asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his policy with regard to the import of French brushed and unwashed potatoes during the spring of 1970.

New potatoes, which are normally required to be washed if they are sent to this country from areas affected by Colorado Beetle, are exempt from this requirement if they are treated in licensed packing stations. There are at present five such stations in France from which new potatoes may be imported between 1st March and 30th June.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the value of the United Kingdom's total production of beef and lamb is produced on hill farms.

As the hon. Member knows hill farms are a major source of store animals for breeding and fattening elsewhere. Possibly half the sheep and a seventh of the cattle fattened in any year originally came from hill areas but much of their weight and value will have been added in the lowlands.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware of the plan to close the beet sugar factory at Selby; and, in view of the increased cost to farmers of transporting the beets to other factories, whether he will discuss with the British Sugar Corporation the advisability of a review of the decision.

I am aware of the Corporation's intention to commence the expansion of its York factory in 1973, thus enabling it to close Selby in 1974. This is in accordance with the Corporation's general policy of rationalisation, and my right hon. Friend is satisfied, as he told the House last year, that this is desirable in the national interest.—[Vol. 785, c. 267.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what account he has taken of the lower trend in cereal yields in the South West in recent years in making his estimate of increased efficiency in annual farm price reviews.

Cereal yields in the South West are reflected in the national averages which are taken into account when assessing the industry's efficiency gain taking one year with another.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to prevent the destruction of hedges where this is likely to result in soil erosion.

Removal of hedgerows rarely leads directly to soil erosion but in any case where such a result is likely our officers would take any opportunity open to them of advising against it. The decision, of course, rests with the farmer himself. The results of our investigation of the general problem of erosion in East Anglia and elsewhere have been brought to the attention of farmers through the Ministry's publication and other suitable ways.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what factors, other than bad weather, have led to the increase in the prices of fish in recent months.

Fish prices are seasonal and particularly sensitive to changes in supply and demand. They tend to rise at this time of year and in addition there have been low yields on some of our fishing grounds. It would be impossible to evaluate all the factors which affect prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will now implement the White Fish Authority's recommendations for a minimum price scheme.

The White Fish Authority has submitted to my right hon. Friends and me a minimum price scheme for Scotland and Northern Ireland. As my right hon. Friend told my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Dewar) on 26th February, we have decided to confirm this scheme subject to certain modifications.—[Vol. 796, c. 411.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what study he has made of the latest Mansholt Plan, details of which are in his possession; and what is his estimate of its effect on British agriculture, when Great Britain joins the enlarged Community.

I am of course aware of the Commission's Memorandum on the Reform of Agriculture which was presented to the Council of Ministers of the E.E.C. in December, 1968, but it would be premature to estimate its possible effect on British agriculture since no decisions have yet been taken on it.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will seek to introduce a mortgage option scheme for farmers.

No. I greatly doubt whether such a scheme would have much appeal to farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many species of domestic animals, other than dogs and cats, are subjected to quarantine against rabies; and for how long in each case.

None.The import of certain exotic species susceptible to rabies and known to play a part in the spread of disease abroad is banned except under licence to zoos and research centres. My right hon. Friend is suspending the issue of licences to zoos pending the report of the Committee of Inquiry into our rabies policy.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now vaccinate against rabies all dogs from abroad at the commencement of their quarantine, using the vaccine recommended for this purpose by the World Health Organisation.

No. My right hon. Friend announced on 6th March the additional precautions we are taking against the introduction of rabies pending the report of the Committee of Inquiry.—[Vol. 797. c. 171–2.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to ensure that imports of food to the United Kingdom come only from countries which conform to pesticide and antibiotic regulations at least as stringent as those imposed upon home producers.

All food is controlled by the Food and Drugs Act, 1955; in addition the Imported Food Regulations, 1968, require that all imported food be sound, wholesome and fit for human consumption. There is therefore no general need to restrict imports of food from particular countries.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether in the last two years representatives from his Department have visited Denmark in order to have consultations in that country concerning methods of controlling the spread of foot-and-mouth disease with special reference to ring vaccination policies.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what countries have been visited in the last two years by representatives of his Department in order to study their vaccination methods in respect of the control of foot-and-mouth disease; and what was the result of those studies.

No countries have been visited in the past two years by representatives of my Department specifically to study ring vaccination, but on two occasions the subject was discussed when senior veterinary officers were in Denmark for other purposes.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what was the total of compensation paid to owners of livestock in each of the last 20 years in respect of animals slaughtered in England and Wales during the outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease.

Sums paid in compensation over the period were:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he is taking to ensure that the reduction of the grant in aid of current expenditure to the National Institute of Agricultural Botany does not prejudice the certification of seed for export or the improvement in quality of root and vegetable seeds.

My right hon. Friend the Member for Sunderland, North (Mr. Willey) is misinformed. It is not intended to reduce the total grant-in-aid of the current expenditure of the National Institute of Agricultural Botany.The Institute operates four schemes for the certification of root and vegetable seeds. For some years these schemes have run at a substantial loss, the income from fees covering only about 10 per cent. of the cost. In an effort to place this work on a self-supporting basis the Institute recently decided to re-organise the schemes and to unify them into a single scheme. It is hoped thereby to achieve useful economies without damaging the effectiveness of the work. It has also been decided that there should be a remission of charges for the certification of seed lots destined for export, so that there may be no question of the level of fees adversely affecting this important section of the seed trade.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is his estimate of the proportion of the rise in retail prices of food generally, and of any specified foods, which over the last 20 years has been taken up by the costs of more elaborate processing, packaging and presentation.

A recently published unofficial estimate indicates that in the last few years the costs of processing, packaging and presentation incurred in the United Kingdom represented about 20 per cent. of the total retail value of all food, including imports. I regret that no estimates are available of the change in this element over the last 20 years, or of changes in its composition as between volume and price changes, or for individual foods.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases have been brought to his notice under the Prices and Incomes Act of foodstuffs which are identical being packed under different labels and marketed at different prices; and if he will make a statement.

We are aware that some "branded" and private label foods are similar in quality but are sold at different prices. This is a well known trade practice and we do not consider that it requires any action under the Prices and Incomes policy. We are however keeping the position under review.

asked the Minister of Agriculture. Fisheries and Food to what extent food prices have risen since devaluation; whether he will give a full and detailed list of actual price rises of stated articles since devaluation; and what action he has taken or intends taking to ensure that these increases were justified and with what results.

The Food Index increased by 14 per cent. between November, 1967, arid January, 1970. The information about individual commodities is shown below. It should be noted that all these figures are distorted by seasonal factors.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the acreage of land in National Parks and in areas of outstanding natural beauty for which grants under the Hill Land Improvement Scheme 1967, have been paid and what has been the total value of these grants in each year.

I regret the information is not available and could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what has been the acreage of land in National Parks for which grants under the Agriculture (Ploughing Grants) Act, 1952, have been paid over the period 1953 to 1969; and what has been the total value of these grants.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what is the acreage of land in areas of outstanding natural beauty for which grants under the Agriculture (Ploughing Grants) Act, 1952, have been paid during the period 1953 to 1969; and what has been the total value of these grants.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the publication of Command Paper No. 4289, Britain and the European Communities, An Economic Assessment, he will select one or more corn-modifies and seek to change the method of support so as to bring them into line with the methods employed in the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the long-term effect on the salmon fishing industry in the United Kingdom on the basis that the catching of salmon off Greenland continues at or exceeds the rate of 1969.

The success of the industry depends mainly on the strengths of the annual runs of adult salmon and grilse returning to their home waters to spawn. The evidence so far available shows that continuing catches off Greenland at or above the 1969 level could markedly reduce annual runs in the United King-darn, but the extent of the reduction cannot yet be estimated with precision.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has completed his study of the economic effects of British Standard Time on agriculture and if he will make a statement.

We have made a general economic survey on which we are now consulting the landowners', farmers' and workers' organisations. Account will be taken of their views in the comprehensive review which is being co-ordinated by my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what extra height he at present estimates is needed to add to riparian banks and walls downstream of the proposed Thames flood barrier.

Where a high standard of protection is justified walls would need to be raised from between 3 and 6 ft. depending upon the standard of existing defences, the position on the river and the form of construction. The defences would have to be constructed with full regard to the riparian usage of the river frontage and with the maximum possible regard to amenities.

asked the Lord President of the Council what rules the Jockey Club were required to alter, other than the rule that three black balls barring membership must be increased to nine, before the Privy Council advised that a Charter of Incorporation should be granted; and whether the memorandum on General Principles Governing the Grant of Charters, issued in November, 1966, will now be amended to make it clear that organisations having a similar rule will be treated as fully representative.

The principal changes made concern provisions for the holding of meetings and the keeping of minutes. In future, members who have requisitioned a special general meeting will be able to call a meeting themselves if the stewards fail to do so, and minutes will be required to be kept of meetings both of the stewards and committees. The power of the club to delegate functions to committees has also been limited.On the second half of the Question, I see no reason to alter the memorandum.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether Condition No. 4 of the Principles Governing the Grant of Charters, published by his office in November, 1966, that an organisation must be fully representative of the interests it purports to serve, was taken into account when considering the Jockey Club application for a charter, in view of the fact that women are not allowed to be members of that organisation.

Yes, all the facts were taken into account. I do not think that the absence of women members makes the Jockey Club unrepresentative in this particular field.

asked the Lord President of the Council when he expects automatic dialling to be introduced on the telephones in No. 1 Bridge Street.

Full automatic dialling will not be introduced on the telephones in No. 1 Bridge Street until the automatic telephone exchange comes into operation in the autumn of 1972. In the meantime, however, two dial telephones have been installed on the first floor.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will seek to provide facilities for a studio in which hon. Members and Ministers can be interviewed for television, to avoid journeys to White City and other studios.

The Services Committee recommended in its Third Report of last Session that a television studio should be provided in the new Parliamentary building. Until this is built, no accommodation is available for this purpose.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to refer to the Procedure Committee the suggestion that the Report stage of Scottish Bills should be taken in the Scottish Grand Committee.

The Committee's terms of reference already allow them to consider my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average age at which children resident in the County of Midlothian start their primary education; and how many children beyond the age of five years are at present awaiting a primary school place.

I have asked Midlothian Education Authority to send my hon. Friend the available information. It is not kept centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the growth potential of the tourist industry over the next 10 years in the lower reaches of the Clyde in terms of finance and numbers employed, he will make an estimate of the cost this development will place on local authorities and government in providing the infrastructure to sustain it.

A comprehensive report on the recreational potential of the lower Clyde will shortly be presented to the Scottish Tourist Board. Until this is available I cannot give even a tentative answer to this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to negative the drift south from Scotland of workers which will be increased by the proposed Channel Tunnel.

I would refer my hon. and learned Friend to my reply to his similar Question on 12th February.—[Vol. 795. c. 399–400.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for counteracting the trend south from North-East Scotland to South-West Scotland and England of industrial craftsmen, craftswomen and other workers.

Since this Government extended to the whole of North-East Scotland the advantages of development area status, the region has shared in the dramatic reduction in recent years in Scotland's net migration loss to England and Wales, thus proving the effectiveness of the intensified assistance to development areas which we have made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for the most recent convenient period how many crimes and offences were committed by young persons in the two age groups 8 to 16 and 17 to 21 years; and what percentage those figures represent in the total incidence of crimes and offences.

It is not possible to give figures of the crimes and offences committed by persons in any particular age group, because the total figure includes unsolved crimes. During the period 1st October, 1968, to 30th September, 1969, charges were proved against 24,295 persons aged 8 to 16 and against 37,117 persons aged 17 to 20. These figures represent 12·4 per cent. and 19·0 per cent. of the persons of all ages against whom charges were proved.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the population of, and the number of persons in employment in, the Tayside Economic Planning Region at the time of publication of Command Paper No. 2864, at the time of the commissioning of the Tayside Planning Study, and at the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many murders and crimes of violence were reported to the police in 1969; and what were the comparable figures five, 10 and 15 years, previously, respectively.

The numbers of murders made known to the police in Scotland in 1969, 1964, 1959 and 1954 were 30, 27, 13 and 14, respectively. Corresponding figures for crimes of violence were 3,365, 2,276, 1,377 and 913.The figures for 1969 are provisional, and those for murder have been corrected to the end of December of each year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of housing starts and housing completions in Glasgow in each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date.

The Registrar General's estimates of the population in the Tayside Economic Planning Region at 30th June, 1966, 1967, and 1969 were 449,800, 447,300 and 446,600, respectively. It is approximately estimated that the number of persons in employment in the area at mid-1966, 1967 and 1968, excluding employees in certain categories who do not hold insurance cards, were 182,000, 175,000 and 174,000, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will make a statement about the review by the Transport Committee of the Scottish Economic Planning Council of air transport facilities between Scotland and Norway.

While the Transport Committee of S.E.P.C. has considered the general question of stimulating the growth of air services between Scotland and Europe, it has not undertaken a specific review of direct services to Norway.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will state the number of unregistered teachers who have attended four-week qualification courses at colleges of education and the number who have failed.

I am asking the General Teaching Council to send this information to the hon. Gentleman.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress is being made with the provision of a jetty at Vatersay, Isle of Barra; when it is expected to be in use; and what is its estimated cost and his Department's contribution.

I understand that Inverness County Council has not yet reached a decision on the need for a new jetty at Vatersay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent proposals for a jetty in the Isle of Eriskay have been presented to him by Inverness County Council; and if he will ensure that any plans approved by him will provide landing and other necessary facilities for a vehicle ferry service to the island.

The proposals put to me by Inverness County Council are for improvements to the existing jetty. They will permit later adaptation of the jetty if the Council, with which the primary responsibility lies, should decide that a vehicle ferry service is requred.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many policemen, of all ranks, were in service in Scotland in 1960 and in each year to the latest convenient date.

The numbers of police officers of all ranks in service in Scotland at 31st December in the years 1960 to 1969 were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the cost of detection equipment supplied in Scottish police forces in 1960, 1964 and 1969, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many cadets were in the employ of Scottish police forces in 1960, 1964 and 1969, respectively;(2) how many traffic wardens were in service in 1960, 1964 and 1969, respectively;(3) how many civilians, excluding traffic wardens, were employed by police forces in 1960, 1964 and 1969, respectively.

The number of cadets, traffic wardens, and civilians employed whole-time in Scottish police forces at 31st December, 1960, 1964 and 1969 was as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many pocket radio sets were in use by police forces in 1960, 1964 and 1969, respectively.

Pocket radio sets were first used in Scotland in 1966. By the end of 1969, 1,942 sets were in use.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many vehicles were in use by police forces in 1960, 1964 and 1969, respectively.

1,180, 1,393 and 1,851.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the salaries and conditions of service of pharmacists in the hospital service, following upon the meeting of the Committee of the Whitley Council on 26th February.

Negotiations in Committee C of the Whitley Council are still continuing and it would not be appropriate for me to comment at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the present position about his prison building programme; what extensions have now been made; and what are his immediate plans for the future.

The forward prison building programme aims at providing additional accommodation for some 1,300 adults and 1,180 offenders under 21. In the last two years nearly 500 additional places have been provided for adults and 170 for offenders under 21; and 130 new places for offenders under 21 have been built in replacement of old accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what arrangements he has made to set up a Hospital Advisory Service for Scotland.

After consultation with hospital authorities and other bodies concerned, I am setting up a Scottish Hospital Advisory Service which will operate initially in hospitals and units caring for psychiatric, geriatric and young chronic sick patients. The Service will start work on 1st April though it will be some time before it is in full operation. Its director will be Dr. J. K. Hunter, a principal medical officer in the Scottish Home and Health Department who has previously been director of the Scottish Hospital Centre. He will be assisted by medical, nursing and administrative staff drawn from the Department and the hospital service. A memorandum outlining the aims of the service and its mode of operation is being sent today to hospital authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many bankruptcies were recorded among farmers in Scotland in 1968 and 1969.

The number of farmers recorded as bankrupt during 1968 and 1969 were eight and 12 respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken or are being taken by the authorities concerned to provide a safe and adequate water supply for the village of Achmore, Isle of Lewis.

I have approved in principle proposals by the Ross and Cromarty Water Board to provide a public supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether, in view of the increase in the cost of building in the last few years, particularly in the Scottish Islands, he will now take steps to increase the amount of the grant and of the loan available to tenant crofters for the building of croft houses and steddings.

I cannot yet add to the Answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 3rd December, 1969.—[Vol. 783, c. 298.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will provide in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the items of farm improvement,

The information requested is given in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many police officers were assaulted in the course of duty and were absent from duty in consequence in the year 1969.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer which I gave on 4th March to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Provan (Mr. Hugh D. Brown).—[Vol. 797, c. 117–8.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade by what authority he prevents an increase in the price of the Daily Telegraph in excess of Id. in the current year, with or without prior notification.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave him on 24th February.—[Vol. 796, c. 300–1.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will now report on the activities, turnover and financial results of the Overseas Marketing Corporation set up with a Government capital guarantee in 1967.

The Overseas Marketing Corporation provides a specialised marketing service. The Corporation is established as a private limited company and it would therefore not be right to disclose details concerning its commercial activities.

asked the President of the Board of Trade by how much it

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount paid in rate rebates in each of the last five years; and what were the amounts paid in Ayrshire, Glasgow, Lanarkshire, Edinburgh and Fife in the same period.

In the three years during which the rate rebate scheme has been in operation the amounts paid in rebates have been as follows:is expected that the price of fertilisers will be increased in Orkney and Shetland due to the recent increase in duty.

British production of these fertilisers is sufficient to meet all foreseeable demands in full, and I understand that the British manufacturers have no intention of increasing, during the present season, the prices for these nitrogenous fertilisers which they announced last summer. The effects of the provisional anti-dumping charges on the price of the imported fertilisers will depend on the commercial arrangements between the importers, merchants and farmers. The reason for imposing these charges was explained in the Answer which my right hon. Friend gave on 5th March to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, West (Mr. James Davidson).—[Vol. 797, c. 157.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement on the proposed take-over of British United Airways and to what extent it is his policy to give consideration to private airlines willing to take over the company's scheduled air services.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the hon. Member for Gloucestershire, South (Mr. Corfield) on 9th March.—[Vol. 797, c. 912–19.]

asked the President of the Board of Trade (1) if he is aware of the confusion regarding the use and quality of fire extinguishers; if he will use his powers under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, to introduce compulsory marking orders regarding fire extinguishers; and if he will make a statement;(2) if he will use his powers under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, to introduce compulsory marking orders regarding motor tyres; and if he will make a statement;(3) if he is aware of the confusion regarding the alleged size of sheets; if he will use his powers under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, to introduce compulsory marking orders for the size, composition and quality of sheets; and if he will make a statement.

Proposals for marking orders in respect of fire extinguishers, motor tyres, and sheets are still being studied.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the total value of imports into the United Kingdom of machine tools during each of the last three years; and how much of this was imported from the European Economic Community.

Information is given on pages 90–91 of the Overseas Trade Accounts for December, 1968 and December, 1969, in total and for each E.E.C. country except Luxembourg; imports from the latter were negligible.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will give the value of the arms sales for 1966, 1967, 1968 and 1969, which were insured by the Export Credits Guarantee Department of which details of premium income are given in the Export Credits Guarantee Department amounts.

The special E.C.G.D. account for arms guarantees has been maintained since the Financial Year 1966–67. Figures for arms contracts covered under this Account for the last three completed financial years are as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many members of the British Airports Authority are Government-appointed; what are their names and positions; and how much each draws by way of pay and expenses from public funds.

All members of the British Airports Authority are appointed by the Board of Trade which also determines their salaries with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service. The salaries are, however, paid from Authority funds together with any expenses properly incurred on the business of the Authority. The other information sought is as follows:

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement on the conference held in Geneva on Thursday, 26th February, 1970, of the 76 member nations of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade: and what effect Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community is having on the timing of negotiations or the scale of the Kennedy Round tariff cuts next year.

The 26th Session of the Contracting Parties of the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade was held at Geneva from 16th to 27th February. The Conclusions adopted by the Session covered the whole range of the Organisation's work; I will arrange to place the full text in the Library of the House. The timing of any further negotiations in the G.A.T.T. must, therefore, await the results of the work now in train, but Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community will not affect next years scheduled Kennedy Round tariff cuts.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what is the effect on farmers in the north-east of Scotland of the imposition of £9 a ton import levy on calcium ammonia nitrate; and what is his policy in this matter.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the right hon. Gentleman the Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond).

asked the Minister of Technology whether, in view of public concern about unfair trading practices, he will take steps to ensure that proper advice is given regarding the choice of fuel and type of central heating installations in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

There are already several organisations in Scotland which advise consumers about central heating.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a further statement about the supply of steel reinforcement rods.