asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will state the total loss of working days, correct to the nearest million, on account of strikes and stoppages in 1963 and 1969, respectively; and what steps she is taking to reduce losses in 1970.

Stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in 1963 and 1969 resulted in the loss of 2 million and 7 million working days respectively. The Government is tackling the underlying causes of strikes through its work to reform and extend the system of collective bargaining.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will now make a statement on her plans to reduce the losses of production and exports in 1970 in the motor industry arising from strikes and similar disorders.

Two factors which in my judgment would help to contain the incidence of disputes in the industry are the improvement of procedures and of pay structures. The Joint Council which the two sides of the industry have recently set up will be studying ways of bringing about improvements in these two areas, and will also be available to investigate serious disputes. The reform of the procedure operating in federated companies is already under discussion between the two sides of the engineering industry. The services of my Department are also available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the latest available figure for the total annual amount estimated to be raised by levies by the industrial training boards; and what average percentage levy this represents.

The estimated total annual yield of current levies is about £170 million which represents an average levy of about 1·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will list the latest available figures for the levies of the various industrial training boards, giving the average rate and the range when a single figure does not apply.

Twenty-six industrial training boards' levy orders are currently in operation. The rates of levy, which are expressed as percentages of the payroll unless otherwise stated, are as follows:

Agricultural, Horticultural and Forestry.	£3 10s. per whole time worker.
Carpet	0·9 per cent.
Ceramics, Glass and Mineral Products	0·75 percent, and 1·5 per cent.
	(1 0 per cent. average).
Chemical and Allied Products	1·1 per cent.
Civil Air Transport	£8 per head.
Construction	0·8 per cent.
Cotton and Allied Textiles	0·9 per cent.
Distributive	0·5 per cent.
Electricity Supply	0·035 per cent.
Engineering	1·0 per cent.;
	2·5 per cent.
	(2·3 per cent. average).
Food, Drink and Tobacco	0·9 per cent.
Footwear, Leather and Fur Skin.	0·175 per cent.
Furniture and Timber	1·4 per cent.
Gas	1·62 per cent
Hotel and Catering	1·0 per cent.
Iron and Steel	£24 10s. per head.
Knitting, Lace and Net	1·0 per cent.
Man-made Fibres Producing	0·05 per cent.
Paper and Paper Products	0·25 per cent.
Petroleum	£9 per head.
Printing and Publishing	1·0 per cent.
Road Transport	0·75 per cent.;
	1 ·5 per cent.;
	2·2 per cent.
	(1·8 per cent. average).
Rubber and Plastics Processing	0·75 per cent.
Shipbuilding	1·4 per cent.
Water Supply	1·6 per cent.
Wool, Jute and Flax	13 rates from 0·2 per cent, to 2 0 per cent.
	(1·4 per cent average).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will now publish a White Paper before publishing her new Industrial Relations Bill.

Consultations on the Government's proposals are now well advanced and on the publication of the Bill I shall certainly ensure that an explanatory document is made available to the House. I have no plans to publish a White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many letters she has received critical of the operation of the industrial training boards during 1969; and if she will broadly classify the main criticisms that were made.

On average less than half-a-dozen a week, the great majority being concerned with some aspect or other of boards' levy and grant schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on the industrial disputes in the London docks.

The T. & G.W.U. is still maintaining its ban on the operation of additional modernised berths pending Devlin Stage II negotiations. In these negotiations the employers in the Enclosed Docks have indicated to the union their willingness to reconsider the offer which was narrowly rejected by the men on 19th November. I understand they will be tabling definite alternative proposals at a joint meeting next Monday, 2nd February.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what will be the basis for salary negotiations in the public services in 1970.

The basis for salary negotiations in the Public Services in 1970 is fully explained in paragraphs 92 to 96 of the White Paper Cmnd. 4237.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what proportion of men unemployed had been out of work for over nine weeks, over 26 weeks and over 52 weeks, respectively, in each of the regions of Great Britain at the latest available date and in the same month in 1966 and 1968.

Following is the information:

MALES REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AS PROPORTIONS OF ALL MALES REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED (EXCEPT CASUAL WORKERS)
	Over 9 weeks Per cent.	Over 26 weeks Per cent.	Over 52 weeks Per cent.
13th October, 1969
South East	44·3	22·8	12·8
East Anglia	50·6	30·9	19·9
South Western	54·1	32·2	19·8
East Midlands	58·7	37·6	23·7
West Midlands	53·8	30·1	17·1
Yorkshire and Humberside	54·3	32·6	20·8
North Western	52·9	28·9	16·6
Northern	63·6	40·7	27·3
Scotland	57·5	34·3	21·9
Wales	58·3	35·8	22·9
14th October, 1968
South East	46·7	25·3	13·6
East Anglia	51·4	30·9	19·3
South Western	54·3	33·6	20·2
East Midlands	57·1	34·1	19·5
West Midlands	54·7	30·6	15·8
Yorkshire and Humberside	56·1	31·3	16·7
North Western	52·9	29·9	16·5
Northern	61·7	35·7	20·3
Scotland	59·2	36·0	22·1
Wales	58·3	35·9	21·5
10th October, 1966
South East	33·5	16·9	9·8
East Anglia	41·2	22·7	13·9
South Western	43·0	25·2	14·9
East Midlands	45·3	24·8	15·9
West Midlands	34·7	17·6	10·1
Yorkshire and Humberside	39·6	21·8	14·1
North Western	42·3	23·1	13·7
Northern	50·8	30·0	19·3
Scotland	51·9	31·2	20·1
Wales	47·1	26·9	16·2

Those registered for more than 52 weeks are included in the columns for "Over 26 weeks" and "over 9 weeks" and those registered for more than 26 weeks are included in the "over 9 weeks" figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will carry out and publish at regular intervals analyses of the characteristics of the unemployed on the lines of those published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette for April and July, 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will analyse the current unemployment figures in a manner similar to the analysis published in the Ministry of Labour Gazette for April and July, 1966.

Surveys of the characteristics of the unemployed on the lines of those referred to necessarily depend on subjective judgment and I have reservations about the value of the results. My right hon. Friend will review the case for a further general survey in the light of the results of the studies now in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will make a statement on the results of the experimental use of an electronics communications system for the transmission of data of unemployment and vacancies in the Birmingham area; and whether she proposes to extend this system to other parts of the country.

Preliminary results of the experimental use of facsimile equipment in the Birmingham area for vacancy circulation are very encouraging but the system has been in full operation for less than three months. When we have had more experience we will consider whether it could with advantage be introduced in other areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many industrial disputes have been negotiated and settled by the Trades Union Congress since she accepted responsibility for intervention.

I understand that in the period June to December, 1969, the T.U.C. intervened in 110 disputes. In the great bulk of those, stoppages were averted or curtailed. The Government welcome the T.U.C.'s vigorous efforts, in co-operation with the unions concerned, to give effect to the policies of positive intervention in serious unconstitutional and inter-union disputes, which were the basis of the understanding the Government reached with the T.U.C. in June of last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the number of registered unemployed in the administrative County of Durham giving the number of males, females and school leavers, respectively.

At 12th January, 1970, 34,159 persons were registered as unemployed in the county of Durham. This total, which is provisional, comprises 30,465 males and 3,694 females, while 296 are school leavers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many income increases have been notified to her Department since the beginning of the latest phase of incomes policy; and how many were for increases less than 2½ per cent., how many for increases ranging from 2½ per cent. to 4½ per cent., and how many for increases over 4½ per cent.

The range of 2½ to 4½ per cent. for pay settlements laid down in the present White Paper is applied at an annual rate. Fourteen major settlements affecting 10,000 or more workers have been notified, and of these none was below the range, five were within the range, and nine were estimated to be above it. Information about smaller settlements could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she expects to circulate a further consultative document relating to proposed Factory (Safety, Health and Welfare) legislation; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is not yet able to make the further statement which she promised in the Written Answer given to my hon. Friend the Member for Consett (Mr. David Watkins) on 24th July last, but she hopes to do so in the near future.—[Vol. 787, c. 428–430.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity, what is her estimate of the unemployment percentage in the Southern Machars district of the Newton Stewart Employment Exchange.

At 12th January, 1970, the percentage rate of unemployment for the whole of the Newton Stewart Employment Exchange area was 8·4.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will take steps to declare New Year's Day a bank holiday in England and Wales.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Wavertree (Mr. Tilney) on 20th January, 1970.—[Vol. 794, c. 112.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will publish annually the list of all the classified occupations with the percentages by which the highest wage or salary for each occupation exceeds the lowest; and if she will also state what proposals she has to reduce the difference between the two levels in those cases where this difference is excessive.

Information about the spread of gross weekly and hourly earnings of full-time men and women, analysed by occupation, was obtained in the new earning survey which was recently conducted by my Department and will be found in the May, 1969, and July, 1969, issues of the Employment and Productivity Gazette. Such information from surveys of this type should becomes available annually in future.Improvement of the position of those with low incomes is an important object- tive of incomes policy, but in many occupations there are good reasons for a substantial spread of earnings reflecting differences in work performed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she is taking following the report of the Commission on Industrial Relations on Associated Octel.

Officials of my Department have recently had separate discussions about the report of the Commission on Industrial Relations with representatives of Associated Octel Company Ltd. and the Association of Supervisory, Technical and Managerial Staffs and are arranging further talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the total number of unemployed registered at Thorne at the latest available date, with a breakdown into age groups.

At 12th January, 1970, there were 1,205 persons registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Thorne Employment Exchange. This figure is provisional.

ANALYSIS BY AGE GROUP OF THE PROVISIONAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT 12TH JANUARY, 1970 IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE THORNE EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE
	Males	Females
Under 18	42	29
18–19	33	37
20–24	85	20
25–29	80	5
30–34	93	16
35–39	83	7
40–44	84	5
45–49	68	13
50–54	40	2
55–59	59	11
60–64	337	1
65 and over	—
Total wholly unemployed	1,004	146

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what are her plans to ensure that an adequate dock labour force is available at Merseyside so that ships in the Port of Liverpool can be properly serviced, and the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board enabled to pay its way.

This is a matter for the National Dock Labour Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many building trade workers are unemployed in South Shields and on Tyneside, showing the number of joiners separately; and what action is being taken to encourage local authorities and industry to advance the starting date for projects likely to provide employment.

At 12th January, 1970, 398 persons who last worked in Construction—minimum list heading 500 of the Standard Industrial Classification—were registered as unemployed in the area covered by the South Shields Employment Exchange. They included 384 wholly unemployed men of whom 60 were carpenters or joiners. The corresponding figures for the whole of the Tyneside travel-to-work area were 5,576, 5,316 and 464, respectively. Decisions as to the starting dates for projects are essentially matters for local authorities and firms concerned, who no doubt consider the level of activity in the industry as one of many relevant factors.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity why her Department's clerical and commercial register has been moved from Eastgate to Bond Street, Leeds; and what is the cost of the new accommodation.

There was insufficient space in the Eastgate building and it was decided to move the Commercial Register together with the Professional and Executive Register and the Occupational Guidance Unit to other more centrally situated premises.The premises are rented by the Ministry of Public Building and Works. We are advised that it is not the policy to disclose rents. The cost of making the premises ready for occupation was approximately £10,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will provide details of the increase in salaries and wages of each application she has approved since January, 1967, the appropriate productivity agreements relating thereto and the results as known in December, 1969.

No. Since January, 1967, over 4,000 increases have been accepted under the incomes policy on productivity grounds. Apart from the expense of extracting and listing details of these increases, information given under the early warning system is confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is her official definition of a productivity agreement.

I would refer the hon. Member to paragraphs 42 to 53 of the White Paper on Productivity, Prices and Incomes Policy after 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will publish figures showing the number of persons unemployed in the Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello employment exchange districts on 1st January of each of the years 1965 to 1970, inclusive, together with the corresponding percentage figure.

Following is the information:

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE EDINBURGH, LEITH AND PORTOBELLO EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
	Registered unemployed	Percentage rate*
January, 1965	3,938	2·0
January, 1966	3,593	1·8
January, 1967	4,091	2·0
January, 1968	5,042	2·5
January, 1969	5,585	2·8
January, 1970	6,703	3·5
* The percentage rates relate to the Edinburgh travel-to-work area as at present constituted which includes the Edinburgh, Leith, Portobello, Dalkeith, Loanhead, Musselburgh and Tranent Employment Exchange areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will refer to the Monopolies Commission the proposed Reed take-over of the International Publishing Corporation.

A decision on the question of a reference to the Monopolies Commission will be announced as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Emloyment and Productivity whether she will give as much detailed information as may be readily available showing to what extent Government employees, other employees for which records are available, Ministers and Members of Parliament, have not since October, 1964, received any increase in their salary or wages.

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED, PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT AND NOTIFIED VACANCIES REMAINING UNFILLED IN NORTHERN REGION, AND IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE GATESHEAD EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE, AT JANUARY, 1970 (PROVISIONAL) AND JANUARY, 1963
		Registered unemployed
		Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total	Percentage rate	Notified vacancies remaining unfilled
Northern region
January, 1970 (provisional)	…	56,931	2,442	7,347	1,176	67,896	5·2	10,167
January, 1963	…	63,954	5,761	10,905	3,799	84,419	6·4	4,008
Gateshead
January, 1970 (provisional)	…	1,948	86	108	28	2,170	5·6*	500
January, 1963	…	2,449	291	244	97	3,081	6·3*	145
* The percentage rate of unemployment relates to the whole of the Tyneside travel-to-work area which includes Gateshead.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on current difficulties in industrial relations in the electrical supply industry.

I am not aware of any current difficulties in industrial relations in the electricity supply industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Produc-

The salaries of Members of this House were last increased in October, 1964, and Ministers' salaries in April, 1965. Information which is no significant groups of Government or other employees who have not since October, 1964, received any increase in their salary or wages.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many persons, male and female, and young persons, male and female, were unemployed in the Northern Region and Gateshead and distrct, respectively; what was the percentage of total unemployed in the Northern Region and Gateshead and district, respectively, together with the number of unfilled vacancies, at the latest convenient date; and how these figures compare with those of 1963.

Following is the information:tivity whether she will assist Members of Parliament, as prospective employers of secretaries capable of shorthand and typing on a salary of £500 per annum for 48–50 hours per week, by supplying to them details of the persons so qualified who are known to her Department to be available for such employment.

Our employment exchanges will do their best to help any Member of Parliament who notifies a vacancy for a secretary, but as I have already told my hon. Friend, the current salary range offered by employers in London for full-time secretaries is in excess of the figure mentioned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity why she has allowed increases in salaries to the higher paid company directors and those in receipt of large incomes, in view of her policy of stopping or delaying payments of increases to those in the lower income groups.

The policy applies equally to all income-earners. As stated in paragraph 69 of the current White Paper on incomes Policy, the Government intends to ask the N.B.P.I. to initiate investigations in depth into those cases where low pay is a major problem. My right hon. Friend is in consultation with the C.B.I. and T.U.C. about a suitable selection of references.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is aware that since November, 1967, the Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board has had his salary increased from £4,800 to £6,000 per annum and that in 11 months a further increase of 10 per cent. has been made; whether she is satisfied that these increases complied with the prices and incomes policy; and if she will make a statement.

The increase in salary from £4,800 to £6,000 per annum was made in consequence of the extension of the Chairman's duties from a part-time to a full-time basis. Increases in pay arising from additional work performed are permitted by the prices and incomes policy.The further increase of 10 per cent. was made as part of a general review of the salaries of chairmen of public boards, following the recommendations of the National Board for Prices and Incomes in its Report No. 107 on "Top Salaries in the Private Sector and Nationalised Industries".

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what discussions she or her Department have had with bodies outside the Civil Service regarding the various increases in the salary of the Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board; and whether this included the recent further increase of 10 per cent.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what consideration she has given to the proposals for wages parity put forward by trades unionists of the Ford Motor Company, details of which have been sent to her; and what action she proposes to take.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply, earlier today, to the hon. Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Gwilym Roberts).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will publish the Second Report of the Public Schools Commission.

I have not yet received the Second Report of the Public Schools Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he intends to publish his reply to the recommendations of the Select Committee on Education and Science on student relations.

I expect in February or March to publish a reply to those recommendations which were addressed to the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what is his estimate of the number of children in Willesden who have nowhere to go between the time after school and before parents return from work; the number of after-school play centres available, and the annual cost of each to the ratepayers after Government grants have been taken into consideration;

I do not have the necessary information about play centres which would enable me to answer these Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the instructions given to teachers with regard to the use of corporal punishment.

Such instructions are a matter for individual local authorities and the schools themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether Her Majesty's Government have reached a decision on the recommendations of the National Libraries Committee under the chairmanship of Dr. Dainton; and whether he will make a statement.

I am not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will review the situation whereby married students suffer financial detriment in respect of their grants by reason of assessment based on parents' rather than the married couple's income.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals at present to change the existing arrangements. The question would need to be considered in relation to other claims on the funds available for student support.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many British school teachers are in the United States of America on exchange programmes this session; and how this figure compares with each of the last five years.

Exchanges under the scheme administered by the British Com- mittee for the Interchange of Teachers between the United Kingdom and the United Stages, and assisted as to travel by the U.S.-U.K. Educational Commission, are as follows for the current and the past five years:

EXCHANGES BETWEEN BRITISH AND AMERICAN SCHOOL TEACHERS
	Year
	1964–65	1965–66	1966–67
Number of exchanges	90	90	89
	Year
	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70
Number of exchanges	88	78	65

Recruitment for 1969–70 took place before increased cost of living grants were announced. It is hoped that the higher rates of grant will favourably affect the number of exchanges arranged for 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration he is giving to provide opportunities for science and mathematics teachers to continue their education and bring themselves up to date in their subject; and whether he will provide financial incentives to encourage teachers to improve their qualifications.

Arrangements have recently been announced under which serving teachers can take courses leading to the B.Ed. degree; these include options in science and mathematics. The Department is considering how far such arrangements might be extended to other degrees and how provision for other courses can be expanded.Short courses in particular aspects of science and mathematics are provided at universities and colleges of further education and by many agencies, including H.M. Inspectorate; efforts are being made to increase the provision.Additions to salary are already made for a degree and certain professional and other qualifications. Any extension or variation of the existing provisions would rest with the Burnham Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what he is doing to encourage the study of mathematics and science in sixth forms, with a view to increasing the stock of qualified people, from which teachers of these subjects may be drawn;(2) what special efforts he is making to increase the number of girls taking physics and mathematics at an advanced level.

A great deal is being done to enhance the attractions of science and mathematics as subjects for study. The Schools Council is sponsoring 16 curriculum development projects in this field and is associated with the Nuffield Foundation in 7 others. All apply equally to girls and boys. I would refer my hon. Friend to my replies to earlier questions this afternoon about steps to increase the supply of teachers of science and mathematics and to provide training for them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what he is doing in areas of shortages of science and mathematics teachers to use facilities at local technical colleges for school pupils.

My right hon. Friend believes that the colleges of further education have a valuable contribution to make in this field and he is anxious that local education authorities should examine the possibilities under the existing law of achieving as flexible co-operation as possible between schools and colleges.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what consideration he is giving to the recommendation of the Report of the Working Party appointed by the Royal Society and the Council of Engineering Institutions and the Council of Science and Technology Institutes, of which he has received a copy, that teacher training courses for graduates should be put on the same basis as other post-graduate courses in respect of maintenance grants;(2) whether he is satisfied with a situation whereby graduates who elect to be trained as teachers should be kept on undergraduate grants, including parental contributions, while those who take other post-graduate training get post-graduate maintenance grants, with no parental contributions; and if he will make a statement.

The grant arrangements for graduates training as teachers apply to graduates training for a number of other professions. I could not consider implementing the Working Party's recommendation without taking into account many other deserving claims on the funds available for student support.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what special arrangements he is making to enable persons from industry and Government establishments, including the services, to transfer to school teaching;(2) what machinery he is setting up to assist in safeguarding or transferring pension rights, and to provide adequate training grants during any retraining period of those who transfer from industry, Government establishments or the forces to the teaching of science and mathematics in schools.

Persons from industry or government establishments who take a course of teacher training are eligible for grants, including where appropriate additional grants payable to mature students and those with dependants. Late entrants, both graduate and non-graduate, form an important element in each year's entry into teaching.On transferability of pension rights I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland's answer yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will, as a means of resolving the teachers' dispute, increase the salaries by an amount sufficient to give an increase of 35 per cent. since November, 1967.

Teachers' salaries are negotiated in the Burnham Committee, where it is for the management panel as a whole, on which, with the local authorities, I am represented, to decide the terms of any offer. I have neither the power nor the wish to determine them myself.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement regarding steps to end the civil war in Nigeria.

The welcome end to the civil war in Nigeria has removed the need for such a statement.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what action the Government propose to take to prevent large price and fare increases arising from the changeover to decimalisation.

The Government and the Decimal Currency Board have published guidance on the decimalisation of prices and tariffs and have on several occasions made it clear that decim-

PRIVATE DIRECT INVESTMENT ABROAD (NET OF DISINVESTMENT)*
U.S. S million
				Investment not involving direct remittances from United Kingdon		Other components of direct investment
			Total	Reinvested profits†	Export and import credit to overseas affiliates (net)‡	Investment financed rough overseas borrowing‥	Remainder (net)‡
1961	…	…	633	300	ֵ	31	302||
1962	…	…	585	358	ֵ	45	182||
1963	…	…	661	442	-14	95	138
1964	…	…	736	526	42	84	84
1965	…	…	862	560	101	70	131
1966	…	…	773	602	14	70	87
1967	…	…	770	652	46	187	-115
1968	…	…	1,030	816	48	283	-117
1969 (to end September only seasonally adjusted)		…	910	718	43	166	-17
* Excluding oil and, before 1963, insurance.
† Including rough estimates for reinvested profits of branches.
‡ Negative figures represent net disinvestment.
‥ Comprises investment financed through Euro-currency borrowing from United Kingdom banks and investment financed through direct borrowing in non-sterling areas by United Kingdom parent companies.
|| Includes small amounts of export and import credit (net).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the average increase in school building costs since the cost limits were last raised.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the value of direct overseas investment by British industry financed from the United Kingdom in the years 1961 to 1964 and the years 1965 to 1969 expressed in dollars; and what was the level of overseas investment by British industry financed from overseas borrowings in the same period.

The information is given in the table below. More detailed figures, showing the gross flows of investment and disinvestment separately, are given in terms of sterling for the years 1965 to 1967 in Annex 4 of the 1969 balance of payments Pink Book.

The index of the cost of new construction published by the Ministry of Public Building and Works shows an increase of just under 8 per cent. between the third quarter of 1967, when the present cost limits for school building were introduced, and the second quarter of 1969. No separate index of school building costs is maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the case of the boy Peter Dempsey aged six-and-a-half years, a constituent of the hon. Member for Hamilton, who although declared suitable for admission to special school education has received no school education.

I share the hon. Members concern that Lanarkshire Education Authority has so far been unable to place this child, about whom she has written to me, in a special school. I am making inquiries about the case and will write to the hon. Member when they are complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what approaches he has made to Edinburgh and Glasgow education authorities about the future of their selective and fee-paying schools after 1st August, 1970.

My Department has written to both authorities on 23rd January, 1970, telling them that I consider that with the abolition of fee-paying for school education from 1st August, 1970, the existing special arrangement for the admission of children to these schools must be discontinued. I have asked that they submit revised admission arrangements for my approval.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received against siting the National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham.

I have received many representations about the siting of a National Exhibition Centre in the London area. I had taken these representations fully into account in the statement I made yesterday.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he has now received the Report of the Liberian inquiry into the loss of the British vessel s.s. "Irene"; and if he will make a statement.

The "Irene was registered in Liberia. I have received the report of the Liberian inquiry and am placing a copy in the Library. Briefly, the report concludes that the primary factor in the loss of the "Irene" was the extraordinarily heavy weather encountered, but that there was ground for criticising the actions of the master. His certificate has therefore been suspended for six months.Following this casualty the Board of Trade had immediately ordered a preliminary inquiry of its own. However, disciplinary action can be taken only by the authorities of the flag State, and for this reason we offered the Liberian authorities all the help we could in pursuing their inquiry. Had the "Irene" been a British vessel, I should also have sought to deal with the master's certificate, and would have ordered a formal investigation for that purpose. The length of the suspension would have been for the court to decide.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to rename the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries and Food.

No. Advice to my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, who is responsible for forestry in England, is given by the Forestry Commission. The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food has no executive responsibility for forestry.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will publish a report giving details of the tasks undertaken by the former Paymaster-General in connection with her duties under the heading of devolution.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement giving details of the tasks undertaken by the former Paymaster-General in connection with her responsibilities on devolution.

No. As the House knows, it is not customary to give detailed information about the responsibilities of non-departmental Ministers.

asked the Prime Minister if the Survey Control Unit within the Central Statistical Office has completed its examination of Departmental statistical returns; and if he will make a statement.

No. The unit is making good progress but there is continuing work as the unit is concerned not only with existing returns but also with proposals for new inquiries and for changes in existing inquiries as they arise.

asked the Prime Minister if he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the methods of distribution of medicines for the National Health Service in the light of the recent re-organisation which has taken place in Sweden, details of which have been sent to him.

I have noted with interest the developments in Sweden to which my hon. Friend refers, but the position there is very different from that in this country and I do not think such an inquiry would be fruitful.

asked the Prime Minister if he will ensure that the contracts of the Chairman and members of the Commission for Industry and Manpower do not entitle them to compensation from public funds in the event of either their individual employment being terminated, or the Commission for Industry and Manpower itself being wound up, by the next Government.

The terms of appointments to the Commission for Industry and Manpower will be a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity.

asked the Prime Minister with whom, apart from Ministers and civil servants, he has had discussions in his official capacity during the current year, on matters connected with the Middle East; what new proposals for solving the Israeli-Arab dispute have been put to him and by whom; and with what results.

Since the beginning of the year I have had a number of official discussions on the Middle East problem, notably my talks with the United Nations Secretary General and with President Nixon, about which there are other Questions on the Order Paper. In addition a number of recent visitors to the Middle East have given me their impressions, including my right hon. Friend the Member for Belper (Mr. George Brown). All these discussions and conversations have been confidential.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on his recent official discussions with Mr. Hugh Cudlipp regarding the merger between the International Printing Corporation and the Reed Paper Group.

Following the announcement on 23rd January, Mr. Cudlipp and Mr. Ryder called on me to inform me about the proposed merger. Our discussion was confidential.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the National Economic Development Council on employment prospects.

The National Economic Development Council regularly considers the economic and industrial situation including the prospects for employment.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent he was consulted by bodies outside the Government before the several large salary increases agreed to and paid to the Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, since November, 1967, totalling almost 35 per cent.; and whether such consultations took place before his recent call for trade unionists to use restraint in their wage applications.

Under the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1963, approval of the salary of the Chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary. I have had no consultations.

asked the Prime Minister if he will place in the Library a copy of the public speech on Anglo-American relations which he made to the Foundation on Automation and Employment in New York on Monday, 26th January.

I did so on 27th January.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has completed consultations with the organisations affected about the National Board for Prices and Incomes Report No. 46, "The Remuneration of Milk Distributors"; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 18th November last.—[Vol. 791, c. 293.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will list the occasions since August, 1969, in which Army personnel have removed cameras from Press photographers; and if he will give instructions for this practice to be stopped;(2) why and by what authority the Army personnel in Belfast stopped David Liddel, a photographer from the

asked the Secretary of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement on the conduct of soldiers on the Shankill Road, Belfast, on the night of Monday 26th January, 1970 regarding the removal of the cameras of a Belfast Telegraph photographer and of a Belfast Newsletter photographer, and the removal of their film;(2) if he will order the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland, that Press cameramen in the Province, photographing in the execution of their duties, are not to be molested by Army personnel;(3) on whose authority Press photographers in Belfast on Monday, 26th January were harassed by soldiers; and if he will take the necessary disciplinary action.

On the night of 26th-27th January, 1970, a crowd had assembled in and was blocking the Shankill Road, Belfast. An officer of the 1st Battalion The Parachute Regiment was speaking to them in an endeavour to persuade the crowd to disperse. Mr. Liddel, a photographer employed by the Belfast Telegraph, was photographing the incident. Some members of the crowd assumed Mr. Liddel to be an Army photographer taking pictures for use in possible future prosecutions. They became extremely angry and wanted to smash the camera. For his own safety, therefore, he was asked to surrender his film to the platoon present, and this he did: unfortunately the film was spoiled on being removed from the camera. Later the officer again received complaints about the continued presence of the photographer and Mr. Liddel was therefore advised to leave the area.No film was taken from the

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many VC10 aircraft are in Royal Air Force Transport Command; and how many VC10 aircraft of Royal Air Force Transport Command will be non-operational during February, 1970.

A normal proportion of the VC10 force will be temporarily out of service in February, 1970, for routine maintenance, but none is expected to be non-operational.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now state whether remand accommodation for women prisoners is to be opened in the West Midlands to replace Brackhill Remand Centre.

I cannot at present add to the answer given to Questions by my hon. Friend and other hon. Members on 20th November, but I hope shortly to be in a position to make a further statement.—[Vol. 791, c. 1501–3.]

asked the Secretary of Stale for the Home Department whether he will give details of the number of cases reported in Lordship Lane, Tottenham, on 11th April, 1969, of motorists pausing for three minutes on yellow ban lines; what action ensured in connection with the same; how many similar such cases were reported for the longest most convenient stated period of time for this area, and for Tottenham as a whole; and with what results.

Most of such relevant information as was recorded last April has now been destroyed. It would call for a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort to extract details for a more recent period.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed statement giving figures of salary paid on appointment to the chairman of the Horserace Betting Levy Board, how many increases and by how much this salary has been increased and on what dates; and why the latest increase of 10 per cent. was granted, in view of the increase made less than 12 months ago, and the fact that the salary has been increased by 35 per cent. since November, 1967.

The approved salary on the appointment of the present chairman on 16th November, 1967, on a part-time basis, was £4,800. The full-time equivalent, which was paid with effect from 1st September, 1968, was £6,000. In the light of the recent report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes, "Top salaries in the Private Sector and Nationalised Industries", the salary has now been increased to £6,600 with effect from 1st July, 1969.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how much his Department spends on activities concerning space communication; and whether he derives any income from these activities.

My Ministry incurs no direct expenditure on space communications. Certain staff costs arise in view of the Department's administrative functions in relation to telecommunications in general but it would be difficult to say what proportion of the general costs relates to space communications. My Ministry derives no income from these activities.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will state the names of the present members of the Frequency Advisory Committee and the Mobile Radio Committee, respectively.

The information is as follows:FREQUENCY ADVISORY COMMITTEE

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the total number employed by his Department; and how many, respectively, are employed on matters concerning broadcasting, mobile radio and space communications.

382. Of these, 76 are mainly concerned with broadcasting, 57 with mobile radio and 10 with space communications.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what representations he has had from the British Broadcasting Corporation with regard to the discontinuation of both high- and low-power transmissions for Radios 1, 2, 3 and 4 on medium wave; what authorisation he has given for the redeployment of any of these frequencies for local radio services; which frequencies have been so authorised; at which locations; on what transmitted power; and with effect from what dates.

The B.B.C. has offered a number of suggestions for redeploying the frequencies at present used for transmitting Radios 1, 3 and 4. I am still considering these.As to the other parts of the Question, technical authorisation will be given in stages for the use of medium frequencies for local radio as the service develops. These authorisations will be announced from time to time by the B.B.C.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make the operation of vasectomy available on the National Health Service.

This operation is now performed under the National Health Service on clinical grounds relating to the man concerned. I propose to review the position in consultation with the medical profession.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will seek to provide that the maternity grant of £25 be received as of right by all mothers irrespective of their National Insurance contributions.

No. Maternity grant is one of the insurance benefits and as such can be paid only provided the necessary contribution conditions are satisfied. These may be satisfied on the insurance of either the mother or a husband.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what estimate he made of the average cost of funeral services when fixing the death grant in July, 1967; and what is his estimate of the current cost of such services.

Death grant is intended to make a useful contribution to funeral expenses, not to cover the full cost.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list all the industries according to the Standard Industrial Classification which his department now sponsors.

pursuant to his reply [OFFICIAL REPORT, 11th November, 1969; Vol. 791, c. 70] provided the following information:

STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION—INDUSTRIES FOR WHICH MINISTRY OF TECHNOLOGY HAS RESPONSIBILITIES
Minimum List Heading	Description
	ORDER II—MINING AND QUARRYING
101	Coal mining
104	Petroleum and Natural Gas
109	Other Mining and Quarrying (Part)
	ORDER III—FOOD, DRINK AND TOBACCO
240	Tobacco
	ORDER IV—COAL AND PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
261	Coke ovens and manufactured fuel
262	Mineral oil refining
263	Lubricating oils and greases