asked the Minister of Technology if he will give figures for the average stocks of smokeless fuel held by industry, other than the power industry.

On average, about 1½ weeks' consumption.

asked the Minister of Technology what are the estimated import and export figures for smokeless fuel this year; and what were the figures for the last five years.

About 280,000 tons of domestic solid smokeless fuels were exported in 1969; I regret that exports in earlier years cannot now be separately identified. None has been imported.Exports for 1970 cannot yet be estimated.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the supply of smokeless fuels available for domestic use; and what steps he is taking to improve the position.

Supplies of domestic solid smokeless fuels this winter are generally adequate, but there have been difficulties in some places.We are in close touch with the Ministry of Housing and Local Government, the producers and the trade about supply difficulties.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the progress of his discussions with industry on maritime nuclear propulsion.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is now in a position to announce Her Majesty's Government's policy towards the construction of a prototype nuclear-powered ship.

When the current study of the costs and benefits of a nuclear ship project is completed, it will be possible to consider how best to respond to the interest of hon. Members.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the progress of the Concorde programme.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the current position on the Concorde programme.

The two Concorde prototypes have now completed 200 hours of flight testing, at Mach numbers up to 1·5. Prototype 002 will resume flying shortly in preparation for flight tests at cruising speed. The results of the tests continue to be satisfactory.

asked the Minister of Technology on what dates he authorised the commencement of production and the pre-production models of Concorde.

Work on the preproduction aircraft and the first three production aircraft, all of which are required for the flight test programme, was authorised in August, 1965, and February, 1967, respectively.

asked the Minister of Technology what is now the total expenditure authorised for Concorde.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the total payment to date of Government moneys to the Concorde programme.

The latest basic estimate is now £730 million at October, 1969, prices; identical in money terms with the estimate given to the House on 21st May last. Within this total the United Kingdom share has increased from £340 million to £350 million, of which some £200 million has now been spent. The French share has shown a corresponding decrease, reflecting the effect of the devaluation of the franc. I shall circulate further details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.The basic estimate does not include a contingency allowance for major unforeseeable difficulties. Nor does it include any allowance for certain improvements to the propulsion system now under consideration (which we consider likely to be necessary). The cost of these improvements cannot be assessed until the manufacturers have completed their studies, but they will be within the margin of 15 per cent. of the basic estimate which was mentioned to the House on 21st May, 1969.On the production side authorisations now stand at £8·8 million for current expenditure and £7·6 million for capital expenditure.Following is the information:The latest basic estimate of £730m. is divided as follows as between actual past expenditure and estimated further expenditure:

	British Government	French Government	Both Governments
	£m.	£m.	£m.
Actual costs from 29th November, 1962 to 31st December, 1969 at the prices and exchange rates prevailing when the costs were incurred	200	190	390
Estimates costs from 31st December, 1969 to completion of the programme at October, 1969 prices and an exchange rate of £1–13.33F.	150	190	340
Totals	350	380	730

The difference between the latest estimate of £730m. at October, 1969 prices and the former estimate of £730m. at January, 1969 prices is made up as follows:

	£m.
Former estimate, January, 1969 prices	730
Add (1) pay and price increases since January, 1969	8
(2) adjustments to the programme (net)	17
Subtract adjustment due to the devaluation of the franc in August, 1969	25
Latest estimate	730

asked the Minister of Technology whether the escalation in the costs of research and development work carried out on Concorde since 1962 in Great Britain and France has been identical in the two countries in terms of 1962 prices.

In terms of 1962 prices the escalation in the two countries has been almost identical.

asked the Minister of Technology whether the pro- posed flight path of the Concorde aircraft crosses Northern Ireland; and what steps are being taken to advise the public in relation thereto.

The proposed Concorde test route does not cross Northern Ireland, but parts of Antrim and County Down would be within the area affected by sonic booms. Officials have discussed the proposed route with the Northern Ireland authorities concerned. My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement about the test route shortly.

asked the Minister of Technology if, in order that the public may be accurately informed by an independent source, he will publish a pamphlet on Concorde supersonic test flight routes.

I hope to make a statement shortly which will give full information about Concorde's supersonic test routes.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is satisfied that the effect of Concorde's sonic boom has been correctly estimated; and if he will give an assurance that the Government will not allow undue disturbance of the public even if the aircraft cannot be operated profitably without such disturbance.

Preliminary measurements have confirmed our predictions about Concorde's sonic boom. Disturbance to the public will be one of the factors the Government will take into account when considering what restrictions should be imposed on commercial supersonic flight over the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of Technology if, in view of the fact that demand for coal exceeds supply for the first time in 14 years, he has revised forward estimates of coal production.

Production estimates are a matter for the National Coal Board.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give the average increase in the cost of bills for the individual private consumer where natural gas conversion has taken place.

Information in this form is not available. Average consumption and average revenue per therm for domestic consumers of both town and natural gas increased in the last financial year. These increases were not the result of conversion.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the average revenue per therm for gas supplied to domestic consumers in Scotland for the most recent annual period for which figures are available; and by what percentage this figure exceeded the average domestic price in England and Wales in the same period.

31·84d. in 1968–69; this was about 23 per cent. above the average for England and Wales; but lies within the range of variation for individual boards in those countries.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a further statement on the extent to which natural gas supplies have reduced the price of gas to industrial and domestic consumers.

Six area gas boards so far have announced general tariff reductions on conversion to natural gas which have so far benefited over 800,000 consumers, and nine boards have announced new and more favourable optional natural gas tariffs which are available to over 1,100,000 consumers. Increasing numbers will benefit as conversion proceeds.

asked the Minister of Technology what has been the amount of assistance to industry in the special development areas in the Bishop Auckland constituency since the special development areas scheme was started.

I regret that this information is not available. In the Northern Special Development Area as a whole, assistance under the Local Employment Acts totalling £24·2 million, including factory building, was approved, between 14th November, 1967 and 31st December, 1969. Corresponding figures for payments of investment grants are not available.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the rationalisation of the British Steel Corporation, including the shutdown of loss-making plants, which it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to achieve.

The corporation, which is currently facing capacity shortages, expects to increase efficiency by developing and rationalising facilities at existing works, by its formal cost-saving programme and by productivity agreements, rather than by major closures of complete works in the medium term.

asked the Minister of Technology how many advanced gas nuclear reactors he estimates will be exported in the year 1970; and how many were exported in 1969.

Possible contracts for building advanced gas-cooled nuclear reactors are being actively pursued by British firms or their foreign licencees in a number of countries, but it would not be in the commercial interest of the firms to publish estimates of the number of contracts which might be obtained in the present year. None was obtained in 1969.

asked the Minister of Technology what progress is being made in the production of fire appliances that burn smoky coal smokelessly; and what aid is being given by his Department to their production.

Market tests of the appliance of the room heater type developed by the National Coal Board are still in progress in the Midlands, and development work is continuing on other versions using the same combustion principles. The work is being undertaken in conjunction with manufacturing firms and no question of aid by my Department has arisen.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will conduct an inquiry into the reasons for the accelerated decline in employment in the Scottish jute industry over the past 12 months.

No. The employment situation in the jute industry has been under continuous scrutiny for several months and has been the subject of discussions between leaders of both sides of the industry and officials of my Ministry.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will invite the Shipbuilding Industry Board to promote a feasibility study of the recommendation of the Shipbuilding Inquiry Committee 1965–66 that British shipbuilding should recover 12½ per cent. or more of the world market with output around 2¼ million gross tons per annum.

No. We do not think it necessary to promote a formal feasibility study. The board is in close and continuous touch with shipbuilders about the increase of their output necessary to enable them to complete on time the merchant and naval orders worth nearly £800 million which they now have in hand.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will introduce legislation to increase the rates of interest payable by electricity boards on deposits demanded by them from electricity consumers under the Electricity (Supply) Acts.

No.

asked the Minister of Technology by what date he expects the South Eastern Electricity Board to complete its current programmes for making safe all its service terminals on consumer premises within the Dorking constituency.

asked the Minister of Technology by what date he expects the South-Eastern Electricity Board to complete its current programmes for making safe all its service terminals on consumer premises within the Guildford constituency.

By the end of 1973.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will direct the South Eastern Electricity Board to discontinue all its own work on private wiring contracts for consumers in the Dorking and Guildford electricity districts affecting the Dorking constituency until it has made safe all South Eastern Electricity Board equipment on consumers' premises.

No. It would not help much to transfer electricians from private wiring contracts to the work on service terminal equipment; this is primarily a job for jointers, jointers' mates and meter fixers.

asked the Minister of Technology how much coal was imported into Wales in 1969; and what is the estimated amount for 1970.

About 2 million tons in the financial year 1969–70, and a similar amount in 1970–71. About 4 million tons per annum of Welsh coal is supplied to the rest of the British Isles and for export.

asked the Minister of Technology when he now expects work to start on the Heysham Power Station.

Preliminary site work has, the C.E.G.B. advises me, already started. Main site work is programmed to begin in August this year.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is satisfied with the present level of exports of reclaim rubber; and if he will make a statement.

Our exports of reclaim rubber compare quite well with those of other producing countries. Nonetheless I hope the industry will continue to make every effort to improve its export performance.

asked the Minister of Technology what is his estimate of the cost of investment grants to the Exchequer for 1970–71, on the basis that no changes are made in the rates or rules.

The Estimate is being prepared and will be presented to Parliament at the appropriate time.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the discussions he has had following the take-over bid by Imperial Chemical Industries Limited for Viyella International Limited.

I shall make a statement when the Government have had an opportunity of considering the outcome of the review which my right hon. Friend the Paymaster-General is undertaking into the structure of the textile industry.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he is aware of the pending closure of the creamery at Port William; and what action he is taking to secure incoming industry for the Machars of Wigtownshire.

I am aware of the pending closure. The Ministry's office in Glasgow will continue to bring the area and the assistance available there to the notice of suitable firms.

asked the Minister of Technology what action he has decided to take following the decision of British Oxygen to raise its prices for oxygen and acetylene by up to 32 per cent.

None. There has been no general increase in prices. However, small users who had not been paying an economic price for their supplies are now being asked to do so. I am satisfied that the present prices are not unreasonable.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will carry out an independent inquiry into the recent number of gas explosions; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will institute an inquiry into the numbers and circumstances of explosions following natural gas conversions of private dwellings.

The number of recent reports of gas explosions has caused some public concern, and I have therefore asked the Gas Council to provide me with full information about them and the industry's safety arrangements.

asked the Minister of Technology what representations he has made under the prices and incomes policy to the Central Electricity Generating Board regarding its policy of reducing consumer costs which have been made possible by the concessionary price it pays for coal from the National Coal Board and which in its last year has made a loss.

None. The commercial arrangements for the purchase of coal are a matter for the two boards but I understand that the Central Electricity Generating Board purchases its coal from the National Coal Board at the pithead (f.o.b. for seaborne coal) in accordance with the N.C.B.'s industrial coal price structure.

asked the Minister of Technology what facilities and funds are available either directly or indirectly through his Department which provide opportunities for those in industry and science and technology to take part in overseas study tours related to their technical interests; and what amounts have been provided for such purposes in each of the past five years.

No funds are available to the Ministry of Technology for the purpose my hon. Friend has in mind, and so the second part of the question does not arise. But indirectly, e.g., through the operation of technological agreements concluded by Her Majesty's Government—many opportunities arise for such visits.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will publish a list of all firms and companies that have received development grants since 1964, together with a list of the completed projects upon which these grants have been spent.

It is not the practice to disclose whether individual firms have received grants, and I am not prepared to publish a list in the form requested.

asked the Minister of Technology what proposals he now has in the light of current plans for the reorganisation of Government research activities, and for transferring research functions at present carried out in the public sector to private industry.

A recent Green Paper set out for wide discussion Government proposals for reorganising and redirecting its industrial R. & D. resources, designed to bring about a new relationship between the programmes of the laboratories involved and the needs of industry.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he has considered the representations from the hon. Member for West Ham, North showing that the London Borough of Newham is a dying borough so far as work, work availability and emigration of industry is concerned; and what action he proposes to take to change this situation.

I am aware of my hon. Friend's concern but I cannot accept his assessment of the Borough of Newham as a dying borough. Although there has been some loss of jobs within the borough, the change in the number of insured employees compares well with the rest of the London area and there are ample job opportunities within reasonable travelling distance.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the financial reorganisation of Short Brothers and Harland.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the financial reconstruction of Short Brothers and Harland.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Belfast, East (Mr. McMaster) on 13th November, 1969.—[Vol. 791, c. 152–3.]

asked the Minister of Technology if he will take steps to maintain employment in Short Brothers and Harland during 1970; and to ensure that a reasonable balance is maintained between research and development and production.

The level of employment at Shorts must depend upon the company's success in obtaining work in the commercial market. The balance to be maintained between research and development and production is a matter for the board of the company.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will make a statement on the Skyvan programme at Short Brothers and Harland.

I have nothing to add to Shorts' statement of 1st January that the international market made it necessary to reduce the Skyvan production rate to one per month.

asked the Minister of Technology what information his Department contributes to the monthly publication entitled, "Economic Progress Report".

The first issue of the report was published this month. It is prepared by Her Majesty's Treasury. The Department is responsible for collecting and interpreting some of the data used in the monthly economic assessment which will form a regular part of the report, and will from time to time contribute 4o articles.

asked the Minister of Technology how many new jobs he estimates will be provided in the Gateshead area during the next few years.

Jobs in prospect expected to arise during the next four years in Gateshead in authorised new industrial buildings and in existing buildings taken over by manufacturing industry are estimated to be 1,800 of which 1,200 are for males. The corresponding figures for the whole Tyneside travel-to-work area are 7,300 and 4,300.

asked the Minister of Technology what representations have been made to him regarding the need to reduce the capital indebtedness of the National Coal Board; and if he will consider such action in view of the burden of interest payments and their effect on the board's finances.

Suggestions of this kind are canvassed from time to time, but my hon. Friend will remember that the board's capital was written down by £415 million less than five years ago. I see no justification for reducing it further.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will publish statistics as to the number of deaths and injuries caused by gas installations in private houses, whether as a result of accidents or faulty installations; and whether he will introduce legislation to deal with this source of danger.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the number of explosions which have occurred, following conversion of private dwellings to natural gas, as well as the number of people killed and the number injured in such explosions.

Accidental deaths from gas poisoning fell from over 1,300 in 1963 to 441 in 1968, and in the first three quarters of 1969 to 187, despite a doubling in the domestic use of gas in this period. Fire Research Station statistics show that there were 156 gas explosions in domestic premises in 1968, compared with fewer than 100 in the early 1960's, but I understand most of these cases did not involve personal injury. Arrangements were initiated last year for systematic collections from the gas industry of statistics of explosions; and these will be published when available.I announced measures to promote greater safety on 11th December in my speech on the Second Reading of the Gas Bill.—[Vol. 793, c. 717–20.]

asked the Minister of Technology if, in view of recent explosions caused by gas leakages, he will have a thorough examination made and make a statement.

Yes. I have asked the Gas Council to provide me with full information about them.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will take steps to end the employment of ponies underground in mines.

The National Coal Board tells me that by the end of the next financial year all ponies will be withdrawn, with the exception of a small number in collieries where the expected life of the colliery would not justify capital expenditure on new haulage equipment.

asked the Minister of Technology what action he intends to take to counteract the problem of unemployment which is on the increase in the South-West, and in Plymouth in particular.

The full range of development area assistance is available to industry in North Devon and most of Cornwall. The Government propose to designate Plymouth as an intermediate area once the Local Employment Bill comes into force.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the total of assistance to industry under the Local Employment Acts in 1964; and how much of this was in development districts.

Payments in the calendar year 1964 totalled £23·9 million. Almost all of this had been approved for the benefit of development districts.

asked the Minister of Technology when he expects the Richardson Report on the Heavy Electrical Plant Industry; and if he will make a statement.

The report was commissioned by the British Electrical and Allied Manufacturers Association and published by it on 11th November last. Its contents are a matter for discussion in the first place between the association and the Electricity supply industry.

asked the Minister of Technology what action he has taken to

Million therms
				Town gas	Coke oven gas	Blast furnace gas	Liquified petroleum gas	Other petroleum gas	Natural gas*	Total production
1965	…	…	…	2,367	1,503	1,478	500	1,058	66	6,972
1966	…	…	…	2,573	1,405	1,294	540	1,089	64	6,965
1967	…	…	…	2,691	1,331	1,228	525	1,107	230	7,112
1968	…	…	…	2,815	1,380	1,329	482	1,117	811	7,934
1969 (provisional)			…	2,600	1,390	1,320	530	1,200	1,940	8,980
* Including colliery methane.

asked the Minister of Technology what private enterprise organisations his Department is employing to inform Britons working in the United States of America of job opportunities in the United Kingdom; what is the cost; and whether he will consult with the Department of Employment and Productivity with a view to this work being undertaken by officials of its Professional and Executive Register.

The Ministry of Technology has contracts for this purpose with Management Selection (Group) Ltd.

Some of the consultants' 13 recommendations are already being implemented (e.g. to postpone for the time being the opening of new centres, to intensify training, to examine I.L.O.s' geographic areas, and to revise methods of handling and reporting inquiries). Others require further study, and discussion with I.L.O.s themselves, principals of colleges, and the Education Departments.It is not the normal practice to make available copies of management consultants reports, which are intended for the confidential information of those who commission them—in this case, the Department.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the total United Kingdom production of gas in each of the years 1965 to 1969, inclusive.

The following are the figures:(M.S.L.) and the Scientists Appointment Service (S.A.S.), an organisation set up by the Royal Institute of Chemistry.In the M.S.L. case the cost to the Department for the three-year term of the contract expiring in March, 1970 is £89,000; for S.A.S. the Ministry contribution for the two-year period up to March, 1970 is about £17,000.I shall certainly explore my hon. Friend's proposal with the Department of Employment and Productivity.

asked the Minister of Technology (1) if he will give a general direction to the British Steel Corporation to improve the supply of reinforcing steel; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will make a statement on the supply of reinforcing steel; and if he will give a general direction to the British Steel Corporation to improve the position.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to a similar Question today.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the total consumption of hydro-carbon oils for fuel purposes in the United Kingdom in each of the years 1965 to 1969, inclusive.

The relevant statistics are:

DELIVERIES INTO INLAND CONSUMPTION OF PETROLEUM PRODUCTS USED AS FUELS
	Million tons
1965	60·6
1966	65·8
1967	70·3
1968	74·1
1969 (provisional estimate)	79·5

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give his estimate of coal's share of the total energy market in 1975 in the light of current difficulties with nuclear power plants.

The best estimate is that they are unlikely to affect greatly coal's share of the energy market in 1975.

asked the Minister of Technology if he is satisfied with the working of the Mineworkers Redundancy Payments Scheme; and if he will introduce legislation to remove certain anomalies which have arisen since the scheme commenced.

Yes, and I do not propose changes. But I am always ready to consider any suggestions and if my hon. Friend has any in mind perhaps he will write to me.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent discussions he has held with the United States Government about the possibility of Anglo-American co-operation in an embargo on the supply of arms to the two sides in the civil war in Nigeria.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when the Government study of the possible use of helicopters for relief in Nigeria will be published.

I wrote to the right hon. Member for Kinross and West Perthshire (Sir Alec Douglas-Home) on 31st December giving him the results of our study. He replied on 4th January. Both letters were published.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether negotiations between Her Majesty's Government and the ruling authority in Libya have now been completed; and if he will make a statement.

Negotiations with the new Libyan régime are still in progress. Agreement was reached on 13th December on the withdrawal of British forces from Libya. Withdrawal is to be completed by 31st March. Other aspects of our relationship with Libya are being covered in the current negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs the terms of the treaty between Her Majesty's Government and the Government of Libya before the present administration in that country assumed power.

The terms of the treaty are available in the Library of the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the present size and approximate annual cost of the British Mission in Brussels concerned with matters relating to the European Economic Community.

The present size of the United Kingdom Delegation to the European Communities is 20 home-based and four locally-engaged staff. The approximate annual cost of this mission is £158,400. Staff salaries and allowances and the cost of residential and office accommodation amount to £147,688. The mission also shares the administration, transport and certain communications facilities of the British Embassy in Brussels; its proportionate share of these services costs £10,700 annually.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost of the British pavilion at the Gandhi Centenary Exhibition in New Delhi.

The cost is expected to be about £10,500.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are being taken to ensure that the interests of Scotland are represented during the negotiations for possible entry to the Common Market.

My right hon. Friends the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will continue to take account of Scottish interests, as indeed of the interests of the whole of the United Kingdom, during the negotiations for Britain's entry into the European Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have now been made by Her Majesty's Government with other Governments for dealing with the prevention of hijacking of aeroplanes; and whether they will seek to make it impossible for hijackers to be allowed to go free before trial.

Her Majesty's Government were represented at an international meeting in Washington last month which stressed the importance of a coordinated approach to the problem and the need for early conclusion of the new convention now being negotiated under the auspices of the International Civil Aviation Organisation. This should provide an effective framework for bringing hijackers to justice.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library a copy of the text of the Prime Minister's official communication entrusted to the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster for transmission to President Saragat in Rome on 15th January.

No. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister's message to President Saragat was personal and private.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will set out a list of the Acts of Parliament which would require repealing or amending on Great Britain joining the Common Market, together with a brief explanatory note in each case.

No. The content of such a list would depend on the terms negotiated for our entry into the Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give instructions to the United Kingdom representative on the Committee of Ministers to vote in favour of the request made by the Assembly, Opinion No. 52, that there should be a sum of money allocated for new buildings for the Council of Europe in Strasbourg.

Her Majesty's Government agree with the other members of the Council of Europe that the present accommodation of the council is not satisfactory. At the meeting of the Committee of Ministers at Parish on 12th December, the French Government announced the terms of a loan which they were prepared to give to the Council of Europe for its building programme. The Ministers' Deputies are discussing at their current meeting how a building scheme might be carried out and financed.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of Recommendation 192 on co-operation between Europe and the United States of America, adopted by the Assembly of Western European Union on 10th December, 1969, what steps Her Majesty's Government will take to help the Western European Union Council co-ordinate the policies of its members in the International Monetary Fund; and what conditions Her Majesty's Government require to be implemented before Western Europe an countries will take part in a European Security Conference.

We have made it clear that we would be prepared to take part in discussion of international monetary policy in the Western European Union as well as in other forums. Matters relating to the International Monetary Fund can be considered in that context. As to a European Security Conference, my right hon. Friend explained our policy to the House fully on 9th December.—[Vol. 793, c. 263–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of Recommendation 194 on international trade in armaments, adopted by the Assembly of Western European Union on 10th December, 1969, and of the continued warfare in the Middle East and in several under-developed countries, Her Majesty's Government will seek, at international level and in particular at the United Nations, to ensure that all trade in armaments is strictly controlled and that an arbitration tribunal is established capable of providing a peaceful settlement of international conflicts.

Her Majesty's Government would welcome international agreement on effective measures to control the arms trade. We have for some time been study- ing the problems involved and the best way to make progress. In our view the primary requirement for the implementation of an effective international agreement is the active support of all major supplying countries. The attitude of recipient countries would also be a key factor. Unfortunately, on the basis of past experience, an effective agreement may be difficult to reach.As regards an arbitration tribunal capable of providing for the peaceful settlement of international conflicts, there already exists, at The Hague, the International Court of Justice, a principal organ of the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of Recommendation 193 on Western European Union and the political union of Europe, adopted by the Assembly of Western European Union on 10th December, 1969, if, following The Hague Conference, it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government that Western European Union is the appropriate body for the co-ordination of the foreign and defence policies of Western Europe; and what steps the Government will take to enable the Western European Union Council to improve its consultations and co-operation.

It remains our policy that the Western European Union Council should intensify its work of consultation with a view to achieving the adoption of positions agreed and harmonised to the fullest possible extent. We shall continue to work to that end.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will arrange to publish before the Whitsun adjournment the White Paper on the proceedings of the 24th regular session of the United Nations General Assembly.

I have good hopes that the White Paper on the Proceedings of the XXIVth Session of the United Nations General Assembly will be published before the Whitsun adjournment. It is hoped that publication at about the same time will normally be possible in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows aged between 50 and 60 years of age are still in receipt of the 30s, pension only; and how many under 50 years of age are in the same category.

There are about 52,000 widow's basic pensions in payment to widows aged between 50 and 60 and about 23,000 to widows under 50.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider increasing the carrying capacity of a number of the new disabled people's cars by one seat as a result of his policy to increase the power and to provide automatic drive on some of these in 1970.

This proposal would considerably increase the cost of the invalid vehicle service, and my right hon. Friend regrets that funds are not available for this purpose at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will undertake in the next review of the pay structure for the nursing profession to investigate the series of anomalies which result in some circumstances in matrons and assistant matrons of public general hospitals receiving lower remuneration than members of their staff.

The Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council is aware of existing anomalies and will have an opportunity to consider them in the course of the current negotiations on nurses' pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why it is taking him so long to have investigations made into matters pertaining to the administration at Langthorne Hospital; when a report can be expected; and when he intends writing to the hon. Member for West Ham, North regarding this matter.

I wrote to my hon. Friend on 22nd January.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services under what conditions the drug L-Dopa may be used within the National Health Service for sufferers from Parkinson's disease; what are any undesirable side effects; and what further research in this matter is being undertaken.

Doctors are at liberty to prescribe on their own professional responsibility whatever drugs they consider appropriate and desirable for their patients, but in reaching a decision they will bear in mind that L-Dopa has so far been passed by the Committee on Safety of Drugs only for clinical trial. Reports of trials of L-Dopa have indicated that a variety of side effects may be produced which vary considerably in their severity.Clinical trials are being undertaken at five centres in the United Kingdom under the aegis of a working party set up by the Medical Research Council to evaluate this form of treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the estimated costs of production of D.O.P.A. after its approval by the Medical Research Council, when obtained synthetically and from natural sources, respectively.

The clinical trials of L-Dopa continue under the direction of the Medical Research Council. I would not normally expect to receive details of production costs of individual drugs however obtained.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now give an assurance that a new hospital will be built as planned at Bradwell to serve the population of the East Coast; and when he expects building to start.

The East Anglian Regional Hospital Board has not included in its current programme district general hospital facilities for the East Coast area of Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth. It is too soon, therefore, to consider the site of such provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the capital and current expenditure per 1,000 population of the hospital service in the East Anglian Regional Hospital Board area; and how this compares with the average for the country as a whole, with the other mainly rural areas, and with the Oxford Regional Hospital Board.

The information is as follows:

	Expenditure 1968–69, per 1,000 population
Regional Hospital Board	Capital	Current
	£	£
East Anglia	1,586	10,873
South Western	1,673	14,430
Wessex	1,843	13,519
Oxford	1,950	12,122
All Regional Boards—England	1,679	13,293

These figures have been calculated by dividing the total expenditure of the regional hospital board by the estimated population of its area. They make no allowance for the fact that one regional hospital board may provide services for patients who reside in the area of another, nor do they include expenditure by boards of governors of teaching hospitals.Wessex and the South Western Regional Hospital Boards are included as examples of the more rural regions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has now asked the East Anglian Regional Hospital Board to reshape its present plan for the siting of new hospitals, including a district genera] hospital for the Lowestoft-Yarmouth area, on the basis of the recommendations in the Bonham-Carter report.

No such request has been made by me. No decisions will be taken on the Bonham-Carter report until I have considered the views of all the bodies I have consulted. As explained in the Prefatory Note to the report, there are a number of questions to be considered 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 case of Rennie Mintern, who was treated in St. Mary's Hospital, Harrow Road, in the light of the details sent to him by the hon. Member for Willesden, West; and if he will ensure that his Department pubicises the efficient performance of this hospital in this and similar cases.

Rennie Mintern, then aged 6, was admitted to St. Mary's Hospital, Harrow Road, in May, 1967, after a road accident in which he was seriously injured. An operation was performed upon him and he made a rapid and uneventful recovery. This, took place about a month before David Tomlinson was admitted to the same ward. Rennie has since attended the accident and emergency department on two other occasions for treatment for further accidents. In a recent letter to the local Press his father joined with four others in expressing thanks to St. Mary's Hospital for the skilful nursing, cheerful encouragement and care from the doctors, nurses and all the staff that they and their children have received as in patients at this hospital. They say that Rennie "had the greatest care and attention". I am grateful to my hon. Friend for drawing my attention to this letter. As I told the House on 15th December in answer to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short), I have discussed with regional hospital board chairmen measures to improve communications with the public and Press generally, and both I and my hon. Friends will take every suitable opportunity to publicise the very valuable work that is being done in our hospitals.—[Vol. 793, c. 894–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how family allowances and pensions received in Great Britain compare with those received by people living in the Common Market countries, from information available to him from international sources.

There are comparative tables in the Library which cover family allowances, pensions and other social security benefits in Great Britain and the Common Market countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what basis the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that influenza vaccine might be appropriately offered to children in residential establishments but not to old people in similar establishments.

The Joint Committee did not make such a recommendation. It suggested that vaccination might be offered with advantage to certain groups but recognised that the decision whether or not to vaccinate a particular individual or group is for the medical practitioner concerned. Many old people in residential establishments would be among the sufferers from certain chronic diseases for whose personal protection the committee had previously suggested that vaccination might be indicated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to prevent the acquisition by United States enterprises of private hospitals and nursing homes in Great Britain.

I have no evidence to suggest that I should be justified in proposing legislation for this purpose at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the weekly retirement pension of the average industrial worker who retires in 1992 having reached the normal retiring age on the assumption that the average weekly earnings will have made progress from the present level to £100.

If the average earnings of adult male industrial workers increase to £100 a week in 1992, a person who has earned the average wage since the start of the new scheme will be entitled under the Bill now before Parliament to a retirement pension of £42 10s. a week.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state, taking October 1964 as 100, what the purchasing power of the retirement pension was in March 1965, March 1966, March 1967, March 1968, March 1969, and the present date, respectively.

The following is the information asked for:

INDEX OF THE PURCHASING POWER OF RETIREMENT PENSIONS
	Man or woman on own insurance	Married couple on husband's insurance
October, 1964	100	100
March, 1965	116	117
March, 1966	112	112
March, 1967	108	109
March, 1968	117	118
March, 1969	110	111
December, 1969	119	119

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the additional annual cost of raising the basic retirement pension for a married couple to 40 per cent. of the current average industrial earnings, and pro rata for a single pensioner, and of the additional payments needed to meet it from employees, employers and the Exchequer, respectively, on the basis that the cost was apportioned on the existing system.

The cost of such an increase taken by itself would be about £370 million a year at the outset. If this cost were divided proportionately to present contributions it would mean about £150 million a year extra from insured persons (including self-employed and non-employed), £160 million from employers and £60 million from the Exchequer supplement. The increase in weekly payments would depend on the way in which the extra money was raised but would average over 3s. a side for employers and employees. Consequential alterations to other benefits would increase the cost substantially.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate discussions with the Pharmaceutical Society with a view to a re-arrangement of the distribution of medicines in the National Health Service on the pattern of the agreement recently reached by the Pharmaceutical Society of Sweden and the Swedish Government, details of which have been sent to him.

No. Adoption of the Swedish pattern would not be appropriate here.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now introduce legislation to abolish prescription charges in view of the favourable balance of payments.

No. Their contribution towards keeping public expenditure within acceptable limits is still necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the details of the expenditure incurred by his Department in 1969 upon advertisements designed to discourage smoking; and if he will specify the proportion of this amount expended on television advertisements.

Expenditure by the Health Education Council during 1969 on publicity materials designed to dis-

	Percentage of claimants		Percentage of weekly expenditure on supplementary benefits
	Great Britain	Huddersfield local office	Great Britain
Retirement pensioner recipients of supplementary benefit	61·6	69·0	37·0
National insurance widows in receipt of supplementary benefit	4·3	3·2	3·0
Women under 60 with care of children (single, separated wives, divorcees, etc.)	6·6	8·0	17·3

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many pre-registration posts for doctors there are which provide no teaching facilities;(2) how many pre-registration posts for doctors are available in the hospital service; and how many posts are filled.

All pre-registration posts are designated by university authorities as providing appropriate training and experience for provisionally registered doctors. There are currently about 2,300 such posts in England and Wales, almost all of which are filled. According to provisional figures, 1,870 posts were filled by pre-registration doctors at 30th September, 1969, the

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what percentage of benefits paid as supplementary allowances went to retirement pensioners, separated wives, and widows, in the area covered by the Huddersfield County Borough in the last available year; and how this compares with the national figure.

Information is not available in the form requested but the following are comparisons between national figures and those for the local office at Huddersfield, which also deals with supplementary benefit claimants outside the county borough boundary, as at 18th November, 1969.remainder being held by fully or temporarily registered doctors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average number of applications for each available pre-registration post for doctors in the hospital service.

Applications are made to the hospital authorities concerned, and I regret that the information requested is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is satisfied that there are sufficient home helps in the city of Carlisle to meet the needs of the people of Carlisle; and if he will make a statement.

There is a general need for more home helps, but the ratio of home helps to population in Carlisle is well above the national average. I am not aware of any special local difficulty, though I understand there has been heavy pressure on the service in connection with the recent influenza outbreak.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total amount paid to unsupported women in England and Wales, and Scotland, respectively, on the latest date for which figures are available; and how many such women in each case were separated wives, divorcees, unmarried mothers and widows, respectively.

I assume my hon. Friend's question is directed to the payment of supplementary benefit to women under pension age. Following is the information:It is estimated that in November, 1969 payments of supplementary benefit in respect of the principal groups of unsupported women below pension age were running at the rate of about £75m, a year in England and Wales for 217,000 women and about £8m, a year in Scotland for 25,000 women, divided as follows:—

	England and Wales	Scotland
Separated wives with children	85,000	10,000
Divorcees with children	28,000	3,000
Unmarried mothers	43,000	5,000
Widows with widow's benefit	57,000	7,000
Widows without widow's benefit	4,000	*
	217,000	25,000
* Number insignificant.

The division into categories between England and Wales and Scotland, apart from that for widows with widow's benefit, is only a broad estimate since detailed statistics are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many widows in Scotland were entirely without a pension or allowances on the latest date for which figures are available; and if he will give a breakdown of the figure into age groups.

It is estimated that on 31st December 1968 there were about 13,000 widows age 60 and over and 4,000 under 60 in Scotland without a pension or allowance—that is, retirement pension, widow's benefits under the national insurance, industrial injuries and war pension schemes, or supplementary benefit.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a further statement on the Whitley Council proposals on nurses' pay.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to the hon. Member for Tynemouth (Dame Irene Ward) on 19th January.—[Vol. 794, c. 29.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is now satisfied that dumping is taking place of Chinese rabbit carcases; and what action he is taking.

No. It is not the practice of the Board of Trade to investigate allegations of dumping until an application is received from the British producers affected with supporting prima facie evidence of material injury caused or threatened to them thereby. Board of Trade officials have explained the position to representatives of the industry. If and when an application is received, it will be given prompt and careful consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many accidents to lifeboats have occurred in each of the past 10 years; how many of these accidents have involved the capsizing of the vessels; and what machinery of administration is provided for reviewing the construction of these vessels.

Apart from the recent accident to the Fraserburgh lifeboat, two accidents have occurred to Royal National Lifeboat Institution lifeboats in the last 10 years; one in 1969 (Longhope) and the other in 1962 (Seaham); both boats capsized. The design and construction of the institution's lifeboats are kept under constant review by its qualified consultants and its own naval architects' department in order to keep pace with technical developments.