asked the Minister of Overseas Development how many students from developing countries were admitted to British universities in 1965; what grants they received and at what total cost; how many have now returned to their country of origin: and how many are still in this country.

1,529 under official schemes sponsored and administered by my Department, the British Council and the Commonwealth Scholarship Commission; additionally, 2,036 were already studying here under such schemes at the beginning of the year. Details of individual grant payments are not recorded separately; the cost of the full officially sponsored training programme in Britain in 1965 was £3·5 million. The number of students sponsored by my Department since 1962 who have not returned home is less than·4 per cent. of the total. Thirty-nine of the officially sponsored students admitted to British universities in 1965 are still studying here they are mostly medical and architecture students whose studies normally cover five years or more.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development whether, in view of the change of policy in respect of pensions for former expatriate colonial civil servants, Her Majesty's Government will now re-open discussions on aid to the Republic of South Yemen.

I would prefer to await the satisfactory institution of the arrangements for indigenous pensioners announced in my right hon. Friend's reply to the hon. Member for Sutton and Cheam (Mr. Sharples) on 19th March before considering the question of possible development assistance.—[Vol. 798. c. 208–9.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if Her Majesty's Government will undertake to make a statement of intent at the 25th Session of the United Nations General Assembly concerning the achievement by the United Kingdom of the 1 per cent. aid target requested by the Pearson Report.

The General Assembly should have before it a strategy drafted by the Preparatory Committee, stating objectives and policies for the Second United Nations Development DecadeThe Government will consider their attitude to the draft as a whole, when it becomes available.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a further statement on aid to Malta.

The House will wish to know that on 13th April the Malta Government were informed that, after the most careful reconsideration, the British Government could not go beyond their offer to provide the balance of £23 million still available under the 1964 Financial Agreement equally by way of grant and loan over the period 1969–74. The Malta Government have not so far accepted this offer, and the British High Commissioner in Malta is continuing his discussions with them.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if she will make a further statement on aid to Lesotho.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 19th March to the hon. Gentleman, and to my statement on 14th April in the debate on the Adjournment.—[Vol. 798, c. 586–87; Vol. 799, c. 1354–58.]

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what was the level of British aid to Tanzania in 1969, and in what form; what she proposes for the current year; and when this figure was last reviewed, in the light of the treatment of United Kingdom nationals in Tanzania.

£1·7 million during the calendar year 1969, in the form of compensation paid to former British pensionable officers of the Zanzibar Government; payment of pensions to retired British officers; and payments under technical assistance programmes being phased out following the decision taken in 1968 to discontinue aid.As to the last part of the hon. Gentleman's Question, I would refer him to my answers to several Questions on 19th March.

asked the Minister of Overseas Development if aid to Tanzania has now been resumed; and on what scale.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I have given earlier his afternoon to a Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Norwood I Mr. John Fraser).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the current failure rate of potential entrants taking the preliminary examination for acceptance into a Government retraining course.

Decisions on acceptance are made by the Trade Selection Panels which interview potentially suitable applicants. A preliminary sift by written test is only used for seven trades. In the last 12 months 6,034 applicants took such tests and 30 per cent. failed to qualify. The Trade Selection Panels saw 23,292 candidates, of whom 21 per cent. were not accepted.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what estimates she has made of the unemployment in Northallerton in the North-Eastern Development Region from the loss of container orders in Germany to the British Railways workshops at Derby.

I understand the firm concerned does not expect that any of its workers will lose their employment because British Rail Engineering Limited has obtained this contract.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when she expects the efficiency audit into the National Coal Board, at present being carried out by the National Board for Prices and Incomes, to be completed.

The board is expected to publish its final report on coal prices in the late summer.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she is taking to ensure that workers at the Handley Page Aircraft Company obtain early payment of wages and related sums outstanding to them at the time of the collapse of the company; and what action she is meanwhile taking in order to mitigate the hardship from which these workers are suffering.

The responsibility for dealing with preferential claims lies with the receiver and manager. I understand that the company is preparing a statement of affairs and that as soon as this has been delivered to the receiver and manager and examined by him he will make a statement relating to the position generally.In the meantime my Department has made guarantee redundancy payments to most of the workers eligible for them and hopes to make them shortly in the remaining eligible cases.My Department will continue its efforts to help those who need assistance in finding other employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity to what extent the code of conduct established by her Department requiring employers to consult with their workers before declaring large-scale redundancies was applied in connection with the closure of the Handley Page Aircraft Company.

The booklet " Dealing with Redundancies " issued by the Department in 1968 urges that in the normal course of events there should be the fullest consultation with trade unions before a final decision is taken to close a factory or substantially reduce its labour force, and that detailed arrangements to give effect to such a decision should be fully discussed with union officials. I regret that the recommended consultation is did not take place in connection with this closure, but I understand that the company was confronted by serious and immediate financial difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many workers are currently being trained at Government training centres in Scotland; and what plans she has for expanding training facilities.

1,051 were in training on 9th March. The Bellshill Centre is being expanded to provide 28 more training places later this year, and a new centre with about 100 places is to be opened at Dundee early in 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and

INDUSTRIAL ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBER OF PERSONS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE ABERDEEN EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE
							9th March 1970
Industry							Men	Boys	Women	Girls	Total
Agriculture and Horticulture				…	…	…	84	4	2	—	90
Fishing	…	…	…	…	…	…	97	—	—	—	97
Bacon Curing, Meat and Fish Products						…	96	3	21	4	124
Shipbuilding and Ship-repairing					…	…	39	1	1	—	41
Spinning and Doubling of Cotton,Flax and Man-made Fibres			…	…	…	…	24	3	4	—	31
Bricks, Pottery, Glass, Cement, etc.					…	…	61	1	—	—	62
Timber	…	…	…	…	…	…	37	—	—	—	37
Construction		…	…	…	…	…	478	3	3	—	484
Sea Transport		…	…	…	…	…	13	—	—	—	13
Distributive Trades		…	…	…	…	…	253	10	58	9	330
Entertainment and Sport				…	…	…	37	—	4	—	41
Catering, Hotels, etc.			…	…	…	…	65	1	17	1	84
Private Domestic Service				…	…	…	3	—	9	—	12
Local Government Service				…	…	…	168	—	10	—	178
Other Industries and Services				…	…	…	951	16	214	11	1,192
Total, all industries and services						…	2,406	42	343	25	2,816

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what estimate she has made of the reserve of Productivity how much was paid to employers in training grants in each of the last four years in England and Wales, and Scotland, respectively.

Following is the information:

TRAINING GRANTS TO EMPLOYERS IN DEVELOPMENT AND INTERMEDIATE AREAS
Financial Year		England and Wales	Scotland	Total
		£	£	£
1966–67	…	551,600	225,100	776,700
1967–68	…	670,100	263,600	993,700
1968–69	…	1,506,200	538,600	2,044,800
1969–70	…	2,348,600	844,600	3,193,200

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what progress has been made, and in which Department, with the application of the concept of accountable management units, as outlined in the Fulton Report.

There are eleven Departments in which studies in accountable management and management by objectives have been undertaken or are currently in progress. With permission, I will list the Departments concerned in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will initiate preliminary inquiries with the Commission of the European Economic Community on the work of its Civil Service and related matters arising from Great Britain's membership of the community.

asked the Minister without Portfolio what discussions he has had with the European Economic Community about matters which are of common interest to himself as Minister answering for Civil Service matters and his opposite numbers in the European Economic Community countries.

It would be premature to make a start to discussions on European Economic Community staffing matters at this stage, pending the development of negotiations.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will review the rule under which re-employed civil servants may not exceed in salary and pension a total greater than their salary immediately prior to their initial retirement, in view of the increase in the cost of living since the initial retirement.

This, together with other possible changes in Civil Service super-annuation, will be a matter to be considered by the Joint Review Committee, on which both staff and management are represented.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if when considering increases in their salaries, he will take into account the fact that some of the persons appointed to statutory boards on a full-time basis, with full-time salaries, who have received several salary increases during the past two or three years, also have other paid employment.

No, this would not be appropriate because the great majority of holders of full-time board appointments do not have outside employment. Those that do have to obtain approval to take outside employment, which is given in appropriate cases only on the basis that any fees received are paid over to the board concerned, unless the fees are small or there are special considerations of public policy.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he is aware that in the year 1963–64 there were 412,900 civil servants on a total salary of £636,425 and that since then the num bers have increased to 491,300 in January, 1970 at a cost of £1,031,304 in 1969–70; and to what extent he anticipates these salaries either rising or dropping during 1970–71.

As to the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the detail of my answers to previous Questions from him on 23rd March and 7th April. As to the second part, I anticipate a rise in the total salary bill during 1970–71 as a reflection of increased non-industrial staff numbers and the implementation of pay awards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider policy on the co-ordination of information about race relations and immigration.

There are well-established arrangements for coordination between Government Departments in this respect, and the possibility of improving these is kept under regular review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has now received the report of the committee set up to study the possible harmful effects of enzyme detergents; and if he will make a statement.

The inquiries referred to in the answer which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend on 19th January are not yet complete.—[Vol. 794, c.41.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to make illegal the publication of the memoirs of living criminals either for personal gain or for the financial benefit of relatives or others designated by them.

I examined this matter on a previous occasion when a similar article was published but conclude with regret that the issues cannot suitably be dealt with by legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will appoint additional women members to the committee examining privacy.

The committee is already large and my right hon. Friend sees no need to augment it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, as a means of stopping near or actual pornographic material being circulated unsolicited through the post, he will seek to amend the law so as to enable any person who receives an unsolicited circular which in the recipient's opinion is pornographic or which causes pain and suffering to take legal action, if the police do not, against the printers or circulators of this offensive material.

It is already possible under the existing law for private proceedings to be taken in respect of indecent or obscene material.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will ask the Criminal Law Revision Standing Committee to give priority to the examination of the murder and manslaughter of policemen in its review of offences against the person and to make an interim report.

My right hon. Friend appreciates and shares my right hon. Friend's concern about these classes of homicide, but does not think that they can usefully be studied out of the context of the general review of homicide which the Criminal Law Revision Committee has been invited to undertake. I understand that the committee is already in communication with the police and other organisations and persons closely connected with the enforcement of law and the administration of justice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an investigation to be made into all matters pertaining to the recent fracas affecting Prisoner Ronald Kray, to ascertain how and by whose authority, before his department had made an official statement, details of what had happened were disclosed to the Press; and whether he will examine the security precautions at this prison.

My right hon. Friend sees no need for further action on his part. The press reports did not originate from official sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to ensure that statistics about Commonwealth immigrants provided by Government Departments shall be accompanied by an explanation of their bases and by any background information that would help in their interpretation.

If, as I assume, the Question refers to the recent publication by the Registrar General of figures relating to births to parents themselves born in Commonwealth and other countries overseas, this was accompanied by a very full background note. As such figures had not been published before, special guidance was given on their interpretation; and this effort was generally welcomed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the amount spent on hospital building in the area of the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board for each of the last 10 years.

The amount spent on hospital building in the area of the Newcastle Regional Hospital Board, including capital expenditure by the United Newcastle Board of Governors, for each of the last ten years, was as follows:

				£million
1960–61	…	…	…	2·291
1961–62	…	…	…	3·207
1962–63	…	…	…	3·339
1963–64	…	…	…	4·594
1964–65	…	…	…	3·158
1965–66	…	…	…	2·836
1966–67	…	…	…	3–978
1967–68	…	…	…	5·035
1968–69	…	…	…	4·533
1969–70(estimated)	…	…	…	4·579

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will set up an inter-departmental inquiry to examine the decline in national savings.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what cost benefit study he has made of the expenditure of £3·7 million of public money for the financial year 1968–69, the majority of which arises from selling and cashing national savings stamps; and what percentage this £3·7 million represents of the average amount of stamps held by the public during that year.

A cost benefit study was undertaken as a result of which in 1967 a 2s. national savings stamp replaced the 6d. and 2s. 6d. denominations, and encashments of the new stamp were limited to amounts of £1 or more. A further study is now taking place. £3·7 million represents 11·3 per cent. of the mean balance of stamps estimated to be held by the public during the financial year 1968–69.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what studies he has made of the feasibility of the radio transmission of newspapers in the United Kingdom into homes and offices on the lines of recent experiments in the United States of America and Japan, details of which are in his possession; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand from the Post Office that this is only one of a series of new technical developments in local telecommunications which is under general study. I am advised that market research into customer needs for this service will be undertaken when sufficient need can be foreseen. This is not expected in the near future as heavy costs are likely to be involved in providing distribution facilities and customers' installations. I shall keep watch on developments.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will now take steps to improve and strengthen the law relating to the unsolicited distribution through the Post Office of obscene and pornographic prints and publications.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Home Department to the hon. Member for Sudbury and Woodbridge (Mr. Stainton) on 16th March.—[Vol. 798, c. 45.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state the number of countries whose Heads of State or Governments have since the Second World War been changed as a result of revolution, coups or other violent or illegal action and with which the British Government have continued to maintain diplomatic relations; and if he will give the names of the countries concerned.

I regret that the information asked for is not readily available and the cost of obtaining it would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will seek a simple affirmative or negative answer from the European Community Commission and member States to the question whether British entry into the European Economic Community will require acceptance of the Common Agricultural Policy with no significant modifications; and whether it is Her Majesty's Government's policy to continue to seek entry without such modifications.

No. Her Majesty's Government's position on this matter is quite clear, and is well known to the commission and to the member States of the European Economic Community. The questions relating to agriculture which we should wish to see resolved in negotiations were set out by my right hon. Friend the Member for Belper (Mr. George Brown), the then Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, in his statement at the meeting of the Council of Western European Union at The Hague on 4th July, 1967, which has been published as a White Paper (Cmnd. 3345).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, before the end of the present Parliament, he will clarify the basic conditions upon which British entry to the European Economic Community would have to depend; and whether he will publish his latest information on these conditions shortly before that time.

The basic condition upon which British entry to the European Economic Community would have to depend is the negotiation of terms fair for all those concerned. The House has been assured on several occasions that when negotiations are concluded the terms achieved in the course of them will be submitted for the consideration of the House before a final decision is taken on entry.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of Mr. Ian Smith's recent policy on the status of Rhodesia, he will take further action to ensure eventual democratic majority rule in Rhodesia.

What is needed is not additional measures but the more rigorous implementation by all members of the United Nations of the Security Council Resolutions on Rhodesia, including No. 277 which was adopted on 18th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has received concerning the validity or otherwise of divorces granted in the courts of the illegal régime in Rhodesia; and what reply he has sent.

My Office has received a few inquiries concerning the validity of individual divorces. In each case my Office has replied to the effect that it would not be appropriate for the Secretary of State to advise on the possible effects in English law of a divorce decree pronounced by the so-called High Court of Rhodesia. This is a matter that could only be determined conclusively by a judicial decision in the United Kingdom court. My Office has also made the observation that in present circumstances there must be serious doubt whether any pronouncement of the so-called High Court of Southern Rhodesia purporting to exercise jurisdiction in Southern Rhodesia could be regarded in the United Kingdom as being valid judgments of a lawful court.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the total cost to the Exchequer in 1969–70 of the operation in Anguilla.

Up to 31st March, 1970, the costs arising from the installation of Her Majesty's Commissioner, comprising mainly the extra military costs and those of the Anguilla Police Unit, are estimated at about £1·52 million.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will make a statement about the results of the meeting of the Joint Techno-Economic Group which recently met in Delhi.

The first meeting of the Indo-British Technological Group, at t he opening of which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Overseas Development represented my right hon. Friend, was held in New Delhi from 9th to 11th February. The group included representatives of Government Departments and industry from both countries. It reviewed a wide range of matters concerning existing technological collaboration and investment in India and also the possibilities of new projects of mutual interest arising from the industrial needs brought to light in India's Fourth Economic Plan. It was agreed that a further meeting should be held in London later this year. I very much hope that we are building the foundations of closer understanding between the two countries on means of improving and extending industrial collaboration.

asked the Minister of Technology whether the report by Professor Williams of Southampton University, sponsored by his Department, about possible vertical take-off and landing sites in British cities has now been received; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. The report will be placed in the Libraries of the House of Lords and the House of Commons today. This is a research study and should be regarded as no more than a working document. It deals, in two volumes, with the pattern of business traffic in the United Kingdom and the merits of potential sites in several major cities for operations with vertical take-off and landing aircraft. Both studies will be helpful in forming a judgment on the desirability of a project, but many other studies remain to be done before a decision can be taken. Development of this system of civil air transport would also of necessity take a number of years.The views expressed about sites and localities in the report are those of Professor Williams; they do not commit the Government in any way, nor do they signify that all or any of the sites will be used for vertical take-off and landing operations. No action will be taken by the Government in this matter without the fullest consultation with all the interests concerned.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will expedite publication of the report of the inspector who conducted the appeal by Mr. Bond against the refusal of the Somerset County Council to prevent minerals excavation and the regrading of land on the site of Brent Knoll.

As I explained to the hon. Member on 26th March, there are a number of extremely technical questions which are being considered in this case. I will give my decision as soon as possible and the inspector's report will then he made available.—[Vol. 798, c. 1635–6.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government how many local councils in England and Wales had their own direct labour building departments in the years 1964 and 1970, respectively; and if he will list the names of those authorities which at present maintain such departments in the administrative counties of West Suffolk, East Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex.

Local authority returns show that in 1964 185 local authorities in England and Wales had building operatives engaged on new housing work. In September, 1969 the number was 149. Figures for 1970 are not yet available. The following local authorities in the administrative counties of West Suffolk, East Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex are currently carrying out housebuilding schemes by direct labour: Bury St. Edmunds Borough, Colchester Borough and Harlow Urban District.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the amounts allocated to Bedworth Urban District Council for home loans in the years 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970; and whether all of these allocations have been fully taken up.

Following is the information requested:

BEDWORTH URBAN DISTRICT COUNCIL
Year		Allocation	Loans made
		£	£
1966–67	…	No quota, but lending to be limited to special categories of applicant.	37,060
1967–68	…	22,100	24,654
1968–69	…	18,830	20,980
1969–70	…	10,000	10,000
1970–71	…	33,400	—

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what were the amounts allocated to Nuneaton Borough Council for home loans in the years 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970; and whether all of these allocations have been fully taken up.

Following is the information requested:

NUNEATON BOROUGH COUNCIL
Year		Allocation	Loans made
1966–67	…	No quota, but lending to be limited to special categories of applicant.	193,630
		£	£
1967–68	…	69,700	64,320
1968–69	…	115,847	93,195
1969–70	…	28,559	24,475
1970–71	…	174,300	—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will now make a statement regarding the steps he is taking to increase the amount of the grants and of the loans available to tenant crofters for the building of croft houses and steadings, in view of the increase in building and transport costs in the last few years, particularly in the Islands; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave him on 3rd December, 1969.—[Vol. 792, c.298.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the approximate timetable of the Highlands and Islands Development Board for delivery of the six new fishing boats to be added to the Western Islands fishing fleet; and to which of the islands they are allocated.

The approximate timetable is one completion in each of the months of May, September and November, 1970, one in February, 1971, and two in May, 1971. Five of the boats are for Lewis and one for Scalpay.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has regarding the cost to date to local authorities of implementing the Social Work (Scotland) Bill; what relationship this bears to the estimated cost; and if he will make a statement.

No information is available about expenditure by local authorities for the part year which has elapsed since certain provisions of the Social Work (Scotland) Act, 1968 were brought into effect.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) what representations he has received from the Association of Secondary Head Teachers of Lanarkshire about the staffing problems in secondary schools; and what reply he has sent;(2) if he will take steps to improve the staffing of secondary schools in Lanarkshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from the Association of Secondary Head Teachers of Lanarkshire about the staffing position in secondary schools; and what reply he has sent.

I have received a letter from the association urging that a provisional formula should be prescribed for the staffing of secondary schools as a first stage in the redistribution of teachers. I have replied that I am considering, in the light of the most recent statistics, what further short-term measures are needed to improve distribution, and that I shall take account of the view expressed by the association.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the number of

Number of References
Education Authority				Total	Withdrawn	Approved	Not Approved	Still under Consideration
BURGHS:
Aberdeen	…	…	…	11	—	8	3	—
Dundee	…	…	…	24	—	20	4	—
Edinburgh	…	…	…	105	—	89	16	—
Glasgow	…	…	…	342	6	327	7	2
COUNTIES:
Aberdeen	…	…	…	25	—	8	17	—
Angus	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Argyll	…	…	…	6	—	6	—	—
Ayr	…	…	…	122	—	50	72	—
Banff	…	…	…	3	—	—	3	—
Berwick	…	…	…	1	—	1	—	—
Bute	…	…	…	2	1	1	—	—
Caithness	…	…	…	1	—	—	1	—
Clackmannan	…	…	…	10	2	7	1	—
Dumfries	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Dunbarton	…	…	…	63	1	52	10	—
East Lothian	…	…	…	6	—	4	2	—
Fife	…	…	…	52	11	20	20	1
Inverness	…	…	…	11	—	9	2	—
Kincardine	…	…	…	3	—	2	1	—
Kircudbright	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Lanark	…	…	…	493	—	295	195	3
Midlothian	…	…	…	1	—	—	1	—
Moray and Nairn	…	…	…	3	—	1	1	1
Orkney	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Peebles	…	…	…	—	—	—	—	—
Perth and Kinross	…	…	…	10	1	3	5	1
Renfrew	…	…	…	119	2	69	48	—
Ross and Cromarty	…	…	…	3	—	1	2	—
Roxburgh	…	…	…	20	—	17	2	1
Selkirk	…	…	…	4	—	3	1	—
Stirling	…	…	…	39	1	31	7	—
Sutherland	…	…	…	1	—	—	1	—
West Lothian	…	…	…	22	—	17	5	—
Wigtown	…	…	…	5	—	1	2	2
Zetland	…	…	…	8	—	5	3	—
Total (Scotland)	…	…	…	1,515	25	1,047	432	11

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for fishing boats, under the Fisheries Development Scheme of the Highlands and Islands Development Board, have now been received from the Isle of Barra; and how many approved.

The information is in the table attached. I should add, however, that the period of appointment of such teachers is limited to one year and many serve for shorter periods. The number in service in December, 1969 was 498.Following is the table:

Three applications for boats have been received from Barra. Of these one was approved but then withdrawn, one was rejected and one is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give the amended figures showing the number of new primary and secondary schools completed in each of the last five years, the total number of places provided, and the comparable figures for the preceding five years.

Following is the information:

SCHOOL BUILDING, SCOTLAND
A.Number of New Schools Completed
Year				Primary	Secondary
1960	…	…	…	38	15
1961	…	…	…	26	10
1962	…	…	…	28	18
1963	…	…	…	35	18
1964	…	…	…	41	14
Total	…	…	…	168	75
1965	…	…	…	51	20
1966	…	…	…	43	20
1967	…	…	…	52	13
1968	…	…	…	52	8
1969	…	…	…	61	18
Total	…	…	…	259	79

B.Number of Places Provided
1960–64	Primary	Secondary
New Schools	76,258	73,091
Alterations and Extensions	24,196	44,948
Total	100,454	118,039
1965–69
New Schools	113,909	98,047
Alterations and Extensions	27,521	44,654
Total	141,430	142,701

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he now intends to have with heads of Governments of European Free Trade Association countries with regard to Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to a supplementary question by the right hon. Member for Orkney and Shetland (Mr. Grimond) on 7th April. The House will wish to know that my right hon. Friends the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and the President of the Board of Trade will be attending a Ministerial meeting of E.F.T.A. at Geneva on 14th and 15th May.—[Vol. 799, c. 239.]

asked the Prime Minister what recent consultations he has had with the National Economic Development Council about the level of national savings.

The N.E.D.C. last discussed this in June, 1968, on a paper submitted by the C.B.I.; following this meeting, the Government initiated consultations with the C.B.I. and the T.U.C. which resulted in the introduction of the Save-As-You-Earn Scheme in October, 1969.

asked the Prime Minister how many hon. Members and Members of the House of Lords have made representations to him against the supply of tanks to Libya, or in favour of the supply of Chieftain tanks to Israel, during the past six months.

Eighty-one hon. Members and Members of the House of Lords appended their signatures to a recent letter to me about this, and I understand that 13 others later expressed their wish to be associated with that letter. In addition, I have had a few separate letters on this matter.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will now give the date when the investigations into matters pertaining to the practice known as cube-cutting will be completed; and whether he will make a statement.

I cannot add to the answer I gave my hon. Friend on 16th February.—[Vol. 796, c. 14.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (1) by how much the price of bread, potatoes, and red meat at the latest convenient date exceeds the price ruling 12 months previously;(2) by how much the price of bread, potatoes, and red meat at the latest convenient date exceeds the price ruling in October, 1964.

The following table gives the information available on the retail prices of these foodstuffs in October, 1964, March, 1969 and March, 1970. As the basis on which average prices of individual foodstuffs are collected was altered in 1967, only limited comparisons are possible between the October, 1964 figures and those for the two later dates.

AVERAGE RETAIL PRICES OF BREAD, POTATOES AND RED MEAT (PER LB. UNLESS OTHERWISESTATED)
		October 1964		March 1969		March 1970
BREAD		s.	d.	s.	d.	s.	d.
White wheat bread, 1¾lb.	…	1	2	—		—
White, wrapped and sliced l¾lb	…	—		1	8	1	9
White, unwrapped, 1¾lb.	…	—		1	7	1	8
White, 14 oz.	…	—			11	1	0
Brown, 14 oz.	…		11	1	1	1	2
POTATOES
Old	…		3½	—		—
Old, white. loose	…	—			4		5½
Old, red, loose	…	—			4½		6
BEEF, HOME KILLED
Chuck	…	—		6	0	6	3
Sirloin (without bone)	…	6	9	7	11	8	7
Silverside (without bone)	…	—		7	6	8	0
Back ribs (with bone)	…	—		5	3	5	6
Fore ribs (with bone)	…	—		5	1	5	5
Brisket (with bone)	…	2	8	3	4	3	5
Rump steak	…	—		10	1	10	10
LAMB, HOME KILLED
Lain (with bone)	…	—		6	2	6	7
Breast	…	—		1	10	2	0
Best end of neck	…	—		4	9	5	0
Shoulder (with bone)	…	—		4	5	4	7
Leg (with bone)	…	—		5	11	6	5
LAMB, IMPORTED
Loin (with bone)	…	—		4	9	5	0
Breast	…	—		1	2	1	3
Best end of neck	…	—		3	10	4	0
Shoulder (with bone)	…	—		3	6	3	7
Leg (with bone)	…	—		5	2	5	5
MUTTON
Leg (with bone)	…	3	8	—		—
PORK, HOME KILLED
Leg (foot off)	…	4	3	5	1	5	7
Belly	…	—		3	3	3	6
Loin (with bone)	…	5	0	6	0	6	7
Sources

The prices given for October, 1964 are average prices compiled from returns collected by the former Ministry of Labour in seven large towns in Great Britain. The prices for March, 1969 and 1970 are averages derived from prices collected for the purposes of the Index of Retail Prices in 200 areas in the United Kingdom by the Department of Employment and Productivity.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the level of military expenditure in the four quarters of 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

The Government's plans for defence budget expenditure for the financial years 1970–71 and 1971–72 were given in Table 2.1 of " Public Expenditure 1968–69 to 1973–74 " (Cmnd. 4234), but no quarterly breakdown of the figures is available. Assessments of the quarterly out-turn figures for the defence budget for 1969 are given below. The corresponding figure for the first quarter of 1970 is not yet available.

1969			£million
January-March	…	…	627
April-June	…	…	527
July-September	…	…	550
October-December	…	…	528

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what estimate he has made of the balance of payments cost of military expenditure east of Suez in the four quarters of 1969, 1970, 1971 and 1972.

£20 million in each quarter of 1969 for expenditure covered in Cmnd. 4290, Annex H, Table 1 (Persian Gulf and Far East). Figures for later years are not available

asked the Secretary of State for Defence what is the current percentage shortfall in officer recruits to the Royal Navy.

In 1969–70 the per-centage shortfall was 22 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers serving in the Royal Navy retired at their own request during the two years ended 31st December, 1969.

631.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many officers serving in the Royal Navy applied to retire voluntarily in the six months commencing 1st October, 1969 to 31st March, 1970.

127. This figure does not include the applications received for retirement under redundancy terms.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the percentage of children in Nottinghamshire schools who stay on until the age of 16 years; and how this figure compares with the national average.

23·5 per cent. and 31·0 per cent in 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary school classes in Nottinghamshire had more than 40 pupils in January, 1969; what percentage that was of the total classes; and what are the latest available figures.

I refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton) on 17th April.—[Vol. 799, c.297.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary classes with more than 40 children exist in Luton; what percentage that is of the total; and what were the comparable figures 12 months ago.

In January, 1970, 32 or 5·6 per cent. In January, 1969, 87 or 16·6 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many students were admitted to colleges of education in Wales and England, respectively, in 1969; and if he will express the numbers as a proportion of the populations.

Provisional figures of non-graduate students admitted to initial training courses in colleges of education and departments of education in technical colleges in Wales and England, respectively, in 1969 were 2,152 and 35,873. Expressed as a precentage of the total population of Wales and England, the numbers were ·079 per cent. and·078 per cent. respectively.

asked the President of the Board of Trade, whether he will make a statement about the near-miss incident involving a Trans World Airlines Boeing 707 and a British Overseas Airways Corporation VCIO over Epsom on 7th April, 1970.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will make a statement about the air-miss incident over Epsom on 7th April, 1970 between a Trans World Airlines Boeing 707 and a British Overseas Airways Corporation VCIO.

A report has been received of an incident at 1100 hours G.M.T. on 7th April in the vicinity of the Epsom beacon. The aircraft concerned were a Trans World Airlines Boeing 707 from New York, cleared to fly at 7,000 feet on preliminary approach to Heathrow, and a B.O.A.C. VC10, outbound from Heathrow to Delhi, which had been cleared to climb to 6,000 feet. The T.W.A. pilot manoeuvred his aircraft slightly to avoid the B.O.A.C. aircraft. No one was hurt. The incident is being investigated for consideration by the Air Miss Working Group.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what investigation he intends to carry out into the fire which broke out on the Manchester Ship Canal on 14th April causing serious injuries to people and ferryboats.

As a first step, and in consultation with other Departments also concerned, I have ordered a preliminary inquiry under Section 465 of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. in order to establish the cause of the casualty. The inquiry is proceeding. Further action to be taken as a result of this inquiry will be decided in consultation with other Departments.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what representations he has received about infringement of the Trade Descriptions Act by Trans World Airlines in advertising a choice of meals for their passengers, when this is forbidden by International Air Transport Association regulations.

None.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will lay regulations dealing with smoke pollution caused by jet engines similar to those incorporated in the Air Navigation (Noise Certification) Order 1970.

Research in this country and abroad has indicated

		Compulsory Liquidations			Voluntary Liquidations
Year		Private Companies	Public Companies	Total	Private Companies	Public Companies	Total
1969—
1st Quarter	…	316	2	318	1,802	24	1,826
2nd Quarter	…	308	—	308	1,945	22	1,967
3rd Quarter	…	170	1	171	1,690	27	1,717
4th Quarter	…	384	—	384	1,619	29	1,648
Year	…	1,178	3	1,181	7,056	102	7,158
1970—
*1st Quarter	…	316	—	316	1,777	32	1,809
*Provisional.

The information requested with regard to closures, takeovers, mergers and amalgamations is not available.

asked the Minister of Transport (1) if he will give a general direction to the British Waterways Board to develop and publicise the amenities for sport and other leisure-time activities on he waterways controlled by it;(2) how many leisure-time activities have been initiated by the British Waterways Board on the waterways under its control; and if he will make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what was the number of compulsory liquidations and voluntary liquidations of private and public companies in addition to the number of known instances of closures, takeovers, takeovers of businesses, mergers and amalgamations in which at least one partner has placed but a nominal value on its assets in the first quarter of 1970; and how this figure compares with each quarter and the total for 1969.

The numbers of compulsory and voluntary liquidations of private and public companies in England and Wales in 1969 and the first quarter of 1970 are:

There has been rapid increase in pleasure cruising, canoeing and boating of all kinds as well as in other sports and recreational activities such as walking and nature studies on the British Waterways Board's rivers, canals and reservoirs. This is continuing. The board has made it one of its principal tasks to extend the scope for water-based and leisure pursuits, in cooperation with interested official and private bodies, and it has in the last 12 months made available new areas for water-skiing, dinghy-sailing and fishing. The board takes every opportunity of publicising the potentialities of its waterways for leisure activities, and I do not think any general direction is necessary.

asked the Minister of Transport if he has now decided to use the powers provided by Section 53 of the Transport Act, 1968.

After a careful review of the powers provided by Section 53(1) of the Transport Act, 1968 I have come to the conclusion that responsibility for Thos. Cook & Son Ltd. and the Transport Holding Company's other subsidiary companies is best left with the Holding Company. I do not, therefore, propose to make use of these powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what representations he has now had in regard to public subsidies to maintain rural bus services; and what advice he has given to local authorities which are concerned.

I have had representations from various local authorities. In two cases I have agreed to pay grant. In other cases I have asked the local authorities to provide details of the need to subsidise the service so that the case can be considered if necessary before a general code of guidance to local authorities is issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what assistance and encouragement he is giving to local authorities in Wales to improve and modernise the existing older stock of council houses.

I am empowered to pay contributions to housing authorities amounting to about three-eights of the costs they incur in improving council houses. Under the Housing Act, 1969 the cost ceiling has been substantially increased to £400 when the improvements entail the provision of standard amenities only or £2,000 for thorough improvements to a high standard. Local authorities are thus benefiting from the more generous level of assistance given in the Act for the improvement of their own houses, and I am taking every opportunity to encourage them to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many privately-owned dwellings in Wales have been modernised since 1964 by the provision of a bathroom and hot water facilities; and how this figure compares with the comparable period before that date.

Standard grants were made to private owners towards the provision of 6,835 fixed baths and 6,815 hot water supplies in the period 1960 to 1964. Comparative figures for the period 1965 to 1969 are 8,804 and 9,314. In addition, the provision of bathrooms and hot-water supplies can be grant-aided as part of more extensive schemes qualifying for discretionary and improvement grants, but the number of schemes involving provision of the specified amenities is not separately recorded. 19,397 such grants were made in the period 1960 to 1964 and 27,914 in the period 1965 to 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what has been the cost to the Exchequer and to local authorities in Wales since 1964 of modernising privately owned dwellings; and how these figures compare with the corresponding period before that date.

In the years 1965 to 1969 the local authorities in Wales awarded grants totaling £7,518,514 towards the cost of modernising privately owned dwellings compared with £6,805,225 in the years 1960 to 1964. The Exchequer contribution is equivalent to three-quarters of the loan charges on a loan equal to the grant and repayable over 20 years.