asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what progress has been made with arrangements for the limitation of imports of cheddar cheese for a further period.

The Government have now reached agreement with most of our suppliers, covering the large bulk of our cheddar cheese imports, on measures to continue voluntary restraint on imports of cheddar and cheddar-type cheese from 1st April at a slightly lower level of deliveries than has operated over the past two years. I hope to make a further announcement shortly about the details.

asked the Minister of Technology by what authority, arising out of the agreement between Beagle Aircraft 1968 Limited and the landlords, the company erected the building costing £131,000 on Shoreham Airport; why it did not seek to renew the lease when it expired in May, 1969; and what action he now proposes to take in relation to these transactions.

The Department authorised the original Beagle Company to proceed with the construction of the new assembly shop at Shoreham Airport in 1967; Beagle Aircraft (1968) Ltd. was not incorporated until July, 1968. Beagle's lease at Shoreham does not expire until August, 1970. Negotiations on a long-term lease were linked to plans for the provision of a hard runway and were deferred pending the outcome of the runway planning application. The liquidator is currently in negotiation with the landlords and prospective purchasers regarding the future use of the premises, and it would not be helpful to comment further.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence by what percentage, upwards or downwards, after taking into account numerical changes in the Services, has the number of registered Service voters varied since the regulaton requiring annual registration became effective.

As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for the Home Department explained on 19th December, 1969, I am not in a position to say what proportion of Servicemen have registered under the new procedure.—[Vol. 793, c. 453.]

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the present practice regarding the supply of uniforms by his Department to university officer training corps; and whether such officer training corps, including that of Queen's University, Belfast, are supplied with combat kit and No. 2 dress.

Members of the University Officers' Training Corps are provided with two suits of battle dress. Combat dress is normally available for loan to O.T.C. contingents for training and other exercises with the Regular Army. It is sometimes possible to provide No. 2 dress on loan for special occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to meet the demand for school places for primary school children in the Cowplain and Waterlooville areas of Havant.

In the three years 1968–71, we have included in school building programmes four projects totalling £188,800 for the Cowplain and Waterlooville areas, which will provide 800 new primary places.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he is aware that in 1967 there were some 185,000 Afro-Asian children in British schools; and if he will give the figures for 1968 and 1969, respectively.

Returns from maintained primary and secondary schools in England and Wales show that pupils of African or Asian origin amounted to approximately 54,000 in January, 1967, 72,000 in 1968 and 93,000 in 1969. The figures for the two earlier years exclude those in schools with fewer than 10 immigrant pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will state the number of students in receipt of public funds in British universities who failed their examinations in 1970 but are still in residence, and the estimated cost to his Department.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what facilities are made available by his Department to candidates from Rhodesia for the General Certificate of Education in this country at the present time; and if he will take steps to curtail them.

The G.C.E. examinations are organised by independent examining bodies and not by the Department. These bodies have no information as to the country of origin of students who sit their examinations in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he is satisfied that the grant given by his Department to the Staffordshire Local Education Authority for minor works is sufficient for the authority to provide a mobile classroom for Springfield Primary School, Lichfield, where there is overcrowding; and if he will make a statement.

It is for the authority to decide how to use its allocations for 1970–72. I understand that it is considering the case for additional accommodation at Springfield School.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the amount allocated to the Staffordshire Local Education Authority for the year 1970–71 in respect of minor works; and whether he has increased the allocation to allow for increased costs.

Staffordshire's original allocation of £380,000 for 1970–71 has been increased by 10 per cent. to allow for increased costs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date he now proposes that local education authorities should take over responsibility for the education of mentally-handicapped children.

Subject to approval by Parliament of the Education (Miscellaneous Provisions) Bill, I anticipate that 1st April, 1971, will be the date on which the transfer will take effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in the constituency of Billericay and in the county of Essex, respectively, left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in the constituency of Bradford, West and the City of Bradford, respectively, left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in the constituency of Islington, North, and Islington Borough Council, respectively, left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in the constituency of Kingston upon Hull, West and the City of Kingston upon Hull, respectively, left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, how many children per 10,000 population living in the constituency of Liverpool, Scotland, and the City of Liverpool, respectively, left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in the City of Birmingham left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in the City of Manchester left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in Barrow-in-Furness left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in the City of Nottingham left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in the City of Portsmouth County Borough Council left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in the County Borough of Stockport left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 population living in the constituency of York left school at the age of 15 years during 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children per 10,000 of population in the Don Valley area left school at the age of 15 years in the years 1968 and 1969, giving figures separately for each year.

Figures are not available for Parliamentary constituencies. The table below shows for the local education authorities named in the Questions the numbers leaving school aged 15 in 1968 per 10,000 of the population:

Essex	…	…	79·9
Barrow-in-Furness	…	…	95·3
Birmingham	…	…	95·0
Bradford	…	…	87·1
Kingston upon Hull	…	…	112·1
Liverpool	…	…	89·7
Manchester	…	…	90·3
Nottingham	…	…	108·6
Portsmouth	…	…	71·6
Stockport	…	…	89·2
York	…	…	89·8

NOTES:1. No figures for Islington (part of the Inner London Education Authority) and Don Valley (part of the West Riding) are available.2. The numbers of school leavers on which the figures are based exclude those from un-recognised independent schools and special schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will give the details, for the Merseyside Development Area, of the number of men and women above minimum pensionable age who are still employed, and of these the number who in 1969 became sick or temporarily unemployed and were thereupon refused benefit in excess of retirement pension.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what arrangements her Department will make to assist Colin Watson of 148 Montrose Crescent, Hamilton, a disabled worker, to travel to and from his place of employment when his vehicle is under repair.

My Department may assist any registered severely disabled person with necessary costs of travel to and from ordinary employment if financial hardship would otherwise be involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will now make a statement on her policy regarding the recommendations of the Bristow Committee.

I am still considering the committee's recommendations in the light of the many representations which I have received from other interested organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will publish a table showing the estimated number of employees, male and female, in the separate categories in each of the employment districts of the seven crofting counties in each of the years from 1960 to 1969, showing individual totals county by county and totals for the whole area covered by the Highlands and Islands Developments Board.

I will send the information to the hon. Member as soon as it can be assembled.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the total of 87 loyal Rhodesian public servants admitted to Her Majesty's Government's Scheme of Assistance have given an undertaking to return to Rhodesia when required to do so, and have thus become eligible for the full benefits of the Scheme.

39 officers expressed a firm intention of returning to Southern Rhodesia upon a restoration of constitutional Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the Rhodesian public servants who have given an undertaking to return to Rhodesia were employed by the Government of Rhodesia under a short-term contract of three years or less, under a contract of over three years, or as permanent and pensionable officers, respectively.

Of the public servants who are at present in the category of those who expressed a firm intention to return to Southern Rhodesia on the restoration of constitutional Government, 34 were permanent and pensionable (of whom one is already in receipt of pension), three were on provident fund arrangements and two were under contract (of which one is short-term and one of indefinite length).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign ad Commonwealth Affairs when permanent and pensionable officers employed by the Government of Rhodesia who remained loyal to the Crown will be enabled to resume their careers; and what equivalent employment they are being offered in the interim period.

I cannot say when those officers who remained loyal to the Crown and who are then willing and able to resume their careers in Southern Rhodesia will be able to do so. As indicated in the House on 22nd December, 1965, officers returning to this country were given assistance in finding fresh employment.—[Vol. 722, c. 469–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of the loyal Rhodesian public servants who had given an undertaking to return to their posts when required to, declared their intention of supporting the Crown, made such intentions known to Her Majesty's Government and then complied with the instructions given by the Prime Minister and the Governor at the time of, within one month, within six months of, and more than six months after the Unilateral Declaration of Independence, respectively.

Rhodesian public servants were not specifically called upon to reaffirm their loyalty to the Crown following the illegal declaration of independence and any statements they may have made could have covered this point in different ways. No instructions were given by the Prime Minister to public servants working for the Government of Southern Rhodesia. The Governor's injunction to all citizens of Rhodesia from the time it was made, immediately after i.d.i., called on citizens of Rhodesia.

"to refrain from all acts which would further the objectives of the illegal authorities. Subject to that it is the duty of all citizens to maintain law and order in the country and to carry on with their normal tasks".

The undertaking by certain loyal Rhodesian public servants to return to their posts in Rhodesia was given on their joining the scheme of assistance after they had left Southern Rhodesia. The last part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether next financial year he will increase the provision from central Government funds for British-German youth exchanges.

Her Majesty's Government intend that the present provision of £30,000 made by the British Council for British-German youth exchanges should be increased to £50,000 in 1970–71, subject to Parliamentary approval.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the percentage of disabled staff in his Department is below 3 per cent.

Over 40 per cent. of the staff of the Home Office are employed in prison officer grades on work which is unsuitable for disabled persons. The percentage of disabled staff in relation to other posts in the Home Office is at present 2·6 per cent. The shortfall is due to a shortage of disabled applicants for posts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many young persons per 10,000 population living in the constituency of Islington, North and Islington Borough Council, respectively, up to the age of 20 years were convicted of criminal offences during 1968.

I shall send to my hon. Friend as soon as I can, available information relating to the area of the London Borough of Islington. Information for the constituency of Islington, North is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will now lay the Statutory Instrument necessary to apply the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction contained in the Administration of Justice Act, 1956 to the courts of the Isle of Man; and if he will make a statement;(2) whether he will now lay the Statutory Instrument necessary to apply the enlarged Admiralty jurisdiction contained in the Administration of Justice Act, 1956 to the courts in Jersey; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend considers, as his predecessors have done, that it is for the island authorities, if they so wish, to take the initiative in this matter. I am inquiring whether they wish to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will review the Sheriffs Act, 1887.

I have been asked to reply.The Government are reviewing the provisions of the Sheriffs Act, 1887, in the light of the report of the Royal Commission on Assizes and Quarter Sessions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report from the Sub-Committee of the Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence concerning the use of distinctive forms for the prescription of certain drugs of dependence.

FIREWORK INJURIES IN THE COUNTY OF DURHAM
Severity of injury				1969	1968	1967	1966	1965
Severe injury	…	…	…	7	7	13	23	7
Minor injury	…	…	…	41	70	49	64	42
Unknown	…	…	…	—	—	2	1	1
				—	—	—	—	—
Total	…	…	…	48	77	64	88	50

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has made to the representations from the Police Federation about the term of imprisonment served by persons convicted of the murder of a policeman.

I have written to the Police Federation, and the following is the text:

I was glad to have the opportunity of discussing recently with Mr. Gale and you the important question of the protection of police officers against violence, and, in particular, the question of the penalty for the murder of a police officer, in the light of Parliament's recent decision to make permanent the abolition of the death penalty.

The need to give the police all possible support and protection in their fight against crime, and violent crime in particular, is one of my main concerns. The most effective deterrent, I believe, is the certainty of detection, and that is why it is important to increase police strength still further and provide forces with

The Advisory Committee's Report on this and other matters arising in its study of amphetamines and L.S.D. will be published on 23rd March.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will obtain information on firework accidents, fatal, serious and minor injury, reported during the year 1969 in the county of Durham; and if he will give comparative figures for the last five years.

The table below sets out the information obtained from hospitals in the County of Durham as to the number of persons who received hospital treatment during the period 13th October to 9th November, 1969, for injuries caused by fireworks, and during comparable four-week periods in the previous four years. There were no fatal injuries.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the housing authorities whose applications for building council houses have within the last 12 months been refused or reduced, respectively, by him.

No local authority has been refused permission to build during the last 12 months.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many council houses have been sold in the county borough of Reading since 1950 to date.

1,729.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will seek powers to issue instructions on minimum standards of repair and maintenance for council houses.

Local authorities are required by the Housing Act, 1961 to keep in repair the structure and exterior of their houses (including drains, gutters and external pipes) and to keep in repair and proper working order the installations in the house for the supply of water, gas and electricity, for sanitation (including basins, sinks, baths and sanitary conveniences) and for space and water heating. My right hon. Friend is considering the possibility of a study of this aspect of housing management, as there is scope for improvement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what estimate he has made of the average weekly increase in council house rents needed for subsidised dwellings on the basis that housing subsidies to the county borough of Reading were abolished, excepting old people's accommodation.

In the light of information provided by the council, I estimate that the cost to Reading County Borough Council of abolishing Exchequer housing subsidies for existing dwellings, excepting old people's accommodation, would, in 1969–70, be equivalent to an average increase in council house rents of about 11s. a week.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total Post Office staff time, including counter staff time, which he estimates was spent on National Savings work during the financial year 1968–69.

Approximately 3,990 man years on the basis that one man equals 52 weeks of 42 hours per week. This figure does not include the time spent on National Savings work by the staff of the Department for National Savings, formerly the Post Office Savings Department.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that plastic token decimal coins issued to schools are being widely used in automatic washing machines; and whether he will give a general direction to the Decimal Currency Board to cease issuing such tokens.

It is a criminal offence to use plastic tokens, or indeed anything other than the correct legal tender, in coin-operated machines selling goods or services. The problem is not new, but I recognise that it has grown since sets of decimal token coins began to be produced for education and training.The remedy lies partly in making customers aware of the force of the law and partly in employing mechanism less vulnerable to misuse.The Decimal Currency Board does not itself issue decimal token coins.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he now has for reframing the regulations under which post-war credits can be repaid to take account of those cases where evident hardship is involved but repayment at present cannot be made.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for a change in the existing regulations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the national expenditure on education for each year from 1960 to 1969 in total and as a percentage of the gross national product, respectively; and how the increases in

	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968
Public expenditure on education* (£ million at outturn prices)	917	1,013	1,173	1,282	1,418	1,585	1,768	1,971	2,176
Public expenditure on education as a percentage of gross national product at factor cost	4·0	4·2	4·6	4·7	4·8	5·1	5·4	5·7	5·9
Percentage increase over preceding year
Public expenditure on education	8·1	10·5	15·8	9·3	10·6	11·8	11·5	11·5	10·4
Prices of gross domestic product at factor cost	1·8	3·3	3·4	2·1	2·6	4·0	3·6	3·8	2·4
* Defined as in Table 50 of "National Income and Expenditure 1969", i.e. including imputed rent and Northern Ireland, but excluding school meals and milk and local libraries and museums.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the estimated loss in the yield of income tax in 1970–71 on the basis that the single person's allowance, the wife's maximum earned income allowance, and the married man's allowance were each increased by £25, £45, and £65, respectively.

About £230 million, £410 million, and £580 million respectively on the basis of the 1969–70 Budget estimates.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what discussions she has had with Ministers in aid-donor countries in Europe about the Pearson and Jackson Reports.

The Development Assistance Committee in Paris last November and the conference which I attended last month in Canada and the United States

The information is given in the table below. Figures for 1969 are not yet available. The price index relating to gross domestic product provides the most appropriate overall indication of movements in costs and prices (including the effect of wage increases) generally.have provided excellent opportunities, both formal and informal, to discuss aspects of the reports with Ministers from other countries.

asked the Minister of Public Building and Works what extent Her Majesty's Embassies are equipped with crockery of British manufacture.

They are equipped entirely with crockery of British manufacture.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what hospital facilities are available in the west of Scotland for the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis; and what plans he has to extend these facilities and to ensure that adequate equipment is available for such treatment.

The centre for rheumatic diseases at Baird Street in Glasgow is the main unit for the treatment of rheumatism and arthritis, although some treatment is given at other hospitals in the area. The long-term intention is that the services provided at Baird Street should be transferred to the Glasgow Royal Infirmary on the completion of the first phase of the redevelopment there. Meanwhile the Western Regional Hospital Board and the Board of Management are examining proposals to increase the X-ray accommodation at the centre and have recently arranged for additional clinics to be held there to relieve the pressure on the existing clinic.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what number of children was born in 1969 with deformities or disabilities associated with congenital rubella.

Statistics received by the General Register Office on congenital malformations do not attribute particular malformations to particular causes, and it is therefore not possible to answer the hon. Member's question.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how

	Numbers
Body	Full-time	Part-time	Salaries or Fees
Census of Production Advisory Committee	—	11	—
Census of Distribution Advisory Committee	—	14	—
Committee of Inquiry on Small Firms	—	4	—
Committee on Consumer Credit	—	9	—
Athlone Fellowship Management Committee	—	9	—
Committee to Examine British Patent System and Patent Law	—	9	—
Accountancy Advisory Committee	—	5	—
Regional Advisory Committees for Civil Aviation (6)	—	77	—
Commission on the Third London Airport	—	6	—
Standing Joint Committee on Private and Club Flying and Gliding	—	1	—
Inquiry into Precision Approach Radar	—	3	—
Air Traffic Control Board	—	1	Chairman £21 a meeting.
Cinematograph Films Council	—	22	Chairman £600 p.a.
National Film Finance Corporation	1	5	—
British Film Fund Agency	—	3	—

I regret that this information is not readily available.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list in detail those authorities, boards, commissions, councils, and other bodies to which he appoints members, indicating the number of persons, full-time or part-time, that he appoints to each, and the salaries and expenses drawn by them from public funds.

The numbers exclude civil servants. Some members are reimbursed for travel and other expenses incurred, and in some instances members receive some payment by way of compensation for loss of earnings; it is not the practice to disclose particulars of payments of this kind.Following is the list:

asked the President of the Board of Trade how many of the paid appointments he makes, full- or part-time, to official bodies, are for a specific period only; how many are of indefinite duration; and what provision he makes for removing his nominees if they fail in their duty but decline to resign.

I assume that the hon. and gallant Member has in mind the paid appointments to which he refers in his previous Question. The figures are 38 appointments for a specific period and one appointment of indefinite duration. In general we make no specific provision for removing nominees but in some instances there are statutory powers providing for vacation of office before the end of the appointed term.

asked the President of the Board of Trade how far, when nominating persons to paid part-time appointments as chairmen, deputy chairmen, directors or members of authorities, boards, commissions, councils, and other bodies, he specifies what exact proportion of their time must be devoted to the day-to-day routine business and administration of that body; and how far this is left to the discretion of the nominees themselves.

The exact amount of time to be devoted to the work of the organisation is not specified, though informal discussions are held with prospective members about its scope and about the responsibilities which they will incur.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales when work will commence on the second section of the Cardiff to Merthyr trunk road.

Work will commence very soon after the contract is let, which I expect will be in the next week or two.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales why he has refused to approve the direction notices served by the Denbighshire County Council in order to prevent further industrial use of the Colwyn Bay railway goods yard, for which no planning permission has been granted.

The reasons given by the council did not appear to justify my taking the exceptional step of withdrawing the rights conferred by Class XVII A of the General Development Order 1963. It is, of course, open to the council at any time to submit a fresh direction for my consideration if it feels that it has additional material evidence.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about his plans to formulate a national or regional policy which will ensure that the interests of neighbouring communities are not harmed by the development of municipal airports.

The interests of communities near airports are already protected by existing planning controls and Section 8 of the Civil Aviation Act, 1968, which requires the provision of adequate facilities for consultation.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what additional powers the Government plan to seek, or to make available to local planning authorities, so as to protect the interests of the public from the impact of a rapid increase in night flying from municipal airports.

None. But as my right hon. Friend said in reply to a Question by the hon. Member on 27th February, the Aerodrome Owners Association has been asked to consider a co-ordinated approach to the problem of night jet flying.—[Vol. 796, c. 431–2.]