asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will seek to convene a conference of Caribbean States to launch an economic plan kit the area.

No. We are very ready to help through our bilateral programmes, our consultations with other aid donors, our association with regional organisations, and our participation in the new Caribbean Development Bank. But the planning and management of their economic affairs must rest with the independent States and self-governing territories themselves.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much aid in cash and kind she proposes for East and West Malaysia, respectively, in the calendar year 1970.

Aid is not made available separately to East and West Malaysia but to the Federal Government. The estimated total value of all economic aid to Malaysia in 1970 is just over £6 million, of which about one-third is likely to be spent in East Malaysia.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what progress is being made in the road construction programme in Nepal which is the United Kingdom contribution of aid to that country.

In March this year an agreement was signed covering United Kingdom aid towards the construction of a 74-mile sector of the main East/West highway, at an estimated cost to the aid programme of £4·75 million.The United Kingdom Ministry of Public Building and Works has been appointed as construction agency. A base camp was made ready for occupation by the outbreak of the summer monsoon in July. Several miles of forest have been cleared, and road construction at the western end has now begun.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will estimate what percentage of the United Kingdom gross national product will be devoted to the official flow to underdeveloped countries in 1970; and what percentage of the gross national product will go in the private flow in the form of private investment.

Forecasts of gross national product are not available but if the G.N.P. continues to rise at broadly the same rate as in recent years, the percentage would be about 0·4. No firm forecast of the flow of private investment can be made, but it is estimated that in 1968 net private investment was 0·18 per cent. of G.N.P. out of a total private flows of 0·33 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many registered disabled men and women are unemployed in the Consett Employment Exchange and the Stanley Employment Exchange areas of County Durham at the latest convenient date.

On 13th October, 1969, 166 registered disabled men and 10 women were registered as unemployed at the Consett Employment Exchange, and 167 registered disabled men and three women at the Stanley Employment Exchange.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will increase the number of references being put before the Industrial Relations Commission.

Yes. The Commission has now received eleven references. My right hon. Friend will be referring a number of further matters to the Commission on Industrial Relations for examination shortly including examination of the state of industrial relations in particular industries and companies, general problems of industrial relations and question of recognition of trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will discuss with the Trades Union Congress increased worker control in industry.

The part that employees can play through collective bargaining in taking the decisions affecting their working lives is being discussed in the course of consultations with the T.U.C., C.B.I. and other interested organisations arising out of the White Paper "In Place of Strife".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what are the figures for industrial accidents for 1968; and how they compare as regards man-days lost with the previous five years.

312,430 accidents were reported in 1968 from premises subject to the Factories Act. The total time lost in working days as a result of these accidents is not known precisely. It is estimated that the numbers of mandays lost were approximately (in millions):

1963	…	…	…	…	5½
1964	…	…	…	…	7½
1965	…	…	…	…	8
1966	…	…	…	…	8¼
1967	…	…	…	…	8½
1968	…	…	…	…	8¼

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will refer the problem of instituting a method of payment for voluntary public services on local authorities and other public bodies to the National Board for Prices and Incomes for report.

No. As my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning stated on 13th October in an Answer to the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock), the question of pay and allowances for members of local authorities is already under review in the context of local government reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many young persons were unemployed in Sunderland at the latest available date; and what was the corresponding figure three months before.

368 young persons were unemployed in Sunderland on 10th November; the corresponding figure for 11th August was 1,173.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will list the number of stoppages and days lost due to industrial disputes, excluding mining, for the period July to October, 1969, and the same figures for the same period for the years 1960 to 1968, inclusive.

The following is the information available:

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES (EXCLUDING MINING AND QUARRYING)
	stoppages beginning in period	Working days lost in all stoppages in progress in period
1st July-31st October, 1969*	996	2,052,000
1st July-31st October, 1968	804	1,152,000
1st July-31st October, 1967	604	1,241,000
1st July-31st October, 1966	369	389,000
1st July-31st October, 1965	487	654,000
1st July-31st October, 1964	466	597,000
1st July-31st October, 1963	415	722,000
1st July-31st October, 1962	401	860,000
1st July-31st October, 1961	389	760,000
1st July-31st October, 1960	362	884,000
* Provisional

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will state the number of stoppages due to industrial disputes and the number of working days lost, including and excluding mining, respectively, for the first 10 months of this year.

The number of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes which began in the period 1st January to 31st October, 1969, was 2,542. Working days lost in all stoppages in progress in this period totalled 5,707,000. Excluding mining and quarrying, the corresponding figures were 2,380 stoppages and 4,674,000 days lost. All these figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the average number of stoppages and days lost due to industrial disputes, excluding mining, for the period July to October over the nine years from 1960 to 1968, inclusive; and what percentage increase is represented over this average by the same figures for the same period for the year 1969.

The average number of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes, other than in mining and quarrying, which began in the period 1st July to 31st October in each of the nine years from 1960 to 1968, was 477. The corresponding average number of working days lost in the same periods through all stoppages in progress was 807.000. The corresponding provisional totals of stoppages and working days lost in the same period of 1969 represent increases over these averages of 109 and 154 per cent., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the wages and salaries of members of the Royal Household and the productivity thereof.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will refer pottery prices and profits to the National Board for Prices and Incomes in addition to pay and conditions for workers; and whether she will make a statement.

I do not think that it would be useful to widen the terms of this reference.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what increase there has been in the total number of local government employees in England and Wales since October, 1964.

Between June, 1964 and June, 1969 the numbers employed by local authorities and in police forces in England and Wales increased by 352,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, in what circumstances authorisation was given by her Department to Shuresta Limited, Bayton Road, Exhall, Coventry, to employ women on night shift.

Nine women part-time evening workers have agreed to do full night shifts until 24th December to meet a deadline for export work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will give the figures for the new jobs created in Scotland between December, 1965 and December, 1968, and for the jobs which disappeared during the same period, showing manufacturing and service industries separately.

As explained to the hon. Member in a letter from my Department dated 20th August, an industrial analysis of employees in employment in Scotland is available only for June each year. This analysis shows that there were net reductions of about 30,000 in manufacturing and about 10,000 in services between June, 1965 and June, 1968. However, as I indicated in my reply of 6th November to the hon. Member, during this period of inevitable contraction of some of Scotland's basic industries, over 48,000 new manufacturing jobs were created over the 3 years 1966–68 counting only projects requiring industrial development certificates.—[Vol. 790, c. 161.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on the continuing strike of the maintenance men on the London Underground Railway, in view of the fact that the present lack of maintenance is causing inconvenience to the travelling public.

I very much regret the inconvenience caused by this strike, which arose over proposed changes in the method of recruitment of maintenance workers at London Transport Workshops, Acton. My officers and the T.U.C. have both had discussions with the parties and are continuing their efforts to resolve the dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she proposes to take to improve the wages and earnings of blind workers.

Those blind workers who are employed in ordinary industry receive the normal rates for the job. The wages and service conditions of blind workers employed in workshops for the blind are matters for determination by the National Joint Council for Workshops for the Blind.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what proposals she has for training blind workers in suitable skills for modern industry.

For those blind persons suitable for employment under ordinary conditions facilities are available at the Letchworth Government Training Centre for training in light engineering. Supplementary training as necessary is given on the job by a small team of Blind Persons Training Officers. An informal working party recently examined the industrial training facilities available for the blind and its recommendations have been or are being implemented. Arising from these recommendations I propose in collaboration with St. Dunstan's and the Royal National Institute for the Blind to commission Production Engineering Research Association to undertake research and development work including a review of industrial machines and processes with particular emphasis on new forms of conventional machines and new production processes in relation to the needs and abilities of bling workers.To meet the needs of blind workers employed in workshops for the blind a non-profit-making Company, Industrial Advisers to the Blind Limited, was set up in 1964 as recommended by the Stewart Working Party on Workshops for the Blind. This Company, which is sponsored by my Department, has been helping workshops for the blind to introduce modern industrial work in place of traditional handcrafts and gives assistance with the retraining of workers. I am encouraging workshops to use the services of the Company and the number doing so is increasing.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will refer to the National Board for Prices and Incomes the further evidence submitted by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, showing that company directors have had their salaries increased over the past three or four years by amounts ranging from 5 per cent. to 50 per cent.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the provision of a new day school for sub-normal pupils in the county borough of Sunderland.

A proposal to build a new day school for 160 educationally subnormal pupils has been put forward by the Sunderland local education authority for the period subsequent to 1970–71. My right hon. Friend has told authorities that a design list of special school building projects will be announced by next spring as the basis for the programme for 1971–72. The Sunderland proposal will be carefully considered when the list is drawn up.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present shortage of teachers of science and technical subjects, respectively, in the 13 counties and four county boroughs in the Principality of Wales, respectively.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the national average age at which children first start school, and how this compares with the position in Heywood, Royton, Crompton, Milnrow, Little-borough, Wardle, and Whitworth, respectively.

The regular returns to the Department by local education authorities relate to the ages of pupils in years only and this information could not therefore be made available without a disproportionate expenditure of time and money.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is carried out by his Department into future requirements in primary schools; what discussions he has in this respect with local education authorities; and if he will make a statement.

Future national requirements for new primary schools depend on the increase in and movement of the school population. On the first, my Department, after consultation with the General Register Office and the Government Actuary's Department, publishes annual forecasts: the latest appeared in Statistics of Education 1968, Vol. 1, Table 45. On the second, the Local Government Operational Research Unit is at present carrying out research at my request into the relationship between the provision of new housing and the demand for new school places. At the local level my Department is constantly in touch with local education authorities about both aspects of the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice he gives to local education authorities regarding the advance notification which should be given to parents on the availability of places in primary schools.

This is a matter best left to individual local education authorities

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much it costs to train a student to become a qualified ladies' hairdresser in the two-year course at the Chichester College of Further Education.

Separate figures on the cost of this course are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total annual cost to public funds of the school cruises organised by local education authorities.

This information is not available. The full cost is normally met by the parents of children taking part, but some local education authorities may contribute in cases of need.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will recommend Her Majesty to exercise her Prerogative for a free pardon to the student arrested in Grosvenor Square on 17th March, 1968, in the light of the further information supplied to his Department by the hon. Member for Blaydon that false statements were made by police officers in the course of the investigation carried out under the Police Act, 1964 and the further evidence of eye witnesses.

It has not been established that false statements were made by police officers, and my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that there are grounds for the exercise of the Prerogative.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what categories of civil defence equipment are currently being disposed of; what was the original cost of this equipment and what will be the return to public funds when it is sold; and what categories of equipment will remain in care and maintenance.

The equipment being disposed of consists mainly of items such as uniforms and vehicles which are surplus to requirements following the disbandment of the Civil Defence Corps and the Auxiliary Fire Service. The categories being retained are items of operational value in war, some of which are also of use in peace-time emergencies. The original cost of the surplus equipment less depreciation where appropriate, was £11·5 million for England and Wales. The total proceeds of sale cannot yet be estimated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons or companies have the authority to deal in prohibited weapons; how many fall within the category of manufacturers, importers, wholesalers, retailers and private persons, respectively; and in each case to what extent the authority from the Defence Council is limited to specific categories falling under Sections 5(1)(a), 5(1)(b) and 5(1)(c).

The functions of the Defence Council under Section 5 of the Firearms Act, 1968 with respect to prohibited weapons and ammunition were transferred on 1st November, 1968 to my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary and to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland.Following are particulars of the 103 authorities in force in England and Wales to deal in prohibited weapons or prohibited ammunition.

To whom given		Number	Categories under section 5(1) of the Firearms Act 1968
Manufacturers	…	34	(a)
		1	(b) and (c)
		1	(c)
Importers	…	3	(a)
Wholesalers	…	31	(a)
		1	(b) and (c)
		1	(c)
		1	not limited
Retailers	…	12	(a)
		2	(b) and (c)
		1	(c)
Scrap merchants	…	15	(a)

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what research projects have been carried out or are planned by the Research Committee set up by his Department under the chairmanship of Professor Kenneth Little.

The committee is considering a broad programme of race relations research in consultation with Government Departments and other interested authorities and organisations. I understand that it hopes to submit its recommendations to me next month. In the meantime it has provided helpful advice on some individual projects which have been under consideration. It is not one of the functions of the committee to conduct research.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will amend Section 6 of the Race Relations Act, 1968, so as to enable county cricket clubs to advertise without any restriction for players to play for their county cricket teams.

County cricket clubs are free to advertise without restriction so long as they do not indicate an intention to discriminate on grounds of colour, race, ethnic or national origin. Recruitment based on birth in the county concerned does not fall within any of these categories—either as a matter of law or common sense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department which Departmental Vote will bear the cost of the ex gratia payment of legal costs offered by the Attorney-General in settlement of the case of McWhirter versus the Secretary of State for the Home Department.

The Home Office Vote.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why his Under-Secretary of State took three weeks to reply to a communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, enclosing a communication from a con stituent concerning legislation to increase the penalties for those found guilty of vandalism and hooliganism, in view of the fact that this was a stereotype reply.

My hon. Friend the Joint Under-Secretary of State did not send a stereotype answer and the time taken to reply was not excessive.

asked the Minister of Technology what plans he has for reexamining energy requirements as a consequence of representations made to him during the recent coalfield strike.

Demand for energy was not affected by the recent coalfield strike. For the effect on the supply of energy I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to the hon. Member for Bournemouth, West (Sir J. Eden) on 20th October, 1969.—[Vol. 788, c. 759–61.]

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give a list of inventions patented in the United Kingdom in the last 50 years, for which ex-gratia payments have been made by the Government to the inventor and the amount of each payment; and how many applications have been refused.

Departmental records do not show the making of ex-gratia awards for patented inventions for the following reasons:

1. Government use of a patented invention gives rise to a statutory right of claim under the Patents Act, 1949. The question of ex-gratia payment does not therefore arise in respect of patented inventions.

2. An ex-gratia award for use of an invention (e.g., where there is no statutory right of claim) may be appropriate in circumstances published in the Statement of Principles followed by the 1919 and 1946 Royal Commissions on Awards to Inventors.

3. When a claimant has both statutory and ex-gratia bases of claim he may forgo his statutory claim, i.e., under his patent, and rely solely on the circumstances giving rise to an ex-gratia basis of claim in accordance with the principles of the two Royal Commissions.

asked the Minister of Technology what progress has been made in research on shoulder harness for air line seats; and when he expects to receive the reports on this subject.

The Department and the Board of Trade are having discussions to define the research requirement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that Government advertising is fairly evenly allocated to newspapers and periodicals.

Government advertising is determined in the way judged likely to achieve the best results most economically. I do not think that any other criteria are appropriate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to assist the stimulation of private investment in developing countries of the Commonwealth; and if he will make a statement.

The developing countries in the Commonwealth already enjoy preferential freedom for private investment. We have no new plans.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated balance of payments surplus or deficit in the period 1st October, 1964 to 1st April, 1970 on the basis that the basic surplus in the second half of this financial year, as defined in the International Monetary Fund Letter of Intent, continues to run at the annual rate of £350 million; and how this compares with the surplus or deficit resulting in each of the periods 1st July, 1945 to 1st October, 1951, and 1st October, 1951 to 1st October, 1964.

The hypothesis which the hon. and gallant Member assumes for the remainder of this financial year does not correspond to any objective to which my right hon. Friend has referred. For periods since 1952 the figures are in published documents. Information is not available in the same form for earlier periods. There was a cumulative deficit on current and long-term capital account of £1,345 million in the thirteen years 1952–64.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much the United Kingdom Government's net foreign indebtedness increased or decreased in each of the periods 26th July, 1945 to 25th October, 1951, 26th October, 1951 to 15th October, 1964 and from 16th October, 1964 to the latest available date, showing capital and interest separately.

An increase of £2,100 million from 30th June, 1945, the nearest available date, to 25th October, 1951, a decrease of £550 million from 26th October, 1951 to 15th October, 1964, and an increase of £1,575 million from 16th October, 1964 to the latest available date.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in convening a conference to consider re-scheduling the debt burden of Ghana.

The Government of Ghana have been invited to prepare a document setting out their case for further debt re-arrangement. When this is available, we shall consult other creditor Governments about a meeting to consider the problem next year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total net increase or decrease in national savings in the most recent 12-month period for which figures are available; and what were the comparable increases or decreases in national savings in the previous comparable four 12-month periods.

There was a net decrease of £69 million in the 12 months to the end of October, 1969 compared with increases of £77 million and £134 million, a decrease of £29 million and an increase of £119 million in the 12 months to the end of October, 1968, 1967, 1966, 1965 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total sum expended in advertising the new Save As You Earn scheme.

£213,000 covering the publicity for the National Savings Scheme administered by the Department for National Savings and the Trustee Savings Banks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers are now paying income tax at the standard rate on at least £250, £500 and £1,000 of their gross taxable income, respectively.

About 8⅓, 3¾ and 1¼ millions respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers will be paying tax at the standard rate on £250, £500 and £1,000 of their incomes, respectively, assuming a continuation of the current rate of inflation between 31st December, 1964, and 30th October, 1969, no change in taxation and a distribution of income increases before tax similar to that which has occurred in the same period, in the years 1970, 1975 and 1980.

Assuming that money incomes continue to increase at the average annual rate at which they have between December, 1964 and September, 1969, the estimated numbers are as follows:

			Millions
Liable at Standard rate on at least			1970–71	1975–76	1980–81
£
250	…	…	10	17	22
500	…	…	4½	12	18
1,000	…	…	1½	4½	11

These estimates are subject to a wide margin of error.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers are now paying surtax on at least £250, £500 and £1,000 of their gross taxable incomes, respectively.

Taking 1968/69 surtax payable on 1st January, 1970, the figures are about 405,000, 330,000 and 240,000 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many taxpayers will be paying surtax on at least £250, £500 and £1,000 of their incomes, respectively, assuming a continuation of the rate of inflation between 31st December, 1964 and 30th October, 1969, no change in taxation and a distribution of income increases before tax similar to that which occurred in the same period, in the years 1970, 1975 and 1980.

For 1969–70 surtax payable on 1st January, 1971, about 430,000, 350,000 and 260,000 respectively. I regret that estimates for 1975 and 1980 cannot be made without a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the level of family allowances, tax free, to be paid for all children, including the first horn, graded for those under 11 years, between 11–16 years, and over 16 years, on the basis that the tax allowances for children in these categories were abolished and the increased revenue thus derived transferred to a cash payment of family allowances; and what is his estimate of the break-even point.

I am not sure what my hon. Friend has in mind but if he wishes to use the additional revenue from each of the three separate age groups for family allowances for that age group, then the information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total monthly sum being invested in the National Savings Save As You Earn scheme; and how many persons have committed them elves to participate in it.

Up to 22nd November the Department for National Savings reports 92,835 contracts with a total first contribution of over £627,000. For the Trustee Savings Banks in the first month there were 19,300 contracts with a total contribution of £141,000. We cannot yet assess the response from industries operating deductions from pay schemes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to introduce a new form of National Savings certificate which contains a guarantee against inflation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is aware of the danger to British territory in the Pacific and Indian Oceans caused by the decimation of coral reefs; which islands have been affected; how many islands are threatened; what action he is taking to deal with this situation: and if he will make a statement.

I have had not reports on this matter, nor requests for assistance, from any of the Governments of British territories in the areas. I am making inquiries and will communicate with the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on what date the contingency plan against the possibility of a serious accident at Brad-well was submitted to the local authorities and the Sea Fisheries Committee; and on which dates the Committee and each local authority concerned notified his Department of their acceptance of the plan.

The Ministry's proposals were notified to the Kent and Essex Sea Fisheries Committee on 4th September, 1963. On 5th November, 1963 the committee replied that it had no comments provided that the Department was satisfied there was no risk to the fisheries. On 10th June, 1969, further details of the proposals were notified to the committee; these were accepted by the committee on 17th June.The two local authorities concerned, the Southend-on-Sea C.B. and Clacton- on-Sea U.D.C., were notified of the proposals on 20th August, 1965, and gave their agreement respectively on 12th November and 25th November, 1965. They were not affected by the further details subsequently notified to the committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the estimated cost to the Army of guarding the ground at Aldershot on which they plan to play the Springboks.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the number of civilian employees transferred from the headquarters Vote to outstation Votes between 1964 and 1969.

About 7,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what he expects to be the value of deliveries of United States military aircraft and missiles in the 12 months beginning 1st November, 1969.

About £25 million for those military aircraft and associated missiles purchased from the United States under credit arrangements with Exim-bank. Information on the value of deliveries of other United States military equipment in particular periods is not readily available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many houses in the East Riding of Yorkshire have no internal water closet, no fixed bath, no hot water tap, and no cold water tap, respectively.

Information from the 1966 sample census indicates that there were then 45,300 households in the East Riding of Yorkshire with no internal water closet, 33,390 without a fixed bath and 27,460 with no hot water tap.Information about the presence of cold water taps was not collected in 1966, but according to the 1961 census 6,980 households lacked cold water taps at that time. This number will have been substantially reduced as a result of slum clearance and improvement.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he is aware that there are delays in the arrangements for the transmission of colour television services in the Sheffield area owing to shortage of British-made components; and if he will now direct the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to provide the equipment necessary for the transmission of these services at an early date.

The provision of the colour services of B.B.C.1 and independent television is primarily a matter for the B.B.C. and the I.T.A. Their plans are to open simultaneously both services at Sheffield towards the end of 1970. I understand there has been no special delay in Sheffield. The second part of the Question does not, therefore, arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the total increase in the school population when the school leaving age is raised to 16 in 1972; how many additional school places will be required and how many provided; how many additional teachers will be necessary in secondary classes; and how he intends to recruit this number.

The number of additional pupils directly attributable to the raising of the school leaving age is forecast at some 9,500 at January, 1973 and some 30,000 at January, 1974. The provision of additional accommodation is already under way, and I have recently asked education authorities to let me know what further building will need to be started for the purpose in the current 5-year programme. As my hon. Friend will know, I am at present reviewing the method of ascertaining the staffing requirements of secondary schools, but on the basis of an overall pupil/teacher ratio of 14.5:1 the numbers of teachers required for the additional pupils attributable to the raising of the leaving age would be about 650 at January, 1973 and about 2,100 at January, 1974. Recruitment to teaching will continue to be encouraged, and I am examining ways of deploying teachers more effectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will sponsor an investigation into violent crime in Scotland comparable to that undertaken for England and Wales by the Institute of Criminology in Cambridge, details of which have been sent to him.

I am investigating the possibility of Scotland being associated with this project, perhaps by a complementary study in a Scottish university, which would be eligible for a financial grant from my department.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will obtain a report from the Chief Constable regarding the nature of the discussions which have taken place between the City of Aberdeen Police and local Rugby football clubs concerning the forthcoming match with the Springbok team in Aberdeen; and if he will make a statement.

The chief constable of Aberdeen, at my invitation, attended with the other chief constables concerned the conference on Monday, 24th November, at which my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Scotland was present. A full discussion of the policing arrangements for the forthcoming Springbok matches took place, and it was agreed that chief constables would seek the co-operation of all concerned in order to maintain public order and also to allow those who so wish to make a peaceful demonstration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many attacks

STOCKPORT AND BUXTON HOSPITAL GROUP
Hospital		Nursing Staff in post 30/9/69	Establishment	Nurse/Patient Ratio
1. Stockport Infirmary (Acute)	…	126	167	1:1
2. Cherry Tree Hospital (Acute)	…	53·8	69	1:1·2
3. St. Thomas' Hospital (Long Stay)	…	191·5	193·75	1:1·7
4. Mauldeth Home (Chronic)	…	36·3	43·75	1:2·4
5. Offerton House (Mental Subnormality)	…	35·8	42	1:3·95
6. Marple Dale Hospital (Tuberculosis and Chest)	…	24	38·25	1:2·9
7. Children's Orthopaedic Hospital (Orthopaedic)	…	31 ·5	37·25	1:1·3
8. Ollersett View Hospital (Mental Illness)	…	18·7	22	1:3·3
9. Devonshire Royal Hospital (Other)	…	105·5	97	1:1·4
10. Cavendish Hospital (Geriatric)	…	32	32	1:1·7
11. Corbar Hall Maternity Home (Maternity)	…	7·5	16	1:1·5
12. Buxton Hospital (Acute)	…	35	38·25	1:0·9
13. Poise House Hospital (Pre·Convalescent)	…	18	13·5	1:1·2
14. Stepping Hill Hospital (Acute)	…	400	454·75	1:1·05

The nurse/patient ratios have been calculated on the staff in post at 30th September, 1969, and the average daily bed occupancy in 1968 the latest figures available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what research is being carried out into the harmful effects of vehicle fumes; and what representations have been received from medical officers of health on this subject.

The number of assaults on police officers in 1968 resulting in their being absent from duty was 157. The corresponding figures for the preceding years since 1960 are as follows:

1960	…	…	…	…	100
1961	…	…	…	…	60
1962	…	…	…	…	60
1963	…	…	…	…	56
1964	…	…	…	…	64
1965	…	…	…	…	76
1966	…	…	…	…	94
1967	…	…	…	…	105

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of nurses in posts and the establishment figures, together with the ratio of nurses to patients, in the hospitals within the Stockport and Buxton Hospital Group.

Following are the figures:

Research is undertaken by the Air Pollution Unit of the Medical Research Council, and includes observations on traffic policemen, garage workers and others, and laboratory investigations of effects on the human body. So far as I am aware this matter is not the subject of current representations to me by medical officers of health

asked the President of the Board of Trade what review he has made of the flight time limitation guidelines; and whether he has now decided to include inter-aerodrome surface travel in the definition of duty period.

The whole subject of flight time limitations including the guidelines is presently being reviewed in the light of experience to date and comments received from organisations and individuals; the extent to which surface travel should be included in the definition of duty period is being considered, but no decision has yet been taken.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether the 600 metre minimum runway visual range prescribed for passenger aircraft also applies to all non-passenger-carrying flights and to executive aircraft.

The limitation applies to public transport aircraft regardless of whether passengers are being carried. It does not apply to public transport aircraft registered in the United Kingdom on flights which do not exceed 60 minutes in duration and which are

(a) Flights solely for training persons to perform duties in an aircraft, or

(b) Flights intended to begin and end at the same aerodrome.

Executive aircraft which are not public transport aircraft are not at present required by regulation to comply with weather minima, but the problem is kept under continuous review."Public transport aircraft" is defined as meaning an aircraft flying, or intended by the operator of the aircraft to fly, for the purpose of public transport.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many air misses have been reported to his Department in respect of Luton, Gatwick, Heathrow, Manchester, Turnhouse, Speke, Abbotsinch, Leeds/Bradford, Teesside, Stansted and Southend, respectively, in the years 1967 and 1968; and if, in view of recent incidents involving large numbers of passengers, he will make the reporting of air misses mandatory.

Taking the whole of the air space within a radius of eight miles around each of the aerodromes in question—as being a representative manoeuvring area for large transport aircraft—no air miss incidents were reported in either 1967 or 1968 for Heathrow, Manchester, Glasgow (Abbotsinch), or Southend. Of the incidents reported during these years for the other aerodromes in question, none was subsequently assessed as involving actual risks.The present voluntary reporting arrangements work well, with the full support of pilots and airlines. It is a matter for the judgment of the pilots involved whether an incident has occurred which justifies reporting; to introduce mandatory arrangements would be very difficult to enforce and could prejudice the present spirit of co-operation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the progress made in the development of quieter aircraft engines, if he will take steps to provide for a retrofit programme in the United Kingdom to reduce aircraft noise while the older jet aircraft are completing their working life.

A retrofit programme for current aircraft is more difficult technically and economically than the quietening of future types of aircraft. This matter is being examined internationally but studies so far suggest that cost would be very heavy in relation to any likely benefit in noise reduction.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the total exports of this country in the years 1964 to 1969 was contributed by the public sector of industry.

Direct exports of goods and services by the public sector—as it existed at the time—are estimated to have accounted for the following percentages of all exports of goods and services:

1964	…	3
1965	…	3
1966	…	3
1967	…	4
1968	…	5
January—September, 1969	…	5

asked the Minster of Transport what was the total Government expenditure on roads in England for the year ended 31st March, 1969; and what is the estimated expenditure for the year ending 31st March, 1970.

Central Government expenditure specifically on improvements, new construction and maintenance of roads in England in 1968–69 was £225·5 million. In 1969–70, the estimate is £266 million.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will provide a pedestrian crossing on Braunstone Lane, Leicester, between the A47 and the A46.

Braunstone Lane is not a trunk or principal road and the

	Motorways in Use (Ministry and Local Authority)	Approximate Mileage	R.C.U. Region	Actual or Estimated Cost
				£m.
Ml	London·Yorkshire
	North of Fiveways Corner·Aldenham	8·3	E.	15·1
	Aldenham·Crick (including M10 and M45 Spurs)	73·2	E. & M.	28·5
	Crick-Barlborough	61·2	M.	52·6
	Barlborough-Stourton	51·8	N.E.	44·8
M2	Medway Motor Road	25·2	S.E.	16·0
M4	London-South Wales
	Chiswick-Langley	12·5	—	20·3
	Langley-Holyport	11·3	S.E.	7·9
	Tormarton-Almondsbury	13·4	S.E.	28·0
	Severn Bridge and Approaches	6·5	—
M5	Birmingham-Bristol-Exeter
	Twyning-Lydiate Ash-Quinton	32·0	M.	16·0
	Cribbs Causeway-Avonmouth	4·3	S.W.	4·8
	Filton By-Pass	2·3	S.W.	0·7
M6	Birmingham-Preston-Carlisle
	Bescot-Dunston	14·9	M.	14·8
	Dunston-Preston	78·5	M. & N.W.	56·1
	Preston By-Pass-Lancaster By-Pass	32·8	N.W.	20·9
	Thrimby-Penrith By-Pass	10·2	N.W.	12·1
M18	Morthen-Doncaster By-Pass (including part of Thurcroft Link)	9·5	N.E.	5·2
M20	Mid-Kent Motorway
	Maidstone By-Pass	6·8	S.E.	2·6

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list, giving the mileage in respect of each, those motorways or lengths of motorway for which no line had yet been proposed, a draft scheme had been published, a scheme had been made, tenders had been invited, a contract had been placed, which were under construction and which were in use, respectively, as at 31st October, 1969, and showing in each instance the actual or estimated cost wherever possible and distinguishing between each road construction unit region.

Following is the information, including available details of local authority schemes.