asked the Minister of Public Building and Works if, in view of the fact that the final report on the excavations at Silbury Hill, Wiltshire, is not expected to be available for a considerable time, he will arrange for an interim report to be made on the discoveries so far.

This is a matter for the British Broadcasting Corporation as it is it, and not my Ministry, which has arranged and financed the work. A series of reports was made on B.B.C. Television as the excavations proceeded.I have, however, asked the Corporation to consider publishing an account of the work in advance of the definitive report.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has made of progress in building by industrialised methods.

The proportion of industrialised building to total new building work has remained fairly constant over the last three years, having previously shown a steady growth. There has been continuing progress in improving systems and components.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what further assistance he has given to the Reddaway inquiry into selective employment tax as it affects the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is having discussions with Professor Reddaway and his staff, and is providing information for them.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will request the Forbes Committee on Registration of Builders to report within the next six months.

No. The purpose in setting up the enquiry was to settle once and for all the vexed and long-debated question of whether a qualitative registration system for builders would be worthwhile. A premature and ill-considered report would simply prolong the debate.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what further representations he has received from the British construction industry about British Standard Time.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 12th November to the hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith).—[Vol. 791, c. 384.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will make a statement on the current level of brick stocks.

At the end of October stocks were 736 million.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what representations have been made to him about the difficulties facing the construction industry as a result of the shortage of reinforcing steel.

This subject has been discussed in the Committees of my National Consultative Council and in my informal meetings with representatives of the industry.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works whether he will arrange for an acoustics engineer to make a survey of the acoustics of the Crypt of the House of Commons.

Yes, the survey is already in hand.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works

1964–65								£
Hampton Court Palace
Apartment 35A—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	4,000
Kensington Palace
Apartment 10—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,600
								6,600

1965–66						£
Buckingham Palace
Apartment in Royal Mews—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	300
Hampton Court Palace
Chocolate Court lift to serve grace-and-favour apartments	…	…	…	…	…	11,300
Apartment 4—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	3,800
Apartment 32A—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	1,800
Kensington Palace
Apartment 1A—settlement of contractor's claim	…	…	…	…	…	3,850
Apartment 4—adaptation of sanitary services	…	…	…	…	…	4,850
						25,900

1966–67							£
Buckingham Palace
Royal Mews flat 13—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	250
Royal Mews flat 17—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	350
Hampton Court Palace
Royal Mews flat 9—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	250
Apartment 3—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	3,350
Apartment 8A—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	4,100
Apartment 10—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	9,000
Apartment 42—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	3,500
Barton's Cottage—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	6,400
St. James's Palace
Apartment 2—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	4,650
Windsor Castle
Frogmore Cottage, flat 1—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,000
Frogmore Cottage, flat 2—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	650
Frogmore Cottage, flat 7—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,050
Burford House, flat 2—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	100
Burford House, flat 10—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	150
							35,800

1967–68								£
Buckingham Palace
Royal Mews, flat 38—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,100
Royal Mews, flat 14—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	650
Royal Mews flat 45—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	2,000
Windsor Castle
Adelaide Cottage—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	1,500
								5,250

1968–69						£
Windsor Castle
Frogmore Gardens Cottage—reoccupational services	…	…	…	…	…	1,200

In addition, an average of about £4,000 a year is spent on grace-and-favour apartments generally for the maintenance of the structure and services, e.g. repairs to roofs, brick and stonework, external painting and re-wiring.

The details are as follows:

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what assessment he proposes to make of plasterboard laminate, details of which have been sent to him, as a countermeasure to condensation in new houses.

An assessment has already been made of this and other types of plasterboard laminate. These laminates are a form of insulation which is recommended by the Department as one of the countermeasures to condensation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the progress being made in connecting up the M8 motorway to Newbridge, Midlothian; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Work started a year ago, on a two-year contract, and more than half of it has been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will introduce legislation to permit reasonable and responsible public discussion of a judge's handling of a case.

No. I am not aware that in present circumstances such discussion is inhibited.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the recommendations made to him by the Scottish Economic Planning Council on pit closures.

No. Advice provided to me by the Scottish Economic Planning Council on this subject, as on others, is confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many doctors in Scotland in the years 1964 and 1968 respectively, obtained refunds of health service superannuation contributions and gave as their reason for leaving that they were going abroad; how many of these were engaged at the time in general practice; and if he will make a statement.

141 and 175 in 1964 and 1968 respectively of whom 12 and 38 had been engaged in general practice. These figures include doctors returning to their country of origin. Although these two figures show some increase there was no consistent upward trend over the five-years period.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the numbers of principal doctors providing general medical services in Scotland in the years 1964 and 1968, respectively; and if he will make a statement.

At 1st October, 1964 the number was 2,684 compared with 2,597 in 1968.The corresponding figure at 1st October last was 2,619—higher than in any year since 1965. Although the falling trend of recent years has not yet been decisively reversed, I believe that this improvement reflects a measure of success in our efforts to improve the attractiveness of general practice, and I hope that it will continue.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much land has been made available in Scotland by the Land Commission for house-building.

152 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the total cost to public funds of the operations of the Land Commission in Scotland to date; what has been the total revenue of the Land Commission to date; and what is the ratio of the first to the second.

£439,000; £495,000; and 1 to 1·1. In the last seven months, however, the work of the Commission on betterment levy has cost only one-fifth of the levy collected.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the amount of rural bus grants paid from public funds to local authorities in Scotland since 1st January, 1969; and if he will list the authorities and the sums, separately.

No firm applications for grant have yet been received from Scottish local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has yet received the report of the Highlands and Islands Development Board on the development of the Strath of Kildonan.

No. Discussions are still taking place between the Highland Board and interested parties about the land use aspects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has received from the Highlands and Islands Development Board for comprehensive land development in the Highlands; and if he will make a statement.

I have not so far received any proposals of this kind from the Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made in the establishment of special clinics for aged persons in Scotland.

In addition to the clinic at Rutherglen which was established primarily as a research project there are two clinics for old people in Edinburgh and one in Paisley. The expanding health centres programme is providing opportunities to cater for the special needs of old people.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will instruct the Scottish Development Department to conduct an inquiry into the reasons for the loss of 27,000 jobs in distribution in Scotland since 1965, as against the forecast increase in the Government's Scottish Plan over the same period.

The 1966 White Paper on the Scottish economy made no such forecast.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the gross value per annum averaged over a 50-year period at constant prices of the output obtainable from an acre of average hill land in the South of Scotland, the West of Scotland and the North-East of Scotland, respectively, when growing trees of the most appropriate species and a similar acre of land devoted to hill sheep farming.

The current value of output per acre on hill sheep farms is estimated at £2·7 in the East College area, £1·9 in the West College area and £0·5 in the North College area. The corresponding figures for upland farms are £6·3, £8·6 and £4·5. The figures for forestry are £19 in South Scotland, £16 in West Scotland and £10 in North-East Scotland. However, these output figures give no indication of comparative profitability or return on capital. The level of investment is much higher in forestry and the bulk of the return on this investment does not accrue until near the end of a very long period.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the annual cost to the Exchequer in the form of direct grants and subsidies averaged over a 50-year period at constant prices of an average acre of hill land in Scotland when devoted to forestry under dedication and hill sheep farming, respectively.

For 1967–68, direct grants and subsidies are estimated at 10s. per acre for hill sheep farms in Scotland and £1 16s. per acre for Upland farms. The average annual value over a period of 50 years of the present rate of grant for dedicated forestry land is approximately £1 10s. per acre.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the completion date for the Ninewells Hospital in Dundee.

The boiler house, laundry and nurse training school, with some of the associated residences, are already in use. It is expected that the main hospital and medical school buildings will be completed by December, 1971, and the radiotherapy, minor specialties and maternity blocks in the course of 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for extending the fish meal industry in Scotland.

To encourage supplies to the fist, meal industry, white fish subsidy was this year made payable on industrial catches and some landing restrictions were eased. A proposal by the White Fish Authority to reduce their levy on fish sent for reduction to fish meal is being considered in the context of the Authority's general levy proposals. Investigations into possible industrial fisheries are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why his Department has issued no formal report on the problem of emigration from Scotland.

Because the main causes of emigration are known to be economic, and the Government's regional policies are already taking effect in reducing the net migration loss from 47,000 in 1965–66 to 25,000 in 1968–69.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will call a national conference to be attended by representatives of all aspects of Scottish life at Edinburgh for the purpose of discussing the question of a Parliament for Scotland.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the lecturers in colleges of education have had teaching experience as a member of the staff in a Scottish school in the last five years.

44 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many assignment supervisors are now employed in state-aided schools in Scotland; and how many are teaching pupils in secondary, post-primary, or primary schools.

There are 14, employed on auxiliary duties in secondary schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will amend the Schools (Scotland) Code so as to define more precisely the duties which assignment supervisors are expected to perform in schools.

No, but the appointment of these auxiliaries is a matter I am examining with interested bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will authorise a new approach road to Dyce Airport linking Bucksburn and the City of Aberdeen direct with the A947 without crossing the Aberdeen-Inverness railway line.

No authority has submitted proposals to me for constructing such a road and I have no plans to construct it as a trunk road.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will take steps to reduce the nuisance caused by the unrestricted movements of dogs in open plan housing developments aproved by the planning authority;(2) if he will introduce legislation to clarify the rights of residents in open-plan housing developments approved by the planning authority to combat the unrestricted movements of dogs which cause widespread nuisance.

I have no evidence which would justify me in taking action on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now reached a decision on the establishment of a Local Government Training Board.

This is a matter for decision by the local authorities themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the Housing Advisory Council's Report on Amenities in Local Authority Housing Estates.

I recently received the Committee's Report and hope to publish it early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the building standards recommended by his Department to be observed by local authorities before giving a housing improvement grant.

Bulletin No. 2 of the new Scottish Housing Handbook, which is being issued this week, gives revised guidance on standards for improvement, and I am sending the hon. Member a copy of it.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the overnight allowance paid to teachers and supervisors on duty in approved schools in Scotland.

At present, overnight duty in approved schools is recognised in a variety of ways. My Department discussed recently with representatives of staff and management the introduction of standard arrangements and I am now considering what recommendations I should make to the managers of the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present procedure for estimating and deciding the expenditure of the smaller independent harbour boards.

This is a matter for these harbour boards themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received asking for a more equitable assessment of toll charges on the Forth Road Bridge since the recent increase in toll charges came into effect.

Some organisations of commercial users have made representations about the operation of the tolls concession for heavy vehicles crossing the bridge regularly and frequently.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many houses, and in which local authority areas, are of the steel frame type built in the 1940s and are now giving rise to concern on account of deterioration in condition; and if he will make a statement.

In the 1940s about 20,000 steel frame houses were built in various parts of Scotland. I have received representations about the condition of some 225 of them, in Ayrshire and Fife.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what explanation has been offered to him by Lanarkshire County Council for its refusal to proceed with a new nursery school at Cambuslang.

The council indicated that, in view of the need for restraint in the growth of local authority expenditure, they had many other commitments which they fad to be afforded a higher degree ority in the current financial year

asked the Se of Sztate for Scotland if he will st number of nursery school places in each year from 1962 to the latest convenient date.

No central record is kept of the number of nursery school places but information is obtained about the numbers of children in attendance in January of each year at nursery schools and classes managed by education authorities and at nursery classes in grant aided schools. The number of children in attendance were as follows:

1962	…	…	…	…	5,575
1963	…	…	…	…	5,723
1964	…	…	…	…	5,758
1965	…	…	…	…	6,225
1966	…	…	…	…	6,727
1967	…	…	…	…	6,864
1968	…	…	…	…	7,606
1969	…	…	…	…	9,290

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will consider the provision of more four- and five-seat motor cars, suitably modified, for disabled drivers.

Along with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services, I have already undertaken to consider, when economic circumstances permit, the possible extension of the groups of National Health Service patients to whom cars may be issued. I cannot say at present when this may be possible but any concessions in this direction will have to be considered against other claims on National Health Service monies. There is no intention to issue cars with more than four seats.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with the co-operation of manufacturers in the work undertaken by pupils in occupational centres; and if he will make a statement.

Manufacturers are providing an increasing amount of contract work for senior occupation centres. So far as I am aware these arrangements have given general satisfaction to both sides, and provide a valuable element in the training and occupation of adult mentally disordered persons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are his long-term plans to improve vehicular and pedestrian access to Dyce Airport, Aberdeen, in view of current restrictions caused by a narrow approach road and railway underpass.

It would be for Aberdeen County Council, as the highway authority responsible for the immediate access road to Dyce Airport, to consider its improvement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has now given approval to a foreign firm to carry out further exploration of potential mineral deposits in Scotland.

My approval is not required for the exploration of mineral deposits in Scotland except, of course, on land owned by the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the judges of the Court of Session have had judicial experience prior to his appointing them to the Court of Session.

Ten.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a statement on the Hunter Report.

I cannot yet add to the Answer given to my hon. Friend on 16th July, 1969.—[Vol. 787, c. 609.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will estimate the number of men directly employed each year on an average 10,000 acres of hill farming type land in Scotland over a 50-year period when devoted to forestry and sheep farming, respectively; and if he will further estimate the ancillary employment due to transporting and processing the product.

In June, 1969, hill sheep farms in Scotland employed 5 men per 10,000 acres and upland farms 26 men per 10,000 acres. The number directly employed in forestry would average about 65 men per 10,000 acres. I can make no reliable estimate of the numbers employed in ancillary activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to hold his discussions with the National Farmers Union regarding provision of a break crop subsidy relating to a crop which can be grown profitably in Scotland.

The Scottish National Farmers Union at its request met officers of my Department on 21st November.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of honours graduate teachers in mathematics, physics and chemistry entering maintained secondary schools in each of the last five years; and to what extent intake met demand.

A teaching qualification in mathematics or science was obtained by 125 honours graduates in 1965, 114 in 1967, 145 in 1968 and 161 in 1969; the figure for 1966 is not available. While I would expect that a large majority of

		Net Migration
		1964–65	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68
Aberdeen City	…	-1,681	-1,738	-2,174	-1,424
Aberdeen County (excluding City)	…	-1,277	-1,426	-875	-470
Banff County	…	-775	-810	-658	-508
Kincardine County	…	-256	-350	-112	+125
		-3,989	-4,324	-3,819	-2,277

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many teachers are now fully employed in maintained secondary schools holding either no qualification other than the General Certificate of Education Article 39(3) or Chapter V; and in which school years their services are utilised.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the concern of patients and general practitioners regarding the length of time waited for orthopaedic outpatient appointments at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy; and if he will take steps to ensure that the necessary finance is available to the regional hospital board in order that a fourth orthopaedic consultant may be appointed.

I am aware of the position. It is for the regional board to allocate the finance which is made available to them each year for new developments. This orthopaedic post though urgently required was not among its first priorities for the current year. It will be giving it a high priority in the next financial year and in the meantime is taking interim measures to augment the service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the migration figures from Aberdeen, Banff and Kincardine for the years 1964 to 1969, showing separately the totals in each year.

The figures for the years 1964–65 to 1967–68 are as follows. Figures for 1968–69 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the agreement he has reached with the Corporation of Glasgow on the building of houses at Erskine by the Scottish Special Housing Association for tenant; nominated by the corporation.

I am glad to say that following the meeting with my hon. Friend the Minister of State on 5th December, the Corporation has agreed to make an arrangement with the Association for the building of 3,000 houses at Erskine for Glasgow overspill. The following is a note of the proposals agreed with the Corporation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many complaints he has received from the public under the Trade Descriptions Act about gas boards which advertise that natural gas is cheaper for the consumer; and if, in view of the fact that this is not so, he will institute proceedings.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "None". Any particular advertisement considered to be misleading should be referred to the appropriate local weights and measures authority which is under a statutory duty to enforce the Trade Descriptions Act.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is now in a position to give his decision on the proposed National Exhibition Centre.

As I said in the House on 26th November I am aware of the urgency of this problem and I will announce my decision at the earliest possible moment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to publish the minimum standards of container repair.

We have no such intention but I should be glad to consider in consultation with other Ministers concerned any information that my hon. Friend might care to send me.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) what was the value of components exported in November for United States aircraft which will later be reimported;(2) if he will publish a table showing the coverage adjustments made to exports and re-exports, the valuation and coverage adjustments made to imports, and the payments made on visible balance for United States aircraft, respectively, for the month of November, 1969.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is satisfied with progress being made in trading arrangements between the United Kingdom and Latin American countries; and if he will make a statement.

I am never wholly satisfied with the progress of our exports but our exports to Latin America increased by 35 per cent. last year and they are still increasing in total. A number of important contracts have been announced which should contribute to further growth in the future.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will propose to the municipal airport operators that they should negotiate among themselves an agreement to limit the number of night jet flights from the airports under their control.

I am aware that an airport owner who recognises a social obligation to impose a limit on night jet movements sometimes feels inhibited from doing so because of the possibility that he may lose some of his traffic, day and night, to others. I therefore welcome the suggestion of a coordinated approach and will commend it to the Aerodrome Owners' Association.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the number of prosecutions under the Trade Descriptions Act to date in the Northern Region, the number of convictions and total fines and the number of notices of prosecution.

This information is not readily available for particular regions, but overall notifications by local weights and measures authorities to 13th December embraced 653 cases brought to court, and 415 outstanding. There were convictions in 575 cases, with fines totalling £30,336.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the amount of statistical data supplied to manufacturers in order to encourage the programme of import substitution.

A wide range of data is published or made available on request which could be useful for this purpose. Under Section 3 of the Finance Act, 1967 approximately 40,000 extracts of information from import documents have been provided specifically for assistance to import substitution, mainly relating to engineering and chemical products.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence under what statutory authority he was admitted to a military hospital for a medical operation and to have treatment in a private ward; and whether such facilities are freely available to all ex-Servicemen and war disabled pensioners.

Admission to Service hospitals is not governed by statute. Under long-standing reciprocal arrangements with the National Health Service members of the general public, including ex-Servicemen and war-disabled pensioners may be admitted to Service hospitals. I was admitted under this arrangement so that treatment could be carried out at a time which would interfere least with Government and Departmental business and, in order to enable me to deal with urgent and necessary official work, I was accommodated in a single room.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the present position in regard to the development and production of the Mark 24 torpedo for the Royal Navy.

An extensive redesign of the Mark 24 torpedo has been found necessary and production has been suspended. Urgent remedial action is being taken but I am afraid that the introduction of the weapon into service will be considerably delayed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many members of Her Majesty's Forces are at present undertaking full-time medical studies in universities and medical schools.

There are 250 medical cadets carrying out pre-registration training and 29 post-graduate students.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) what post Geddis Fulton of Camnish, Dungiven, holds in the security forces under control of the General Officer in Command in Northern Ireland; and what duties he has been required to discharge since the General Officer in Command took overall control of security;(2) what post Derek Eakin of Claudy holds in the security forces under control of the General Officer in Command in Northern Ireland; and what duties he has been required to discharge since the General Officer in Command took overall control of security;(3) what post the Reverend John Brown of Magee University College, Londonderry, holds in the security forces under control of the General Officer in Command in Northern Ireland; and what duties he has been required to discharge since the General Officer in Command took overall control of security.

Geddis Fulton is an Ulster Special Constabulary sergeant in the Bovevagh sub-district; Derek Eakin is an Ulster Special Constabulary sergeant in the Tullintrain sub-district, and the Reverend John Brown is an Ulster Special Constabulary district commandant in the

		Amalgamated General List	Doctors	Dentists	Instructors
To Flag Rank	…	49·6	—*	—*	—*
To Captain	…	44·5	48·5	48·10	45·11
To Commander	…	37·9	37·5	36·0	38·10
To Lieutenant-Commander	…	30·9	32·0	30·4	30·7
* No promotions to these ranks during the year.

More generally, we have felt for some time that the opportunities for promotion of outstanding GL officers at an earlier age than would otherwise be possible

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many persons, other than regular British Army personnel, are performing military functions in the Northern Ireland area under the directions of the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland.

None, other than certain personnel of the Royal Air Force. However, the General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland, also has under his command about 8,500 members of the Ulster Special Constabulary who are special constables, but who can, pending the establishment of a suitable military force, be called upon to perform duties of a military nature in defence of life or property against armed attack or sabotage.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made to replace training areas and facilities in Libya; and whether he will make a statement.

We shall be making greater use of arrangements which exist for carrying out training and exercises in various countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the average age for promotion of Royal Navy officers.

Average ages of promotion to all ranks above lieutenant during 1968 are as follows:under the current arrangements might be improved.Revised arrangements to take care of this point are under consideration and should be implemented shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT aggregate expenditure on defence, including the procurement of military aircraft and other hardware and all overseas defence expenditure, in each financial year since April, 1951, in cash terms each year, not at constant prices, and showing the percentage increase or decrease in cash terms each year over the preceding year, including estimates for the current financial year.

Actual expenditure on the Defence Budget, which has included the cost of procuring military aircraft and other hardware and all overseas defence expenditure, is set out below with year-by-year percentage changes shown alongside.

		£m.	Percentage increase(+) or decrease(-)
1951–52	…	1,123
1952–53	…	1,392	+24·0
1953–54	…	1,358	-2·4
1954–55	…	1,447	+6·6
1955–56	…	1,407	-2·8
1956–57	…	1,518	+7·9
1957–58	…	1,439	-5·2
1958–59	…	1,451	+0·8
1959–60	…	1,528	+5·3
1960–61	…	1,612	+5·5
1961–62	…	1,694	+5·1
1962–63	…	1,767	+4·3
1963–64	…	1,811	+2·5
1964–65	…	1,941	+7·2
1965–66	…	2,058	+6·0
1966–67	…	2,141	+4·0
1967–68	…	2,236	+4·4
1968–69*	…	2,252	+0·7
1969–70†	…	2,256	+0·2
* Provisional out-turn.
† Forecast out-turn.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of average weekly earnings and average weekly take-home pay for skilled, semi-skilled and unskilled workers in Portsmouth Dockyard in the months of October and November, 1969, and for the same two months in 1968; and whether he will similarly publish details of the highest and lowest earnings in these three categories during the same months.

Retrospective data in this form is not available from the computer and the effort in extracting it manually could not be justified. I would, however, willingly authorise the dockyard authorities to discuss with the hon. Member the form in which meaningful information could be provided for comparison with the data which is supplied to him periodically.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he gave his approval to the loan of a Royal Navy film for exhibition in the Grand Committee Room, on the question of the retention of aircraft carriers in service after 1971; whether the film was made with his authority; and if he will now make a statement on the rôle of the aircraft carriers after 1971.

I do not accept that the film excerpts included in the presentation "Know Your Navy" indicates any change in the Government's policy on the phasing-out of the aircraft carriers. This policy remains the same and I have nothing to add to the answer my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. Member for Faversham (Mr. Boston) and other hon. Members on 7th May.—[Vol. 783, c. 440–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he is satisfied with the degree of technical skill of those employed at the Royal Naval Torpedo Factory at Alexandria; and if he will make a statement on the future of the factory.

After detailed examination it has been decided regretfully that, owing to the delay in the development of the mark 24 torpedo, there will be insufficient work to justify the retention of the factory in production for defence purposes. The delay in development is due to design difficulties quite outside the control of the Alexandria establishment and does not in any way reflect on the performance of the factory which has been of a very high standard.Strenuous efforts to divert suitable work from other parts of the public sector have made it possible for the factory to remain in production until the end of 1970, but there is no prospect of its continuance thereafter as a Government factory. Every effort is being made to secure another occupier for the factory or to provide alternative employment in the area.The staff of the factory are being informed.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what changes he proposes to make in the regulations for the issue of rum to naval ratings and Royal Marine other ranks.

On the advice of the Admiralty Board it has been decided to abolish the issue of rum with effect from 1st August, 1970.The present daily issue of rum has an alcohol content the equivalent of slightly more than four measures of spirit. This issue has been reviewed in the light of the conditions of the modern Navy. The Admiralty Board concludes that the rum issue is no longer compatible with the high standards of efficiency required now that the individual's tasks in ships are concerned with complex, and often delicate, machinery and systems on the correct functioning of which people's lives may depend. The issue of rum is a particular naval privilege of very long standing. Its abolition is not an economy measure. A capital sum of £2·7 million will therefore be paid into a new Sailors' Fund to be solely for the benefit of ratings and Royal Marine other ranks who will play a major part in the administration of this fund.Abolition of the rum issue will also be accompanied by two concessions. Chief Petty Officers, Petty Officers and senior non-commissioned officers of the Royal Marines will now be allowed to buy a small quantity of commercial spirits, a privilege previously enjoyed only by officers. Junior ratings and Royal Marines other ranks will have the amount of beer which they are allowed to buy increased.Arrangements for the traditional free issue of spirits on "Splice the Main-brace" will be retained.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Northern Pennines Rural Development Board began operations; what is its aim; what publicity and information of its establishment and functions was given to the public; and how far down the Pennines its jurisdiction extends.

The board was established on 1st August, 1969, but certain of its powers did not come into force until three months later. Its aim as set out in Part III of the Agriculture Act, 1967, is to promote the development of its area as a rural area.More than 100 local authorities and other bodies were consulted before a proposal to establish the board was published. We also published in February, 1968, an explanatory leaflet on the proposed powers and functions of the Board.The board's area extends broadly from the Scottish Border to the Skipton Gap. Full details are contained in the Parliamentary Order establishing the board (S.I. 1969 No. 1095) which was approved by the House on 11th July, and a map showing the boundaries of the board's area has been placed in the Library of the House.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give details of any experiments his Department is carrying out regarding the raising of lambs by factory farming methods.

None.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will state the nature and purpose of grants for forestry co-operatives and clarify the procedure for submitting applications in respect of them.

The Forestry Commission has power to assist forestry cooperatives by way of grants or loans, and will consider on its merits any case for such aid which may be put forward. There is no special procedure: the interests concerned should simply put their case in writing to the Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning what proposals he has received from the Northern Economic Planning Council about the provision of new opportunities for employment in the county borough of Sunderland.

None for Government action. The council is, however, continuing discussions with the county borough council.

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning what steps he is taking to coordinate investigations into pollution caused by smoke from aircraft flying on the glide paths into London Airport.

As indicated in answer to the hon. Member's Question on 12th November, the Board of Trade is considering the practicability of an investigation into pollution caused by aircraft under the Heathrow glide path; and I am not aware of any special need for coordination in this work.

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning what progress has been made by the South-East Joint Planning Team in developing future regional strategies; and to what extent the work of the Roskill Commission on the Third London Airport will be affected in its regional planning aspects.

The South East Joint Planning Teams have today published a progress report on their work to date. I am sending the hon. Member a copy and placing copies in the Library. On the basis of the work done so far, there appears to be no fatal flaw from a broad regional planning point of view to any of the short-listed sites now under consideration by the Roskill Commission.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his latest estimate of the number of housing starts, public and private, for 1969; and how these compare with each of the three previous years.

I estimate that in 1969 some 180,000 houses will be started in the public sector and 170,000 in the private sector. Figures for the previous three years were as follows:

STARTS (GREAT BRITAIN)
Thousands
		1966	1967	1968
Public Sector	…	185·9	213·9	194·3
Private Sector	…	193·4	233·6	200·1
Total	…	379·3	447·6*	394·4
*Discrepancy due to rounding.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of housing starts in the public and private sectors, respectively, and in total so far this year; and what were the corresponding numbers in each of the three previous years.

Up to 31st October, 1969, 153·6 thousand houses had been started in the public sector and 146.4 thousand in the private sector, total 300,000. Corresponding figures for the previous three years were as follows:

STARTS (GREAT BRITAIN)
(January-October)
		1966	1967	1968
Public Sector	…	154·6	182·4	165·2
Private Sector	…	170·0	103·6	172·0
Total	…	324·6	386·0	337·2

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what are the present minimum requirements of his Department with regard to the treatment of sewage in connection with schemes involving the disposal of such sewage into the sea; and whether, in that connection, he has considered the Report of the Committee on Marine Technology insofar as it deals with the hazards of discharging sewage and chemical waste into coastal waters.

As regards the first part of the Question, there is no rigid minimum requirement but my right hon. Friend ordinarily expects provision to be made in new sea outfall schemes for the screening, maceration or comminution of the sewage. The answer to the second part of the Question is "Yes".

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total cost to public funds in 1968–69 of the Yorkshire and Humberside Sports Council.

I am afraid that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development to what extent the funds provided to India in accordance with the loan agreements signed in New Delhi on 28th November will be used to purchase any of the 7,000 tractors to be supplied to India by Czechoslovakia.

None.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement on the progress of the works programme being carried out in Anguilla.

Since the current development programme started in 1968 there has been continued work on the construction of several miles of roads. The prefabricated school purchased in 1968 has been erected by the Royal Engineers, who are also building a new jetty. Orders have been placed for earth-moving vehicles, a new hospital generator, school furniture and equipment, and a prefabricated science laboratory for the secondary school. The continuation of the development aid programme in 1970–71, which is expected to bring total expenditure in the two-year period up to £150,000, is now being planned in consultation with Her Majesty's Com- missioner, the British Development Division in the Caribbean and the Royal Engineers.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what additional financial aid the British Government will provide to the Ghana Government in the year 1969–70 following her discussions with Dr. Busia in October.

In an agreement with the Ghana Government due to be signed in Accra today we are increasing our current loan to Ghana by £1·75 million. With the carry-over of disbursements from 1968 this brings the total of British financial aid to Ghana in 1969–70 to £5·75 million.The loan, interest-free with a maturity of 25 years, is for the purchase of British goods and services and as a contribution towards the cost of development projects to be agreed between the two countries.

asked the Minister of Technology if he is satisfied with the supply position of steel reinforcing rods to the construction industry; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to the hon. and learned Member for Buckinghamshire, South (Mr. Ronald Bell) on 1st December.—[Vol. 792, c. 193.]

asked the Minister of Technology if he is aware that there is a shortage of smokeless fuel in the Yorkshire and Humberside Region which is creating a health hazard to people, especially to elderly persons, living in smokeless zones; and what action he is taking to ensure that some form of fuel is made available, so that the homes in these areas can be heated throughout the winter months.

I am told there is difficulty in obtaining some grades of solid smokeless fuel in some parts of the area, but I understand that in most places substitutes are available.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the amount of capital investment per head employed in the United Kingdom engineering industry in 1967 expressed in dollar terms and how this compared, according to information available to him from international sources, with the corresponding figures for the United States of America, Germany, France, Japan and Sweden, respectively; and what were the comparable figures for 1968.

			Investment	Employment	Investment per head employed
Country			$m	'000
U.K.	…	Capital Expenditure	1,271	3,442	370
U.S.A.	…	Expenditure for new plant and equipment	6,487*	7,707	840
West Germany	…	Gross Investments	1,585*	2,723	580
France	…	Productive Investments	1,007*	1,422	710
Japan (1966)	…	Investments	1,706	2,611	650
Sweden	…	Investments	311	308	1,000
*Provisional.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the value in dollar terms of the output of the British engineering industry in 1967 and 1968, respectively; what is his estimate of the number of man hours worked to produce this output; and what, according to the information available to him from international sources, were the comparable figures in relation to West Germany, Japan, United States of America, France and Sweden, respectively.

Estimates of the value of deliveries and numbers of hours worked are prepared by the O.E.C.D. covering most of the member countries. The 1967 figures are given in the table below where they are available; the latest United States of America figure available is for 1966. No comparable figures exist for 1968.Known differences in the structure of industry between countries and in the method of deriving the figures indicate that this table should be interpreted with caution.

		Deliveries ($m.)	Hours worked (million)
United Kingdom	…	20,456	5,110
West Germany	…	21,636	3,641
Japan	…	33,228	4,661
United States (1966)	…	171,582	9,276
France	…	15,714	2,037
Sweden	…	4,446	n.a.

Estimates of capital investment and employment in the engineering industries are produced by the O.E.C.D. covering some of the member countries. The 1967 figures are given in the table below for the U.K., U.S.A., West Germany, France and Sweden, the latest available figure for Japan covers 1966; no 1968 figures are available. As the table shows the definition of capital investment varies between countries, thus making comparison difficult.