asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the conditions at Mossley Primary School, he will include a replacement school in the 1969–70 programme.

The 1969–71 programmes are already fully committed but my right hon. Friend has today invited local education authorities to submit proposals for a continuous and systematic programme of improvements and replacements of old schools, beginning in 1971–72, when I expect that some £15 million will be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals he has for British participation in C.E.R.N.

Her Majesty's Government have participated in C.E.R.N. since its foundation. We have given assurances of continued support.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has now received a plan for comprehensive education from the Norfolk County Council.

No. In 1967 the authority indicated its inclination to consider establishing a pattern of 4·8, 8·12, 12·16 or 12–18 schools, and I understand it still has this possibility in mind, but I am now in correspondence with it to clarify its practical intentions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why fees for foreign students at the Regent Street Polytechnic Hall of Residence have been nearly doubled to £11 10s. a week whilst those for British students remain the same at £6 10s. a week.

This increase has been made by the I.L.E.A. in accordance with the advice my right hon. Friend gave local authorities last year, that they should charge students from outside England and Wales their full boarding costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the amounts paid out of public funds to the Royal Shakespeare Company during each of the past five years, respectively; and what amount of grant is now proposed for the current year.

The Arts Council's subsidies between 1964·65 and 1968·69 have been £88,000, £93,000, £150,000, £200,000 and £221,000. This last figure includes supplementary subsidies of £22,000. During the same period the British Council has also paid nearly £24,000 to the company to meet deficits on overseas tours.The grant offered by the Arts Council for 1969·70 is £204,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in how many State nursery schools in Wales Welsh is the medium of instruction.

There is one maintained nursery school, in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, in which there is a group being taught through the medium of Welsh.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will impose sanctions against local education authorities who refuse to improve school facilities by the use of temporary buildings.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in connection with the proposal to spend £105 million during the next financial year on 859 new school building projects, what procedure will be followed to ensure that so far as possible building materials produced or manufactured in Great Britain will be used in the construction of these schools.

I am satisfied that local education authorities can be relied upon to use home-produced materials where these are competitive.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations he has received against the closure of Wath Primary School; and what opportunities he is affording the parents and teachers at this school to make representations on the proposal to transfer the children to a new primary school at Burneston, more than eight miles away.

Local people, including the managers of the Wath School and a number of local government electors, have exercised their statutory right of objection to the proposal to establish a new school at Burneston in substitution for the existing Wath, Kirklington and Burneston schools. I shall consider all the objections most carefully before reaching a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will introduce legislation to compel local education authorities to allow school children to ride on existing special school buses even though they live within the three-mile limit providing they pay a fare.

No. Local authorities already have discretion to approach the traffic commissioners in this matter, and I feel it is best left to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local authorities in the North-East have refused offers of extra educational building allocation for minor works for this winter.

Gateshead, South Shields and Sunderland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has fully approved the plan submitted to him by Bedfordshire County Council for the reorganisation of secondary education on a non-selective basis.

My right hon. Friend approved in principle the local education authority's plan for its area in May, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that staffing ratios are the same for primary and secondary education.

I do not fix staffing ratios for individual schools, but in my recent circular, of which I am sending the hon. Member a copy, I make it clear that I look to school authorities to bring the standard in primary schools closer to that in the lower forms of secondary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is aware of i he uncertainty over the future existence of the Hull School of Architecture; and whether he will ensure its continuation while the long-term question of the school's affiliation or integration with the university is being considered.

I am aware of this problem and I propose to meet the parties concerned to discuss it.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make it a condition of grant to the British Film Institute that the essential finance is available for the purpose-built Tyneside Film Theatre with educational and social facilities in accordance with the previously accepted proposals of Mr. Kenneth Adam, Governor of the British Film Industry, details of which have been sent to him.

I have been repeatedly assured by the Governors of the British Film Institute that they have never approved any commitment to a new cinema in Newcastle. I can accept no responsibility for any misunderstanding between the Newcastle City Corporation and the institute on this matter. Solely because the institute's finances had reached a point of crisis, its authority to enter into new commitments in the current financial year, which it had no power to anticipate, was withdrawn before the year began. A factor contributing to the institute's financial position was the loss of £15,000 on the existing Tyneside Film Theatre in 1968–69.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will introduce legislation to empower local education authorities and Government Departments to support financially programmes of international youth exchange.

My regulations for student grants enable local education authorities to pay for study abroad in appropriate cases. Any suggestion for legislation to cover more general youth exchanges would call for consideration by a number of Departments.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he gives to polytechnics concerning student health services and careers advice.

My right hon. Friend has not issued any guidance on these matters either for polytechnics or for establishments of further education generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he proposes to carry out the National Board for Prices and Incomes recommendation that the Government should intervene in planning higher education courses in universities and other institutions.

I can find no such recommendation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) in view of the fact that Government grants to drama students cost £1 million per annum and that unemployment and supplementary benefit to the 70 per cent. of students who are unable to make a living costs a further £4 million, if he will set up a committee to inquire and to make proposals to relate the output of students to the amount of employment available;(2) in view of the fact that the output of drama schools is 2,000 per annum and that only 400 of these students will be able to earn a sum equal to the average weekly wage, if he will now introduce legislation to make his Department responsible for such schools, with a view to holding an inquiry.

The new Theatre Training Committee of the Arts Council has set up a working group to study the problems of the drama schools. Meanwhile, I have issued advice on this subject to local education authorities and drama schools. I see no reason to introduce legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the annual expenditure of the Medical Research Council Laboratory Animals Centre; and to what extent the first of its functions, as described in the Annual Report of the Council, prevents duplication of experiments on living animals.

The estimated expenditure of the Centre for the year 196970 is £148,000. It has no responsibility for experiments involving animals which research workers generally may wish to undertake; the control of such experiments is primarily a matter for the Home Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many secondary schools serving the Petersfield constituency have extended courses.

Of the six maintained secondary schools in the constituency, three provide courses to sixth form level and three provide courses to G.C.E. "O" level and other courses of similar length. Suitably qualified pupils from the latter schools may transfer to the sixth forms of other schools for advanced courses. Some pupils attend schools outside the constituency.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for the housing with public access, of the records of the building of the canals when the Porchester Terrace Record Office is closed.

The records of the building of the canals at present housed in the Porchester Road record office are inextricably linked with the railway records because of the close operational connection between the railways and canals. Any decision, therefore, regarding the railway records applies also to the canal records.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many classes have more than 40 pupils in the primary and secondary schools of the East Riding of Yorkshire;(2) what is the average size of class in the secondary and primary schools, respectively, in the East Riding of Yorkshire.

In January, 1969, 28.6 in maintained primary and 27^.6 in maintained secondary schools. 27 primary and 3 secondary classes were registered with over 40 pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he received from the Government's official advisory bodies in relation to the move of the records of British Railways out of London.

The Standing Commission on Museums and Galleries was consulted before the publication of the 1967 White Paper on Railway Policy and expresses itself broadly satisfied with the proposals for transferring the relics and records from London to York. The Chairman has recently written asking that the decision to move the records to York should not be irrevocable if it should later be found practicable to house them suitably in London.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans his Department has for displaying to the public the London Transport relics now housed at Clapham when that museum closes.

When the Clapham Museum closes, I understand that the relics associated with the London Transport Board and its predecessors will be reclaimed by London Transport, who would be under a duty to preserve them in suitable accommodation. The intention is that they would be available for viewing on application. Ultimately the relics might find a home in a museum of transport and associated subjects relating to the London region.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will consider the Birmingham-Coventry region in his choice of a new site for the Clapham Transport Museum.

After very careful consideration, York has been selected as the site of the new museum.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the original gross estimate of the capital cost of the new Railway Museum and Record Office in York, including the cost of moving the exhibits there; what is the current estimate; and what are the original and current net estimates after offsetting any sums received from the disposal of the existing premises.

The original gross estimate of the capital cost of the new railway museum and records office at York, including the cost of moving the exhibits and records, was about £570,000. It was estimated that the sale of the sites of the existing museums at Clapham and York would provide over £510,000; in addition, the British Railways Board have agreed to provide up to about £60,000 to build an annexe for the records at York.Both estimates have risen in the last three years by roughly the same extent, so that the money available for the new building still covers the expected cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether arrangements can be made for an exhibition illustrating the work of the Young Volunteer Force Foundation to be displayed in the House.

Yes. The exhibition will be shown in the Upper Waiting Hall from 17th November to 21st November inclusive.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he has now completed his consideration of the Summerfield Report on Psychologists in Education Services and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. I should like to pay tribute to Professor Summerfield and his colleagues for a most stimulating and impressive report, which has been widely studied throughout the educational system and has had a notable impact.Developments in the universities since the Committee was appointed have much improved the prospective supply of educational psychologists, and the numbers now in postgraduate courses are already at the level proposed by the Committee for 1970. Figures from the university departments concerned show that in 1966–67 the numbers in training as educational psychologists had risen above what was assumed in the Committee's projections, and they are now running some 33 per cent. higher than was assumed. This will go far to meet the immediate recommendations of the Committee for expansion of this important profession and I am considering what action I can take to facilitate the secondment of staff to university departments concerned in order to provide a further measure of expansion.The other important recommendations of the Committee concern the qualifications which are desirable for educational psychologists. As the Report says, this is a profession for which more than one type of qualification is appropriate and it is not for me to lay down precisely what they should be. The Local Education Authorities, as employers, and the establishments responsible for providing courses in educational psychology, are I am sure carefully considering the recommendations made, including the proposal for 2-year postgraduate courses following directly on graduation as an alternative to the present one-year course following on a period of experience as a teacher. The latter qualification seems likely to be the main one for some time to come, but there may well be scope for experimental 2-year "end-on" courses as well, and if initiatives are made in this direction I shall be willing to see what, within the resources available, can be done from the point of view of student support.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many independent boarding schools have been closed down in the course of the last two years on grounds of inefficiency consequent on official inspection; how many remained open following inspection; and how many have yet to be inspected.

In the exercise aimed at raising standards in independent boarding schools in England and Wales which are not yet recognised as efficient, 93 schools have so far been inspected with a view to advice about measures needed to reach recognition standard and 134 have yet to be inspected.Of the 93 inspected, 12 have been recognised as efficient, 49 have been advised on measures needed to reach recognition standard, three have closed on their own initiative and one has ceased to take boarders. The remainder await the result of their inspection.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a grant to the British Theatre Museum to ensure its continued existence.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer I gave him yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to ensure that all grants made to primary and secondary schools are equated on a per capita basis.

No. It is for maintaining local education authorities to determine the levels of expenditure at their primary and secondary schools. Local authorities' capitation allowances seem to vary a good deal and I hope that the local authority associations will examine this further.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the new staffing ratios.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to his similar Question earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will set up an independent inquiry into the remuneration of teachers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to provide for a separate board of governors for every school.

The Education Act, 1944, envisages that normally every school shall have its own managers or governors but local education authorities also have power to group two or more schools under a single governing body. I incline to share the hon. Member's view and can assure him that changes in the law about the government of schools will be considered in the context of preparatory work for a major new Education Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will reconsider his decision not to ban the use of the cane in schools for the disabled.

As I have stated to the House, I am strongly opposed to the corporal punishment of handicapped children, but I do not think that this should be made a matter of Government Regulation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the beating up of Anthony Lawrence, a prisoner in the top security wing of Chelmsford Prison; and what action he proposes to take to prevent such occurrences in the future.

This prisoner was found in the special wing on 19th October apparently having been attacked by other prisoners. He was not seriously hurt. His assailants have not been identified, and Lawrence himself has denied that he was assaulted. After the incident he was, for his own protection, segregated from other inmates. He has now been moved to another prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation diminishing the responsibility placed upon a landlord to ensure that a customer is over 18 years of age before serving him with alcoholic refreshment.

No. The licensee's responsibility is already limited to cases where he or a person in his employ knowingly supply intoxicating liquor to such young people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of persistent inflation and erosion of the purchasing power of the £ sterling, he will consider legislation to relate all statutory maximum fines to a permanent index.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many cases have been brought before the courts by the Metropolitan Police for contravention of Section 4 of the London Cab Act, 1968.

17.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police were diverted from ordinary duties to guard or patrol the rugby football ground at Twickenham on 5th November and at what extra cost; if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the use of police manpower and the cost involved in similar circumstances at Leicester on 8th November; and what is his policy regarding the deployment of police to protect the Springbok team.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the cost of providing police protection for the South African touring side at Twickenham; and what he estimates will be the total cost to the Exchequer during the tour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total cost to public funds of maintaining law and order to date in conection with the Springbok tour; what estimate he has made of the total cost for the 25-match tour; and if he will make a statement.

The duty of the police is to preserve the peace.At Twickenham, 540 police were on duty. 79 of them were inside the ground and are to be paid for by the club. Transport and refreshment cost the police fund an extra £200. At Leicester 1,017 police were on duty, more of them in connexion with a demonstration. 75 police inside the ground are to be charged for. I do not yet know the additional cost to public funds on this occasion, nor can I yet estimate the likely total cost for the whole tour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide that the total cost of police protection in conection with sporting activities shall be borne by the governing body of the sport concerned.

I do not see any need to amend the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further steps have been taken to implement the agreement with the Northern Ireland Government on repealing legislation inhibiting basic human liberties, namely, the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Acts (Northern Ireland) 1922 and 1933, the Emergency Powers Act (Northern Ireland) 1926 and the Flags and Emblems (Display) Act (Northern Ireland) 1954.

The Northern Ireland Government have stated their intention to remove the powers in the Special Powers Acts that are in conflict with international obligations as soon as this can be done without undue hazard, and the matter is kept under review between the two Governments. Similar considerations do not arise in respect of the other Acts mentioned by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the six prisoners in Durham top security E-wing who are on hunger strike, and the causes of the same.

On 3rd November the six prisoners began refusing food. Two started eating again on 9th November. The remaining four, who have been taking liquids, are being kept under daily medical supervision. The reason they have given for their action is their objection to the new arrangements for visitors to prisoners in security category A.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will allow Mr. Christos Kotronis to stay in Britain in view of Mr. Kotronis' political views and the political situation in Greece.

I am considering all aspects of this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why Mr. Gerald Doherty and Mr. Eamonn Smullins, at present in Wakefield Prison, and Mr. John Brankin and Mr. John McMechan, at present in Leeds Prison, are being held in solitary confinement 23 hours per day; and if he will make a statement.

These men are remand prisoners in security category "A". As such, they are not allowed to associate with each other or with other prisoners, but they are receiving all the privileges, including visits, to which they arc entitled under prison standing orders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he will state the chief purposes for which live horses and mares are experimented on under the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876.

For the investigation of diseases in horses.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the event of a successful application to join the European Common Market, there will be free entry of workers to this country from the six countries; whether restrictions on Commonwealth citizens will be maintained; and if he will make a statement.

Arrangements for the entry of nationals of member states of the European Communities are governed by the provisions, in particular Article 48, of the Treaty of Rome and of subordinate instruments dealing with the free movement of workers. We do not expect undue difficulties in accepting Article 48. The existing restrictions on the admission of Commonwealth citizens would be unlikely to be affected.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what action she proposes to take following the publication of the Pearson Commission's Report.

I explained the position to the House on the 20th October in my reply to Questions by my hon. Friends the Members for Fife, West (Mr. Hamilton) and Brentford. and Chiswick (Mr. Barnes) and the hon. Member for Dorking (Sir G. Sinclair), and I have nothing at present to add.—[Vol. 788, c. 731–31.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when she proposes to introduce a general scheme of compensation for Overseas Service officers in Fiji as localisation proceeds.

Fiji already has a limited scheme for compensating overseas officers who retire in the interest of localisation. A general scheme would normally be introduced when the appropriate stage of constitutional development had been reached and the Service Commissions given executive powers.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development when she will announce the revision of the allowances payable under the Overseas Service Aid Scheme Agreement with Fiji; and, in view of the delay which has taken place, if she will select a retrospective date from which the new allowances will be paid.

A review has been carried out and the results are now being considered. I hope that conclusions will be reached shortly. I shall bear in mind the question of the operative date of any changes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will issue a White Paper or other information regarding her proposals on the shape and scope of her new legislation covering prices, incomes, monopolies, mergers and restrictive practices.

I shall shortly be entering into detailed consultations on these matters with the principal industrial organisation concerned. I will consider after that whether a White Paper would be helpful in advance of the Bill to be put before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in view of public concern about the treatment of out-workers, if she will take steps to compel local authorities to keep a list of all such workers; if she will consider introducing legislation imposing fines on people who do not comply with safety regulations and providing good condition of employment for out-workers; and if she will make a statement.

There are arrangements under which local authorities are sent lists of out-workers in certain trades to enable them to stop work in any place which is injurious or dangerous to health. These arrangements, like the other provisions of the Factories Act, are currently under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many agricultural and horticultural employers have paid the Agriculture Training Board levy this year; how many have still to pay; how many have not yet paid the levy for last year; and if she will give separate figures for Scotland and for England and Wales.

I understand from the Board that about 24,300 employers in England and Wales and 7,700 in Scotland have paid the Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry Industry Training Board's levy for 1968–69. About 53,800 employers in England and Wales and 5,800 in Scotland have still to pay. 9,000 employers in England and Wales and 400 in Scotland have still to pay the 1967–68 levy. The figures given include all categories of employer since the Board does not have readily available separate figures for agricultural and horticultural employers alone.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many adult workers have been trained or retrained in Wales in each year since 1963 by Government training centres or on-job training schemes.

The number of adults who have completed courses at Government training centres in Wales since 1963 are as follows:

1963	…	…	…	…	199
1964	…	…	…	…	176
1965	…	…	…	…	490
1966	…	…	…	…	737
1967	…	…	…	…	874
1968	…	…	…	…	916
1969	(first 9 months)		…	…	678

There are no available statistics of adults trained on-the-job in Wales; but during the last two years the following numbers of workers have been trained in industry with the help of the Government training grants which are available to new and expanding firms in the Welsh Development Area:

12 months ended September 1968	5,022
12 months ended September 1969	9,395

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will furnish a list of those countries with which the Government have recommended to the bodies concerned that Great Britain should or should not engage in international sport for the benefit of those making these arrangements; and by what authority such recommendations are made.

In general, the Government do not recommend to sports bodies the countries which they should or should not meet in competition.The Government leave it to the bodies concerned to decide their programme of international matches, though in the case of Rhodesia and certain Warsaw Pact countries in the period immediately following the invasion of Czechoslovakia sports bodies contemplating matches with these countries have had their attention called to special considerations which we believed ought to have been taken into account.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress he has made on his review of certain aspects of minimum import price arrangements for cereals.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what plans he has, in view of recent experience with barley imports, to strengthen the minimum import price arrangements for cereals.

I now intend to modify the procedure whereby all contracts may be registered at a prospective rate of levy already announced. in future, whenever I consider that registration at the announced rate would jeopardize the purpose of the arrangements, registration will only be made at a new higher rate of levy. This should only be necessary in exceptional circumstances. If it is necessary, importers will be informed immediately and told the new prospective rate of levy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animal deaths from rabies have occurred in quarantine stations in the United Kingdom since 1922; and what were the species concerned.

Twenty-five dogs and one cat have died from rabies in approved quarantine stations in Great Britain since 1922. Additionally one leopard died whilst undergoing quarantine in approved premise Quarantine arrangements in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Government there.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many animal deaths from rabies have occurred in the United Kingdom outside quarantine since 1922; and what were the species concerned.

Since 1922 the only recorded instance of rabies in an animal in Great Britain outside approved quarantine premises was in a monkey in a research laboratory in 1966. Four dogs have died in approved quarantine premises outside the six-month quarantine period. Quarantine arrangements in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Government there.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many of the dogs which have died from rabies in United Kingdom Quarantine stations since 1922 had been in the station concerned for more than six months before developing recognisable symptoms of the disease.

Three in Great Britain; although in one instance symptoms had been observed which warranted the precaution of continued detention in quarantine. Quarantine arrangements in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Government there.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the date of shipment to the United Kingdom, date of admission to quarantine and date of death of each of the dogs which has died of rabies in the United Kingdom since 1922.

Shipment dates are not available over this period; nor, in the majority of cases, the precise date of death. Following is a table showing the dates on which the dogs concerned were admitted to quarantine in Great Britain; the country from which they were landed; the dates on which rabies symptoms were first observed; and—for the past 20 years only—the actual dates of death. Quarantine arrangements in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the Government there.

RABIES IN DOGS IN GREAT BRITAIN QUARANTINES
Date on which dog was admitted to quarantine	Country whence imported	Date on which rabies symptoms were first observed
31.12.23	India	4. 4.24
3. 4.24	Egypt	6. 4.24
22.12.23	India	13. 6.24
11. 2.27	India	15. 2.27
19. 3.28	India	21. 3.28
1. 5.29	India	25.11.29*
3. 9.29	Portugal	3. 1.30
8. 5.30	Morocco	8. 5.30
5. 5.37	East Africa	17. 5.37
13. 4.37	India	1. 9.37
29.8.38	Sudan	7. 9.38
25. 4.39	India	27. 5.39
15. 5.39	Egypt	17. 8.39
31.10.46	Italy	25.11.46
12.12.46	India	9. 1.47
30.9.46	Italy	24. 5.47*
25. 4.47	India	8. 7.47
2. 3.48	Burma	12. 3.48
27. 1.48	Burma	15. 6.48
22. 5.48	India	18.11.48
8. 2.49	Burma	19. 3.49
10.10.49	West Africa	—†
1. 6.68	Nigeria	—‡ (Died 21.6.68)
17. 4.69	India	20. 7.69 (Died 26.7.69)
4. 4.69	W. Germany	14.10.69§ (Died 18.10.69)
* At the owners' request, and to suit their convenience, these dogs had remained in quarantine kennels after the 6 month quarantine period had expired.
†Symptoms were first observed during the voyage to Great Britain.
‡No symptoms observed. Found dead 6.45 a.m. 21.6.68.
§Symptoms observed following release after 6 month quarantine; this dog was further quarantined from 14.10.69.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress there has been in the alleviation of flooding scheme for Builth Wells by the River Wye Authority; and whether tenders for the work have yet been asked for.

The River Authority is currently working on the detailed design of a scheme on the basis of the findings of an investigation carried out by the Hydraulics Research Station on its behalf. The Authority expects to sub- mit its proposals for consideration for grant during the first part of 1970. It would normally seek tenders for any work to be undertaken by contract after receiving my approval.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now announce the result of his discussions with the National Trust and the Natural Environment Research Council in relation to the culling of seals on the Farne Islands.

I regret that as yet the Trust have been unable to agree to the resumption of culling on the Farne Islands. We shall continue to keep the position under close review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether in view of the fact that there are now forged 50 penny coins in circulation, he will take immediate steps to demonetise this coin and replace it with the appropriate paper note of equivalent value.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, on the basis of the net surplus or deficit achieved in the 1969–70 balance of payments from the beginning of April, 1969 to the present date on the most recently published figures, what average monthly surplus will have to be earned over the coming months to achieve an annual surplus of £300 million and £500 million, respectively, by the end of March, 1970.

The latest published balance of payments showed a surplus of £100 million for the first quarter of the financial year. The balance of payments figures for the second quarter of the financial year will be published in a few weeks' time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish figures showing the deficits on the balance of payments and the means of financing them for each of the years 1965 to 1968, respectively, on the same basis as Table 7 in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1969–70;(2) whether, in the light of adjustments to the balance of payments figures for the years 1964 to 1968, he will publish a table showing the total deficit on the balance of payments to be financed, and the means of financing it, for the years 1964 to 1968 along the lines of Table 7, Financing of United Kingdom Deficit 1964 to 1968, of the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1969–70;(3) whether he will publish figures showing the total deficit on the balance of payments for 1964 to be financed, and the means of financing it, on the same basis as Table 7 in the Financial Statement and Budget Report 1969–70.

Not now. But I will keep the hon. Member's suggestion in mind as I review the different ways in which balance of payments data are presented in the regular publications.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the aggregate amount of tax collected in the Isle of Wight for each of the three tax years ended 5th April, 1969, in respect of income tax, surtax, capital gains tax, and selective employment tax, respectively.

No figures are available for surtax, which is collected centrally, or in respect of the collection and refund of S.E.T. Figures for the other two items mentioned are:

			GROSS RECEIPTS*	£'000
Year ended 5th April			Income Tax	Capital Gains Tax
1967	…	…	2,815	4
1968	…	…	3,314	26
1969	…	…	3,891	52
* Net receipts cannot be given as separate information on repayments is not available.

The figures are not directly indicative of the amounts of tax borne by the residents of the Isle of Wight.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why less than 5½ per cent. of the net receipts of Customs and Excise duties in the financial year 1967–68 were allocated to Scotland under current receipts in the Treasury Report, "A Scottish Budget".

Receipts in 1967–68 attributed to Scotland in the Treasury Report "A Scottish Budget" of the hydrocarbon oil duty, purchase tax, the duties on tobacco and alcoholic drink and other Customs and Excise duties total £351 million. This corresponds to 9^.4 per cent of the total receipts of these duties.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum paid by motorists in motoring taxation in the latest year for which figures are available in the United Kingdom, the United States of America, France and Germany, what it was as a percentage of each country's gross national product; and how much and what percentage of it was spent on the roads, from figures available to him from international sources.

I regret this information is not available. Neither the United Nations nor the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development collects separate figures for motoring taxation or for expenditure on roads.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the value of the 1,410 tons of copper and the 470 tons of nickel contained in the 50 penny coins minted to date at current market prices.

The value of the cupro-nickel alloy might be about £1,300 per ton.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many 10s. notes are currently in circulation; and how many are being printed for issue to banks in each of the next six months.

At the close of business on Wednesday, 12th November, there were 143 million ten shilling notes in circulation. The Bank of England has ceased to print these notes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether he will publish quarterly figures in Economic Trends showing the amount of Eurodollar borrowing that is at the moment included under the heading Monetary Movements;(2) whether he will publish the amount of overseas investment that was financed by Euro-dollar borrowing in the first half of 1969.

The balance of payments statistics regularly include figures of external borrowing and lending of United Kingdom banks in U.S. dollars and other non-sterling currencies, and estimates of overseas investment financed through Euro-dollar borrowing by investors from United Kingdom banks (e.g. Economic Trends, September 1969, page XVI and Appendix Tables 9 and 10).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of the amount of overseas investment in 1969 that will be financed by Euro-dollar borrowing.

The amount in the first half of the year is provisionally estimated at £50 million and will probably be rather lower in the second half.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish figures showing the amount of outward and inward private investment that is financed by the re-investment of profits that now appear in the current account for each of the years 1952 to 1968, respectively.

Figures for re-invested profits of subsidiaries from 1958–69 are published in the 1969 Pink Book, Table 25. Further information for 1965–68 is in Table 23.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will institute an inquiry into the proposal to widen the Mortlake Road, Kew, in view of the impracticability of the plan made by the Greater London Council and the opposition of both local residents and elected representatives.

I will arrange a public local inquiry to consider the objections that have been made to the compulsory purchase order for this proposal which has been published by the Greater London Council.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will take steps to ensure the correctness of tyre pressure gauges which are at the present time mainly operated by customers themselves.

Our policy is to encourage Weights and Measures authorities to carry out voluntary checks of tyre pressure gauges. And this they have been doing increasingly. There are no powers to make such checking compulsory and I have no plans for seeking them.

asked the Minister of Transport what adjustments will be necessary in the pension rights of members of pension schemes of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible as a result of the partial contracting out proposals of Command Paper No. 4195.

These are primarily matters for the nationalised transport undertakings themselves. But it is too soon for them to have initiated the necessary consultations, let alone to have reached conclusions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now take steps to implement the recommendation of the Committee on the Safety of Drugs, that drug containers should be labelled with the name of the contents unless the prescribing doctor specifies otherwise.

The position is that the Pharmaceutical Society has agreed in principle but when opinion amongst retail chemists throughout the country was consulted they indicated that they were unwilling to adopt it. I hope that with further consideration there will be a change of opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the aggregate amount of sickness, unemployment and supplementary benefits paid to residents of the Isle of Wight for each of the three years ended 5th April, 1969; and what was the amount of contributions collected in respect of National Insurance in respect of the same periods.

The following table shows the aggregate amounts of unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit paid at employment exchanges on the Isle of Wight to persons registering for employment. The other information asked for is not available.

			Unemployment benefit	Supplementary benefit
1966–67	…	…	£215,000	£60,000
1967–68	…	…	£250,000	£76,000
1968–69	…	…	£240,000	£78,000

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will issue advice to the Birmingham Regional Hospital Board on their public relations policy; and if he will advise the Board to accord the same facilities to the Press at group management committee meetings in the north of Warwickshire as exist in the south.

I am considering what arrangements may be needed to help all hospital authorities improve their public relations. On access to meetings of hospital management committees, I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-East (Mr. Dobson) on 7th July.—[Vol. 786, c. 935–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many physiotherapists have left the National Health Service employ in the years 1966, 1967 and 1968.

Information is only available for net gains or losses; for the years in question there were net increases in the numbers of physiotherapists (in terms of whole time equivalents) in the hospital service in England and Wales of 131, 105 and 38 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the scale of salaries paid in the National Health Service to physiotherapists.

The salary scales for full-time physiotherapists effective from 1st January, 1969, as agreed by the Whitley Council, range from £795£1,005 for the basic grade to £1,570£2,050 for the principal of a large training school.

asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of the 33 per cent, reduction in the strategic reserves of nickel, he is satisfied with the coordination between the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury and the Ministry of Power over the priority use of available supplies during the period of world shortage; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will' move to appoint a Select Committee on the Civil List to inquire into Royal finances.

I would refer to my statement in the House on Tuesday. —[Vol. 791, c. 182–194.]

asked the Prime Minister what is the proportionate percentage increase in the Civil List, the Prime Minister's emoluments and those of the other Cabinet Ministers, other Ministers of the Crown, High Court Judges, county court judges and Members of Parliament, respectively, since 1952.

On the Civil List, which is not properly comparable with the other matters mentioned in the Question, I would refer to my statement on Tuesday. The rest of the information is as follows:

	Percentage Increase since 1952
Prime Minister	40
Lord Chancellor	45
Cabinet Ministers (excluding the Prime Minister and the Lord Chancellor)	70
Other Ministers of the Crown (excluding the Law Officers)	84 to 200
Law Officers	28.6 to 84
High Court Judges	100
County Court Judges	134
Members of Parliament	225

When Ministerial salaries were last increased in 1965, following the report of the Lawrence Committee, the increases implemented were half those recommended by the Committee.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received, and from whom, on a possible review of the Civil List and Consolidated Fund provision for the Royal Household.

I would refer to my statement in the House on Tuesday.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech on foreign affairs and the economy at Guildhall on 10th November 1969.

I did so on 11th November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, whether he has received the further submission from the Crofters Commission on common grazings and other problems arising from the Commission's proposals for compulsory croft-ownership; and if he will arrange for exhaustive consultations at township and all other levels to ensure that all the proposals and their implications are fully understood by the crofters, and that adequate time is given for their consideration.

The Commission's proposals on these matters were submitted to me on 26th September. As with their main proposals on crofting tenure, I have now invited comments on these further recommendations from a wide range of interested bodies, including the crofters unions. I will naturally also consider written evidence from any other bodies or persons who have not been directly invited to let me have their views and who may wish to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, what adjustments will be necessary in the pension rights of members of pension schemes of nationalised industries for which he is responsible as a result of the partial contracting out proposals of Command Paper No. 4195.

This is a matter for the nationalised industries themselves in the first place.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will set up an inquiry into the suspension of a student from Hamilton College of Education.

No. This is a matter for the Governing Body of the College.

asked the Minister of Technology how many Skyvan aircraft have been delivered to customers; how many are on order; and what is the current rate of production of this aircraft.

It would be against Shorts' commercial interests for me to disclose the exact state of their order book or production rate. I understand that twenty-seven Skyvans have been delivered.

asked the Minister of Technology when he expects to announce proposals for the financial restructuring of Short Brothers and Harland.

We are proceeding with our examination of proposals for the reconstruction of the company. As 1 informed the House on 25th July, 1969, consideration of these proposals will necessarily take some time, but I will make a further statement as soon as possible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the total cost of Board of Trade factories built in Wales since 1964.

I have been asked to reply.The total expenditure on factories, excluding land, built in Wales by the Board of Trade in the period 1st April, 1964, to 30th September, 1969, was £12.8 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the cost of the Board of Trade factories built in Caernarvonshire and Merioneth since 1964; and how many men they employ.

£1.3 million. At the latest count, employment in these factories totalled 920, of whom 580 were men.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what sum has been lent and what sums have been paid in grants to the slate industry in Wales since 1960.

I have been asked to reply.This information is not available for payments of assistance under the Local Employment Acts and could not be provided for payments of investment grants without disappropriate effort.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, when he expects to conclude his discussions with the Civil Service concerning pension rights, in the light of the partial contracting-out proposals of Command Paper No. 4195.

A joint committee, with representatives of management and staff, including the industrial trade unions concerned, is conducting a thorough review of Civil Service superannuation. It is far too early to say when it will be able to make recommendations.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many bankruptcies occurred among farmers and how many among market gardeners in 1968.

The number of receiving orders and orders under Section 130 of the Bankruptcy Act, 1914, among farmers—not Fruit—and stock rearers was 119 and among market gardeners, fruit, flower and seed growers 37. Details of failures in the principal trades and occupations in 1968 are given in the Bankruptcy General Annual Report for the year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to regulate the fees chargeable to aircraft owners for the use of privately-owned licensed airfields and the conditions upon which such aircraft owners are permitted to use such airfields.

If the right hon. Gentleman will let me know what are the difficulties giving rise to his Question, we will consider what we can do to resolve them. We already have certain powers of control over charges at aerodromes licensed for public use.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the conditions upon which he licences privately-owned airfields: how often are such airfields inspected; and whether, under the Prices and Incomes Act, he has approved the scale of fees charged to owners of aircraft using such airfields.

(1) The conditions are contained in Civil Air Publication No. 168.(2) Normally annually.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will bring into force the Hearing Aid Council Act, 1968, and appoint the members of the Council.

The Board has made an order today bringing the Act into force on 29th December, 1969, and has appointed the following as members of the Council from that date:—

asked the President of the Board of Trade what adjustments will be necessary in the pension rights of members of pension schemes of the nationalised industries for which he is responsible as a result of the partial contracting out proposals of Command Paper No. 4195.

This is a matter for the industries themselves in the first place.