asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will estimate the value of home-grown timber produced in 1969 in terms of import saving on the basis of the information available to him during earlier months of the year.

There is no significant change in the rough estimate of about £20 million, based on equivalent import prices, which I gave the noble Lord earlier in the year.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what were the reasons for the recent serious flooding from the River Humber, within the Hull city boundary; how many wharves over-topped; and what measures are being taken by the Yorkshire Ouse and Hull River Authority and the Hull Corporation to prevent further flooding during the winter high tides.

The exceptionally high tide of 16·72 ft. above O.D. (Newlyn) on 29th September overtopped some of the walls fronting the River Humber. A length of 200 yards of earthen embankment about one mile upstream of the city was also overtopped by a few inches.Both Hull Corporation and the Yorkshire Ouse and Hull River Authority consider that the walls and the river banks are not structurally defective and that no immediate useful action could be taken.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what additional height the defective and deficient wharves on the River Humber, within the Hull city boundary, are to be raised to prevent further flooding, in view of the fact that the installation of barrage gates at the mouth of the River Hull will not prevent flooding from the River Humber.

I am assured by Hull Corporation that as part of any proposal to install flood gates on the River Hull it would raise as necessary the River Humber walls for which it is responsible and would negotiate with other frontage owners to do likewise.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the number of defective and deficient wharves, banks and warehouses, respectively, on the River Hull, within the Hull city boundary, which the river authority and Hull Corporation, respectively, have caused to be made good in the two months since the September serious flooding.

I am informed that Hull Corporation has given written notice to ten owners of nine wharves and two warehouses, requiring them to bring their premises up to the standard prescribed in the Corporation Act 1925. One wharf and one warehouse have since been brought up to the statutory level. The corporation proposes to consider in the light of the situation on 16th December, 1969 whether action is required under Section 13(2) of the Act.The river authority reports that remedial work is in progress on the two points on the river bank where overtopping occurred.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied with the manner in which the recent decision to increase the price of beer is being implemented; what check he is keeping on progress concerning this; and whether he will make a statement.

On the information available to me, I am satisfied with the action being taken to implement the decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will compare and publish the results of the new intelligence and reading tests already conducted in British Forces Educational Service schools, Germany, together with similarly matched groups in British schools, details of which are in his possession.

The results of the tests in March are still being evaluated, and I shall consider later whether publication and a useful comparison would be practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the future programme for the Fleet Air Arm.

The Fleet Air Arm will maintain its present rôle, including fixed-wing flying, until the aircraft carriers are phased out of service following the withdrawal from Malaysia, Singapore and the Gulf. Thereafter, the Fleet Air Arm will continue to operate rotary-wing aircraft from ships of frigate size and above. This rôle will be an increasing one in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many of the estimated 5 per cent. drop in take-up of school meals after next April will be due to families qualifying for free meals but not claiming them.

No reliable estimate can be made but I expect the number to be very small. The increase in charge will increase further the incentive for those entitled to free meals to claim them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the percentage cost of the food element in school dinners in 1951, 1964 and 1969; and what it will be when the price of meals is increased next April.

The cost of food expressed as a percentage of the running cost of providing the school dinner is as follows:

			Per cent.
1951–52	…	…	46·2
1964–65	…	…	40·8
1969–70 (estimated)	…	…	38·9
1970–71 (estimated)	…	…	39·1

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement about exploration for oil in the Falkland Islands and adjacent waters.

The Governor of the Falkland Islands has received a number of inquiries about, and some applications for, oil exploration licences in sea areas near the Falkland Islands. The applications are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to announce the result of the feasibility study for an airfield in the Falkland Islands.

This study was carried out by experts from the United Kingdom at the request of the Governor. Their report is being considered in the Falkland Islands. I am not yet, therefore, in a position to say anything about it.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what are the additional functions on the grounds of which the Indian High Commission in London claim immunity for 805 immune diplomats as against the United States of America's 310 and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic's 256.

The figures quoted by the hon. Member are of the numbers of persons connected with the diplomatic missions of the countries mentioned who are entitled to immunity in varying degrees. These figures include not only officials but also the wives of the majority of those officials. The numbers of officials entitled to immunity in varying degrees are India 526, United States of America 232, Union of Soviet Socialist Republics 138.The appointments of these officials have been notified to me in accordance with the terms of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations as those of members of their respective diplomatic missions entitled to the appropriate degree of immunity provided for in the convention. Responsibilities on questions of immigration, the large number of Indian nationals in this country and traditional Commonwealth ties may account for the number of officials of the Indian High Commission qualifying for immunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now announce what contributions will be made to the programme of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees in 1970.

Her Majesty's Government will make a special contribution of £30,000, in addition to the £120,000 which they have already contributed, to the 1969 programme for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees; and will contribute to the 1970 programme at this increased level of £150,000.Parliament will be asked to approve the necessary supplementary estimate for the additional 1969 contribution in due course. In the meantime an advance will be sought from the Civil Contingencies Fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of the special funds allocated by his Department to pay for help and accommodation for foreign nationals to stay in this country for short periods at their request; when such a fund was established; what has been its outlay for any convenient stated period; who have benefited from this; and whether any person is entitled to claim help and assistance for a short stay under the auspices of the fund.

Disbursement is made only in exceptional circumstances. It would not be in the public interest to give details of individual cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, when charges or allegations are made against police officers and an investigation is instituted, the officers concerned are suspended on only two-thirds pay, subsequently recovering the remaining one-third if the investigations are proved unfounded; whether he will arrange that suspension should involve no loss of pay or withholding of salaries until the investigations or subsequent court cases prove the officers guilty; and under what statutory authority the present practices are carried out.

Suspension allowance of two-thirds pay is payable under Regulation 17 of the Police Discipline Regulations 1965, which are themselves made on the authority of Section 33 of the Police Act, 1964. My right hon. Friend is discussing the rate of suspension allowance with the Police Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which foreign missions are attached the immune diplomats against whom criminal proceedings were dropped for the six alleged offences of theft and two of assault.

In the case of the first group of alleged offences, the diplomatic missions in question were those of the Argentine, Australia Belgium, the Federal German Republic, Greece and Venezuela; in the second, India and the Ivory Coast.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that in the 10 months from 1st November, 1968, the average number of fixed penalty offences repudiated per head of immune staff was 50·2 per head for Niger, 49 for Hungary, 47·8 for Congo, 43 for Saudi Arabia and 41 for the Ivory coast, 0·01 for New Zealand, 0·06 for South Africa, 0·86 for Australia, and 0·1 per cent. for Brazil; and if he will draw the attention of the worst offenders to the extent of their offences.

I am aware that the degree of observance of our parking laws varies markedly as between the members of one mission and another. All alleged breaches of these laws are brought to the notice of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, and it is for him to decide what representations should be made in this connection.

asked the Secretaty of State for the Home Department what additional funds he agreed to make available to the Government of Northern Ireland on the occasion of his last visit to Northern Ireland; what are the purposes for which these funds are to be used; and what conditions were attached.

As stated in the communiqué (Cmnd. 4178) of 10th October, the Northern Ireland Government decided upon the following measures: a scheme for free compensation against damage arising from riot or civil commotion; an increase by 5 per cent. in the rate of investment grants and grants under the Industries Development Acts, at the cost of £3 million in a full year; retention until April, 1971, of the selective employment payment, at the cost of £1·5 million; and a programme of works costing up to £2 million for the relief of unemployment this winter. My right hon. Friend affirmed the intention of the United Kingdom Government to cover the agreed capital requirements of Northern Ireland on a continuing basis. In addition, as recorded in paragraphs 22 and 23 of the communiqué, discussions are being held about the financial implications of the decision to set up a central housing authority, and the cost of measures to stimulate private house building.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the Government's policy regarding the provision of police at the cricket matches at which the South African team will play in 1970.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to Questions by the hon. Member for Orpington (Mr. Lubbock) on 9th December.—[Vol. 793, c. 107.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a permanent committee to advise him on the operation of legal aid in criminal cases.

My right hon. Friend does not consider that an advisory committee would be appropriate in the context of legal aid for criminal proceedings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many legal aid certificates in criminal proceedings before magistrates were for committal proceedings under Section 1 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967; how many for other committal proceedings; and how many for summary proceedings.

Between 1st January, 1968 (when the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967 relating to committal proceedings came into operation) and 30th September, 1968, legal aid was granted for committal proceedings in England and Wales in 13,357 cases and for other proceedings in magistrates' courts in 30,850 cases. The corresponding figures for the last three months of the year were 5,988 and 11,824. The figures do not distinguish committal proceedings under Section 1 of the 1967 Act from other committal proceedings, but a defendant cannot be committed for trial under Section 1 unless he is legally represented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received on the operation of the legal aid provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967; and what replies he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of suggestions for the improvement of the procedure for providing legal aid in criminal cases, which he is considering.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up an inquiry into the operation of legal aid in criminal cases in magistrates' courts.

No. This matter was fully considered by the Departmental Committee on Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings which reported in 1966, and on whose recommendations the relevant provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, were based.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for legal aid in criminal cases before magistrates have been made under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967; how many of such applications were granted; and how many of those granted were subject to a financial contribution.

Between 1st October, 1968 (when the legal aid provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, came into force) and 31st December, 1968, legal aid was granted for criminal proceedings in magistrates' courts in England and Wales in 17,812 cases and refused in 2,894 cases. Contribution orders were made by magistrates' courts in 1,027 cases.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will send a departmental circular to magistrates' clerks advising them of the provisions for the granting of legal aid in criminal cases before magistrates under the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967.

Circulars explaining the provisions of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, relating to legal aid were sent to the clerks of all criminal courts in England and Wales in August, 1968.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will now state the national cost of strengthening tower blocks to safety standards resultant upon the Ronan Point disaster; and whether he will give a detailed list of each council's estimate of the total cost in its authority's area and how much of these sums will have to be met by the local councils and his Department, respectively.

I cannot add anything further at this stage to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend on 18th November.—[Vol. 791, c. 237.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will take into consideration the demise of Beagle Aircraft Limited when reaching his decision on his inquiry into the proposed 3,000 foot hard-runway at Shoreham Airport, in view of the fact that the necessity for such a runway no longer exists.

My right hon. Friend is still considering the proposal in the light of his inspector's report. If my right hon. Friend concludes that this latest development is a factor which needs to be taken into account, he will consult the parties concerned and, if necessary, re-open the public inquiry.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many orders for the repair of property have been served in the last 12 months under the provisions of the Public Health Acts; and in how many cases have court proceedings been necessary to secure compliance.

Between 1st October, 1968 and 30th September, 1969 some 16,700 houses were made fit as a result of formal procedure under the Public Health Acts. It is not known how many cases were referred to the courts.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many owner-occupiers were borrowing to finance house purchase from building societies, local authorities and other sources, respectively, as at a convenient date near the end of the financial year 1968–69; and what was the total number of owner-occupiers at that date.

The number of owner-occupiers in Great Britain at December 1968 is estimated at 8·5 million, of whom an estimated 4·8 million were financing the purchase of their houses through borrowing. About 3·3 million were buying their houses through building societies; the number buying their houses with loans from local authorities is not known.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Govern- ment when, in view of the date of the public inquiry into the Hastings Expansion Scheme on 13th January, the Clerk to the Battle Rural District Council may expect a reply to his letter of 11th November followed by reminders on 21st and 28th November and 3rd December.

I regret that it was not possible to send an answer until 9th December.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what has been the annual cost of the interest subsidy on local authority housebuilding since the system was introduced; and what is his estimate for 1969.

The total payment made to local authorities in England in each year in respect of the basic subsidy under the Housing Subsidies Act, 1967, being payments both in respect of new claims for subsidy on completed houses and the annual instalments of claims first met in earlier years, are as follows:

			£
1967–68	…	…	9,921,941
1968–69	…	…	19,179,685
1969–70	…	…	41,200,000

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent consultations he has had, what further consultations he proposes to have, and with whom, regarding the proposed review of the General Teaching Council.

I have recently had meetings with both a wide range of interested educational bodies and representatives of the council itself. I have no proposals for further consultation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now received the Housing Advisory Council's Report on Rent Rebates; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Sub-Committee of the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee which is studying this question hopes to complete its report shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken following the publication of the Report on Staffing of Local Government in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

This report was made to the Scottish local authority associations by a working party which they set up. It is for the local authorities themselves to decide what action to take on it.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what general directions he has given regarding the provision of facilities for Save As You Earn for Post Office staff.

None.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office Board that the charge made by the Post Office for envelopes used for first day covers should not be subsidised by the Post Office Corporation from other sources of income.

No. This is a matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to ensure that adequate domiciliary services will be available to support the new hospital at Frimley Park, Camberley.

The local health authorities concerned are aware that their development plans for domiciliary services should be concerted with the plans of the hospital authorities, and officers of my Department are in touch with them and with the executive councils in order to assist in this process.

asked the Minister of Technology what figures he is using as estimates for planning and budgeting purposes of the consumption of coal, gas, electricity, nuclear energy and oil products in 1970, 1972, 1975 and 1980, or at any other relevant dates if more easily available between 1970 and 1980.

I am not prepared to give specific estimates at the moment. As the Ministry of Power explained to the Select Committee on Nationalised Industries (Appendix 8 to the Committee's Report 1968–69, National Coal Board, Vol. II), energy estimates are kept under continuous review, but a single set of estimates is not always adopted.

asked the Minister of Technology what general directions he has given to the nationalised boards for coal, electricity, gas and steel regarding the provision of facilities for Save as You Earn for staff in their employment.

None. These industries have already started operating the scheme or are going to do so soon.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the cost of timber imports in every form, including pulp and paper, for 1969 on the basis of the monthly figures so far known to him; and what percentage change this represents over the previous year.

I prefer not to venture an estimate for 1969 as a whole. The value in the first 10 months was £545 million, 1 per cent. more than in the corresponding period of 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the value of exports of timber in every form, including pulp, paper and foiliage, in 1968; and what is his estimate for 1969 on the basis of information so far available.

Foliage is not separately distinguished in the export statistics. Exports of timber, pulp and paper in 1968 were valued at £45 million. I prefer not to venture an estimate for 1969 as a whole, but in the first 10 months exports were £44½ million, compared with £37 million in the same period of 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate the cost of oil imports in every form for 1969 on the basis of the monthly figures so far known to him; and what percentage change this represents over the previous year.

I prefer not to venture an estimate for 1969 as a whole. The value of imports of petroleum and petroleum products in the first 10 months was £748 million, a quarter of 1 per cent. more than in the corresponding period of 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the export statistics published by his Department in respect of Scotch whisky are misleading; and what action he is taking to make them more accurate.

No. If the hon. and gallant Member will write to me with any specific information I will gladly investigate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what estimate he has made of the number of travel agents who are recognised for commission payments by the International Air Transport Association; and what is the estimated number of agents passing business to the International Air Transport Association airlines of at least £5,000 per annum but who do not receive commission.

682 United Kingdom travel agents carrying on business at 1,233 places are approved by I.A.T.A. and receive commission. The information asked for in the second part of the question is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport on what relative cost comparisons his policy of excluding private horticultural and landscape contractors from motorway planting projects is based; and whether he will make a statement.

The decision to use the Forestry Commission and county authorities for planting schemes on motorways was not based only on cost comparisons, but a recent review of cost of work carried out under contract and the Forestry Commission's costs confirmed that the balance of advantage lay in continuing the existing arrangements.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will provide in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of schemes showing conurbations, cities and towns for which grants exceeding £100,000 have been paid in respect of primary road schemes for 1967–68, 1968–69 and 1969–70.

The information requested is not readily available and could not be provided without quite disproportionate expense and effort.

asked the Minister of Transport how many accidents have occurred on the M6 road at Thelwall in each of the last four years.

Accidents involving injury were:

			Serious Injury	Slight Injury
1966	…	…	0	2
1967	…	…	1	7
1968	…	…	1	2
1969 (to date)	…	…	1	2
			3	13

asked the Minister of Transport (1) whether the new computer-controlled warning lights will be provided on the stretch of the M6 road at Thelwall;

There has been no undue delay in placing this contract. Tenders for signal systems for some 110 miles of motorway in Cheshire, Lancashire and Yorkshire (including M6 in the Thelwall area) were received on 3rd July, 1969. Following necessary discussions with tenderers, the contract was awarded on 16th September, 1969.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the value of road building projects within Portsmouth approved in each of the past nine years and the estimated value of approved expenditure in 1969–70, 1970–71 and 1971–72.

As my hon. Friend was told on 16th June, 1969, the value of road building projects within Portsmouth in each of the past four years was:

				£
1965–66	…	…	…	115,730
1966–67	…	…	…	386,212
1967–68	…	…	…	3,651,162
1968–69	…	…	…	282,320

I regret that similar information for the previous five years is not readily available.The estimated cost of schemes for which expenditure has been approved in 1969–70 to date is £328,750.The estimated cost of schemes firmly programmed and likely to come forward for financial approval in the remainder of 1969/70 and in 1970–71 and 1971–72 is £615,250, £5,109,300 and £4,260,000 respectively.—[Vol. 785, c. 20.]

asked the Minister of Transport whether he is aware of the delay in constructing a by-pass around Broughton, Northamptonshire; and when he expects that one will be completed.

The scheme has not yet been accepted for inclusion in the preparation pool of trunk road schemes. Until this stage is reached I am unable to forecast a commencement or a completion date.

asked the Minister of Transport what recommendation is made in the report of the project feasibility study on the route of the road link between the M6 and the Fylde coast concerning a route north or south of Preston.

Until my right hon. Friend has had adequate opportunity to examine the report and reach decisions about the addition of a scheme to the trunk road preparation pool, I think it would be better not to give details of the recommendations made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish a list of the publications with a circulation of 10,000 and above, in which Government Departments place advertising, showing the cost per thousand readers in each case.

This information could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the effect on mortgage rates of exempting building societies from paying income and corporation tax.

I am not in a position to make such an estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many original proof gallons of Scotch whisky are in bond; and what is the estimated yield of this when duty-paid.

At 31st March, 1969 stocks of British plain spirit in bonded warehouse were about 708 million original proof gallons. Separate figures for Scotch whisky are not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many proof gallons of Scotch whisky in bond at the present time will be three-years and four-years old, respectively, in 1970.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate as to the numbers of proof gallons of Scotch whisky he expects to be released and duty-paid in 1970.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an estimate of the average marginal rate of income tax for all taxpayers in the United Kingdom in the year 1968–69.

About 26½ per cent. (5s. 4d. in the £).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will institute an inquiry into the conditions of Scottish money supply and its effect on unemployment in Scotland.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the proportion of the Government's total expenditure on goods and services which is spent in Scotland.

On the basis of provisional outturn figures, identifiable expenditure by the central Government on goods and services in Scotland in 1968–69 amounted to 10·2 per cent. of the corresponding expenditure in the United Kingdom.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the bound volume of the HANSARD Index for the Session 1967–68 has not yet been published.

I regret that arrears of work have involved delay in the printing of this Index; but it is hoped to publish it before Christmas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement about the future of the arrangements for payment of the betting premises licence duty by monthly instalments.

Applicants for new licences will now be required to pay the duty strictly in accordance with the provisions of the Finance Act, 1969. The arrangements in regard to existing licences will not be affected.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what steps he has taken to inform Welsh local authorities that under the terms of Section 138 of the Transport Act, 1968, they are able to provide concessions for elderly persons on non-municipal buses.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport informed the local authorities concerned last January of the new powers available to them under Section 138 of the Transport Act. I hope that local authorities in Wales will take full advantage of this opportunity to help the elderly, blind and disabled.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will give a list of bodies in Wales nominated by the Government whose function is to make recommendations in matters of Government, or are set up to administer some phase of Government functions.

The Appendix to the Written Evidence of the Welsh Office to the Commission on the Constitution, published last September, gives lists of bodies to which I make appointments and to which appointments are made by other Ministers in consultation with me. I am sending my hon. Friend a copy.