asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will take steps to compel all major airports to have trained nurses as part of their permanent staff.

Operators of aerodromes licensed for public use are required to make arrangements for first aid and medical emergencies. Qualified nursing staff are already available at several of our major airports but I have no evidence which would suggest that such provision should be made mandatory.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many major export projects have been supported by Exports Credits Guarantee Department financial guarantees in 1969; and what is the total volume of British exports which will result.

E.C.G.D. issued 30 financial guarantees in 1969 in support of major capital projects other than ships. These related to loans totalling £179 million, supporting British exports worth £202 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade to what extent financial guarantees were used in support of the shipbuilding industry during calendar year 1969.

Most exports of oceangoing merchant ships are supported in this way. In 1969, E.C.G.D. issued 25 financial guarantees relating to loans totalling £37 million, supporting contracts for 28 ships with an export value of £47 million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what percentage of the gross national product is represented by external trade in the United States of America, the European Economic Community and the United Kingdom, respectively, from information available to him from international sources.

In 1968, exports represented 4 per cent. of the gross national product in the United States, 9½ per cent. in the European Economic Community and 14½ per cent. in the United Kingdom.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of figures showing British exports to the sterling area, excluding sterling area countries in Western Europe, Western Europe as a whole, European Free Trade Association countries and the European Economic Community, respectively, over the past 10 years expressed both in absolute terms and as a percentage of total British exports.

Following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of figures showing the value in 1969, or the latest convenient year, and the growth over the past 10 years of exports of the countries of the European Economic Community, from information available from inter-

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he is satisfied that the recent trend in British trade accords with Her Majesty's Government's commercial policies; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. Over the last 5 years our exports have increased by over 60 per cent. from £4,565 million in 1964 to £7,338 million in 1969, and we have transformed a visible trade deficit of more than £530 million into a surplus provisionally estimated at about £130 million in 1969. I am satisfied that this impressive performance is a vindication of the liberal commercial policies which we have been following.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will seek to arrange for the handover of Edinburgh Airport to the British Airports Authority by October, 1970.

We are ready to hand this airport over to the British Airports Authority on suitable terms, but it would be optimistic to hope to arrange this as early as my hon. Friend suggests.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when work is expected to begin on the improvement of the terminal facilities at Turnhouse Airport, Edinburgh.

Following is the information:

Improvements to the existing terminal facilities are being carried out. Outline plans for new facilities have been prepared and these will be developed as part of the improvement of the airport as a whole.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on his survey of the proposal to set up a central Scottish airport in the Skinflats area of Stirlingshire.

No such survey has been made.Some preliminary technical assessments of possible sites for airports in Central Scotland have naturally taken place from time to time. They have not, however, resulted in the location of a site justifying more intensive study.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which Commonwealth countries have preferential agreements with the European Economic Community and which have notified Her Majesty's Government of their proposal to open negotiations for such agreements.

Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have an Association Agreement with the Community which has been signed but not yet ratified. An Association Agreement between Nigeria and the Community lapsed before ratification. Malta is the only Commonwealth country known to have a specific proposal for an agreement under consideration by the Community.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the relative rates of growth in exports for the years 1958 to 1968 for the countries of the European Community and for the United Kingdom, from information available to him from international sources.

The average rates of growth were 5 per cent, a year for the United Kingdom, and for the Community as a whole 11 per cent. or 8 per cent. if intra-trade is excluded.The following is the information:

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was, for the years 1965–69, the annual average increase in the volume and value, respectively, of imports of machine tools.

The value of these imports increased at an annual rate of about 4 per cent. between 1965 and 1969; figures of the volume of imports are not available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many persons serve on the bodies which are responsible to his Department, or on behalf of which the Board exercises some direct or indirect sponsoring functions; and what is expected to be the aggregate cost of maintaining these bodies in the financial year 1969–70.

Approximately 980 persons, including civil servants. A precise estimate of cost would require a prolonged investigation, but it will be of the order of £3 million to £3½ million.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will estimate when the present growth of air traffic at London Airport will make it necessary for another airport to be available.

I would refer the hon. Member to the last sentence of the reply I gave to his Question on congestion at London Airport on 28th January.—[Vol. 794, c. 345.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now make a statement on his plans for the future of Aldergrove Civil Airport and his arrangements for repairs to the runway and its extension.

Studies are in hand and I cannot add at present to my answer to the hon. Member for Londonderry (Mr. Chichester-Clark) on 9th February.—[Vol. 795, C. 269.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a further examination of the rôle of British air services before the Edwards Report is fully implemented.

The Government undertook a full examination before issuing their White Paper on civil aviation policy but, naturally, they will take account of any subsequent developments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the intervention of his Department in the affairs of the Alpha Company.

As my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Oakes) was informed on 5th and 13th February, the Board of Trade placed on 2nd February a restriction on the Midland Northern and Scottish Insurance Company Ltd. because they were not satisfied that the company had the solvency margin required by the Insurance Companies Acts, 1958 to 1967. Representations from the company on the matter are being considered.—[Vol. 795, c. 199–200 and 440.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce legislation to require all those taking holidays abroad to take out comprehensive insurance cover against the hazards, such as illness or accident, which can involve substantial cost to the holidaymaker.

The Government advise those intending to travel abroad to take out such insurance but I do not think that legislation requiring them to insure would be justifiable or practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will, arising from the case of Mr. E. S. Payne of Norwich, details of which have been submitted by the hon. Member for Norwich, North, make arrangements for co-ordination between the Registrar of Business Names and the Companies Registry.

My hon. Friend will have received a letter of February 11th, explaining that the Registrar of Companies does not, in general, attempt to ensure that the name by which he registers a company is not similar to a registered business name.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to harmonise United Kingdom company law with that of other West European countries.

I am watching developments in the company laws of other West European countries and will take them into account when the time comes to prepare further companies legislation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his plans for increasing the protection and safety of the crews of fishing fleets in the North Sea and further north.

The Fishing Vessels (Safety Provisions) Bill, which was introduced on 18th February, seeks to give powers to implement six important recommendations by the Holland-Martin Committee of Inquiry relating to the construction and equipment of trawlers. Other recommendations relating to safe working practices on board and to radio will be covered by new clauses the Government will seek to include in the Merchant Shipping Bill before Parliament. Consultation with the industry on these and other matters relating to the safety of trawlers is continuing.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the question of British European Airways being afforded the appropriate landing rights for the operation of services between the United Kingdom and Turkey.

Turkish Airlines last year sought permission to restart services to London, which they had discontinued in 1962. When permission was granted, it was pointed out that, in view of the serious problems of congestion foreseen at London (Heathrow) they would have to operate to London (Gatwick), as they had been specifically advised in 1960 would probably be the case. The Turkish authorities did not accept this, and have denied permission for B.E.A. to continue to operate to Turkey. Consultations are still in progress.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he has studied the report, entitled Government and the Exporter, produced by the Export Research Group, a copy of which has been sent to him; if he will commission an independent survey amongst exporters of the effectiveness of incentives and services for the promotion of exports; and if he will make a statement.

The weakness of this report, which I have studied, is that it attempts to establish a simple relationship in what is a complex field. The effectiveness of our service to exporters is under constant review and I do not consider that expenditure on a special survey would be justified.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what investigations have been made into the air turbulence caused by Boeing 707s and similar aircraft on structures lying beneath the glide path.

I am not aware of any adverse effects on structures from this cause and no such investigations have been carried out. Research both in this country and I understand in the United States has given no indication that there may be a problem in this area in respect of Boeings 707s and similar aircraft.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the increase of night jet flights at Gatwick for the summer period ended 31st October, 1969, to 4,509, and of the upward trend of traffic shown by the increase in passenger traffic from 1st January to 31st December, 1969, of 45·4 per cent. over 1968, what success he has had in securing agreement on a limitation of night jet flights during the summer season of 1970 to the level approved of 3,500 for Heathrow.

I understand that in the absence of any restriction in 1970 a total of some 6,000 night jet movements have been estimated to take place at Gatwick between the hours of midnight and 6 a.m. in the seven months April to October. I have, therefore, held urgent discussions with the airlines and they have agreed to put a voluntary limit of 4,950 to the number of such movements this year. I am satisfied that this concession represents a considerable effort by all concerned to protect the amenity of Gatwick residents and is without prejudice to the detailed review of night jet traffic at Gatwick for subsequent years which has already been announced.

asked the President of the Board of Trade in view of the increase of night jet flights at Gatwick during the 1969 summer season to 4,509, over 1,000 more than the number permitted at Heathrow, if he will now authorise the payment of soundproofing grants at Gatwick similar to those approved for Heathrow.

This is one of the matters I shall be considering in the context of the forthcoming review of night jet traffic at Gatwick and the measures that are needed to protect amenity for 1971 and subsequently.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration he gave to the fact that the products of the Metal Box Company fall into four different categories of the Standard Industrial Classification before deciding not to refer the question of the Company's contravention of Section 17 of the Companies Act, 1967, to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

I considered the requirements of the Act and the description in the director's report of the business of the company and its subsidiaries.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the Rochdale Report on Shipping, now in his hands.

I have nothing to add at present to my reply to the hon. Member for Liverpool, Kirkdale (Mr. Dunn) on 5th February.—[Vol. 795, c. 199.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total weight and total value of imports of dried milk and cheese into the United Kingdom during the three months of November and December 1969 and January 1970.

The figures for January, 1970 will not be available until tomorrow, but in the last three months of 1969 (figures for which are given in the Overseas Trade Accounts) imports of dried milk were 15,455 tons valued at £1,845,000 and cheese and curd 41,503 tons valued at £11,103,000.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what credit facilities are available from public funds to assist British exporters to Malaysia and Singapore.

No special facilities are available from public funds for this purpose, but the full range of E.C.G.D.'s normal credit insurance facilities is available for both markets.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the decision of the Roskill Committee to substitute a third alignment for the Thurleigh Airport site, together with new proposals for urbanisation in the Raunds area, since the conclusion of Stage II of the Inquiry.

This is a matter for the Roskill Commission: I have seen a copy of the very full reply which was sent to the hon. Member by the Commission's Chairman in reply to his letter on this subject. I am satisfied with the Commission's procedure.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he is aware that the United States of America has made representations to the European Economic Community that Common Market countries are contravening the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; what action he has taken or intends taking to raise these matters within the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade; and what effect entering the European Economic Community will have on Great Britain's membership of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade.

I think my hon. Friend has in mind the proposed trade arrangements between the European Economic Community and a number of other, mainly developing, countries. It is the practice for Working Parties on which the United Kingdom is invariably represented to study such agreements when they have been completed and presented to G.A.T.T., and to report on their compatibility with the rules of G.A.T.T. relating to free trade areas and customs unions. British entry into the E.E.C. would have no effect on our continuing membership of G.A.T.T.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will carry out a study of the level of interest rates charged by finance companies both on second mortgages and for other purposes.

Such a study will, I understand, be included in the report of the Crowther Committee which we expect to receive within six months.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what progress has been made in his consultations with the Indian Government on arrangements to compensate the Indian textile industry for the loss of the Commonwealth preference it now enjoys.

In the official discussions in New Delhi in December, it was agreed that, following a meeting at technical level involving the industries of the two countries, there would be further discussions between Governments. The technical meeting took place in January. No date has yet been fixed for further discussions between Governments. As regards possible damage to Indian exports, I would refer my hon. Friend to the statement made by my predecessor on 22nd July, 1969.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state his plans for increasing industrial relations between North-East Scotland and Scandinavia and Northern Europe.

I discussed trade relations during my visit to Oslo last week and I look forward to similar discussions in other European countries later in the year. I hope that firms in North-East Scotland will make increasing use of the comprehensive export promotion services of the Board of Trade and the Export Council for Europe, and in particular that they will be well represented in promotional events arranged for this year.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he intends to meet the Argentine Minister of Economics while he is in London to discuss ways of improving Anglo-Argentine trade; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I met Dr. Dagnino Pastore the Argentine Minister of Economy and members of his mission when they visited London last week. The Mission had useful discussions covering many important aspects of Anglo-Argentine trade.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether, in view of the public concern, he will agree to meet a deputation to discuss the affairs of the Dollar Land Holdings Company before coming to a decision whether or not to appoint inspectors to investigate the affairs of the company.

My hon. Friend now knows that the Board of Trade are not satisfied that there are grounds for the appointment of an inspector under section 165(b) of the Companies Act 1948 to investigate the affairs of the company. I do not consider that any useful purpose would be served by my receiving a further deputation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) how many scheduled day flights are being operated between London and Gibraltar on the present winter programme; and how this compares with the number last winter;(2) how many day flights between London and Gibraltar are scheduled for the summer of 1970; and how this number compares with the summer of 1969.

This winter and last winter B.E.A. operated two scheduled day flights a week each way between London and Gibraltar direct and one via Madrid. Last summer there were four direct day flights a week from June to September and three a week at other times. Three day flights a week each way are scheduled in B.E.A.'s provisional 1970 timetable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will initiate international consultations to seek to prevent a recurrence of the events which led to the loss of the s.s. "Irene" which put to sea with insufficient fuel and was some 300 miles out in her reckoning.

International consultations are already in progress through the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation and the International Labour Organisation on all matters which could be expected to reduce the risk of an incident of this kind. In particular, a joint I.M.C.O./I.L.O. Committee is providing valuable advice to governments on standards for training of officers and crew.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what requests he has had for long-term credits for the sale of HS. 748 overseas; and what credits he has offered or supplied.

Credits of up to 8 years from delivery for sales to creditworthy buyers are in principle eligible for E.C.G.D. cover. The details of individual cases are confidential.

asked the President of the Board of Trade which Minister from his Department will represent Her Majesty's Government at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development special committee on Preferences scheduled to convene on 31st March.

Our representation, like that of the other prospective preference-giving countries, will be at official level.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when he expects to be able to give effect to the recommendation of the Jenkins Committee on Company Law Reform that the accounts of foreign-owned banks operating in the United Kingdom should be treated in the same manner as United Kingdom banks and should not enjoy accounting exemptions which the United Kingdom banks were denied.

Having come to the conclusion that the exemptions should be continued for British banks, the Jenkins Committee said that they thought that foreign banks should be treated in the same way. I do not think it follows that, because the exemptions are being withdrawn from a class of British banks, they should be withdrawn from the foreign banks.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how much longer he expects to take over the detailed scrutiny of the full accounts of the accepting and discount houses before coming to a decision as to whether or not they should continue to enjoy their existing accounting exemptions.

I shall review the need to continue the exemptions for these companies later this year when full accounts for three years will be available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations about hi-jacking and acts of air terrorism he has received from the British Airline Pilots Association and the International Federation of Airline Pilots Associations; and what reply he has sent.

This year the Board of Trade has received one letter from the British Airline Pilots Association relating to security arrangements at airports in the United Kingdom and abroad. A reply will shortly be sent.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what recent representations he has received from British European Airways and the British Overseas Airways Corporation about hijacking and other acts of air terrorism; and what reply he has sent.

None; but the Board of Trade is naturally in close touch with both Corporations about these matters.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what official inquiries have been made into the destruction, following an act of arson, of British European Airways Trident G.ARPS at Heathrow on 29th July, 1969; and what action has been taken on the findings of these inquiries.

I understand that the matter was investigated by B.E.A. and by the B.A.A. and that, as a result, further measures have been taken to improve security. The evidence available as yet does not, I understand, justify criminal proceedings.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, in view of the fact that he was requested 15 months ago to inquire into matters connected with Dollar Land Holdings, what factors have delayed his decision regarding an investigation into the company's affairs under the Companies Act.

There has been no delay. The correspondence to which I assume my hon. Friend refers was concluded in December, 1968.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he accepts the proposal in the Edwards Report that British European Airways trunk routes should terminate at Glasgow and Edinburgh; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

As my hon. Friend will know, B.E.A.s main trunk services to Scotland already terminate at Glasgow and Edinburgh. There is no proposal to change this or to discontinue the direct service to Aberdeen. The White Paper on Civil Aviation Policy indicated that the organisation of regional air services would be examined further.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many tons of Russian barley have been imported into Great Britain so far this year, up to the latest date for which figures are available.

United Kingdom imports from the Soviet Union in January were 13,783 tons.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what action he has taken to investigate breaches of the International Air Transport Association regulations by United Arab Airlines in respect of passenger traffic to the United Kingdom: and if he will make a statement.

I know of the allegations that traffic is being carried at rates not in accordance with our arrangements for air services with the United Arab Republic. If the hon. Member will let me have any evidence in his possession, I will certainly add it to our investigations. We have, in fact, called for a renegotiation of air services arrangements between the United Kingdom and the United Arab Republic.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what reasons have led him to decide, against the recommendation of the Jenkins Committee on Company Law Reform, that the United Kingdom shipping companies should continue to enjoy accountancy exemptions.

The Government did not accept this recommendation. Paragraph 25 of Schedule 8 to the Companies Act, 1948, was amended by the Companies Act, 1967, so that the exemptions are available to shipping companies which satisfy the Board of Trade that, in the national interest, they ought to be exempted. The reasons for this were explained by the Government when the Bill which became the Act of 1967 was before Parliament.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what statistical information his Department maintains about the productive capacity of the food pre-packaging industry with particular reference to British horticultural products.

A wide variety of concerns from growers to retailers engage in various kinds of pre-packing of fresh produce and the Department has not so far considered it necessary to obtain from them comprehensive returns of their productive capacity.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to ensure that the flow of imports of beef and fat lamb is so regulated as to prevent the disruption of the home producers' market.

We are currently discussing with the Governments of our main supplying countries, and with domestic interests, proposals for a scheme designed to improve the phasing of beef supplies from all sources on to the United Kingdom market. Our lamb imports consist predominantly of supplies from New Zealand which are already satisfactorily phased.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how much has been invested in buildings for cattle over the last four years throughout Great Britain.

The information is available only for grant-aided investment. About £56 million of investment in cattle buildings has been approved under the capital grant schemes in the four years 1966 to 1969.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the administrative arrangements for ensuring greater collaboration between manufacturers of agricultural chemicals, farmers and ecologists and conservationists.

The main arrangements are the Pesticides and Veterinary Products Safety Precautions Schemes. The Department also encourages informal collaboration between these interests. All of them were represented at the Conference on "Agriculture and Environment" which we organised in January in connection with the European Conservation Year and which is being followed up at local level.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the total numbers employed at the Selby factory of the British Sugar Corporation during the factory's annual working campaign; and how many of those employed are immigrant workers not locally resident.

I am informed by the British Sugar Corporation that the total number employed by them at Selby during the 1969–70 campaign was 350. This figure comprises 230 permanent staff and 120 seasonal workers employed for the campaign period. Of the latter group, approximately 70 have their permanent residence outside the Selby area.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many redundancies will arise as a result of the decision to close the Selby factory of the British Sugar Corporation; and how many redundant workers will be offered employment at the York factory.

I am informed by the British Sugar Corporation that when its Selby factory closes in 1974 it is its intention to offer any vacant posts in its York factory, or in any of its other factories and departments, to those members of its Selby staff who are able and willing to fill them. It is not possible at this stage to estimate how many vacancies will be filled in this way. Additionally the Corporation's security of employment scheme will enable some employees to take an early retirement and will make provision for those who are finally redundant; the scheme also provides financial assistance for employees who accept posts elsewhere within the Corporation.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the new international fisheries order under which inspectors from 10 countries, including Great Britain, may stop and board each other's fishing vessels, indicating in how many and which cases this new right has been exercised in the case of British vessels, and the resulting effect on their freedom and rights to their traditional fishing grounds and to their regulations regarding size of net mesh and other technical fish catching utilities and amenities.

There have as yet been no reports of any British fishing vessel being inspected. The scheme does not impose any new regulations or restrictions on British fishermen, other than the obligation to allow an authorised foreign inspector to ascertain whether the internationally agreed conservation rules are being observed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what investigations he is supporting into the relationship between phosphate discharge in river effluents and excessive growth of algae.

None. I am advised that the levels of phosphate found in river waters are attributable almost wholly to industrial and sewage effluents and not to agricultural practices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to prevent indiscriminate bull-dozing of hedgerows, with consequent threats to plantlife, wildlife and danger of erosion.

I do not accept that hedgerows are removed indiscriminately. Our advisory officers always consider the agricultural advantages of hedgerows when advising on the layout of farms, and they also take into account the amenity aspects.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware of the proposals in the Edwards Report that British European Airways trunk routes should terminate at Glasgow and Edinburgh; what steps he proposes to take in view of the effect of this on the Scottish economy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply he has had today from my right hon. Friend the President of the Board of Trade to a related Question. My right hon. Friend and I keep in close touch on air service matters affecting Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what has been the indebtedness of farmers to the banks in Scotland in each of the last five years.

Advances by banks to Scottish farmers at May in each of the last five years were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what evidence has been obtained from examination of salmon caught in Scottish rivers since the start of the present season to establish that any of the fish have suffered damage from the extensive oil pollution in the North Sea; and if he will make a statement.

I have no evidence that oil pollution has caused any damage to salmon and no reason to suppose that it is likely to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in the light of the fact that assaults on the police resulting in their absence from duty were 356 in the period 1966 to 1968 compared with a total of 196 in the period 1963 to 1965, he will introduce legislation to increase the panalties for assaults on police officers.

There is no restriction in law on the period of imprisonment which can be imposed by the High Court of Justiciary for assaults on police officers.The revised figure for such assaults in 1966–68 is 325.Revised returns by chief constables for assaults on the police are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many persons are involved in the granting of salary increases to members of new town development corporations and other public bodies in Scotland; if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a full list of the details; and on what basis such increases have been awarded.

The salaries of the Chairmen of the five New Town Corporations have been increased from £2,000 to £2,750; those of the five Deputy Chairmen from £1,000 to £1,375; and those of the 32 members from £500 to £700. All these increases took effect on 1st January, 1970, and they reflected the fact that none of these salaries had been increased since January, 1963. If my hon. Friend cares to specify the other public bodies he has in mind, I shall provide the figures relating to any of those for which I am responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the annual cost of educating a student in a teacher training college in 1969; what were the comparative figures for the preceding five years; and how the cost compares with the United Kingdom average.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many policemen were murdered in the course of their duty in each year since 1918; and if he will indicate The years when capital punishment was and was not in force.

Figures are not available for 1918–48, but during the period 1949 to 1969 four police officers were murdered in Scotland in the course of their duty as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what increase in employment in professional and scientific services, distribution and other services, will be required in the current year to fulfil the prediction of a 60,000 increase in employment in these sectors by 1970, contained in paragraph 26 of Command Paper No. 2864; and how this compares with the out-turn in each of the past five years.

Employment in expanding sectors of these service industries increased by 57,000 between mid-1964 and mid-1968, compared with a forecast of 60,000 for the period 1964–70 referred to by the hon. Member. Since the figures for 1969 are not yet available, it is not possible to make a calculation relating

The figures given below relate to gross current expenditure income from fees being disregarded. Residential costs are excluded. Figures for the United Kingdom are not available.the current calendar year to each of the past five years on the lines required by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the percentage increase in the number of employees in employment during the current calendar year required to fulfil the predictions in Table B of page 9 of Command Paper No. 2864; and how this compares with the actual out-turn in each of the past five years.

The latest available figures of employees in employment relate to March, 1969. It is therefore not practicable to make a calculation in the form required by the hon. Member. I have, however, frequently made it clear that, while the growth of new jobs in Scotland is well up to expectations, the number of jobs lost by accelerated industrial change is greater than was contemplated.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what net increase in employment in all production industries, in manufacturing industries, in construction, and in gas, electricity and water, respectively, will be required in the current calendar year to fulfil the predictions contained in Table A on page 8 of Command Paper No. 2864; and how this will compare with the out-turn in each of these categories in each of the past five years.

Separate statistics of employment in the industries in question down to June, 1968, are given in Table 40 of the Digest of Scottish Statistics for October, 1969. Since these are the latest figures available, it is not practicable to make a prediction for the current calendar year on the basis which he requires.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many honours graduates in physics, chemistry and biology, respectively, were teaching in Scottish secondary schools at the latest convenient date.

In December, 1968, there were 1,351 honours graduates employed wholly or mainly in secondary schools who were qualified to teach one or more science subjects. Information is not available as to the subjects in which they held their degrees.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for farm improvement grants have been granted in each of the last five years.

The information is given below:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what communications he has received from the Scottish White Fish Association Limited and from other relevant organisations requesting an inquiry into fish prices and costs; and what steps he has taken and plans to take to deal with the requests so made.

I have received no such communication. The Association and the Scottish Trawlers' Federation have however asked me for a meeting to discuss the need for an early and favourable decision on the White Fish Authority's Minimum Prices Scheme for Scotland and Northern Ireland. Ministers have announced approval of the scheme in principle and stated that a further announcement will be made when consultations with the Authority have been completed. I do not think therefore that a meeting would be helpful.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the current farming acreage in Scotland; and what is the total number of civil servants concerned with agriculture in Scotland.

16·6 million acres were accounted for in the June, 1969, Scottish Agricultural Census. The staff of the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland concerned with agriculture numbers 2,095.

asked the Secretary of State for Local Government and Regional Planning what was the total value per head of population of all development grants and assistance, including regional employment premiums, in the South-West Development Area, and all the other United Kingdom development areas together, in 1969.

In the financial year 1968–69, it was £16 in the South-Western Development Area, and £31 in the other development areas taken together.

asked the Minister of Technology how many square feet of factory space per one thousand population were completed in the South-West Development Area, and all other United Kingdom development areas together, in 1969.

0·77 and 0·73, respectively, based on the number of factories completed for manufacturing industries between 1st January and 30th June, 1969, for which industrial development certificates were issued, I regret figures for the second half of 1969 are not yet available.

asked the Minister of Technology how many industrial development certificates have been applied for by companies wishing to establish works or other premises in the city of Lichfield; and, for the total square footage, how many have been agreed and for what total square footage, during the last two years.

In the years 1968 and 1969, 12 industrial development certificates were issued in the Lichfield employment exchange area for a total area of 189,000 sq. ft. 6 of these for 89,000 sq. ft. were issued to firms new to the the area. In the same period, 2 applications were refused.

asked the Minister of Technology what is his policy in the matter of granting industrial development certificates for the city of Lichfield, in the light of new areas within the jurisdiction of the city now available for industrialisation, the need to provide employment for the increased population resulting from overspill arrivals and natural growth and the need to discourage commuting to Birmingham where possible.

We are prepared to approve applications for industrial development certificates for the modest expansion of local firms and for firms moving to Lichfield from the West Midlands conurbation under the overspill arrangements, if the projects concerned could not reasonably be expected to go to a development or intermediate area.

asked the Minister of Technology what contingency plans have been made by Her Majesty's Goverment to reduce facilities and staff at the British Research and Development Corporation in the event of the corporation being unable to obtain the number of contracts envisaged in paragraph 34 of his Green Paper, Industrial Research and Development in Government Laboratories.

The Green Paper proposals have been put forward for public discussion, and legislation would in any case be needed before a British Research and Development Corporation could be established.

asked the Minister of Technology whether it is Her Majesty's Government's intention that the staff employed by the proposed British Research and Development Corporation will be given Civil Service terms of employment; and what changes are envisaged in the terms of service offered to the current staffs of existing establishments to be incorporated into the British Research and Development Corporation and future staff recruited after the creation of the British Research and Development Corporation.

The staff of the Corporation would not be civil servants. The terms and conditions of service of the staff of the proposed British Research and Development Corporation would be a matter for discussion with appropriate staff representatives. Staff transferred to the Corporation from existing organisations would, however, be given terms of employment not less favourable than those they now have.

asked the Minister of Technology how many requests for industrial development certificates he has received from Portsmouth in the current financial year; and how many he has granted.

In the period from 1st April, 1969, to 31st January, 1970, 13 industrial development certificates were issued and none refused in the Portsmouth Employment Exchange area.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to ensure that the standards of industrial goods produced in the United Kingdom harmonise with the standards obtaining for similar industrial goods in Western Europe.

With the Department's full support, the British Standards Institution is taking a leading part in the harmonisation of industrial standards in Western Europe, as well as at the wider international level. The Department is also represented directly in the Tripartite Committee for Standardisation which over the last three years has enabled United Kingdom, French and German officials to co-operate in accelerating the harmonisation of standards in areas of particular importance.

asked the Minister of Technology how many times he visited the factories of Beagle Aircraft Company in the period July, 1968 to November, 1969.

I visited both factories of Beagle Aircraft Ltd. on 10th January, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what extension of nursery class provision has been provided since March, 1963, with the specific purpose of enabling married women with young children to become teachers and to teach.

By January, 1969, the latest date for which figures are available, 236 classes had been established for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the number of teachers required to provide for classes with a maximum of thirty children in maintained primary and secondary schools.

No useful estimate can be made. The size of classes depends on the availability of premises and the deployment of teachers in each school as well as on the national supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will now seek to institute an independent inquiry into the effects of loans to students or post-graduates, with particular reference to whether they are likely to lead to a more or less efficient use of educational resources, whether they tend to shortern or prolong the time students spend at universities, and whether they inflict hardship or impair the educational chances of students.

I do not regard this as an issue which can best be resolved by an inquiry of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money was given to support the theatre in London and the rest of England, respectively, during the last year for which figures are available.

Grants in support of drama in England in 1968–69 amounted to £1,834,000. This total included £563,000 for the National Theatre and Royal Shakespeare Companies, both of which tour each year; £190,000 for other London-based theatre companies; and £1,081,000 for the rest of England.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what principles govern the giving of Arts Council grants to repertory theatres in the East Midlands.

The principles are the same for all repertory theatres. The Arts Council, within the limits of fund available, make grants after examination of estimates and take into account artistic standing and potential.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he is satisfied that the provisions of and maximum penalties proscribed in the Wireless and Telegraphy Act, 1949, are adequate to deal with the sending of false radio messages; and if he will make a statement.

Yes, bearing in mind that Parliament increased the penalty in 1967 and that thus far the courts have found it necessary only in one case out of 218 to award the new maximum of three months and £400.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of hospitals in the area of the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board provides out-patient dispensing facilities; how many undertake the manufacture of their own sterile products; and in how many are three-monthly ward drug checks being undertaken.

43·6 per cent.; 20 hospitals; 23 hospitals—checks are made at other hospitals at varying intervals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospital pharmacists have been appointed to the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board and to the hospital management committees within that area; and what proposals are now under consideration for the future representation of this profession on the area health authorities proposed in the Green Paper.

There are no hospital pharmacists currently appointed as members of these bodies. I have suggested in the Green Paper that a third of the members of each area health authority might be selected by the main health professions and that its statutory committee might include members appointed by the local professional committees. The detailed composition of the area health authorities and their statutory committees will be settled when I have considered the views that are expressed on these suggestions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the chief pharmacists in posts in the Liverpool Regional Hospital Board area is due to retire in the next five years; and what is the present short-fall of all hospital pharmacists within the region in terms of current establishments.

22·2 per cent.; there are at present 24 vacancies and an establishment of 97.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his policy on the employment of agency nurses in National Health Service hospitals; and what assessments he has made of the effect of employing agency nurses on the stability of employment of National Health Service nurses.

Our policy is that National Health Service hospitals should be staffed by directly employed nurses and the discretion of hospital boards to employ agency nurses has been limited to the minimum necessary to avoid disruption of services to patients. My right hon. Friend is watching the situation closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many speech therapists are paid according to Whitley, Burnham and local authority scales of pay, respectively; and if he will publish this information.

The National Health Service Whitley Council agreements apply to all speech therapists employed in the hospital service, of whom there were the equivalent of 166 whole-time staff (provisional figures) in post in England and Wales at 30th September, 1969. I understand that the Whitley Council agreements are also applied by local education authorities to the great majority of speech therapists employed in the school health service, of whom there were in total the equivalent of 471 whole-time staff in post in England and Wales at 31st December, 1968, but I have no reliable information about the numbers of speech therapists outside the hospital service who might be employed on Burnham or other rates of pay. The Whitley Council is currently reviewing both the pay and grading of speech therapists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received the Report of the Working Party on the Hospital Pharmaceutical Service; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes, my right hon. Friends the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Secretary of State for Wales and I received the Report on 13th February and we are grateful to the Chairman, Sir Noel Hall and members of the Working Party for the valuable and comprehensive inquiry which they have undertaken. In view of the importance of reaching early conclusions upon the recommendations in the report, we are today sending copies to hospital authorities and to professional and other associations most closely concerned, asking for their views as soon as possible. Copies will also be placed in the Library of the House and made available to the Press today. The report is being printed and will be available as a priced document from Her Majesty's Stationery Office early in April.The principal recommendations are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what allocation of beds and operating theatres is made for patients undergoing operations on a payment basis at hospitals in the Newcastle Region.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) on what date plans for a new maternity wing for Victoria Hospital, Blackpool, were first submitted to him; and, under these plans, how many beds were to be provided;(2) when he expects that the building of a new maternity wing for Victoria Hospital, Blackpool, will begin; and how many beds will be provided.