.W.U. ban on the operation of new specialised terminals, including the Tilbury container berth.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) since the introduction of decasualisation in the docks, what steps she is taking further to increase productivity, and in particular to remove remaining restrictions on the effective use of manpower and of mechanical aids;(2) what further plans she has for measures to improve labour relations in the docks.

My Department is giving the industry all possible help in securing the successful implementation of the second stage of the Devlin modernisation programme for the improvement of industrial relations and efficiency in the docks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what recent discussions have taken place between her Department and the Industrial Reorganisation Corporation about a code of practice in merger situations and ways in which the Corporation might help to secure such practice.

The Industrial Reorganisation Corporation has had discussions with my Department on this matter. My right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade has announced that he will shortly be publishing a guide to the Board of Trade's practices in the field of mergers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, arising from her examination of the matter, if she will encourage and initiate a regular programme of exchanges between trade unions, professional and managerial organisations in this country and those in member states of the European Economic Community, and particularly for their younger members, in preparation for the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community.

With permission, I will circulate a list of existing facilities in the OFFICIAL REPORT. I believe them to meet the present need.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will take steps designed to encourage employers to specify, when ordering machinery, that it should conform with reasonable standards of quietness.

H.M. Factory Inspectorate will continue to advise factory occupiers on practical measures to reduce noise. After consultation with the C.B.I. about noise reduction, the Inspectorate is producing a technical data sheet to assist machinery designers to eliminate noise at the design stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what studies she is currently undertaking of anticipated labour requirements in the service industries.

The Manpower Research Unit is at present studying the future manpower needs of the hotel and catering industry. The unit is also studying the effects of computers in offices and the general growth of office employment, both of which, by covering office working in all industries, include a part of every service industry. These latter two studies will also throw light on future manpower requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a further statement on the Agricultural Training Board.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Westmorland (Mr. Jopling) on 2nd July.½[Vol. 786, c 108.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she is taking to end the unofficial strike at Punfield and Barstow (Mouldings) Limited, which began on 19th June.

The Department's Officers have offered their help to the parties. I understand, however, that, following discussions between the parties, a suggested basis for resumption of work is being put to the strikers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will take action to assist in providing recruits for the dock industry in Liverpool in view of the shortage of labour there.

This is primarily the responsibility of the Dock Labour Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in the light of the increasing costs of house building, she will now, under Section 9 of the Selective Employment Payments Act, 1966, make an Order refunding payment of selective employment tax to the building and construction industry.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is satisfied that the undertakings given to her Department by the management of Associated Electrical Industries/General Electric Company/English Electric Company in regard to their programme of reorganisation and its effects upon redundancy and redeployment, have been carried out; and if she will make a statement.

My officers are in close touch with the company regarding all proposals for re-organisation which will affect employment. The company set up a joint consultative council last September for the purpose of discussing redundancy problems with trade union representatives at national level and I am assured that every effort is being made to see that the general arrangements for consultation throughout the company are in line with the recommendations in our booklet "Dealing with Redundancies".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is aware that safety training conferences in industry are badly attended; what advice she gives to firms regarding the appointment of safety officers; if she will take steps to improve safety training; and if she will make a statement.

My information is that such conferences (and courses) are generally well supported. The Department's advice, usually given by Her Majesty's Factory Inspectorate, is that management should ensure that a sufficiency of accident prevention expertise is available. In some establishments the best, or only, way to meet this need is by employing a safety officer; he must be carefully selected and trained, and supported by management.Industrial training boards are aware of the importance of ensuring that safety is given adequate attention in all industrial training activities, and guidance has recently been issued to them, on the advice of the Central Training Council, to facilitate their consideration of the training of safety officers, in particular.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will have consultation with the appropriate organisations about those companies that refuse to recognise trade unions.

Recognition of trade unions is one of the matters on which, as my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced on 19th June, consultations with the T.U.C., C.B.I. and other organisations concerned are continuing with a view to legislation in the next session of Parliament. I would also remind my hon. Friend that recognition issues fall within the terms of reference of the Commission on Industrial Relations, and two of the first three references now before the Commission are concerned with recognition.—[Vol. 785, c. 701.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what representations the Confederation of British Industry made to Her Majesty's Government regarding modification of the terms of its reference of directors' salaries to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

As consultations on references are carried out on a confidential basis, I cannot disclose the detailed representations made by the C.B.I. about the Top Salaries Reference. In general, as the C.B.I. said publicly at the time, the Confederation did not regard the issues as appropriate for reference to the N.B.P.I.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity why, in view of the fact that many company directors and chairmen of companies have during the period of restraint under the Government's incomes policy increased their salaries by amounts varying from 10 per cent. to 300 per cent. in some instances in consecutive years, she has taken action in only a few instances.

In its report on top salaries, the National Board for Prices and Incomes said that the salaries of individuals could be judged properly only in relation to the salary structures in which they are placed. In general, I believe that this is the right approach. My right hon. Friend is considering the reference to the Board of the salary structures of individual firms and will be consulting the C.B.I. and T.U.C. in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if, in view of the closure of several brickworks in Scotland due to the shortage of labour, she will take steps to encourage the recruitment of suitable labour, with a view to expediting that work and reducing the cost of housebuilding in Scotland.

I have written to my hon. Friend explaining that, according to my information, recent closures of Scottish brickworks have not been due solely to labour difficulties, and that it is only in certain limited areas of Central Scotland that production is seriously affected by such difficulties. My Department is doing and will continue to do all it can to meet the demands of the industry and to help resolve production problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on the progress of the agreement reached with the Trades Union Congress in relation to its intervening in unofficial strikes.

The Trades Union Congress has already intervened helpfully in a number of strikes in accordance with the undertaking which the General Council gave the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in how many industrial accidents during the last 12-month period for which figures are available excessive noise was a causative factor.

I regret that no figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations he has had with Berkshire County Council as to the proposed building of a primary school at Duffield Road, Woodley, near Reading.

I have approved the establishment of a new junior school for 320 pupils at Woodley and building is authorised to begin in the current year, 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he has recommended local education authorities that all notifications of grant in respect of the academic year 1969–70 should clearly show the assessments to be made on a provisional basis only.

The Regulations governing first degree and comparable courses are being consolidated. When this advice was given, it was thought that changes affecting the assessments of a small, though still significant, group of students might be introduced, although it was not, and is not, proposed that rates of grant be altered. It is not now proposed to make any appreciable changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of pupils are now staying on at school after the age of 15 years in comparison with July 1964.

In January 1968 about 54 per cent. of pupils were remaining voluntarily in school at least up to the calendar year in which they became 16, 33 per cent. to 17, 18 per cent. to 18 and 6 per cent. to 19. The equivalent percentages for January 1964 were 41, 25, 14 and 4, respectively. Figures for January 1969 will be available later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what capital grants the Govern ment are making for the Community Association Movement in the financial year 1969–70; and what was the equivalent figure for 1963–64.

Capital grants paid to local voluntary organisations towards the provision of village halls and community centres totalled £257,000 in 1963–64. A sum of £492,000 has been included in the Estimates for 1969–70 for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools and secondary schools were opened in 1964 and 1968, respectively.

580 and 837 respectively

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of teachers employed in further education establishments and colleges of education in 1963; and what is the figure for 1969.

The number of full-time teachers in maintained colleges of further education (excluding Colleges of Advanced Technology) at 1st February was 26,705 in 1963 and 47,604 in 1969; in all grant aided Colleges of Education the number at 1st October was 4,371 in 1963 and about 10,400 in 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many new primary school places it is estimated will be provided in 1968–69; and what was the figure for 1963–64.

267,264 and 101,370 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress has been made towards implementing the Plowden Committee recommendation that parents should play a bigger part in the management of primary schools; and whether he will make a statement.

It is already open to appointing bodies under existing legislation to nominate parents as school managers or governors, but I am considering whether legislation is desirable to encourage wider acceptance of the Plowden Council's recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date he rejected the latest schemes submitted by the London Borough of Harrow for the reorganisation of secondary education along comprehensive lines; and when he expects a fresh scheme to be submitted.

I rejected the authority's plan in October, 1968. I hope that, following the establishment of a Working Party by the Authority to consider modified proposals, it will be possible for them to submit an acceptable plan at an early date.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date he informed the London Borough of Harrow that his officers would be available for consultation about the reorganisation of secondary education along comprehensive lines; on what date this offer was taken up; and what has been the result.

The Authority were informed last October. There have since been two informal meetings between my officers and those of the authority in January and May, 1969, and a further meeting is to take place shortly. I hope that these discussions will assist the authority to produce an acceptable plan.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give details of the progress in reorganising education along comprehensive lines throughout the country.

126 of the 163 local education authorities have now had schemes of secondary reorganisation approved, 105 covering the whole or greater part of the area and 21 a smaller part; 10 more schemes are under consideration by my Department. In the past twelve months, 42 schemes have been approved, 23 of them covering the major part of the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students who finished their courses in Welsh colleges of education in June, 1969, are still with posts; and how many students who pursued their courses through the medium of the Welsh language are without posts.

I am afraid the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the students who pursued the B.Ed. degree courses in Welsh colleges of education did so in the Welsh language.

Of the 46 candidates who qualified for the B.Ed. degree in 1969, one studied through the medium of the Welsh language.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now announce the members of the Planning Committee for the National Film School.

I announced on 12th June that the Chairman of the Planning Committee is to be Lord Lloyd.The other members will be:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the numbers and ages of persons accidentally drowned in British rivers, ponds and seasides during each of the last five years; and what steps he has taken to avoid or minimise these drowning accidents.

I am circulating such information as is available. The prevention of drowning accidents is chiefly a matter for the local authorities, who have powers to mark dangerous places, to provide or require the provision of appropriate safeguards, whether for bathers or others, and to provide education in water safety generally. The Home Office makes a grant to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents on account of its water safety activities and produces publicity material of its own.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will, in the public interest, request the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to display pictures and warnings of the dangers to which non-swimers and weak swimmers expose themselves by disregarding the warnings of public authorities in control of ponds and seashores.

Short films dealing with these and other aspects of water safety have been given over 1,000 showings during the twelve months up to May of this year. The Home Office will continue to encourage this publicity, but the screening of public service material is at the discretion of the television authorities. I am grateful for their co-operation in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Metropolitan Police about their decision on whether or not to prosecute the driver of taxi DLR 148C, who on 15th January jumped a red light and hit car number 553 HBJ, the property of Mr. R. Burton.

I have already made inquiry of the Commissioner of Police about this incident. The decision whether or not to institute proceedings was for him to take, and there are no grounds for any further action on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware that in his recent report the Inspector of Explosives has criticised the security arrangements in explosive stores; and what steps are being taken to prevent unlawful entry.

I have noted with concern the observations in the recent report of H.M. Inspectors of Explosives, who are vigilant in their inspections of explosives stores. Any defect which they may find in the security arrangements are at once brought to the attention of the local authorities, who are responsible for the licensing of explosives stores and for the enforcement of security measures. H.M. Inspectors will continue to pay close attention to this problem.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the number of prosecutions initiated or fixed penalties obtained by the Metropolitan Police against motorists waiting for three minutes on a yellow band from 1st January to 1st July; and in how many of these instances the waiting motorists were disabled or war pensioners exhibiting notices to this effect.

Not all this information will have been recorded, and it would call for a disproportionate effort to extract the details which are available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many complaints were made to the Metropolitan Police about noise caused by a party in the evening and early morning of Friday, 4th July, and Saturday, 5th July, respectively, in Holland Villas Road; why the police are taking no action on the grounds of the importance of the people in attendance there; and why the police took action in Forest Gate, E.7 when complaints were made about a children's tea party.

The police received 15 complaints about a party which took place on the night of 3rd-4th July and action was taken on them at the time. The incident referred to in the last part of the Question occurred in 1967. It has been fully investigated and I am satisfied that the police acted in a proper manner.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the policy of the Government regarding the report of the United Nations ad hoc Working Group on trade union rights in South Africa, Namibia, Rhodesia and Portuguese African territories, endorsed by the United Nations Economic and Social Council in June, 1969.

While we have always made it clear that Her Majesty's Government deplore the violation of trade union rights wherever they occur, we do not consider that the ad hoc Working Group is an appropriate body to deal with this subject, which is more properly the concern of the International Labour Organisation. As to the contents of the report, some of its conclusions have our full sympathy and support, but there are others, particularly those relating to Rhodesia, which we are unable to accept.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has now received an official communication from the Polish Government regarding Mr. Gomulka's recent official proposals for a bilateral treaty, between the Federal Republic of Germany and Poland, to confirm the Oder-Neisse frontier before a German Peace Conference; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has received no official communication from the Polish Government. As regards the position of Her Majesty's Government, I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State on 23rd June to my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short).—[Vol. 785, c. 185.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government propose to take to follow up the report on chemical and biological warfare recently issued by the Secretary-General of the United Nations; and if he will make a statement.

I have today tabled in the Eighteen-Nation Disarmament Committee in Geneva a draft Convention, prepared under my direction, prohibiting biological methods of warfare, with an associated draft Security Council Resolution. The draft Convention, the purpose of which is to strengthen the 1925 Geneva Protocol, would ban not only the use, but also the production and possession of agents of biological warfare. I believe that this is a significant step towards the complete elimination of all biological and chemical methods of warfare, which the United Nations Secretary-General has urged in his recent report on the effects of the use of chemical and biological weapons. Her Majesty's Government hope that serious and early consideration will now be given by the Committee to our draft Convention.Copies of the draft Convention and draft Security Council Resolution are available in the Library of the House. A White Paper containing the texts will be laid before Parliament tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the present position of Great Britain's application for membership of the European Economic Community and his plans for future progress directed towards Great Britain's admission.

Our application for membership stands and we hope for an early and affirmative reply to it; as to the second part of the question I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister said on 24th June in reply to the hon. Member for Dorset, West (Mr. Wingfield-Digby) that we shall take any opportunity that opens up to us.—[Vol. 785, c. 1215.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what request has been received from the Government of Guyana for assistance with the supply of equipment for the Guyana Defence and Police Forces; and what reply has been sent.

The Government of Guyana have asked us whether it would be possible for Her Majesty's Government to provide assistance towards the supply of equipment for the Guyana Defence and Police Forces. After careful study of Guyana's needs, we have informed the Government of Guyana that, subject to Parliamentary approval, we would be prepared to offer them a grant of £100,000 to be spent on British equipment, mainly vehicles, of a type suitable for use by the Guyana Defence Force or by the Police when engaged in normal internal security duties. Supplementary provisions will be sought in due course. In addition, we have offered, subject to the usual aid criteria and conditions, to include in our aid programme to Guyana a loan of up to £200,000 towards the development of communications with the interior of the country.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his most recent estimate of the number of coloured people living in Great Britain; and what he now estimates will be the figures in 1975 and 1985, respectively.

The number of people in Great Britain who were born in the New Commonwealth, together with their children born in this country but excluding people of United Kingdom descent born in the New Commonwealth, is estimated by the Registrar General to have been approaching 1¼ million at mid-1969The natural increase in this population is estimated from the 1966 sample census to be at a current rate of rather under 30,000 a year. The fertility of this population is expected to decline to nearer that of the indigenous population with the passage of time.Its future size will, however, depend also on the future rate of net migration and the evolution of policy on immigration.

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 in the area of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board; what delays have been encountered and for what reasons; what action is being taken to remedy these delays; and if he will make a statement.

A scheme is in operation in the Ashton, Hyde and Glossop Hospital Group and another is in preparation in the Burnley Group. It is the aim of the regional hospital board to introduce incentive and productivity schemes for all manual staff including building trade operatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action has been taken by the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board and by the Shrewsbury Hospital Management Committee following the report of the committee appointed to inquire into the circumstances leading to the fire at Shelton Hospital, Shrewsbury, on the night of 25th-26th February, 1968.

Copies of a report by the General Purposes Committee of the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board, which was approved by the Board itself on 28th May, 1969, will be placed in the Library of the House and made available to the Press today. It sets out in detail the action taken in regard to fire precautions by the regional hospital board and by the Shrewsbury Hospital Management Committee, before the fire, after the fire and before the Inquiry Report was received, and subsequently in the light of that Report. It also indicates the disciplinary action which was taken against two members of the hospital staff.Since receiving this report I have discussed its contents with the Chairman of the Regional Hospital Board. I am satisfied that the Board is fully aware of the importance of adequate fire precautions in all their hospitals, and that they have impressed upon the Hospital Management Committees in the region the need to ensure a constant high standard of efficiency.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make financial assistance available so that Mr. W. R. Macey of Brentwood may obtain a residential place for his mentally handicapped daughter, details of which case have been sent to him.

I have no powers to give financial assistance for this purpose. I am writing to my hon. Friend about this case.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of coronary disease in soft water areas; and what is the rate in areas of harder water.

Research has not yet established the cause of the association between drinking waters and cardiovascular conditions. I am writing to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what study he made of the Report of the Manpower Research Unit of the Department of Employment and Productivity published in January, which showed that about one-tenth of the working population was employed in retail distribution, before he decided to impose a further increase in selective employment tax in the Budget.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor took into account all the relevant information about employment in retail distribution.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what arrangements are being made for regulating borrowing in foreign currencies by nationalised industries and local authorities.

My right hon. Friend the Financial Secretary announced earlier in the year that the Government had decided to encourage local authorities and nationalised industries to meet a proportion of their borrowing needs by medium and long-term borrowing in foreign currencies, and would be prepared in suitable cases to provide special arrangements which would relieve the borrower of the exchange uncertainties associated with such borrowing.Experience has confirmd the need for regulation of the size and timing of such borrowings in relation to the conditions prevailing in the markets concerned. The Bank of England has undertaken to consider proposals, co-ordinate and control the flow of borrowing in the light of availability of funds and market conditions, and advise the Treasury on the issue of consents and the provision of special exchange arrangements. Local authorities and nationalised industries with proposals for borrowing in foreign currencies are being advised to consult the Bank of England or authorise their bankers or brokers to do so on their behalf.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in view of the fact that no subsidy is being sought from him by the Border Union Rail Company and that he subsidises other rail services, he will waive any charges which might normally be expected to accrue to that company in respect of the additional costs of carrying the Carlisle bypass, M6, over the Waverley railway line.

The road scheme concerned is the A74 trunk road improvement between the end of the Carlisle bypass and Mossband. In considering any application for statutory powers to operate a rail service on the Waverley line, I must of course be influenced by the heavy additional highway costs which that project would entail; if the Company is prepared to pay these costs any objection on that score would be removed. I do not regard the question of subsidies as relevant to this issue.

asked the Minister of Transport what steps he is taking to ensure that new urban motorways and similar major roads will be properly related to their surroundings.

In consultation with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government, I have set up a Committee to investigate the problems raised by urban highway building.The terms of reference are:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give a standing instruction to the National Board for Prices and Incomes to consider increases in food prices.

No. My Ministry keeps food prices under close and constant scrutiny.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has now received a report on the outbreak of equine influenza; and if he will make a statement.

No. This is not a notifiable disease under the Diseases of Animals Act.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if, in order to make building resources involved available for housing purposes, he will direct the planning authority to refer to him the application for permission for the building of four blocks of offices by the National Westminster Bank, Hambros Bank, Felix Fenston and Trafalgar House in the City of London at a cost of £225 million.

Outline planning permissions and office development permits have already been given for the redevelopment of the central and northern parts of the site bounded by Old Broad Street, Wormwood Street, Bishopsgate and Threadneedle Street. The City Corporation has not yet received a planning application for the southern part of the site and I understand that a revised planning application is likely to be made for the northern part.Whilst not accepting the implications in my hon. Friend's question I recognise the public interest in the redevelopment of this area and I am asking the Council to keep me informed of its intentions.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government in how many of the 878 planning appeals transferred to inspectors for decision, up to 16th June, the appellant has been successful.

Of the 878 planning appeals transferred to inspectors by 16th June, 23 had been decided at that date, of which 5 were successful. The total number decided to the present date is 56, of which 16 were successful—equivalent to 29 per cent.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will take steps to avoid the delays in the commencement of building work upon land for which planning permission has been granted as a result of building not being able to commence until notice has been served on the Land Commission under Section 38 of the Land Commission Act.

I am not aware of any such delays.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consultations his Department has had concerning the use of empty council houses and flats with housing authorities outside London; what advice he is giving these authorities on the matter; and if he will make a statement.

At this stage my right hon. Friend has only consulted housing authorities inside London in view of the large volume of redevelopment and the extreme housing pressures there.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will combine the consumers protection work at present carried out by the Board of Trade, the Home Office, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and the Department of Social Services, under one Minister responsible for consumer interests.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Willesden, West (Mr. Pavitt) on 26th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 301–2]

asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to improve the co-ordination of policy between Ministers responsible for the pursuit of Her Majesty's Government's application for membership of the European Economic Community.

My right hon. Friends already work closely together on these matters.