asked the Minister of Technology what proposals he has regarding industrial investment in the development areas and the effectiveness of such investment.

We have said that we will maintain incentives in the development areas. The form of these incentives will be announced in due course.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he will introduce legislation to govern safety on oil rigs operating outside territorial waters.

This is being considered.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he is taking to recover from the New Basingstoke Canal Company the cost of damage at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Farnborough, resulting from flooding caused by the breach in the canal bank in September 1968.

A revised claim in respect of the cost of the emergency repair to the canal bank and the damage to R.A.E. property was presented to the New Basingstoke Canal Company and rejected by them early this year. Treasury Solicitor's Department are now obtaining expert opinion on certain aspects of the claim before deciding on the next action.

asked the Minister of Technology on what dates £40 million contracts are being signed, or have been signed, on behalf of his Department in respect of purchase of uranium ore derived from new mines in South-West Africa.

An agreement between the United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority and a subsidiary of Rio Tinto Zinc was signed in March, 1968, subject to conditions recently fulfilled. Subse quent amendments to the agreement involve additional deliveries of ore in certain years.

asked the Minister of Technology what is now his procedure for advising groups of local authorities on the purchase or hire of computers; and if he will make a statement.

Groups of or individual local authorities may if they require it seek objective advice on computer matters from the Computer Advisory Service but it is not mandatory that they must do so.

asked the Minister of Technology what was the total tonnage and value of coal exported by the National Coal Board in each of the last 10 years.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Minister of Technology what action he will take to ensure that there are adequate supplies of smokeless fuel, following the recent official estimates of the National Coal Board, this autumn; and if he will make a statement.

I am not yet ready to make a statement on this subject; but I hope to be soon.

asked the Minister of Technology what discussions he has had with the chairmen of the nationalised fuel industries collectively or singly about the risk of a shortage of fuel this winter.

Fuel prospects is one of the matters which my hon. Friend the Minister of State has discussed at his meetings with the chairmen.We are in close touch with all the fuel industries about fuel supply prospects.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will continue the present assistance to the coal industry to ease the burdens of contraction.

asked the Minister of Technology if he is aware that the National Union of Mineworkers at its annual conference this week will require information on the Government's policy on compensation for redundant miners in order to reach decisions affecting the future of the industry; and if he will make an early statement on the matter.

The powers in the Coal Industry Act 1967 do not expire until March 1971. As I told the hon. Members for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) and South Shields (Mr. Blenkinsop) on 6th July, the question of extending them is being considered as a matter of urgency.

asked the Minister of Technology if he intends to allow to proceed the plans announced by the British Steel Corporation of investing £30 million in the Hawarden Bridge Steelworks, Shotton, Flintshire.

I have no objection to them.

asked the Minister of Technology if, in view of the problem facing local authorities in the disposal of non-returnable and indestructible containers for foods and liquids, he will take steps to assist manufacturers to find and use alternatives.

We are not aware that the problems facing local authorities are such as to warrant Government assistance to container manufacturers. However, a Working Party on Refuse Disposal was set up under the previous administration and when its report is available, we will consider with my right hon. Friend the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether any action on our part is called for.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will give an assurance that the county of Cardigan will continue to remain part of the Welsh Development Area.

Cardigan will continue to remain part of the Welsh Development Area for as long as necessary.

asked the Minister of Technology what discussions have taken place between the furniture manufacturers and retailers under his sponsorship, as recommended by the National Board for Prices and Incomes in their Report on Retail Mark-up on Furniture; and if he will make a statement.

Report number 97 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes suggested that furniture retailers should consider undertaking initiatives with manufacturers, backed by the offer of expert assistance and finance, with a view to inducing greater specialisation in furniture production. This seems to be a matter for the individual retailers and manufacturers. The Ministry has not been asked by either to assist in discussions.

asked the Minister of Technology what further test flights of supersonic aircraft are planned to take place over Northern Ireland; and what warnings of supersonic booms have been issued.

Parts of Counties Antrim and Down, together with Belfast, will be affected by the sonic boom from Concorde's test flights along the west coast route. Advance warning will be given before these flights begin, and the Press and radio and television services will be informed when individual flights are planned.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will undertake that the firm which is granted occupancy of the advance factory now nearing completion at Stane, Shotts, is one which predominantly employs male labour.

The need of the Shotts area for jobs for men will certainly be considered in dealing with applications for this factory.

asked the Minister of Technology which Minister will be responsible for mineral policy.

This subject falls within the activities of the Industry Group of my Ministry, for which my hon. Friend the Minister of State has a general responsibility.

asked the Minister of Technology when he intends to bring Edinburgh within the ambit of the Scottish Development Area.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave today to a similar question by the hon. and learned Member for Edinburgh, Leith (Mr. Murray).

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on his discussions with Mr. Rogers, the United States Secretary of State; and to what extent the question of a joint policy on the supply of arms to South Africa formed part of these discussions.

Mr. Rogers visited this country during last week-end. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister and I took the opportunity to discuss with him a number of world issues of concern to both our countries, including the situation in Southern Africa. As is usual on these occasions, the substance of our talks is confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what decisions have been taken regarding the future export of maritime reconnaissance aircraft, surface-to-air missiles and frigates to South Africa.

I would refer my hon. Friend to what I said in the House on 6th July, both in answer to Questions and in the debate on the Address.—[Vol. 803, c. 323–4, 346–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the negotiations with the European Economic Community, he will seek to amend Article 240 of the Treaty of Rome.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why, during his negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Common Market, he will not make the retention of the present system of imperial preference a prerequisite for Great Britain's consideration of the terms of entry.

Membership of the European Economic Communities in principle involves the application of the common external tariff to imports from other countries, including Commonwealth ones. It would not be compatible with this principle for an individual Member State of the Community to grant tariff preferences.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent meeting in Manila of the Council of the South-East Asia Treaty Organisation.

The conclusions of the meeting are set out in detail in the final communiqué, a copy of which is being placed in the Library of the House. Briefly, the Council reviewed with special attention the situation in Cambodia, and expressed the conviction that Cambodia's desire for neutrality must be the basis of a settlement. The Council regretted that North Vietnam had not responded to any of the numerous initiatives to achieve a peaceful settlement in Indo-China by negotiation and hoped this attitude would change. It noted the steps taken to develop at S.E.A.T.O. headquarters an office for counter-subversion and counterinsurgency better able to assist member-governments in this field. And it warmly welcomed Her Majesty's Government's proposal to maintain a military presence in the Malaysia-Singapore area as part of a Commonwealth force subject to the wishes of the countries concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what consideration he is giving to the future of the Anglo-Irish Trade Agreement; if bilateral discussions will be held concerning the future of this Agreement; and if he will make a statement.

The working of the Agreement is kept under constant review and we are in regular contact with the Government of the Irish Republic on this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the remuneration of doctors; and whether it is his intention to implement in full the recent recommendations of the Review Body.

I am in the middle of discussions with the doctors and dentists.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the cost of producing the Twelfth Report on Doctors' and Dentists' Remuneration.

I regret that the information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will review the working of the Abortion Act.

I am doing so.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of dialysis units in the Sheffield regional hospitals, the number of patients receiving treatment, the number of staff involved and the shortfall of the latter personnel.

There are two units in the Sheffield Region treating 42 patients with chronic renal failure, 22 of whom are being dialysed in their own homes. Staff in post number six doctors, 15 nurses, five technicians and five other staff and vacancies exist for 13 nurses and two other staff. Not all the staff work full time in the units.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will introduce a scheme so that pensioners and seriously disabled persons living on small fixed incomes may be assisted to install or retain their telephones.

A special scheme is not needed. The Supplementary Benefits Commission allows for the cost of installing and renting a telephone where a person eligible for supplementary benefit would otherwise be dangerously isolated, and local authorities will be required—under Section 2 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act—to satisfy themselves of the need of a handicapped person of any age for a telephone and where necessary to provide, or help in obtaining, a telephone.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now take steps to make wider provision of telephones for the housebound elderly and disabled by way of the Supplementary Benefits Commission.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Rye (Mr. Bryant Godman Irvine). I do not think it would be desirable to invite the Commission to relax its criteria. Where a person is not dangerously isolated, a telephone, however desirable, is one of a variety of things which a person may choose to have, and in the Government's view the proper course is to pay cash benefits for people to spend as they wish.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he has studied the Royal College of Nursing Report, a copy of which is in his possession, recommending post-certificate educational courses for nurses working in mental illness and sub-normality hospitals; and if he will consult with representatives of the Royal College on their proposals as soon as possible with a view to implementation.

We are now considering the Report, which was published only a few days ago.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now take steps to abolish the earnings rule for retirement pensioners.

No. But the earnings rule is clearly one of the aspects of social security to which we shall be giving close consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will abolish the payment of supplementary benefits to those who are on official or unofficial strikes or to their dependants.

Benefit is not paid to strikers for their own needs save in isolated and exceptional cases. The idea of denying all benefit to their wives and children, so that if a strike went on they would be left to starve, has no place in the policy of the Government. This is not to say that present arrangements could not be improved, and the Government will consider this area of the social security field closely.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will take steps to increase the £1 of other incomes which are disregarded when calculating supplementary pensions paid to people over pension age to £1 10s.

The disregards are and will be kept under review, but the Government have no proposals at present for increasing the amount of "other income" now disregarded in calculating entitlement to supplementary pensions.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of a new three-wheeled invalid carriage; and if he will estimate the cost of a four-wheeled vehicle to replace it.

It is not the practice to reveal contract prices. A four-wheeled vehicle suitable for all those invalids at present eligible for three-wheelers would have to be specially developed and designed. No estimate has been made of the cost of doing this, but it would be very high.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in the case of vehicles supplied by his Department, the insurance rates for three-wheeled invalid carriages are lower than for four-wheeled vehicles; and whether this is being taken into account in his consideration of the provision of four-wheeled vehicles.

Insurance rates for invalid three-wheelers are substantially lower than those for cars. All relevant information is taken into consideration when comparing vehicle costs; but the cost of insurance is not a determining factor in the selection of a vehicle suitable for a disabled person to drive.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if the costs of servicing the present three-wheeled invalid carriage are higher or lower than the costs of servicing a suitable four-wheeled vehicle of British manufacture.

Disabled people using cars pay their own bills and their servicing expenditure is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services which components of the three-wheeled invalid carriage are imported and why.

The current three-wheeler is manufactured in the United Kingdom from British components. The new and improved model expected to become available next year will also be manufactured in the United Kingdom but will have an Austrian engine, an American torque convertor and some Italian rear suspension and transmission components.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the extra cost of providing full retirement pension rights to persons classified in the National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance Allowance) Bill.

About £24 million gross in the first full year, or about £12 million net of savings on supplementary benefit, compared with £14 million and £7 million, respectively, for the pensions to be provided under Clause 1 of the Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants in England and Wales between the age of 56 and 60 years, the age of 50 and 56 years, and under 50 years, respectively, are presently paid for distinction awards in the categories A-plus, A and B respectively.

At 31st December, 1969, the latest date for which information is available; the figures for England and Wales were:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many part-time and full-time consultants, respectively, in England and Wales in 1969 were granted study leave with pay and expenses involving visits to other countries; and whether the expenses were paid from endowment or National Health Service revenue resources.

I regret that the information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of general medical practitioners in England and Wales in the years 1951 to 1969; and what was the average list of the patients of unrestricted principals in general medical practice in England and Wales.

I regret that figures for 1951 are not available. The remainder of the information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the doctor shortage in the National Health Service in Great Britain between 1951 and 1969; and what is the expected shortage in 1970 to 1975.

There is no fixed complement of doctors in the general medical services of the National Health Service, nor an agreed ratio of doctors to patients in the hospital service, against which a shortage can be precisely assessed. The number of entry places at British Medical schools continues to rise; it is planned to reach 3,700 by 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if every hospital in England and Wales uses the same method of calculating outpatient attendances.

All hospitals in England and Wales are instructed to use the same method of calculating outpatient attendances to ensure that their annual statistical returns are comparable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps are taken by hospital authorities to replace senior registrars when the latter are on study-leave.

The arrangements in any particular instance depend on the length of the leave and the requirements of the service but it is usual either for a colleague to deputise or a locum to be engaged.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what management surveys have been carried out on the use of medical manpower in the hospital service; and what studies are proposed for the near future.

Major studies have included the report of the Joint Working Party on Medical Staffing Structure in the Hospital Service and the first report of the Joint Working Party on the Organisation of Medical Work in Hospitals. Much additional related information is available from Hospital Activity Analysis, Hospital In-patient Enquiry and regular statistical returns. Many individual studies bearing on this question are also carried out both by my Department and other bodies. Detailed work is being undertaken in connection with current discussions about a possible new career structure.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many consultants and senior registrars left the hospital service in. England and Wales from 1951 to 1969 for reasons, notified to his De partment, other than death or retirement.

Information is not maintained in the form requested; doctors are not required to give reasons for leaving National Health Service employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will increase family allowances.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for South Ayrshire (Mr. Sillars) on 7th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 27.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish a White Paper outlining the Government's policy towards poverty; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government have shown their concern about poverty by introducing as their first Measure, a Bill to give extra help to old people and widows, and the very seriously disabled. We are studying the special needs of other groups but we have no statement to make at this stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will classify brucellosis as a prescribed industrial disease so that agricultural and allied workers contracting it can get compensation.

Cover is already provided against accidental contraction of brucellosis in the course of employment by the accident provisions of the Industrial Injuries Act. In addition, the Industrial Injuries Advisory Council has been asked to consider whether the conditions for prescription laid down by Section 56(2) of the Act are satisfied, and whether there is a need to prescribe the disease in view of the existing cover.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether it is intended to proceed with the National Insurance (Occupational Pensioners) (Unemployment Benefit) Regulations, a draft of which was laid in the last Parliament.

This is a complex and difficult question which I wish to consider further.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is currently the band of income over which employers are obliged to pay earnings-related contributions in respect of employees contracted into the State graduated pension scheme; what is the percentage of the income within the band which they contribute; and what is his estimate of the yield of employers' contributions to the scheme in 1970–71.

Employees participating fully in the State graduated pension scheme and their employers each pay graduated contributions at the rates of 4¾ per cent. of earnings falling between £9 and £18 a week and 3¼ per cent. of earnings between £18 and £30 a week; the estimated yield of employers' contributions to the scheme in 1970–71 is about £390 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the yield of employers' contributions to the State earnings-related pension scheme on the basis that all earnings up to £5,000 a year are included in the band and the contribution is at the rate of 10 per cent.

About £2,500 million a year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of employees contracted into the State graduated pension scheme; and what is the number contracted out.

About 10¼ million employed men and 7¼ million women are not contracted out of the State graduated pension scheme and 9¼ million and 5¼ million respectively of these pay graduated contributions; and 4¾ million men and ¾ million women are contracted out and pay graduated contributions at a reduced rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the current annual amount of contributions by employers to occupational pension schemes in respect of employees contracted out of the State graduated pension scheme; by what amount this exceeds the minimum they are obliged to pay in order to contract out; how many employers contribute more than they are obliged to do; and how many employers contribute only the minimum.

No information is available on which an estimate could be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the increase in contributions to occupational pension schemes to be made by employers as a result of raising their minimum contribution to the earnings-related State pension scheme or to an approved contracted-out scheme to 10 Per cent. of all earnings up to £5,000 a year.

No information is available on which an estimate can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the difficulties of retirement pensioners and older widows living on £5 a week for single people and £8 2s. 0d. a week for married couples, he will make an immediate increase on these rates to enable them to pay current prices of food and clothes, and take into account the burden of rates on pensioners living in homes which they bought when employed.

The supplementary benefits scale rates, with an allowance for rent added, are higher than the retirement pension rates, and they are to be increased in the first week of November under Regulations made with all-party agreement during the last Parliament. I would urge any retirement pensioners who think they may be eligible to claim a supplementary pension. Those not so entitled may qualify for a rate rebate, which will alleviate the burden of rates. My right hon. Friend has no immediate plans for a general increase in the retirement pension.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he intends to introduce his legislation to grant pensions to all those over 80 years of age; and whether such payments will be made on some criteria of need.

Our proposals were fully explained in the Second Reading Debate on the National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance Allowance) Bill on Friday.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why Members of Parliament who do not personally control their salaries and conditions of employment and dismissal are classified under the social security scheme as self-employed; and whether he will reclassify them as normally employed persons in the same manner as other employees who receive their salaries from sources other than their own businesses.

No. All employed persons including Members of Parliament who are not employed under a contract of service are classified under the National Insurance Acts as self-employed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he proposes to apply pay restraints to those engaged in nursing.

Any new pay claim will be negotiated by the Nurses and Midwives Whitley Council in the normal way taking account of all the circumstances including

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussion he proposes to hold with the education authorities in Edinburgh concerning school building in the city.

I am considering proposals which I have just received from the education authority for the period to March, 1973. Should discussion with the authority be necessary this will of course be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the amount of public expenditure on infrastructure in Scotland in the years April, 1959 to April. 1970.

Details of identifiable public expenditure in Scotland are published in the half-yearly Digest of Scottish Statistics. Issue No. 35 (April, 1970) covers the years 1963–64 to 1968–69.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many hospital doctors and general practitioners serve on regional hospital boards and hospital boards of management; and if he will express the figures as a percentage of total board membership.

The numbers of medically qualified hospital staff and general medical practitioners serving on Regional Hospital Boards and Boards of Management are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total amount paid to consultants for car mileage allowances in 1969, the average per consultant, the total amount paid for subsistence allowances, and the average per consultant.

It is estimated that in the financial year 1969–70 about £174,000 was paid to consultants as travelling expenses (about £134 per consultant employed). Travelling expenses include mileage allowances, the cost of travel by public transport and subsistence allowances but the proportion of expenditure under these headings is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which major hospitals have consultant vacancies in anaesthetics; and if he will name them.

The Royal Alexandra Infirmary, Paisley.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the average weekly earnings, excluding expenses, of a whole-time consultant, on the maximum of his salary, in 1969; and if he will give similar information in respect of a maximum part-time consultant.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount has been paid to consultants in Scotland for postgraduate lectures in the nearest financial year.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultants and senior registrars left the hospital service in Scotland from 1951 to 1969 for reasons, notified to his Department, other than death or retirement.

Information is not maintained in the form requested; doctors are not required to give reasons for leaving posts in the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many senior registrars in the period 1951 to 1969 were required to leave the hospital service in Scotland because no consultant vacancies were available.

This information is not available; doctors are not required to give reasons for leaving posts in the National Health Service.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many people in Scotland benefit from the home help service at the latest convenient date; and how many so benefited in 1964.

33,236 households received home help service during 1969 compared with 29,100 in 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a further statement on his most recent discussions with Ministers in Northern Ireland on matters of mutual concern.

My right hon. Friend has nothing to add to what he said in the House on 3rd July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable regarding damage done by vandals between Dorchester and Weymouth on 21st June, the cost of which was £2,000.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is satisfied as to the operation of the law regarding vandalism; and if he will make a statement.

The law relating to malicious damage, including the penalties available to the courts, is under review by the Law Commission. The powers of the courts under the present law are substantial, and I am confident that chief constables are doing all they can, according to the circumstances of each particular area, to prevent offences and to bring offenders to justice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state in respect of the Metropolitan

asked the Secretary for State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the general public concern, he will arrange for a public inquiry to be held into the proposed closure of the Downham Fire Station at Downham, Bromley, Kent.

My right hon. Friend is arranging for one of Her Majesty's Inspectors of Fire Services to investigate the situation and will decide in the light of his report whether a public local inquiry is necessary. Meanwhile, organisations and individuals known to be interested have been invited to elaborate their objections.

The table below, supplied by the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, gives figures of cases known to the police for 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders were committed in the years 1968 and 1969, respectively.

The latest corrected figures for murder known to the police in England and Wales are: 1968, 148; 1969, 121 (including two not yet disposed of by the courts).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many murders formerly classified as capital were committed in the years 1968 and 1969, respectively.

The latest corrected figures for murder known to the police in England Wales estimated as "capital" are: 1968, 42; 1969, 37.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners detained in Her Majesty's Prisons in England and Wales are at the present time being held in removal from association with other prisoners under Rule 43 of Statutory Instrument, 1964, No. 388, other than those convicted of sexual offences or by reason of a request made by a prisoner on his own part.

On 4th July, 1970, there were 91 prisoners who had been removed from association with other prisoners otherwise than at their own request. The number of these who had not been convicted of sexual offences is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now expects to publish the results of his Department's inquiry into the workings of British Standard Time; and if he will ensure that a reversion to Greenwich Mean Time can be made this winter if recommended by the inquiry.

My right hon. Friend hopes to publish the results of this inquiry in the autumn. It would not be practicable to pass legislation to allow reversion to Greenwich Mean Time next winter, even if this were thought to be desirable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the Metropolitan Police give motorists automatic ticket fines for waiting short periods on yellow banded areas; and why they do not take action against lorries which are parked all day and all night causing obstruction in narrow roads and streets, and which have no road fund licences.

The action taken by the Metropolitan police to enforce the law is the responsibility of the Commissioner of Police.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what tests of the airworthiness of Comet aircraft have been undertaken recently; and what is the average age of these aircraft still in service.

All British public transport aircraft have a system of continuous maintenance, carried out under the supervision of the Air Registration Board, in which the airframe, engines, components and systems are subjected to tests, including flight tests, inspections and appropriate calibrations in accordance with detailed approved schedules. Special inspections or tests may be required from time to time. A special inspection of the pitot static pipe system is presently being carried out on Comets. The average age of the Comets on the United Kingdom register still in service is 11 years.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce legislation to ensure that the true rate of interest is included in all contracts for hire-purchase and credit sales transactions and in advertisements of credit terms.

The Committee on Consumer Credit has, I understand, received evidence on this question. When the Committee reports later this year, I shall, naturally, consider whatever recommendations it sees fit to make.

asked the President of the Board Trade when the interpretation of the data contained in the black box flight recorder carried on the Dan Air Comet which crashed near Barcelona on Friday 3rd July will be made available; and whether he will make a statement.

A preliminary readout from the Midas recorder from the Dan Air Comet was made on Friday 10th July. It appears to be a good recording and the information concerning the aircraft's altitude, heading and speeds will be of value in improving the quality of the reconstruction of the last part of the aircraft's flight path which is already being prepared from other available evidence.The initial readout is being sent to Spain and a Principal Inspector of Accidents from the Board of Trade will be discussing the progress of the investigation with the Spanish authorities in Barcelona next week. I think it would be wise for me to await the outcome of these conversations before I make any further statement.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will introduce regulations under the Trade Descriptions Act to make it compulsory to mark all goods with their country of origin.

No. A universal origin-marking requirement would be neither desirable nor practicable.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will make a statement about the location of the National Exhibition Centre.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of fatal accidents in each of the last 10 years in which the aircraft of publicly-owned and of commercial airlines, respectively, have been involved and the number of persons killed and seriously injured in each accident.

Yes. The following is the information:—

An undertaking was given on 28th January, 1970, to support the proposal for a National Exhibition Centre near Birmingham. Her Majesty's Government have reconsidered this undertaking in the light of the substantial progress made by Birmingham and of further representations made by the Greater London Council.I have today informed the Greater London Council and the Birmingham authorities that we have decided to reaffirm the Government's support for the Birmingham project in the terms announced by my predecessor.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) if he will make a statement about his intentions regarding British forces in the Gulf; and what is his estimate of the annual expenditure in that sphere directly and overall, respectively;(2) if he will make a statement about the retention of British military forces east of Suez; and if he will estimate the annual expenditure involved.

In the Gulf, as in the Far East, our objective is the promotion of peace and stability. My right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary has started the process of consultation with our friends in the area of the Gulf in order to establish how this common objective may best be served.In South-East Asia we are committed to maintain a British military presence as a contribution to Commonwealth defence arrangements in the area. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister announced in answer to Questions on 9th July, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence expects to leave for the area at the end of this month in order to enter into consultations with the Governments of Malaysia, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand about the five-Power force and its make-up.I am not in a position to make any statement until after these consultations have taken place and proposals have been worked out.—[Vol. 803, c. 844.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will consider reprieving the Gloucestershire Regiment from planned amalgamation.

The planned rundown of the Army is being reviewed.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about his intentions regarding boys who join the armed forces between the ages of 15 and 18 years and who are subsequently refused a discharge.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Barking (Mr. Driberg) on Wednesday, 8th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 67.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has to expand the building programme of Hunter/Killer submarines.

Any consideration of this subject would form part of wider studies of future defence policy which are now in progress.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that any future appointment of Ministers in the Welsh Office will be from among hon. Members who represent constituencies in Wales.

My appointments will continue to be designed to serve the best interests of Wales.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether it is his policy in the near future to introduce a compensation scheme for ridding the country of brucellosis-affected cattle.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he will pay the brucellosis incentives awarded to accredited owners in the Price Review; and when he will start a programme of compulsory area eradication.

The voluntary Brucellosis Incentives Scheme will be open from today, both to new applicants and to owners of herds already accredited. The necessary statutory Payment Orders are being made; and all incentive premiums due to accredited owners concerned will be paid as soon as possible. I am placing copies of the Scheme Prospectus in the Library of the House.The Secretary of State and I are grateful to the Milk Marketing Boards, the British Veterinary Association, and the insurance companies concerned for their co-operation in enabling this Scheme to be launched quickly and operated economically; and for the support of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for making an Order, under section 19(4)(

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity whether he will make a statement concerning the Government's policy regarding the National Board for Prices and Incomes, and the position of the chairman and the salary to be paid to him.

The appointment of the present Chairman of the National Board for Prices and Incomes runs until 31st October 1970 at a salary of £15,000 a year, after which he will be taking up an appointment outside Government service.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what references are currently being considered by the National Board for Prices and Incomes; and by which Departments they were referred.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will publish the number of unemployed in the Easington constituency at the latest available date; and how this number compares with the national average on a percentage basis.

At 8th June, 1970, 1,488 persons were registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Peterlee and Wingate Employment Exchanges, which approximates broadly to the Easington constituency, and the percentage rate of unemployment was 6·1. At that date the percentage rate for Great Britain was 2·4.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity in view of the assessment by fire brigade experts that one cubic foot of polyurethane foam fully combusted will give out the heat of six electric fires and that firespread is rapid, if he will now take steps to ensure the use of flame-retardant polyether foam in furniture and bedding manufacture.

My right hon. Friend is looking closely at the question of the use of flame retardant polyether foam, but he is not satisfied that at this particular time it is a matter requiring legislation. A number of Departments are currently engaged in research into the subject.