asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement following the report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on beer prices.

In September 1968 I announced that, after discussions with me, the brewing industry had agreed that the standstill on public bar beer prices which began in mid-1966 should be continued for a further 12 months, apart from limited increases on a small range of beers not covered by the existing notification arrangements.Last April the National Board for Prices and Incomes was asked to examine the structure of costs and prices, including retail margins, in the brewing industry with special regard to the existing return on capital and the industry's ability to finance its investment requirements. The board's report is published today. The submission made by the brewers and retailers, taken together, would have involved an increase in the average retail price of 4·5d. a pint. The board's main conclusion is that the retail price of beer in the public bar should be increased on average by not more than 2d. a pint, to be split in the proportion of two to one in favour of the retailers.The Government accept this conclusion and agree that beer prices in the public bar may now be increased accordingly. The brewers and licensees have given an assurance that for the next 12 months there will be no further increase in public bar beer prices and they will exercise restraint on increases in the price of beer in other bars. If during this period there were a major change in economic circumstances outside their control they would feel free to discuss the situation with the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on how many occasions since 14th August, 1969, has the Army operated in Northern Ireland under the Special Powers Act; and if he will indicate the powers which have been used.

The powers conferred upon members of the armed forces on duty by regulations made under the Civil Authorities (Special Powers) Acts include those of stopping and searching persons and vehicles, entering and searching premises, requiring persons to answer questions, and arresting persons without warrant. The regular exercise of these powers has been essential for the conduct of peace-keeping operations by the armed forces.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will list the total numbers recruited into the army from each of the Scottish counties in the last year and the percentage of recruits in comparison with the population of the various counties.

This information is not readily available and a disproportionate amount of time and effort would be involved in providing it.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date his Department commenced discussions with Vale Investments Limited about the bill for the blasting of Beaucette Quarry; and when he expects these discussions to be concluded.

The discussions began on 31st January, 1969. We expect to conclude them within the next few weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he now expects to publish the figures for immigrant pupils in January, 1969, in view of the fact that most or all of these have been available on request from the respective local education authorities for not less than the past four months.

I regret that statistics of immigrant pupils in January, 1969, are not yet available. Individual local education authorities may be able to provide figures for their own areas from copies of the returns made to the Department, but a proper presentation of the national figures requires a complete analysis of the figures for all areas. I shall have this ready as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will extend his request to local education authorities in England and Wales for figures of immigrant pupils in January, 1970, so as to include as well as London and county boroughs, other divisions, such as Loughborough and Slough, where similar conditions as to population and immigrant percentage are known to be fulfilled.

Information is collected from local education authorities in re- spect of every primary and secondary school with immigrant pupils. The standard form of presentation is to group the data by local education authority areas. Every effort is made to meet requests for information about smaller areas, but it would not be practicable to compile the statistics in such a way as to anticipate all requests.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of infant boys, infant girls, junior boys and junior girls at the Oaklands Lane Primary School, Biggin Hill; and if he will state the numbers of toilets provided for each category, the number of urinal stalls provided in the case of the boys, and the number laid down as standard by his Department.

The information is as follows:

	Sanitary Fittings
Number on Roll in September, 1969	Existing arrangements	Required under the Regulations
91 Infant boy	1 closet	See Note
	3 urinals
75 Infant girls	4 closets
88 Junior boys	2 closets
	2 urinals
93 Junior girls	4 closets
347	16	22

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what steps he will take to ensure that adequate lavatory accommodation as laid down by his regulations is provided by the London Borough of Bromley Local Education Authority at the Oaklands Lane Primary School, Biggin Hill;(2) when his Department will reply to the letter dated 16th October from a resident of Biggin Hill, concerning lavatory facilities at the Oaklands Lane Primary School, Biggin Hill.

I have replied to the correspondent and written to the hon. Member about the steps which are being taken by the local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many special schools or units are at present available for the admission of autistic children; how many places in them are available for autistic adolescents; and what plans he has for increasing the number of such places and for increasing the opportunities for sheltered employment for autistic young people

I refer the right hon. Gentleman to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) on 19th December, 1968. The provision of sheltered employment for severely disabled young people and adults is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity.—[Vol. 775, c. 439–04.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will take steps to assist local authorities to turn parts of the museums under their jurisdiction into environmental centres.

I am very much in favour of museums being linked with general cultural activities and forming a live part of the communities in which they are situated. Displays related to urban development and the environment could be of great interest. The financial responsibility rests, however, with the local authorities, and it would be for them to consider any schemes such as my hon. Friend has in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities provide, at their own expense, free milk in secondary schools.

None so far as I am aware.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give an assurance that teachers of the mentally handicapped who hold the appropriate diploma of the training council will be recognised by his Department as being qualified.

I intend that, when responsibility for the education of mentally handicapped children is transferred to the education service, staff concerned who hold the diploma in the-teaching of mentally handicapped children of the Training Council for Teachers of the Mentally Handicapped shall be recognised as qualified teachers: in the sense of my regulations, if or when they have completed five years satisfactory post-diploma service in the teaching of mentally handicapped children. Staff who are not eligible, or not immediately eligible for such recognition will, of course, remain covered by the assurance given by the Prime Minister on 26th November, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to ensure that women have equal opportunity with men to obtain places in medical schools on merit in future, instead of being restricted to a proportion of places as in the past.

The admission of students is the responsibility of the universities and medical schools, and legislation would not be appropriate. Medical schools will no doubt bear in mind the recommendations of the Royal Commission on Medical Education concerning the admission of women candidates.

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning (1) what plans he has for the establishment of a National Environmental Data-Bank, with fast information retrieval, to facilitate speedier decisions on environmental questions by the public authorities concerned;(2) what plans he has for the establishment of a National Environmental Centre; and if he will seek powers to assist those organisations already working in this field.

The Government have done much in recent years to show their practical concern for the environment. But I am now considering, with my right hon. Friends with statutory responsibilities, the existing machinery concerned with environmental matters, particularly environmental pollution; and the ways in which information, including the results of research, is stored, made available and used.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the Civil Service grades and numbers of those in his Department who are currently employed full-time or part-time on administration connected with the control of gold coins under Statutory Instrument, 1966, No. 438.

One principal and one higher executive officer are employed part-time on administration connected with the control of gold coins, with limited ancillary support.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what fees or charges have been paid to the Bank of England for the costs it has incurred in administering Statutory Instrument, 1966, No. 438.

The costs of the administration of the gold coin control are covered by the fee paid to the Bank of England for the administration of exchange control and are not separately identifiable.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent parcels and gifts coming from Rhodesia are subjected to different checks by Her Majesty's Customs and Excise from those coming from other sources; and what instructions he has issued in this connection.

All goods coming into this country are subject to Customs examination, the purposes of which include the enforcement of any prohibitions or restrictions imposed by law. The importation of all goods from Rhodesia is prohibited by the Southern Rhodesia (United Nations Sanctions) (No. 2) Order 1968 except under an individual import licence, and this affects the incidence of Customs checking.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will ensure that, in the future review of the shape of the 50p coin, the shape proposed by Professor L. S. Goddard, Professor of Mathematics in the University of Salford, details of which have been sent to him, will be given consideration.

We have no proposals for such a review at present.The shape proposed by Professor Goddard was among those considered by the Decimal Currency Board before it recommended the shape we have.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will state the categories of aid to developing countries which are included in the calculations of aid made by the Development Assistance Committee of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development; and how these differ from those included in the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development definition of aid.

The categories of financial flows to developing countries used by the D.A.C. cover all the net financial resource transfers defined in connection with the 1 per cent. target at the U.N.C.T.A.D. Conference in 1968 and published on page 78 of the Report of the Conference (Cmnd. 3649), except that the D.A.C. specifically excludes official loans and guaranteed private export credits for defence purposes.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will set out in the OFFICIAL REPORT the latest estimates for official flows (net), private investment (net) and export credits (net) to developing countries in 1968 in cash terms and as a percentage of the gross national product; and if she will give the reason for any revisions from previously published figures.

The Table below gives the figures for net official and private flows as published in "British Aid Statistics" (Table 5) compared with the latest

AID FLOWS 1968
(£ million)
		British Aid Statistics			Current Estimate
				Per cent.			Per cent.
				G.N.P.			G.N.P.
Net Official Flows	…		178·1	0·42	178·5		0·42
Net Private Flows
Investment	…	79·0			79·0
Guaranteed Export Credits	…	78·9			63·1
Total Private Flows	…		157·9	0·37		142·1	0·33
TOTAL FLOWS	…		336·0	0·79		320·6	0·75

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons charged with murder and subsequently found to have diminished responsibility under Section 2 of the Homicide Act have been released in the

Years detained
5	6	7	8	9	10	11	Total
1	1	2	3	2	—	1	10

During the same period, 31 offenders convicted of the same offence and detained in hospital under Part V of the

Years detained
Under 1	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	Total
8	1	4	7	1	2	1	—	—	—	1	31

I regret that figures for persons so convicted and sentenced to fixed terms of imprisonment are not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners are now serving determinate sentences of over 18 years; how many are serving sentences of 12 to 15 years; and how many are serving sentences of 10 to 12 years.

The following table gives the most recent information for

In England and Wales in the five years ended 31st December, 1968, 10 persons sentenced to life imprisonment for manslaughter by reason of diminshed responsibility were released after serving the following periods:Mental Health Act 1959 were discharged after the following periods:prisoners serving determinate sentences in England and Wales:

10 to 12 years inclusive	304
Over 12 years and up to 15 years	72
Over 15 years and up to 18 years	16
Over 18 years	29
Total	421

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish a table showing the number of prosecutions for excessive emission of fumes from vehicles during the last three years.

Prosecutions in England and Wales for unlawful emission of smoke and other substances from vehicles were as follows:

1966	2,140
1967	2,740
1968	2,672

asked the Secretary of 'State for the Home Department whether he will publish a table showing the number of prosecutions under the new vehicle noise regulations which came into force during 1968.

Separate figures for prosecutions for exceeding prescribed sound levels are not available. During 1968 there were in England and Wales 13,395 prosecutions for vehicle noise offences other than sounding a horn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what memoranda he has sent to chief constables about the control of excessive noise and fumes from vehicles.

Chief constables in England and Wales were informed in advance about the content of the regulations which, in 1968, prescribed maximum sound levels for road vehicles. They were also informed about the noise meters adopted, and the courses in their use which have been provided by the Ministry of Transport. No circular has been sent to chief constables recently on the subject of vehicle fumes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from chief officers of police in support of his decision to limit gaming clubs in Scotland to three cities; and what consultations he has had with the police regarding this decision.

I have received no representations from chief officers of police either supporting or opposing the decision to restrict commercial gaming, other than gaming in bingo, bridge or whist, to three cities in Scotland. The regulations giving effect to this decision are based on the recommendations of the Gaming Board which has the statutory duty of advising Ministers on matters of this kind. I have held no separate consultations with the police, but in giving effect to the board's recommendations I have had regard to all the relevant considerations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what forecast he has made of the number of teachers in secondary education in Scotland who will be required in 1973 when the school-leaving age is raised to 16 years;(2) what forecast he has made of the number of secondary teachers in Scotland in 1973.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 2nd July, 1969, to the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur).—[Vol. 786. c. 102–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultant posts in otological medicine, as distinct from otological surgery, are available under the Natonal Health Service.

National Health Service hospital staffing records do not show otological medicine as a separate specialty

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider appointing an adviser in otological medicine in addition to advisers in ear, nose and throat surgery.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion but I do not think it necessary to adopt it so long as my need for advice on the subject is adequately met, as at present, by other arrangements. These include an advisory committee on audiology and electroacoutstic technology as well as an E.N.T. adviser.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the total cost of the National Health Service is now met from contributions, charges, the Exchequer and the rates, respectively.

It is estimated that in the current financial year the cost of the Health and Welfare Services in Great Britain will be met in approximately the following proportions:

	Per cent.
N.H.S. Contributions	9½
Charges	5
Consolidated Fund	80
Rates	5½

asked the Minister of Technology what studies have been made by his Department of the market for hovercraft as rescue vehicles on coastal airports.

No such market studies have been made by the Department. Marketing and sales are the responsibility of the individual manufacturers.

asked the Minister of Technology what is his estimate of the tonnage of coal and coal equivalent, respectively, consumed in England, Scotland and Wales in 1966–67 and 1967–68.

Estimates of coal consumption are as follows:

million tons
	England	Scotland	Wales
1966–67	139	13	16
1967–68	136	12	15

I shall write to the hon. Member about the tonnage of coal equivalent.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give his analysis of Welsh fuel consumption for each of the years 1960 to 1968, giving the sources of fuel, the amount of fuel consumption from each source, and the proportion of the total fuel consumption represented by each source.

Estimates are not readily available, but I shall write to the hon. Member giving him such information as I can obtain on this subject.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is yet in a position to make an announcement about the establishment of a marine industries unit at Newcastle University.

Yes. We are to assist Newcastle University with the establish-of an industrial unit in the marine industries field. The unit will be backed by a Ministry of Technology grant of up to £85,000 over the first two years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if the eight specific mandatory modifications to Beagle 121 Series 1, 2 and 3 aircraft have been completed to the satisfaction of the Inspectorate of the Air Registration Board.

I am informed that the Air Registration Board does not normally check that all mandatory modifications are incorporated until the aircraft are inspected by its surveyors prior to renewal of its certificates of airworthiness, but it has no reason to believe that owners have not complied with the mandatory instructions issued.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what approaches he proposes to make to Edinburgh Corporation on the subject of Turnhouse Airport and its financing and if he will make a statement.

I am always ready to discuss the financing of developments at Turnhouse Airport with Edinburgh Corporation but since in March the corporation informed the Department that there could be no possibility of a financial contribution towards the construction of a new runway I have no plans for a fresh approach.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what approaches he proposes to make to Fife, Lanarkshire, Midlothian, Stirlingshire, and West Lothian local authorities on the financing of Turn-house Airport; and if he will make a statement.

While we should be happy to consider suggestions by local authorities for the financing of the airport, we are not proposing to approach them at this stage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will define the nature of his proposed new terminal complex for Turnhouse Airport.

The proposed terminal complex includes a new terminal building, incorporating passenger and baggage handling areas, catering facilities and office accommodation, together with car parks, aprons and a mechanical transport depot.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the cost of the ground radar required at Turnhouse Airport.

The initial cost of equipping Turnhouse Airport with surveillance radar is expected to be £140,000. Additional operating costs, including depreciation and interest on capital, directly attributable to the radar are estimated at £50,000 per annum.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are his estimates of future traffic at Turnhouse Airport in the period 1972 to 1975.

Estimates of future traffic are subject to considerable uncertainty but it is expected that the number of terminal passengers will be about 900,000 in 1972 rising to about 1,100,000 in 1975 compared with 616,000 in 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about future arrangements for trade with the German Democratic Republic in the light of the negotiations between the Confederation of British Industry and the German Democratic Republic Chamber of Foreign Trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now announce the result of the trade talks with East Germany.

Negotiations have today been concluded for a trade agreement between the Confederation of British Industry and the East German Chamber of Foreign Trade covering trade in the period 1970–72. I welcome this development and the indications that have been given that the conclusion of such an agreement should lead to the expansion of our trade with East Germany.In view of the improved prospects for our exports to East Germany in 1970 and in accordance with the statement made by my predecessor on 2nd April last in reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley) I have decided to extend to imports from East Germany, with effect from 1st January next, the liberalisation measures which already apply to imports from the Soviet Union and other East European countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity why her Department informed Mr. N. Burn, managing director of a plastering firm in Dorset, that he could not advertise for a coloured labourer to work with two other coloured employees; and if she will make a statement.

Because under the Race Relations Act, 1968, it would have been unlawful to discriminate on the ground of colour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the latest available information on average wages in England and Wales, South-East England and the Portsmouth area.

Information is not compiled in the form requested. In April, 1969, the latest date for which information is available, the average weekly earnings of adult male manual workers in the South-East Region and in the United Kingdom as a whole were £24 16s. 10d. and £23 18s. 3d., respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what consideration she has given to the recent representations of the President of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers about the Construction Industry Training Board levy; what action she will take, particularly in regard to smaller building firms affected by the current depression in the industry; and if she will make a statement.

I have noted the recent public statement by the President of the National Federation of Building Trades Employers about the Construction Industry Training Board's proposals for its next levy. The board has yet to finalise the proposals and submit them to me for approval. I shall then consider them in the light of all the relevant factors.

asked the Minister of Transport when the work to the Victoria Embankment east of Westminster will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Work on the roof of the District Line between Westminster and Charing Cross should be completed by January, 1970. Work between Charing Cross and Temple should be completed in February.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will send a team of experts to advise on urgent interim measures to deal with the mounting traffic congestion problem in the Ports-bridge Road complex connecting Portsea Island with the mainland.

Measures already in hand to relieve congestion in the vicinity of Portsbridge are the result of close collaboration between engineers from the Department and Portsmouth City Council officials.The roundabout terminal of the new A27 trunk road, now in partial use, will be completed before the end of this year, and the new trunk road itself will be opened in January. Traffic management schemes on Portsea Island will also come into operation early next year.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans lie has for accelerating the construction of a flyover in the Ports-bridge Road complex, Portsmouth.

Construction of this flyover, as part of the Windhover-Ports-bridge section of the M27 motorway, will be started as soon as the statutory procedures, including land acquisition, can be completed.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will consider introducing a feasibility study to ascertain the extent of loss or saving resulting from a decision that all fares on public transport should be abolished and that the saving on conductors, ticket collectors, tickets, accountancy and other services connected with the printing and issuing of road and rail tickets should be used to finance those services in part with a national transport levy to meet the difference.

No.

asked the Minister of Transport what proposals he has received for variations in the speed limit on motorways according to the lane being used; what studies he is making of proposals of this kind; and whether he will make a statement.

We have not received any proposals to vary mandatory speed limits on motorways by lane, although it has been suggested from time to time and was considered in the consultation period after the publication of the Green Paper "How Fast?" last year. The expense of signing each lane, the problem of enforcement, and other difficulties would in our view outweigh any advantage for safety or traffic flow.The new gantry signals for urban motorways can indicate different advisory speed limits for each lane when necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the increased containerised traffic from the West Midlands and the proposed location of container services from Port of Southampton, what priority he will give to the construction of the strategy road Birmingham to Southampton.

This route is among those proposed for comprehensive improvement in the Green Paper "Roads for the Future". A project feasibility study is now being carried out to examine alternative lines for a new high grade road on the Birmingham-Oxford section of the route. South of Oxford several sections of the A34 and A33 have already been improved or are under construction; other schemes are in preparation. When assessing future priorities full account will he taken of the growth of container traffic between the Midlands and Southampton.

asked the Minister of Transport what plans he has to improve road communications in connection with the development of Southampton as a container port.

Road schemes in Southampton and on the main trunk routes into the area take full account of the needs of container traffic. In addition to about £40 million of work recently completed or in hand, a further £35 million is programmed or in preparation in Southampton and on the routes between Southampton, the Midlands and London. Our longer-term plans are outlined in the Green Paper "Roads for the Future".

asked the Minister of Transport what progress has been made with preparations for the issue of bilingual motor vehicle licence discs in Wales; and whether he will make a statement.

We have redesigned the disc to show the necessary details in both Welsh and English. Owing to practical difficulties outside our control, supplies of the new discs cannot be available in time for their issue on 1st January, 1970 as had been hoped. I regret the delay and I hope that it will be possible to commence the issue of bilingual discs throughout Wales in April, 1970

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on which days in the past years have representatives of Her Majesty's Government been asked to attend National or Independence days, or other festive occasions, celebrated by the Diplomatic Corps in London, and by which countries.

There are 115 Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Court of St. James, of which approximately 90 give annual national or Independence Day receptions. It is the practice for a Foreign and Commonwealth Minister to attend each of these whenever possible. Invitations are, of course, also issued to representatives of other departments of Her Majesty's Government.I regret that the full information which the hon. Member requests is not readily available and would involve unjustifiable time and expense to compile.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will inquire into the circumstances surrounding the departure from this country of Dr. Omar Muntasser, the former Libyan Ambassador to the Court of St. James.

Dr. Muntasser called at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 9th October in the course of normal business, when he reported that he was being recalled to Libya for consultations. Her Majesty's Ambassador in Tripoli reported that Dr. Muntasser arrived back in Libya on 10th October.In these circumstances, I am satisfied that no further inquiries into the circumstances of Dr. Muntasser's departure are called for.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make it a further condition of the recent offer he made to the West Germans of an extra 5,000 troops being supplied, on condition that the Germans meet the foreign exchange costs involved, that no additional costs will fall upon British public funds; and whether he will make a statement.

In the context of N.A.T.O.s discussions of remedial measures following Canada's recent decision to withdraw some of her forces from Europe, a proposal has been made that the United Kingdom should return Six Brigade to the Federal Republic of Germany. Discussion with our allies on

Deceased or Retired Member		Accommodation Allotted	Present Occupant
Lady Megan Lloyd George	…	Desk in Room 206, 1 Bridge Street	Mr. Judd
Mr. A. Garrow	…	Desk in Room 6, Upper Committee Corridor (South)	Mr. A. J. Shaw
Mr. R. M. Davies	…	Desk in Room 4, 54 Parliament Street	Vacant
Mr. B. Floud	…	Desk in Room 6, Upper Committee Corridor (South)	Mr. Montgomery
Mr. C. Rowland	…	Desk in West Cloisters	Mr. A. Faulds
Mr. W. O. J. Robinson	…	Desk in West Cloisters	Dr. Bray
Mr. Walter Loveys	…	Desk in Room 3, First Floor, 7 Old Palace Yard	Mr. N. Fisher
Mr. H. Howarth	…	Desk in Room 80, Upper Committee Corridor	Mr. T. Swain

This list includes only desks in desk room, i.e. rooms with more than two desks in them.Other Members who have died or retired did not have a desk.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many Members' desks in single or double rooms are at present unoccupied.

None.

asked the Lord President of the Council which desk in which

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will take steps to abolish the arrangements whereby, in the event of the death or retirement of a Member, desks in single or double rooms are reallocated by the Whips of the former Members' party, and substitute a system which takes note of the party of the incoming Member and the size of Members' electorates.

No. I think the present system of allocation leads to fewer difficulties.

asked the Lord President of the Council if lie will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing which desk in which desk room was occupied by each of those Members who have vacated their seats by death or retirement during the present parliament, and by whom each of these desks is now occupied.

Following is the information:desk room was occupied by Mr. William Shepherd, the former hon. Member for Cheadle; and by whom this desk is now occupied.

The former Member for Cheadle did not apply for a desk.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a statement on his decision regarding the Blyth town centre re-development proposals.

These proposals unfortunately present some technical difficulties. My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to make a decision very soon, and I will let my hon. Friend know when he has done so.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to assist the establishment of leisure centres.

Local authorities already have adequate powers to establish such centres.