asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will recommend the enlargement of the terms of reference of the Commission on the Constitution to include consideration of the present statutory limit on the life of a Parliament.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases of the offences of violence against the person, and of robbery occurred in the Manchester and Salford Police Area in 1966, 1967 and 1968; and how many were cleared up.

The information is as follows:

MANCHESTER AND SALFORD
	Violence against the person
	Offences known to the Police	Offences cleared up
1966	623	580
1967	870	772
1968	1,033	889
	Robbery
	Offences known to the Police	Offences cleared up
1966	114	56
1967	184	84
1968	208	83

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will sponsor research on crimes of violence in the Manchester and Salford area in liaison with the University of Manchester.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Wythenshawe (Mr. Alfred Morris), on 17th July. I am arranging for statistics of offences of violence in Manchester to be compared with those for other large cities; and I will give my hon. Friend's suggestion further consideration in the light of the results of this examination.—[Vol. 787, c. 161–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many boys and girls, respectively, were given sentences of detention at a detention centre between 1st January, 1963, and 31st December, 1968; and how many of these are known to have committed a crime after their release from the detention centres;(2) how many boys and girls, respectively, underwent Borstal training between 1st January 1963, and 31st December, 1968; and how many of these are known to have committed crimes after release from Borstal training.

Provisional returns show that during the years 1963–68 inclusive 39,138 young men and 625 young women were received into detention centres and 26,091 and 891 respectively into borstals in England and Wales. It is not possible, without a disproportionate amount of work, to say how many have subsequently been convicted of further offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the minimum age at which a person will qualify for inclusion in the 1970–71 electoral register as a "Y" voter as at 10th October. 1969.

The youngest persons eligible for inclusion in the 1970 register of electors will be those whose eighteenth birthday is on 15th February, 1971. There will be no "Y" voters as such in that or any future register. Persons whose eighteenth birthday occurs during the currency of a register will be able to vote at elections held on or after that birthday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received from the Indian Government concerning the action of immigration officials at London Airport in the case of an Indian businessman; and what action he has taken.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why immigration officials detained an Indian businessman, whose name has been sent to him, at Heathrow Airport for 24 hours and subsequently refused him entry.

I understand that my hon. Friend is referring to the case of Mr. Y. B. Bhalla, who arrived here in transit for Canada. In the course of examining Mr. Bhalla, it became evident that he had left India to settle elsewhere and that he had not been accepted as an immigrant to Canada. As the immigration officer was not satisfied that, if admitted as a visitor, Mr. Bhalla would leave at the end of his visit admission Was refused and arrangements were made for Mr. Bhalla to continue his journey to Canada.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now, by legislation or otherwise, ensure that adequate security is provided against dangerous wild animals kept as pets by private individuals so that incidents of these animals, such as pumas, cobras and an alligator escaping and thus causing danger to life and limb and also placing burdens on public funds, shall be avoided.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has for amending the law relating to the keeping of dangerous animals and reptiles on private premises.

I would refer my hon. Friend and the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave yesterday to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Shettleston (Sir M. Galpern).—[V ol. 787, c. 400.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what administrative action he is taking to prevent the increased distribution of cannabis resin and surreptitious export as shown in the recent conviction of an American professor at Warwick University.

The responsible enforcement authorities are already doing all they can to check trafficking in this drug.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the concern about a pornographic circular from the Julian Press, sent through the post; and whether he will take proceedings to prevent the circulation of such advertisements which shock and disgust the recipients.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Kingston - upon - Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) yesterday.—[Vol. 787, c. 401.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Governor of Blundeston Prison into the escape of four prisoners from that prison on Friday, 11th July.

I have already received a full report from the Governor and from an assistant director of prisons whom I at once sent to the prison, and have under urgent consideration various matters arising from these reports.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in view of the fact that the recent official report by the Chief Inspector of Constabulary shows that crime outside London increased by 8·5 per cent. last year, what action he proposes to take to deal with the situation.

The police have been assisted by new legislative measures; by the introduction of new methods of policing; by new equipment—including, over the past four years, 5,000 vehicles and 20,000 pocket radios; and by growing strength of numbers which will, I hope, reach 93,600 by 31st March, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to ensure that any private person, organisation or public authority should, before organising public events in London during week-days which might cause delay to traffic, consult with him or the Metropolitan Police to examine to what extent such events can be postponed to a Saturday or Sunday.

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis is informed of most such occasions and makes representations when he thinks they are justified; but it is not always desirable and possible for events to be held at weekends.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the reason for the net increase of Commonwealth immigrants in the first five months of 1969 by 50,407 people, compared with 40,278 in the first five months of 1968; and if he will take steps to ensure that the future trend will be downwards.

The figures quoted by the right hon. Gentleman refer not to immigrants, but to the balance of all Commonwealth citizens arriving and departing, including visitors, students and others admitted for temporary purposes. They are no guide to the trend or scale of immigration. The number of Commonwealth citizens admitted for settlement during the first five months of 1969 was 18,494 as against 22,278 for the same period of 1968. This is fall of 17 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list any defects that have become apparent on Rover 3·5 litre motor cars used by the Metropolitan Police caused by faulty workmanship or design, and the number of days that each car has been off the road due to rectification of faults.

One of the cars of this make which is in use by the Metropolitan Police has been off the road for 10 days, during which the manufacturers put right defects in lubrication and engine tuning. Certain minor defects have been remedied in the course of routine maintenance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will obtain from the Commissioner of Police for the Metropolis a report on the precautions which the police propose to take to deal with the Conference on Subversion which is to take place at the London School of Economics.

I understand that the School authorities have refused permission for the conference to be held there.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions on the grant of licences to gaming clubs he intends to provide under Section 22 of the Gaming Act, 1968; and whether he will make a statement.

I have decided to accept recommendations by the Gaming Board and to make regulations under this section to the following effect.The licensing authority will be required to refuse a licence to a gaming club other than a club for bingo, bridge or whist, except in twenty-eight specified towns and cities in England and Wales and three in Scotland. A list of the places concerned is appended below.Gaming clubs other than bingo, bridge or whist clubs will be licensed only on condition that they do not provide any form of live entertainment. The licensing authority will be required to restrict a licence to purposes other than dancing or live entertainment. To prevent the evasion of this ban by the provision of cabaret and gaming in intercommunicating premises, the licensing authority will be empowered to refuse a licence unless there is no direct access from any other premises.As I announced on 2nd April in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. Archer), regulations will also prohibit the playing of bingo otherwise than at a club licensed for bingo only.My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will make comparable regulations for Scotland.The places in which the licensing authority will have power to licence premises for gaming other than bingo, bridge or whist will be as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many aliens were deported under Article 22(b) of the Aliens Order 1953 during the period 1954 to 1968 without having been convicted by a court; and if he will detail the numbers deported each year during the same period.

I shall write to the hon. Member as soon as this information can be tabulated.

asked the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs if he has now considered the four-point memorandum on Government regional development policies sent to him by the Association of British Chambers of Commerce; and what reply he has sent.

I have already sent the hon. Member a copy of my reply and have also placed a copy in the Library of the House. I met Lord Ebbisham and other representatives of the Association of British Chambers of Commerce yesterday afternoon and had a full discussion of regional policy.

asked the Postmaster-General if he will now make a statement on the order for the proposed Laces computer at London Airport.

Tenders have been evaluated and I hope that it will soon be possible to make an announcement.

asked the Postmaster-General why he has decided to close the post office in Queens Road, Buckhurst Hill; and what alternative arrangements are proposed.

The Crown Post Office in Buckhurst Hill is to be replaced by a sub-office in the same area. This will be more economic, and a satisfactory service to the public will continue.

asked the Postmaster-General whether he will introduce legislation to prevent the distribution of invitations to treat for obscene publications through the post.

No.

asked the Postmaster-General when he will make an announcement as to how he proposes to adjust the 4d. and 5d. postage rates to the new decimal coinage.

I do not expect that any final announcement will be made on this subject until next year.

asked the Postmaster-General what progress he has made in his discussions with organisations in the public sector, including local authorities, on the services available through Giro.

A few organisations are already using Giro extensively. Reasonable progress is being made with most others and I am looking for a considerable increase in their use of Giro in the future.

asked the Postmaster-General, in view of the recent deterioration in television reception in remote areas and, in particular, in the South-West, whether he will reconsider his decision not to permit the introduction of different scales for television licence fees in the regions affected.

No. This would be impracticable.

asked the Postmaster-General what was the total amount of money spent by the British Broadcasting Corporation in maintaining British Broadcasting Corporation orchestras of all kinds in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, during the years 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968, respectively.

The B.B.C.'s annual expenditure on their orchestras in the four years up to 31st March, 1968, as shown in their annual Reports and Accounts, amounted to:

• £1,075,182 in 1964–65.
• £1,144,421 in 1965–66.
• £1,267,626 in 1966–67.
• £1,357,906 in 1967–68.

They tell me that, of these totals, approximately £151,345, £170,740, £184,224 and £194,254 were spent in the corresponding years on their Scottish orchestras and £78,319, £80,271, £85,169 and £96,551 on their Welsh orchestras.

asked the Postmaster-General how many applicants are waiting for the telephone service in the London Borough of Brent.

At 30th June, 1969, there were 197 on the waiting list.

asked the Postmaster-General on what date a telephone subscriber in London will be able to dial Launceston on subscriber trunk dialling.

London subscribers should be able to dial direct to Launces- ton early in 1973, when access will be given via a new high speed network of trunk circuits and switching centres.

asked the Postmaster-General whether, in view of the growth of telephone use and of the time taken to provide new exchange equipment, he is now placing orders for further exchange equipment in Cheltenham in 1970–71 when it is anticipated that the present exchange will be fully utilised.

Equipment for the next extension is already being installed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will list the firms which have received advisory and other assistance from the Manpower and Productivity Service division in her Department since its inception; and whether she will indicate cases where charges have been made for this service and at what level they have been set.

The Manpower and Productivity Service assists firms on a confidential basis, and I am therefore unable to disclose the names of its clients. The service became fully operational on 1st January, 1969, and during the following six months gave advice to nearly 2,000 firms and carried out detailed surveys of problems impeding productivity in more than 60 organisations in the public and private sectors. No charge is made for this service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will give the number of jobs covered by the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges for each of the past 10 years; and what were the equivalent figures for 1950 and 1955.

Information is available about the number of employees in the Mexborough and Goldthorpe, and in the Wombwell, employment exchange areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she plans to publish a White Paper on the next stage of the prices and incomes policy.

I have nothing to acid to the reply given on 22nd May to similar Questions from the hon. Members for Mid-Bedfordshire (Mr. Hastings),

CHANGES IN THE ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN SCOTLAND BETWEEN JUNE, 1965 AND JUNE, 1968
(Thousands)
	Males	Females	Total
Manufacturing industries (Orders III to XVI of the 1958 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification)	-24·8	-5·4	-30·2
Service industries (Orders XIX to XXIV)	-19·7	+10·3	-9·5
All industries and services (Orders I to XXIV)	-63	+10	-53

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham and Rye employment exchanges on 16th July, 1969; and how many of these were over 55 years of age, under 18 years of age and school leavers, respectively.

The following table shows, by age group, the numbers registered as wholly unemployed at 14th July, 1969:

NUMBERS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED ON THE REGISTERS OF THE BEXHILL, HAILSHAM AND HASTINGS (WHICH INCLUDES RYE) EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES AT 14TH JULY, 1969 (PROVISIONAL)
	Aged 18 to 54	Men Aged 55 and over	Total
Bexhill	70	250	320
Hailsham	64	136	200
Hastings	397	392	789

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what are the provisional figures for changes in the numbers of employees in employment in Scotland between June, 1965, and December, 1968, for men, women, in manufacturing industry, in service industries, and in total, respectively.

Between June, 1965, and December, 1968, it is provisionally estimated that the total number of employees in employment in Scotland decreased by 52,000 (-54,000 males and +2,000 females).Industrial analyses of the estimates are only available for June and I am circulating in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing changes between June, 1965, and June, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will now announce her plans for safety, health and welfare legislation.

It is my intention to seek an early opportunity to introduce legislation dealing with the reform of the Appointed Factory Doctor Service and with joint consultation on Safety. I have it in mind that the reform of the Appointed Factory Doctor Service should be the occasion of a rationalisation of existing resources, aimed at establishing within my Department an Employment Medical Advisory Service. This service would work in close association with the N.H.S.There are, of course, wider proposals for safety, health and welfare legislation under consideration on the basis of the First Consultative Document circulated in December, 1967. Good progress has been made with consultation on these proposals with the large number of interested organisations. The proposals are, however, very far reaching and contain many matters which need careful technical examination. I have come to the conclusion that there would be advantage in providing opportunity for further study of these matters by the many interests concerned, taking account of the reactions evoked by the First Consultative Document. I shall be making a further announcement about the Government's plans in this connection.The short Bill which I shall seek to introduce would amend the Factories Act. The two issues with which it will deal are matters on which I have had helpful and constructive advice from my Advisory Committees. As regards joint consultation on safety, my intention will be to extend and strengthen arrangements for the participation of workers' representatives in safety matters and for consultation between management and workers on these matters at the place of work. I shall be consulting further with the C.B.I. and the T.U.C. as regards the specific provisions which will best serve this purpose.By establishing an Employment Medical Advisory Service concerned with all aspects of employment, I am aiming at a closer relationship between the medical work already being done in connection with the supervision of people attending Government Training Centres and Industrial Rehabilitation Units, and with that done by the Medical Inspectors of Factories and the Appointed Factory Doctors. My proposals will also make provision for a close link with the School Health Service. It has long been felt that the Government should take some step forward in occupational medicine and my proposals will be a significant move in this direction. I believe they will make a valuable contribution to the well-being of people in employment. The arrangements I propose to introduce will, of course, be subject to review in the light of any re-organisation of the administration of the health services which may be undertaken later on.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what changes she intends to make in the benefits payable under her Department's transfer schemes.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Economic Affairs announced on 25th June that the Government were arranging to bring into line with present-day requirements the level of benefits paid under my Department's transfer schemes. The following improvements in the Resettlement Transfer Scheme—and where appropriate the Key Workers' Scheme and Nucleus Labour Force Scheme—will come into effect on 1st September. The limit on earnings above which a worker is ineligible for benefits will be raised from £1,500 to £2,000 per year. The lodging allowances will go up from 70s. to 84s. per week and the maximum payable under the continuing liability allowance will be increased by the same amount. The incidental expenses grant will be increased from £30 to £40 and the assistance towards the legal and other costs of buying and selling a house will be changed so that the maximum payable where there is either house sale or purchase will be increased to £125 and where there is both sale and purchase to £200. In certain circumstances a free return fare for interview may now be payable. At the same time we propose to make it a rule that applications under the Resettlement Transfer Scheme must be made within six months of the transfer taking place.—[Vol. 785, c. 1506–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek power to prevent political indoctrination of children in State schools.

:No. Matters of this kind are best left to local education authorities the governing bodies of schools and the teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he has given to representations made to him concerning the availability of educational facilities in areas where selective systems are applicable, within catchment areas extending beyond local education authority boundaries for children showing susceptibility to travel sickness; and what advice he has issued to such authorities in dealing with such cases.

I can recall only one representation on this matter, and my right hon. Friend has written to my hon. Friend about the particular case. General advice to authorities does not appear to be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to improve the system of musical education.

For most children, music is part of their general education which is a matter for local education authorities and the schools. The curriculum is under continual review by the Schools Council and other bodies. Provision for pupils of exceptional musical ability and for students specialising in music after leaving school has also been the subject of reports and suggestions which I am considering.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he expects to receive the Report of the Standing Advisory Committee on Museums and Art Galleries.

I expect to receive the Eighth Report of the Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries, covering the period from January, 1965, to June, 1969, in the early autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the names of the proposed new junior and primary schools scheduled for the Mexborough and District, and the Staincross Divisional Education areas, which were included in the school building programme for the years 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69 and 1969–70, respectively; and why the date of the commencement of building of some of these schools has been deferred for an indefinite period.

The following are the twelve schools concerned. Eleven of them were not deferred or are in programmes not later than that of the current year. The twelfth is currently under review. Circulars 6/68 and 13/68, of which I am sending copies to my hon. Friend, explain the general reasons for the deferment of certain projects in the programmes in question.

List of schools
Mexborough Division	Original Programme
Mexborough C of E aided J.M.I.	1966–67
Rawmarsh Thorogafe Co. J.M.I.	1967–68
*Darfield Upperwood Co. J.	1967–68
Swinton Kilnhurst C of E J.M.I.	1968–69
Conisbrough MorJey Place Co. J.M.I.	1969–70
Dearne Thurnscoe Co. J.M.I.	1969–70
Swinton Brookfield Co. Junior	1969–70
Swinton Piccadilly Co. Junior	1969–70
Conisbrough, Denaby Main Co. I.	1969–70
Conisbrough Balby Street Co. I.	1969–70
Staincross
Dodworth Co. J.M.	1967–68
Worsbrough Manor Co. I.	1967–68
*This school is the one which remains without a place in a programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the names of the new schools which are included in the present five-year building programme in the Mexborough and Staincross Divisional Education areas, and also the schools that may be included in the following five-year building programme.

My right hon. Friend is at present examining the West Riding Authority's proposals for a Preliminary List of projects which may be needed by September, 1973. He has not yet made decisions on those proposals and it is too soon to consider any for later years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that the new school to replace the Fitzwilliam County Primary School, Swinton, Mexborough, will be included in the 1969–70 school building programme.

No. The programme for 1969–70 is already settled. No proposal for the replacement of this school has been submitted by the authority for that programme or for subsequent ones.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the names of the local education authorities in the Northern Region which have applied for grants for their building programme in 1969–70 and 1970–71 and have been refused any building allocation and the reasons for such a refusal.

Westmorland and Tynemouth submitted proposals for the 1970–71 major school building programme but none were included. In authorising the building of new schools we have to give priority to areas of increasing population and insofar as resources allow, to those where the replacement of old schools is most urgent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure on research in 1968–69 incurred by the Research Councils; and how much of this was spent in Wales.

The expenditure on research estimated to have been incurred by Research Councils, including the Social Science Research Council, in 1968–69 was £75·171 million. Within this total, direct expenditure in Wales comprising research grants to Welsh universities, on grant aid for the Welsh Plant Breeding Station, and on research units of the Medical and Natural Environment Research Councils as well as on nature conservation in Wales was £.1·4 million. This figure does not include expenditure on postgraduate awards.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total amount of money derived from public funds spent on the maintenance of orchestras in England, Scotland and Wales, respectively, during the years 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968, respectively.

The following grants and guarantees were made by the Arts Council of Great Britain to orchestras based in England and Scotland:

	England	Scotland
	£	£
1965–66	342,300	62,500
1966–67	522,800	84,785
1967–68	533,200	105,000
1968–69	591,500	113,320

Apart from the B.B.C. Welsh Orchestra, there are no permanent professional orchestras in Wales, which however derives benefit from touring undertaken by orchestras based outside. Comprehensive information is not available about grants from other public sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of schoolchildren in England and Wales are receiving their education in schools built since 1945.

Thirty-nine per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of the recent incident at the Grays School, Birmingham, he will now ban corporal punishment in special schools.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick).—[Vol. 787, c. 410–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people at present detained in Rampton have never been charged with any offence.

456 of the patients in Rampton on 10th July, 1969, were detained in pursuance of applications made by their nearest relatives or by mental welfare officers under Section 26 of the Mental Health Act or under similar arrangements under earlier Acts. 22 were detained on the direction of the Secretary of State for Home Affairs having been found under disability by a court.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects to announce preparations for the opening of the new Northwick Park Hospital.

I understand that it is planned to open the first phase of the development during next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the light of the recommendation in A Hospital Plan for England and Wales, published in January, 1962, Command Paper No. 1604, he will now make a statement regarding the building of a new hospital to replace the existing Montagu Hospital, Mexborough.

The Sheffield Regional Hospital Board has no immediate plans for the replacement of the Montagu Hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now make an interim statement on the implementation of the Seebohm Report.

The Government have always made it clear that it would be necessary to examine further the report of the Seebohm Committee and the form of the administrative reorganisation of the health services together in the light of the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Local Government in England. The Royal Commission's Report was not, however, available until early June and those concerned require some further time to assimilate it. We shall, therefore, aim to conclude our consultations in the autumn and announce, to the House, then decisions on the Seebohm Committee's recommendations and on certain matters affecting the health services, and later in the year to issue a revised Green Paper on the administrative structure of the health services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated annual cost of producing the Department of Health and Social Security magazine, "Health Trends".

About £11,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of local authorities have now treated their water with fluoride; and when he will make a statement on legislation concerning those authorities which have refused or which are unable to do so.

Of the 186 local health authorities and authorities with delegated health and welfare functions in England, 17 (about 9 per cent.) are at present receiving fluoridated water in the whole or part of their areas. In a further two areas the water supplies contain adequate natural fluoride.On the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply on 22nd July to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Ron Lewis).—[Vol. 787, c. 365.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now make an interim statement on the implementation of the Seebohm Report.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will order an inquiry into the case of Mrs. H. L. Challis of Leigh-on-Sea, details of which have been given to him by the hon. Member for Southend, West, in regard to her request for new glasses from the Southend-on-Sea Executive Council.

I made inquiries into this case when the hon. Member wrote to me about it last November, and I communicated the results of these inquiries to him. The Southend-on-Sea Executive Council appears to have handled the case entirely properly, and I do not think that further inquiry is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now make a statement about doctors from overseas and their service in the National Health Service.

As the Secretary of State for Scotland, the Secretary of State for Wales and I have said on a number of occasions, we recognise and are grateful for the valuable help we received from overseas doctors but we share the view of the Royal Commission on Medical Education that we should reduce our excessive reliance on this source.The present output of our medical schools is about 2,000 a year, and this provides between 500 and 600 additional doctors each year towards meeting those needed for growth and development of the service. For the next two or three years we shall need further help from overseas doctors in numbers which we assess at about 700 a year, but the numbers required will diminish as increasing numbers of trained doctors emerge from British Medical Schools where places will rise—in accordance with the recommendation of the Royal Commission—by 1,000 to 3,700 by 1975. In the immediate future I estimate that our need can be met by limiting the number of doctors entering with employment vouchers to no more than last year's level of about 1,000, and I have so informed my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity.In consequence, my right hon. Friend has made arrangements to limit the entry of doctors under Category "B" of the voucher scheme to about 1,000 in the current year. Vouchers can be used at any time within six months of their issue, and a considerable proportion are ultimately not taken up. It is therefore not possible to forecast the actual number of vouchers which will be issued. On the basis of past experience it is likely to be about 2,000.Overseas doctors are mainly needed in the hospital service. This is where the main problem lies, rather than in general practice or other employment. I am convinced that it is essential for us greatly to improve and extend our methods of assessing both the level of clinical responsibility for which they are suited by training and experience and their ability to communicate in English—a factor to which I attach great importance. This kind of assessment can best be made by attaching doctors to a hospital under consultant supervision; the present scheme, on a voluntary basis, has been useful but it needs strengthening and expanding. I have therefore decided, after consultation with Commonwealth Governments, the profession and other interests concerned, to make assessment under the scheme compulsory before a doctor can enter hospital employment, subject to exemptions for certain groups of doctors for whom this requirement would be inappropriate. I expect it to be possible to bring these new arrangements into force on or about 31st October next.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now make an announcement about the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Medical Education on postgraduate medical education.

The Government's consultations with interested organisations about the Royal Commission's recommendations in the field of postgraduate medical education have shown widespread acceptance that a system of vocational, or specialist, registration should be introduced on the lines recommended in the report. The General Medical Council has indicated their willingness to undertake the rôle of registration authority, subject to amendment of the Medical Act to widen its powers. The Government accordingly intend to introduce the necessary legislation as soon as possible to enable the General Medical Council to maintain specialist registers.Secondly, all concerned agree in seeing a need for a new central body to coordinate the planning of postgraduate medical training, to consider its future and to give advice to the bodies already active in this field. Together with my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Education and Science and the Secretary of State for Wales I shall therefore shortly be inviting the main interests to a meeting to consider and, I hope, agree detailed proposals for the establishment of a Central Council on Postgraduate Medical Education which I would hope to see in operation during the course of this year. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland will be taking similar action with a view to setting up a separate Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical Education.The introduction of a system of specialist registration and the establishment of a Central Council will provide the organisational framework to implement the necessary improvements in postgraduate medical education, recommended by the Royal Commission and to which I attach considerable importance. I intend to accord these developments a high priority within resources available for the health service.The Government accept the Royal Commission's view on how the cost should be divided—namely that the National Health Service should pay for professional postgraduate training for National Health Service doctors and the universities for academic training.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to remove any doubt that invalid three-wheelers are not subject to the speed limits laid down for invalid carriages of 20 miles per hour unless they are less than five hundredweight unladen weight, but qualify as ordinary motor cars as regards speed limits.

Further legislation is unnecessary.The Road Traffic Regulation Act, 1967, defines the "invalid carriage" on which it imposes the 20 m.p.h. speed limit in terms which expressly include only invalid vehicles not exceeding 5 cwt. unladen weight.The heavier invalid three-wheelers now widely used attract only the speed limits applicable to the road they are on, in the same way as private cars and motor cycles.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will refer the 100 per cent. increase in Liverpool parking rates as proposed by the Liverpool Corporation Development and Reconstruction Committee to the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that this is only a proposal from the Development and Reconstruction Committee to the Council, who have not yet considered the matter. I would not wish to make any statement which would prejudge the Council's decision.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware that many motor cars have loud horns resembling those on police cars and police ambulances thereby causing traffic confusion and impeding and delaying police and ambulances in their progress to the scene of accidents and to hospitals; and if he will now prohibit by regulations the use of such horns on private vehicles in the interest of public safety.

The Construction and Use Regulations permit emergency vehicles to carry and use a two-tone horn. No other vehicles may fit any apparatus capable of making a sound similar to the two-tone horn. I am not aware that these regulations are being contravened to any serious extent.

asked the Minister of Transport how many deaths occurred since the coming into force of the breathalizer tests due to the driver having had an excess of alcohol and/or drugs; and whether he will make full investigations into all fatal accidents with a view to publishing such findings in order to inform the public.

It is very seldom possible to attribute a particular accident to a single cause, but in 1968—the only period for which this information is available—182 drivers involved in fatal accidents subsequently gave a positive breath test. This figure does not of course include drivers who were killed themselves, or for whom a breath test was impracticable because of serious injuries or for some other reason. No comparable information is available about drugs.The Road Research Laboratory has for some time been obtaining from coroners information on the blood/alcohol levels of drivers and riders killed in road accidents: this will be published later this year.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he is aware that the strict enforcement of the weight limit on the swing bridge in Newhaven is causing traffic delays in Newhaven and Lewes, as well as inconvenience to hauliers, with consequent damage to the export effort; and if he will announce his Department's agreement to the proposed carrying capacity of the replacement for the swing bridge, without prejudice to the line of a relief road or by-pass;(2) if he will make a statement on the recent and forthcoming talks between his department and interested parties on the replacement of Newhaven swing bridge.(3) when he expects that work will start on the relief road or by-pass in Newhaven, including the bridging the River Ouse; and what is the approximate comparative cost of these alternative proposals, showing the cost of construction and compulsory purchase separately.

I am aware of the traffic difficulties in the Newhaven area. It is too early to say when work could start on a relief road or by-pass at Newhaven.As a result of discussions in the last few days between officials of the Ministry and the East Sussex County Council, the responsible highway authority, it has been agreed that the Council will complete in the autumn of this year its study of the relative merits and costs of a relief road or a by-pass. The county council will report its decision to me so that I can consider when the scheme can be fitted into the programme.The county council is also to consider seeking specialist technical advice, with Ministry assistance, on possible interim measures at or near the present swing bridge.The carrying capacity of the replacement for the swing bridge, whether temporary or permanent, will be sufficient for all normal traffic.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has examined the recent report of the World Health Organisation on the human factor in road accidents and the part played by the advertising methods of the motor car manufacturers and petrol companies; and if he will introduce legislation along the lines suggested in the report.

Advertisements which foster irresponsible attitudes to driving by placing disproportionate emphasis on speed can only make it more difficult to achieve sane and considerate standards on the road. The World Health Organisation report "Human Factors in Road Accidents" concludes that extensive use should be made of modern media of mass communication to counteract such advertisements and promote safe driving. Our road safety publicity campaign does so and I consider this rather than legislation to be the answer.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will obtain a report of the accident on the M1 on 21st June when an articulated lorry crossed the central reservation and struck a car travelling south, causing the deaths of a mother and her young son from Horwich in Lancashire.

I am aware of the circumstances of this accident but a study of individual cases is unlikely to throw further light on this particular type of accident. A Departmental Working Party is, however, investigating the whole question of accidents involving the central reserve of motorways.

asked the Minister of Transport what action he proposes to take following the recommendation of the jury of an inquest held at Hemel Hempstead on 15th July, on the deaths of a mother and her young son killed on the M1 that central crash barriers should be

		1968–69			1969–70			1970–71
			£m.			£m.			£m.
		From Central Fund	From Local Authority Funds	Total	From Central Fund	From Local Authority Funds	Total	From Central Fund	From Local Authority Funds	Total
New Construction and Improvement:
Trunk	…	128	—	128	165	—	165	189	—	189
Principal	…	82	41	123	83	41	124	90	42	132
Non Principal	…	2	36	38	1	35	36	—	40	40
		212	77	289	250	76	325	279	82	361
Maintenance:
Trunk	…	15	—	15	16	—	16	17	—	17
Principal	…	1	25	26	—	25	25	—	27	27
Non Principal	…	1	84	85	—	82	82	—	90	90
		17	109	126	16	107	123	17	117	134
Combined Total	…			415			448			495

Final figures for 1968–69 will not be available until later this year.Appendix 2 of "Roads in England" sets out the value of work done on roads.The figures quoted are estimates of expenditure in the years concerned and relate to England only. They are consistent with those used in the calculation of public expenditure on roads and lighting in Cmnd. 3936, except that for 1968–69 more up to date figures are available.The figures quoted do not include expenditure on car parks, lighting, administration and other miscellaneous items included in the figures in the White Paper. Figures for Scotland and Wales are the responsibility of their respective Secretaries of State.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why he has refused consent to the application from Rockwell Limited, Camberley, for the grant of an industrial development certificate.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Warwick and Leamington (Mr. Dudley Smith) on 14th July.—[Vol. 787, c. 10–11.]

asked the Minister of Transport if he will give the estimated figures for road expenditure for 1968–69, 1969–70 and 1970–71 on the same basis as that used in Appendix 2 of Roads in England; and if these figures are the same as those used to calculate the totals of public expenditure on roads public lighting in the White Paper, Public Expenditure 1968–69 to 1970–71.

Following are the estimated figures:

Because the project was not consistent with the proper distribution of industry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the effect of the granting of rent-free periods for factories sited in special development districts; and if he will extend this facility to firms who have moved into special development areas as the result of links with already established firms who moved to these districts prior to the granting of special development district status.

This concession, which has been offered to 42 firms so far, is proving an effective inducement. On the second part of the Question, a link with an existing firm in the area would not necessarily preclude the grant of this concession, but it would be necessary to examine the nature of the links.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the insured population employed in manufacturing industry in England and Wales are working in factories built since 1945.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he proposes to take following the Report on the Location of Offices Bureau on the restriction of office development outside London.

My right hon. Friend announced in the House on 30th January, 1969, certain relaxations in the scope and operation of the control on office development and we do not think it would be right to make further changes at this stage. We shall continue to keep a close watch on the effects of the control on the movement of office firms out of London.—[Vol. 777, c. 372–3.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the continued rundown of manpower in the coalmining, steel, textile and railway industries in South Yorkshire which also has areas of high unemployment, he will schedule the whole of South Yorkshire as a development district.

No, but the Yorkshire coalfield is among the places for which the Government are proposing intermediate area treatment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the report of the Monopolies Commission on the supply and export of rods for cigarette filter tips.

The report was published this morning. The Commission has found that monopoly conditions prevail both as regards the supply and the export from the United Kingdom of rods for cigarette filter tips. The Commission has concluded, however, that neither the conditions nor anything done by the parties concerned as a result of or for the purpose of preserving those conditions, operate or may be expected to operate against the public interest.I accept the Commission's conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many fishery protection vessels are currently in active service to safeguard United Kingdom national fishing rights and to protect British fishermen and their trawlers both in inshore waters and elsewhere.

Inshore patrols are carried out by the six coastal minesweepers of the Fishery Protection Squadron based at H.M.S. "Lochinvar". This effort is occasionally supplemented by other ships. Distant water patrols are conducted by frigates of the Western Fleet during the main fishing season.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will give specifications of the size, equipment and speed of those vessels currently on full-time fishery protection duties.

The coastal minesweepers of the Fishery Protection Squadron are 140 ft. in length, their maximum speed is 15 knots, and they carry a range of equipment appropriate to their tasks. The frigates on the distant water patrols are of various types and specifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many of Her Majesty's Fishery Protection Fleet are permanently allocated to the protection of British inshore fishing rights along Great Britain's south and south-west coasts.

Although ships of the Fishery Protection Squadron are not permanently allocated to any particular area, in practice one coastal minesweeper is deployed off the south and south-west coast almost continuously throughout the height of the fishing season.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what was the total size of the Fisheries Protection Fleet in November, 1964, as compared with the present time.

In November, 1964, four coastal minesweepers were engaged on home water patrols: the current total is six. These patrols are augmented from time to time by other ships.Distant water patrols in November, 1964, were carried out by the four frigates of the Arctic Division; since the disbandment of the Division in 1967 this task has been conducted by frigates of the Western Fleet on rotation during the main fishing season.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Rover 3·5 litre motor cars ordered by Departments under the Ministry of Defence contract have been delivered; and if he will list any defects that have become apparent caused by faulty workmanship or design, and the number of days that each car has been off the road due to rectification of faults.

Since the introduction of the Rover 3·5 litre model in September, 1967, 42 have been ordered and delivered to departments under the Ministry of Defence contract.The following defects have been reported and taken up with the manufacturer:

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the present position on credit for purchases of Hercules and Phantom aircraft ordered for the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy.

The United States Government has agreed to grant a further credit of $100 million making a total credit of $850 million—about £355 million at the current rate of exchange—to cover the expected remaining cost of capital and initial support requirements for our purchase of Phantom and Hercules aircraft.The arrangements with the Export Import Bank of the United States provide for extending last years credit agreement, which brought the total for these two types of aircraft to $750 million, from 30th June, 1969, to 31st December, 1969, together with a new agreement for the balance of $100 million at the existing rate of interest of 6 per cent. Credits under the new agreement will be available until 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give the estimated figures for road expenditure for 1968–69, 1969–70 and 1970–71 on the same basis as that used in Appendix 2 of Roads in England; and if these figures are the same as those used to calculate the totals of public expenditure on roads and public lighting in the White Paper, Public Expenditure 1968–69 to 1970–71.

Following is the information:

			1968–69			1969–70*			1970–71*
			£m.			£m.			£m
		From Central Funds	From Local Authority Funds	Total	From Central Funds	From Local Authority Funds	Total	From Central Funds	From Local Authority Funds	Total
New Construction and Improvements:
Trunk	…	8·0	—	8·0	9·0	—	9·0	13·0	—	13·0
Principal	…	3·4	1·0	4·4	4·0	1·0	5·0	4·0	1·0	5·0
Other	…	0·8	3·0	3·8	—	3·0	3·0	—	4·0	4·0
Total	…	12·2	4·0	16·2	13·0	4·0	17·0	17·0	5·0	22·0
Maintenance:
Trunk	…	1·7	—	1·7	2·0	—	2·0	2·0	—	2·0
Principal	…	0·3	1·9	9·2	—	2·0	2·0	—	2·0	2·0
Other	…	0·8	8·4	9·2	—	7·0	7·0	—	8·0	8·0
Total	…	2·8	10·3	13·1	2·0	9·0	11·0	2·0	10·0	12·0
Administration	…	0·4	2·2	2·6	—	2·0	2·0	—	2·0	2·0
Total	…	15·4	16·5	31·9	15·0	15·0	30·0	19·0	17·0	36·0
* In 1969–70 and 1970–71 figures have been given to the nearest £1 m.

These figures are derived from Cmnd. 3936 but have been adjusted to exlcude those items of expenditure that are not reflected in Appendix 2 of "Roads in England". In addition, the figures for 1968–69 have been further adjusted to take account of actual expenditure figures where these are available—but a great deal of information is still awaited for that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what reports he has received on mineral surveys undertaken by Government-sponsored agencies or commercially in the Principality of Wales during the past three years for non-ferrous metals; and how many of these explorations have resulted in exploitation.

No reports on mineral surveys have been submitted to me during the past three years but a number of such reports should be available later this year. So far as I am aware none of the exploration work undertaken recently has yet resulted in a decision to exploit the minerals.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when he expects to receive the report of the study by the Passenger Transport Co-ordinating Committee for Wales on the feasibility of establishing a Passenger Transport Authority for South-East Wales; and if he will make a statement.

The Committee hopes to be able to complete its work

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many agricultural holdings in Wales have ceased to exist as a result of industrial development, housing and amalgamation during the past five years.

I estimate that the number of agricultural holdings in Wales fell by about 4,000 between 1963 'and 1968. No complete analysis of the reasons is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he is satisfied with the working of the Leasehold Reform Act, 1967, in view of the latest decision of the Lands Tribunal; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he is aware of the decision of 15th July of the Lands Tribunal relating to the inflationary principle of valuation in the sale of the freehold of properties; and if he will incorporate the purport of this decision in his Department's explanatory leaflets.

I have seen conflicting newspaper reports about this decision and am awaiting the official report of the Tribunal in order to study it in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many meetings the Welsh Economic Council has had; and for how many hours it has met.

The Welsh Council, which replaced the Welsh Economic Council in April, 1968, has met on eight occasions for a total of approximately 32 hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many dentists are currently employed in the health service in Wales, broken down into counties; and how the number compares with that five and 10 years ago.

Following is the information for dentists other than hospital dentists:

	Numbers of Dentists on E.C. lists and resident in area
Executive Council	1 Jan., 1969	1 Jan., 1964	1 Jan., 1960
Anglesey	9	8	7
Breconshire	6	5	6
Cardiganshire	11	11	14
Carmarthenshire	21	24	27
Caernarvonshire	26	33	37
Denbighshire and Flintshire	50	57	54
Glamorgan	76	89	90
Merioneth	4	4	4
Monmouthshire and Newport	55	57	61
Montgomeryshire	9	8	7
Pembrokeshire	15	15	13
Radnorshire	3	5	5
Cardiff	70	67	56
Merthyr Tydfil	5	8	7
Swansea	33	36	33
	393	437	421

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what consideration he is giving to representations from local authorities and others on the recommendations contained in the Collcon Report about the future line of the A55 trunk road; and what steps he will take to make further feasibility studies of possible alternative routes.

I have decided to appoint consulting engineers to carry out further studies. They will be asked to review all the possible routes in the "Collcon" Report taking into account comments from local authorities and others, together with any other routes which appear to them to have merit and to make firm recommendations which will enable me to publish draft Orders under the Highways Act to establish the line of the road. I should like to express my thanks to all those who have sent me comments on the proposals in the "Collcon" Report; if any one wishes to send further comments I shall be glad to consider them.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will take the opportunity of the Summer Recess to put all the lift buttons in the lifts in logical sequence as is done in the lifts near the Chamber.

I will arrange for this to be done when the lifts are next due for overhaul.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what plans he now has for the future of the Foreign Office building in Whitehall.

I see no need to vary the forecast given by my predecessor on 20th January, 1969, in reply to the debate on Whitehall redevelopment.—[Vol. 776, c. 171.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works (1) what arrangements for rescue are maintained for persons using the lakes in the Royal parks;

The contractors who have been granted boating concessions are responsible for maintaining the boats and equipment in good order, and the contracts provide for the park Superintendents to enforce this. Boatmen employed by the contractors must be good swimmers and must render prompt assistance in the event of an accident. During summer weekends a motor patrol boat operates on the Serpentine where the water is deeper than in the lakes in the other parks. Paid and volunteer life guards are in attendance at the Serpentine Lido, and they operate from the bank and from boats patrolling the swimming area. Lifebuoys are placed at strategic points around lakes.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will list 47 committees sponsored by his Department currently in existence which have as members persons outside the Civil Service; whether he will indicate which of them contain as members representatives of the building industry or persons working in the building industry; how long each of these committees has been sitting; how many reports each have produced; and whether he will indicate the function of each committee.

Following is the information:

M.P.B.W. Sponsored Committees having as Members Persons Outside the Civil Service
*B. & C.E. Joint Committees (including Regions)	13
*Winter Building Advisory Committee
*Co-ordination of Underground Services Building Sites Committee
*Construction Research Advisory Council
*B.R.S. Steering Committee
*Committee on Application of Computers in Construction Industry
*Committee on Building Maintenance
*National Consultative Council of the Building and Civil Engineering Industries
*Agrement Board
*Standing Consultative Committee—Building
*Standing Consultative Committee—Sub-Contractors
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