asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of his policy of retaining the 50p. coin in circulation for the foreseeable future, he will demonetise the existing 10p coin and replace it with a smaller coin that is less likely to give rise to confusion.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the increase of income tax of all incomes in Scotland over £5,000 and £10,000 necessary to produce the same revenue as that produced by selective employment tax at present.

The increases in income tax which my hon. Friend suggests would in either case raise the standard rate on the incomes in question to more than 20s. in the £.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what increase in staff of the Inland Revenue in Scotland has taken place in the last six months to deal with the backlog of tax claims and queries.

At 31st December, 1969, the total number of staff in Scotland in the Chief Inspector's Branch was 3,548 as compared with 3,536 at 30th June, 1969. Over the same period the staff of Centre 1 East Kilbride had increased from 1,084 to 1,632.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the effect on the cost of living of abolishing the sixpenny piece.

There need be no effect on the cost of living.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the recent evidence that the abolition of the 6d. on decimalisation will be the cause of greater increases in prices than would otherwise be the case, he will consider retaining this coin.

No. We have seen no such evidence.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will introduce legislation to enable the Inland Revenue to inform the Treasury of exchange control frauds discovered by them; and if he will make a statement.

No. The confidentiality rules are of great importance in the work of the Inland Revenue and I could not propose an exception of this kind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make arrangements to enable contributions to Save As You Earn to be paid into post offices by cheque.

No. This would complicate procedures within the Post Office, but cheques may be sent post-free to the Save As You Earn office.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the Save As You Earn Scheme concerning the participation of staffs of the nationalised industries, the Post Office and the National Health Service; what request he made to each of the industries and services to encourage their staffs to participate; what replies he received; and what response has been forthcoming, together with the estimated number of staff in each industry and service, respectively, contributing to the scheme.

All the bodies referred to have been approached and, in particular, the Coal, Electricity, Gas and Steel Boards, the Post Office and most sections of the hospital service have agreed in principle to offer S.A.Y.E. facilities by deduction from pay to their staffs. National Savings Committee field staff are now approaching employees through local management but in view of the large number of employees involved and the need to provide for S.A.Y.E. under various pay systems, these approaches are at different stages of development and it will be some time before any significant figures of response are available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will state the total cost of the Treasury guarantee of the loan of $89,110,000 provided by the Morgan Guaranty Trust Company of New York and others for the British Overseas Airways Corporation.

Nil.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will consider a reduction in the duty on potato crisps and puffs, in view of the fact that the recent increase in price has switched purchases by children to sweets and confectionery, with a consequent adverse effect on dental health.

Potato crisps and puffs now bear tax at the same rate as sweets and confectionery, and I have seen no evidence of any general switch in children's purchases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the time needed for public adaptation to the new coinage, he will seek to delay the introduction of compulsory decimalisation until 1st January, 1972.

There is no fixed date for the end of the £ s. d. system. There will be a change-over period, fixed by law to begin on the 15th February, 1971, during which all business, other than banking, can be carried out in either currency using both coinages. The Treasury will be able to bring this period to an end at any time by order, subject to Parliamentary approval, as soon as the country is ready to work exclusively in decimal currency.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent private industry is now supported by State aid; to what extent the aid consists of loans, to what extent of grants, and to what extent of Government shareholding or other investment providing an element of State ownership; and if he will discontinue the first category, decrease the second, and increase the third.

Government assistance in these categories to private industry other than agriculture, totalled £660·8 million in 1968–69. Of this figure net lending amounted to £35·3 million; grants and subsidies to £623·8 million—including some £432 million of investment grants; and cash purchases of company securities to £1·7 million. The scale and nature of our assistance to industry is kept under review.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will take steps to exempt from income tax the first £10 of Christmas bonuses paid to employees.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek to arrange for Members of the House of Commons to have six guineas a day tax-free expenses.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why, in view of the rule that expenses incurred by a taxpayer on travel between his home and place of work are not allowed for tax purposes. Ministers of the Crown who receive Ministerial cars for such purposes are not assessed for tax purposes, on a similar basis to other taxpayers; and by what authority this concession is given to the Ministers.

There is no concession. Ministers of the Crown are subject to the same Schedule E rules as are applicable to employees in general and are outside the scope of the special provisions relating to directors and senior employees in the business sector.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated gross outflow of capital from the United Kingdom to South Africa in 1969; and what were the comparable figures for 1968 and 1967.

In 1968 private investment in South Africa is provisionally estimated at some £60 million—net of disinvestment—following £40 million in 1967. Figures for 1969 are not yet available but indications are that the outflow may have fallen. There was no outflow of official long-term capital.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what acount was taken, in preparing the White Paper, Public Expenditure 1968–69 to 1973–74, Command Paper No. 4234, of the need to increase substantially the salaries of such public servants as nurses and teachers, and others within the public service who are currently paid at rates below national average earnings.

The price conventions in which the White Paper is expressed are consistent with public service pay maintaining its normal broad relationship with pay in the private sector.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in view of the further recovery in the country's financial situation, he will now authorise the banks to include house builders in their priority list of borrowers.

No. The priority categories of credit are all related to securing and maintaining a strong balance of payments, which remains the central policy objective.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the capital investment in the Royal Mints at London and Llantrisant in 1939; and if he will give a detailed breakdown in each case.

I assume the hon. Member means 1969. In that year capital expenditure was £112,000 at Tower Hill and £802,000 at Llantrisant.The following is the breakdown:

	Tower Hill	Llantrisant
	£	£
Buildings	53,000	329,000
Plant
Coin packaging equipment	—	102,000
Coining presses	16,000	89,000
Pickling machine	—	35,000
Assay equipment	—	36,000
Annealing furnace	—	32,000
Die making equipment	—	23,000
Mechanical handling plant	—	116,000
Other equipment	43,000	40,000
	59,000	473,000
Total	112,000	802,000

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what percentage of the bronze coins minted at Llantrisant, over a representative recent period, have been returned to the Royal Mint in London for remelting.

Approximately 1½ per cent.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the plans of the Inland Revenue to computerise some of the routine work of assessing and calculating various taxes.

Over the next 10 years the Inland Revenue will transfer to 9 computer centres all the P.A.Y.E. work now done in local tax offices. In addition, it is proposed to use the computers in the centres for the routine work of assessing and collecting the taxes on income and capital gains generally. There are separate plans for performing certain operations in connection with surtax on a computer, but these depend on the examination my right hon. Friend is making of the recommendation by the Select Committee on Estimates that surtax should be decentralised.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the continuing decline of car sales in the home market, he will now ease restrictions which are a discouragement to domestic purchasers.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a statement on the results of his recent visit to the United States of America, with special reference to agreements made for export of British goods to the United States of America, and indicating the present and future rôle of the British National Export Council in these spheres.

My purpose in visiting the U.S. was to make contact with leading figures in banking and business and to explain recent developments in the British economy. I hope the visit will have assisted British exports. The rôle of the B.N.E.C. is a matter for my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the change in circumstances at the Royal Mint in Tower Hill, he will now review the 1967 decision to move all coin work to Llantrisant.

The first part of the move to Llantrisant has been completed. My right hon. Friend sees considerable difficulty and little advantage in reversing decisions that have already been taken, but representations to this effect have been made by some of the employees at Tower Hill and he is considering these representations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware of the growing tendency among building trade operatives to work only a proportion of the week with their normal employers and to seek other and private employment for which they can avoid paying taxes; and what action he is taking to stop this avoidance of tax payment.

Casual earnings from spare-time work are taxable and it is a statutory offence to omit them from the income tax return. The Inland Revenue keeps a close watch on cases where opportunities for spare-time work arise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether Her Majesty's Government will take an initiative within the organs of the United Nations in response to General Assembly Resolution 2565 asking for a link between special drawing rights and aid to developing countries.

I am sure there will be further discussion of this idea within the U.N.C.T.A.D. and elsewhere, but I see no useful purpose to be served by Britain taking any special initiative at present.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the proportions of corporate profits after tax and private manufacturing investment, respectively, in the gross domestic product for each of the last 10 years.

The following is the information:

	Gross trading profits of companies after deduction of United Kingdom taxes on income (accruals)*	Gross domestic fixed capital formation by private sector manufacturing industry
	As a percentage of gross domestic product at factor cost
1959	12·0	3·8
1960	12·0	4·2
1961	11·3	4·7
1962	11·0	4·3
1963	12·2	3·8
1964	12·4	4·1
1965	13·3	4·4
1966	10·1	4·5
1967†	9·7	4·0
1968†	9·7	4·0
*Including tax on non-trading income and on income from abroad.
† Excluding the nationalised steel companies from 28th July 1967.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will set out for each of the years 1960 to 1969 to the latest available date the figures for exports and imports, of both visible and invisible goods, in 1960 money terms.

Estimates of imports and exports of goods and services, revalued at 1963 prices, are published annually in Table 14 of the National Income and Expenditure Blue Book and are brought up to the latest available date in Table A of the quarterly national income article in "Economic Trends". To recalculate these estimates at 1960 prices would require an excessive use of resources.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT his provisional estimate of the volume of total imports, visible exports, visible surplus, invisible exports, current surplus and capital movements, respectively, which gave rise to changes in the balance of payments for 1969, and the comparative figures for the previous two years.

Some of the information sought by the hon. Member will not be available until the balance of

Category			Period	Publication
Stock of Overseas assets		…	End 1968	United Kingdom Balance of Payments, 1969, Table 37*.
Investment income	…	…	Up to 1969, 3rd quarter.	United Kingdom Balance of Payments, 1969, Tables 17 and 19; Economic Trends, December, 1969, Table 7.
Flow of investment	…	…	Up to 1969, 3rd quarter.	United Kingdom Balance of Payments, 1969, Tables 22 and 25; Economic Trends, December, 1969, Table 8.
*For the basis of valuation, see pages 39 and 41.

The basis of valuation of the figures of assets varies from one class to another and it is not possible from the available information to calculate percentage rates of return on both book and current values.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the maximum amount which can be paid by cheque for goods purchased abroad whilst on holiday; and if he will make a statement.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to a payment outside the sterling area by a resident of the United Kingdom by means of a sterling cheque drawn on an account in the United Kingdom. The purchaser must first obtain Exchange Control consent

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated value of British investment overseas on 1st January, 1970; how much of this has been direct investment by industry, and how much portfolio investment; what was the estimated increase in investment in 1969; what was the value of profits and dividends remitted to this country, and the percentage return on both book value and current value; and how do the 1969 results compare with those of previous years.

Figures for 1969 are not yet available. With permission I will circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT references to the available information.from his bank. There is no maximum amount provided the conditions applying to payment for imports are satisfied.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) how many directors and other employees earning over £2,000 per annum were listed by employers on returns to the Inland Revenue as having no expenses or benefits in the year ended 5th April, 1968;(2) what was the total of the expenses and benefits returned on forms P.11D for the year ended 5th April, 1968;(3) what was the aggregate income assessed to tax and the yield in tax in consequence of returns on Forms P.11D for the year ended 5th April, 1968;

About 440,000 P.11D forms including expenses and benefits, totalling about £185 million were received for 1967–68. The total amount charged to tax after deducting admissible expenses was about £25 million, yielding about £12 million in tax. The number of nil returns is not known.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make a further statement on the progress of his discussions with Swiss banks regarding the enforcement of United Kingdom exchange control.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much was spent on consultants' fees in 1969 to introduce a productivity scheme at the Royal Mint in London.

£16,400 was spent on productivity schemes at Tower Hill and Liantrisant. It is not possible to give a separate figure for Tower Hill.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in place of the present concessions, by which incoming travellers are allowed duty-free entry on certain goods, limited both by quantity and value, he will allow duty-free entry on all goods up to a specified total value of not less than £25, calculated on the original purchase price.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the loss in revenue involved in not requiring hairdressers to pay selective employment tax for indentured apprentices.

I regret that the information on which an estimate could be based is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the number of road deaths and accidents during the Christmas and New Year period, indicating how many of these were due to persons driving under the influence of drink.

Provisional road casualty figures are as follows:

	Deaths	Serious Injuries	Slight Injuries
Christmas Eve	28	304	905
Christmas Day	25	168	507
Boxing Day	13	149	505
Saturday, 27th December	8	160	422
Sunday, 28th December	3	98	252

Separate figures are not recorded for the New Year period. When the final figures are available about the end of February, I shall, amongst other things, look closely at the number of positive breath tests taken following accidents.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will alter the arrangements in regard to emergency expenditure on winter maintenance of roads so as to ensure that local authorities have adequate finance available for this purpose to prevent adverse effects on traffic movement and road safety.

We are not proposing to alter the present arrangement. The allocation of funds for winter maintenance is a matter for the highway authority.As far as trunk roads are concerned we are satisfied that adequate finance is available to prevent undue adverse effects on traffic movement and safety.

asked the Minister of Transport what action is being taken to publicise the Road Research Laboratory's report concerning the corrosion that salt on icy roads can cause to vehicles and to advise motorists about action to prevent or reduce the extent of such corrosion.

The report was widely distributed and publicised through the press, radio and television. Most modern cars receive some form of anti-corrosion treatment during manufacture. The best preventative treatment is cleaning the vehicle after travelling on salted roads and careful maintenance.

asked the Minister of Transport if he is aware of growing transport difficulties with traffic entering and leaving Hull on the west side of the city; and what stage he has reached in his proposals for extending Hessle Road and the Docks Road eastwards over the Hull River.

All of the proposals to which my hon. Friend refers are the city of Hull's responsibility as the highway authority. The extension of Hessle Road to Myton Place should be completed in November. A new road from Myton Place to Market Place is expected to start in 1971–72 and a new road from Market Place to Hedon Road, including a bridge over the River Hull, is in preparation for later in the 1970s.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will make a statement on the progress made in diverting heavy long-distance traffic away from Reading as requested by the hon. Member for Reading on 23rd May, 1969.

My hon. Friend is presumably referring to the diversion of the traffic through Reading on A4 and other routes. Unfortunately there are no roads to enable this to be done on a wider scale than has been done for some years. Until the section of M4 forming a diversion round Reading is complete, the traffic which will use it must pass through the town. My right hon. Friend has recently announced that contracts have been let for the construction of this section.A comprehensive traffic management scheme was introduced in May, 1969, to alleviate conditions in the town centre. This has proved successful and additions to it are under discussion to provide greater relief during next summer. The first stage of the Inner Distribution Road was completed on 4th January, 1970, although sections of it were in use prior to that date.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he will introduce a marking order to require all motor tyres to be marked as either radial and cross-ply and as either tube or tubeless.

British made radial and tubeless tyres are now generally marked. The need for a statutory requirement to mark tyres is under consideration but should if possible await the outcome of discussions in the Economic Commission for Europe about international tyre standards including markings.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he is aware of the traffic hold up and dislocation, caused by the closing of the bridge at Kensington Road, Northolt; what progress has been made in his discussions with the London Borough of Ealing and other parties on this subject; and if he will make a statement;(2) what proposals have now been submitted to him by the London Borough of Ealing regarding the Kensington Road bridge at Northolt; and if he will approve them;(3) whether, following his approval of a replacement bridge over the Grand Union Canal near Northolt, he will now approve a temporary structure pending the construction of the new bridge.

Kensington Road is a district road for which the London Borough of Ealing is the Highway Authority. I am aware of the inconvenience caused by the closure of this road, though alternative routes are available between Western Avenue and Ruislip Road.The Borough Council expect to let a contract for the construction of a new bridge in the spring of this year. My Department has agreed to sponsor a loan for the extra cost over and above the contribution of the British Waterways Board, whose financial responsibility is limited to the cost of replacing the bridge to its original standards.I understand the Council do not consider that a temporary structure could be provided quickly or economically because it would involve the acquisition of land and the construction of temporary approach roads. They consider it best to go ahead as quickly as possible with the provision of a new bridge. We see no reason to differ from these views.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the fact that the average waiting time throughout Great Britain for a driving test is four weeks and the average waiting time in Darlington is nine weeks, what steps he proposes to take to reduce the waiting time for learner-drivers in Darlington.

Over the last 3 months the average waiting time at Darlington has been 7 weeks compared with a national average of 4 weeks. It is currently 6 weeks. The longer period at Darlington has been due to a combination of sickness of examiners and cancellation of tests due to bad weather. We shall keep the position under review to ensure that, weather permitting, the recent improvement is maintained.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations have been made to him about the amount of the allowance for management purposes made by the Housing Corporation to the housing associations and societies which receive help from it; and what replies he has sent.

I know of no representations about this subject, but if the right hon. and learned Member would care to let me know what he has in mind I shall be glad Lo consider it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what representations have been made to him about the difficulties created for housing associations and societies by the amendments and alterations required by the Housing Corporation in the rules governing their behaviour when they receive assistance from the Corporation; and what replies he has sent.

It is usual for the Housing Corporation to assist cost-rent or co-ownership housing societies formed for the purpose of building houses, with Corporation assistance, in the drawing up of their rules. I do not know of any representations on the subject, but if the right hon. and learned Member has any particular case in mind I would be glad to hear about it.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement on the progress being made in the clearance of derelict land in the Northern Region.

For the three years ending 31st December, 1969, it is estimated that reclamation of 1,122 acres was completed at a gross cost of £1,241,000. Final approvals were given from 1st April, 1969, to 31st December, 1969, for schemes covering 492 acres at a cost of £1,088,000.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will make a statement about the visit of his Parliamentary Secretary to Sunderland and his discussions with the Sunderland Borough Council.

I visited Sunderland on Thursday 8th January to discuss with members of the council the need for a bigger house building programme. Various local housing problems were identified, particularly the slum clearance needs and the rate of new building. The matters are now being pursued by officials.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what advice he has given during the last three months to local authorities that decline to impose rates in respect of unoccupied property; and if he will make a statement on the progress of his policy.

None. Under present law, the question whether the provisions for the rating of unoccupied properties should be applied to any area is entirely for the rating authority to decide in the light of local circumstances.The Government are considering as part of the review of local government finance, in connection with the RedcliffeMaud proposals, whether any changes should be made in the law in this respect.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what amount of housing subsidy Nuneaton Borough Council was receiving in 1967, 1968 and 1969.

The housing subsidy payments made to the Council in respect of housing provided by them under the Housing Acts have been as follows:

	£
1966–67	107,381
1967–68	129,311
1968–69	143,762
1969–70	141,569

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will withhold approval from any scheme submitted to him by the Reading Corporation in respect of its council housing which does not conform to Parker-Morris Standards.

I shall be meeting representatives of the Corporation in the next day or two when this matter will be discussed. I will keep my hon. Friend informed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he will make a statement on the progress of the study of the measures needed to protect London against tidal flooding.

At my request the Greater London Council have since January, 1968, been conducting an investigation, of which the Government have borne half the cost, under the guid- ance of a Committee chaired by my noble Friend Lord Kennet. The Committee consisted of representatives of the Government Departments concerned, the Greater London Council, the Kent and Essex River Authorities, the Port of London Authority, the Chamber of Shiping and the Hydraulics Research Station. That report has now been received.The Government are determined that London and Lower Thamesside must be defended against tidal floods. They regard the Greater London Council's report as a marked step towards a solution of the problem and accept that no time should be lost in completing the remaining studies for which it calls. The Government and the responsible authorities will then decide as a matter of urgency on the nature and siting of the defences required.I am, with the agreement of the G.L.C., placing copies of the full report in the Library.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government when he expects loan sanction for the Huddersfield proposed sports centre will be approved, and the project completed.

Loan sanction has been approved for the first stage of this scheme. It is too early to say when the whole project will be completed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local authorities in England and Wales have applied for grants to assist in land reclamation during the last 12 months; and what is the total value of the money disbursed for this purpose.

Derelict land reclamation schemes submitted by 58 local authorities in England were approved for grant in 1969. Grants paid during the same period, but not necessarily in respect of the same schemes, amounted to £389,294. These included both capital and revenue grants. Figures relative to applications made are not immediately available. Information relating to Wales is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she proposes to introduce legislation merging the National Board for Prices and Incomes and the Monopolies Commission.

As soon as I have carried through the necessary consultations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what productivity conditions were attached to the recent settlement concluded between David Brown Tractors and the Draughtsmen's and Allied Technicians' Association which resulted in wage increases of up to 20 per cent.

Full details of this settlement have not yet been received by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now pay the provisional subsistence allowance to justices of the peace who live within three miles from the court in which they serve, in view of the hardship caused to many magistrates by the failure to make this payment.

I cannot at present add anything to the reply which my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend's Question on 20th November last.—[Vol. 791, c.:341.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the total number of prisoners at present in Her Majesty's Prison, Bedford; and how this figure compares with the average figures for 1966, 1967 and 1968.

252 on 31st December, 1969; 248, 247, and 205. The average figure for 1969 was 237.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners in Her Majesty's Prison, Bedford, have to share a cell on the basis of three to a cell; and how this figure compares with the situation in 1966, 1967 and 1968.

On 31st December, 1969, 123 prisoners were accommodated three to a cell in Her Majesty's Prison, Bedford. This was the highest figure during 1969. The peak figure in 1966 was 162; in 1967, 144, and in 1968, 141.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the increases in salaries recently paid to the police, there were, up to 7th December, 1969, 473 resignations from the Metropolitan Police Force; and what action he has taken, or proposes to take, to arrest the loss of trained police personnel through premature retirements and resignations.

The basic working week in the police service will be reduced by two hours on 1st April next; the Police Council of Great Britain is on the point of starting a review of police pay; the causes of wastage are kept continually in review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total net recruitment to the police forces in England and Wales in 1969; how many police officers resigned voluntarily during the year; and how many of that total had less than three years' and more than three years' service, respectively.

There was a net increase of 1,075 in the strength of the police in England and Wales in 1969. The number of recruits was 6,448 and the number of persons who left the service—including those retiring on pension —was 5,373. 3,606 officers resigned before qualifying for pension, of whom 1,648 had less than three years' service and 1,958 more.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present approximate number of documents contained in the British Museum Library; what is the approximate number being added per annum; and what is the average number of documents actually inspected during the year by clients of this Library.

There is no general unit of measurement available or applicable to all the Library Departments and Divisions, which contain such varied items as books, periodicals, newspapers, patents, maps, prints, sheet music, charters, letters, etc.Taking a unit (or a "document") as any item requiring a main entry in a catalogue, then the present total is approximately 6,000,000. In this figure a periodical is counted as one unit, regardless of the number of volumes, and some 110,000 volumes of patents literature (containing 11,000,000 separate patent specifications) do not show up because they need no individual cataloguing. The Department of Printed Books alone estimate they have 7,000,000 volumes, but not everything can be measured in volumes.The approximate number of items added per annum is nearfly 2,000,000 where an item is regarded as anything requiring registration; e.g. each periodical part is a registrable item, while an album of drawings is treated as one.Figures for the usage of the stock of the Library Departments are as follows:

Printed Books (excluding National Reference Library of Science and Invention(Holborn)).	1,590,000 volumes per year issued to readers.
Oriental Printed Books and Manuscripts.	20,000 books and 9,000 manuscripts issued.

LICENCE INCOME IN £000s
				1964–65	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68	1968–69
Total	…	…	…	56,343	67,969	75,195	79,328	86,294
Broadcast Receivers		…	…	56,181	67,788	74,993	79,097	85,994
Mobile Radio	…	…	…	115	132	150	147	231

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what estimate he has made of the effect of the independent television levy on the profits of television companies; and if he will consider introducing legislation to change the point of application of the levy until after deduction of certified programme expenditure.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave yesterday to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Ron Lewis) and to the hon. Member for Belfast, North (Mr. Stratton Mills). The answer to the second part of the Question is that I have no plans to do so.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what has been the total income from licences issued by his Department and not on behalf of any other Department, and the Post Office in the current year and for each of the last five years; how much of this was in respect of broadcast receiving licences; and how much was in respect of mobile radio licences.

The figures are not yet available for the current year. Income from licences issued in the last five financial years is as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what has been the cost of modification of British Overseas Airways Corporation's Boeing 707/336 purchases to meet British Overseas Airways Corporation's standard; and when these standards were formulated.

The cost of modification was included in the original purchase price. It was not a question of meeting standards so much as of modifying the lay-out and instrumentation to enable crews to be used interchangeably on these aircraft and the earlier Boeing fleet.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many and which insurance companies have notified him of their intention to increase their motor insurance premiums during the next four months.

The following insurers have recently confirmed to the Board of Trade that it is their intention to raise motor insurance premiums early this year: Commercial Union Assurance, General Accident Fire and Life Assurance, Royal Insurance, Sun Alliance and London Insurance Group and the Zurich Group.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he will set up a committee of inquiry into the motor insurance industry in view of the recent proposed increases in premiums and the disparity between the premium rate of different companies;(2) if he will refer the proposed increases in motor insurance premiums to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

I will consider whether to refer the increases to the National Board for Prices and Incomes, but I see no immediate need for a committee of inquiry into the motor insurance industry, particulary in view of its competitive nature.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the delay, reported to his Department by Dr. John Axton, in the supply of essential drugs to Rhodesia and the consequential deaths of three African children.

I have seen reports in the Press that delays attributed to the Board of Trade over the shipment of essential drugs to Rhodesia may have resulted in the deaths of three African children. I cannot accept any imputation of delay on the part of the Board of Trade. The United Nations resolution on Rhodesian sanctions expressly excepts "supplies intended strictly for medical purposes" and although such supplies are subject to export licensing, in each of the two instances quoted the required licences were issued and despatched on the day that the applications were received.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of aircraft using London Airport is fitted with secondary radar equipment.

Secondary radar is required for flight at or above flight level 250 (approximately 25,000 feet) over the United Kingdom and in some parts of Europe. Transport aircraft using London (Heathrow) Airport and flying at these levels must be so equipped, but I do not have the information necessary to express their numbers as a percentage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when his Department's Report on the North London Airport Complex will be published.

The report of the internal Study Panel set up to examine the air traffic problems in the London Terminal Control Area north of London is under consideration. The report is not intended for publication but, in accordance with normal procedure, any proposals for developing the air traffic control system in the area will be discussed direct with the user interests concerned in the first place, and also in the Civil Aviation Control Advisory Committee where these interests are represented.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he will take to integrate air navigation systems over the North London Airport Complex.

Air navigation systems covering the north of London employ facilities recognised and used internationally, namely very high frequency radio ranges (VORs), distance measuring equipments, and non-directional beacons. These are already integrated. Aircraft fitted with a sufficient scale of Decca equipment may also follow special routes allocated to them in controlled air space and integrated with the general pattern. Air traffic patterns are fully integrated in the controlled air space which extends down to 2,500 feet or less in this area. Problems in the air space below this are under study, and any developments proposed as a result will be discussed with the user-interests concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he will require all aircraft using British airports to be fitted with area navigation systems.

The United Kingdom has long advocated internationally the recognition and exploitation of facilities for area navigation. It is not practicable to compel aircraft using British airports to be fitted with equipment for this in advance of the necessary agreement on the systems to be used internationally.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of aircraft using London Airport is already fitted with area navigation equipment.

Some British and foreign aircraft using Heathrow carry self-contained navigational equipment capable of application for an area navigation function. Some others are equipped to use the Decca area navigation system, utilising transmissions from ground stations. Owing to the number and variety of aircraft employed on the international routes concerned operated by more than 50 airlines, it is not possible to state what percentage of them is equipped to use these various systems.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to receive the report of the investigation into the near-miss of aircraft flying over London Heathrow Airport on 9th January; and what steps he is taking to prevent such a happening occurring again.

I am informed by the Chief Inspector of Accidents that his investigation is proceeding satisfactorily but that it is as yet too early to say when his report will be made. In the meantime I am considering with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence whether there are any additional safeguards that might be introduced.

asked the Prime Minister what communications he has had with the illegal Rhodesian régime about recent developments regarding Rhodesia.

I have nothing to add to what I said in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend on 14th October, 1969.—[Vol. 788, c. 206–9.]

asked the Prime Minister what recent consultations he has had with the National Economic Development Council with regard to promoting investment in manufacturing industries.

This has been one of the main issues discussed at the last two meetings of the National Economic Development Council on the consultations with industry on the Economic Assessment to 1972.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received from the Breconshire County Council about the procuring of water by means other than those which involve land used for agricultural, religious, cultural and social purposes; if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission or similar body to examine alternative methods of securing water; and if he will meanwhile withhold approval from proposals submitted by river authorities in Brecon and Radnor.

The Council wrote to me and to my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Wales and the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on 2nd December.As stated in the reply to the Council, the Water Resources Board already has responsibility for studying all methods of augmenting water supplies including the possibility of estuary conservation. But my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales must continue to consider proposals for water supply in the shorter term in the light of need and other relevant considerations.

asked the Prime Minister if he will seek to extend the examination of departmental statistical returns being made by the Survey Control Unit within the Central Statistical Office to cover other forms and questionnaires including those issued by local authorities.

Not at present. The unit is fully occupied in its present field but I would not rule out the possibility of some extension at a later date.

asked the Prime Minister what progress was made in 1969 to implement the Government's policy of decentralisation.

If the hon. Lady is referring to the dispersal of Govern- ment work from London, the transfer of 1,600 jobs had been completed by the autumn; I expect the total for the year to be about 2,000. If she is referring to transfers of statutory functions to my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and for Wales, which took effect in 1969, I would refer the hon. Lady to S.I. 1969, Nos. 383, 388, 1067 and 1498.

asked the Prime Minister if he will introduce legislation to make New Year's Day an official public holiday in England and Wales.

There are no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister what recent representations he has received from Heads of Government of countries East of Suez about the intention to remove a British military presence from the Persian Gulf and South-East Asia after 1971; and what replies he has sent.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 4th December, —[Vol. 792, c. 368–9.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will nominate one Minister to whom all questions concerning matters to be considered by the Royal Commission on Environment can be addressed.

All general questions are for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning. But Questions relating to a matter within the specific field of responsibility of a particular Minister should be addressed to that Minister.

asked the Prime Minister, if he will place in the Library a copy of his speech made on Saturday, 10th January, at Swansea, on environmental problems.

I did so, on 13th January.

asked the Prime Minister, what offer of aid he has made to the Federal Government of Nigeria; and what reply he has received from the Head of State, General Gowon.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement I made in the House yesterday.—[Vol. 794, c. 34–40.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the transcript of his interview on B.B.C. Panorama on Monday 12th January.

A copy was placed in the Library on 13th January.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he has received on behalf of retirement pensioners about the 10 per cent. increase in coal prices due to take effect from 19th January; and what action he intends to take to ensure that elderly people are able to afford the warmth they need during the severe winter months ahead.

I have received several letters from members of the public on this matter. As my hon. Friend will be aware, retirement pensions and supplementary pensions scale rates were raised in November, 1969, and provided about a fifth more purchasing power than when the Government took office. Supplementary pen- sioners also receive the 10s. long-term addition and the Supplementary Benefits Commission continues to pay additional allowances to supplementary pensioners where extra fuel requirements arise because of exceptional circumstances and cannot be met from the long-term addition.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total value of subsidies paid to the Cornish fishing industry, and fishermen operating boats from Newlyn in each of the past four years.

The cost of extracting detailed figures would be excessive, but it is estimated that subsidy payments in respect of boats normally landing at Cornish ports are running at about £60,000 a year, of which a little over two-thirds is in respect of boats normally landing at Newlyn.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total value of grants and loans made through the White Fish Authority for boats and equipment to the Cornish fishing industry and to fishermen operating from Newlyn/Penzance during the past four years.

This is a matter for the White Fish Authority which has agreed to forward this information to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that there have been 11 increases in the price of bread in the past nine years, and that the latest 10 per cent. increase in the price of the smaller loaf as against 5 per cent. for the larger size will bring in an additional £10 million per annum to the industry; and, in view of the fact that 70 per cent. of the total sales are controlled by five major bakery groups to what extent his Department investigated and took into account the financial position of these groups before agreeing to the recent price increase.

I am aware of the bread price changes that have taken place in the last decade and of the revenue yield of each to the industry. As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for King's Lynn (Mr. Derek Page) on 19th December.—[Vol. 793, c. 425–6.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why he has refused to allow experimental crossing by the use of two American Yorkshire boars, now in this country, on certain Large White sows in selected pedigree herds, in view of the recommendations made to him by the National Pig Breeders Association and the Animal Breeding Research Organisation that further tests are desirable.

Since the Large White Breed Council of the National Pig Breeders Association informed us that it had decided not to proceed with its proposal to use Yorkshire boars in pedigree herds, a final decision was not called for. I have written to the hon. Member on this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why, in view of the recommendations of the Animal Breeding Research Organisation, the Meat Livestock Commission and the National Agricultural Advisory Service, he has taken no action on last September's application by the National Pig Breeders Association for official release of the British Hampshire pig as a recognised breed; and if he will hasten a decision in view of the fact that this delay is causing financial loss among quality pig breeders.

Since the application was received in September, we have been in correspondence with the Hampshire breeders through the National Pig Breeders Association about the rules they have adopted for the breed which have a direct bearing on the licensing of boars. Their revised rules were sent to us as recently as 5th December and my Department and the Department of Agriculture for Scotland will shortly be in touch with the association. I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food on how many occasions and on what dates his working party on performance standards for boar licences has held meetings; what progress has been made; when he expects it to report; and if he will make a statement.

Since the two meetings of the working party on 27th September and 18th October, 1968, my right hon. Friend and my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland have concluded that the prescription of performance standards for boar licensing could not be examined further without a complete review of sire licensing. This review was announced on 6th November last in reply to a question by the hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) and is being carried out in consultation with the interests concerned. We regard these wider consultations as overtaking the discussions in the working party.—[Vol. 790, c. 170.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food by what percentage figure he estimates the costs of handing sugar beet to the British Sugar Beet factory in Bury St. Edmunds have increased over the last year; to what he attributes this increase; and what steps he is taking to recoup sugar beet growers.

Estimates of increases in production costs are made for the purposes of Annual Reviews and are taken into account then along with all other relevant factors. Figures showing the effect of cost increases arising since the 1969 Review will become available in March following the completion of the 1970 Annual Review, but it is not possible at this stage to make a precise estimate of the kind requested.

asked the Attorney General what is the basis for selection of members of the public who are permitted to view Cabinet and other secret papers, to which the Public Record Act, 1958, applies, before the 30-year period has expired; and how many persons have been granted this concession since the 1958 Act came into force.

Section 5(4) of the Public Records Act, 1958, enables the Keeper of the Public Records, when authorised to do so by the Department whose records are concerned, to permit a person to inspect records to which the public have not yet been given access. In no case are secret papers inspected under this power before that classification is removed. 489 persons have inspected records under this power since 1st January 1959. In addition to the scholars and historians who are authorised to inspect records under this section, Departments authorise the Keeper to permit the Press to inspect records about to be released under the Thirty-Year Rule.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service in what circumstances the rules of the Service permit an executive officer in the Department of Health and Social Security, who has sought and failed to obtain authority to publish or disclose information which he believes is being unnecessarily withheld from the public, to lay the matter before a Member of Parliament.

The disclosure of official information without authority would naturally include such disclosure to a Member of Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning what was the annual estimated contribution in income terms to the economy of Cornwall in 1968 from agriculture, tourism, fishing, the extractive industries, and transport and distribution.

There are no available statistics about the aggregate incomes generated in Cornwall by different economic activities.

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning what was the total expenditure in the Penfiane, St. Ives. St. Mary's and Helston employment areas, and in Cornwall generally, on all forms of regional development assistance in 1967 and 1968.

This information is not readily available and could not be obtained without considerable cost. For figures of the cost of Government assistance to industry for the South Western development area as a whole I would refer to the reply which I gave on 5th December to a question by the hon. Member for Cornwall, North (Mr. Pardoe).—[Vol. 792, c. 391–2.]

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what progress has been made in the provision of an efficient heating system in Government buildings in Ashington, Northumberland; when the promised scheme of insulation will commence; and whether he will make a statement.

Alterations to the heating system in these premises have already been made; the installation is now under regular supervision to ensure that they are effective. Work will be put in hand within a few weeks to improve the insulation of the building.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what is his latest estimate of the number of children attending secondary schools in Scotland in each of the next five years;(2) what is his latest estimate of the number of teachers in secondary schools, and the staff-pupil ratio, in each of the next five years.

As regards numbers of teachers likely to be available I would refer the hon. Member to my reply of 2nd July. Since then I have revised the forecasts of numbers of pupils on which the estimates of teacher demand were based. The revised estimates of pupil numbers, and the resulting pupil/teacher ratios, are as follows:

	Pupils	Pupil/teacher ratio
1970	322,000	15·4:1
1971	333,400	15·4:1
1972	342,600	15·3:1
1973	361,500	15·6:1
1974	391,200	16·4:1

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many guns are licensed in Scotland; and if he will take steps to halt the traffic in them.

At the end of 1968, the number of persons holding firearm certificates in Scotland was 39,780 and the number holding shotgun certificates was 69,748. Dealings in firearms are strictly controlled under the Firearms Act, 1968, and the amnesties proclaimed in 1965 and 1968 for the return of weapons not covered by certificates will have reduced the number of firearms which might find their way into an illegal traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland on which occasions police are issued with arms; whether he is satisfied with the arrangements for equipping them with arms when they are needed; and whether he will make a statement.

It is for chief constables to determine on which occasions firearms should be provided to policemen and to make the appropriate arrangements for their issue. In accordance with the assurance I gave to the Scottish Police Federation on 8th January, I am arranging to discuss with chief constables the arrangements for issuing arms when they are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what additional help he proposes to give to retirement pensioners to meet rising fuel costs, particularly since the 10 per cent. increase in coal prices due to take effect from 19th January;(2) what proposals he has to enable retirement pensioners to meet increased fuel costs in the light of the 10 per cent. increase in the cost of coal due to take effect from 19th January; and what is the estimated cost of these proposals in a financial year.