asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he is now able to announce his plans for the future use of the closed refreshment building in Kensington Gardens.

I am anxious to make good use of this building as a Park amenity and hope to be able to make an announcement soon.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will increase the annual budget of his Ancient Monuments Laboratory from its present figure of £7,000.

The figure mentioned by my hon. Friend is only a small fraction of the total annual budget of the Laboratory. I would also refer my hon. Friend to the reply given on 11th March to my hon. Friend the Member for High Peak (Mr. Peter M. Jackson).—[Vol. 779,c. 1139]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement on brick stocks.

At the end of September stocks were 741 million.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what proposals he has for increasing the uses of mechanical and technological aids in the construction industry.

The Ministry undertakes and promotes research and development on mechanisation, winter building and computer applications; we distribute publications and arrange exhibitions. We are also setting up an Information and Advisory Service at the Building Research Station, and a Centre for structural engineering computer programmes.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works when he next proposes to attend a meeting of the Economic Development Committee for Building.

I have no plans at present to attend a meeting of the Economic Development Committee for Building, but I should be ready to do so at any time if this seems appropriate.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what is the present establishment of technical and professional staff at the Building Research Station and at the Agrement Board.

454 at the Building Research Station and 9 at the Agrement Board.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if he will make a statement on the progress so far of the excavations and archaeological investigations at Silbury Hill, Wiltshire.

The examination of the interior of the mound by means of a main tunnel to its centre and shorter lateral tunnels was completed by the B.B.C. team last August and the excavation is in process of being backfilled.Subsidiary examinations of the ditch and of the summit of the mound were also carried out and there is a proposal for a further excavation of the summit and the ditch in 1970 to establish construction methods and climatic changes since the mound was raised.The final report by the supervisor in charge of the excavation will not be available until all work is completed but it can be stated that no discovery of outstanding archaeological importance has so far been made.

asked the Lord President of the Council when he expects to announce a decision about the Charter for Cranfield College.

I hope to make an announcement in the near future.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will take steps to provide more opportunities for Members representing Scottish constituencies to ask Questions of the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of his wide executive powers.

As I have already informed the House, the present roster arrangements are experimental. I will bear this particular point in mind when the roster is next under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consultations he expects to have completed before he issues his proposed White Paper on the reorganisation of local government.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is satisfied with the time available to local authorities to consider the recommendations of the Wheatley Commission on Local Government in Scotland before the publication of the proposed Government White Paper; and if he will make a statement.

My present consultations relate to the Wheatley Commission's proposals regarding the structure of local government and the division of functions. I have invited all interested bodies and authorities to submit observations on these proposals by the end of January; thereafter there will be discussions with the local authority associations before we reach and announce our conclusions. I am satisfied that the time allowed for this first round of consultations is adequate and reasonable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the acreage of land which will be planted in the south-west of Scotland by private forestry companies between 1969 and 1976.

None, but I understand that the Forestry Commission has to date received firm proposals for planting in the South-West of Scotland from 1970 to 1976 on behalf of clients of the forestry companies amounting to 13,700 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the percentage increase in the number of pupils entering secondary education in 1972 compared with 1970.

17, based on the forecasts of the numbers of 12 year olds at January, 1970, and January, 1972.

the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the Official Report a copy of any circular sent to local authorities containing instructions or recommendations regarding future increases in council house rents during the past six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has given to local authorities concerning council house rents during the past six months; and if he will make a statement.

No instructions or advice have been given to local authorities, but the local authority associations were consulted during the preparation of the Rent (Control of Increases) Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on how many occasions he has overruled the recommendations of reporters holding public inquiries into objections to amendments to county development plans under the terms of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Acts.

Twice during the last Five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will publish proposals to implement those sections of the Hunter Report on Fishing which, in his view, are generally acceptable to most of the interests concerned.

I have stressed in the past that the Report should be regarded as a unity and dealt with as such. Moreover, most of the main recommendations have been the subject of controversy and little would be gained by confining action to the remainder.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total net recruitment to Scottish police forces in the first 10 months of 1969; and what were the comparable figures in the first 10 months of 1967 and 1965.

In the first ten months of 1969 there was a net decrease of 7 police officers in Scotland. In the same periods of 1967 and 1965 there were net increases of 23 and 281 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to clarify the position of police pension schemes in the light of the proposed new State pension scheme.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made in the House on 5th November by my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Social Services.—[Vol. 790, c. 1012–22.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice concerning local authority finance he plans to give local authorities before they submit their recommendations to him on the Wheatley Report and the future of local government in Scotland.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Gentleman on 22nd October.—[Vol. 788, c. 264.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of houses he estimates will be built in the private sector in Scotland during the year 1970.

I cannot make a firm forecast. The number of houses completed in the first nine months of 1969 was 29,268 and the total for the full year will depend on how many of the 56,360 under construction at 30th September are completed in the last quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the value of primary and secondary school building approved, started, and completed, respectively, in the third quarter of 1969.

Following is the information:

Value of School Building Work in Scotland Quarter ended 30 September 1969
			Primary	Secondary
			£million	£ million
Approved	…	…	1.03	1.20
Started	…	…	1·93	2·73
Completed	…	…	5·06	7·08

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been achieved in meeting the employment targets sets out in the White Paper, The Scottish Economy, Command Paper No. 2864.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Gentleman on 16th July.—[Vol. 787, c. 6061]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if the Report on the Esk Valley Study has been submitted to him; and what action he intends to take arising from it.

I understand from Midlothian County Council, who commissioned the study, that they expect to have the report on it available about the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has sent to the Newbattle District Council, Midlothian, letter to him on its request for a meeting to discuss new industries as a consequence of the mining industry contracting in that area.

I have not received a request for a meeting from the Newbattle District Council. I understand, however, that my hon. Friend accompanied a delegation from the area which discussed this matter with senior officials of the Ministry of Technology in Scotland at a meeting on 7th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he anticipates introducing legislation to give effect to the report of the Commission on the Reorganisation of Egg Marketing and the Government's pronouncements on this subject; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Second Reading debate on the Agriculture Bill last Thursday, 6th November, 1969. Part I of the Bill gives legislative effect to the Government's proposals for the future marketing arrangements for eggs.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to make a statement on the Crofters' Commission proposals for changes in the crofting system.

Widespread consultation with interested bodies is being carried out and I cannot yet say when it will be possible for me to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards provision of a fishery jetty in Scalpay; whether it will include the extension proposed by the local fishermen; when it is likely to be available for use; what is the esti- mated cost; and what contribution his Department will make to the project.

In March I offered to pay Inverness County Council 75 per cent, of the cost, estimated at some £43,000, of this jetty, which will measure approximately 120 feet by 17 feet. The council accepted this offer and is taking steps to obtain statutory authority to undertake the work, which shoul be completed within 15 to 18 months. I understand that the council consulted the local fishermen on the scheme before submitting it to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that children in Gravir, Isle of Lewis, have been without education for several weeks because of their parents' objection to the arrangements by Ross and Cromarty education authority for transport and education elsewhere; whether alternative arrangements, suggested by the Gravir parents, including the use of Kershader school, or the temporary use of Gravir school, have yet been implemented; and if he will make a statement.

The Education Authority proposes to build a new school at Gravir to replace five primary schools, including Gravir and Lemreway arid as an interim measure have combined the latter two schools at Lemreway. In the absence of any objections, I approved in August the Authority's proposal to close Gravir. The difficulties to which my hon. Friend refers had not previously been officially reported to me but the matter is primarily one for the Education Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent his policy for the development of North-East Scotland has been affected by the Gaskin Report.

The report was commissioned precisely to recommend how best that policy could be implemented, and I welcome its detailed definition of objectives as a framework for the joint working essential to economic progress in the North-East as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present waiting list for geriatric hospital beds in the north-east of Scotland; and what it was five and 10 years ago, respectively.

There are 76 persons on the waiting list for geriatric beds in the north-eastern region compared with 99 in 1964 and 61 in 1959.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the recent decision of Roxburgh County Council to grant a two-year exemption from rates to the Border Unit Railway Company, he will give a general direction to the Forestry Commission to assist in whatever way possible the provision of timber freight contracts to the Border railway.

The Forestry Commission is already in touch with the company and is willing to consider any practical and competitive proposals it makes for carrying its timber.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will take the initiative in establishing a health centre in Hamilton, with a view to co-ordinating the work of the general practitioners, improving efficiency and creating the best possible service to patients;(2) if he will take the initiative in establishing a health centre in Stornoway, for the purpose of co-ordinating the work of the general practitioners and enabling them to provide maximum efficiency and personal service to patients while reducing the present strain and demands on the physical and other resources of the doctors.

No. As the provision of a health centre depends on co-operation between the general practitioners and the local health and hospital authorities, I prefer the initiative to come from the local bodies. I welcome new proposals, but they have to be fitted into the existing programme, which is already a large one.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what he attributes the fact that the amounts of money disbursed as compensation for criminal injuries are greater in Scotland than in England; and if he will take further steps to compel convicted criminals to meet these bills.

The amount of compensation paid to individuals is a matter for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board under the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme. The average compensation awarded by single members of the Board to applicants in Scotland has been slightly higher than to those in other parts of Great Britain. The reason appears to be that in Scottish cases before the Board the injuries were more serious, possibly owing to the more frequent use of weapons, but no detailed records are maintained by the Board of this aspect of their work.The powers of the criminal courts to require an offender to pay compensation to his victim are restricted, but the possible extension of such powers is at present under consideration. The victim may of course seek compensation under the civil law, and it is a condition of the Criminal Injuries Compensation Scheme that a person who has been compensated by the Board must repay the Board from any compensation he may subsequently obtain in respect of his injuries.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the expenditure by his Department in 1968–69 in grants to local authorities under Section 67 of the Countryside (Scotland) Act, 1967.

:£15,682.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total expenditure from central Government funds on capital and current grants to local authorities and to voluntary bodies, respectively, to finance the construction and operation of community centres in 1960–61, 1963–64, 1967–68 and 1968–69; and what is the relationship between estimated and actual expenditure in each year.

Most community centres are provided by education authorities and town councils, and expenditure on them is reckonable for rate-support grant. I have no power to make specific grants to these authorities towards expenditure on social and recreational facilities, but under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937, I make capital grants to district councils and voluntary organisations towards such expenditure. The following is the total amount of capital grants paid in the years in question towards the cost of providing new or improving existing community centres:

		1960–61	1963–64
		£	£
District Councils	…	2,162	1,527
Voluntary Organisations	…	239	80
		1967–68	1968–69
		£	£
District Councils	…	3,086	NIL
Voluntary Organisations	…	9,901	15,610

The estimates provision for capital grants for community centres forms part of the provision for capital grants in the field of social and recreational education and is not separately identifiable. No current grants are paid from Central Government funds towards the operating costs of community centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress he has made in the problem of defining a rural distributor of milk supplies in order that adjustments may be made to the Milk Distributive Margin in appropriate cases, in view of the fact that the current situation encourages rural distributors to cease distribution to their customers; and if he will make a statement.

I am looking into this matter and will write to the hon. Member when my inquiries are complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of houses he estimates will be built in Scotland during the years 1969 and 1970.

I cannot make a firm forecast for either year. The number of houses completed in the first nine months of 1969 was 29,268 and the total for the full year will depend on how many of the 56,360 under construction at 30th September are completed in the last quarter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the increased provision of nursery education and other educational facilities for the under-fives in the course of the next three years.

The provision of 770 additional nursery places has already been approved in principle under the urban programme. I hope to approve the provision of additional nursery places and of assistance to pre-school playgroups in areas of special need.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much land has been compulsorily acquired by the Highlands and Islands Development Board since its inception; and what plans it has for such acquisition in the next 12 months.

The Highland Board has not, as yet, used its powers to acquire land compulsorily and I am informed that it has at present no plans to do so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations have been received from Commonwealth Governments and producers and commercial bodies overseas about the loss of Commonwealth preference caused by the adoption of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development plan of generalised preferences.

Some representations have been received from Commonwealth Governments. There will, of course, be full Commonwealth consultations before any new preferential arrangements can be implemented. MBER 1969 Written Answers 96row traffic such as Hayes, Harlington, Windsor and Chelsea experience no greater air pollution than comparable areas not affected by Heathrow traffic.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now upgrade the Customs classification of Dyce Airport, Aberdeen, in view of the recent establishment of an international scheduled service through the airport, and the prospect of further development there.

I will consider this in conjunction with my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware of public concern regarding smoke pollution caused by aircraft to residents' property beneath the glide path into London Airport, Heathrow; and if he will immediately institute an investigation.

Very few complaints are received about pollution under the glide path alleged to be caused by aircraft. I will consider whether a specific investigation is warranted.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list the research undertaken in recent years in the United Kingdom showing that the contribution of aircraft to atmospheric pollution at ground level is small compared to that of road vehicles or industrial and domestic sources at London Airport, Heathrow; and, following the special measurements made in 1965, if he will detail the other measurements that show that there is no particular concentration of pollution near Heathrow.

As stated in my Answer to the hon. Member on 5th November, 1969, special measurements of atmospheric pollution at ground level were made at Heathrow in 1958, 1962 and 1965 by the National Gas Turbine Establishment in collaboration with the Air Pollution Unit of the Medical Research Council. The other measurements referred to in this Answer were taken as part of the continuing National Survey of Smoke and Sulphur Dioxide and showed that places affected by Heath row traffic such as Hayes, Harlington, Windsor and Chelsea experience no greater air pollution than comparable areas not affected by Heathrow traffic.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what direct flights there are to the last convenient date from Scotland to another country, excluding flights to England, and flights which touch down in any English airport.

Following is the information from current timetables:

Number of flights from Scottish Airports in November 1969 to points abroad (excluding those which call at United Kingdom points en route)
Glasgow to:
Stavanger	4	(via Aberdeen)
Dublin	14
Reykjavik	3
Copenhagen	6
New York	1
Amsterdam	2
Edinburgh to:
Dublin	5
Aberdeen to:
Stavanger	4	(see under Glasgow)
Prestwick to:
Toronto	7	(via Montreal)
Trinidad	7	(via New York and Caribbean)
Montreal	3	(via Canadian points)
Vancouver	2	(via Canadian points)
Halifax	1	(via Canadian points)
New York	4
Belgrade	2
Prague	2

Number of flights from Scottish Airports to Northern Ireland and Isle of Man
Glasgow—Belfast	22
Glasgow—Isle of Man	2
Edinburgh—Belfast	3

There are no direct schedule flights to Wales or the Channel Islands.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many representations he has received about increasing the number of direct flights from Scotland to the Continent; and what reply he has sent.

None, other than Questions from hon. Members of which there have been 10 on this subject since 1st January, 1967. The decision whether to provide an air service is a matter for the commercial judgment of an interested airline subject to securing a licence from the Air Transport Licensing Board.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT an upto-date table showing the trade balance with each of the United Kingdom principal overseas suppliers of food and feedingstuffs.

Among the principal countries are Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Irish Republic, Republic of South Africa, Denmark, Netherlands and the United States of America. Figures for the visible trade balance are not available for individual countries. The figures of imports c.i.f. and exports and re-exports f.0.b. with each country are given in Table IV of the Overseas Trade Accounts for September, 1969. The difference between these figures is not, however, a good measure of the visible trade balance with these countries because, inter alia, of the difference in the bases of valuation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the outcome of the meeting of the Ministerial Council of the European Free Trade Association in Geneva.

The E.F.T.A. Council and the Joint Council of Finland and E.F.T.A. met in Geneva at Ministerial level on 6th and 7th November. The outcome of the meeting is recorded in the following communique:The E.F.T.A. Council and the Joint Council of E.F.T.A. and Finland met at Ministerial level in Geneva on 6th and 7th November. 1969. The Chairman was Mr. K. Willoch, Norwegian Minister of Commerce and Shipping. In the E.F.T.A. Council, with the Finnish Foreign Minister participating in a personal capacity, Ministers welcomed the recent evidence that progress in European integration might soon become possible. They stressed the deep interest of their Governments in such progress. They reaffirmed the readiness and desire of each of their Governments to take part in early negotiations with a view to arriving at comprehensive solutions of the questions of European integration in which all members of E.F.T.A. would have the possibility of participating. In this connection Ministers recalled the communiqué issued following the meeting of E.F.T.A. Ministers in April, 1967, and reaffirmed their strong interest in safeguarding, as an important part of an enlarged European Community, the free market already established in E.F.T.A. Ministers agreed to continue to consult together closely on the ways and means to attain their objectives and instructed the Council at official level to keep developments under regular review.Ministers noted with satisfaction the progress achieved in recent months in such specific fields of European economic cooperation as patents and technology. With regard to the latter, all the E.F.T.A. Member Governments would respond positively to the invitations received from the E.E.C. to take part in discussions on European technological collaboration.On behalf of the Ministers of the Nordic countries the Finnish Minister informed the Council of the latest developments in the negotiations for closer economic co-operation among the Nordic countries.Ministers reviewed progress in efforts to liberalise world trade. They reaffirmed their belief in the need to maintain liberal trading policies and agreed on the importance of full implementation of the results of the Kennedy Round negotiations. Ministers pledged the support of their Governments for the work now in progress in G.A.T.T. to prepare the ground for negotiations aimed at a further lowering of barriers to international trade, to the benefit of developed as well as developing countries. Such efforts, in order to be successful, should be supported by all major trading countries.Ministers noted with great satisfaction that in the negotiations with Iceland, all major points had now been settled. They welcomed the prospect of Iceland becoming a Member of the European Free Trade Association and of the Finland-E.F.T.A. Association at an early date. They instructed the Council at official level to complete the formal instruments.Ministers reviewed the current activities of the Association. They noted that trade within the Free Trade Area continued to grow rapidly and that the Association was functioning smoothly.One requirement connected with the completion of the transitional period under the E.F.T.A. Convention is the establishment of a new regime, to be applied from 1st January, 1970, for imports of quick-frozen fish fillets into the United Kingdom market from E.F.T.A. suppliers. The Scandinavian and British Ministers informed their colleagues of the agreement reached on this regime. Ministers welcomed this agreement.Ministers had before them a thorough analysis of the situation which had arisen from the establishment of aluminium smelters in the United Kingdom. Recognising the great importance of the matter to E.F.T.A. co-operation, Ministers agreed that the Council should follow developments in E.F.T.A. trade in aluminium and in particular the development of Norway's exports to the United Kingdom and to other major markets and consider to what extent Norwegian interests are affected by the new British smelters.The President of the Board of Trade explained the reasons why it had been decided to maintain, at a reduced rate, the deposit scheme for imports introduced a year earlier by the United Kingdom Government. He assured his colleagues that it was the firm intention of the Government to end the scheme as soon as the economic situation made this possible. Other Ministers, while welcoming the recent evidence of improvement in the economic situation of the United Kingdom, expressed concern at the continuance of the import deposit scheme. Ministers instructed the Council at official level, which had already been charged with keeping the situation under review, to re-examine the effects of the scheme before the next Ministerial meeting.A number of Ministers recommended an early removal of the restrictions on tourist allowances imposed by the United Kingdom.The next regular Ministerial meeting of the E.F.T.A. Councils will take place in May, 1970, the date and place to be fixed by the Councils at official level.

COURTS-MARTIAL CONVICTIONS 1963 TO 1968 INCLUDING DETAIL OF MAIN OFFENCES
	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	Total
Total Convictions	2,401	2,061	1,968	1,859	1,944	1,993	12,226
Absence without leave	906	736	786	795	832	958	5,013
Larceny	418	322	306	313	312	338	2,009
Desertion	215	138	161	171	174	145	1,004
Miscellaneous civil offences including: burglary, housebreaking, cheque offences, common assault, false pretences, forgery and uttering, assault causing actual bodily harm and wounding with intent	545	520	445	388	485	486	2,869

CONVICTIONS AT COURTS-MARTIAL IN HOME AND OVERSEAS COMMANDS 1963 To 1968
Command		1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	Total
Eastern	…	249	173	186	158	258	75	1,099
Northern	…	127	112	114	105	53	130	641
Scotland	…	71	53	55	43	28	57	307
Southern	…	453	280	378	374	428	386	2,299
Western	…	129	57	58	73	78	75	470
Northern Ireland	…	75	41	19	40	54	44	273
Strategic	…	—	—	—	—	—	307	307
BAOR	…	920	958	790	746	833	754	5,001
Malta/Libya	…	24	34	35	36	26	12	167
Cyprus (Nearelf)	…	27	50	68	50	38	52	285
FARELF	…	157	158	163	138	70	82	768
All other Commands convened overseas	…	169	145	102	96	78	19	609
TOTAL	…	2,401	2,061	1,968	1,859	1,944	1,993	12,226

asked the Secretary of State for Defence in which hospitals on the African mainland personnel of the Beira patrol have been treated.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of convictions by court-martial under the Army Act in each of the past six years, itemised to indicate the main offences in each year;(2) how many courts-martial were convened in each of the past six years in each of the commands of the Army in the United Kingdom and overseas: and what was the total cost to public funds in each of those years.

The available information follows.I regret that statistics about the numbers of courts-martial which have been convened by the Army in each of the past six years, and their total cost, are not available.

Cases requiring urgent medical treatment have been transferred to hospitals in Beira, either La Cassa de Saude or the Beira Nursing Home. Less urgent cases have been sent to the Catherine Bibby Hospital in Mombasa, or to South African hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if, in view of the correspondence concerning Mr. W. Ashworth, of Salford, who rose through the ranks to become an Army captain, he will waive the requirement of General Certificate of Education and Certificate of Secondary Education passes for applicants for posts in cases where such examinations did not exist when the applicants were young, and if they have the necessary qualifications.

No. Except where there is a special need or in shortage areas it is the practice of the Ministry of Defence, as of all other Government Departments, to recruit only candidates who have the stipulated G.C.E. or equivalent academic qualifications to permanent clerical posts.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what adjustments will be necessary in the pension rights of the Armed Forces as a result of the partial contracting-out proposals of Command Paper No. 4195.

:The relationship between Service pensions and the Government's proposals for national superannuation are now being considered. I regret I cannot go any further at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what proportion of the defence budget is spent overseas.

About 12 per cent. in the financial year 1968–69.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what plans he has to re-open Gough Military Barracks, Armagh, as a permanent base for troops in Northern Ireland.

Part of Gough Barracks is now being used for troops in Northern Ireland but there is at present no plan to make it a permanent base.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Servicemen have been court-martialled for absence without leave in each of the first three quarters of the current year; and what were the comparable figures for the year 1965.

The information is as follows:

THE NUMBER OF SERVICEMEN COURT-MARTIALLED FOR ABSENCE WITHOUT LEAVE IN EACH OF THE FIRST THREE QUARTERS OF 1965 AND 1969
	1st 1965	Quarter 1969	2nd 1965	Quarter 1969	3rd 1965	Quarter 1969
R.N.	—	1	—	—	2	3
Army	215	257	173	229	182	199
R.A.F.	10	6	3	4	11	4

NOTE: The figures for the Army represent convictions: those 'or the R.N. and R.A.F. the numbers tried.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will state the dates and costs of each refit of Her Majesty's Yacht "Britannia" since the yacht was commissioned.

Details of past refits are as follows:

21st September, 1954–23rd December, 1954	67,000
24th October, 1955–29th March, 1956	69,000
2nd September, 1957–11th January, 1958	163,000
7th November, 1960–24th March, 1961	208,000
30th April, 1962–29th June, 1962	60,500
7th December, 1964–9th April, 1965	324,000
21st August, 1967–24th November, 1967	234,000

A further refit is currently in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what disciplinary action has been taken against the naval officer in H.M.S. "Malcolm" who used his ship's orders of the day for party political purposes; and what steps he has taken to prevent a recurrence of this behaviour.

I am satisfied that this incident, which the ship's company did not take seriously, had no political significance. The officer responsible now realises that his facetious gesture was ill-advised and he has been warned against any repetition. Naval personnel are well aware that under Queen's Regulations they can take no active part in politics.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many Servicemen were allowed to purchase their discharge in 1968.

The number of Servicemen allowed to purchase their discharge in 1968 was 11,050.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his refusal to allow the South African Rugby XV to play on service grounds.

As I said in reply to the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe) on 5th November, 1969, an informal approach was made to the United Service Sports Club for use of the Portsmouth ground. There was also a requirement that the use of the ground for this fixture should not be made public until the morning of the match. The match was originally planned to be played at the ground of the Oxford University Rugby Club. The change of venue was proposed because of the controversy which surrounded this fixture. I concluded that it would be inappropriate in all the circumstances to agree to the using of a Ministry of Defence ground for this match.—[Vol. 790, c. 140–41.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food in which year a dog died in quarantine after having been vaccinated; what breed the dog was; and in which quarantine kennel it died.

The vaccinated dog my right hon. Friend mentioned, when replying to the hon. Member on 5th November, 1969, was a cross-bred dachshund which died in 1968 in quarantine premises at Purleigh in Essex.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many inspections of farms have been made by staff of his Department under the Agriculture Act, 1968.

Over 10,000 inspections have been made in Great Britain since September, 1968, when the Act came into force.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what comparison he has made between the Codes of Practice for Animal Husbandry in the United Kingdom and those of other countries, available to him from international sources.

None. To the best of our knowledge Britain is the only country in the world with codes of this kind.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the increasing incidence of inadequate quantities of fruit being packed in cans of fruit; if he will take steps to compel the packers to give the drained weight of fruit in each can; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any evidence of the increasing incidence to which my hon. Friend refers. General protection is given to purchasers by Sections 2 and 6 of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955. The food and drugs authorities have negotiated a Code of Practice with the Fruit and Vegetable Canners' Association of Great Britain which has been approved by the Institute of Weights and Measures Administration and which includes provisions dealing with the minimum filled weight of prepared fruit or vegetables in the can. The Weights and Measures Act, 1963, would enable my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to require the marking of drained weights, but neither of my right hon. Friends considers that such a requirement would be justified at present.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to compel manufacturers to give the specific names of food additives on food and drink labels: and if he will make a statement.

This is already a legal requirement in a number of cases, and I propose shortly to extend it to artificial sweeteners. I am satisfied, however, that it would not be in the interests of consumers to make it a general rule. I agree with the Food Standards Committee's view that for many additives the generic term, e.g. preservative, antioxidant, emulsifier, conveys more meaning to the average consumer than the chemical name, and the Labelling of Food Regulations, 1967, accordingly permit the use of such generic terms.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to compel manufacturers of vacuum-packed foods, such as bacon, to give the final date for consumption for the product on the packet; and if he will make a statement.

No. The public is protected from the purchase of stale food by the general provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, 1955. Manufacturers may indicate the date by which food should be consumed by it would not be right to make this a compulsory requirement.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the nature of the objections to the Northern Pennines Rural Development Board and the number received, how many were resolved; how many were considered by the local public inquiry, and what was the result of the recommendations made to him.

Thirty-two valid objections were received. The majority related either to the severance of holdings by the proposed boundary or to the inclusion of land laying on the fringes of the main hill area. 14 objections were resolved by agreement; the remaining 18 were considered at public hearings. Acceptance of the inspector's recommendations resulted in a net reduction of some 45 square miles in the board's area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the acreage of the Northern Pennines Rural Development Board; how many farms are included; how many are in upland areas; and what organisations and local authorities were consulted before the Order was made.

The area is about 3,000 sq. miles and includes some 6,000 farms, all in hill or upland areas. Over 100 local authorities and other interested organisations were consulted on the proposal for the board.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many farms the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee has visited and at how many of these the Committee was satisfied that birds had room to stretch their wings.

The 39 visits made by members of the Committee included visits to about 20 farms, including experimental farms. The Committee's advice to me and my right hon. Friend on the poultry codes has not included details of its findings on individual farms.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will reconstitute the Farm Animal Welfare Advisory Committee in accordance with the Bram bell Report's recommendations.

There are vacancies on the Committee which my right hon. Friend and I propose to fill shortly.

asked the Minister of Technology how many visits have been arranged for firms interested in moving into the Sunderland area during the last 12 months.

In the Sunderland area, including Washington, 70 visits by firms were arranged by the Board of Trade during the period 1st November, 1968, to 31st October, 1969.

asked the Minister of Technology how many men and women, respectively, are employed in Government-financed factories in the Northern Region at the latest available date.

In May, 1969, 78,040 people-37,402 men and 40,638 women —were employed in the Northern Region in Ministry of Technology-owned factories. This excludes employment in factories provided by the Ministry but which have been sold.

asked the Minister of Technology when he now expects the Wylfa nuclear power station to be in

		1967–68	1968–69	1969–70
		Expenditure	Expenditure	Estimate
		£000 NET	£000 NET	£000 NET
Industrial Liaison Centres	…	135	206	250
Production Engineering Advisory Service	…	330	157	175
Group Technology Centre	…	8	18	85
Law-Cost Automation Advisory Centres	…	20	51	100
SIRAID*	…	5
Industrial Development Unit, Bangor	…		5	15
Numerical control Advisory and Demonstration Service	…	—	244	420
National Computing Centre	…	797	550	900
APACE	…	78	119	150
British Calibration Service	…	51	65	50
National Centre for Tribology (Risley)	…	5	83	120
Industrial Unit for Tribology, Leeds	…	—	23	40
Industrial Unit for Tribology, Swansea	…	—	—	18
Materials Technology Bureau (Harwell)	…	—	10	30
Isotape Advisory and Experimental Service (Wantage)	…	30	30	20
Harwell Ceramics Centre	…	210	401	350
Industrial Application Unit, RRE	…	30	28	16
Electronic Materials Development Unit, RRE	…	—	28	68
Advisory Service on Special Glasses	…	—	1	2
Non-destructive Testing Centre (Harwell)	…	142	172	135
Central Unit for Scientific Photography (RAE)	…	280	270	292
		2,159	2,521	3,138
NOTE:
* The running expenses of the service are found from the general grant made to B.S.I.R.A. by the Department (see PQ 4492) figures above reflect a pump-priming grant made to extend the scheme.
* It is expected that the service will become self-supporting during the current year.

The C.E.G.B. expects Wylfa to come into commercial operation in March, 1970, compared with the initial estimate of late November, 1968. The increase in the C.E.G.B.'s estimate of cost is £10/KW.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list the expenditure financed by his Vote of all the advisory services listed in Annex IV of his publication, "The Ministry of Technology 1964 to 1969", for the last three financial years; and if he will give his estimate of the future expenditure of all such advisory services for the financial year 1970–71.

The information requested for the last three financial years is as follows. The Estimates for the financial year 1970–71 are still under consideration.

asked the Minister of Technology what stocks of nickel are currently held at the disposal of Her Majesty's Government, apart from the strategic stocks amounting to 1,396 tons; and what was the amount of such other stocks in 1964.

I shall circulate such information as I can in the OFFICIAL REPORT as soon as possible.

asked the Minister of Technology when he now expects the Dungeness B nuclear power station to be in operation; what delay that represents by comparison with the original estimate; and what has been the increase in the estimated costs.

As regards the delay I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton), on 22nd October. The increase in the C.E.G.B.'s estimate of cost is £12/KW.—[Vol. 788, c. 278.]

asked the Minister of Technology when he intends to introduce legislation to establish the nuclear fuel business of the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority as a separate Government-controlled company; and whether such a company will be established under the relevant Companies Acts as a public company.

As was indicated in the Queen's Speech, the Governments proposals will be brought forward as soon as possible. The new company would be incorporated under the Companies Acts as a public company.

asked the Minister of Transport why, in the deployment of the Government's efforts to bring a major engineering firm to Inverurie to provide employment for those men made redundant by the closure of the British Railways workshops, there was no closing date put on the offer to the firm concerned.

Although the Government sponsored the special campaign to attract new industry to Inverurie, negotiations for the sale of the workshops have been the responsibility of the British Railways Board, which has acted throughout in co-operation with Government Departments. I understand the Board, did, in fact, impose a closing date as soon as a firm alternative proposition emerged.

asked the Minister of Transport how many proposals he has received relating to a fast rail link between Prestwick Airport and Glasgow.

None.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the accident hazards on the eastern section of the M4.

Motorways have proved to be our safest roads. The eastern section of the M4 is now our most heavily-trafficked motorway, but its accident rate per vehicle-mile is of the same order as for other motorways.Nevertheless, in seeking to make it safer, this year we have provided lighting and safety fences between Chiswick and the London Airport Spur. These facilities are being extended to Maidenhead as part of the work now in progress for widening to dual three lanes the length between the Langley and Bray interchanges.A system of warning signals, controlled by the police, has been provided between Chiswick and Langley to enable motorists to be warned of dangers ahead and this, too, will be extended.The elevated section of the road and that part between the London Airport Spur and the Langley interchange which had become polished, have been surface-dressed to reduce the risk of skidding. Some troubles are being experienced due to loose chippings but a close watch is being kept on the condition of the surface and further sweeping will take place if necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce legislation to enable him to give grants to British Railways so as to allow them to sell the assets of closed lines to private companies at subsidised prices.

:No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to provide premises for the display of the British Theatre Museum's collection.

I have considered the position of the British Theatre Museum with great care. The history of the British theatre is represented in the collections of many libraries and museums, including the British Museum, the Victoria and Albert and the London Museum. I told the Trustees of the British Theatre Museum in 1967 that I could not offer any direct Government support, and this remains the situation.

The organisation of the various aspects of their research is a matter for the scientific judgment of the Medical Research Council. who are already supporting, in several of their research establishments, work aimed at the development of methods which may provide alternatives to the use of animals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what kinds of animals, other than mice and rats, are kept at the Medical Research Council Laboratory Animals Centre; approximately how many of each kind of animal are kept there; and how many of each are supplied annually to research units.

In respect of the supply of experimental animals the function of the M.R.C. Laboratory Animals Centre is confined to the provision of disease-free, genetically-controlled breeding nuclei to research workers wishing to find their own breeding colonies. The Centre does not undertake the routine production of experimental animals.

MRC LABORATORY ANIMALS CENTRE: ANIMALS MAINTAINED AND SUPPLIED (EXCLUDING MICE AND RATS)
Species		Current Stock	Numbers Issued Annually (1968)
Hamsters	…	500	275
Guinea Pigs	…	200	425
Rabbits	…	100	33
Cats	…	50	197
Gerbils	…	50	91
Steppe Lemmings	…	25	71
Monkeys*	…	17	—
Goatst	…	20	—
Sheept	…	15	—
Japanese Quail	…	15	—
TOTAL (all species)	…	992	1092
* Colonies maintained for research and training in animal husbandry.
* Herds maintained for the production of anti-sera.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being conducted by the National Environmental Research Council on the extraction of sand and gravel from the Continental Shelf in depths of water greater than 60 ft.

None, but the Institute of Geological Sciences, a component body of the N.E.R.C., is conducting surveys of deposits of sand and gravel in depths of water both less and greater than 60 ft.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated number of full-time students in universities, colleges of education and advanced level courses of further education in Great Britain in 1968–69 and 1969–70.

The estimated number of full-time, including sandwich, students in universities, colleges of education and advanced level courses of further education in Great Britain in 1968–69 and 1969–70 is as follows:

ESTIMATED NUMBER OF FULL-TIME STUDENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN GREAT BRITAIN
	Academic Year
	1968/69	1969/70
Universities	211,700	225,000
Colleges of Education	119,800	126,000
Advanced Further Education	82,900	92,000
Total	414,400	443,000

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government (1) what steps he is taking to review the present standards of thermal insulation in housing;(2) what study he is making of the effects of the introduction of higher standards of thermal insulation in housing as a means of fuel saving to both the national economy and the householder; and what progress is being made with the study.

The Building Regulations already lay down such minimum standards for thermal insulation as are judged necessary in the interests of public health and safety. Further interdepartmental investigations which are in hand will provide additional information on the effect of various standards of insulation on the cost of building dwellings and heating them.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what adjustments will be necessary in the pension rights of members of pension schemes of the Post Office as a result of the partial contracting-out proposals of Command Paper No. 4195.

This is a matter for the Post Office in the first instance. At this stage, I can only refer the hon. Member to what was said about the pension schemes of nationalised industries by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services:n his statement on 5th November.—[Vol. 790, c. 101315.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received from the Child Poverty Action Group concerning the administration of benefits available to low-paid workers and their families; what replies he has made; and if he will make a statement.

The representations I received concerned the availability in Manchester of application forms for free welfare foods and for refund of prescription charges and the general question of publicity about benefits. I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to his Question of 20th October on these matters. I am sending him a copy of the reply to the Child Poverty Action Group on the same day.—[Vol. 788, c. 155–6; Vol. 788, c. 134.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give a list of medicines and drugs available under the National Health Service the preparation of which has not involved any experiments on living animals.

The information required to answer this Question is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is now the total outstanding overseas indebtedness; and how much of this has been due to debts incurred since 1964 and haw much since 1945.

Her Majesty's Government's indebtedness to overseas Governments and to the I.M.F. at the end of October this year totalled £1,990 million for debts incurred between the beginning of 1945 and 15th October, 1964 (including £275 million arising from the revaluation in November, 1967 of drawings in that period); and £1,436 million incurred subsequently. These sums include long-term borrowing, but exclude sums arising under central bank transactions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, assuming the mean of balance of payments surplus estimated for the current year and next year, how long he estimates it will take to pay off all overseas indebtedness, including that incurred since 1964.

I cannot add to the Answer which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer gave the hon. Member on 4th November.-[Vol. 790, c. 79–80.]

		1958–59	1959–60	1960–61	1961–62	1962–63	1963–64
Duty of hydro carbon oils1
Net receipts (£ million)	…	350.5	386.3	414-9	516.9	550.5	597.6
Net receipts as a percentage of total government revenue2	…	6.6	7.1	7.2	8.1	8.3	8.9
Net receipts as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost	…	1.7	1.8	1.8	2.1	2.1	2.1
Motor vehicles licence duties1
Net receipts (£ million)	…	108.9	112.6	126.9	148.3	159.7	176.9
Net receipts as a percentage of total government revenue2	…	2.0	2.1	2.2	2.3	2.4	2.6
Net receipts as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost	…	0.5	0.5	0.5	0.6	0.6	0.6
Selective employment tax3
Net receipts (£ million)	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Net receipts as a percentage of total government revenue 2	…	—	—	—	—	—	—
Net receipts as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost	…	—	—	—	—	—	—

		1964–65	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70
Duty on hydro carbon oils1
Net receipts (£ million)	…	679.9	784.8	887.5	969.4	1,122.7	1,309
Net receipts as a percentage of total government revenue2	…	9.1	9.3	9.6	9.4	9.4	9.5
Net receipts as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost	…	2.3	2.5	2.6	2.8	3.0	n.a.
Motor vehicles licence duties1
Net receipts (£ million)	…	194.6	257.3	268.7	295.0	423.8	432
Net receipts as a percentage of total government revenue2	…	2.6	3.1	2.9	2.9	3.5	3.1
Net receipts as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost	…	0.7	0.8	0.8	0.8	1.1	n.a.
Selective employment tax3
Net receipts (£ million)	…	—	—	386.2	467.0	656.4	917
Net receipts as a percentage of total government revenue2	…	—	—	4.2	4.5	5.5	6.7
Net receipts as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost	…	—	—	1.2	1.3	1.8	n.a.

1 Before deduction of export rebates.2 Taxes on income, expenditure and capital.3 The net yield from the private sector and public corporations together with payments of tax by central government and local authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT the total net yield of fuel taxes, motor taxation and selective employment tax, since its introduction, respectively, in each of the financial years 1958–59 to 1968–69, inclusive, the percentage of total Government revenue which this represented in each of those years, and also its percentage of the gross national product, together with estimated corresponding figures for the current financial year.

The information available is given in the table below. The figures are defined as for the national income accounts, published by the Central Statistical Office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why claims for relief from Purchase Tax under Section 21 of the Purchase Tax Act, 1963, for goods imported for non-commercial scientific, educational or cultural purposes are sometimes refused; and why claims for import duty relief are allowed under the Import Duties Act, 1958, in similar circumstances.

The import duties in question are protective duties, the waiver of which puts imports on the same footing as British goods, and accords with the terms of an international agreement under which British exports obtain reciprocal benefits in other countries. Purchase tax on imports is however a revenue tax which countervails the tax on home products and is outside the scope of the agreement: tax waiver limited to imported goods could give foreign suppliers an advantage over British suppliers and positively encourage imports. Tax waiver on imports can therefore only be allowed exceptionally in cases where there is no risk of inequity or harm to the home economy.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the Exchequer of income tax remission on contributions to private occupational pension schemes and on the management of the funds of those schemes.

The cost of tax relief for employees' contributions to occupational pension schemes in the private sector is estimated at about £65 million for 1968–69, the latest year for which the estimate can be made. I am writing to my hon. Friend to ask what he has in mind in the second part of his Question.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what adjustments will be made in the overall financial objectives of the nationalised industries in the light of the partial contracting out proposals of Command Paper No. 4195.