asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will arrange for the payment of fees for courses conducted by the Open University to be payable monthly by banker's order or Giro payments.

This is a matter for the university. I understand that it considered a system of monthly payments, but came to the conclusion that it would be impracticable. Payment of fees will be phased, and, after the provisional registration fee, will be made in two instalments. I shall, however, draw my hon. Friend's suggestion to the university authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he estimates it will be necessary to expand courses on computer education for practising teachers.

Provision of courses in the Department's programme is reviewed annually in the light of demand. Some further expansion of courses in computer education is expected next year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total Government expenditure on the arts between 1965 and 1969; and what was the comparable figure for 1960 to 1964.

Expenditure on the arts for the five years 1965–66 to 1969–70 totalled £87·8 million; the comparable figure for the years 1960–1 to 1964–65 was £40·1 million.

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

In January, 1969, 420, or 20·9 per cent., but in September, 1969, 127, or 6·0 per cent. of which 52 had 41 pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present number of primary school classes with more than 40 children.

In January, 1970, about 9,000, or 6 per cent. of primary classes in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his estimate of the capital cost of reducing all school classes to less than 40.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what date all school classes will be reduced to 40.

I hope and believe that by September, 1970 there will be very few classes over 40, and that this will have been achieved without any substantial additional capital expenditure. There are likely to be always some places where classes exceed 40 for brief periods.

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

In January, 1969, 47 or 6·4 per cent., but in January, 1970, 29 or 3·7 per cent.

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

In January, 1970, 7 or 2·2 per cent. In January, 1969, 39 or 12·6 per cent.

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

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

In January, 1970, 14 or 6·2 per cent; in January, 1969, 15 or 6·8 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the latest available number of students enrolled at evening institutes; and what was the figure for 1963.

On 1st November, 1969 the number in England and Wales was about 1,353,000; on 1st November, 1963 about 1,075,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what will be the estimated total expenditure on education during the period 1968 to 1972; and what was the figure for 1961 to 1965.

£8,092 million and £4,420 million respectively for England and Wales and universities in Great Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total spending on university education during the past five years; and what was the comparable figure for the previous five years.

£1,417 million and £641 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the percentage increase in the number of students in higher education between 1963–64 and 1969–70.

The number of students in full-time higher education in Great Britain increased by about 84 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will seek powers to pay grants to local education authorities to promote ice skating as a recognised sport in schools, which are within a reasonable distance from indoor ice skating rinks, in provincial towns and cities.

No. This is a curriculum matter. Control of the school curriculum is the responsibility of local education authorities and schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total number of new primary classes provided during the period 1965 to 1969; and what was the comparable total for 1960 to 1964.

The numbers of new classes provided are not available, but 980,000 primary school places were provided during the period 1965 to 1969 compared with 474,000 in the previous years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he accepts the recommendation of the first report of the Public Schools Commission that all independent boarding schools recognised as efficient should offer at least half their places to assisted pupils from maintained schools; and how he proposes to relate this to the conclusions of the second report.

I am not ready to make a statement about the reports of the Public Schools Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost to the taxpayer and ratepayer of providing education in maintained schools to those children at present being educated at independent schools.

Any figures are, of course, academic and I have had no occasion to make an estimate but if all existing independent schools were to close entirely and cease to be used for educational purposes and if new places had to be provided at maintained county schools for all the pupils now at independent schools, the capital cost to public funds would be of the order of £250 million and the recurrent annual costs of the order of £70 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps he is taking to improve facilities for primary education in Beaminster and district, in view of the inadequate facilities for teaching at the three existing and separated buildings.

As I told the hon. Member on 10th April, I have approved the replacement of Beaminster Primary School next year.—[Vol. 799, c. 135.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his Department's definition of an urban deprived area; and which towns in Dorset qualify.

In deciding which old schools should be replaced first, whether in urban or rural areas, I take into account both the state of the buildings and any available information about multiple social deprivation. There is little evidence of multiple deprivation in Dorset towns.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, in view of the increasing difficulties in primary schools in Devon, such as inadequate classrooms, toilets, playing fields and new class rooms to meet the growing needs of certain districts, what steps his Department will take to assist the local education authority in overcoming these problems.

For the two years 1970 to 1972 my right hon. Friend has approved five new primary schools in Devon providing 920 places at a cost of about £350,000. For the same period he has also allowed £462,000 for minor works, which the local education authority can use for projects of all kinds costing up to £30,000 each.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money per head of population has been spent on new schools and capital improvements in the last 10 years in North Devon as compared with South Devon.

In the last 10 years the total major school building programmes for North and South Devon have been £1·3 million and £1·8 million respectively. In addition, minor works allocations of about £2 million for the complete county area were made. The other information asked for by the hon. Member is not available in the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will discuss with the universities the possibility of introducing legislation to set up an academic court of appeal on a national basis to deal with cases of undergraduates being sent down.

No. These matters are best dealt with in the institutions concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research has been undertaken by his Department into the relationship between comprehensive education and the problems of social equality and academic opportunity.

None. Since 1954 there has been overwhelming research evidence to show that the greatest obstacle to the achievement of equality of educational opportunity has been the selection and segregating of children at 11 plus.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will introduce legislation to amend the Education Act, 1944, in order to give his Department the power to determine what should be taught in schools.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the advertising appropriation for his Department's present advertising campaign to recruit mathematics teachers.

The Department has made a total provision for advertising during the financial year 1970–71 totalling £36,000. No specific proposals have been formulated at this stage in respect of a campaign to recruit mathematics teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Government will now provide funds for the purpose of constructing an Opera House for the North-West in Manchester.

It is for the Manchester City Council to decide whether it wants an opera house and is prepared to find at least half the cost. I will consider any approach made to me on this basis through the Arts Council but I cannot commit the Government in any way.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will make a statement about the future Government financial support for the city of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra.

The Arts Council has offered a grant of £90,000 for 1970–71; this is £3,000 more than in 1969–70. The council hopes that the setting up of the Midlands Authorities Orchestral Association will lead to the provision of the further funds required.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans he has for modernising primary schools; and how much extra finance will be available for this purpose in the present financial year and the succeeding two years.

We have launched a continuing and systematic programme for the improvement and replacement of old schools. Most of the resources available—£11 million this year and about £17 million next year at the new cost limits—will go to primary schools. In addition to this specific provision for improvements and replacements, many basic need projects in the major programme contain an element of improvement and in some cases allow old schools to be taken out of use in areas of declining population. Authorities can also usually apply part of their minor works allocations to improvements. I cannot yet give a figure for 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will consider amending the regulation whereby the financial needs of a dependent student who marries during her course are assessed on the basis of her parents' rather than her husband's income; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 29th January to my hon. Friend the Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose).—[Vol. 794, col. 383.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what capital grants are available to local authorities which may wish to purchase or modernise local theatres.

£21/41 million has been committed from the " Housing the Arts " Fund to assist the provision or adaptation of theatres, arts centres, concert halls, etc. Of the 109 projects being assisted, 20 are for purchasing or modernising theatres.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will announce his decisions on the rebuilding or replacement of Nelson Street and St. Augustine's Schools, Norwich.

These projects will be considered for the 1972–73 building programme, on which my right hon. Friend hopes to announce decisions later in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the large increase in the quantities of litter left about in recent years, he will circularise the education authorities advising them to intensify their attempts to make children litter-conscious.

No. I agree about the importance of this but I have no reason to suppose that local education authorities are not doing what they can to support the valuable work being done in the schools by the Keep Britain Tidy Group.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools in Derbyshire were built before 1900; if he will increase the allocation of funds for major works of rebuilding these schools; and if he will make a statement.

There are 279 primary schools in Derbyshire whose main buildings date from 1902 or earlier. Twenty-four primary improvement projects have been included in Derbyshire's major building programme from 1965 to 1972 at a cost of £1·5 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is his policy regarding nursery education for children from the age of two years; and to what extent this will be available before 1980.

Priority should generally go to children aged 3 and 4, but where parents want nursery places for younger children I hope that it will be increasingly possible to provide them. During 1969 over 10,000 nursery places were approved under the urban programme, and the Government intend to make further provision for nursery education under future phases of this programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when he will take action to bring into practice the recommendations of the Haslegrave Committee on Technicians' Courses and Examinations.

I have nothing to add to the answer which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Newcastle-under-Lyme (Mr. Golding) on 24th April. 1970.—[Vol. 800, c. 170.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will ask for an interim report from the committee at present considering the education of partially-sighted children.

No, I prefer to await the committee's final report, which will cover the education of the blind as well as that of the partially sighted.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the expenditure per primary school pupil by the Nottingham City Council in the year 1968–69; and what was the average figure of such expenditure for all English and Welsh county boroughs;(2) what was the expenditure on teachers per primary pupil by the Nottingham City Council in the year 1968–9; and what was the average figure of such expenditure for all English and Welsh county boroughs;(3) what was the expenditure per secondary pupil by the Nottingham City Council in the year 1968–69; and what was the average figure for such expenditure for all English and Welsh county boroughs;

The figures are in the following table:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the figure of primary school pupils per teacher employed by the Nottingham City Council in the year 1968–69; and what was the average figure for all English and Welsh county boroughs.

In January, 1969, 30·3 for Nottingham and 28·6 for all English and Welsh county boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the figure of secondary school pupils per teacher employed by the Nottingham City Council in the year 1968–69; and what was the average figure for all English and Welsh county boroughs.

In January, 1969, 18·0 for Nottingham and 18·1 for all English and Welsh county boroughs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of 16 year old children and 17 year old children, respectively, in the schools of the Nottingham City Education Authority stayed on at school in 1968–69; and what were the average figures for all English and Welsh county boroughs.

In maintained schools in Nottingham, the proportion of the age group remaining at school at ages 16 and 17 in January, 1969, were 22·4 per cent. and 10·9 per cent. respectively. Corresponding figures for all county boroughs in England and Wales were 29·9 per cent. and 14·8 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of children in the schools of the City of Nottingham Education Authority obtained three or more ordinary level passes and at least one advanced level pass in 1968–69; and what were the average figures for all English and Welsh county boroughs.

I understand from the Nottingham local education authority that in the summer 1969 G.C.E. examinations in maintained schools, 63·1 per cent. of candidates at ordinary level obtained passes in three or more subjects and 88·4 per cent. of candidates at advanced level obtained passes in one or more subjects. Comparable figures for all county boroughs are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance he will give to the University Grants Committee and research councils for which he is responsible, about the level of research grants to post-graduate research students.

The level of these grants is decided after consultation with the research councils, and is related to the amount of the grant for undergraduates which as my right hon. Friend announced yesterday will be increased from 1st September, 1970. The University Grants Committee is not involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will define those educational broadcasts on radio and television for which he accepts financial responsibility; and on what criteria he limits his financial contribution to these particular programmes.

My Department does not accept direct financial responsibility for any educational broadcasts on radio or television.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average size of sixth form science and mathematics groups; and how many of these groups are of less than 10 pupils.

The latest available information is that produced by a survey in 1965–66 when the average size of groups studying science or mathematics in the sixth or later years of their course was 9·3 pupils. 61·8 per cent, of these groups contained not more than 10 pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will give the number of immigrant education liaison officers who are employed by local education authorities; and in which areas they are employed.

I do not collect these figures, but I know that an increasing number of authorities employ staff to advise immigrant families and bring them into closer contact with the schools. This need not always be whole-time work, and valuable contributions are made by teachers, voluntary counsellors and others.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will indicate the number and details of courses designed to prepare future teachers for work in multi-racial schools; and whether he will make a statement.

Early in 1969, 90 per cent, of colleges of education offered in their courses some training in race relations or the educational and social problems of immigrant children, and 30 per cent. are deeply involved in this aspect of teacher education.The nature and organisation of the work varies widely, and for a more detailed statement I would refer my hon. Friend to a memorandum by the Department which is published as Appendix 8 in Volume IV of the Report of the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immi- gration on the problems of coloured Sixth Form Science and Mathematics school leavers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the average student grant in 1962; what it is in 1970; and by what percentage it has increased.

The average full value award made by local education authorities to students at universities and further education establishments was £304 in the academic year 1962–63 and £346 in 1968–69, an increase of about 14 per cent. Information is not yet available for the current academic year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to provide for the statutory control of the storage and sale of paraffin and similar oils.

I shall be glad to consider any evidence which my hon. Friend may have suggesting that special controls over the storage and sale of paraffin and similar oils are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an estimate of the number of constituencies in which at the next General Election the votes will have to be counted on the morning after polling day as a result of the poll being open until 10 p.m.

It is not possible to make a reliable estimate, since the arrangements in the constituencies will depend on local circumstances at the time which it is for returning officers to assess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of deaths resulting from fires caused by oil heaters in each of the years 1967, 1968 and 1969.

According to the Registrar General's figures, 44 deaths were caused by oil heater fires in England and Wales in 1967 and 37 in 1968. The figure for 1969 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent his regulatons affect the entry into Great Britain of overseas persons for daily shopping visits; whether registration has to take place; and whether he will give for the latest and most convenient longest stated period the number of persons visiting the Channel ports from Belgium, France, and other countries of the European Economic Community for this purpose.

Alien visitors are admitted in accordance with the immigration rules (paragraphs 11–15 of Cmnd. 4296 (Aliens: Instructions to Immigration Officers)). They are not required to register with the police. Separate statistics of shoppers are not kept.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that outside many Metropolitan police stations vehicles are illegally parked each day, without a road fund licence and without road test certificates; and if he will instruct the policemen manning these stations to report these offenders to the appropriate authorities.

My right hon. Friend has no authority to issue such instructions, but knows that proper arrangements have been made for reporting apparently unlicensed vehicles to the appropriate authorities, and for dealing with cases that come to notice of vehicles being used without road test certificates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made by the Metropolitan police in dealing with the growing practice of some motorists refusing to register and licence their cars so that they will not be traceable when guilty of other more serious offences and not having their vehicles tested for road worthiness nor obeying other regulations.

The information available does not enable me to judge whether my hon. Friend's statements are well founded; but I know the Metropolitan police are doing all they reasonably can, consistently with their other obligations, to enforce these provisions of the law.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she has considered the representations from the Trades Union Congress on the effect of the Budget on the development of a practicable voluntary incomes policy; and if she will now undertake to convene a national conference of both sides of industry to examine the role of a prices and incomes policy in an expanding economy.

No representations have been received. My right hon. Friend does not propose to convene such a conference as her normal contacts with both sides are sufficient to keep her in touch with their views on the development of the policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many employees, male and female, are engaged in the computer industry in Scotland, England and Wales; and what are the average earnings.

The following is the information about employees:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many strikes there have been in the Highlands and Islands Region between October 1964 and the most recent convenient date in 1970; and what was the duration of each of the industries affected, and the estimated number of persons involved.

I regret that the information is not available since disputes statistics are complied for Scotland only as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many persons were registered as unemployed at Stornoway at the most recent count, who had been unemployed for over three and over six months, respectively; and what percentage each group represents of the total local unemployed at that date.

On 13th April a total of 1,032 persons were registered as unemployed at Stornoway Employment Exchange including 663 who had been registered for more than 3 months and 458 who had been registered for more than 6 months. These represented 61·3 per cent. and 44·4 per cent. of the total register, respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the percentage increase in the retail price index between 1962 and 1970.

The percentage increase in the General Index of Retail Prices between 13th March, 1962 and 17th March 1970 was 36·3.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if she will state to the nearest convenient date the proportion of the total unemployment figure represented by able-bodied males available for employment between the ages of 18 and 55 years, and between 18 and 45 years, respectively, in each case dividing the numbers between the categories temporarily stopped and long-term unemployed.

Age analyses of the registered wholly unemployed (except casual workers) are made for January and July each year. Corresponding analyses are not made for those temporarily stopped. At 12th January, 1970, 628,325 persons (males and females) were registered as unemployed. Of these, the numbers of males registered as wholly unemployed, excluding registered disabled persons, in the age ranges 18 and under 55, and 18 and under 45, were 328,158 (52·2per cent.) and 265,081 (42·2 per cent.), respectively. The following table shows duration analyses of the numbers in these age ranges:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether she is now able officially to announce whom she is appointing to the board dealing with wages, prices and monopolies; what salary will be paid; and whether she will make a statement.

I hope to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many registered unemployed persons in the Stornoway area have taken places at Government training centres in each of the last eight years; and how many are at present undergoing training.

This information is not readily available for the whole period in the form requested. 91 applications for training have been received from Stornoway in the last eight years and 42 men from this area have completed courses during the last three years. There are six in training at present, four of whom were unemployed when they applied for training.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many disabled persons, registered at Stornoway, have been found jobs in the area in each of the last 10 years; and what progress is being made with provision of suitable work locally for disabled people.

Figures are readily available only from 1962. They are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what were the numbers and percentage of registered female unemployed in the Stornoway area at each of the December and June counts in each of the last 10 years; and what measures are being taken to provide jobs specifically for women in the area.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many persons, registered at Stornoway, who completed courses at Government training centres, have been placed in relevant employment in the last three years; and if she will make a statement.

42. All these were placed in their training trades, 13 locally and 29 in other areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what was the average and the lowest percentage of unemployment on the Stornoway register in each of the past 10 years; and what measures are being taken to supplement the effect of the activities of the Highlands and Islands Development Board in providing new industrial jobs in this area.

Suitable developments in the Stornoway area would be eligible for development area assistance under the Local Employment Acts and the Industrial Development Act provided that similar assistance had not been or was not being, obtained from the Highlands and Islands Development Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland from which private employers and other individuals in the Western Isles constituency he has received representations in the past year againt continuation of British Standard Time; and what was the general content of his replies.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what study has been made, or is to be made, and by whom, of the feasibility of operating a twice-daily return crossing by a drive-on-drive-off vehicle ferry between Stornoway and Kyle of Lochalsh during daylight and reasonable evening hours; and if he will make a statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will institute proceedings against Classified Directories Limited of 34 New Bridge Street, London, E.C.4, for its failure to file any annual return with the Companies Office for the period since January, 1968.

In formulating their proposals for a new vehicle ferry service from Stornoway to Ullapool the Scottish Transport Group is aware of the need to evaluate the advantage of using Ullapool instead of other possible mainland terminals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list for each of the past 15 years the number of persons convicted of murder who were released from prison, indicating how long each such person had been in prison.

The following is the information:

The company has filed an annual return for 1969 and has undertaken to file within three months the accounts which ought to have been annexed to it.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether he will introduce regulations to provide that civil airlines, whose aircraft are licensed in this country, must not, in any circumstances, fit experimental machinery or equipment of any kind on aircraft to be used by fare-paying passengers.

No. Article 10(6) of the Air Navigation Order, 1966, already requires that all equipment installed or carried in an aircraft shall be so installed or stowed and so maintained and adjusted as not to be a source of danger in itself or to impair the airworthiness of the aircraft or the proper functioning of any equipment or services necessary for the safety of the aircraft. Further, under Article 6(7) a United Kingdom Certificate of Airworthiness ceases to be in force if the aircraft is modified otherwise than in a manner and with material of a type approved by the Board. The approval of such matters is a function delegated to the Air Registration Board.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what consideration is being given to the introduction, when available, of short take-off and landing aircraft for use on appropriate Scottish Island routes; and if he will make a statement.

This is primarily a matter for the airlines concerned.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what plans are being made for the construction of a fully available airfield to replace the use of the tidal sand area in the Isle of Barra; and if he will make a statement on the future of the Island's air service.

A possible site for a new aerodrome has been surveyed. I understand that, if it were developed under the scheme for military assistance to civil communities, its construction by the Royal Engineers would take about nine months. The work could not, begin before 1971. I understand that Inverness County Council is in principle in favour of such a project. I am not aware of any proposals for a change in the existing air service.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will list by name those organisations of seafarers and other bodies which have indicated their support for the penal provisions in the Merchant Shipping Bill.

The National Maritime Board, which includes representatives of the British Shipping Federation, the National Union of Seamen, the Mercantile Marine Service Association, the Merchant Navy & Airline Officers' Association, the Amalgamated Union of Engineering and Foundry Workers, the Radio and Electronic Officers' Union and the Amalgamated Society of Boilermakers, Shipwrights, Blacksmiths and Structural Workers, has, apart from the National Union of Seamen, supported these provisions. In addition, the Mercantile Marine Service Association and the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers' Association have made strong separate representations to me urging the necessity for these clauses.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government, if he will introduce legislation to provide powers to give grant aid in respect of sports facilities owned by commercial organisations.

No, but I am however anxious to see all sports facilities used to the limits of their capacity.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will place in the Library the correspondence between his Department and officers of the Leicester City Council in 1967 in which the Department requested the city council to reduce its housing programme for 1968, 1969 and 1970.

Yes; subject to the concurrence of the city council, which I am seeking.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will state the number of applications for improvement grants approved and the amounts of the grants paid by the City of Leicester in the period from 25th August, 1969, to the end of that year.

Information is obtained monthly from local authorities. The number of grants approved for private owners from 1st September to 31st December, 1969, was 194. The amount of grants paid during the same period was £24,405, but these do not relate directly to the number of grants approved.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will, at the first opportunity, appoint a representative of agricultural interests to serve on the Countryside Commission.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I appoint members of the Countryside Commission on the basis of their personal qualities and not as representatives of particular interests. Our aim is to appoint members who between them have experience and understanding of the different aspects of the Commission's work. The chairman and two members have practical experience in agriculture.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what consultations he has had with outside bodies about Government assistance towards the improvement of Wembley Stadium.

I shall be meeting representatives of the Empire Stadium and other interested bodies shortly to discuss the requirements of a modern stadium and the possibility of commissioning a feasibility study for the enlargement and improvement of the present stadium at Wembley.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will pay an official visit to South Africa.

No.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will meet Mrs. Indira Gandhi and Mr. Jomo Kenyatta in an attempt to resolve the difficulties over the resettlement of Kenya Asians with British passports.

There are no plans for such a meeting, but there is continuing contact between the Governments concerned on immigration matters.

asked the Minister if he will give instructions to Ministers and officials of Departments of Her Majesty's Government that they should inform Members seeking interviews that such interviews will not be given without a previous declaration of their interests in a manner similar to the conventional practice in the House of Commons.

I think that this is a matter for the House rather than for instructions by me. The report of the Select Committee on the Declaration of Members' Interests is now being considered by my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House.

asked the Prime Minister on what date he received a communication from the Federation of Newham Tenants' Association on matters connected with the grant issue resultant upon the Ronan Point disaster; what was the nature of this communication; what was the date and content of his reply to this communication; and whether he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to a similar question by him on Tuesday. The letter to the Association explained why the Government do not feel able to make a further increase in the grant.—[Vol. 801, c. 99–100.]

asked the Prime Minister what changes have been introduced in the practice of his Administration regarding the giving of Ministerial broadcasts.

On my own initiative a new Aide Memoire relating to Ministerial broadcasts was agreed between the B.B.C. and the two leading parties and announced on 3rd April, 1969. In the case of the more imporant broadcasts my proposals gave the Opposition for the first time an automatic right of reply which, if exercised, would lead to a third programme for which invitations to participate would be extended not only to the two main parties but also to any party with electoral support comparable to that of the Liberal Party at the date of the Aide Memoire. These arrangements are set out on pages 87 and 88 of the B.B.C. Handbook 1970, a copy of which is available in the Library.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will take steps to make the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications responsible to the Minister of Technology.

I would refer to my answer to a Question by the hon. Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) earlier today.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has now received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, giving fresh evidence that entry into the Euro- pean Economic Community will adversely affect the British housewife.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to a cutting from the Daily Express on 27th April which he forwarded to me a few days ago and other newspaper reports. I had already seen these, and have commented in the House on 28th April and 5th May.—[Vol. 801, c. 1049 and c. 192.]

asked the Prime Minister which Minister is responsible for costing the Government's investment grant policy.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology is responsible for preparing the estimates of expenditure on investment grants, which are presented to Parliament in the normal way.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Wembley Stadium authorities concerning proposed Government financial assistance for possible future extensions and improvements at the stadium.

None, but my hon. Friend the Minister of State at the Ministry of Housing and Local Government will shortly be discussing with the bodies principally concerned the needs of Wembley and the possibility of commissioning a feasibility study.

asked the Prime Minister whether, during his next Ministerial broadcast he will set out Government policy in relation to house-building, pensions and social security benefits, selective employment tax, taxation in general and Government expenditure.

Unless and until I make a statement to the contrary, the House should assume that I have no plans to make a Ministerial broadcast. I could not in any case give details in advance about the content of Ministerial broadcasts which might be arranged in the future; still less could I forecast what questions would be put in interview broadcasts.

asked the Prime Minister whether he has considered the communication sent to him by the Pakistani Association of Newham, regarding increasing racial discrimination, violence and lawlessness; what other representations were made in this communication; and what was the nature of his reply.

I received a copy of a resolution passed on 26th April at a meeting of the Commonwealth Welfare Association and certain other associations, including the Pakistani Association of Newham. This has been passed to the Home Office, which also received a copy of the resolution.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will make a statement on his recent discussions with the Soviet Ambassador; and to what extent these discussions included the situation in the Middle East.

The Soviet Ambassador made a short call on me on 30th April at his own request on matters concerning our bilateral relations.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to prevent the import of apples from Holland and France which have been treated with a cosmetic spray containing arsenic.

It is illegal under the Arsenic in Food Regulations, 1959 to import apples that contain more than one part per million of arsenic (by weight).

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what categories of people have access to the confidential career register of civil servants at Under-Secretary level and above.

Access is restricted to the very few staff in the Civil Service Department who, under the authority of the Head of the Civil Service, are directly concerned with appointments at these levels.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service which Departments have now been asked to produce schemes for the development of specialisation.

My hon. Friend no doubt has in mind the development of specialisation among those staffs whom the Fulton Committee referred to as " administrators ". All Departments employing 50 or more such staff have been asked to make proposals for the development of greater specialisation in the context of planned career development schemes. Extensive studies are continuing.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the progress on unified grading in the scientific, works group and related classes.