asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when new offset arrangements for support costs of the British Army of the Rhine will be negotiated.

As my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs informed the House on 23rd July, the current Agreement covers the two financial years 1969 to 1971. We do not expect further formal negotiations before 1971.—[Vol. 787, c. 1727–33.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals Her Majesty's Government have made to the official representative of the United States Government, in the course of their conversations, concerning the involvement of the United States of America and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics in ensuring the observance of the cease-fire between the Arab States and Israel.

None. I am sure that those Governments are already fully aware (as we are) of the need for the ceasefire to be maintained between the Arab States and Israel.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a further statement about the four-Power talks on the Middle East.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the present prospect of negotiations for Arab-Israeli peace in the Middle East.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware of the growing concern regarding the deteriorating situation in the Middle East and especially in Libya; and whether Her Majesty's Government will reconsider their policy of supplying arms and equipment to those countries whose threats constitute a danger to the peace and stability of the Middle East.

The Government have on numerous occasions expressed their concern over the deteriorating situation in the Middle East, brought about largely by the failure to reach a peaceful solution to the Arab/Israeli dispute. Our efforts to promote a settlement are well known. I described the Government's attitude over the supply of arms to the Middle East very fully in the House on 17th June, making it quite clear that we would like to see a general limitation on arms supplies to the area. Failing general agreement on this, it is not our intention to see any country in the Middle East at such a disadvantage as to tempt an aggressor. —[Vol. 785, c. 258–314.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present state of the negotiations for British entry into the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the latest position with regard to Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Haltemprice (Mr. Wall).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what has been the cost to public funds of the preparation, production and distribution of the pamphlet entitled Conflict in Nigeria—the British View; whether he is aware that its content is biased in favour of the Federal Government of Nigeria; and if he will accordingly invite that Government to defray a proportion of the expense.

A total of £2,771 including freight and distribution costs of £509. As its foreword states, the booklet seeks to put British policy in perspective and is therefore a proper charge on public funds. I consider its treatment to be factual and objective.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will identify the public officer or agency in whose hands the government of Rhodesia now lies.

I have nothing to add to the reply given on 1st July by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to the hon. Member for Torquay (Sir F. Bennett).—[Vol. 786, c. 68–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give an assurance that, in the interest of British subjects, no further pressure will be brought to bear on other countries to withdraw their consuls from Southern Rhodesia.

No. Her Majesty's Government have drawn the attention of other countries to this aspect of United Nations Resolution No. 253 and we believe it to be right to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he has taken following the decision of the illegal régime in Rhodesia to move the Tangwena tribe from its traditional homeland.

The illegal régime's decision to over-ride the Rhodesian courts, and to compel the tribe to leave their homeland, confirms us in the views which my right hon. Friend expressed i n the United Nations General Assembly on 22nd September. In the present circumstances, however, there is no effective action that Her Majesty's Government can take to protect the Africans in Rhodesia from this kind of injustice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what reassessment he has made of the effectiveness of sanctions against Rhodesia since the latest budget in Salisbury.

Some improvement in Rhodesia's export earnings is likely as a result of this year's exceptionally good harvests. But while sanctions continue the long-term problems for the Rhodesian economy will remain.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many passports or other travel documents for British subjects in Rhodesia have been handled by Her Britannic Majesty's Embassy in Pretoria since the closing of the United Residual Mission in Salisbury; in how many such cases the British subject concerned was required to present himself in Pretoria; what was the average time of completion of the formalities; what were the compassionate cases, and how were they dealt with; what alternative facilities are offered by British missions in Portuguese or other territories adjacent to Rhodesia; how many complaints have been received against the existing arrangements; and whether he will make a statement.

More than 3,300 applications for passport facilities from United Kingdom citizens in Rhodesia have been handled by the Embassy in Pretoria since the United Kingdom Residual Mission was closed in July. In addition, 2,000 inquiries and requests for application forms have been received. A substantial proportion of these applications and inquiries have involved further, sometimes protracted, correspondence with the applicant. Since July 2,800 passports have been finally prepared; in all except compassionate cases people have been asked to collect their passports in Pretoria.Seven hundred and forty cases have been given priority on compassionate grounds and their passports returned by post. The main categories of compassionate cases have been:—

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Rhodesia with special reference to his proposals, through the United Nations and otherwise, to make mandatory sanctions against Rhodesia more effective.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's speech at the United Nations General Assembly on 22nd September and to the press communiqué issued by the Commonwealth Sanctions Committee on 24th September, copies of which are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what support he has given in international bodies during the past three months to American proposals for ending the war in Vietnam.

At the United Nations General Assembly last month I welcomed President Nixon's proposals for peace in Vietnam, in particular those concerned with the withdrawal of American troops. The desire of the United States to negotiate a fair settlement is unmistakable. We are now anxiously awaiting comparable statesmanship from the other side.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present position on the renegotiation of the Nassau Agreement, and if he will summarise the proposals he will table at such negotiations.

It is our intention to carry through the renegotiation at the appropriate time. The President of the United States was so informed by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries, members of the Council of Europe, voted for the handing over to Spain of Gibraltar in spite of the freely expressed wishes of its inhabitants.

Turkey, Greece and Cyprus voted for General Assembly Resolution 2429.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he proposes to visit Gibraltar in the near future.

I have no immediate plans of this nature. I look forward to welcoming in London later this year the Gibraltar Ministers who will be attending the further discussions arranged as a result of the visit to Gibraltar of my right hon. and noble Friend during the Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries, members of the Commonwealth, voted for the handing over to Spain of Gibraltar in spite of the freely expressed wishes of its inhabitants.

The following Commonwealth countries voted with Spain in favour of General Assembly Resolution No. 2429 (XXIII):

Pakistan, Tanzania, Zambia and Cyprus.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the latest position of five British subjects sentenced to imprisonment in Bari; and what information he has concerning their appeal hearings.

The defence lawyer has submitted appeals on behalf of all five men, but no date has yet been set for the hearings. Her Majesty's Government will continue to follow this matter closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the principles on which Her Majesty's Government extend recognition to new administration achieving power, otherwise than by constitutional means; and whether there has been any change or modification in British practice in regard thereto.

As my right hon. Friend, the then Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, said in the House on 27th February, 1967, the general practice which Her Majesty's Government have followed in relation to sovereign States is to recognise de jure a Government, established by revolutionary action, when Her Majesty's Government consider that the new Government enjoys, with a reasonable prospect of permanence, the obedience of the mass of the population and the effective control of much the greater part of the territory of the State concerned. Her Majesty's Government must, of course, take due account of special circumstances relating to any specific instance, including any United Nations or other international action. There has been no recent change or modification in this practice.—[Vol. 742,c. 6–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has made in respect of the expulsion of three British journalists from Kenya; and if he will make a statement.

Three British journalists were deported from Kenya on the night of 26th–27th September. I understand that the deportations were ordered by the Kenya Government on grounds of national security.The British High Commissioner immediately made representations to the Kenya authorities that the men concerned should be given adequate time to settle their affairs. Subsequently, on instructions, he expressed to the Kenya Government Her Majesty's serious concern at the manner in which the deportations were carried out. One of the journalists, Mr. Eric Marsden, later appealed against the deportation order and has been allowed to return to Kenya.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the deportation of three British journalists from Kenya.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave earlier today to the right hon. and learned Member for Hertford, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith).

un asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on the war in Nigeria and efforts by Her Majesty's Government to secure peace.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave earlier today to my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Mr. Winnick).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on progress towards a peace settlement in Nigeria.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to my hon. Friends, the Members for Croydon. South (Mr. Winnick) and Brentford and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes), and the hon. Member for Liverpool, Waver-tree (Mr. Tilney).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will inquire into the reasons for the arrest in September last of Mr. L. T. Pudaite, Third Secretary for the Indian Commission in Hong Kong, by the police without any charge being made against him and his subsequent release after examination without any apology being offered.

Mr. Pudaite, a Second Secretary of the Indian Commission in Hong Kong, by chance became involved in the investigation into a case of theft. He was not arrested and was innocent of any involvement in this theft. He was asked with others to submit to a search to establish the truth or otherwise of the charge. We are in touch with the Government of India about the case and regret that it ever happened.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he now proposes to take at the United Nations, and in conjunction with other Governments, in respect of the hi-jacking of aircraft; and whether he will propose to the United Nations that any member Government which detains the victims of hi-jacking shall not be eligible for membership of the Security Council.

As to the first part of the question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to the hon. Member for Wembley, South (Sir R. Russell). We do not consider that, given the accepted conventions relating to elections at the United Nations, the course proposed by my hon. Friend would seem appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what terms Sir Con O'Neill has been employed; and what are his functions.

Since 1st September, 1969, Sir Con O'Neill has been employed as a temporary officer on contract with a salary of £9,800 per year. He has the status of a Deputy Under-Secretary in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. His functions are to supervise within the Foreign and Commonwealth Office matters concerning our relations with the European communities; and in any negotiations with the European Economic Community on British membership he would lead our official negotiating team.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make future passports available in either the former hard covered type or the new flexible covered type.

The possibility of redesigning the present form of British passport has been under examination; the aim would be to save costs by introducing mechanical processing in major passport centres and for this a flexible cover is a prerequisite. It is hoped to make an announcement about future intentions in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the latest assurances given to New Zealand on the long-term future of her exports to the United Kingdom.

While in New Zealand from 19th to 28th August my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State gave assurances consistent with the basic policy of the British Government as set out in Command 3345 of 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Iraq Government about the recent trials and executions in Baghdad of the Jews, Moslems and Christians; and whether he has had a reply.

Since none of those concerned was a British subject, we had no grounds for making official representations to the Iraqi Government. We have in the past made our views clear on humanitarian grounds and if we think we can help those in need, are prepared to do so again. Meanwhile the Iraqi Government can be in no doubt about the strength of feeling of Her Majesty's Government, Parliament and the public on this question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give a list of people in his Department who, additionally to Sir Con O'Neill, have, during the past two years, resigned their appointment and been re-appointed to the same graded post at the same salary; what are the reasons in each case; and to what extent this practice affects advancement in the promotion of those who remain in the Department.

No officers have resigned their appointment in the Diplomatic Service and been reinstated on the same terms during the period in question.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about the progress of Her Majesty's Government's steps to bring about a Union of Arab Emirates.

The Union of Arab Emirates has in fact been formally set up for over 18 months. From the outset, we have given and will continue to give the Union full support and encouragement, together with advice as and when requested. We hope that the next meeting of the Union, on 21st October, will serve to consolidate the preparatory work which has been done.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the purpose and result of the latest Ministerial visit to Cairo; and what progress was made thereby in securing the release of the British ships illegally confined in the Suez Canal.

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster visited Cairo as the guest of the United Arab Republic Government and had useful discussions with President Nasser and other personalities. The ships were among the subjects discussed, but the military situation along the Canal makes progress in securing their release difficult at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will consider creating in Hong Kong a city council in place of the existing urban council giving it greater responsibility in regard to finance and administration.

The Governor is now formulating proposals for a degree of reorganisation of the local administration in the colony. These will include proposals relating to the constitution, functions, powers and responsibilities of the urban council.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what compensation will be given by Her Majesty's Government to Mr. Anthony Grey in view of the fact that his imprisonment was due to events in Hong Kong.

It is cause for the deepest satisfaction that Mr. Grey's long unjustified detention by the Chinese authorities has ended. I appreciate the hon. Member's suggestion that we should pay tribute to the fortitude and courage of Mr. Grey. I shall be considering in what way we can most appropriately show our admiration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government have now decided to ratify the European Convention on Establishment.

Yes; Her Majesty's Government have decided to ratify the Convention. The instrument of ratification has been sent to Strasbourg to be deposited with the Secretariat of the Council of Europe.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action he is taking to assist in over-coming the financial crisis in the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.

We consider that U.N.R.W.A.'s financial problems could be solved quite easily if those states which last year voted for U.N.R.W.A.'s mandate to be extended and for increased contributions were all to make a donation to the Agency. Even a modest contribution from those countries (altogether over 100) would be enough to clear U.N.R.W.A.'s deficit for some time to come. We have a proud record as the second largest donor to the Agency, and we expect that our contribution for 1970 will be on the same generous level as this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what instructions he has given to British Consulates in Western Europe in regard to help for British citizens who suffer accidents; and whether it is possible to contact a British Consulate at a weekend.

Consuls are under instructions to take all proper steps to safeguard the interests of United Kingdom nationals within their districts; these cover the contingency of grave or fatal accident. Varying arrangements exist for contact with consuls at weekends; they do not, however, apply in all cases to honorary consulates.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is Her Majesty's Government's policy regarding the making of representations to foreign governments on behalf of political prisoners; and on what grounds this policy differs from that followed towards the Greek Government.

It is our practice to make representations to foreign Governments which hold British subjects in custody without trial, but we do not have the same standing to make representations about their treatment of their own nationals. Our practice in relation to the Greek Government conforms with this position, and we have successfully made representations on behalf of British subjects held in Greece.As regards the treatment by the Greek Government of their own nationals, they are well aware of our concern about political prisoners in Greece.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent visit of the Minister of State to Australia and New Zealand.

At the invitation of the New Zealand Government my right hon. Friend the then Minister of State visited New Zealand from 19th to 28th August. He attended the opening of the Auckland International Trade Fair and was present at the British Pavilion on British Day. He had discussions with Mr. Holyoake and other New Zealand. Ministers.From 28th to 31st August he visited Australia and had discussions with Australian Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Anglo-Libyan relations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what effect recent events in Libya have had upon the relations between Her Majesty's Government and that country.

Her Majesty's Government recognised the new Libyan régime on 6th September. We share the Libyan wish for full and friendly relations between our two countries and we have been pleased to note that Libya has confirmed that she will continue to honour her international obligations and undertakings.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made towards establishing a conference for European security; what initiatives he is currently taking in this direction; and if he will propose at the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation meeting in December that it should agree to the holding of an East-West security conference.

As the House knows, we are studying with our Allies in N.A.T.O. what issues might fruitfully be negotiated between East and West and how such negotiations might best be initiated in due course, and I look forward to a constructive expression of the views of the Alliance on these questions in December.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the report made by Mr. Gerald Brooke to his Department since Mr. Brooke's release from prison, he will make a further statement dealing with all matters connected with this case.

No. I have nothing to add to the reasons for Her Majesty's Government's decision in this case which I gave in my statement on 24th July.—[Vol. 878, c. 2146–56.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement clarifying his plans in regard to preservation of beneficiaries' rights in occupational pension schemes.

Since publishing our initial proposals in Chapter 6 of the White Paper on "National Superannuation and Social Insurance" (Cmnd. 3883) we have been holding a series of discussions with representatives of occupational pension schemes and others concerned. Preparation of substantive proposals to place before the House is now well advanced.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the aggregate cost to date of payments of supplementary benefit made to the families of dustmen on strike; and what has been the average payment per family.

Up to Tuesday, 7th October—the latest date for which figures are available—54 payments totalling £418, an average of £7 15s. per family, had been made to the dependants of strikers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for the organisation and financial control of those bodies dealing with blind welfare, details of which have been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether the title to the invalidity pension for long-term sickness will be contributory.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the criteria by which lowly-paid workers in full employment are given social security benefits to help pay the rents of council houses;(2) how many low-paid council house tenants in full employment in Hull receive social security benefits to help to pay their rents.

Persons who are in full-time remunerative work are not eligible for supplementary benefit; there are thus no council house tenants in full-time employment in Hull who are receiving social security help with their rents. Council tenants may, however, be eligible for rent rebates where a council operates a rebate scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent, in the event of a successful application to join the European Economic Community, there will be free entry of doctors to practise medicine in the United Kingdom; and whether it will be obligatory for them to have a knowledge of the English language.

This would depend on the extent to which the Community had already agreed on arrangements under Article 57 of the Treaty of Rome for the mutual recognition of qualifications, and for the elimination of existing restrictions on the freedom of doctors to practise throughout the Community. I understand that the present draft for these arrangements envisages a period of adaptation designed to ensure that doctors have an adequate knowledge of the language, as well as of the law and customs of the country in which they intend to practice, but that this is still under discussion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now announce the names of the members of the Medicines Commission.

I hope to make an announcement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if under his regulations prescriptions issued by a consultant to a private patient seen either at his private practice or in a hospital out-patients department are permitted to be dispensed in a hospital pharmacy; and if he will issue instructions that the full retail price, dispensers' fees and container charges shall be met in such cases.

Prescriptions for private non-resident hospital patients are not normally dispensed at hospital pharmacies but when, exceptionally, this is permitted, the hospital is required to make a charge to cover the whole cost including overheads. Private prescriptions issued to patients other than those seen at hospital cannot be dispensed at hospital pharmacies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will issue instructions that no hospital doctor may prescribe for his own use any drug, hard or soft, to be issued through his own hospital pharmacy in order to avoid self-diagnosis, self-prognosis and self-prescribing.

Hospitals have been advised that members of the hospital staff should obtain any drugs they need for their own treatment in the same way as other members of the public.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will have a spot check of the prescriptions dispensed in any six teaching hospitals to ascertain the quantity of scheduled drugs which are being self-prescribed.

I see no reason to single out teaching hospitals, but if my hon. Friend has any particular information and will write to me, I will consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are employed by the Dental Estimates Board.

1,500. This figure includes part-time staff, and is equivalent to 1,179 whole-time staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the annual cost of the Dental Estimates Board.

About £1,484,000 in the year ended 31st December, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many dentists are employed by the Dental Estimates Board.

Thirty-two, one of them part-time. Most of the board members are also dentally qualified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total saving, in the latest convenient annual period, to the Exchequer as a result of adjustments made to individual dentists' estimates owing to the recommendations of the Dental Estimates Board.

It is impossible to make a meaningful estimate in the form requested, nor would such an estimate be a satisfactory measure of the value of the board. A recent sample check suggested however that 7 per cent. of all dental estimate forms submitted to Eastbourne for payment contain errors affecting the amounts due to the dentist or the amount charged to the patient.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to review the necessity for the Dental Estimates Board.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the country of origin of each of the cases of leprosy notified within the United Kingdom during the last five years.

The country of origin of patients is not recorded either on the notification form or in the confidential register kept by my Department. However information otherwise available gives the countries of previous residence of 115 of the 280 cases notified in England and Wales since the beginning of 1964, as follows:

Asia
India	33
Pakistan	15
"Far East"	3
Burma	2
Vietnam	2
Hong Kong	2
Indonesia	1
Korea	1
Ceylon	1
Malaya	2
Thailand	1
Formosa	1
Africa
Nigeria	12
Uganda	3
Ghana	2
Kenya	2
Cameroons	1
Rhodesia	1
Egypt	1
"Central Africa	1
West Indies
Jamaica	7
Trinidad	5
Guyana	4
"West Indies"	1
Barbados	1
St. Kitts	1
Europe
Malta	5
Cyprus	2
Spain	1
Oceania
Fiji	1

In addition there is presumptive evidence in 99 of the remaining cases that they may have had associations with the following countries:

India	52
Moslem countries	42
Africa	3
China	1
Greece	1

No relevant information is available about the other 66 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many cases of tuberculosis in England were notified for each of the years 1955 to 1968.

For all forms of tuberculosis the numbers of notifications were:

1955	36,109
1956	33,256
1957	30,694
1958	27,966
1959	25,409
1960	22,328
1961	20,433
1962	19,344
1963	17,860
1964	16,527
1965	15,161
1966	13,772
1967	12,477
1968	12,359

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to make it obligatory for letters from general practitioners referring any patient to a hospital to give the National Health Service medical card number.

I do not think this would be appropriate. I prefer at present to rely on measures to facilitate and encourage the giving of the number.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he expects that his direction to the regional hospital boards that top priority is to be given to improving long-stay hospitals for the sub-normal, without the provision of extra money for such a purpose, will delay the planned construction of a new out-patient department and surgical block at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are to be taken to expand and reduce overcrowding at St. George's Hospital, Morpeth, in view of the deterioration in the services it offers to the North-East.

A new 40-bed unit is to be opened at the hospital in the next few weeks and further beds are planned.The Regional Hospital Board has plans for extension of geriatric services in the area which will significantly reduce pressure on the hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further reply, other than an acknowledgement, he has sent to the Institute of Medical Laboratory Technology with reference to their comments of March, 1969, on the Report of the Zuckerman Committee on Hospital Scientific and Technical Services; and what action he proposes to take in the light of those comments.

I am still considering the Report in the light of the comments received from hospital authorities, and from bodies representative of professional and staff interests, including those of the Institute. I hope to be able to make a statement fairly soon.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now undertake a comprehensive review of nurses' salaries and conditions of service with a view to making the nursing profession competitive in terms of salaries and conditions of service and to maintaining an adequate supply of recruits to the profession.

I have no doubt that the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council, which has the prime responsibility for nurses' pay and conditions of service, has these considerations well in mind. The National Board for Prices and Incomes, which carried out a comprehensive review in 1967–68, recommended that the settlement which followed should stand until 31st March, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has to use volunteer workers in hospitals instead of certain paid personnel as stated in the departmental circular HM(69)58 issued recently; and if he will publicise his plans and give support to voluntary organisations such as the Women's Royal Voluntary Service to help them recruit extra volunteers who will be needed.

HM(69)58 re-affirmed my wish to encourage and develop the growth of voluntary work for hospitals to the maximum. It also drew the attention of hospital authorities to the possible value of appointing paid organisers of voluntary services and the need for consultation with existing local voluntary organisations when such an appointment is contemplated. It is for each hospital management committee to decide how best the use of volunteers can be encouraged and increased locally. I am confident that the Women's Royal Voluntary Service and other voluntary organisations will continue to make a major contribution to this growth.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the extent of the present decrease in the establishment of nursing staff at Willesden General Hospital and the reason for the decrease; and if he will make a statement.

The decrease in the number of nursing staff in post between 30th March and 30th September this year was less than one whole-time equivalent.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the schemes and dates of completion of improvements to the A5 Trunk Road in England in the last 10 years.

Following is the information:

Those improvement schemes to the A5 which have been completed over the last 10 years and which cost over £25,000 are as follows:

London

asked the Minister of Transport (1) when work was commenced on the subway and road works at the Chequers Corner, Dagenham; and when it is expected to complete this work;(2) how many contractors have been employed on the subway and road works at the Chequers Corner, Dagenham; and for what reason any have dropped out.

Only one contractor has been employed on the main works of this scheme apart from those employed by the statutory undertakers for alteration to their services. The subway works started in September, 1968, and the scheme is expected to be completed in May, 1970.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the proposed bypass at Ampthill, Bedfordshire.

This bypass is one of the inter-urban principal road schemes now being considered for a future Preparation List. It is not at present possible to say whether it will be chosen.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will make a statement on the life and maintenance costs of concrete roads vis-a-vis other forms of road surfacing.

The life of a road, whether of concrete or other form of road surfacing, depends not only on the surfacing but also on the overall strength and durability of the full pavement design adopted.Maintenance costs of concrete and bituminous surfacings on heavily trafficked roads are related mainly to the preservation of skid resistance properties, and depend upon the intervals between treatments and the methods used.There is as yet insufficient data on the costs of maintaining various types of road surfacing over an extended period to enable a judgment to be made of the relative overall costs.

asked the Minister of Transport why instructions were given by his Department to the Merseyside and North Wales Electricity Board to remove all services to Nos. 151, 119 and 117, Bowring Park Road thereby making the houses useless for temporary habitation and pre-judging the court of inquiry into the route of the South Lancashire Motorway.

These houses, which the Department was required to purchase under planning blight provisions, are not suitable for short-term letting. The electricity was cut off to prevent their becoming a source of danger, especially to children, in the event of vandalism. The decision in no way pre-judges the outcome of the public inquiry into the route of the motorway.

asked the Minister of Transport what is the outcome of the discussions which he held with the Highways and Traffic Committee of the Road Haulage Association on the recommendations in the report of the inquiry into the Hixon level crossing disaster.

The exchange of views between my Department and the Road Haulage Association's Highways and Traffic Committee has been helpful to both sides towards understanding the detailed problems involved in implementing the Inquiry's recommendations. I am grateful for the suggestions put forward by the Road Haulage Association from its experience and knowledge of the operation of heavy road vehicles. Some technical points raised by the Road Haulage Association, which do not of themselves affect the Regulations and the traffic signs now being installed, are being given further consideration, and the Association has been assured that the effect of the modified installations and procedure will be carefully watched and any difficulties will be immediately considered; the Association has itself undertaken to help with observations on these crossings. A particular outcome of these discussions has been that the Association has offered to help in making known to goods vehicle drivers the layout and procedures at automatic half-barrier level crossings; I am very grateful to it for doing this.

asked the Minister of Transport what changes or additions have been made to his initial statement of last year which decided the route of the "D" Ring Road for London with particular reference to Northolt, Middlesex.

The statement of November, 1968, said that of the three routes that had been proposed for this road two were no longer to be safeguarded. The third was to be retained while investigations were made into its exact line. Particular difficulties arise on the section of this route between A40 and A4020. I have therefore appointed Frank Graham Associates, Consulting Engineers, to determine whether any line can now be found in this area better than that recommended in 1964 by the Ministry's consultants.

asked the Minister of Transport what have been the results of the recent inquiry into derailments on stretches of continuous welded rail track; and if he will make a statement.

The Report on the Inquiry into two derailments on buckled track at Berkhamsted and Auchencastle last year was published on 7th October, 1969. The most recent Inquiry into a derailment on continuous-welded track is that of the derailment on 13th June, 1969, of an express passenger train near Somerton, which is also covering the derailment of another passenger train at Sandy and of an empty carflat train at Lichfield. The Inquiry is also examining the whole question of the design, laying and maintenance of continuous-welded rail track on British Railways.Nothing in the investigation so far has cast doubt on the basic soundness of continuous-welded rail track, but it has shown that some reconsideration is needed of the detailed design data and laying techniques for this type of track. Certain measures to improve track stability are already being taken by the Railways Board.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the total number of derailments on British Rail for the first nine months of this year, showing the respective figures for passenger and freight trains; and if he will list the comparable figures for the same period over the last five years.

The provisional figures for reportable derailments of passenger

			Winter			Summer
Week ended			22nd January, 1967	7th May, 1967	30th March, 1969	31st July, 1966	13th August,1967	1st September,1968
Monday-Friday (average)			1,350	1,604	1,426	1,896	2,611	2,632
Saturday	…	…	1,210	1,436	1,357	2,260	3,081	4,006*
Sunday	…	…	772	1,026	684	1,462	1,449	1,544*
* Bank holiday weekend.

The present annual deficit exceeds £300,000 and even if the track were singled, which would require considerable capital expenditure, the deficit was estimated to exceed £200,000. There was no evidence of population increases in the area likely to lead to significant changes in this pattern of usage and costs.

asked the Minister of Transport, in view of the yearly increase in the number of passengers on the Ashford-Ore railway line and the anticipated increase in population in Ashford and Hastings, what has led him to the conclusion that the continuation of the service would be uneconomic.

We received no evidence of any material increase in the number of passengers using this line. The following summary of census figures taken in recent years shows the numbers of daily journeys made:

asked the Minister of Transport if he will publish a summary of the reactions from local authorities to the proposal by his working party that local authorities should assume some responsibility for the learner motorcyclist training scheme now operated under the auspices of the Royal Automobile Club/Auto-Cycle Union.

Local authorities generally welcomed the proposals by the working party, but felt that lack of funds prevented them from assuming the responsibilities suggested.

asked the Minister of Transport how many commercial vehicles have been tested since 1st October, 1968; how many spot checks have been carried out on such vehicles; what were the percentages of defective and non-defective vehicles in these two categories; and what future proposals the Minister has for improving the standard of commercial vehicle maintenance.

Between 1st October, 1968, and 31st August, 1969, 354,126 tests and retests of goods vehicles were carried out at Ministry testing stations. In 30 per cent. of cases, the vehicles failed to pass the test for various reasons and were refused test certificates. Spot checks were carried out on 87,274 goods vehicles during the same period and 38 per cent. of the vehicles were found to be defective. The number of vehicles in the spot checks which had previously been tested at Ministry testing stations is not known.The main purpose of operators' licensing, which begins next year, is to help improve goods vehicle maintenance standards and keep unsafe vehicles off the roads.

asked the Minister of Transport how many commercial vehicles were found defective due to spot checks carried out since 1st October, 1968; how many charges were preferred against drivers and owners of such vehicles; what were the average fines introduced by the courts in such cases; and whether he has any proposals for tightening up the regulations.

Between 1st October, 1968, and 31st August, 1969, 33,507 goods vehicles were found to be defective at spot checks; 8,992 of these vehicles were found to be so seriously defective as to merit immediate prohibition from the roads. I regret that corresponding figures of prosecutions and fines are not available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to exempt mopeds with pedals and having a cubic capacity of 50 c.c. or under from all forms of licensing and taxation in the interest of relieving congestion in city centres and in conformity with the legislation in the European Economic Community countries, details of which are in his possession.

No. I am satisfied that the exemptions suggested even if acceptable, would do little towards relieving congestion in city centres.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of any current balance of payments deficit in each year since 1964 has been attributable to overseas defence expenditure.

Figures of overseas defence expenditure are published in the Pink Book on the United Kingdom Balance of Payments. They do not give a complete picture of the impact of overseas defence expenditure on the current balance, since, apart from wider considerations, part of this expenditure may give rise to receipts elsewhere in the current account.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the Inland Revenue Authority's plans to establish a computer centre at Hilsea, Portsmouth.

On 11th September the Inland Revenue announced that a decision had been taken in principle to locate its computer centre for the Southern Region at Portsmouth Application has been made for planning permission to build the centre on a site at Hilsea; this application is still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total sum currently deposited by British industry at no interest rate with Her Majesty's Government as a result of the import levy scheme.

From the inception of the import deposit scheme to 30th September gross receipts of import deposits from all sources were £924 million and gross repayments were £366 million. The amount still deposited is £558 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence at what price was the aircraft carrier H.M.S. "Victorious" sold for scrap.

It is not the practice to disclose contract prices: these are confidential between the Ministry of Defence and the contractor.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what numbers of men and women were employed by Her Majesty's Government on 1st October, 1969, for military purposes in the following categories, namely, the regular armed forces, civilians directly working for, and attached to, the regular armed forces, employment on defence production and research contract work, employment in defence departments, civilian industrial staffs in defence departments not already included, and those in indirect employment not already included.

Questions of the numbers of employees in industry engaged on defence production and research contract work, and of other personnel who may be indirectly employed on defence work in industry or by other Departments, fall outside by responsibilities. The figures for the regular armed forces and civilian employees of the Ministry of Defence are as follows:—

	United Kingdom personnel		Locally enlisted personnel
	Men	Women
Regular Armed Forces	361,650	13,850	21,000

	United Kingdom based	Locally engaged
Ministry of Defence civilians serving with Service Commands and Units	115,380	64,320
Ministry of Defence Head-quarters	13,040	—
Other civilians employed by the Ministry of Defence at home and abroad:
Industrial	79,060	6,740
Non-Industrial	54,240	1,870

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what grant for development and manufacturing facilities has been made or is to be made to the Royal Ordnance Factory, Blackburn.

No grant for development or manufacturing facilities has been made, or is contemplated, for the Royal Ordnance Factory, Blackburn. Credit is, however, taken in the Royal Ordnance factory accounts for grants such as investment grants, for which the Royal Ordnance factories would have qualified had they been eligible in the same way as private industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the case of the nine electrical fitters on the staff of Portsmouth Dockyard who have been on £16 18s. a week pay for 23 weeks without any work being available for them within the dockyard.

These men are precluded, because of trade union objections, from doing the work on which they have proved themselves competent over the last five years. This is only one of the many problems which it is hoped to resolve in the productivity negotiations to be resumed shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the report of the Royal Commission on Local Government in Scotland.

I hope to make a statement tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had, or is proposing to have, with Shetland County Council about the costs of shipping services between Shetland and the mainland.

My hon. Friend, the Minister of State, will be meeting representatives of Orkney and Shetland County Councils in Lerwick on 29th October. Officials of my Departments met representatives of the councils in Edinburgh last June.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will establish a body, before legislation is introduced, to consider whether occupational medicine, including the school, university, college and prison health services, should be unified, in the light of developments in this country and abroad and having regard to efficiency and cost effectiveness, and what its future position should be within or outwith the National Health Service.

I do not think a new body of this kind is required in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made in reducing the waiting list for entry into Government training centres in the northern region.

The number of applicants accepted and under consideration in Northern Region has fallen by 267 since March, 1969. This process will be accelerated when training starts at the new Durham and Darlington centres during the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the present percentage of unemployed men in North Ayrshire.

At 8th September the rate of unemployment for males in the area covered by the Irvine, Saltcoats, Dalry, Kilwinning and Largs Employment Exchanges was 5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total number of persons employed in the jute industry in Scotland on 1st October, 1964, 1968 and 1969, respectively.

Industrial analyses of employment in Scotland are available only for June in each year. The estimated numbers of employees in employment in Scotland in the jute industry—minimum list heading 415 of the 1958 edition of the Standard Industrial Classification—at June, 1964, and June, 1968, were 16,500 and 14,500, respectively. The estimates for June, 1969, will be available early next year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will support the application of Bahamas Airways for air services between Nassau and Grand Cayman and Central America.

Bahamas Airways is already licensed to fly between the Bahamas and Grand Cayman. The Bahamas authorities have not asked us to take steps with foreign countries to allow services to Central America.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if, in view of the rapid increase of traffic at Gatwick Airport, he will now impose a limit on night jet flights there between the hours of 11.30 p.m. and 6 a.m. similar to the limit imposed by him at Heathrow; and if he will make a statement.

I recognise that to allow the growth of night jet traffic at Gatwick to continue unchecked at its present rate could lead to an intolerable noise situation. While I propose to put no restriction on 1970 traffic, a full review of trends will be undertaken next spring to consider limitations for 1971 and beyond.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total number of aircraft movements at London Airport, Heathrow, in 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1968; and what was the total number of movements in the months of July, August and September, respectively, in each year and in 1969.

Following is the information:

NUMBER OF AIRCRAFT MOVEMENTS*
	Year	July	August	September
1964	187,784	19,797	19,936	19,159
1965	206,336	22,060	21,720	20,844
1966	224,099	23,808	23,625	22,693
1967	236,449	24,385	24,298	23,363
1968	247,498	25,693	25,660	24,395
1969	¨	26,856	26,090	25,194†
* An aircraft movement is a landing or a takeoff.
† Provisional.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what study he has made of the Hewlett-Packard computerised aircraft noise monitoring system which has been installed at Stuttgart Airport, details of which are in his possession; and whether he will take steps to ensure that a similar system is now installed at Heathrow.

A decision in principle to install an automatic system of noise monitoring at Heathrow has already been taken, and tenders will be invited when studies for the specifications are completed. The Hewlett-Packard system is under consideration in this context.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the increase in the number of multi-compartment aircraft, he will propose to other airline operating countries the provision of separate compartments, if necessary at a small extra charge, for small children and non-smokers.