asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether she will now make a statement on the proposals made to Her Majesty's Government by Lord Robens for an interim settlement of the Malta problem; and at what time and on what date these were made to her by Lord Robens.

The proposals, which are confidential, are still under discussion. They were received by my Ministry on 8th December, and not, as I apologise for telling the House previously, on 9th December.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list the non-industrial projects in developing countries assisted by her Department in 1969, stating in each case the nature of the project, the sum involved in 1969, the cost of the project when completed, the country in which the project has been undertaken, and the nature of the assistance.

FLOW OF OFFICIAL AND PRIVATE FINANCIAL RESOURCES TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES AND PERFORMANCE AS A PERCENTAGE OF GNP—1964 TO 1968
£ million
			1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
GROSS OFFICIAL FLOWS
Bilateral
Grants	…	…	84·5	93·8	92·0	97·0	93·2
Loans	…	…	85·9	74·7	93·2	83·8	86·8
GDC Investment	…	…	8·6	10·1	8·4	8·5	11·4
Multilateral
Grants	…	…	16·9	18·6	19·9	19·2	18·8
Loans	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
TOTAL	…	…	194·8	197·3	213·6	208·4	210·6
LESS AMORTIZATION	…	…	18·3	24·0	30·3	29·4	31·2
NET OFFICIAL FLOWS TOTAL	…	…	176·5	173·3	183·3	179·0	178·5
NET PRIVATE FLOWS
Investment	…	…	99·0	157·0	95·0	75·0	79·0
Guaranteed Export Credits	…	…	51·3	38·3	48·3	64·4	63·1
TOTAL	…	…	150·3	195·3	143·3	139·4	142·1
NET PRIVATE AND OFFICIAL FLOWS TOTAL		…	326·8	368·6	326·6	318·4	320·6
TOTALS AS PERCENTAGE OF GNP
Net Official Flows	…	…	0·53	0·48	0·48	0·45	0·42
Net Private Flows	…	…	0·45	0·54	0·38	0·35	0·33
Net Official and Private Flows	…	…	0·97	1·03	0·86	0·79	0·75

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him earlier today.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will list the individual projects in developing countries assisted by her Department in 1969, stating in each case the nature of the project, the sum involved in 1969, the cost of the project when completed, the country in which the project has been undertaken and the nature of the assistance.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave him earlier today.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will tabulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the British aid programme in 1969, and the equivalent figures for each of the previous five years, indicating the total value of multilateral and bilateral aid, and the amounts of loans and grants and expressing the total of public and private aid, respectively, and in total, as a percentage of the gross national product.

The 1969 figures are not yet complete; the remaining figures are:

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will give the main details of the financial arrangements recently made with representatives of the Gibraltar Government.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 8th December.—[Vol. 793; c. 23–5.] I am making £4 million available for the following purposes:

	£ million
Social Development (Housing Education Medical)	3
Economic Development (Tourism and Port)	1

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make it a condition of all overseas

BRITISH GOVERNMENT BILATERAL DISBURSEMENTS OF AID TO SOUTH VIETNAM
To nearest £'000
	Calendar Years					Current Estimate for Financial Year
	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969–70
Technical Assistance under the Colombo Plan	8	16	96	132	275	190
Financial Aid Grants	8	19	38	16	75	140
Police Training (British Advisory Mission	64	36	52	70	62	68
	80	72	186	217	412	398
Persons financed bilaterally from public funds recruited in Britain 1964 to 1968:
	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
	2	2	13	14	27
Arrivals of Students and Trainees from South Vietnam financed bilaterally from public funds:
	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
	10	23	9	16	3

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the total of overseas aid in direct grant and loan made by the British Government to all overseas nations in 1964, 1966 and 1968; and what proportion of this money it is estimated was spent on British exports.

Direct bilateral aid plus investment by the Commonwealth Development Corporation, for the years in question was as follows:

	£ million
1964	177·7
1966	188·6
1968	184·7

All relevant factors including our trading relations are taken into account in dealing with aid allocations to particular countries.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a statement on the aid programme for South Vietnam.

Aid provided by my Department to South Vietnam under bilateral arrangements, which is wholly civilian, amounts to an estimated expenditure of £330,000 in the course of the current financial year, exclusive of £68,000 provided for police training provided by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.Of each £100 of this aid in 1964–66, £72·5 was tied to British goods or otherwise resulted in direct spending on British goods and services. Part of this may, however, have been spent on goods which would have been purchased from the United Kingdom in any case, thus liberating foreign exchange of which the recipients will tend to spend only a part in the United Kingdom. The rest included the expenditure of technical assistance personnel in developing countries and budgetary aid which could not be identified with direct purchases in the United Kingdom. There is no reason to suppose that the pattern was markedly different in 1966–68.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will list the pay awards over the last three months which have exceeded the norms laid down in the prices and incomes policy, indicating in each case the percentage increase.

Information supplied under the early warning system is confidential. I can, however, compile a list of major settlements, details of which have been given publicity. A bare summary of such settlements suitable for publication in the OFFICIAL REPORT would be misleading because the percentage increases relate to different periods, have different effects on the rates, earnings and hours of those concerned, and are justified for a variety of reasons. I will, however, write to my hon. Friend giving him full details of these major settlements.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will now publish a White Paper prior to the introduction of an Industrial Relations Bill.

Consultations on the Government's proposals are proceeding, and I have nothing to add to my right hon. Friends reply to the hon. Member's supplementary question on 4th December, 1969.—[Vol. 792, c. 1677–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the percentage of unemployed in the Folkestone Employment Exchange area.

At 12th January, 1970, the provisional percentage rate of unemployment in the Folkestone, Hythe and New Romney travel-to-work area was 5·8.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on the unemployment position in Lancaster.

The current rate of unemployment in the Lancaster travel-to-work area—4·0 per cent., provisional—is appreciably higher than that for the region or Great Britain as a whole, but there is a significant seasonal element in this. There is a possibility of some further redundancies in the area, but the decision to start building work on the Heysham Power Station this summer should have a marked effect on the employment situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity why, in view of the many examples of company directors regularly increasing their salaries by more than 3½ per cent. contrary to the Government's prices and incomes policy, she has investigated only seven of such cases.

Increases in individual salaries are not normally covered by the voluntary early warning arrangements. We make inquiries about individual increases which come to our attention where this seems appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will refer the pay claims of the teachers, the nurses, the policemen, the Ford motor car workers, and all other major pay claims currently being advanced to the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

Pay claims and settlements are referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes when this is appropriate. It would not be a profitable use of the Board's resources to refer all major claims and settlements regardless of the circumstances of the case.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she proposes to set up a court of inquiry into the dispute at Centrax Limited.

My officers have had discussions with the parties. I am keeping in close touch with developments, in the light of which I shall review the need for further action.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will withhold her approval for the Construction Industry Training Board's proposed levy on electrical contractors in Scotland, in view of the burden imposed on part of the Scottish construction industry, which already makes a major contribution in training.

When the Board's proposals, which I understand are expected to be finalised today, are submitted for my right hon. Friend's approval, all the relevant factors will be considered, including the views expressed by the industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is her estimate of the average increase in costs for electrical contractors in Scotland resulting from the present proposals of the Construction Industry Training Board to increase substantially the levy payable by them.

The Board's present proposals represent an overall increase of about 40 per cent. in the annual levy demand from the industry as a whole. I am unable to estimate precisely the effect on electrical contractors in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on her consultations with the Trades Union Congress and other organisations over the last month concerning the pay of lower-paid public servants in the context of her prices and incomes policy.

My right hon. Friend is anxious to press ahead as soon as she can with references to the N.B.P.I. covering groups of low-paid workers. Unfortunately, the consultations referred to by the hon. Member are not yet completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity the number of days lost to industry in respect of strikes, lock-outs, industrial accidents and illness given in major categories, including influenza and rheumatism, broken down by sex.

Following is the latest information available for comparable dates:

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES (UNITED KINGDOM)
	Working days lost in all stoppages in progress
Year ending 31st May, 1968	4,748,000

SICKNESS AND INDUSTRIAL INJURY (GREAT BRITAIN)
	Days of certified incapacity
Year ending 1st June, 1968 (provisional):
Sickness	328 million
Industrial injury	23 million
Days of incapacity due to sickness and industrial injury are analysed below a groups of illness:

	Days (million)
	Males	Females
Sickness
Mental, psycho-neurotic and personality disorders	20	10
Diseases of the nervous system and sense organs	19	5
Diseases of the circulatory system	32	6
Diseases of the respiratory system:
Influenza	12	3
Other	53	11
Diseases of the digestive system	21	5
Diseases of the bones and other organs of movement:
Rheumatism	4	1
Other	20	6
Accidents and poisonings other than those which attracted benefit under the Industrial Injuries Acts	23	4
All other causes	47	26
Industrial Injury
Accidents and prescribed industrial diseases	21	3

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total number of employment exchanges in England and Wales in each of the following years, 1919, 1929, 1939, 1949, 1959 and 1969.

Employment exchanges have been established in all cities and in the larger towns. Smaller towns are served by other full-time local offices which provide substantially the same service.The number of employment exchanges and other local offices in England and Wales for the following years are listed below. Details for 1919 are not available.

Year	Employment Exchanges	Other full-time offices	Total
1919	Information not available
1929	365	631	996
1939	438	613	1,051
1949	852	78	930
1959	777	94	871
1969	748	100	848

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total number of employment exchanges in Scotland in each of the following years 1919, 1929, 1939, 1949, 1959 and 1969.

Employment exchanges have been established in all cities and in the larger towns. Small towns are served by other full time local offices which provide substantially the same service.The number of employment exchanges and other local offices in Scotland for the following years is listed below. Details for 1919 are not available.

Year	Employment Exchanges	Other full-time offices	Total
1919	Information not available
1929	52	121	173
1939	64	107	171
1949	128	44	172
1959	124	24	148
1969	113	30	143

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many training centres are available for training and retraining in Nottinghamshire; and if she will consider increasing the number in view of the need to deal with unemployment in the country.

There are no Government training centres actually situated in Nottinghamshire. The need for further centres is kept under constant review but at present demand in the area for the accelerated training for skill provided in such centres is satisfactorily served by the existing Centres at Long Eaton and Sheffield. Most of the training or retraining required by unemployed workers is at semi-skilled operator level and this is best given by their new employers.My hon. Friend will be aware that in the parts of Nottinghamshire which are shortly to be designated an intermediate area direct government training grants are now available to firms which train workers for new jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity upon what data she based her estimate that 1,000 new jobs were likely to be created in the Weymouth area in manufacturing industry in the next four years and that about half of them would he for males; and if she will make a statement.

These were jobs expected to arise within the next four years in authorised new industrial buildings and in existing buildings taken over by manufacturing firms as estimated by the regional office of the Department of Employment and Productivity. However, the estimate is now 700, reflecting a decrease in the employment expected from two projects.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action he is taking to counteract the growing shortage of mathematics and science teachers in schools, in view of the Swann Report, Command Paper No. 3760, 1968, and the Dainton Report, Command Paper No. 3541, 1968.

My right hon. Friend has encouraged the provision in the training institutions of places for graduate and non-graduate mathematicians and scientists. He is conducting an advertising campaign designed to interest mathematics and science graduates in teaching as a career. The Department has contacts with university appointments boards and has collaborated in running meetings at many universities designed to inform undergraduate and graduate scientists about modern methods of science teaching.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will seek powers to control the hours of opening of voluntary youth clubs to which he gives a capital grant.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will ensure that the Open University is available to those who cannot receive B.B.C. 2.

The university hopes to equip local study centres, where necessary, with facilities for showing recorded television programmes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why he proposes to impose a five years' post-diploma course on teachers of mentally handicapped pupils before they are granted qualified status.

I think my hon. Friend has in mind my right hon. Friend's decision to give qualified teacher status in the technical sense of the term to holders of the Diploma of the Training Council for Teachers of the Mentally Handicapped for teaching mentally handicapped children on completion of 5 years satisfactory post-Diploma experience, there is no question of a 5 years course as implied by my hon. Friend. They will, of course, be recognised as qualified to teach the mentally handicapped during this period. As my right hon. Friend explained on 19th January to the hon. Member for Norfolk, South (Mr. J. E. B. Hill) his decision was based on a comparison of the minimum level of entry qualification, the length, content, breadth and standard of the one and two-year diploma courses with those of the three-year college of education course. He took into account also the views of the large number of professional bodies which he had consulted.—[Vol. 794, c. 44, 45.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is now the procedure for pupils in secondary schools, who have attained the age of 18 years, when they wish to withdraw from religious education.

It is open to the parents of pupils at any age to request that they be excused from attendance at religious worship and/or instruction.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the ratio of graduate mathematics and science teachers to pupils in maintained secondary schools in each of the last five years.

The ratios over the latest five-year period for which figures were available were:

31st March
1964	1:179
1965	1:176
1966	1:167
1967	1:162
1968	1:162

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average number of graduate teachers in mathematics and science per school in comprehensive schools and grammar schools, respectively.

On 31st March, 1968, the average numbers were 5·0 for maintained comprehensive schools and 8·7 for maintained grammar schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what has been the average increase in school building costs in England and Wales since cost limits were last raised in June, 1966;(2) what has been the increase in school building costs in the Greater London and other South-East regions since cost limits were last raised in June, 1966.

The index of the cost of new construction published by the Ministry of Public Building and Works shows an increase of approximately nine per cent. between the third quarter of 1966 and the second quarter of 1969. No separate index of school building costs is maintained and during the period in question all new schools have been designed and built to conform with cost limits which apply uniformly to England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why in the White Paper on Public Expenditure, Command Paper No. 4234, the estimated rate of increase for education in 1972–73 and 1973–74 is less than in the previous three years.

As the White Paper itself makes clear in paragraphs 33 and 35 the figures shown for 1972–73 and 1973–74 are provisional and may be expected to change as programmes are rolled forward. They are therefore not comparable with the figures for earlier years, which are the outcome of firm Government decisions on expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many pupils, at the latest convenient date, have left their primary school and their secondary school, respectively, unable to read; by what criteria the inspectorate measures ability to read; whether he is satisfied that colleges of education teach students how to teach reading; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to his Question of 6th February, 1969. A further survey of reading ability will be carried out this year, covering pupils of 11 and 15 years of age. The teaching of reading forms an important part of the college of education curriculum which is under constant surveillance and I know that colleges have been giving increasing attention to this subject.—[Vol. 777, c. 140.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what assistance Messrs. Eric Rawstron and Byran Coates, authors of a book on the educational geography of Great Britain, sought from his Department in preparing this work; and what assistance they received; and if he has given their findings any official backing.

Apart from a general discussion between officials of my Department, and Mr. Rawstron in 1966, prior to the commencement of this study, no other assistance has been sought or given. The findings have not received any official backing.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of nursery schools built and school places made available for each year since 1960; and what further plans he has to build sufficient nursery schools to lower the starting age in the next five years.

The provision for under 5's available in each of the years since 1960 is as follows:

	Maintained Nursery Schools		Maintained Primary Schools
	Number of Schools	Number of Pupils*	number of pupils under 5 (excluding rising 5s)
January
1960	454	22,877	69,457
1961	453	22,810	68,501
1962	455	23,075	72,161
1963	458	23,273	55,235
1964	460	23,672	63,622
1965	461	23,914	83,251
1966	462	23,939	69,182
1967	464	24,232	74,285
1968	467	24,315	86,110
1969	470	24,705	81,373
* Part-time pupils have been counted as half.

The nursery schools and classes already approved in the first two phases of the Urban Programme will yield well over 10,000 additional nursery places in socially deprived areas, and, if used for part-time attendance, will provide for over 20,000 additional pupils. Further progress will be made as fast as resources allow.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has now studied the evidence submitted by the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley, that there is recruiting in this country of British nationals by Arab organisations with the object of sabotaging El Al airliners at London Airport; and what action he proposes to take or has taken in connection with those involved.

The information has been referred to the police. Proceedings which have been taken for illegal possession of an explosive device arise from the same set of circumstances. Other aspects are still being investigated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will refuse entry to, or deport as undesirable aliens, members of militant Arab groups establishing premises in London to continue their activities against Israel and British people friendly to that country.

Facilities are not knowingly granted to foreign nationals to enter or stay if their purpose is to engage in violence, but neither is the Aliens Order administered so as to fetter the legitimate expression of political opinions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations have been made to him in the past year by hon. Members concerning alleged obscene or pornographic literature and publications; and what further action he is taking in the light of such representations.

In 1969, 299 letters from 197 hon. Members about allegedly obscene material were received. Of these, 229 letters concerned circulars advertising three books. All three books have been considered by the Director of Public Prosecutions and one of them and the circular advertising it are the subject of criminal proceedings. My right hon. Friend is considering what further action can be taken.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain reports from chief constables on the compilation by police officers of photographic records of people taking part in political demonstrations.

The decision whether to take a particular photograph and what to do with it, if taken, is a matter within the discretion of the chief officer of police concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the serious and often fatal consequences of inadequate labelling of textiles used for children's night clothes; if he will introduce legislation to strengthen the law on safety labelling; and if he will make a statement.

There would be great practical difficulties in requiring such materials sold by the piece to be labelled if not flame-resistant. No materials are marketed solely for the purpose; and some do not have a selvedge on which a warning could be printed. A good deal of publicity is promoted by safety and consumer organisations and by the Home Office to inform the public as to which are the safer materials, and on the importance of using fireguards. Retailers are also cooperating by offering advice to their customers. All children's nightdresses on sale in this country are required to be made from flame-resistant material.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him by municipal corporations concerning arcades where amusements with prizes are provided either by means of machines or prize bingo, that the allowing of appeals by the courts does not take account of the assessment of social needs by which the discretion of local authorities was exercised; and what steps he proposes to take.

My right hon. Friend has received representations from nine local authorities to this effect. The Association of Municipal Corporations recently sent further information which he is considering.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the response by municipal authorities to the request made by him to collect information about the social effects of arcades where amusements with prizes are provided either by means of machines or prize bingo.

The increase in the number of these arcades is a recent development and municipal authorities have not as yet been able to collect much information about their social effects, but my right hon. Friend proposes to keep in close touch with the Association of Municipal Corporations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to provide for two electoral registers in each year; and if he will make a statement.

This is a matter in which it is appropriate for legislative change to be based on recommendations by a Speaker's Conference, and my right hon. Friend is not convinced that there are sufficient grounds for re-opening the issue following the Conference of 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain reports from chief constables about the photographing by police of those involved in public demonstrations; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to substitute for the death penalty a fixed maximum/minimum period of imprisonment to be altered only by a panel of judges.

As my right hon. Friend told the House during the debate on capital punishment on 16th December, he proposes to invite the Criminal Law Revision Committee to review the law of offences against the person, including homicide. This will afford an opportunity for a review of the penalties in the light of the recent decision of Parlia- ment to give permanent effect to the Act abolishing the death penalty.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to increase penalties for those who carry arms when engaged in unlawful occasions.

The maximum penalties available, which extend to life imprisonment for the more serious offences, are already severe. The question of which penalty is appropriate in a particular case, is for the courts to determine.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will seek powers to enable him to set up an independent inquiry into the methods by which British Railways seek to cope with winter weather conditions.

No. It is the responsibility of the Railways Board to find the most effective way of dealing with the operational problems caused by bad weather. I do not think that an independent inquiry would be likely to help.

asked the Minister of Transport in view of the fact that there has been an increase in the number of accidents on the roads in the South-West, Devon and Cornwall, what action he proposes to take to improve the roads in 1970.

In the four South-Western counties of Somerset, Dorset, Devon and Cornwall there has been only a marginal increase in the number of personal injury accidents in 1969 compared with 1968.During 1970 work is expected to start on motorway, trunk and principal road schemes in these counties to a total value of some f16 million.

asked the Minister of Transport whether he can now give a firm date for the work to start on reconstruction of Elton Moss Bridge in the parish of Elton, originally planned to start early in December, 1969.

I am advised by the British Waterways Board that a contract has been let and that work is expected to start in the course of the next few days.

asked the Minister of Transport what is his estimate of the cost involved in preparing the Worcester-Wolverhampton-South of Stafford Trunk Road (Green Lane, Worcester, Side Road) Order 1969, including administrative costs and costs of all the correspondence that has taken place on this subject.

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

asked the Minister of Transport what was the average daily number of deaths on the roads between 23rd December, 1969, and 2nd January, 1970, inclusive; and what was the average daily number during the rest of 1969.

Final figures have not been reported yet since all deaths occurring within 30 days of an accident are included. I will write to the hon. Member when the figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what has been the cost of newspaper advertising for recruits for the Ulster Defence Regiment; how many forms contained as part of newspaper advertisements have been completed and returned to recruiting offices; how many people have applied to join the Ulster Defence Regiment; and how many have been accepted.

Newspaper advertisements have cost £5,000; 646 inquiry forms have been completed and returned; 1,354 applications have been received but none have yet been accepted as the screening of applicants necessarily takes time. All figures relate to 20th January.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why a foreign ship was chartered to ferry supplies, transport and ammunition to 45 Royal Marine Commando on exercises in Norway; and whether he will ensure that such exercises are in future serviced by British ships.

The Service vessel which had been planned to ferry these items to Norway had to be withdrawn for another purpose. To meet the requirement a British cargo ship was chartered. This ship was delayed and alternative arrangements had to be made at short notice. A British ship would have been used had a suitable one been available.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the failure to supply adequately from Great Britain 45 Royal Marine Commando now on exercises in Norway.

The Commando carried with it sufficient supplies for initial requirements; further stores have been flown and shipped from the United Kingdom and no major problems have arisen from the slight delay in the planned time of arrival of the stores.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence on what date a squadron of Royal Navy helicopters was due to join 45 Royal Marine Commando on exercises in Norway; when they are now expected to arrive; and what is the reason for the delay.

These helicopters, which were originally due in Norway on Thursday, 15th January, arrived there by the following Monday. It was necessary to make revised arrangements for their transport, after the vessel planned to carry out this task had to be withdrawn for another purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what were the reasons for his decision to allocate work on the PPD fuze to the Royal Ordnance Factory, at Blackburn.

This decision was made for several good reasons. The R O.F., Blackburn, is a modern, well-equipped fuze factory with a highly skilled labour force and experienced management. It has been working for some time with the Royal Armament Research and Development Establishment on the development of this new fuze.I am satisfied that this combination is competent to develop and produce the new fuze efficiently at prices which hold promise of substantial export earnings. In these circumstances, in accordance with the preferred source policy, the right decisior is undoubtedly to allocate the work to R.O.F., Blackburn.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will now announce which firm was successful in obtaining the contract for the construction of the second stage from Nantgarw to Glyntaff of the new Cardiff to Merthyr trunk road, A470.

Tenders are still under consideration but I expect to be able to announce the name of the successful tenderer shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for speeding up the extension of the M4 west of Newport, Monmouthshire.

I would draw my hon. Friend's attention to my replies on 28th February, 1969, and 25th March, 1969, to the hon. Member for Carmarthen. —[Vol. 778, c. 396; Vol. 780, c. 291–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the cost per week of mortgage repayments on an average-priced house in Wales in 1964 and 1969, respectively.

This information, the main source of which would of course be the building societies, is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what was the average council house weekly rent in Wales in 1964; and what is it today or at the last date for which the figure is available.

In 1963–64 the average weekly council house rent—excluding rates—in Wales was £1 9s. 0d.: and in 1967–68—the latest date for which comprehensive information is available —it was £1 15s. 0d.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many miles of motorway have been planned and started in Wales since 1965.

I have nothing to add to the replies given to the hon. Member on 25th March, 1969, and to my hon. Friend the Member for Rhondda West (Mr. Alec Jones) on 4th November, 1969.—[Vol. 780, c. 291–2; Vol. 790, c. 123–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what further representations he has received about the case for a development bank for Wales; and whether he will make a statement.

The Wales Regional Council of the C.B.I. has recently conveyed to me its support in principle for any venture which could lead to the greater availability of capital and assist industrial development in Wales. I have asked the C.B.I. to keep me informed of the progress of its detailed examination of this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what recent representations he has received about the exclusion of South-East Monmouthshire from the Welsh Development Area; and what reply he has sent.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State received a deputation from local authorities in South-East Monmouthshire on 21st November, 1969, who pressed for the area to be scheduled as an intermediate area. My hon. Friend explained the broad criteria for scheduling such areas and said that, while it had not been possible to accord this status to South-East Monmouthshire, the problems of the area would be kept under close review.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will invite the Heads of Government of the Common Market and the European Free Trade Area to a joint meeting in London.

I have no plans to do so. We are in constant touch with our E.F.T.A. partners through the regular metings of the E.F.T.A. Council and the twice-yearly Ministerial meetings.

asked the Prime Minister when he will seek to call a Commonwealth Prime Ministers' Conference.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a Question by my hon. Friend, the Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 16th October, 1969.—[Vol. 788, c. 600–1.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will consider calling a meeting of European Heads of Government with a view to initiating a European Peace and Security conference.

I have nothing at this stage to add to what my right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary said in the debate on 9th December.—[Vol. 793, c. 263–5.]

asked the Prime Minister what recent discussions he has had with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress with regard to measure to improve the balance of payments; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a Question by him on Tuesday.—[Vol. 794, c. 253–5.]

asked the Prime Minister what are the responsibilities of the Minister of State, and Minister of Housing and Local Government relating to sport in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland has statutory responsibility for these matters in Scotland under the Physical Training and Recreation Act, 1937. My hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government has special responsibility for sport in Great Britain as a whole, and where this relates to Scotland, he acts in consultation with my right hon. Friend.

asked the Prime Minister why Lord Hunt has gone to Nigeria as the Prime Minister's representative and not as representing the Crown.

As Lord Hunt accompanied me on my visit to Nigeria last year in order to advise me on relief questions, it was natural, with the consent of the Federal Government, to ask him to return to Nigeria in a similar capacity now.

asked the Prime Minister if the public statement on 16th January by the Minister of Transport on the proposed one shilling, 5p, minimum fare on the London Underground represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many quarantine kennels there are in the County of Essex; and how often each is inspected.

There are four quarantine premises in Essex approved under the Importation of Cats and Dogs Order, 1928. These, like all other approved quarantine premises, are subject to quarterly inspections by veterinary officers of my Department and additional special visits as required.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now announce a decision on the levy and other proposals made to him by the White Fish Authority.

My right hon. Friends and I have decided, after full consideration of the objections received and after consultation with the Authority, that the General Levy Regulations and the Publicity Scheme should be confirmed with modifications. The main changes which we are making are that the basic rate of general levy will be reduced from the proposed rate to 1·2d. a stone and that there will be certain exclusions from liability to levy. The details are being given to the industry. An order confirming the General Levy Regulations with effect from 15th February and a draft order to confirm the Publicity Scheme will shortly be laid before the House. Consultations are taking place with the Authority on the Minimum Prices Scheme for Scotland and Northern Ireland, which we have approved in principle, and a further announcement will be made as soon as possible.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many additional jobs have been created in the Penzance-St. Ives-St. Mary's and Helston employment areas, and in Cornwall generally, by the movement of Government offices or agencies to these areas since 1966.

None, although construction of a Composite Signals Organisation Station at Bude is well advanced and will employ about 150 staff by 1971, a fair proportion of whom it is hoped to recruit locally. In moving offices and agencies, the Government takes account of two main factors, its policy towards regional development and the effect of location on the operational efficiency of the departments concerned. Cornwall, as with other development areas, is considered in the normal course for the location of a Government office move.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps Her Majesty's Government now intend to take to ratify the agreement establishing the Caribbean Development Bank.

As hon. Members will be aware, the agreement was laid before Parliament on 18th November, 1969. In order to enable the United Kingdom to participate with full voting rights in an inaugural meeting of the Governors of the Bank which is expected to take place on 31st January, Her Majesty's Government intend to deposit the instrument of ratification before that date. However, in doing so they intend to declare that they will not be able to grant in the United Kingdom the immunities, exemptions and privileges specified in the Agreement until such time as appropriate legislation—which will be laid before Parliament in due course—shall have been enacted.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will now give details of increases in financial loss allowance, subsistence allowance, and travel allowance, under the Local Government Act, 1948.

The increases will be brought into effect shortly by regulations which my right hon. Friend is making and I will send my hon. Friend copies as soon as they are available.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how the number of houses in the County Borough of Huddersfield compares with the national figures on the number of dwellings without a fixed bath or inside toilet at the latest available date.

The 1966 sample census showed that there were 10,800 households (23·5 per cent.) in the county borough of Huddersfield without a fixed bath and 9,700 (21·2 per cent.) without an inside water closet. The comparable figures for Great Britain were 2,617,000 (15·4 per cent.) and 3,118,000 (18·4 per cent.) respectively.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total Exchequer subsidy to local authorities in England and Wales in 1968–69; and how this compares with 1963–64.

The total Exchequer grants to local authorities in England and Wales in 1968–69, including housing subsidies but excluding capital grants, was £1,621 million. The corresponding total for 1963–64 was £988 million.The total of capital grants in 1968–69 is not yet available, but in 1967–68 the total amounted to £72 million compared with £27 million in 1963–64.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the estimated amount of the Exchequer grant for rate rebates in 1969–70, and the total number of rate rebates granted in the last available period.

It is estimated that Exchequer grant for rate rebates in England and Wales for 1969–70 will amount to £10 million.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much money the Exchequer made available to the County Borough of Huddersfield for the year 1969–70; and how this compared with 1963–64.

The rate support grants to the County Borough of Huddersfield for 1969–70 are estimated at £4,963,467 compared with £2,599,623 in respect of the corresponding grants in 1963–64. The amounts of capital grants, specific revenue grants and housing subsidies for 1969–70 are not yet known. For 1968–69 these grants and subsidies totalled £676,488 compared with £429,153 for 1963–64. The amounts of police grant included in these totals, £146,000 for 1968–69 and £177,517 for 1963–64, are not comparable because from 1st October, 1968 the grant became payable to the West Yorkshire Police Authority.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what proposals the Huddersfield County Borough has made during the past 12 months for an increase in the house-building programme.

Huddersfield County Borough Council propose to approve tenders for 400 dwellings in 1970 compared with 135 in 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many primary and secondary school children, respectively, are now receiving part-time education; in which areas a shortage of teachers occurs; and what was the comparative position a year ago.

5,037 primary and 3,447 secondary. In January, 1969, the corresponding figures were 4,786 and 2,405. The areas affected are Glasgow, Renfrew-shire, Dunbartonshire, Lanarkshire and Ayrshire. With the exception of Ayrshire the same areas were affected in January, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about nurses' pay.

Negotiations on the pay claim are still proceeding on the Nurses and Widwives Whitley Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the report of the committee studying the effect on commercial subjects of the 1966 rates revaluation.

I hope to have the Committee's Report in the spring.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the average change in rates in 1969–70 for commercial and industrial, and domestic subjects, respectively.

I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave him on 19th January. —[Vol. 794, c. 71.]

asked the Secretary of Stare for Scotland what plans are now being made for the 1971 revaluation of properties in Scotland.

I understand that the local assessors, with whom the statutory responsibility lies are making good progress in preparing for the 1971 revaluation.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many letters and parcels, respectively, were posted during the Christmas period 1969; and how these figures compare with those for the same period in 1968 and 1967.

This is a matter for the Post Office.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many telephones there are per 100 inhabitants in the United Kingdom.

This is a matter for the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many letters of complaint he has received arising from the proposal under the National Insurance (Classification) Amendment Regulations, 1969, to remove from temporary office and other secretarial staff a right to work on a free-lance basis.

The proposed Regulations do not impose changes in the terms on which temporary staff may be employed. They are intended to ensure that employed persons' contributions are paid in respect of temporary staff who work as employed persons. Before the draft Regulations were considered by the National Insurance Advisory Committee details of the proposals were sent to some 1,500 employment agencies. The Committee received 24 representations 17 of which were objections.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reply he has sent to the East Anglian Regional Hospital Board on their preliminary assessment of the effect of implementing the Bonham-Carter Report.

None apart from acknowledgment. No decisions will be taken until I have considered the views of all the bodies I have consulted. As explained in the Prefatory Note to the Bonham-Carter Report there are a number of questions to be thought out before conclusions can be reached on its findings and recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the relationship between the proposals for increases in nurses' pay and the prices and incomes policy.

The White Paper on Productivity, Prices and Incomes Policy after 1969 provides for increases outside the normal range in certain circumstances, and in the Government's view the pay of nurses is a special case calling for the exceptional increase offered by the Management Side of the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of imports and exports have been covered by Commonwealth preference in the last convenient period of 12 months, setting out the comparable figures for 10 and 20 years ago, respectively.

For imports, the proportion in the financial year 1967–68 was about one-seventh, compared with estimates of one-fifth and one quarter respectively for the calendar years 1957 and 1948. Estimates in respect of exports for 1961 and 1948 show pro-

			Imports			Exports and re-exports
			1969	1959	1949	1969	1959	1949
			Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.	Per cent.
Canada	…	…	6	8	10	4	6	4
Australia	…	…	3	5	9	4	6	10
New Zealand		…	3	4	5	2	3	4

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to public funds of preparing, printing and distributing the circular entitled "Tax Rates on Pay and Overtime ".

Approximately £3,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will instruct the Board of Inland Revenue and his own Department not to issue circulars to taxpayers, financed out of public funds, containing contentious material of a political nature relating to levels of taxation.

If the hon. Member is referring to the leaflet "Tax rates on pay

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to require manufacturers of enzyme detergents to print on the packet a warning to consumers of their possible harmful dermatological effects.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which I gave to his two Questions on 19th January, 1970.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what proportion of our imports and exports during the last convenient period of 12 months was transacted with Canada, Australia and New Zealand, respectively, setting out the comparable figures for 10 and 20 years ago, respectively.

Following is the information:and overtime" which is being sent out with P.A.Y.E. coding notices, I do not regard that as either contentious or political.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he is aware that money received by wives in respect of children's maintenance is liable to be taxed at source through the husband and again when received by the wife; and if he will consider exempting such income from tax when received by the wife.

No; there is no double taxation such as my hon. Friend suggests. If he has a particular case in mind and will send me the details I will look into it and will write to him.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the need for students to have rulers, he will consider relieving them from purchase tax.

No. Stationery and office requisites are chargeable with tax and an exception for rulers could not be justified.

asked the Minister of Technology what representations he has received about the need to establish a technological centre for Wales; and what reply he has sent.