asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what steps have been taken to keep Ballochmyle House in use within the National Health Service;(2) what representations he has received about the future of Ballochmyle House; and what replies he has sent.

Representations about the future of Ballochmyle House have been received from the Ballochmyle Action Group which has passed to me a petition signed by about 1,600 persons interested in the house—from the Catrine Local Labour Party, the Scottish Georgian Society and the hon. Member for Glasgow, Hillhead (Mr. Galbraith).The Board of Management for South Ayrshire Hospitals has considered the possibility of using Ballochmyle House for geriatric or convalescent purposes or as a pre-discharge unit but has found the building unsuitable for such purposes in its present condition. It is, therefore, surplus to its requirements. I have now decided to give other public bodies, including the local health authority, the opportunity to buy the house if they think it suitable for their purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state, separately, for the most recent convenient period the number of people killed and injured by motor vehicles; and in how many instances drivers were found to be under the influence of alcohol.

During 1969, 892 people were killed and 30,164 injured in accidents on Scottish roads, all but a very small number of which involved motor vehicles. I regret that the information requested in the second part of the question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what outside bodies he consults when taking decisions to convert the use of power stations to alternative fuels.

None, because all the necessary information is available inside Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he proposes to introduce amending legislation on rating and valuation to coincide with the quinquennial review of valuations.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals at present for legislation of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the discussions which he has had with Glasgow Corporation regarding the future of its fee-paying schools.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer given on 29th January to my right hon. Friend the Member for Edinburgh, East (Mr. Willis).—[Vol. 794, c. 389.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals have been put to him by Glasgow Corporation for a flood prevention scheme in the River Cart area; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend has approved proposals by the corporation to spend £20,000 on a hydrological survey of the River Cart and on site investigations. I understand that the corporation is consulting Paisley Town Council about a possible flood prevention scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the progress in improving the environmental and transport facilities of the special development areas in Scotland.

Since their designation in November, 1967, approval has been given for the building of over 1,200 local authority houses in the special development areas. At the beginning of 1968 investment of £1£5 million was added to the Scottish road programme for the improvement of roads in and serving the special development areas, and these areas also benefited from winter works programmes in 1968–69 and 1969–70, costing in total about £720,000. Capital expenditure on hospital building of over £220,000 and on water and drainage schemes of over £290,000 has been approved. Expenditure on school building includes £128,000 on the provision of the first phase of a new four-year secondary school at Sanquhar. Approval in principle has also been given to the expenditure of £10,000 on the clearance of a derelict site in the Shotts area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has considered the Confederation of British Industry's forecast of private investment trends for Scotland, a copy of which has been sent to him; and if he will make a statement.

It has been considered along with other forecasts of economic activity in Scotland. However, in the past the survey has proved difficult to interpret and its predictions have not always been confirmed by events. Private industrial investment in Scotland in recent years has, of course, attained record levels.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is aware that frequently patients who have cancer may be certified as dying from ancillary causes; and whether he will take steps to arrange for statistics which show the deaths of people who have cancer, even if that is not the immediate cause of death, and thus disclose the real size of the cancer problem.

I am not aware of a widespread problem in the certification of deaths properly attributable to cancer; but fuller statistics on cancer mortality are desirable and arrangements for producing them are under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the number of, and list, the new primary and secondary schools which have been completed in Scotland since October, 1964.

265 primary schools and 81 secondary schools were completed in the period October, 1964 to December, 1969. In view of the length of the list I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, if he will give the aggregate number of houses built by Ayrshire housing authorities since October, 1964, and the number for the same length of time prior to that date.

11,400 in the 5¼ years from October, 1964 to December, 1969, against 10,900 in the previous 5¼ years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the fact that it is not the function of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board to develop fishings, if he will take steps to transfer its fishings to the Highlands and Islands Development Board for use in the development of tourism.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will expedite the work currently being undertaken to restore Corgarff Castle, a 16th Century Tower House in Aberdeenshire.

Work is already going ahead as quickly as is practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now have Command Paper No. 2864 withdrawn from circulation.

No. The task of modernising the Scottish economy is a continuing one, and although much of what this Government set out to do has already been accomplished, the broad objectives set out in the White Paper still stand.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a further White Paper on the Scottish economy.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave him in reply to his Question on 19th November 1969.—[Vol. 791, c. 1284.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent the latest figures showing the number of persons in employment in Scotland diverge from the forecasts and targets in his White Paper on the Scottish Economy.

The latest complete employment figures available are for June, 1968, and analysis of them has shown that the creation of new employment has come up to expectation but that there has been a much faster rundown of employment in the older industries. Despite this, however, unemployment in Scotland is relatively at a lower level in relation to the Great Britain figure compared with 1964 and emigration is being dramatically reduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what revision he has made in the target date for the achievement of the employment targets in the White Paper on the Scottish Economy, Command Paper No. 3864.

I have nothing to add to the replies which I gave to the hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) on 19th November last year and to other hon. Members on previous occasions.—[Vol. 791, c. 307.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now publish a White Paper on housing needs in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

The Government's plans for dealing with the most important of Scotland's housing needs were outlined in the White Paper "The Older Houses in Scotland—A Plan for Action" of July, 1968, and further explained in subsequent debates on the Bill for the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1969. Under the Act the local authorities are now developing their proposals for assessing and meeting the needs of their areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the percentage increase in the costs of housebuilding from 1965 until the latest convenient date; and if he will make a statement.

The average cost of building a 4-apartment house in the public sector in 1965 was about £3,600 and in 1968 about £4,400. These figures include land, site development and servicing, and fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent estimate he has made of the effect on the housing programme of the increase in building costs.

It is impossible to isolate the effect of a single factor, but the amount of house building now in progress suggests that increases of cost have not adversely affected the public programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now publish an interim report on Professor Sidwell's study of house building costs which he commissioned.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings of the Scottish Economic Planning Council were held in the calendar year 1969; and at how many of these he occupied the chair.

Six, and four.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to announce whether or not he has included the replacement for Peel Hospital in the quinquennial building programme.

I hope soon to be in a position to make an announcement about the hospital building programme for the period after 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the number of dwellings in Scotland which do not meet the tolerable standard laid down in the Housing (Scotland) Act; and how many of these it is estimated can be brought up to the standard.

Surveys are now being made by the local authorities, and a reliable estimate can be made later.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland by what date he expects to receive copies of surveys of sub-standard housing carried out by all the housing authorities under the provisions of the Housing (Scotland) Act, 1969.

I hope to receive the local authorities' assessments by the end of May.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is now the waiting list for geriatric beds in Aberdeenshire; and what percentage of such patients have notified his Department that they have gone to private nursing homes.

There are 25 persons in Aberdeenshire on the waiting list for a geriatric bed, 16 of them are at present occupying hospital beds other than geriatric beds, and none is reported as having gone to a private nursing home.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many students now in training in Scottish colleges of education are taking courses designed to equip them to teach 15- and 16-year olds.

There is no special qualification to teach 15 and 16 year olds. At November, 1969, 3,623 students were in college of education courses leading to a secondary teaching qualification. In addition, 480 students in the earlier stages of B.Ed. courses were as yet uncommitted on whether to train for secondary or primary teaching, or both.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the remedial work for the strengthening of the high rise flats will be completed; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the work on remedial strengthening of tower blocks of flats will be completed.

This depends on progress by the local authorities. Of the 100 blocks requiring attention, work has been completed on 37 and is in hand on 56.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to publish the Report of the Cameron Committee on Inshort Fishing.

I understand that the committee is at present drafting its report and expects to submit it to my right hon. Friend by early summer. Meanwhile I cannot give a date for publication.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of those persons attaining the age of 18 years between 16th February, 1970 and 15th February, 1971 was included in the current Register; and how this compares with the proportion of Y voters included in the 1969 Register.

I estimate that 60 per cent. have been registered as against 55 per cent. of potential Y voters in the 1969 Registers.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what inquiry he has made since the publication of the 1970 Electoral Register to determine the number of those eligible to register who have not registered; and if he will make a statement.

I told the hon. Member for North Angus and Mearns (Mr. Buchanan-Smith) the results of my inquiries in my answers on 26th February. Among other things, these brought out that, whereas he has referred to reports of a shortfall of 100,000, the number of persons on the Register is about 50,000 fewer than the estimated eligible population. It would be misleading, however, to suggest that this deficiency of 50,000 represents the actual number of persons in the newly-enfranchised age groups who have been omitted from the Register.—[Vol. 796, c. 409–11.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the Government's policy regarding assistance to the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board in bringing electricity to areas such as the North and South Isles of Orkney, in view of likely increases in costs and the need for development of these areas.

I would refer the right hon. Member to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend on 3rd February, 1970.—[Vol. 795, c. 118.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how far estimated future rises in road haulage costs have been taken into account in the plans for the development of the overland route to the North Isles of Shetland; and if he will make a statement.

I am sure that the county council will take all relevant factors into account in preparing its detailed proposals for assistance in respect of vessels and terminals, and I have invited it to submit these for consideration as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will grant a limited number of licences to boats in Scotland for the purpose of drift-netting for salmon.

No; but I shall review the position when I have completed my consideration of the Hunter Committee's recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken in the past month to implement the Hunter Committee Report on Fishing in Scotland.

I cannot add to the answer given to a similar Question asked by my hon. Friend on 21st January.—[Vol. 794, c. 508–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average amount per head of pupils spent by local authorities on school textbooks and the stocking of school libraries.

Precisely comparable figures are not yet available for all Scottish authorities but I estimate that for 1968–69 current expenditure on school books was probably a little over £2 per pupil.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total pension and lump sum, respectively, payable to the widow of a policeman killed in the course of his duty, in 1955, 1960, 1964 and 1969, respectively, on the basis that she had two dependent children and that her husband was earning £20 a week at the time of his death.

There are two rates applicable, the augumented rate at present payable where the policemen's death occurs as the result of an attack, or of an injury received in effecting an arrest or preventing an escape or rescue, or while saving or preventing the loss of human life, and the special rate, payable where such circumstances do not apply. The total weekly amount payable under the augmented rate, including children's allowances and long-term social security benefits would have been £12 15s. 10d. in 1955, £13 12s. 10d. in 1960, £15 7s. 4d. in 1964 and £16 0s. 10d. in 1969. In addition, in 1964 and 1969 a lump sum gratuity of £2,200 and £2,720 respectively would have been paid. Lump sums were not payable before August, 1964, and the method of calculating them was changed in April, 1968.Under the special rate the corresponding figures for the four years would have been £9 9s. 2d., £10 6s. 2d., £12 9s. and £14 18s. 6d. a week respectively. No lump sums would have been payable.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what were the average earnings of a newly recruited policeman in 1955, 1960, 1965 and 1970; and how the average annual rate of increase compares with that of industrial workers.

Figures of the average earnings of police officers are not readily available. Basic starting pay for an entrant at age 19 at 1st January, 1970—taking into account the recent interim award—will have increased by 102 per cent. over the 1955 figure. Over the same period the index of basic weekly wage rates for all manual workers increased by 91 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many abortions have been carried out in National Health Service hospitals since the commencement of the operation of the recent Act; and what were the figures in a comparable period of time prior to the Act.

The information is not available for the period before 27th April, 1968, the date on which the Abortion Act, 1967, came into operation. In the period 27th April, 1968, to 31st December, 1969, 4,896 abortions were carried out in National Health Service hospitals in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proposals he has to reform the rating system.

These will emerge when we publish our Green Paper dealing with local government finance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many house purchasers in Scotland have taken advantage of the option mortgage scheme since its introduction.

Because most of the lending institutions operate on a United Kingdom basis, information about mortgagers resident in Scotland is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with local authorities regarding the proposed passenger transport authority in the Glasgow area; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave the hon. Member for Moray and Nairn (Mr. Gordon Campbell) on 11th February. Since I announced my decision to establish a passenger transport authority discussions have taken place with local authorities at official level about the suggested boundaries and other detailed matters.—[Vol. 795, c. 344–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many posts for hospital pharmacists were unfilled at the most recent date for which figures are available; and if he will make a statement.

Staffing levels are a matter for the employing authorities and there is no fixed establishment by reference to which any vacancies can be accurately assessed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospital beds for geriatric patients were available in Glasgow at the most recent date for which figures are available; and how many persons were on the waiting list for such beds.

1,861 and 205 respectively on 31st December, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue further advice to local authorities in Scotland on points systems for the allocation of houses.

I doubt if I can improve upon the advice I gave in October, 1968, which was based on the Scottish Housing Advisory Committee's report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he proposes to take to develop the harbour facilities at Scrabster, Caithness.

The development of harbour facilities at Scrabster is primarily a matter for the harbour trust. I would be prepared to consider for grant any application which the trust may put to me, supported by firm proposals, but these could be examined only in the context of firm plans by the North of Scotland, Orkney and Shetland Shipping Company for the introduction of a vehicle ferry service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the Tayside Study will be published.

In the early summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many amendments to planning authority's development plans he has sanctioned since 1964 in the interests of industrial development; and how this number compares with the number for the preceding same number of years.

I regret that this information is not readily available and could not be obtained without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will arrange an early meeting with Glasgow Corporation to consider an urgent programme of slum clearance, having regard to the growing number of dangerous tenements in the city.

This has already been discussed at the meeting between my noble Friend the Minister of State and the cor- poration's housing committee on 29th January, and there will be a further meeting later.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what percentage of the persons convicted for crimes of violence in Scotland in 1968 and 1969 had previously been fined or served prison sentences for similar offences.

7·4 per cent. (106 persons) of the persons convicted of a crime of violence in 1968 are known to have had a previous conviction for a similar offence. The provisional corresponding figure for 1969 is 8·8 per cent. (108 persons).The criminal statistics do not distinguish between the types of sentence imposed in respect of previous convictions for a similar offence.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the number of voluntary housing associations in Scotland; and if he will make a statement.

About 200, and I welcome the special contributions they are making towards solving housing problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the estimated weekly increase in council house rents on the basis of a reduction of current housing subsidies by 20 per cent., 40 per cent., 60 per cent. and 75 per cent., respectively.

Subsidies in 1968–69 averaged about 31s. per week for each local authority house (11s. 10d. from Government subsidy and 19s. 2d. from rates). Reduction by the percentages suggested would therefore have required increases of rent income equivalent respectively to 6s. 2d., 12s. 5d., 18s. 7d. and 23s. 3d. per house per week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many additional new beds have been supplied in National Health Service hospitals since the introduction of the Service; and how many of these have been provided since December, 1964.

Between 5th July, 1948 and 31st December, 1969, 9,083 beds were provided in new or substantially converted buildings; of these, 4,332 have been provided since 31st December, 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now meet the independent harbour authorities to consider their representations about the Wheatley Report.

No. I am well aware of the special position of harbour authorities, and their views will be given the fullest possible consideration.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether Her Majesty's Government propose to support the American policy on a generalised non-regional scheme of preferences for developing countries at the forthcoming United Nations Conference on Trade and Development special committee scheduled to convene on 31st March, or whether the Common Market scheme for preferences limited by quotas will enjoy British support.

The underlying issue is whether or not the various proposed preferential arrangements can be made to conform to a single pattern. This issue is still under discussion in the O.E.C.D. The eventual form of the arrangements we shall introduce depends upon the outcome of these discussions.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will now widen the terms of reference of the Roskill Committee to enable it to carry out a thorough national air traffic study, with particular reference to the consequences of removing outgoing charter and inclusive tour traffic from the existing airports at Heathrow and Gatwick.

No. The proportion of charter and inclusive tour services using Heathrow is very small. The Commission has not asked us to widen its terms of reference, nor do I see any reason for doing so.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many live cattle were imported from countries other than Southern Ireland in the 12 months to the last convenient date; and if he will give comparable figures for sheep, pigs and goats.

From February, 1969, to January, 1970: cattle 406, sheep and goats 1, pigs 91.

asked the President of the Board of Trade why the percentage of disabled staff in his Department and in the Exports Credits Guarantee Department is below 3 per cent.

The percentage of disabled staff is now temporarily slightly below 3 per cent. because almost one-third of the staff are employed on work such as civil aviation and coastguard duties which requires high fitness standards of entry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the second instrument landing system was installed at Turnhouse Airport; when it was intended to come into service; when it is now expected to be operational; and what is the reason for the continuing delays in this matter.

The equipment for the second instrument landing system at Turnhouse Airport was installed in September, 1969, with the object of bringing it into operation as soon thereafter as was safely practicable. It is now being adapted to the local terrain conditions in the light of flight test calibrations carried out so far, and some works services remain to be completed. The system is expected to be in operational use by the end of June.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what percentage of agreed offset purchases by the German Federal Republic has been completed to the latest convenient recent date.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to the defence purchases element in the present offset agreement. A percentage figure at this stage in a two-year agreement would not be of significance.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements have been made by the German Federal Republic to establish credits in London for the purchase of British defence equipment to cover the cost of the British brigade which is replacing the Canadian brigade which will be withdrawn from Europe.

I explained the additional offset arrangements which the German Government have agreed to meet the exchange costs of keeping 6 Brigade in Germany during the defence debate on 4th March. Whilst no specific credits have been established, it is the practice of the German Federal Republic to make advance payments on their orders for military equipment.—[Vol. 797, c. 431.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence, in view of the fact that the longest period between launching and completion of the previous six guided missile armed destroyers was 28 months, when H.M.S. "Antrim" and H.M.S. "Norfolk", launched in October and November, 1967, respectively, will now be completed; and what are the causes of the delay.

H.M.S. "Norfolk" was accepted from the shipbuilder on 7th March, 1970, which is 28 months after her launch on 16th November, 1967. She was delayed by a number of factors, including labour disputes. Completion of H.M.S. "Antrim" has been delayed due to a boiler explosion, labour disputes and the effects of re-organisation on the ship-building company. She is now expected to complete in July, 1970, 33 months after she was launched on 19th October, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he will dispense with the services of the member of the Ulster Defence Regiment who when asked on Ulster Television how he would act in the circumstances of an invasion of Ulster from the South replied that he could not say.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence if he is aware that the present education and maintenance allowances paid to members of the Armed Forces with children at boarding school do not meet the costs involved; and if he will increase the allowances so as to bring them more into line with costs incurred.

The purpose of education allowances is to provide financial assistance to parents who choose to give their children boarding school education. The allowances are not designed to cover the full costs incurred. The rates are reviewed annually to ensure they keep in line with movements in school fees.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence why he intends to issue a Press release to the effect that a party of eight Members of Parliament and two peers who have been selected through the usual parliamentary channels to visit the British Forces in Germany are making this visit in a private capacity.

The Press release will be made in Germany to announce the visit and at the same time make it plain that the party does not represent my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence and has not been despatched by authority of Parliament in the execution of its business.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing, from information available to him from international sources, the costs of production of strawberries by any convenient unit in Mexico, Israel and any other countries from which strawberries have been imported in recent years during April and May.

The Department does not have this information or know of international sources that collect it. Owing to the many variable factors affecting production costs in each country a table would tend to be misleading unless figures could be provided on a comparable basis.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the percentage of disabled staff in his Department is below 3 per cent.

The current percentage of registered disabled staff employed in my Department is 3·7.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it has now been decided to establish in Kettering, Northamptonshire, the prototype maternity unit designed by his Department.

It has not yet been decided whether the standard plans drawn up in my Department should be used: the feasibility of building on the Kettering site a maternity unit with this design is being studied urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department keeps records of the value of medical equipment in hospitals administered by his Department which is paid from non-Government financial sources, and which is used for the direct benefit of National Health Service patients; and if he will give figures for the value of such equipment for the most convenient recent period.

No records of this kind are kept centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the rate of illegitimate births in the areas of each of the 20 largest local authorities in England and Wales during the past 12 months.

The following table gives the latest information available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what recent changes have taken place in the scheme of remuneration of family doctors.

Certain changes to the scheme of remuneration of family doctors introduced in October, 1966, were made following reports by the Review Body on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration. Since the Review Body's Tenth Report, the following further changes have been agreed with representatives of the profession:

1. With effect from 1st April, 1969, the annual allowance paid to certain doctors for the employment of an assistant practitioner has been increased from £500 to £575; and increases have been made in payments under the trainee practitioner scheme.

2. With effect from 1st October, 1969, doctors working in essential practices in areas where the sparsity of population prevents their attaining a list of 1,000 patients have become eligible for seniority and vocational training allowances at the full rates; and they have similarly become eligible for payments at the maximum rate under the sickness payments scheme.

3. With effect from 1st October, 1969, doctors on executive council lists who care for the patients of a practice which is temporarily vacant may receive enhanced capitation fees for the extra patients for up to 26 weeks.

It has also been agreed with the representatives of the profession that the special payments—at present £400 a year—made to doctors who practise in areas designated as underdoctored shall be at a higher rate in relation to areas where the average number of patients per doctor has been at least 3,000 for 1 year. The Review Body has been informed of this agreement and asked to recommend in its next report what the rates of payment at the two levels should be.

asked the Lord President of the Council when it is proposed to implement the principle of equal pay in respect of staff employed by the Refreshment Department.

The implementation of equal pay in the Refreshment Department, on the lines laid down in the Equal Pay (No. 2) Bill now before the House, will be a matter for negotiation with the staff and their representatives, to determine its timing and detailed application.

asked the Lord President of the Council why he has decided that Room 201 in 2, The Abbey Gardens is not up to the standard required for Members' accommodation.

This room is only 54 sq. ft., and is considered to be too small for allocation to a Member.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many official-paid envelopes have been used by hon. Members in each month since the inception of the scheme; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that such envelopes are being used for sending of circular letters to all new young voters; and if he will take steps to stop the issue of envelopes for this purpose.

The number of official-paid envelopes issued from the Serjeant at Arms' stores, including deliveries to letter racks, during the relevant months, are as follows:

October (6th–31st)	…	307,375
November	…	160,375
December	…	144,900
January	…	172,225
February	…	112,400
March (lst–12th)	…	50,225

I am aware of the use of these facilities by some Members for circular letters. I am sending a letter to all Members on this matter, which I hope they will receive tomorrow.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what estimate he has made of the oncost per man per week in the building industry in Scotland of agreed employers' payments.

I estimate the amount to be about £5 10s. 0d. About four fifths of this sum is accounted for by statutory payments such as the selective employment tax, national insurance contributions, the training levy and the graduated pension scheme. The remainder relates to non-statutory welfare schemes which guarantee sickness and injury benefits and provide holidays with pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the explicit formula which provides that no information about individual students in further education establishments shall be divulged outside the Department except with the express permission of that individual.

The "individualised data" system of statistics of students in further education establishments in England and Wales embodies the following proposed formula to safeguard the confidentiality of information received in my Department about individual students:

The education departments^* to give assurances that, unless specific permission of the individuals concerned is given to the contrary and in relation to particular circumstances:

(i) Information provided to education departments on individual students would not be accessible to persons not employed in the education department's statistical and A.D.P. divisions. Access would be taken to include access to punched cards and magnetic tapes containing details of individuals.

(ii) The individual data on students would be used solely to provide statistical tabulations designed in such a way as not to reveal information about any individual.

^* The term "education departments" refers to the respective education departments in England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a further statement about the number of unqualified teachers in maintained schools.

I welcome this opportunity to correct the figure given in answer to the Question asked by my hon. Friend on 5th March. Last October, counting part-timers in full-time equiva- lents, there were, in fact, about 3,000 full-time unqualified teachers in maintained schools not 2,000. I very much regret any inconvenience which may have been caused by the incorrect figure given in my earlier answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether in view of the loss of production caused by strikes at the present time, she will increase the 1 per cent. of her staff engaged in dealing with strikes.

The number of staff engaged in this work is kept under regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the percentage of disabled staff in his Department is below 3 per cent.

The great majority of the staff in the Foreign and Commonwealth Office have to be able to take on the obligation to serve anywhere in the world and must be able to satisfy the high medical standards required for this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many life prisoners have been released under the provisions of the Prison Act, 1952, and the Criminal Justice Act, 1967; how many had been detained for more than 10 years prior to release; and what was the mathematical average of the period of imprisonment served in other cases.

Since 1952, the figures are 283; 28; 8 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to which of the boards, councils and committees to which he appoints members, other than civil servants, he has appointed women members; and how many in each case.

I have appointed women members to the following boards, councils and committees:

Number of Women Members
Advisory Committee on the Administration of the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876	1
Advisory Committee on the Deprivation of Citizenship	1
Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence	2
Advisory Committee on the Protection of Birds for England and Wales	1
Advisory Committee on Race Relations Research	1
Advisory Council on Child Care (including committees)	18
Advisory Council on the Penal System	3
Advisory Council for Probation and After-Care (including After-Care and Parole Committee and Recruitment and Training Committee)	8
Boards of Visitors of Prisons, Borstals and Detention Centres	210
Carlisle and District State Management Advisory Committee	1
Central Committee on Common Police Services	1
Community Relations Commission	3
Local Review Committees (Parole)	86
Parole Board	3
Police College Advisory Committee	1
Police College Board of Governors	1
Race Relations Board	2
State Management District Council	1
Departmental Committee on the Adoption of Children	9
Departmental Committee on Death Certification and Coroners	1
Departmental Committee on the Fire Service	1
Departmental Committee on the London Taxicabs Trade	1

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how much public money was spent in 1969 on historic buildings in England, Wales and Scotland, respectively.

I estimate that grants for the financial year 1969–70 paid in England under the Historic Buildings and Ancient Monuments Act 1953 will amount to £550,000. Contribution to, English local authorities for the repair and upkeep of historic buildings under the Local Authorities (Historic Buildings) Act, 1962 during the financial year 1968–69 amounted to £200,205. More recent figures for expenditure under the latter Act, or figures for other expenditure by English local authorities on historic buildings in their ownership, are not available. Expenditure on historic buildings in Scotland and Wales and on historic buildings in the care of the Ministry of Public Building and Works is a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales and the Minister of Public Building and Works respectively

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will list the total amount of advances for house purchase in each of the financial years beginning 1st April, 1957, made by the London County Council/Greater London Council with his approval, and the number of houses purchased which this total sum represents.

Advances for house purchase in each of the financial years beginning 1st April, 1957, made by the London County Council/Greater London Council are as follows:

Year	Government allocation £000	Amount of advances £000	Number of houses
1957–58	—	1,021	526
1958–59	—	658	336
1959–60	—	1,146	609
1960–61	—	1,442	727
1961–62	—	1,774	817
1962–63	—	2,671	902
1963–64	—	23,410	6,488
1964–65	—	53,059	14,694
1965–66	—	66,425	17,311
1966–67	—	38,436	12,227
1967–68	40,000	36,063	8,688
1968–69	15,000	2,364	539
1969–70 (to the end of December)	12,200	5,852	1,105

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing for each local authority in the Greater London Area the amount received from the Government in the form of domestic rate aid for each of the four years from 1967–68 to 1970–71, and the estimated alleviation of rates in the current year for houses or flats having a rateable value of £250, £182, £170 and £140, respectively.

The domestic element of the rate support grant has secured reductions in the rate poundages for

			1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71
			£	£	£	£
City of London	…	…	3,006	6,440	10,601	14,524
Camden	…	…	217,285	438,314	676,855	927,028
Greenwich	…	…	129,665	259,296	397,909	544,979
Hackney	…	…	142,808	284,822	436,157	597,395
Hammersmith	…	…	131,589	262,028	402,444	551,218
Islington	…	…	128,517	258,849	400,814	548,950
Kensington and Chelsea		…	314,541	628,020	964,548	1,321,047
Lambeth	…	…	198,301	395,975	607,148	831,529
Lewisham	…	…	166,388	334,775	516,319	707,288
Southwark	…	…	148,704	299,860	460,207	630,287
Tower Hamlets	…	…	103,237	208,638	322,256	441,358
Wandsworth	…	…	196,615	393,717	604,893	828,491
Westminster	…	…	421,976	852,279	1,316,052	1,802,653
Total—Inner London	…	…	2,302,632	4,623,013	7,116,203	9,746,747
Barking	…	…	82,727	165,959	256,125	350,814
Barnet	…	…	314,204	629,928	968,771	1,326,788
Bexley	…	…	133,223	268,026	413,417	566,201
Brent	…	…	193,284	386,972	595,076	815,014
Bromley	…	…	226,879	461,122	713,077	976,620
Croydon	…	…	232,365	472,002	727,166	996,053
Ealing	…	…	209,105	420,856	648,734	888,536
Enfield	…	…	204,382	412,112	636,484	871,704
Haringey	…	…	160,198	321,008	493,502	675,967
Harrow	…	…	161,736	325,759	501,718	687,149
Havering	…	…	145,140	292,931	451,759	618,734
Hillingdon	…	…	157,058	319,166	493,918	676,523
Hounslow	…	…	134,694	272,305	421,104	576,724
Kingston-upon-Thames		…	111,404	223,691	344,467	471,776
Merton	…	…	139,974	279,444	429,182	587,859
Newham	…	…	116,985	234,536	360,644	494,079
Redbridge	…	…	172,767	347,449	535,915	733,968
Richmond-upon-Thames		…	149,307	301,538	463,958	635,517
Sutton	…	…	130,126	262,689	406,021	556,118
Waltham Forest	…	…	142,923	287,679	443,394	607,330
Total—Outer London		…	3,318,481	6,685,172	10,304,432	14,113,474
Total—Greater London		…	5,621,113	11,308,185	17,420,635	23,860,221

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the cost to public funds of the inquiry into Shoreham. Airport, held in 1969, which lasted eight days; what is the purpose of his proposed new inquiry follow- dwelling-houses of 5d. in the £ for 1967–68, 10d. in 1968–69 and Is. 3d. in 1969–70. For 1970–71 the reduction will be 1s. 8d. In the current year, 1969–70, the reductions in rate payments for dwelling-houses with rateable values of £250, £182, £170 and £140 amount to £15 12s. 6d., £11 7s. 6d., £10 12s. 6d. and £8 15s. 0d. respectively.The estimated amounts of the domestic element for each London borough for the years 1967–68 to 1970–71 are as follows:ing the bankruptcy of Beagle Aircraft 1968 Limited; and when it will take place.

The inquiry has so far cost the Exchequer approximately £850. I do not know the cost to local authorities. The purpose of reopening the inquiry is to enable representations to be made regarding the relevance of the latest financial developments to the merits of the proposal for a hard runway. I will let the hon. and gallant Member know the date as soon as it has been fixed.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the total amount of rate contribution paid to Whitehaven, Ennerdale and Millom Councils for 1967–68, 1968–69, and 1969–70, respectively.

The latest estimates of rate support grant for the years 1967–68 to 1969–70 are as follows:

	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70
Whitehaven B.C.
Rate Support Grants
Resources Element	61,115	51,492	66,550
Domestic Element	8,896	18,007	27,820
Total	70,011	69,499	94,370
Ennerdale R.D.C
Rate Support Grants
Resources Element	42,173	45,618	53,096
Domestic Element	8,896	18,331	28,455
Total	51,069	63,949	81,551
Millom R.D.C.
Rate Support Grants
Resources Element	37,852	43,516	38,790
Domestic Element	4,222	8,553	13,239
Total	42,074	52,069	52,029

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what was the amount paid to Whitehaven Borough Council, Millom Council and Ennerdale Rural District Council in respect of rate rebates for 1967–68, 1968–69, and 1969–70, respectively.

The amounts of grant paid in respect of rate rebates for the years in question are as follows:

	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70
	£	£	£
Whitehaven Borough	6,054	6,105	5,502
Ennerdale Rural District	4,155	4,140	3,611
Millom Rural District	1,622	1,764	Nil

Amounts paid in respect of 1969–70 were payments on account only; the total amount of rebates afforded for this year is not yet known.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government why the percentage of disabled staff in his Department and the Land Commission is below 3 per cent.

The percentage of registered disabled staff employed by the Land Commission is 4 per cent. and by the Department 2 per cent.The Civil Service Commission recruits and assigns the majority of staff of both Departments; only appointments to unestablished posts are within departmental responsibility. We are always happy to consider the registered disabled for such posts but few applications are received from them.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether Her Majesty's Government intend to amend Section 11 of the Post Office Act, 1953, and the Obscene Publication Acts, 1959 and 1964 to enable the publishers of unsolicited pornographic material to be prosecuted in the public interest.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) on 16th March.—[Vol. 798, c. 45.]

asked the Minister of Technology what is the average weekly cost to his Department of employing a temporary shorthand typist through an employment agency; and what is the comparative weekly cost of employing an established shorthand typist of the same grade, allowing for salary, holiday pay, and other indirect and statutory costs of employment.

The average weekly cost to the Department of an agency shorthand typist is at present £29 18s. 0d., compared with £28 5s. 0d. for a civil servant of the same grade.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a statement on advance factories.

Since October, 1964, we have authorised the construction of 181 advance factories in the development areas; of these 82 are in England, 55 in Scotland and 44 in Wales. They have an area of 4£3 million square feet and, even without extensions which have already been authorised for some of them, may be expected to provide employment for 14,000–16,000 people.Of the 181 factories so far authorised, 133 have been completed and 111 of these have been allocated; we have inquiries for others.There is no doubt that the provision of Government advance factories has been a most valuable means of attracting industry to the development areas. Now that we have the power to help in a similar way in the new intermediate areas, we intend to provide such factories there as well.We have therefore decided to authorise the construction of a further 39 advance factories, in both the development and intermediate areas. Details are given below:

			Location
				Size
				(sq. ft.)
A. DEVELOPMENT AREAS
England
North	…	Jarrow	…	25,000
		Team Valley	…	25,000
		Sunderland	…	15,000
				10,000 (terrace unit)
		Aycliffe	…	15,000
				10,000 (terrace unit)
		Thornaby	…	15,000
				10,000 (terrace unit)
		Tynemouth	…	25,000
North West	…	Knowsley	…	25,000
South West	…	Penryn	…	10,000
		Bodmin	…	10,000
		Total	…	195,000

	Location	Size
		(sq. ft.)
Scotland
	Cowlairs	30,000
	Hillington	30,000
	North Cardonald	30,000
	Greenock	20,000
	Kilsyth	20,000
	Lanark (Caldwellside)	20,000
	Mosshill (Ayr)	20,000
	Fort William	10,000
	N.E. Scotland	10,000
	Total	190,000
Wales
	Oakdale	50,000
	Waterton	50,000
	Landore	25,000
	Tredegar	25,000
	Aberdare	20,000
	Caernarvon	10,000
	Blaenau Ffestiniog	10,000
	Fishguard	10,000
	Total	200,000

B. INTERMEDIATE AREAS
England only
South Yorkshire	Doncaster	25,000
	Barnsley	25,000
	Site yet to be selected in Yorkshire coalfield	25,000
	Mexborough	15,000
Humberside	Hull	20,000
N.E. Lancashire	Altham	20,000
	Rossendale Valley	10,000
	Nelson and Colne	10,000
East Midlands	Notts/Derby Coalfield	20,000
South West	Plymouth	20,000
	Total	190,000
	TOTAL A AND B	775,000