asked the Minister for the Civil Service what proposals he has to grant the lower grades of the Civil Service a commensurate increase with the recently announced approved awards to personnel in the higher grade in the Civil Service.

None. Under the Civil Service pay agreement, the pay of the various groups of non-industrial civil servants below the grade of assistant secretary may be reviewed once in a cycle of three years. Under these arrangements pay is regularly reviewed and, where appropriate, adjusted according to the circumstances of each group and consistently with the Government's incomes policy. The non-industrial Civil Service below the grade of assistant secretary received a pay increase on 1st July, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that British citizens will be enabled to continue to correspond and communicate with their relatives in Rhodesia and vice versa.

As my right hon. Friend told the House on 24th June, we are carrying out a fresh study of what, in present circumstances, a ban on communications with Rhodesia would involve. No decision to impose such a ban has yet been taken.—[Vol. 785, c. 1220.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will name those nations pledged to enforce Rhodesian sanctions who are known to be in breach of them; and what is his estimate of the value of the goods involved in the last 12 months.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the current operation of sanctions against Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on Her Majesty's Government's recent efforts to increase the effectiveness of sanctions against the illegal régime in Rhodesia.

We are continually trying to make sanctions more effective. In this context I would refer to the second report of the United Nations Sanctions Supervisory Committee, the addendum thereto and the communiqué issued by the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee on 27th June, copies of which are in the Library of the House. I have no reason to believe that the total figure is appreciably different from that for 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements he has made with the Government of the Union of South Africa to permit free and unrestricted access from Rhodesia for British subjects, citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies and British protected persons, especially Africans in all three categories, to enable them to visit the British Embassy and Consulate in Pretoria in connection with the issue of passports or for any other reason.

None. I do not think that this will be a serious problem.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what estimate he has made of the cost of sanctions against Rhodesia to the British economy for the current financial year: and what steps he is taking to offset the cost in future.

The direct cost to the Exchequer of our sanctions policy in the financial year 1969–70 is expected to be about £4 million. The cast to the balance of payments cannot be precisely estimated but is expected to be slightly less than the cost of £40 million for the calendar year 1966 given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to the House on 16th March, 1967.—[Vol. 743, c. 151–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on how many occasions since the imposition of sanctions on trade with Rhodesia ships of Dutch registration have been stopped by units of the Royal Navy on suspicion of sanctions-breaking; on how many of these occasions complaints were made to the Dutch Government or against the Dutch Government at the United Nations; and in how many instances were the suspicions subsequently discovered to have been unfounded.

Since 1966 two ships of Netherlands registration have been stopped for investigation by the Beira Patrol in the course of ensuring that no oil destined for Rhodesia is delivered to Beira. Neither ship was found to be carrying oil for Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the Four-Power talks on the Middle East situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the progress of the Four-Power talks on the Middle East.

Some progress has been made in the Four-Power talks. My hon. Friend will not expect me to go into details. The four have decided to fix the date of their next meeting at a later time because of important consultations which are taking place among Governments. A working group of deputies will continue to meet.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement on the situation in the Middle East and on the progress made following the Four-Power Conference in respect of the invitations to the Arab States by Israel to meet them with a view to discussions taking place between them to arrive at a permanent peaceful settlement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Brighouse and Spenborough (Mr. Colin Jackson) and Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made in the Four-Power talks on the Middle East.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Brighouse and Spenborough (Mr. Colin Jackson) and Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley) earlier this afternoon.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the total value of aid given to Zambia to assist in alleviating the hardship caused by the policy of sanctions against Rhodesia; and what plans he has to increase such aid.

Contingency support given to Zambia has amounted to £23·85 million. As regards the second part of the Question, we have offered to review the position with the Zambian Government when our economic circumstances have sufficiently improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call a conference of member and applicant states of the European Economic Community to consider the development of a multi-national programme of youth exchange similar to that already existing between France and the Federal Republic of Germany.

We are considering what action might be taken towards raising the level of exchanges between this country and other Western European countries, but we do not think that a conference would serve any useful purpose at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will undertake a study of action to be taken to increase the level of exchanges between young persons from industry, commerce, and the professions and education in the United Kingdom and Italy; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary's reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, South (Mr. Carol Johnson) on 9th June.—[Vol. 784, c. 183–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will withdraw Great Britain's application to join the Common Market, pending the determination of the future of the common agricultural policy.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a further statement about the progress of Great Britain's application to join the Common Market.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present position of Great Britain's application to join the Common Market.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave earlier to the hon. Members for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall), Banbury (Mr. Marten) and Bury St. Edmunds (Mr. Eldon Griffiths).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent visit to Brussels to discuss matters connected with Great Britain's application to join the Common Market; to what extent his talks there concerned the foreign exchange costs to Great Britain of joining the Community; and whether the effects on agriculture and food prices were also discussed.

During my visit to Brussels on 14th and 15th July, I had conversations with the Belgian Foreign Minister, met M. Rey and Dr. Mansholt, and attended a meeting of M. Monnet's Action Committee. The contents of the discussions are confidential, but I can confirm that discussions in the Action Committee included consideration of a report by M. Pisani on the agricultural problems involved in British membership of the Common Market.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received from countries in the European Economic Community that Great Britain should join in forming a Federal Europe.

We have received no representations, but we continue to discuss with our European partners questions relating to the building of European unity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to him since devaluation by the countries of the Commonwealth on the subject of the United Kingdom application to join the Common Market; and what replies he has sent.

Exchanges between Her Majesty's Government and other Commonwealth Governments are confidential, but I can confirm that the question of Commonwealth interests involved in British membership of the European Economic Community has been discussed from time to time since November, 1967, both with individual countries and during the Commonwealth Prime Minister's meeting in January.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether there has been a resumption of postal services between St. Kitts and Anguilla.

Postal services from St. Kitts to Anguilla were resumed on 7th July. Outward services from Anguilla will be resumed as soon as the necessary arrangements have been completed—probably within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the 66 member States which last December voted in favour of extending the mandate of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and who urged members to increase their contributions, have since increased their contributions.

Of the States who voted for Resolution 2452 in the United Nations General Assembly last December, calling among other things for an increase in contributions to U.N.R.W.A., the following countries increased their pledges for 1969: Argentina, Austria, Australia, Jamaica, Lebanon, Morocco, Norway, Pakistan and Spain.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what preparations are being made by his Department for a Security Conference between the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation and Warsaw Pact countries.

As the House has been informed, studies are proceeding in N.A.T.O. to establish what issues best lend themselves to fruitful negotiation between East and West and to an early resolution, and how a useful process of negotiation may best be initiated in due course. We are playing our full part in these studies.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the determination of the de jure boundaries of Germany.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Minister of State said in the House on 31st May 1968, in reply to the Adjournment debate initiated by my hon. Friend.—[Vol. 784, c. 2354–61.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action has been taken, in concert with other Governments, and through the United Nations, to prevent piracy against aircraft.

We are actively engaged in dealing with the problem of unlawful seizure of aircraft. The International Civil Aviation Organisation, a Specialised Agency of the United Nations, has set up a committee of members of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organisation, including a United Kingdom representative. This committee is searching for new methods of preventing "hi-jacking".

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British subjects have claims against the Moroccan Government for compensation for properties expropriated by them; what is the total sum claimed; how long it is since the claims were lodged; and why settlements of these claims have not been reached.

As far as I am aware, only four British subjects have claims against the Government of the Kingdom of Morocco for compensation for properties expropriated by them. The total sum amounts to nearly £33,000.The question of expropriations was first taken up with the Moroccan authorities by our Embassy in Rabat on 16th November, 1965; since then the Moroccan Government have frequently been reminded of their responsibilities in this matter. They have still not arrived at any decision on the procedure under which these claims will be dealt with.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British Embassy labour attachés are stationed in Brussels rather than the country to which they are officially accredited.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British labour attachés are at present on official business in Brussels.

There is one British labour attaché resident in Brussels. He is a member both of the British Embassy and of the United Kingdom Delegation to the European Communities. He is also, on a non-resident basis, a member of the British Embassies in The Hague and Luxembourg.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress is being made in Her Majesty's Government's consideration of the proposed feasibility study by the Economic and Social Council into the creation of an international corps of volunteers for development which could enable youth to form an effective force for economic and social progress.

Consultations have been held both between the Government Departments concerned and with the British Volunteer Programme. We have considered the useful background paper which the Secretary General of the United Nations has prepared for the Economic and social Council's discussion of the subject at its current session. Her Majesty's Government are in favour of increased use of volunteers in United Nations development projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reports he has received from the official British observer at the trial of South-West Africans which opened in Windhoek on 1st July.

A member of the Embassy staff in Pretoria attended the opening of the trial. We have received a report of the proceedings through Her Majesty's Ambassador.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what diplomatic changes about recognition and the acceptance of legations he proposes to make, in view of the fact that the Republican Government of the Yemen is now in full control of that country.

None, because the republican régime is not, in fact, in full control of Yemen, and does not meet our criteria for recognition for revolutionary régimes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many British embassies and missions have scientific attaches; and if he will list such countries in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Seven British Embassies and Missions have scientific counsellors in the following countries:—

• Canada
• Federal Republic of Germany (covering Austria and Switzerland also)
• France
• Japan (covering The Philippines also) Soviet Union
• Sweden (covering Norway, Denmark, and Finland also)—vacant at present
• United States of America.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of Recommendation 184 on East-West relations, adopted by the Assembly of the Western European Union on 18th June, 1969, what progress has been made towards a European security conference with the participation of the member states of the Western European Union, the United State, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and other East European States.

This Recommendation is under consideration by the W.E.U. Council. Meanwhile the North Atlantic Council is studying what issues best lend themselves to fruitful negotiation between East and West and to an early resolution, and how a useful process of negotiation could best be initiated in due course. We are playing our full part in these studies. The essential element will, of course, be a positive indication of Soviet readiness for genuine progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his discussions with the Government of Swaziland concerning sanctions policy towards Rhodesia.

No. Our exchanges with other Governments on sanctions matters are confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state his latest plans to assist trade, industry, commerce and employment in Gibraltar to balance and make up for the losses imposed on Gibraltarians by recent Spanish actions.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to the hon. Members for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall) and Liverpool, Waver-tree (Mr. Tilney).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will propose consultations with a view to forming a joint task force, including police and engineers, formed from units in dependent and independent Commonwealth countries of the Caribbean to give help in the event of hurricanes or other disturbing occurrences; and if he will seek to assign some United Kingdom transport for joint annual training.

No. Plans already exist under which we would provide relief in the event of a natural disaster.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now make a statement regarding his discussions and negotiations with the West Germany Government on their contribution towards the support costs of British troops in Germany.

I had a further round of talks with State Secretary Harkort on 16th July. Agreement was reached in principle, and both delegations are now reporting back to their Governments. I am not in a position to make a more detailed statement today but hope it will be possible to do so shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to public funds of his visit to Brussels on 15th July.

£120.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether he will now make a statement about aid to Malta during the last five years of the Agreement.

The negotiations with the Malta Government have not yet resulted in agreement and I am therefore not in a position to make a statement.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how long discussions with the Malta Government on British aid for their second five-year plan have been proceeding; why an agreement was not reached prior to the presentation of the budget to the Maltese Parliament; and why the terms of the first five-year plan have not been complied with.

Discussions with the Malta Government have concerned the terms and conditions on which aid should be given during the second five year period provided for in the 1964 Financial Agreement. They began last December but have not yet achieved agreement. The terms in the Agreement relating to the first five-year period have been complied with.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what help he is giving in rural development overseas.

Rural development in the developing countries is of crucial importance, and my Ministry is doing all it can to respond constructively to sound requests for assistance in this field.A Working Group on Rural Development, which consisted of outside advisers as well as my officials, has recently submitted its report to me. In view of its interest and value I have arranged for it to be published, and distributed as widely as possible. Copies have been placed in the Library of the House.The Commonwealth Secretariat are arranging in Ghana next Easter a Commonwealth Specialist Conference on Education in Rural Areas at which we shall be strongly represented.I hope that the report and Conference together will help to stimulate interest, clarify the problems, and show us more clearly what we can do to help.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what financial or other assistance the United Kingdom has given, and is to give, to the various anti-locust research centres and control organisations; and whether he will make a statement.

The Anti-Locust Research Centre, which is part of my Department, is the world centre for fundamental and applied research on the biology, biogeography and control of locusts, the results of which are made available to all. It also operates the Desert Locust Information Service which issues monthly summaries of the locust situation together with forecasts of future locust activities. The centre's staff are continuously in touch with international and governmental locust control organisations. Research training is given at the centre for trainees from countries overseas.In 1968 my Department provided specialists and equipment valued at £175,000 to the Desert Locust Control Organisation of Eastern Africa.My Department also provide financial support for research at the International African Migratory Locust Organisation (O.I.C.M.A.) and the Anti-Locust Research Centre has carried out research

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of births in March and April in the Borough of Hackney disclosed by the

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will take steps to clarify the procedure whereby contracting-out of the and development work on behalf of the International Red Locust Control Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will provide facilities in England and Wales for family planning advice to be available to women resident in Scotland.

Questions about facilities for women normally resident in Scotland should be addressed to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of births in March and April in the Borough of Southwark disclosed by the survey requested by him, classified by place of birth of mother, and whether institutional or domiciliary.

The information is as follows:survey requested by him, classified by place of birth of mother, and whether institutional or domiciliary.

The information is as follows:proposed State wage-related pension scheme will be permitted;(2) what representations he has received from the managers of private pension schemes on the proposed State wage-related pension scheme; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a statement as to the result of his discussions about abatement with the representatives of occupational pension schemes.

Our proposals for the contracting-out arrangements were set out in our two consultative documents, to which I referred in my reply to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Gorton (Mr. Marks) on 10th June. Copies of both documents are in the Library of the House. Interested organisations to whom copies of the docu-

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, whether he will introduce legislation to give discretion to his officers, subject to suitable maxima, to ensure that where earnings have been reduced by circumstances outside the control of a recipient of benefit, there should be no reduction in a recipient's total income, even though part of that income was formerly disregarded for purposes of calculation of benefit.

No. In calculating supplementary benefit, part-time earnings and certain items can be disregarded within specified limits. But there are many people who can derive no advantage from disregards—for example because they are too ill to work at all. A person receiving supplementary benefit who ceases to have part-time earnings is therefore in no different position from people who have never had such earnings since receiving benefit and it would be inequitable to make special provision for him.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list the general differences between normal tri-

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the numbers of births in March and April in the Borough of Newham disclosed by the survey requested by him, classified by place of birth of mother, and whether institutional or domiciliary.

The information is as follows:cycles and the improved type now being issued to haemophiliacs qualifying for a vehicle.

The improved type of three-wheeler now becoming generally available which is being offered to all haemophiliacs using a three-wheeler has better suspension front and rear and some improvements in the interior finish.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the improved type of invalid tricycles now being issued to haemophiliacs who qualify for a vehicle are fitted with automatic transmission.

No. Automatic transmission should become available towards the end of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now publish the main conclusions of his Advisory Committee on Transplant Surgery; and whether he plans to introduce legislation on this subject in the next Session of Parliament.

Their advice was published on 14th July. It would be premature to express a view about legislation in advance of assessing the reaction of the public and of the interested professional bodies to the Advisory Group's conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what exchange programmes sponsored by his Department exist between younger members of the medical and dental professions and their counterparts in member countries of the European Economic Community; and if he will take steps to remove any obstacles to such exchanges caused by non-recognition of professional qualifications.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 20th June to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Woolwich, East (Mr. Mayhew). The exchanges in which my Department plays a part are the study fellowships I described and these are not usually affected by the question of recognition of qualifications.—[Vol. 785, c. 172.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many doctors have carried out how many abortions per doctor since the Abortion Act came into operation until the latest convenient date.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is satisfied that there is adequate aftercare of abortion patients; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any evidence that the facilities, either in National Health Service hospitals or approved places, available for the postoperative care of these patients are inadequate. The use made of such facilities is a matter for the clinical discretion of the individual doctors concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the percentage of the total cost of the pharmaceutical services in England and Wales during 1967–68 represented by the amount recovered under the voluntary price regulation scheme.

The overall effect of the scheme, which I assume my hon. Friend has in mind, is not really quantifiable because other factors influence prices and it is not possible to say what reductions or increases might have taken place in the absence of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what facilities exist for the early recognition of alcoholics in industry; if he is satisfied that these facilities are adequate; if he will take further steps to improve them; and if he will make a statement.

In 1968 advice from the Standing Mental Health Advisory Committee on the general problems of the prevention, assessment and treatment of alcoholism was issued to hospital authorities, local health authorities and Executive Councils, and I am sending my hon. Friend a copy of the relevant circulars.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in the standardising of nurses' uniforms in the National Health Service; and what economies will result.

The Report of the Specification Working Group on Nurses' Uniforms was circulated very widely and the many comments have required analysis and careful assessment. We are considering what action should now be taken in the best interests of nurses and the hospital service.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients were on the dispensing list of doctors in 1966; and what is the corresponding figure for the last year for which figures are available.

Patients on National Health Service dispensing lists of doctors in England and Wales at 1st October.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, what is his estimate of the annual cost of fluoridation of the water supply for a population the size of the London Borough of Brent and of the total saving on the cost of dental treatment in such an area in the year 1979.

The cost of fluoridation varies considerably from area to area according to the nature of the water supply arrangements. The greater the supply of water from a particular source, the cheaper per head fluoridation will be.If the reductions in caries that have been experienced in Watford were repeated in such a community as Brent there would, after 11 years of fluoridation, be a total reduction of about 21,000 fillings needed each year in the temporary teeth of children up to the age of seven and in the permanent teeth of children up to the age of ten, which at present rates would cost about £20,000 a year if carried out under the General Dental Service. There would also be some reductions in the numbers of fillings needed in the temporary teeth of children over the age of seven and in the permanent teeth of children over the age of ten.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will review the salary scales of radiographers with a view to recom- mending substantial increases, particularly in the higher grades.

This is a matter for the Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has now complete his review of the distribution of pocket money as between patients in general hospitals and patients in psychiatric hospitals; and from what date the latter will be treated in the same way as the former.

I cannot at present add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 23rd June.—[Vol. 785, c. 193.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what steps he is going to take in respect of the expenditure in excess of the figure authorised on provisions and food in hospitals in Devonshire and Exeter;(2) in view of the £30,000 excess expenditure on food and provisions in the hospitals of Devon and Exeter for the year 1968, why he has allowed the 34s. per head per week laid down by his Department to be exceeded.

The range of provisions costs recommended by my Department for acute hospitals feeding more than 275 persons was 32s. 2d. to 34s. 9d. per person fed per week for the year ended 31st March, 1968. Any excessive expenditure on provisions is taken into account by the South Western Regional Hospital Board in making its annual revenue allocations to hospital management committees.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many ophthalmic opticians are employed in the hospital service in England and Wales.

The equivalent of 59 whole-time ophthalmic opticians.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will cause an investigation to be made into the causes of the traffic congestion in Central London on Thursday, 10th July.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton) on 16th July.—[Vol. 787, c. 125.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will take steps to end the traffic chaos at Chequers Corner, Dagenham, by the early construction of a flyover.

We have no present proposal to construct a flyover at this junction.The pedestrian subway system now under construction is expected to improve traffic conditions there. Discussions are in progress with a view to introducing a traffic management scheme further to reduce delays.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the accident figures for the A38 between Wellington and Cullompton; whether he is satisfied with the positioning of road work warning signs on this stretch of road; what are the reasons for the high fatal accident rate; and if he will make a statement.

In the eighteen months from 1st January, 1968, to 30th June, 1969, there were 34 accidents involving personal injury on the twelve mile length of A38 between Wellington and Cullompton. Two of these accidents involved a total of four deaths. The fatal accident rate is below the national average for rural trunk roads.A later regrettable accident occurred early on 12th July when four people were killed. The circumstances are still being investigated by the police and the hon. Member will therefore not expect me to comment.

asked the Minister of Transport how much was spent on road research in 1968–69; and how much of this was incurred in Wales.

Total expenditure by my Department on road research in 1968–69 was £2·54 million of which £2·25 million was in respect of the Road Research Laboratory. This research is of benefit to Wales as well as England and Scotland.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the average expenditure per mile, including Exchequer and local expenditure, on roads in England in 1968–69.

The information requested will not be available until September.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the average carriageway width of trunk roads in England.

A sample survey conducted for the Road Research Laboratory in 1966 indicated that the average carriageway width of trunk roads in England was then 28 feet.

asked the Minister of Transport what rôle the Traffic Advisory Committees will play after the Greater London Council have taken over London Transport.

This is a matter for discussion between the Greater London Council, the new London Transport Executive and the Committees themselves. I have written to my hon. Friend on the subject.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now give statistics of the age groups of drivers of motor vehicles with the heaviest casualty and death rates on the roads in motor accidents related to the number of drivers in each age group.

On the basis of these figures it will be seen that drivers and riders in the group aged under 21 had the highest fatal and serious casualty rate.Estimated number of fatal and serious casualties per ten thousand driving licence holders: 1968.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will now give details of the effect upon Scottish local motor taxation departments of the proposals of the Vehicle and Driving Licences Act.

The general effect of centralising the licensing system under the Act will be the same in Scotland as elsewhere. On present plans the Minister will become the sole licensing authority in April, 1970, but the local authorities will be invited to maintain the present local taxation offices as his agents until the transfer of their functions to the Central Office at Swansea is completed in 1975. Thereafter there will be local offices of the centrallised system in Scotland at the places—including Kirkwall—indicated in my Answer to the hon. Member for Glasgow, Cathcart (Mr. Edward M. Taylor) on 22nd November, 1968.Special arrangements have been made for the staff of all local motor taxation departments to have the opportunity to apply for civil service posts in the new licensing organisation and many have done so. Any of the staff who suffer loss or diminution of emoluments or lose their employment as a result of centralisation will receive appropriate compensation.—[Vol. 773, c.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will give the same opportunity to the residents of Henley-on Thames to make representations in respect of the proposals for improved street lighting as a planning authority gives in respect of a major planning application.

The county council has consulted the local lighting authorities and the Royal Fine Arts Commission and is consulting a society representing local amenity. To superimpose at this stage a method of consultation purporting to have a statutory force that it did not have, would be both confusing and unhelpful.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those major bridge and tunnel projects which received Government grants over the past 15 years, stating the amount received and the percentage this represented of the cost, and the criteria upon which the decisions for giving the grants were based.

The information is set out below for the two major estuarial crossings in England which are subject to tolls and received Government grants during the past 15 years. Since 1962 the policy has been to finance the whole capital cost of such projects by loans and not to make grants. Prior to 1962 the method of financing varied from case to case, depending upon historical and local circumstances.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, in order to assist travellers, he will give approval to the scheme to connect the London Underground at Gloucester Road with the Kensington Air Terminal in Cromwell Road.

I have at present no such proposal before me. Various possibilities have been considered in the past but all are either very expensive or of limited benefit.

asked the Minister of Transport to what extent it is his policy to impose 40 miles per hour speed limits only in those areas where it is estimated that this speed will be voluntarily observed.

If speed limits are not seen to be reasonable and so voluntarily observed by the great majority of drivers, they cannot be made effective by police action. Such limits do little if anything to reduce accidents and have a damaging effect on speed limits generally.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total amount of expense incurred by British Railways in 1968 as a result of thefts, vandalism and damage to track, installations, property and rolling stock; and what were the comparable figures for the previous three years.

British Railways tell me that this information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans the Railways Board have submitted to him for the exploitation of their under-developed sites; and if he will make a statement.

I have recently discussed with the Chairman of the British Railways Board their proposals for property development, and I understand the Board will be making an announcement shortly

asked the Minister of Transport how many thefts of copper wire from British Railways occurred in 1968; what was the cost of making good the damage caused by such thefts; and if he will make a statement.

The British Railways Board tell me that there were 1,914 cases of theft of copper wire in 1968, but they are unable to say what was the cost of making good the damage caused.

asked the Minister of Transport when the proposal to close the railway line Newport—Hereford—Shrewsbury will be published; and what advance information will be given to the authorities affected in the area.

No such proposal is envisaged.

asked the Minister of Transport when he expects to receive a report on the accident which occurred on 9th July when a freight train crashed into six diesel locomotives at Chester; and whether he intends to publish the report.

I have received a preliminary report from British Railways on this accident. The London Midland Region is holding its own domestic inquiry; reports on such inquiries are not published.The accident was reported to the Ministry only because the guard of the train was slightly injured. I decided that an inquiry by one of my railway employment inspectors was not necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that waiting lists for sleepers are closed many days before they are required; and if he will issue a general direction to British Rail to acquire more sleeping car rolling stock.

The Railways Board tell me that waiting lists for sleepers are only closed if the accommodation is fully booked and there is no likelihood of cancellations absorbing the waiting list. The provision of different types of rolling stock is a matter for the Railways Board, and it would not be appropriate for me to issue a general direction.

asked the Minister of Transport what are the total sums spent on the electrification of railways during the last 10 years in Wales and England, respectively.

None and £181 million, respectively.

asked the Minister of Transport whether, following his predecessor's answer on 27th June, 1967, he will now give figures showing how many stations and halts have been closed in Wales during the last 10 years.

Since the Department's records started in October, 1963, 174 stations and halts in Wales have been closed to passenger traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport what mileage of railways has been closed during the last 10 years to passengers, to goods, and to goods and passengers, respectively.

The British Railways Board tell me that between 1958 and 1968, 6,401 miles were closed on which either passenger or goods services or both had operated. The mileage closed to passenger traffic over the same period was 4,983. Comparable figures are not available for mileage closed to goods traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the average financial loss per route mile incurred on railways in 1968–69, and how much of this was attributable to interest liability.

In 1968, the latest year for which information is available, the average financial loss per route mile on British Railways was £11,700 of which about £5,100 was attributable to interest. Under Section 42 of the Transport Act, 1968, the Board have now been relieved of a substantial part of this interest liability from 1st January 1969. These highly averaged figures of course give no indication of the profitability of individual services.

asked the Minister of Transport how much expenditure was incurred by British Rail in 1968–69 on carnage building work.

The figure for the calender year 1968 can be found on page 86 of the Board's Annual Report and Accounts for 1968; the 1969 figure is not yet available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what communications he has received from the Gipsy Council in the last two months; and if he will seek powers to ascertain to what extent the council is representative of gipsies in the United Kingdom in so far as elections to the council and regular meetings are concerned.

At official level there has been one letter and one meeting. It has not been necessary for my right hon. Friend to concern himself with the extent to which this body is representative.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that sufficient powers exist to control the discharge of industrial effluent into public sewers; and what plans he has for increased control of such discharges in order to minimise the dangers to health and amenity.

I am not aware of any danger to health and amenity due to any lack of such powers, but if the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I shall be glad to consider it. More generally, a working party under the chairmanship of my hon. Friend, the Member for Holborn and St. Pancras, South (Mrs. Lena Jeger), is at present considering the public health, amenity and economic aspects of the various methods of sewage disposal.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government which 24 towns and villages are being considered for formal designation as conservation areas in the county of Norfolk.

I understand from the Norfolk County Council that the list is as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consultations he has had with the London boroughs concerned with problem families supported by the London Squatters' Association in unlawful occupation of public property; and what steps he proposes to take to ensure that the needs of these problem families are assessed and met.

There have been consultations between officers on the temporary use of property pending demolition for redevelopment, and a letter on this subject was sent to local authorities in London in the terms referred to in the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Hampstead (Mr. Whitaker) on 15th July.The discussions also included an exchange of experience of local authorities who had had property occupied by squatters, and the outcome of the ways in which they had reacted. I am sure such exchanges of experience have considerable value, but it is for the council concerned in each case to decide on the wisest course, taking into account the needs of the families involved, as well as other relevant considerations.—[Vol. 787, c.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the population covered by Retford Borough Council; how many people are on the housing waiting list; and how many houses the council built in 1968.

The mid-1968 estimated population of East Retford Borough was 18·8 thousand. In 1968 the council completed 12 houses. I have no information about their waiting list.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list the total population, the number of persons on the housing waiting list and the number of council houses built in 1968, in the areas of Gainsborough Urban District Council, Retford Rural District Council, Clowne Urban District Council, Maltby Urban District Council, Wath on Dearne Urban District Council and Vineton Park Urban District Council, respectively.

I have no information about waiting lists. The rest of the information is as follows:

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proportion of house dwellings in England are over 60 years of age.

It is estimated that 35 per cent. of dwellings in England were built more than 60 years ago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will receive a deputation from the Redbridge Borough Council and the Metropolitan Police to discuss the measures to be taken to deal with the continuing unlawful occupation of public property by agents of the London Squatters' Association;(2) if he will introduce legislation to enable public property and officers and representatives to be properly protected by the police.

I am always ready to discuss problems that involve the police; but their responsibility is to enforce the criminal law and prevent breaches of the peace, not to deal with trespass, and I do not contemplate legislation to enlarge their responsibilities in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many times during the past 15 years a Secretary of State has used the discretionary power of deportation set out in Article 20(2)(b) of the Aliens Order, 1953, on the ground that an alien's continued presence in the United Kingdom was not to the public good; and if he will detail the names, dates and nationalities involved.

From 1954 to 1968 690 aliens were deported under Article 20(2)(b) of the Aliens Order 1953, generally after conviction by a court. It would not be appropriate to give names which in a number of cases would refer to events that took place some years ago.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Association of Child Care Officers has now recommended its members not to accept employment in areas where the local authority has introduced an organisation on lines contrary to the recommendations of the Seebohm Committee; and, in view of the danger that the Child Care Service will break down, if he will now implement the relevants parts of the Seebohm Report.

Yes. I am aware of the urgency in this matter.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services and I have stated in replies to Questions that we shall reach and announce our decisions on the report as soon as possible. Meanwhile no action should be taken by local authorities that might subsequently prove to be incompatible with those decisions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he plans to introduce a revised specification for cyclamates to include methods for the quantitative detection of cyclohexylamine and the related dicyclohexylamine and to set limits for these impurities.

Further research is being carried out, as recommended by the Food Additives and Contaminants Committee. My right hon. Friend and his right hon. Friends will consider a revised specification as soon as the results of this research are available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that sufficient supplies of stone-ground wholemeal flour are available to meet the public demand; and whether he will make a statement.

The public demand for this flour is small and production in domestic packs is now mainly confined to smaller millers concentrating on speciality flours. There is ample production capacity for the present demand and several firms distribute nationally, but because of the small turnover it is not a widely held stock line in retail stores. Many retailers, however, arrange for supply to individual order.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of deaths arising from accidents with farm tractors in England and Wales during the last convenient 12-month period; and what steps he is taking to prevent such accidents.

In the 12 months ended 31st December, 1968, 42 people were killed in accidents involving farm tractors. Of these 32 were killed by tractors overturning.The Agriculture (Tractor Cabs) Regulation, 1967, prohibit from 1st September, 1970, the sale of new farm tractors with out approved safety cabs. The Regulations will apply to all old tractors on 1st September, 1977.Widespread publicity is given to means of avoiding tractor accidents.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, arising from his report on the availability of supplies of timber for the siting of a pulp mill in Northumberland, he will examine the possibility of timber being supplied from Sweden under the European Free Trade Association agreement until the yield of timber required from the Kielder Forest is sufficient for pulp mill purposes.

The feasibility of importing timber in the required quantity is a matter for the sponsors of the project.