asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the cost to public funds of rabbit clearance societies in each of the last three available years.

Grants paid to rabbit clearance societies in England and Wales in each of the last three financial years were as follows:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the number of half-price cartridges issued to rabbit clearance societies in each of the last three available years, and the approximate cost of Government subsidy in this respect, in each year.

Cartridges are not issued to rabbit clearance societies, but societies purchasing and using cartridges on behalf of their members for approved purposes receive a Government grant of 50 per cent. towards their cost.Cartridges are only one of many items purchased by societies and the total amounts of grant attributable to separate items are not readily available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now make a further statement about his negotiations on the arrangements for imports of frozen fillets from European Free Trade Association suppliers after 1969.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is yet in a position to make a further announcement about his negotiations on the arrangements for imports of frozen fillets from European Free Trade Association suppliers after 1969.

The final details of the outline agreement to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend on 31st October, have now been settled. A new understanding has been reached, subject to approval by the Governments concerned, on a régime for frozen fillets imported into the United Kingdom from E.F.T.A. countries. The new arrangements would operate from 1st January, 1970, for existing members, and for Iceland from the date of her accession to E.F.T.A.The Record of Understanding establishes minimum export prices for cod, haddock and plaice. These are initial prices to be increased on 1st January, 1971 with a view to reaching target prices by the end of that year. The intermediate and target prices for the basic specification of cod fillets are set out in the agreement, but the corresponding prices for other varieties of fillets remain to be fixed at annual reviews. Provision is also made for consultation at any time, at the request of any Government party to the Understanding, with a view to taking remedial measures if the arrangements are not operating satisfactorily.The Governments of the exporting countries will be responsible for enforcing the observance of the minimum prices and, subject to the satisfactory operation of the scheme, the United Kingdom will accept the continued exclusion of these fillets from Annex E of the E.F.T.A. Convention. An appropriate instrument to restore duty free entry to frozen fillets from E.F.T.A. suppliers from 1st January, 1970 will be laid before the House in due course.Copies of the Record of Understanding are available in the Library.—[Vol. 790, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he now intends to close the pattern-making shop in Chatham Dockyard.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the replacement of Special Air Service soldiers on the Thai-Malaysian border.

A squadron of S.A.S. has been carrying out routine training in a British exercise in the Grik area of Malaysia. They are returning to the United Kingdom, without replacement, on Monday, 8th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek powers to enable him to assist in the establishment of an International Cybernetic Foundation, as proposed by the recent International Congress of Cybernetics held in London, details of which proposal have been sent to him.

No. It does not appear that any Government rôle is intended in these proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that a number of special schools, including those for the educationally subnormal and handicapped children, have been closed as a result of the recent strike; and what advice he has given to local education authorities on the help to be given in the case of these children where both parents are working.

I have been aware of only one special school which has closed for this reason. No advice has been issued, as this is a matter for the local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the report of the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and other Toxic Chemicals on their further review of certain persistent organochlorine pesticides will be published.

It is expected that the report will be published on 17th December when a statement will be made on behalf of the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the number of cases where the Government have declared within 24 hours their acceptance of the National Board for Prices and Incomes report on any given and stated price increase.

The Government have announced their acceptance of the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, in all but one of the cases where specific price increases were referred to the Board, within 24 hours of the Board's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will give an assurance that in future the Government will announce within 24 hours their decision on any report from the National Board for Prices and Incomes on a similar basis to that as operated with regard to the boards report on the price of beer.

No. The Government will, as in the past, announce their decision on these reports as soon as they are able to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on the strike of bus crews in Central Scotland.

The strike of bus crews in Central Scotland began on 12th November and is affecting 26 depots of the Scottish Bus Group. It is in support of a claim for a pay increase for drivers, conductors and conductresses. The strike is unofficial and unconstitutional and a delegate conference of the T. & G.W.U. in Scotland on 25th November recommended an immediate return to work. I understand that a special meeting of the National Council for the Omnibus Industry—the industry's own negotiating body—has been convened for 10th December and in the circumstances it would not be appropriate for me to intervene. I hope that the employees will forthwith accept their union's advice to resume normal working.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether employers pay fees to the Professional and Executive Register for filling their vacancies; whether the Register acts in conjunction with private employment agencies; and, in these circumstances, whether the Register either receives or pay fees.

Employers do not pay fees to the Register for filling their vacancies. The Register does not act in conjunction with private agencies carried on for profit, and the hon. Members Question regarding the receiving or paying fees does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what are the towns in which offices of the Professional and Executive Register are situated; what are the criteria for deciding where it should operate; and what plans there are for expanding the numbers of offices and employees.

The Professional and Executive Register provides a nation-wide service through 42 offices situated at Aberdeen, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Brighton, Bristol, Burnley, Cambridge, Cardiff, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Coventry, Darlington, Dundee, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Gloucester, Grimsby, Hanley, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Lincoln, Liverpool, London, Luton, Maidstone, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Norwich, Nottingham, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Preston, Reading, Sheffield, Southampton, Swansea, Warrington, Wrexham.The location of offices is mainly determined by their position as focal points for the convenience of the public and employers in the catchment area served, and by administrative considerations.The opening of 4 further offices is being considered. The number of staff employed is being increased by 42 in the current financial year, and a further increase of this order is being considered for 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the number of vacant positions which the Professional and Executive Register was asked to fill during 1968; what was the percentage of these which were filled; and what was the number of employers who used the Register.

During 1968, 28,694 vacancies were notified to the Register. In the same period, 10,608 placings were made but not all were in vacancies which had been previously notified, some were made following speculative approaches to employers thought likely to be interested. I regret that information is not available about the proportion of notified vacancies filled or about the number of employers who used the Register.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many of the offices of the Professional and Executive Register are separate, physically and administratively, from the employment exchanges.

Fifteen offices of the Register are in premises away from the main employment exchange premises. All offices of the Register are under the administrative control of the appropriate exchange manager.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what accommodation subject to diplomatic immunity was available to Her Majesty's representatives in Libya at the time of the coup in September last.

The list is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of embassy and consular officials and members of their families resident in Libya at the time of the coup in September last.

In September the total number of United Kingdom based staff in Libya was as follows:

• At Tripoli: 22 staff with 15 wives and 21 children;
• At Benghazi: 11 staff with 9 wives and 21 children.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will state the circum- stances in which Mr. Henry Mpumulo Ncube, a Rhodesian, was detained at London Airport; what medical attention was provided, in view of his heart condition; and what was the purpose of his detention.

Mr. Ncube arrived at London Airport from New York on 27th September for a short visit, and presented a document purporting to be a passport issued by the illegal régime. Consistently with rules introduced following the making of the Southern Rhodesia (United Nations Sanctions) (No. 2) Order, 1968, passengers holding such documents are not admitted for visits unless there are compelling compassionate circumstances. As there were no such circumstances in Mr. Ncube's case he was refused admission, though not kept in custody, pending his departure to Southern Rhodesia.Mr. Ncube was seen by a doctor at the airport on his arrival, and when on the following day he complained of feeling unwell a doctor was called in and treated him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the investigation into charges made against a number of detectives in the Metropolitan Police Force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what investigations he has made into recent allegations of malpractice by members of the Metropolitan Police Force; and whether he will make a statement.

When the allegations against named officers of the Metropolitan police which were published on Saturday, 29th November were brought to the notice of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis he at once put in hand an investigation. Statements are being taken from the reporters concerned and from persons who provided them with information.The investigation will be pursued with the utmost rigour. Four officers have been suspended from duty. It would not be proper to say more for the present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the poor electoral response for registration purposes of those in 18–21 year old range; and what additional publicity he proposes to undertake in the period to 16th December when the list must be examined for final inclusion.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if, in view of the large numbers of young people missing from electoral rolls being prepared for 1970–71, he will now give a general direction to the Post Office Board to have special notices put up in post offices reminding young people of the age at which they should register and the steps they should take.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the large numbers of young people missing from electoral rolls being prepared for 1970–71, he will now take steps to have special notices put up in offices of his Department used by the general public reminding young people of the age at which they should be registered and the steps they should take.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if, in view of the large numbers of young people missing from the electoral rolls being prepared for 1970–71, she will now take steps to have special notices put up in offices of her Department used by the general public reminding young people of the age at which they should be registered and the steps they should take.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the large numbers of young people missing from the electoral rolls being prepared for 1970–71, he will now take steps to have special notices put up in schools and colleges reminding young people of the age at which they should be registered and the steps they should take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the large numbers of young people missing from the electoral rolls being prepared for 1970–71, he will in- struct electoral registration officers to organise house to house canvasses and to make full use of available statistics such as school records in order to find these missing young voters.

I have been asked to reply to these Questions.An intensive publicity campaign is now taking place in the Press, both national and local, for the period in which claims and objections in respect of the electors lists can be made. This emphasises, especially in relation to those between 16½ and 21, the importance of checking before 16th December that the names of all those entitled to vote will be included in the register. There has also been publicity on television and radio, and this will continue. Electoral registration officers have deployed much effort and ingenuity in fulfilling their statutory duty to publish, in the way best calculated to bring to the attention of the electors, a notice explaining how and by what date claims and objections can be made. I shall be making a Ministerial broadcast on television on Monday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the cost involved in dealing with disturbances at the recent match in Manchester involving the South African Rugby touring team, and on the proportion of the cost to be borne by public funds and the Rugby Union authorities, respectively.

I am informed that the club will pay £333, the full cost of the 100 officers stationed inside the ground throughout the match, but not of the 100 officers brought in temporarily during the match to deal with disturbances. In addition 2,000 officers were employed in dealing with demonstrations outside the ground.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, what is the total authorised grant made available to the County Borough of Gateshead for dereliction clearance; and what is the amount which has to be borne by the local authority.

The Department has approved three reclamation schemes for the County Borough of Gateshead, covering 101 acres of derelict land and costing £124,908. Grant approved at 85 per cent. amounts to £106,171 of which £82,238 has been paid to date. The council's share of this expenditure is therefore £18,737; this also attracts assistance (roughly one quarter for Gateshead) through the resources element of the Rate Support Grant.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many rural boroughs exist in England and Wales.

There are seven rural boroughs in England and none in Wales.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning has received representations from the Stainless Steel Fabricators' Association. He has no evidence, however, that would justify a general renegotiation of fixed price contracts.

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning what is the total cost to public funds of the development area incentives since 1964 in each of the development areas of the United Kingdom; and what was the cost per thousand insured employees in each of these areas.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning (1) what is the cost to public funds since 1964 of creating each new job in each of the development areas of the United Kingdom;(2) how many new jobs have been created in each of the development areas in the United Kingdom since 1964.

The main form of Government assistance to development areas which is linked to the provision of new employment is that given under the Local Employment Acts, 1960–66; most other assistance, including investment grants, is not employment-linked. The average amount of assistance offered under these acts in respect of each job estimated by firms to arise, and the total estimated number of jobs was as follows:

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he is satisfied that the growth in the transmission of coloured television will not be impeded because of shortage of component parts; and if he will make a statement.

The programme for the extension of the duplicated versions of B.B.C. 1 and independent television, and of B.B.C. 2, all in colour, is the joint responsibility of the B.B.C. and I.T.A. In a programme of this size and character it is inevitable that the late supply of essential equipment may be an occasional cause of delay to individual stations; but as a whole the programme is going forward as planned.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will take steps to improve the transmission of B.B.C. 4 so that all licence holders in Merioneth can receive B.B.C. 4 on portable radio sets.

No. It is technically impossible. Reception requires the use of efficient sets and aerials and the efficiency of portable radio sets varies so widely that they will not provide satisfactory reception in all circumstances.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1) by what date he expects that all licence holders in Merioneth will be able to receive colour television; and what percentage is able to receive it now;(2) by what date he expects that all licence holders in Merioneth will be able to receive B.B.C. 2; and what percentage of them is able to receive it now.

The extension of their services is primarily a matter for the B.B.C. and I.T.A. It is too early to say by what date B.B.C. 2 and the duplicated versions of B.B.C. 1 and Independent Television—with colour—will be generally available in Merioneth. B.B.C. 2 will be available to 10 per cent. of the population of Merioneth when the station at Blacn Plywf opens. This is expected in 1970.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will take steps to assist the British Broadcasting Corporation and the Independent Television Authority to establish their own piped television service in those areas where a full reception cannot be given for technical reasons.

No. The provision of piped television on so widespread a scale is not feasible in present circumstances.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what percentage of television licence holders in Wales is unable to receive any programme without the payment of a further fee to a piped television company.

The information is not available and could only be obtained by substantial investigation incurring disproportionate expense.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when he expects to sanction the establishment of a local radio station to give a local service to Mid and North Wales.

As my hon. Friend knows the next stage of the development of local radio will consist of 20 stations including stations in Wales and Scotland. All 20 are to be in operation by the end of 1974, but I am not ready to announce their location yet.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will take steps to reduce the fee for a television licence to licence holders in those areas where the reception of television programmes is not possible except by payment of an additional sum to private contractors.

No. We have considered this idea in the past. It would be quite impracticable to modify the licence fee depending on the standard of reception.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when stereophonic radio transmissions will be made from a transmitter in Wales which will enable this service to be received in Merioneth.

The B.B.C., which is primarily responsible for the extension of its services, tells me it has no present plans for the extension of stereophonic transmission to this area.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many licence holders in Wales are able to receive colour television.

In October there were 5,952 colour licences in force in Wales. 65 per cent. of the population of Wales can receive transmissions of B.B.C. 2 with its colour content.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will take steps to make a proportionate reduction in the fee of licence holders who cannot receive one or more of the following services, namely, very high frequency reception in sound only, medium waveband sound reception, colour television, B.B.C. 2, and stereophonic reception, respectively.

Users of colour sets are already required to pay a supplemental fee of £5. The other distinctions would not be practicable.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office Board to recognise the Society of Post Office Managers, in view of the fact that the membership of this union at 31st October was 5,500 out of 7,000 eligible employees who were formerly in the Society of Civil Servants and other staff associations.

No. This is a matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details showing the amount of money spent per pupil by each education authority in each of the last five years.

This information is not readily available to me and it would take a considerable effort to prepare. However, my hon. Friend will find details of expenditure per pupil in the education section of the Rating Review published annually by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants (Scottish Branch).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take the appropriate steps to list the Cafe Royal in Edinburgh as a building of historic and artistic importance.

The Café Royal is one of a number of post-Georgian buildings in Edinburgh which I propose to add to the statutory list of buildings of architectural and historic importance.In accordance with normal practice, I am notifying the local planning authority and other interested bodies of my intention, for any comment they may wish to make.

asked the Minister of Technology how much was given in grant aid to the Gelatine and Glue Research Association in 1968–69; and whether he will specify his Department's objective in giving this grant.

For the financial year of the Association ending on 30th September, 1969 the amount of grant paid to this R.A. is likely to be £3,800—the precise amount is awaiting completion of the R.A.'s accounts. This is given in order to assist the producers and users of gelatine in their efforts to improve the properties of gelatine and to find new applications for this material, which is a by-product of meat consumption.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the per capita consumption of timber in all forms including pulp and paper in the United Kingdom compared with the United States of America, Japan and the European Economic Community countries, on the basis of the most recent information available to him from international sources.

Estimates for 1967 are:

asked the Minister of Technology what is his estimate of the effect on nickel supplies for British users of the strike at the Swansea plant of the International Nickel Corporation.

I presume that the hon. Member is referring to the strike at the Clydach refinery. Although this is the principal nickel refinery in this country, it is only one of several processing nickel materials mined by the International Nickel Company of Canada Limited (I.N.C.O.), the major supplier of nickel to the United Kingdom. Nickel supplies for British users are required in a variety of forms, and may come in varying proportions from these different plants as need arises. The effect of the loss of production at Clydach cannot therefore be accurately quantified.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the total expenditure of his Department on assistance and advice to the motor industry in 1968–69; and what is his estimate of this expenditure for 1969–70.

The Department's help takes a number of forms, e.g. general sponsorship, collaborative contracts, direct grants to the Motor Industry Research Association and assistance from the Ministry's Establishments, and it is difficult to allocate costs precisely. The total in 1968–69 was about £250,000 rising to about £300,000 in 1969–70.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the total direct expenditure by his Department on export promotion in 1968–69; and what is his estimate for 1969–70.

Direct expenditure by the Ministry of Technology on export promotion in 1968–69 was about £0·2 million; the estimate for 1969–70 is £0·3 million. Most expenditure on export promotion is the responsibility of the Board of Trade.

asked the Minister of Technology what directions Her Majesty's Government have given to the British Steel Corporation regarding an increase in its exports of steel reinforcing rods during the last 12 months.

None.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what proportion of the value of exports for use in construction during 1968 was made-up by steel reinforcing rods; and what is the equivalent figure for 1969;(2) what was the value of exports of steel reinforcing rods used in construction work during 1968; and what is the equivalent figure so far for 1969.

The value of exports for use in construction is not available, since it is not in general, practicable for Customs authorities to record the eventual use of goods exported. However, from the tonnages of ferro-concrete bars and rods reported by steelmakers as delivered for export, it is estimated that the value of exports of such bars and rods has been:

• 1968, year: about £600,000-£700,000.
• 1969, 9 months: about £300,000-£350,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the amounts of supplementary benefit paid in respect of rent to owner-occupiers, tenants of private landlords and local authority tenants, respectively, in the year 1968–69.

It is not possible to say how much of any given expenditure on supplementary benefit was paid in respect of rent, since the benefit paid is the amount of the difference between a person's resources and his requirements, including rent. It is estimated however that in November, 1968, the amount allowed for rent in supplementary benefit assessments was running at the rate of some £190 million a year, of which about £20 million was for owner occupiers—rates, mortgage interest, repairs and insurance—£65 million for tenants of private landlords and the remainder for tenants of local authorities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the hourly rate paid to lifeboatmen and coast guards and their respective auxiliaries; and when this remuneration was fixed.

Coxswains and crews of lifeboats receive £1 10s. 0d. for the first two hours or part of two hours for every service call, plus 7s. 6d. for each hour in excess of 2 hours. Helpers (category A) receive £1 0s. 0d. for every service call. Helpers (category C) receive 18s. 6d. per call plus 1s. 6d. per hour. For exercises, coxswains and crews are paid £1 5s. 0d. for three hours plus 5s. per hour if the exercise exceeds this time. Helpers in both categories (A and C) receive £1 0s. 0d. for a three-hour exercise. These rates were introduced on 1st April, 1969.Regular coastguards are paid annual salaries. The basic grade of coastguardsman and the next higher grade of station officer are conditioned to a working week of 42 hours. The corresponding hourly rates are:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will pay an official visit to Japan in view of the success of the recent British Week held there and the increased trade possibilities it has created.

I have no immediate plans to follow up my predecessor's visit to Japan which took place at the end of September in connection with British Week but I look forward to doing so at a later date when it can be conveniently arranged.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans he has for the expansion of Anglo-Japanese trade as a result of his recent talks with the Japanese Minister of Industry and Trade; what progress is being made in the liberalisation of trade between Great Britain and Japan; and if he will make a statement.

Substantial progress has been made over the last few years in liberalising trade in both directions. In my conversations with the Japanese Minister of International Trade and Industry during his recent visit to London, we agreed to try to remove the remaining restrictions on both sides, and negotiations to this end are in progress. I am glad to say that our exports to Japan in the first 10 months of this year were some 34 per cent. higher than in the corresponding period of last year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will send a mission from his Department to Japan to study the possibility of British manufacturers taking advantage of the expanding markets for British goods likely to be created by the projected expansion of the Japanese economic infrastructure, especially the roads system; and if he will make a statement.

Our commercial posts in Japan regularly report on all such developments and full account is taken by my Department and B.N.E.C. of the trade possibilities in this field in arranging both inward and outward missions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of wood pigeons exported in each of the last three available years to foreign markets.

Wood pigeons are not separately distinguished in the trade statistics.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reprsentations he has received from Middleton St. George Aero Club about the increase in hangarage and landing charges amounting to 600 per cent., whether he will consult with the Teesside Airport authorities on this matter; and whether he will refer the increases to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Representations were received on 2nd December from the owners of Middleton St. George Aero Club about proposed increases in hangarage and landing charges at Teesside aerodrome. We are consulting the aerodrome authorities and as soon as my investigations are complete I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport if British Railways has now reported to him on its investigation into the feasibility study of a hovercraft service between Great Britain and Northern Ireland; and when he will make public the findings of this study.

No. I understand that the Railways Board has carried out such a survey for its own purposes, but there is no reason why it should have reported on it to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Transport whether it is his policy generally to invite private firms to tender for motorway landscape or tree-planting projects.

No. Most planting projects on motorways are carried out by the Forestry Commission on an agency basis or by the apropriate county council's direct labour force.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has for the early repayment of post-war credits; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has no statement to make on this matter.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the yield from taxing sales of land and assignment of leases in 1968–69 on the basis that all these transactions were liable to corporation tax, short-term capital gains tax and long-term capital gains tax, respectively; and how these amounts compare with the net amount of assessments of betterment levy in that year, after deducting the Land Commission's expenses.

The information on which to base an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish a monthly economic assessment of the economy showing the estimated effect of the trade in goods and the trade services on the visible account of the balance of payments and giving details of the calculations used.

A monthly economic assessment is already published. This takes account of the latest information on trade and payments. I am not clear for what further information the hon. Member is asking.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the present estimated proportion of public funds spent on road building and maintenance.

About 3 per cent. of total public expenditure. For the detailed figures. I would refer the hon. Member to the White Paper on Public Expenditure (Cmnd. 4234) published yesterday, and in particular to Table 2.9.