asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will now make a statement about the review of the employment services.

I hope to make a statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity to which further trades she intends to extend the free sponsored industrial training schemes.

Subject to local negotiation sponsored training is already available in all the 50 trades taught at Government training centres. It will also be on offer in the new trades (such as auto-setting and pneumatic and hydraulic fitting) which we will be introducing at certain centres.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will make a statement on the role of prices and incomes policy during the forthcoming period of negotiations over British entry into the European Economic Community, with particular reference to the position of the low paid and retirement pensioners.

No. I have nothing to add to what was said about the negotiations by the Prime Minister in his reply to the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 19th February. — [Vol. 796, c. 187.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will introduce legislation to make employers issue protective waterproof clothing to their employees engaged on outside work for more than one hour per day.

My right hon. Friend has no plans for legislation on the lines suggested. For the construction industry, which is the main industry subject to the Factories Act where employes may have to continue work outside in wet weather, regulations have been made requiring suitable protective clothing to be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will introduce legislation to compel employers to issue pay slips to their employees, itemising their wages, and to compel employers to pay all weekly wages before 1 p.m. on Fridays.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals for legislation on these lines.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will institute an inquiry into the dispute between trade unions and the Post Office involving the wish of the overseas telegraph operators to join the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs; and if she will publish the results of this and of previous inquiries by her Department into this matter.

I am not aware of any such dispute.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how much was raised in levy by the Shipbuilding Industry Training Board in each year since the inception of the Act; how many establishments contributed; and how many were paid grant in respect of training given.

The following is the information:

Year	Sum raised in levy	Employers liable to pay levy	Establishments associated with a claim for grant
	£
1965–66	613,879	946	422
1966–67	1,565,628	951	428
1967–68	2,058,390	915	414
1968–69	1,458,503	925	365 (estimated)
1969–70	1,725,660	902	Not yet known

STOPPAGES OF WORK DUE TO INDUSTRIAL DISPUTES (UNITED KINGDOM)
		Stoppages beginning in period		Working days lost in all stoppages in progress in period
		Total	Excluding mining and quarrying	Total	Excluding mining and quarrying
(a) October, 1968 to June, 1969	…	2,106	1,931	3,441,000	3,381,000
(b) July, 1969 to March, 1970	…	2,667	2,554	6,238,000	5,228,000
Percentage increase (b) over (a)	…	27%	32%	81%	55%
All the figures quoted are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what estimate she has made of the proportion of strikes caused by industrial disputes that are unofficial and in breach of agreement.

Separate estimates are available only for stoppages of work known to be official. In the 10 years since 1960 when these estimates were first made, the proportion of recorded stop-pages known to have been official has

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many firms pay levy to the Engineering Industry Training Board in England, Wales and Scotland; and how many claim grant in respect of training given in the respective areas.

The current position is as followings:

			Establishments liable to pay levy	Establishments associated with a claimfor grant
Scotland		…	1,432	1,092
Wales	…	…	638	495
England		…	20,296	14,015
Total		…	22,366	15,602

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will list the number of stoppages and days lost due to industrial disputes, including and excluding mining, for the nine months up to and including June, 1969 and for the nine months since June, 1969, respectively; and if she will state the percentage increases of the latter period over the earlier period.

Following is the information:varied between 2·2 per cent, in 1961 and 5·1 per cent, in 1967, and averaged 3·2 per cent. The great majority of the remaining stoppages would have been unofficial; and most of these would also have been in breach of agreement, though the Department is not able to estimate the precise proportion.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will state the number of stoppages due to industrial disputes, including and excluding mining, in the first three months of 1970, and for the comparable period of 1969 and 1968.

Including and excluding mining and quarrying, respectively, the provisional figures of the numbers of stoppages of work due to industrial disputes in the United Kingdom which began during the first 3 months of 1970 are 1.134 and 1,100. The corresponding figures for the same period in 1969 are 718 and 653, and in 1968, 518 and 464.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity (1) whether she will publish the latest statistics or her estimate of those laid off work in the motor industry as a result of official and unofficial strikes although not themselves on strike;(2) whether she will publish the latest statistics or estimates of those laid off work as a result of official and unofficial strikes although not themselves on strike.

There are formidable practical difficulties in getting accurate statistics of the numbers laid off in other establishments as a result of the stoppages covered by my Department's monthly statistics. However, an estimate of working days lost in known instances of such lay-offs in the motor industry, which is particularly affected, is published annually in the Employment and Productivity Gazette and the figure for 1969 is due to appear in the May issue.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the estimated increase in retail prices over the last three months expressed as an annual percentage rate.

The rise in the General Index of Retail Prices between 16th December, 1969, and 17th March, 1970, expressed as an annual percentage rate was 7·7 per cent., but the increase to some extent reflects seasonally higher food prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity by how much in the £ sterling retail prices have risen since November, 1967.

The rise in retail prices, as measured by the General Index of Retail Prices, between 14th November, 1967 and 17th March, 1970, was 2s. 9d. in the £ sterling.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in how many months since November, 1967, the Retail Price Index has risen, in how many it has remained constant, and in how many it has fallen.

In the 28 months from November, 1967, to March, 1970, the General Index of Retail Prices rose in 25, remained constant in 1 and fell in 2.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the percentage increase in retail prices between 1959 and 1964, and between 1964 and 1969; and what the difference between these two increases represents in terms of total expenditure on items covered by the Retail Price Index in 1969, at current prices.

The percentage rises in retail prices, as measured by the Index of Retail Prices, were 14·7 per cent. between 1959 and 1964 and 23·2 per cent. between 1964 and 1969. The average weekly expenditure of index households in the year ended June, 1969, was about £ 26. The difference between the results of applying the two increases to this average weekly expenditure would be about £ 2 4s.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the estimated average annual increase in wages in manufacturing industry over the past three months.

It is estimated that the average earnings of all workers in manufacturing industries, without adjustment for seasonal effects, increased by about 3·0 per cent. in the three months ending February, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will state the number of pay claims referred to the National Board for Prices and Incomes since 1st January this year.

No claims have been referred but there have been five references concerned with pay in particular industries, of which three covered prices as well as pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what she estimates to have been the effect of the operation of Part II of the Prices and Incomes Act, 1966, in the first quarter of 1970.

No standstills were imposed under Part II of the Prices and Incomes Act, 1966, in the first quarter of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many men and women registered as unemployed in the Southampton area have been out of work for a continuous period of more than three months; and what percentage this is of total unemployment in the area.

At 13th April, 1970, 1,236 men and 115 women who were registered as wholly unemployed in the Southampton travel-to-work area had been on the registers for more than three months. They formed 35·3 per cent. of the total numbers, including young persons, registered as unemployed in that area. These figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many miners in the South Yorkshire coalfield during the past three years have taken advantage of Government retraining facilities.

Since September, 1967, 59 have been accepted for training at Government Training Centres. Of these 46 have started and 24 completed their courses. 31 applicants are still under consideration. There is room for many more now that we have opened our new centre at Wakefield.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will take steps to establish a screening system for workers in lead industries to detect early symptoms of poisoning.

Many workers in lead industries are already required by regulations made under the Factories Act to undergo periodic medical examination. One of the tasks planned for the proposed new Employment Medical Advisory Service is to carry out periodic screening of workers in lead industries whether or not covered by regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action she is taking, following the announced decision of Electro Plating Services Limited to close its factory in Bakewell, Derbyshire, which will result in 250 unemployed on 1st July. 1970; and if she will make a statement.

If the hon. Member is referring to the closure of the Bakewell factory of Electric Power Storage Ltd., a team of my officers has visited the factory to interview those seeking advice or help in finding alternative employment. My officers are also making special approaches to employers likely to be interested in the labour becoming available, and three have already arranged to visit the factory to interview applicants.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is satisfied with the operation of the solemn and binding undertaking given by the Trades Union Congress last June in regard to the curtailment of unofficial strikes; and if she will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will make a statement on the working of the solemn and binding agreement on industrial relations made with the Trades Union Congress in June 1969.

The Government welcome the T.U.C.'s vigorous efforts, in co-operation with the unions concerned, to give effect to the policies of positive intervention in serious unconstitutional and inter-union disputes which were the basis of the undertaking given by the T.U.C. last June. I am confident that these efforts have averted and curtailed many strikes.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many accidents have taken place arising from faulty connections in the plugs of amplifying equipment within the last three years: how many of these have resulted in the deaths of performers; and if she will introduce health, welfare and safety legislation to cover all places where professional performances take place.

As regards the first part of the Question, the information is not available. As regards the second part, in the last three years two fatalities have been reported by area electricity boards in accordance with the requirements of the current electricity supply legislation. On the last part, it would be inappropriate to make extensions to the scope of existing safety, health and welfare legislation until the Government have considered the results of the inquiry which my right hon. Friend announced on 2nd March.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what plans she has to reduce unemployment among the registered disabled.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 4th December to my hon. Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent South (Mr. Ashley).The new arrangements for strengthening the disablement resettlement officer service have started and should be in full operation by the early summer. My right hon. Friend has appealed to employers through the Confederation of British Industry and Local Government Associations and to the nationalised industries for their help in identifying more employment opportunities for disabled people.— [Vol. 792, c. 323–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in the inquiries she is making in various sections of the film industry concerning the implementation of the report of the Monopolies Commission on films distribution and exhibition, she will seek the views of the trade unions concerned.

Certain suggestion have been put to the signatories of the 1967 Statement of Intent which dealt with the matters on which the Monopolies Commission made recommendations. My Department would be glad during the course of the inquiries to receive the views of the trade unions concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she proposes to take in view of the sudden decline in jobs in Colne as a result of the decision of Smith's Industries Limited not to rebuild their factory in the town, the decision of H. Houldsworth (Colne) Limited to cease production and the decision of Bairdtex Limited and W. and J. Sagar Limited to reduce the number of employees.

My local employment officers will continue to do all they can to help those affected by recent redundancies in Colne to find suitable new jobs or training opportunities where appropriate. Two of these recent redundancies resulted from accidental fire damage to premises and plant, but the Government are aware of the long-term industrial trends in North-East Lancashire and designation as an intermediate area should do much to alleviate its problems.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what stage has been reached in her discussions with the brewery companies in implementing the Monopolies Commission report relating to tied houses.

We are now studying the comments the brewery companies have made on the proposals put to them which were designed to loosen the tie and at the same time to give greater security of tenure to tenants so that the loosening of the tie would not be frustrated by a switch to managed houses.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of persons registered as being unemployed together with the percentage rate of unemployment in the Edinburgh area this April and in the preceding 10 Aprils.

The following is the information.TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE EDINBURGH, LEITH, PORTOBELLO, DALKEITH, LOANHEAD, MUSSELBURGH AND TRANENT EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES

	Registered Unemployed	Percentage Rate
April, 1970 (provisional)	8,804	3·4
April, 1969	6,932	2·7
April, 1968	6,066	2·4
April, 1967	5,284	2·0
April, 1966	3,924	1·5
April, 1965	4,562	1·8
April, 1964	5,584	2·1
April, 1963	7,402	2·9
April, 1962	5,728	2·2
April, 1961	4,670	1·9
April, 1960	6,393	2·6

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many wage and salary awards have been notified to her so far this year, and of these how many have been restricted to an annual increase of 2½ per cent. or less.

51 wage and salary settlements affecting 10,000 or more

ESTIMATED NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES IN THE COUNTY OF BANFF IN AGRICULTURE, FORESTRY AND FISHING (MINIMUM LIST HEADINGS 001,002 AND 003, RESPECTIVELY, OF THE STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION)
		Agriculture		Forestry		Fishing
		Number (000's)	Percentage of total	Number (000's)	Percentage of total	Number (000's)	Percentage of total
June, 1968	…	1·2	10	0·1	1	1·1	10
June, 1967	…	1·3	11	0·2	2	1·2	11
June, 1966	…	1·4	13	0·1	1	1·2	10
June, 1965	…	1·7	13	0·1	1	1·1	9
June, 1964	…	1·9	16	0·1	1	1·1	9
Estimates for June, 1969, are expected to become available next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what discussions she has had with the Medical Research Council about the Council's policy to trades unionism amongst its staff.

Officials of my Department had discussions about recognition with the Medical Research Council and Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staffs during 1969. Following a request from A.S.T.M.S. a reference to the Commission on Industrial Relations was made in December, 1969. My right hon. Friend expects to receive the Commission's Report shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will state the numbers and percentages of the total insured workers employed directly and indirectly in the fishing industry, the agricultural industry and in forestry, respectively, within the county of Banff for each of the past five years to the nearest convenient date.

The following table shows in absolute and percentage terms the estimated numbers of employees, employed and unemployed, in the industries specified in the area covered by the Banff, Buckie and Keith employment exchanges. Employers and self-employed persons are not included.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress has been made in the provision of work for disabled people in Wales.

Sheltered employment is provided, with financial help from my Department, for severely disabled men and women who cannot work in ordinary industrial conditions. In Wales, 1,240 are employed by Remploy Ltd., which plans to provide some 200 further places there over the next three years; and 315 by local authorities and voluntary bodies, with whom projects currently under discussion envisage about another 250 places over the same period.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps she is taking to prevent loss of employment arising from the closure of the Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios at Boreham Wood.

Every effort is being made to help redundant workers registered with my Department to find other work as soon as possible. A team of officers is now at the Metro Goldwyn Mayer studios interviewing workers who are still at the firm but expecting soon to become redundant.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she will make a statement on her attempts to assist the Union of Insurance Staffs to obtain trade union recognition from the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Company; what response has been made by this company to her Department's request for discussions; and whether she will make a statement.

My Department has had separate meetings with representatives of the General Accident Fire and Life Assurance Corporation and the Union of Insurance Staffs to discuss the recommendations of the Report of the Commission on Industrial Relations that the Corporation should negotiate with the union a formal agreement which would give the union consultative rights and establish a grievance procedure. The Corporation is prepared to discuss problems relating to individual employees with the General Secretary of the union, as it has been in the past, but it is not prepared to go beyond this on the basis of the union's present membership among its employees or to take part in joint discussions with the union under my Department's chairmanship. In view of the Corporation's attitude, which I regret, there is no further action which my right hon. Friend can usefully take at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether, in view of staff shortages which are causing deterioration in London Transport bus services and on the District line, she will refer the wages of staff concerned to the National Board for Prices and Incomes so that a scheme to attract staff from areas of high unemployment may be introduced.

No. My right hon. Friend has recently approved pay settlements for London Transport staffs which should help to attract and retain staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the number of grants for research students in the biological sciences, including psychology, to be awarded by the Science Research Council in the coming year.

This will be dependent on the number and quality of applications received.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what have been the total number of grants made to research students by the Science Research Council in each year since its formation and the proportion in each year made in the biological sciences, including psychology.

The following is the information

Year	Total	Research Biological Sciences including psychology	Studentships Proportion Per cent.
1965	1,947	294	15·1
1966	1,826	274	15·0
1967	1,925	328	17·0
1968	2,000	317	15·8
1969	1,984	285	14·4

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many answers he has received from local education authorities in reply to his questions relating to British Standard Time; and how many authorities intimated that they wished the present system to be re-enacted and how many to revert to the old system.

Of the 163 local education authorities in England and Wales, 74 are in favour of continuing British Standard Time, 29 would prefer a reversion to Greenwich Mean Time and 16 have expressed no firm opinion either way. Final replies are awaited from 44 authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) on what date Hastings Borough Council first made representations for the replacement of the 100-year old Hollington Junior School; on how many occasions since have applications been made; and upon what grounds they have been refused;(2) whether he is aware that the conditions in which the teachers and pupils at Hollington Junior School, Hastings, work fall below the standard of other schools and that the proposals to erect temporary and second-hand structures are costly and inadequate; and what plans his Department has to replace and modernise the premises.

:The replacement of the Hollington Junior School was first proposed by the Hastings Education Authority in 1946, and was put forward again in 1959. The project has been submitted for each year's programme since then but has not found a place because of the need to concentrate most of the available resources in areas with growing school populations. I known that conditions at the school are unsatisfactory but I cannot yet say when it will be possible to include a new school in a programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he has now received an application from the London Borough of Newham for capital sanction for the conversion of their schools heating system, which is required at a cost of £ 100,000 to £ 150,000, in view of the fact that they can only obtain 40 per cent. of their coke supplies for the coming winter; and what reply he intends to give.

Yes, my right hon. Friend has made available an additional minor works allocation of £ 100,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek power to confer with the judges on the general question of prison sentences and penalties for crime.

No new power is needed for this purpose as it is always open to me to consult the judiciary. Special considerations already apply in respect of life sentence prisoners, as I have no power to release such a prisoner unless I am recommended to do so by the Parole Board, three of whose members are High Court judges, and I am

PHASE I (announced October, 1968):							Capital	Revenue	Total
Nursery classes at:							£	£	£
South Haringey School	…	…	…	…	…	…	4,525	1,890	6,415
St. Paul's and All Hallows Church of England School						…	13,740	3,680	17,420
St. Mary's Church of England School				…	…	…	13,740	3,680	17,420
Risley Avenue School		…	…	…	…	…	4,525	1,890	6,415
Crowland School	…	…	…	…	…	…	4,525	1,890	6,415
South Grove School	…	…	…	…	…	…	5,810	2,620	8,430
Day nurseries at:
Red Gables, Crouch Hill		…	…	…	…	…	17,260	17,355	34,615
Lordship Lane, Tottenham		…	…	…	…	…	51,625	20,000	71,625
Conversion of two properties into temporary accommodation for the homeless		…	…	…	…	…	5,000	10,000	15,000
Children's homes at:
Tewkesbury Road, N. 15		…	…	…	…	…	13,000	—	13,000
The Ridgeway, Enfield		…	…	…	…	…	35,000	—	35,000
Expenditure on placing priority children in private day care							—	1,600	1,600
							£ 168,750	£ 64,605	£ 233,355

PHASE II (announced February, 1969):
Conversion of two properties as hostels for the homeless								…	6,000	2,000	8,000
Additional staff for hostels for the homeless							…	…	—	8,000	8,000
Aid to playgroups and work in parks						…	…	…	—	5,000	5,000
Playgroup supervisor			…	…	…	…	…	…	—	750	750
Health education for immigrants					…	…	…	…	—	750	750
Girls'hostel (acquisition)				…	…	…	…	…	23,750	—	23,750
Holidays for families at risk				…	…	…	…	…	—	300	300
Use of accommodation at children's homes for playgroup									—	650	650
Two new nursery classes at Broadwater Farm School								…	15,660	3,680	19,340
Conversion of air-raid shelter at Children's Home to play room		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	400	400
Furniture and equipment at Bengeo House Nursery								…	—	1,600	1,600
Camden House Nursery—cloakroom						…	…	…	—	350	350
Agency fees—additional expenditure on placing children in care		…	…	…	…	…	…	…	…	300	300
Muswell Avenue Hostel—play surface						…	…	…	—	1,200	1,200
Play equipment for hostels				…	…	…	…	…	—	150	150
Equipment for Education Priority Area Schools							…	…	—	1,968	1,968
							…	…	£ 45,410	£ 27,098	£ 72,508
TOTAL OF BOTH PHASES: £ 305,863.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how much financial help has been received annually by the London Borough of Haringey under the urban aid programme.

Under the first two phases of the Urban Programme approval has been given for expenditure-which attracts Exchequer grant at the rate of 75 per cent.-on the following projects to assist those living in areas of special social need:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment have been released under licence since 1964;(2) what was the average period of imprisonment served by prisoners sentenced for life imprisonment released on licence since 1964.

Since the end of 1964, 164 life sentence prisoners have been given a release date, of whom 137 have been released. The periods served ranged from 6 months to 21 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions he has consulted the Lord Chief Justice prior to the release on licence of any prisoner under life sentence.

In all the 147 cases in which release on licence has been authorised since the Murder (Abolition of Death Penalty) Act, 1965, came into force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners at present serving sentences of life imprisonment have served over nine years; and what periods they have served.

The information is as follows:

Completed years served	Number
22	1
17	1
15	1
14	1
13	8
12	6
11	9
10	17
9	25
Total	69

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give an assurance that he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions any fornication or simulated fornication on the stage, films or television which will deprave or corrupt and which is reported to him by any hon. Member.

I will continue to refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions all contraventions of the law relating to obscenity reported to me by hon. Members.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give, for the longest convenient stated period of time, the number of occasions when he has received requests from the public, Members of Parliament and police to prosecute persons for alleged contraventions of the Official Secrets Act on prima facie evidence then supplied to him.

No.

asked the Attorney-General to what extent the productivity aspect of the Government's wages and incomes policy applies to the legal profession; and on how many occasions for any stated period of time he has held up increases in fees and salaries of those connected with the legal system because such increases were not within the Government's policy.

Over the last five years there has been a marked increase in nearly every branch of civil and criminal business. Regard has been had to this in considering the application of wages and incomes policy to the legal profession. The Government have not had occasion to hold up increases in remuneration, because these increases did not contravene that policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches have been made to the illegal Smith régime in Southern Rhodesia by Her Majesty's Government, or those acting on the Government's behalf, in the last year; what information has been supplied to the Government, and by whom, of attempts made to resolve the Rhodesian problem; and what action he has taken or intends taking on these approaches.

Communications between Her Majesty's Government and the illegal regime in Southern Rhodesia ended in April, 1969. Since then there have been no approaches by or on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to the illegal regime. We have been given no information about any other attempts to resolve the Rhodesia nproblem in the last year, but we naturally continue to see people who have first hand experience of the situation in Southern Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what persons have been sent on behalf of Her Majesty's Government to engage in talks with the regime in Rhodesia since the breakdown of the negotiations on H.M.S. " Fearless ".

My right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, then Secretary of State for Commonwealth Affairs, and I with supporting officials paid two visits to Southern Rhodesia on Her Majesty's Government's behalf in November, 1968. No other persons have been sent by Her Majesty's Government to engage in talks with the illegal regime since the breakdown of the " Fearless " talks.

asked the Secretary of State for Defence how many combat squadrons of the Far East Air Force have been disbanded since 1st January, 1970; and how this figure accords with the undertakings as to rate of rundown given to the Governments of Malaysia and Singapore.

Three. This is in accordance with the advance information given to the Governments of Malaysia and Singapore.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give the calculations detailing the United Kingdom share of the Concorde costs; and how this has varied as a result of the United Kingdom and French devaluations.

The joint estimate of Concorde development costs before devaluation of the pound in November, 1967 was £ 500 million at January, 1966 prices. This total was divided almost equally between the United Kingdom and France.A revised basic estimate of £ 730 million at January, 1969 prices was announced on 21st May, 1969 [OFFICIAL REPORT, Vol. 784, No. 120, c. 417]. The breakdown was as follows:

U.K.	France	Total
£m.	£m.	£m.
340	390	730

The effect of the devaluation of the pound in November, 1967 was to increase the cost, in terms of sterling, of the French share of the programme, outstanding at that date by about £ 40 million. This was included in the May, 1969 estimate.The effect of devaluation of the franc in August, 1969 was to reduce the cost, in terms of sterling of the French share of the programme outstanding at that date by about £ 25 million.The present basic estimate is £ 730 million at October, 1969 prices. The breakdown is as follows:

U.K.	France	Total
£m.	£m.	£m.
350	380	730

asked the Minister of Technology what is the estimated annual production of tyres, commercial and private, manufactured in Scotland; and what percentage is for export.

I regret that tyre production in Scotland is not separately recorded.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will state the approximate cost of each job opportunity created with the help of Government aid in each of the last five years, and the approximate number of new jobs net provided.

The question as put cannot be answered directly, but I am writing to my right hon. Friend to explain the difficulties and to provide the best information we can give.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the tonnage of currently-held coal stocks in Welsh coalfields at the latest available date; and what were the figures for the corresponding date in 1969 and 1968.

Undistributed coal stocks at Welsh coalfields on 28th March, 1970 were 4·8 million tons. The corresponding figures on 29th March, 1969 and 30th March, 1968 were 6 million tons and 5·9 million tons, respectively.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he now has to meet General Gowon.

General Gowon would be a most welcome visitor to this country if he felt able to come. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs will be visiting Nigeria in June.

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite President Nasser to visit him.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will ensure that political judgments are not made by the Central Statistical Office in the construction and presentation of national statistics on the distribution of incomes, taxation and social benefits.

No such political judgments are made by the Central Statistical Office.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech of the Minister of Technology about future industrial relations in the Cutler's Hall, Sheffield, on 23rd March, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has yet received the report of the Review Committee on the Queen's Award to Industry; what recommendations are made; and what action is to be taken.

asked the Prime Minister if, when considering the recommendations from Lord McFadzean's committee on the future of the Queen's Award Scheme, he will advise that the invisible earnings sector of insurance, shipping and monetary expertise are recognised; and whether he will make a statement.

I expect to receive the Committee's report within the next few weeks and will make a statement on its recommendations as soon as possible thereafter.

asked the Prime Minister whether, now that the commencement of negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community is imminent, he will appoint the Minister without Portfolio additionally to Great Britain's team of negotiators.

As I made clear in reply to a Question from the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Kenneth Baker) on 22nd January all Ministers with relevant responsibilities are already, and will remain, in close touch with my right hon. Friends the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on all matters affecting our entry into the E.E.C.— [Vol. 794, c. 690–3.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will place a copy of his public statement on housing on television on 6th March, 1970 in the Library of the House of Commons.

I did so today. The phrase " a little over two years " in the first sentence was intended to be " a little over five years ", the period I have used in speeches and in the House on several occasions, for example on 17th March. I am drawing the attention of the B.B.C. to this correction.— [Vol. 798, c. 199.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government on how many occasions during the last financial year he has made representations to local authorities regarding the inadequacy of their house construction programmes; and in how many instances have the councils so addressed amended their programmes.

With regard to the first half of my hon. Friend's Question, I would refer him to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Carlisle (Mr. Ron Lewis) on 2nd March.Further discussions with these authorities are now being held at officer level, and it is hoped to assess the results of the meetings soon.— [Vol. 790, c. 3–4.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what proportion of the total cost of agricultural support as set out in Command Paper No. 4321 he estimates will be received by hill farmers in Scotland; and how this compares with each of the three previous years.

No precise estimates can be made. Payments in Scotland in respect of hill cattle, hill and upland sheep and winter keep subsidies and hill and livestock rearing land improvement grants are estimated to amount to £ 12·1 million in 1970–71 before taking account of the effect of the 1970 review determinations; for 1967–68, 1968–69 and 1969–70 the corresponding figures were £ 10·0 million, £ 10·6 million and £ 11·5 million respectively. Hill farmers also benefit directly from the increased production grants and subsidies in respect of fertilisers, lime, drainage, etc., and from the increased guaranteed prices for sheep and cattle as well as indirectly from the effect of fat-stock guarantees on store stock prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now make a statement about the proposals submitted by Edinburgh and Glasgow education authorities for their fee-paying and selective schools.

I have nothing to add at present to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Questions by the hon. Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur) and others on 22nd April.—[Vol. 800, c. 396–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much per 10,000 population was spent by the local authority on providing community care facilities for the constituency of Smethwick during 1968.

The information requested is not available. Expenditure on local health and welfare services in 1968–69 by the county borough of Warley was £ 34,577 per 10,000 population.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many suicides occurred, and how many attempted suicides known to him were made, per 10,000 of the population in the constituency of Smethwick and the county borough of Warley, respectively, during 1968.

Information is not available regarding numbers of attempted suicides, nor separately for the constituency of Smethwick. In 1968 twelve deaths were assigned to suicide in the county borough of Warley, a rate of 0·71 per 10,000 population.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement about vasectomy and family planning.

Yes. Hitherto doctors have been able to perform vasectomy under the National Health Service only when it is in the medical interests of the man concerned. I have now informed the representatives of the medical profession that I accept that this operation may be performed on the husband in the interests of the health of either husband or wife. The consent of husband and wife would naturally be required; and the decision to perform the operation and the priority to be accorded to it in relation to other demands for surgical work is of course a matter for the surgeon concerned.I am aware that there are strong arguments for other, more far reaching, extensions of National Health Service family planning facilities, notably the supply on prescription of free contraceptive pills, which are at present free only where pregnancy would carry a medical risk, to all who need them, whether on medical or other grounds. This however raises large social and financial questions and I have no new policy to announce at present.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish a table in the OFFICIAL REPORT showing the estimated value of British investments, imports from and exports to South Africa, Rhodesia, the Portuguese provinces, Malawi, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland, collectively, as compared with similar figures for the other African Commonwealth countries and the remaining African independent States, respectively.

The most recent information which is available is as follows:

	South Africa, etc.	Other Commonwealth countries in Africa	£ million Other Independent countries in Africa
Estimated book value of direct investments (other than oil) at end 1968	740	280	72
United Kingdom imports, cif: 1968	299	323	273
1969	332	381	274
United Kingdom exports (including reexports), fob: 1968	298	224	128
1969	326	255	159

asked the President of the Board of Trade when the report of Lord Rochdale's Committee of Inquiry into Shipping will be published.

On Wednesday, 6th May.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the current annual balance of payments cost of the United Kingdom's diplomatic representation abroad.

The proportion of expenditure borne on the 1969–70 Vote for the Diplomatic Service which was spent overseas is estimated at about £ 25 million. Additional expenditure by the Ministry of Public Building and Works on office and residential accommodation is estimated to have totalled about £ 8 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the foreign exchange receipts due to overseas diplomatic representation in the United Kingdom.

Approximately £ 44 million in 1969.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a statement on the persistence of a high rate of unemployment over the past two or three years; and what action his Department has taken, or intends taking, to reduce the present unemployment figure.

As my right hon. Friend indicated in his speech on 20th April in the Budget debate, the rate of growth of output over the 12 months ahead should exceed that of our productive potential and on this basis unemployment should fall.