asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to require organisations which promote carnivals for the benefit of charity to publish audited accounts.

I am not aware of any need to extend existing legislation, but if the hon. Member has any evidence of difficulties I will gladly examine it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to introduce legislation to implement the recommendations of the Littlewood Report on Experiments on Animals.

Legislation to replace the Cruelty to Animals Act, 1876, will be introduced when opportunity permits. At this stage I cannot say when that may be, or whether new legislation would give precise effect to all the proposals of the Departmental Committee on Experiments on Animals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if he is satisfied with the operation of the local government disqualifications of the Representation of the People Act; and if he will make a statement.

My hon. Friend no doubt has in mind the abolition by the 1969 Act of the non-resident qualification for voting at local government elections and of the property qualification for local authority membership. My right hon. Friend has no reason to think that this change in the law will not have the effect intended by Parliament, but it is too early for him to make a statement on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce amending legislation to prohibit the sale of the Electoral Register for commercial advertising.

I appreciate that this is a matter for legitimate public concern, but I do not think legislation is the right remedy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has held with the Marylebone Cricket Club on the question of policing of cricket grounds next year when cricket teams selected on a racial basis will be playing in England and Wales.

Following discussions with officers of my Department, the Secretary of the M.C.C. has been told that the responsibility for judging what police arrangements are appropriate rests with chief officers of police and that the common practice is to base the charges made to promoters on the number of policemen required to attend inside the grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the scales of remuneration for prison labour so as to provide more realistic incentives for work of economic value, in view of the fact that higher piece rate payments are now paid to prisoners engaged on the hand-sewing of mailbags than to those working on prison farms.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 63 to 66 of the White Paper "People in Prison". These describe the progress in introducing incentive pay schemes for all types of prison work.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted for offences against the Litter Act in each year since its inception; and how many have been convicted for the dumping of substantial loads of rubbish or derelict motor vehicles during the relative periods.

The following table shows, for England and Wales, the number of persons convicted of offences under the Litter Act, 1958, and under Section 19 of the Civic Amenities Act, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the legislation which he intends to introduce to strengthen the law regarding fire precautions in places of public resort, he will deal with the regulations and conditions applying to the constructional design and materials used in the erection of such establishments with a view to minimising the risk of fire outbreak in the first place and reducing the risk of collapse when fire occurs.

No. But the Building Regulations, for which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government is responsible, already contain comprehensive requirements for structural fire precautions in these and most other buildings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what advice he has prepared concerning the carrying out of duties under the Special Powers Act by British police officers seconded for duty in Northern Ireland.

A British policeman who engages for a period of service in the Royal Ulster Constabulary will be a member of that force so far as affects e Special Powers Acts. No question of dvising officers sent to Northern Ireland under mutual aid arrangements arises until those arrangements are about to be throught into force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further discussions he has had with the Government of Northern Ireland about the operation of the Special Powers Act, in the light of present circumstances.

I do not expect to have anything further to report on this subject until after the Christmas Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to amend the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1952, Section 25, and the Police Act, 1964, Section 51, to provide that on a charge of assaulting a police constable in the execution of his duty the accused has a right to trial by jury.

My right hon. Friend announced in the House on 16th December that the Criminal Law Revision Committee is to be asked to review the whole law of offences against the person. This will include the offence of assaulting a police constable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the present stocks of anti-riot gas held by the Royal Ulster Constabulary; and of what types do these stocks consist.

I am informed that the stocks consist of 89 CS grenades and 433 CS cartridges.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department under whose authority and in what circumstances the Royal Ulster Constabulary will in future use anti-riot gas.

I am informed that an officer of the R.U.C. not below the rank of district inspector may order the use of CS where it is the most humane and effective way of dealing with disorder.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will place in the Library a copy of his findings on the inquiries commissioned by him on the use of CS gas in cases of civil disorder.

The further report of the Himsworth Committee on the effects of CS will, like the first report, be published as a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the longest convenient stated period of time details of the number of police officers and other

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to ensure that the Community Relations Commission co-ordinates its work in the field of race relations with independent organisations including the Institute of Race Relations, the Runnymede Trust, the churches and the immigrant associations.

Under the Race Relations Act, 1968, the Community Relations Commission is itself responsible for the organisation of its day to day work. It already co-operates with other organisations concerned with race relations, and is keeping the arrangements for this under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the numbers of newly-qualified voters in the County Borough of Gateshead; and how many have failed to have their names included on the new electoral register.

No reliable estimate is readily available to me of the number of those newly qualified to become electors in the County Borough of Gates-

Officers resigning voluntarily are invited to give their reasons but are not obliged to provide them. The information below summarises the information received in respect of male officers.head, but as a result of the extensive local and national publicity on this subject people should have been aware of what steps they had to take to get their names on the register by 16th December.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons other than police have been injured at the Springbok matches so far played.

Forty-seven persons are known by the police to have been injured at demonstrations at Springbok matches in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police have been injured at Springbok matches so far played.

I would refer my hon Friend to the reply which I gave earlier today to Questions by the hon. Member for Twickenham (Mr. Gresham Cooke and my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Heeley (Mr. Hooley).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will recommend to local authorities that where retained firemen leave at short notice their normal job, for fire service, compensation be paid to their employers in respect of time lost and to building employers in the light of the fact that building employers are already bearing selective employment tax, National Insurance, holidays with pay, graduated pensions, workmen's compensation insurance, training board levy, fares and travelling time.

No. I commend the public spirit of the many employers who are prepared to release employees to attend emergency calls as retained firemen. Any difficulties are for discussion between the employers and the fire authorities concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the picketing of the entrance to the Enfield Technical College on 26th November by members of the National Union of Students who were on strike; what injuries and damage to property were reported to the police; and what instructions members of the Metropolitan Police have in supervising the methods of picketing used by students on strike.

Metropolitan police officers went to the college at midday on 26th November in response to a call by a member of the public. No police action was called for and the police received no complaints of injury or of damage to property. The police do not intervene in picketing unless something unlawful is done.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many unprocessed summonses for parking offences were outstanding at 1st November, 1969; and if he will break down the number, month by month, for the period for which they have been outstanding.

It would not be justified to make the extensive inquiries of magistrates' courts and police forces which would be necessary to obtain this information.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will provide assistance to the Fiji and Solomon Islanders to combat the effect of starfish on their coral reefs.

Yes. I shall be glad to provide such technical assistance as may be needed, though until research is completed I cannot say precisely what form this should take.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether the programme for overseas aid announced on 27th November includes relief for Africans in Rhodesia suffering from the effects of sanctions.

No. Our desire to help the population in Rhodesia is frustrated by the existence of the illegal régime. We have said many times that on restoration of legal government in Rhodesia we would be prepared to resume aid to her.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development how much of the special aid of £25 million offered to Malaysia has so far been set aside to provide for studies by British consultants; and for what purposes are such studies intended.

We propose, with the agreement of the Malaysian Government, to use £1½ million to finance the employment of British consultants on a wide range of projects. Arrangements have recently been completed to finance a consultancy study in West Malaysia costing over £½ million. The project involves a comprehensive study of two regions in the south-east of Johor State covering 1,000 square miles, with the object of producing—within two years—a regional development master plan to provide the broad outlines for the development of the regions over the next two decades. This feasibility study will be the largest and most comprehensive so far financed from British aid funds. In addition, we have agreed that these funds may be used to finance studies by British consultants of many other high priority development projects in both East and West Malaysia, including port design, railway improvement, airport design, road development and water supply.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what machinery exists within her Department for making British Government grants to agricultural training centres in developing Commonwealth countries for medium and primary level technicians and artisans and for peasant producers; what amount has been allocated for such purposes for the year 1968–69; and what plans are being considered for an increase.

Grants and loans to facilitate such training in developing Commonwealth countries are available within our existing aid programmes on the request of governments. The amounts provided in 1968–69 for these purposes cannot be separately identified but significant amounts have been provided in a number of countries. Our missions overseas were notified earlier this year of our wish to increase efforts in this field and the ways in which help could be given on request in the appraisal and formulation of viable schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she is taking through Remploy Limited and otherwise to provide more employment for registered disabled persons in Sunderland.

For severely disabled persons who can only work in sheltered conditions I have asked Remploy to include increased provision for Sunderland in its current 3-year plan. As regards those capable of work under ordinary conditions, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 4th December to the hon. Member for Stoke- on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley). The general measures referred to on that occasion will apply in the Sunderland area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what were the percentages of men unemployed, given separately, for each special development area in the Northern region at the time each area was designated such an area and also at the latest available date.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how productivity is calculated for policemen, nurses, teachers and dustmen in relation to salaries paid.

It is not practicable to relate the pay of policemen, nurses and teachers to productivity.The productivity of dustmen can be measured by normal work study methods, and many local authorities are using incentive schemes to good effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will establish an inquiry into the administration of the workshops for the blind, with a view to establishing the reason for the gap between the gross wages of blind and disabled workers employed in sheltered workshops for the blind and the cost of administering the scheme.

No. The position of these workshops was thoroughly investigated by a working party whose report was published in 1962. Their operation is kept under constant review by my officers and the Industrial Advisers to the Blind Limited, a non-profit-making company which was set up in 1964 for the purpose of advising on all aspects of workshop administration including modernnisation, as recommended by the working party.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) if she will make a statement on the situation at Newlyn where, following the agreement by certain fish companies to grant recognition to its workers, a return to work has been impeded following the refusal of the Harbour, Commissioner to allow their workers who were involved in the dispute to return to work;(2) if she will set up an official public inquiry into the dispute between the employees, members of the Transport and General Worker's Union and the Harbour Commissioners at Newlyn.

In October I referred to the Commission on Industrial Relations a recognition dispute between the Transport and General Workers' Union and two companies at Newlyn, W. Stevenson & Sons and Suttons Ltd., certain of whose employees had taken part in a stoppage of work and subsequently received letters of dismissal. I understand that the C.I.R., whose report will be published shortly succeeded in bringing representatives of the two companies and of the union together and an agreement was reached providing for a resumption of work, recognition of the union and a phased programme of re-instatement. This agreement has not yet been implemented owing to the fact that in September certain employees of the Newlyn Harbour Commission, who recognise the T. & G.W.U., came out on strike, with the backing of their union, in support of the action taken by their fellow trade unionists at Stevensons and Suttons and it has not yet proved possible to resolve difficulties over the reinstatement of these employees despite efforts to find a solution to the problem.I have therefore decided to appoint an inquiry into the dispute between the Harbour Commission and the T. & G.W.U. I very much hope that in the light of this decision there can now be an immediate resumption of work and immediate implementation of the other provisions of the agreement covering Stevensons and Suttons and that the two companies and the union will make every effort to secure this.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she is aware of the problems which the Federation of Ambulance Personnel has experienced in obtaining recognition for negotiation purposes; whether she will refer the matter to the Commission on Industrial Relations with an instruction to ascertain the majority wishes of the ambulance personnel; and if she will make a statement.

I am aware of this problem. The National Joint Council for Local Authorities' Services (Manual Workers) has already instituted an inquiry under Dr. W. E. J. McCarthy of Nuffield College, Oxford, and the former Director of Research on the Donovan Commission, into the causes and circumstances of recent industrial action over a claim by the Federation of Ambulance Personnel for recognition for negotiating purposes.I would hope that this matter will be resolved as a result of this inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the number of registered dock workers at the end of each year from 1960 to 1968 and the estimated number at the end of 1969.

Following is the information:—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will publish a list of names and addresses of qualified secretaries able to type and take shorthand who are, at the latest convenient date, seeking employment at employment exchanges at a salary of £500 or less.

No. The name and address of a person registered at an employment exchange is regarded as confidential. It may be disclosed only to an employer who has notified a suitable vacancy for which the applicant is willing to be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of the improved economic position, he will consider renewing financial assistance to the Polish Cultural Fund.

The only assistance from the Department to the Polish community in Britain has been in the context of the Polish Resettlement Act of 1947, the object of which was to assist Poles and their dependants to settle in this country. Payments to the Polish Education and Library Committee under that Act ended with effect from 31st July, 1967. I cannot now consider assistance to the Polish Cultural Fund, which appears to have been launched since that date. The Departments grants are for centres providing for local communities without distinction of nationality or interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will give the average expenditure per child on education in the West Riding of Yorkshire for each of the past 10 years; and how much of this expenditure has been provided by the West Riding County Council.

The following is the Answer:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of classes in the county borough of Gateshead of 40 or more; what percentage this is of the total; and how this figure compares with other areas of comparable size and with the national average.

There are 40 classes of over 40 in Gateshead, all in primary schools. This is 13·8 per cent. of primary classes. In January, 1969, the latest date for which national figures are available, Gateshead had 59 primary classes over 40, or 20·6 per cent. as compared with a national average of 9·5 per cent., and an average for all English county boroughs of l3·5 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many training courses in community relations are currently being held under the auspicas of his Department and of local education authorities, respectively.

The Department's direct responsibility for courses is restricted to the programme of short courses organised by Her Majesty's Inspectorate for teachers and others in the educational service. In the current year three of the course; were entirely concerned with community relations, and there will be at least five such courses in 1970–71. Some 20 other courses in the programme for each year include material relevant to the subject. Local education authorities

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of nursery schools now in use in England and Wales and the number of nursery schools planned for 1970.

In January, 1969, there were 603 nursery schools in England and Wales—470 maintained, 15 direct grant and 118 independent. 39 new maintained nursery schools have been approved under the urban programme for starting by March, 1970, in addition to the large numbers of nursery classes authorised to be attached to existing infant schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the number of honours graduate teachers in mathematics, physics and chemistry entering maintained secondary schools in each of the last five years.

The information is not available but I am arranging for some relevant figures of graduates entering teacher training or schools to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of qualified nursery schoolteachers at present employed in England and Wales, and the number receiving or about to receive training for such employment.

There is no separate grade of qualified nursery school teacher, but in January, 1969, there were about 950 qualified teachers in maintained nursery schools and an estimated 1,275 employed in nursery classes in maintained primary schools. About 450 students a year enter college of education courses which include specific preparation for teaching in nursery schools and classes.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an estimate of the financial effect of abolishing council house subsidies and food subsidies and of the effect of this on the cost of living of the average family.

In 1968 central Government housing subsidies to local authorities amounted to £129 million and subsidies to agriculture and food to £285 million. If rents were increased by the amount of the housing subsidies, the rise in the index of retail prices as a result of the abolition of housing subsidies would be approximately 1 per cent. The effect on retail price of the removal of all food subsidies would depend on the nature of the system which replaced the present support arrangements and on the response of producers both at home and overseas, but it has been estimated that the elimination of deficiency payments would increase food prices by between 4 and 7 per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why her Majesty's Government continue to exclude the Morning Star from receiving major advertisements issued by Government Departments.

Because, unlike all other national newspapers, the Morning Star does not provide independently certified

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the total sum of public money spent in buying out the former shareholders in the nationalised industries between 1945 and 1969.

The stock issued primarily for compensation purposes amounted to some £2,525 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give the public expenditure totals for Scotland, divided into headings as in Table 2.23 of Public Expenditure 1968–69 to 1973–74, Command Paper No. 4234, at 1969 survey prices for 1964–65, 1965–66, 1966–67 and 1967–68, together with the annual increase per cent. in each of these years and the average annual increase per cent. from 1964–65 to 1968–69.

The information requested is set out in the table which follows. The coverage is the same as in Table 2.23 of the White Paper.The expenditure figures for 1966–67 onwards do not include payments of selective employment tax by local authorities.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that the managements of some large factories are refusing to deduct Save As You Earn contributions when requested to do so by savers and by shop stewards' committees; and if he will take steps to overcome this.

The provision by firms of deduction from pay facilities for S.A.Y.E. is entirely voluntary, but I hope that firms will do everything they can to provide these facilities. Employees unable to pay contributions by this method can, however, make their own arrangements through post offices, trustee savings banks or commercial banks.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table similar to that on pages 276 and 277 of the September 1968 issue of the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin, a copy of which is in

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many premises not requiring local authority approval have purchased gaming machine licences for two sixpenny-play machines;(2) how many premises not requiring local authority approval have purchased gaming machine licences for a sixpenny-

Estimates of United Kingdom external assets and liabilities for the end of 1968 were published in Tables 37 and 38 of the balance of payments "Pink Book" (United Kingdom Balance of Payments 1969) and in the Bank of England Quarterly Bulletin for December 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give a breakdown of the figures for United Kingdom external assets and liabilities at the end of 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967 and 1968, by area, with a breakdown by country in the North American continent and within both the European Economic Community and the European Free Trade Association, and also within the Commonwealth.

The available information is listed in the table below. A country or regional breakdown is not available for other components of external assets and liabilities.play together with a threepenny-play machine.

I regret information could only be obtained at excessive cost.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase in the personal allowance required to remove a further one million, two million and three million taxpayers from paying income tax, and of the cost to the Exchequer of doing so.

All-round increases in single and married allowances and maximum wife's earned income allowance of about £30 for the first purpose and about £65 and £95 for the others. The costs would be about £275 million, £580 million and £830 million respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will estimate the monetary gain accruing to a husband having a wife and two children under the age of 11 from a 6d. reduction in income tax, assuming his earnings to be £12, £15, £20 and £25 a week, respectively.

The reduction in tax payments as a result of a reduction of 6d. in the standard rate in the cases quoted would be Nil, Nil, 11s. a year (under 3d. a week) and £5 12s. a year (about 2s. 2d. a week) respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many chonically sick or disabled persons are accommodated in geriatric wards in the

Information in this form is not collected regularly. The most recent information is from a special survey in April, 1967, which showed that the numbers of patients below age 60 receiving long-term care in geriatric wards in the Manchester Regional Hospital Board area were:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the average annual cost of the capital expenditure, on new hospitals, buildings and equipment, and the current expenditure on running these facilities, respectively, for the latest five-year period in the Sheffield area; how these figures compare with the previous three five-year periods; what is the outlay in each case per head of population; and how these figures compare with those for the South and South East and the whole country.

I regret that information about revenue expenditure is not available in the form requested. Figures of capital expenditure are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he proposes to authorise the construction of a minor accident unit at Wellingborough.

A minor accident centre is not planned for Wellingborough. Full accident and emergency facilities are available in Northampton and Kettering.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds are now in use in the best-buy hospitals; and how many such beds are expected to be in use by 1970.

Construction of both the Best Buy hospitals, at Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk and Frimley, Surrey, was started recently and they are expected to come into use by the end of 1972.

asked the Minister of Transport how many summonses for nonpayment of road tax were outstanding at 1st November, 1969; and if he will break down the number, month by month, for the period for which they have been outstanding.

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

asked the Minister of Transport if he will list the reorganisation schemes in the port transport industry brought about following the Harbours Act 1964 under the Harbour Revision and Empowerment Order.

I take the Question to refer to harbour reorganisation schemes under the Harbours Act 1964. They are as follows:

• The Forth Harbour Reorganisation Scheme.
• The Humber Harbour Reorganisation Scheme.
• The Southampton Harbour Reorganisation Scheme.
• The Port of Tyne Reorganisation Scheme.
• The Medway Ports Reorganisation Scheme.

asked the Minister of Transport what was the total investment in British ports in each year from 1960 to 1968; and what is the estimated amount for 1969.

Investment by port authorities in the years in question amounted to:

asked the Minister of Transport if he will set out in detail the compensation he estimates will be paid under the proposals to transfer the British ports to a National Ports Authority; and if he will list the debts to be assumed from statutory bodies and municipal authorities.

The amounts of compensation will depend on factors that can be determined only after the Ports Bill is passed, including decisions of the bodies now responsible for undertakings to be transferred. The total for harbour undertakings transferred on initial vesting where compensation or severance payments are relevant should be at most some £25 millions.The capital liabilities to be assumed (or, in the case of local authorities, serviced) in respect of harbour undertakings likely to be transferred on initial vesting were, at 31st December, 1968, about £99 million for harbours of the British Transport Docks Board, £10 millions for the one local authority harbour (Bristol), and £209 millions for statutory port trusts. Further capital liabilities incurred between 1st January, 1969 and the vesting date could amount to some £50 millions to £65 millions.

asked the Minister of Transport how many licensed port employers exist in each of the ports to be taken over by the proposed National Ports Authority; and what was the equivalent figure for 1964.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will now announce details of those unremunerative railway passenger services for which he is issuing undertakings to pay grant in 1970, and in subsequent years, together with the amount of grant payable for each service in 1970.

I have decided to undertake to pay grant for various periods for 120 services and for the services forming the London communter networks. This is in addition to the services for which undertakings covering 1970 and, in some cases, 1971 are already in force. Total expenditure on all these services in 1970 is likely to be in the region of £58 million.The amounts of the grants for individual services announced last year required substantial adjustment to take account of the effect of grants under Section 40 and the financial reconstruction under Section 42 of the Transport Act 1968. The figures for each service given in this answer are calculated on the revised basis and are thus not directly comparable with those given for 1969; further minor adjustments may be necessary for a number of reasons. The Railways Board, as required by statute, will publish revised figures for 1969 for all grant-aided services in its report for 1969.In deciding the length of the undertaking attached to any particular service I have had to take into account a number of different considerations. In some cases revised patterns of service may be envisaged, either on the grant-aided service itself or on associated services; the Railways Board has been unable to predict beyond the end of 1970 the financial results of new patterns of service yet to be introduced. It is still the long-term aim that eventually all undertakings shall be for three years, not least since this will help to equalise the work load both on the Railways Board and on the Ministry in preparing and processing grant applications, so that only one third of the total will have to he processed in any one year. It has, therefore, been necessary for such reasons to give one or two year undertakings for certain of the services. However, in the case of the Euston-Stranraer service I am restricting the grant to six months. During this period the most suitable future arrangements for providing the service will be examined. Details of these services, as well as those services for which I am giving a three-year undertaking, and of the amounts of grant payable in 1970 are included in List 1.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will publish in the form of a White Paper a full report on the finances of the Beagle Aircraft Company during the past three years.

I have given details of public funds provided to the Company before and after acquisition; the directors have a duty to file annual accounts and the receiver and manager is currently conducting his examination in the usual way. I do not think I can usefully add anything at this stage.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) what output of solid smokeless fuel he estimates will be required to meet the programme of local authorities throughout the country to designate areas as smokeless zones, according to plans already submitted to Her Majesty's Government;(2) what output he estimates will be required of solid smokeless fuel to meet the demands in the years 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1974; and what plans he has to promote this output.

Supply and demand for domestic solid smokeless fuels are estimated to be about 8 million tons for 1969–70 and tentative estimates for later years are of the same order. Firmer estimates are not normally made until nearer the time; prospects for 1970–71 are currently being considered by my department, the producers and the trade.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the amount of Government expenditure which has been devoted to research into the production of electricity by nuclear energy during the past 10 years.

The U.K.A.E.A.'s expenditure on power reactor research and development over the last ten years was in the region of £400 million (including depreciation and interest). This includes the cost of prototypes.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the progress being made in research towards producing a petrol engine free from the emission of harmful exhaust.

The British motor industry, in collaboration with the Motor Industries Research Association and the Department, has carried out a great deal of research and development work on exhaust emission and can meet the strictest current world regulations. Work will continue so that even higher standards can be reached.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what decisions have been taken by Her Majesty's Government concerning the level of the expenditure on military research and development during the year 1970–71.

I would ask my right hon. Friend to await the publication of the 1970 Statement on the Defence Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether it is his practice to give non-attributable briefing to Press correspondents.