asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made with the examination of house-building costs in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend hopes to have this autumn an interim report on the study he has commissioned from the Heriot Watt University, and to have the final report next autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the cost of traditional house building as against industrialised house building.

Costs vary according to form of building, size of house, kind of development, location and several other factors. Accordingly it is not possible fairly to make a general comparison.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average number of social workers in hospitals between 1960 and 1964; and how this figure compares with that for the period 1964 to 1968.

In whole-time equivalent terms the figures are 158 and 180, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many authorities have now appointed directors of social work; and whether he is satisfied with the progress made in the reorganising of the social work service.

Forty-seven of the 52 local authorities and combined authorities concerned have appointed directors of social work, and the others have advertised. Generally, the preparations for reorganisation, which is to take effect on 17th November this year, are proceeding steadily.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the houses now being built for Scottish local authorities are of a non-traditional type.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of houses has been built by industrialised building in each of the last two years; and what difficulties in structures have emerged.

In 1967 and 1968, 36 per cent. and 33 per cent. respectively of public sector houses approved were to be built by industrialised methods. For local authorities only the proportions were 32 per cent. and 27 per cent. The only major structural difficulty of which I am aware is the potential design weakness in certain kinds of construction revealed by the collapse of Ronan Point.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Government financial support the Edinburgh Festival has received in each of the last three years.

The Scottish Arts Council has made the following grants to the Festival Society:

1966–67	£35,000
1967–68	£50,000
1968–69	£50.000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much Government financial commitment has been entered into for Drama in Scotland for the year ended 1968 and to the nearest available date; and, in respect of this, how much went to Perth and Pitlochry, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee.

The Scottish Arts Council made recurrent grants totalling £237,123 in 1967–68 and £212,673 in 1968–69 for Drama. Of these sums, respectively, £49,874 and £17,750 went to Perth; £20,679 and £23,100 to Pitlochry; £58,169 and £65,073 to Glasgow; £66,278 and £65,218 to Edinburgh; and £26,125 and £28,078 to Dundee. Drama also benefits from the Council's grants under the Housing and Arts Fund.In addition, I made grants of £7,600 in 1967–68 and 1968–69 to the Scottish Community Drama Association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many kidney dialysis units are now available in Scottish hospitals; at what total costs; and how this compares with 1965.

There are six such units which provide treatment for about 70 patients suffering from chronic renal failure; in April, 1966 (the earliest date for which such information is available) there were three which provided treatment for nine patients. The running costs of providing such treatment have been approximately estimated at between £2,000 and £2,500 a year per patient; the estimated total capital already spent on the six units, including structural works, is £216,500 which includes about £8,000 spent before April, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, how many trade unions, industrial concerns and local authorities have made representations to him in relation to providing rail links to airports in Scotland.

I have received no representations directly on this matter, although I have been kept informed of discussions which have taken place with the British Railways Board in relation to Prestwick.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent there are officially supported exchange programmes between young teachers in Scotland and the countries of the European Economic Community; and to what extent his Department contributes towards such programmes.

My Department administers schemes for the exchange of serving teachers wiht France and Germany, and for the exchange of student assistants with France, Germany, Italy and Belgium. Serving teachers in exchange posts continue to be paid by their home authority, and receive a grant from the Department; in certain circumstances the Department also pays a grant in lieu of family allowances.Student assistants are paid by the host employing authority there is no financial contribution by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent there are exchange programmes between young health and social workers employed in the public service in Scotland with their counterparts in member countries of the European Economic Community; and in what way his Department is assisting employing authorities to sponsor such exchanges.

Arrangements for exchanges have not so far been developed by employing authorities or my Department. Language considerations and the nature of some of the work would restrict the scale of exchanges, but I am prepared to look into any suitable case the hon. Member may have in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the recommendations of the Scottish Economic Planning Board regarding the future of the Deeside railway line.

Advice giver by the Planning Board, like other advice by officials, is confidential to Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the opposition among crofters over large parts of the Highlands to the proposal to compel crofters to buy their land irrespective of its quality, if he will now give an undertaking that in any legislation on the subjoct of crofting he will exclude the compulsory purchase of crofts.

I have nothing meantime to add to the Answer I gave to the hon. Gentleman on 12th March.—[Vol. 779, c. 278.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what conclusion he has now reached, in the light of the accident rates on the roads to children, or in industry, concerning the continuation of the experiment with British Standard Time.

The information so far available about accidents on the roads and in industry under British Standard Time is inconclusive and, as announced by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary on 19th June in reply to Questions by the hon. Members for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) and Londonderry (Mr. Chichester-Clarke), the Government do not propose to come to a decision on the future of the British Standard Time until there has been a full scale review of its effects after the winter of 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a White Paper on the progress of road-building in Scotland.

This is unnecessary. Progress is described in the Annual Reports of the Scottish Development Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to complete his consultation with local authorities in North-East Scotland regarding the Gaskin Report; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to receive the detailed comments of the North-East of Scotland on the Gaskin Report.

Local authorities and other interested bodies are now formulating their views and my hon. Friend the Minister of State is arranging to meet representatives of the planning authorities and of the North-East Economic Planning Consultative Group on 28th August.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the result of his consideration of the effect the subvention which is to be provided to producers in Northern Ireland for the shipping of eggs to Scotland will have on Scottish egg producers who supply the Glasgow market.

We are still considering this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made by Edinburgh Corporation in preparation for the Commonwealth Games.

I understand from Edinburgh Corporation that the Royal Commonwealth Swimming Pool is expected to be completed in August and to be open to the public in November and that the stadium at Meadowbank is expected to be completed early in 1970. The separate facilities necessary for boxing, weightlifting and lawn bowls already exist.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a further statement on the progress made since 1965 towards achieving the industrial production targets set out in Command Paper No. 2864, Scottish Economy.

While the rundown in declining sectors has continued at a faster rate than originally anticipated, the growth arising from new developments has been encouraging.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what relationship the trend in unemployment in the Edinburgh and Portobello Employment Exchange areas bears to his estimates in his White Paper on the Scottish Economy, Command Paper No. 2864.

The White Paper contained no separate estimates of the unemployment trend in the Edinburgh area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will discuss with Lanarkshire Education Authority measures to improve the teacher supply position in Coatbridge and Airdrie schools in order to avoid a breakdown in the educational service; and if he will make a statement.

I am in regular contact with the authority, through my Department and H.M. Inspectors of Schools, with a view to improving the staffing situation in Lanarkshire generally. The deployment of the available teachers within the county is essentially a matter for the authority and I do not think that special discussions with the authority are necessary at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to receive the Wheatley Report.

On the timing of the Royal Commission's Report, I have nothing to add to the reply I gave the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell) on 15th April. While we are anxious to press ahead as soon as possible with legislation on local government reform, the timing and content of Scottish legislation cannot be decided until the Commission has published its report and we have considered it.—[Vol. 781, c. 229–30.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why, of the 83 health centres planned for Scotland, only five are to be sited in Glasgow; and why areas of heavy population density like Castlemilk and Pollok are not to have such centres.

The five health centres to which the hon. Gentleman refers are the first in a programme of about 20 centres for Glasgow and are those which have already received detailed consideration. The remainder of the programme includes proposals for centres in Castlemilk and Pollok.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many tower blocks have to be strengthening in Glasgow and where these are located; and what contribution to the cost is to be made by the central Government.

Information so far supplied by the corporation suggests that 21 blocks will require to be strengthened. These are at Pollokshaws, Albion, Maryhill, Royston, Springburn and Coll Street. The Government have offered to meet 40 per cent. of the cost of strengthening work and of incidental expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how the sum of £33·8 million which he proposes to spend on the construction and improvement of roads in the current financial year compares with the equivalent allocation six years ago.

The provision in 1969–70 is more than double the comparable expenditure of £15·5 million in 1963–64.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total amount of charges recovered since the introduction of prescription charges; and how many officers and clerical staff are employed on recoveries.

Charges recovered from patients who had incorrectly obtained exemption amount to £165 for the period to 31st May. It is estimated from returns by Executive Councils that the equivalent of approximately five officers and eleven clerical staff is employed full time on checking entitlement to exemption from charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the outcome of the meeting concerning the housing programme on 13th June between the Minister of State and the Corporation of Glasgow; and if he will make a statement.

I emphasised the need for building within and outside the city to meet the housing needs of Glasgow. The corporation is to review its programme for 1969–73 and I am to have a further meeting with the corporation to discuss its decision to withdraw from participation in the development at Erskine.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to secure compliance with his instruction that teachers who have failed to re-register with the General Teaching Council since 1st April, 1969, shall cease to be employed in schools.

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

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will institute a study into the question of technical education for fishermen with regard to the physical and economic problems of the industry; and if he will support the founding of a Chair of Fishery Studies at Aberdeen University and a regional college at Ullapool in view of its growing importance as a fishing centre.

My Departments are at present discussing with other interested bodies the best means of supplementing existing educational facilities for those entering or engaged in the fishing industry and the location of such facilities. The establishment of a Chair is a matter for the university authorities to consider.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in HANSARD as detailed a list as may be readily available of national disasters that have occurred in Scotland for the latest convenient period of time, a brief description of what these were, the estimated costs, the costs of rectification and/or compensation; and to what extent local councils and local authorities bore the costs of such disasters.

The only national disaster in recent years was the

	1967–68
	Average net assets	Net income	Net income as a percentage of assets	Fixed investment in the U.K.	Exchequer loans	Exchequer loans as a percentage affixed investment	Total employees at March, 1968
	£m.	£m.	Per cent.	£m.	£m.	Per cent.	'000s
North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board	236	14·3	5·4	7·7	3·3	42·9	4
South of Scotland Electricity Board	348	19·4	5·6	63·7	40·2	63·1	16

hurricane of 14th–15th January, 1968, in Central Scotland which caused extensive damage to houses, industry, public buildings, including schools and hospitals, and to agriculture and forestry. I have no reliable figure for the total cost of the damage, because much of it was repaired under normal insurance arrangements. The information on expenditure by the Government and by local authorities is as follows:

	£ million
Estimated Government expenditure:
Direct expenditure and grants to local authorities etc.	5·5
Loans	3·0
Estimated local authority expenditure	1·9

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received from the National House Builders' Registration Council (Scotland) their letter of 1st July, 1969, and their report and comparative study of owner-occupation in Scotland as contrasted with England and Wales; and if he will state his plans for improving owner-occupation in view of the recommendations there offered to him.

My right hon. Friend has received this Report and is considering it. The Government are taking steps to up-date the option mortgage scheme, and we will continue to do everything we can to remove hindrances to private house building.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the figures given in Table 2 of Command Paper No. 3437 for the year 1967–68 for the industries for which he is responsible.

The information in respect of the two Scottish electricity boards is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of expenditure on Scottish hospital supplies and equipment has been spent in Scotland in each of the last five years to the most convenient date.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the land surface of Scotland is covered by productive woodlands; and how this percentage compares with the average figure for Europe as a whole but excluding the United Kingdom, from figures available to him from international sources.

About 8 per cent. compared with about 13 per cent. in Europe as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in which of the four Forestry Commission regions in Scotland the afforestation programme is being curtailed by a shortage of land for acquisition; and by what acreage the 1969 planting programme has fallen behind schedule as a result.

Although the rate of acquisition of land is slower in some regions than in others the Forestry Commission's planting programme in Scotland has not fallen behind schedule.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many acres of trees he estimates the Forestry Commission and the private sector, respectively, have planted in Scotland in the 1968–69 planting season.

During the 18 months ended 31st March, 1969, the latest period for which statistics are available, the Forestry Commission planted 43,100 acres in Scotland. It is estimated that the corresponding figure for the private sector was 23,500 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the 1968 windblown timber has now been marketed by the Forestry Commission and the private sector, respectively.

At 31st March, 1969, the latest date for which statistics are available, the figures were 46 per cent. and 51 per cent. respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total sum of money voted by Parliament to the forestry industry since the formation of the Forestry Commission 50 years ago; what is the current valuation of Forestry Commission plantations; and how these figures compare with the sum spent in 1968 on importing timber in every form, including pulp and paper.

The total sum voted by Parliament to the forestry industry, including grants to the private sector, at 31st March, 1969, was £234,088,000. The expectation value of Forestry Commission plantations in production at 31st March, 1969, was £69,000,000; the value of young plantations in the course of formation is not assessed. The cost of importing timber and amber products in 1968 was £643,000,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what transitional arrangements he will make to bridge the time-gap between the imminent run-down of the railway workshops in Inverurie and the takeover of the premises by an incoming firm or firms.

As no definite decision has yet been taken on the future of the workshops, it is too soon to say whether there will be any gap to be bridged. If necessary, the Government will be ready to help an incoming firm in the transitional period by arranging appropriate programmes of industrial training.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why the planting of trees for shelter and amenity on smallholdings is ineligible for grant, in view of the fact that similar plantations on registered crofts or on large holdings are eligible.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to grants for shelter belts under the Farm Improvement Scheme. In terms of Section 30 of the Agriculture Act, 1967, these, like all other grants under that scheme, are available only where the land to benefit is capable of yielding a sufficient livelihood to an occupier reasonably skilled in husbandry. This test does not apply to crofting grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to provide a "roll on, roll off" ferry at Brodick Pier to create a modern and effective service for Arran travellers in all weathers.

I understand that the Scottish Transport Group are currently examining ways of improving their service to Arran.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what, in the light of recently announced Government policy, is the earliest date upon which the revision of Parliamentary boundaries in Scotland will now be implemented.

A decision on the implementation of the recommendations of the Boundary Commission for Scotland will be taken after I have had an opportunity of assessing the recommendations of the Wheatley Commission on Local Government which is expected to report later this summer. I shall announce my decision as soon as possible after I have received and studied the Wheatley Commission's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will draw up proposals for improving the statistical services within his Department, so that fuller answers can be given to Parliamentary Questions.

The Statistical Services in my Departments are kept under regular review. I would be opposed however to the substantial increase in the number of civil servant statisticians needed to meet the many requests for more statistics put to me by hon. Members opposite.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to introduce legislation to implement local government reform in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to receive the Report of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Scotland; and if he will undertake to introduce legislation to implement its proposals without delay.

I would refer hon. Members to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for Edinburgh, South (Mr. Clark Hutchison).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has for amending the Agricultural Lime Scheme following his recent discussions with the Scottish National Farmers Union and other interested bodies.

The discussions referred to in the reply given to my hon. Friend on 16th June have not yet been completed.—[Vol. 785, c. 23.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied that the available planning machinery is adequate to deal effectively, and without avoidable delay, with likely projects and development round the Clyde Estuary; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he has had with local authorities and other bodies regarding the siting of an iron-ore terminal in the Clyde Estuary.

I refer hon. Members to the comprehensive reply given by my hon. Friend the Minister of State in the debate on 7th July.—[Vol. 786, c. 1012–23.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland for how many hours the Scottish Economic Planning Council has discussed the possibility of the building of a deep-water iron-ore terminal on the Clyde; and what evidence has been given by the Scottish Economic Planning Council on this subject.

The subject has been discussed in the Planning Council in various contexts and on many occasions at meetings. I have previously explained that the advice given by the Council to me or through me to other Ministers is confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average number of hospital beds provided annually from the initiation of the National Health Service up to 1960; what was the average annual number of new hospital beds provided between 1960 and 1964; and what was the annual average number between 1964 and 1968.

An estimate up to 1960 is not available. The average number of beds provided in new or converted buildings between July, 1948, and September, 1961, was 220 per annum; between October, 1961, and December, 1964, the average was 563 per annum and between January, 1965, and December, 1968, it was 933 per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he estimates is the cost for the provision of one job in the electronic and science-based industries in Scotland.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Dumfries (Mr. Monro) on 22nd January this year. Figures of assistance under the Local Employment Acts are not available by separate categories of industry for Scotland or for any other part of the country.—[Vol. 776 c. 114.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the plans outlined in the Gaskin Report on North-East Scotland, he will re-examine the proposals set out in the White Paper. Scottish Roads in the 1970s.

There is no need to do this. The two documents are not at variance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of motorists subjected to breathalyser tests in 1967 and 1968, respectively; and how many prosecutions ensued, and with what results in each year.

The number of motorists required to submit to breath tests at the roadside and in hospital under the provisions of the Road Safety Act, 1967, was, for the three months of 1967 in which the Act was operative, 1,771. For the year 1968 the corresponding figure was 10,530. The number of prosecutions and convictions cannot be precisely related to the number of breath tests taken over the same period, but in 1967, 159 persons were proceeded against and 156 were convicted under the Road Safety Act. During 1968, 3,756 were proceeded against and 3,670 were convicted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now ask the Highlands and Islands Development Board to make a study of the effect of selective employment tax in the Highlands.

The Board has already initiated a study of the effect of the selective employment tax on the economy of the Highlands and Islands.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the traveller households in Scotland he estimates will be housed by next winter; and how many will be accommodated in properly serviced camping sites.

I regret that I cannot make any useful estimates at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from local authorities following his offer of 40 per cent. grant towards the cost of strengthening multistorey blocks of flats; and what reply he has sent.

Six authorities have written representing that the grant offered is inadequate. Authorities have already been told that my noble friend the Joint Parliamentary Under Secretary of State will meet them to discuss matters arising from the offer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the effect of entry to the Common Market by the United Kingdom on Scottish industry, agriculture, on prices and on unemployment in Scotland.

As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House on 10th June, we see no reason in present circumstances to change the general estimates of the effect of joining the European Economic Community given to the House during the Common Market debate two years ago. A detailed analysis of the consequences of membership for particular parts of Great Britain is not practicable but the Government are confident that in the long run membership will be of economic advantage to all parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to arrange for all land in Scotland to be surveyed to ensure its most efficient use.

Planning legislation already places on local planning authorities the duty of carrying out surveys of their districts and reviewing these every five years. Section 1 of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act, 1969, will, when brought into operation, make surveys subject to continuous review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken to ensure that the Corporation of Glasgow carries out its duty under Part 7 of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1966, to provide sufficient new houses to meet the housing needs of the citizens of Glasgow.

My hon. Friend, the Minister of State has discussed the needs of the city with representatives of the corporation on many occasions in the last four years, most recently on 13th June when he impressed on them the need for a more active approach to replacement of unsatisfactory housing and urged the Corporation to build for the purpose not only within but also outside the city boundaries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will have an official investigation made to ascertain to what extent people from the Netherlands pay periodical visits to this country to purchase their household shopping.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the Birmingham Bankruptcy Court sittings have had to be increased because the number of bankruptcies has doubled; and if he will take steps to relieve small businessmen from selective employment tax and from the effects of high interest rates.

The quarterly figures for bankruptcies in particular areas are subject to wide fluctuations; the figure for the country as a whole in the second quarter of 1969 was only 7 per cent. higher than a year ago. I do not think that these figures justify special action to help small firms. But the hon. Member will recall my informing the House on 17th April that I intended to set up a committee to consider the problems of the small firm. I hope to make an announcement on this shortly.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will furnish details in regard to the number of advance factories built in the Blyth constituency, the area of space occupied by these factories and the jobs provided in each year since 1961 to the latest available date.

Six Board of Trade advance factories have been built in the Blyth constituency since 1961 with a total area of 275,000 sq. ft. I cannot give the number of jobs year by year but total employment at present is 1,500 with a further 700 jobs expected.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has considered the conclusions reached by the Select Committee on Agriculture particularly the reference to his Department in sub-paragraph V of the first paragraph of the report; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. I am satisfied that my Department give full weight to the contribution which agriculture can make to the solution of our economic difficulties.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his plans, following the Prime Minister's recent visit to Scandinavia, to increase the industrial exports from North-East Scotland to Northern Europe, to stop the drift south of skilled craftsmen and other workers from North-East Scotland and thereby to stop the depopulation of that area.

Industry in the north-east of Scotland has available to it the very comprehensive export promotion services of the Board of Trade and the Export Council for Europe as well as the wide range of incentives for encouraging industrial expansion in the development areas. I hope that firms will make full use of these services in exploiting export opportunities in Europe and elsewhere.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the firm of Hattersley Brothers, Swinton, Mexborough, has recently declared 100 employees redundant, with a likelihood of more redundancies to follow; and, in view of the existing high rate of unemployment in the Mexborough Employment Exchange area, if he will make a statement on the, action he intends to take to promote the setting up of new industries within the affected district.

I am aware of the employment needs of the Mexborough area and that after a period of expansion the firm has recently reduced its labour force. Mexborough is among the places in which, subject to the passage of the necessary legislation, intermediate area benefits will be available to encourage the development of additional employment opportunities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now publish the newly-estimated calculations for the United Kingdom exports over the last five years; and whether the recent errors have been eliminated in calculating exports for June, 1969.

I hope to make a further announcement on the under-recording of exports shortly. Tile improvements which have been set in train are unlikely as yet to have led to any significant improvement in recording. No allowance was included in the June export figures in respect of under-recording which I estimate on a conservative basis at about £10 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed list giving information which may be readily available to him from international sources of the retail prices of goods and merchandise for which he has a responsibility for price and/or quality standards, giving a comparison of such prices charged in London and Paris.

The information on which to base such a comparison is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of imports of butter, cheese, apples and pears, lamb, beef and barley and maize into this country for May and June of this year from European Economic Community, Commonwealth, and other countries.

			£'000 c.i.f.
			E.E.C.	Commonwealth	Rest of World
Butter, derivatives thereof and ghee	…	…	409	5,866	4,141
Cheese and curd	…	…	582	1,064	1,081
Apples and pears (including quinces), fresh		…	66	3,432	2,595
Lamb, fresh, chilled or frozen	…	…	Nil	4,736	132
Beef, fresh, chilled or frozen	…	…	124	528	6,663
Barley and Maize, unmilled	…	…	1,787	1,096	6,251
Total value	…	…	2,968	16,722	20,863
Figures for June are not yet available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now have an official survey made of the number of French people who pay regular visits to Great Britain to purchase merchandise to take back to France.

No.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) whether he will seek powers to undertake a programme of construction of airstrips in the development areas in view of the need to improve communications to parts of such areas and to stimulate the light aircraft industry;(2) if he will undertake a survey of industrial estates in development areas where advance factories have been or are about to be built, with a view to establishing landing strips for light aircraft close to such estates;(3) what plans he has for promoting the use of light aircraft by the provision of additional landing strips; and whether he will bring up to date his instructions for the laying down of such strips.

It is not the Government's policy to provide or operate airstrips although the powers to do so are available. It is open to anyone to consider the requirement for a landing strip to serve a particular need—a factory or industrial estate—and, subject to planning permission, to take steps to provide one. I am not aware that the lack of landing strips is inhibiting the use of light

Following is the information for May 1969:aircraft nor that the advice on this subject given in August, 1963, is in need of revision. If there is concern on either of these points, however, I shall be glad to look into the matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the landing grounds available in the development areas, showing which of them are considered suitable for light aircraft of 6,000 lbs. or less only.

The following aerodromes in the development areas are notified in the United Kingdom Air Pilot as available to civil fliers. Because of differences in aircraft performance, it is not possible to classify them in the way suggested although they would nearly all be suitable for use by small business aeroplanes. There are in addition many private unlicensed aerodromes not notified in Air Pilot as available but which could be made available with the permission of the owner.

Development Area	Aerodrome
Merseyside	Liverpool
Welsh	*Hawarden
	* Haverfordwest
	Swansea
	*Valley (R.A.F.)
	*Brawdy (R.N.)
Southwest.	* Lands End
	*Penzance Heliport
	*Perranporth
	*Chivenor (R.A.F.)
	Culdrose (R.N.)
	*St. Mawgan (Newquay) (R.A.F.)
	St. Mary's (Scillies)
Northern	*Barrow (Walney Island)
	Carlisle
	Newcastle
	*Sunderland (Usworth)
	Tees-side
	*Silloth
	*Acklington (R.A.F.)
	*Ouston (R.A.F.)

Scottish	Aberdeen
	*Barra
	Benbecula
	*Connel
	*Cumbernauld
	*Dounreay
	Glasgow
	*Glenforsa (Mull)
	Inverness
	Kirkwall
	Islay
	*Papa Westray
	Perth
	Prestwick
	*Plockton
	*North Ronaldsay
	*Sanday
	*Stronsay
	Stornoway
	Tires
	*Westray
	Wick
	*Arbroath (R.N.)
	*Kinloss (R.A.F.)
	*Leuchars (R.A.F.)
	*Lossiemouth (R.N.)
	*Machrinhanish (R.A.F.)
Northern Ireland	Belfast (Aldergrove)
	*Belfast (Sydenham)
	*Newtonwards
	*Enniskillen (St. Angelo)
	*Ballykelly (R.A.F.)
Note:
* Available for use only by prior permission of the airport operator.

Table 2 of Command Paper No. 3437
Figures for 1967–68 for BOAC, BEA and BAA
		Average Net Assets	Net Income	Net Income as a percentage of Assets	Fixed Investment in the United Kingdom	Exchequer Loans	Exchequer Loans as a percentage of fixed investment	Total Employees at March, 1968
		£m.	£m.	Per cent.	£m.	£m.	Per cent.	'000s.
BOAC	…	148	25·3	17·1	19·8	-2·8	-14·1	20
BEA	…	113	3·1	2·7	24·5	18·2	74·3	22
BAA	…	57	6·3	11·0	10·5	2·0	19·0	4

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect on the prices of butter, bread, bacon, beef, eggs and vegetables on the basis that United Kingdom prices of these products, respectively, are brought in line with Common Market prices.

None. Any such estimate made at the present time would be premature and speculative.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made towards applying to foreign aircraft operating in the United Kingdom regulations similar to those which limit the operation of United Kingdom registered aircraft in low visibility.

The consultations with the International Air Transport Association and airline interests to which I referred on 18th March have been concluded and I anticipate that the necessary amendment to Article 26 of the Air Navigation Order, 1966, will come into operation on 1st September next.—[Vol. 780, c. 68–9.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the figures given in Table 2 of Command Paper No. 3437 for the year 1967–68 for the industries for which he is responsible.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proposals for closures of sugar factories in England and Wales have been put to him in addition to the closure proposed by the British Sugar Corporation of their Cupar, Fife, factory.

No specific proposals have so far been put to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will publish in HANSARD a table of figures giving the comparative retail price of bread, flour, eggs, butter, cheese, milk, tea, meat, fruit, vegetables and other stated foodstuffs in Great Britain and Holland at the latest most convenient stated date, from information available to him from international sources.

In view of differences in quality and definition, precise comparisons are not possible, but such figures as are available are given below.

REPRESENTATIVE RETAIL PRICES (WITHOUT ALLOWING FOR DIFFERENCES IN QUALITY, ETC.) IN THE UNITED KINGDOM AND THE NETHERLANDS AT MAY. 1969
		United Kingdom		Netherlands
		s.	d.	s.	d.
Eggs—
Standard	per dozen	3	10½
Grade 3				4	8
Butter—
New Zealand
Dairy	per lb.	3	4
Fresh	per lb.			7	9
Cheese—
New Zealand Cheddar.	per lb.	3	6
Gouda	per lb.			5	11
Edam	per lb.			5	5
Milk—Bottled	per pint		10½		9½
Sugar—
Granulated	per lb.		9	1	4½
Bread—
White,
unwrapped 1¾ lb. loaf	per lb.		11
White, 1¾ lb. loaf	per lb.			1	2
Flour—Self raising	per lb.		8	1	5
Beef—
Sirloin, without bone.	per lb.	8	0½
Sirloin	per lb.			10	10
Pork—
Home killed loin	per 1b.	6	0½
Loin	per 1b.			10	3
Potatoes—Old crop	per 1b.		5		4
Tomatoes—
Home-grown	per lb.	4	0	2	11
Carrots	per 1b.		11	1	0
Onions	per 1b.		11		9
Apples—
Dessert	per lb.	2	2
Old Stock	per lb.			1	5
Pears—
Dessert	per lb.	1	9½
Old Stock	per lb.			1	5
Bananas	per lb.	1	4½	1	4
Oranges	per 1b.	1	4	1	4
Tea—Medium priced	per lb.	6	2	9	4

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why there has been no reduction in the retail price of beef in view of the reduction in the wholesale price by over 31d. per pound; and what consultations he has had with meat retail associations.

Wholesale prices of beef rose towards the end of May due to delayed marketings of home-fed cattle following the late spring. Consequential increases in the retail prices of some cuts occurred two or three weeks later. More recently, while the wholesale market generally has remained firm, some wholesale prices have eased. Retail prices can be expected to reflect these changes, and there are already indications that this is happening. But the correlation between wholesale and retail prices is never immediate or exact, owing largely to the butchers' practice of averaging prices.My Department has regular consultations with the meat trade associations

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent the use of harmful preservatives on the skins of imported citrus fruit.

The use of preservatives on the skins of citrus fruit is already controlled by the Preservatives in Food Regulations, 1962.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs what measures he plans to take to assist in the exploration for, and subsequent exploitation of, mineral resources in this country.

Consultations are continuing with major interested parties on the Government's suggestions for a reform of mineral rights legislation as outlined in the Answer my right hon. Friend gave on 24th June.—[Vol. 785, c. 250–251.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what quantity of bricks for building in Scotland are now being bought from places outside Scotland.

There is no control over the sale or delivery of bricks within the United Kingdom and figures are consequently not available.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will break down the £426,369 spent on the new British Embassy building in Madrid, to show how this sum was spent.

Approximately:

	£
Main Contract	316,000
Air Conditioning.	70,000
Lifts	11,000
Special and supplementary work	11,000
Items supplied by M.P.B.W.	5,000
Tax	13,000

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress has been made in launching a competition for the new Parliamentary Building; what accommodation will be provided; and if he will make a statement.

In its Fourth Report for the 1967–68 session the Services Committee recommended that a new Parliamentary Building should be built on a site running the length of Bridge Street with access initially below Bridge Street through a broad entrance direct from New Palace Yard, formed by slightly raising the level of Bridge Street at this point. Since the debate on 20th January, 1969, when the House approved the Services Committee's recommendation, my Department has been pressing ahead with preparations for the Commonwealth competition for the design of the building. Progress so far made leads me to hope that we shall be ready to launch the competition towards the end of this year.If the competition is not to be delayed all relevant documents must be in their final form by 1st October, including a statement of the accommodation to be provided in the new building. This question has been considered by the Services Committee whose recommendations are contained in their Third Report for the Session 1968–69. I propose therefore to use the accommodation require- ments set out in the Third Report for the purposes of the competition.The Fourth Report from the Services Committee emphasised the desirability of a reduction of traffic in Bridge Street. The Government have been studying this and related problems with representatives of the Greater London Council and Westminster City Council, and I hope by the early autumn to be able to report to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people died from accidental overdoses of sleeping tablets during the past 12 months.

In 1968, 283 deaths in England and Wales were provisionally attributed to accidental poisoning by barbiturate and other similar drugs; separate figures distinguishing sleeping tablets are not available.

, pursuant to his Answer, [OFFICIAL REPORT, 7th July, 1969; Vol. 786, c. 941–2], circulated the following information:

asked the Minister of Transport if he will investigate the reasons for the traffic jam in the West End of London during the evening rush hour on 10th July.

No. The control of traffic in London is primarily the responsibility of the police and the Greater London Council. I am advised that the congestion on the day in question was caused by an exceptional combination of circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will seek powers to require national and local directors of the new port undertakings to give written

asked the Minister of Trans port whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the figures given in Table 2 of Command Paper No. 3437 for the year 1967–68 for the industries for which he is responsible

The following is the in formation:assurances that they are not opposed to public ownership of the ports.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the estimated total revenue from selective employment tax in the year 1968–69 from hotels, restaurants and boarding houses.

I regret that in view of the seasonal variations in employment in the hotel and catering industry it is not possible to estimate the revenue for a year in which the rates of tax were increased in September.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the estimated loss to the Treasury in a full year after the passage of the 1969 Finance Bill of the abolition of selective employment tax for hotels, restaurants and boarding houses.

I estimate that for the hotel and catering industry as a whole the cost would be of the order of £35 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what products, used by more than one Department, are currently procured by one Department on behalf of all user Departments; what additions have been made to this list in the past three years; how many staff, by number and grades, are allotted full-time to securing additions to this list; and by what yardstick their performance of this task is judged.

Aircraft, aero-space products and certain electronic equipment; food and drink; most clothing and textiles; stationery and office machinery and other equipment; medical equipment and drugs; most vehicles; buildings; furniture, furnishings and domestic equipment; and petroleum products.No substantial additions have been made during the last three years to this list, which comprises over two-thirds by value of all Government purchasing. Although no staff are employed full-time in securing extensions, constant attention is paid to possible opportunities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what products are procured by a single central Government Department on behalf of users in the nationalised industries, by which nationalised industries on behalf of users in that industry, and one or more central Government Departments; and what products are procured by single central Government Departments on behalf of local authorities.

Arrangements are being examined for the supply to nationalised industries, through departmental purchasing arrangements, of furniture, furnishings, domestic and kitchen equipment, and fire fighting appliances. Such products have been made available, on an experimental basis, to a selection of local authorities (and some of them to local education authorities generally): certain medical equipment is made available to local health authorities as well as to hospitals, and certain radio equipment is purchased for all police authorities. Consideration is being given to the extension of similar arrangements to a wider range of products. It is hoped that nationalised industries may be able to reciprocate, as has one major local authority.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total value of Government procurement with each of the industry orders 1-XXII in the latest year for which figures are available and what proportion of the total output of each sector Government expenditure represented.

The approximate total value of contracts let by major purchasing Departments during the financial year 1967–68 under industry orders of the 1958 Standard Industrial Classification was as follows:

Older	Aproximate total value
	£ million
I	negligible
II	negligible
III	5·1
IV	67·3
V	11·8
VI	417·4
VII	47·4
VIII.	245·5
IX	15·3
X	14·6
XI	negligible
XII	9·8
XIII	6·2
XIV	9·5
XV	29·2
XVI	23·1
XVII	177·4
XVIII	18·0
Total (I-XVIII)	1,097·6
XIX-XXII inclusive—not obtainable without disproportionate expense.

No more up-to-date figures of the output of each industrial sector are available than those provided by the Census of Production for 1962–63.