asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what steps he proposes to take to deal with the continuing high unemployment in North-East Kent.

My Department's local officers will continue to do all they can to help those unemployed to find jobs and will offer opportunities for training, where appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what progress is being made in implementing the Employers' Liability (Compulsory Insurance) Act, 1969.

Preliminary work is in hand and a start has been made on a series of consultations with interested parties.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will take steps to protect the consumer against monopolies.

Yes. The Government will pursue a vigorous competition policy. As a basis for this we shall undertake a review of all the possibilities for the future development of the policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what further references he proposes to make to the Commission on Industrial Relations.

The right hon. Lady will be aware that it is not the practice to announce references to the C.I.R. in advance. I can assure her however that I have the future programme of references under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is his estimate of the cost to his Department of changing the employment basis of Commonwealth citizens entering this country to alien terms.

The cost would depend on the precise form of future control of Commonwealth immigration which is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what proposals he has to introduce legislation controlling the safety of employment in university research laboratories, industrial and medical research establishments, hospital laboratories, theatres and similar establishments at present outside the scope of the Factories Acts and the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act; and whether he will make a statement.

Any action must await the report of the Committee on Safety and Health at Work which has been established under the Chairmanship of Lord Robens and which has already started its work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if, in view of the fact that Employment Census Form ED90 duplicates information obtained by other means and that the timing of its issue has caused inconvenience to the medical profession, he will consider revoking it.

A full-scale trial census of employment is being held this year to test the feasibility of obtaining national, regional and local employment estimates from this source instead of by the present method of counting national insurance cards. The trial is at an advanced state and it would be uneconomic to halt it now. My right hon. Friend will however, be considering very carefully whether Form ED90 should be issued in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many men and women, respectively, have been made redundant in each of the new towns in Scotland within the last month; and what are the causes of such redundancy.

Between 15th June and 14th July redundancies in new towns in Scotland reported to my Department's local offices affected 35 men and 26 women at Cumbernauld, 182 men and 193 women at Glenrothes and 21 men at East Kilbride. In one firm redundancy was attributed to a delay in the receipt of components and in the others to lack of demand for products.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will introduce legislation for a minimum weekly wage of £16; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what is the estimated unemployment rate for the county borough of Doncaster for the latest available date.

A percentage rate of unemployment can be calculated only for the travel to work area formed by the Doncaster, Askern and Thorne Employment Exchange areas. At 8th June the rate for this area was 4·4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what action he proposes to take on the Monopolies Commission's Report on the supply of certain services by estate agents.

We accept the conclusion of the Monopolies Commission that the arrangements which give rise to the practice of charging fees at standard rates operate against the public interest. We are consdering what action should be taken in the light of the Commission's Report and the subsequent discussions between the Department and the estate agents' associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will make a statement about the future of the Agricultural Training Board.

The Board will continue to exercise its functions under the Industrial Training Act. My right hon. Friend is pleased to note that relations between the board and its industry have materially improved following the agreed changes in the method of financing, the decision to set up new area training committees with wider responsibilities and the introduction of administrative economies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productitvity whether he will conduct an inquiry into average earnings in the Bridport area of Dorset, in view of the fact that they appear to be below the average for the South-West Region.

No. Resources are not available for surveys which would provide estimates of average earnings for each local area or for selected local areas such as Bridport. Average earnings within an area depend on many factors and in some areas are inevitably either below or above the regional average.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what were the latest average earnings in the South-West area; what large towns and cities were included; and whether he will publish a separate figure for rural areas and small towns.

The average earnings of full-time adult male manual workers in manufacturing and other industries covered by the October, 1969, inquiry were £22 17s. 2d. in the South-West standard region compared with the United Kingdom average of £24 16s. 5d. Corresponding figures for areas within the region are not available.The new earnings survey in September, 1968, covering all industries indicated that within this region average earnings in the Northern Sub-division which includes Gloucestershire and parts of Somerset and Wiltshire were higher than in the other three standard sub-divisions. Figures for the four standard sub-divisions of the region are being published shortly in the report of the survey. Separate figures for smaller areas are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what preference is given by employment exchanges to exporting companies in meeting their staff recruitment needs.

Special arrangements operate in consultation with production departments to ensure that the services of my Department are made readily available to those firms whose exporting or other activities are of major economic importance. In helping to meet staff requirements for such firms, however, employment exchanges cannot compel workers to accept particular jobs. The individual is free to decide for himself for which vacancy of those currently available he will apply.

Standard Region				Average weekly earnings			Average hours worked	Average hourly earnings
				£	s.	d.		s.	d.
South East	…	…	…	26	13	8	46·2	11	6·6
East Anglia	…	…	…	23	9	2	46·5	10	1·2
South Western	…	…	…	24	9	3	45·9	10	8·0
West Midlands	…	…	…	27	0	11	44·6	12	1·7
East Midlands	…	…	…	24	8	7	45·5	10	9·0
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	…	…	23	16	4	46·3	10	3·3
North Western	…	…	…	24	14	2	46·1	10	8·8
Northern	…	…	…	25	9	5	45·9	11	1·3
Scotland	…	…	…	24	17	6	45·8	10	10·4
Wales	…	…	…	26	0	11	44·7	11	7·7
Great Britain	…	…	…	25	12	1	45·7	11	2·5

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will publish the average gross annual earnings of men aged between 18 and 64 years and women aged between 18 and 69 years for Great Britain and

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity when he expects to make a decision on the number of staff employed in his department and on expenditure incurred by his Department.

In due course, after I have completed an examination of the work of my Department and of any new tasks that may need to be undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity if he will publish the average weekly earnings, average hours worked and average hourly earnings in manufacturing industries for the last available month for Great Britain and each of the planning regions, respectively.

The standard regions for statistical purposes coincide with the regions used for economic planning except that Poole, which is in the South-West Economic Planning Region, lies in the South-East standard region for statistical purposes.Following is the information for October, 1969, for men manual workers—21 years and over—in manufacturing:each of the planning regions, respectively, in 1969 and 1970.

The standard regions for statistical purposes coincide with the regions used for economic planning except that Poole, which is in the South-West Economic Planning Region, lies in the South-East standard region for statistical purposes.Average gross annual earnings of persons in civil employment in Great Britain, with at least 48 national insurance contributions actually paid in the income tax year 1968–69—the latest year for which information is available—are as follows:

Men (18–64 years)	…	…	£1,328
Women (18–59 years)	…	…	£655

The corresponding 1968–69 figures for regions are not yet available.Following are the corresponding 1967–68 figures for Great Britain and each of the standard statistical regions:

		Men (18–64)	Women (18–59)
		£	£
Great Britain	…	1,249	622
North	…	1,158	578
Yorkshire and Humberside	…	1,159	571
East Midlands	…	1,171	585
East Anglia	…	1,128	581
G.L.C. Area	…	1,362	726
Rest of South East	…	1,349	647
South West	…	1,155	593
Wales	…	1,189	624
West Midlands	…	1,252	581
North West	…	1,219	594
Scotland	…	1,163	608
Figures for women aged 18–69 are not calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity what discussions he has had covering the situation in the docks; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer my right hon. Friend to my statement made earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment and Productivity how many people were undergoing industrial training or retraining in Great Britain in October, 1964, and June, 1970, respectively; and how many of them were being trained in Government training centres.

Total information for these dates is not available, but the numbers under training in Government Training Centres were 3,153 in October, 1964 and 7,640 in June, 1970. It is estimated that in September, 1968 nearly 1,400,000 persons were receiving training in all industries and services, including over 500,000 apprentices. A corresponding figure for 1964 is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the expenditure and staff complement of the Social Science Research Council in the year ended 31st March, 1970; and what plans she has to reduce the cost and size of this body during the current year.

The expenditure of the Social Science Research Council, and the staff complement, for the year to 31st March, 1970, are £2,275,000 and 78 respectively. The answer to the last part of the Question is, "None".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she proposes to introduce a Public Lending Rights Bill during this Parliament.

No decision has yet been taken.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much is spent annually from public funds on paying the examination fees of secondary school students; and what proportion of this sum relates to students re-sitting examinations they have already failed.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will amend or supplement the Schools (Amendment) Regulations, 1968 to provide that unqualified teachers in primary schools, who have given good service and whose retention is desired by parents and teaching staff, may continue in their employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now consider providing some exceptions for the retention of long-service unqualified teachers, in particular those strongly recommended by local authorities and heads of schools.

No. I think that the phasing out of unqualified teachers should continue as planned and I do not intend to amend the Regulations. I am however treating very sympathetically special recommendations from employing local education authorities that individual unqualified teachers with substantial service should be given qualified teacher status and so be able to stay in the schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school places remain unfilled in Daventry, specifically attributable to the shortage of jobs in the town development scheme.

Last month there were over 300 unfilled primary school places in the development area at Daventry and over 100 unoccupied new houses. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Minister of Technology that industrial expansion in the town has fallen somewhat short of expectations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has for a polytechnic in North Wales.

There are no plans for a polytechnic in North Wales, and the Welsh Joint Education Committee does not support the idea.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will issue a circular to local education authorities on the need to consult teachers' organisations at the earliest moment when reorganisation proposals are being considered in their particular areas.

Paragraph 4 of Circular 10/70, published on 30th June, specifically asks local education authorities to discuss such proposals with the teachers.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in which regions there are shortages of qualified teachers, showing the level of shortage for primary, secondary, comprehensive and grammar schools, respectively.

My Department operates on behalf of local education authorities a voluntary quota system the aim of which is to ensure that the total number of vacancies matches the number of teachers available. In recent years this has worked well, and there have been no marked regional shortages. I have so far seen no indication that there will be any such shortages next term either though it is still too early to judge how well this year's quota has worked.There is a long-standing and general shortage of teachers trained to teach infants, and infant classes often have to be taught by teachers trained for work with older children.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will state the estimated annual increase in educational expenditure for the next five years.

I cannot anticipate the White Paper on Public Expenditure over the next five years which, as my right hon. Friend the Chief Secretary told the House on 7th July, the Government will publish in the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give an estimate of the number of pre-school playgroups in England and Wales; how many local authorities support and advise pre-school playgroups; what plans she has for encouraging local education authorities support of pre-school playgroups; and if she will make a statement.

I estimate that there may be nearly 10,000 playgroups providing for up to 200,000 children. I know of about 70 local authorities—mainly county councils and county borough councils, but including a number of smaller authorities—which support playgroups in various ways. I recognise the importance of the work done by playgroups, and local authorities which help those in socially deprived areas will continue to be eligible for Exchequer assistance under the Urban Programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what number of students successfully completed courses of teacher training in Wales in the last year for which figures are available; how many of these students were from Flintshire; and how many of these Flintshire students took up their first appointment in Flintshire and were bilingual.

The number of students who successfully completed courses of teacher training in Wales in the academic year 1967–68 was 2,319, comprised of 793 men and 1,526 women. This included teachers who trained at colleges of education, art teacher training centres and university departments of education.Information by place of residence of students is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many first appointment Flintshire-born students taking up posts in Flintshire were trained in a bilingual course in a Welsh college of education from Flintshire; and how many first appointment students, not from Flintshire, but offered posts by the Flintshire Local Education Authority, were trained in a bilingual course in a Welsh college of education.

This information is not readily available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has now reached a decision on the rates of grant for post-graduate students; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided that, following the increase in undergraduate rates of grant announced in May, the rates of grant for postgraduate studentships awarded by the education departments and research councils will be increased as follows:

Students living in college, hall or lodgings: from £530 to £550 per annum.

Students living at home: from £410 to £425 per annum.

The increased rates of grant will apply to new studentships from 1st September and to continuing studentships from 1st October, 1970, or the date on which the student's new academic year begins.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will take steps to relieve the burden and the cost on education authorities in the London area by the increase in charges for scholars' travel proposed by London Transport with effect from the autumn term 1970.

Expenditure by local education authorities on school transport is relevant expenditure for the purpose of rate support grant. Exchequer grants in the current year are at the rate of 57 per cent. of estimated relevant expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications for parole have been considered by the Parole Board; how many have been approved; whether these applications are considered by the Board as a whole or by its sub-committees or panels; and in how many cases the Board has interviewed applicants or invited other persons acquainted with applicants to give information orally.

To the end of June, the Parole Board made recommendations in 5,972 cases; 3,993 were recommended for parole, all but 5 being accepted. The board usually works in panels and does not interview, but has on rare occasions requested one of its members to interview a prisoner. Every prisoner eligible for parole who so wishes is interviewed by a member of the local review committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the fact that the names of many 18-year-olds appearing on the electoral registers were struck off by returning officers at the General Election, he will now seek powers to make himself responsible for ensuring the accuracy of electoral registers in Northern Ireland.

My right hon. Friend sees no reason for altering the law in this respect.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware of the practice of the police raiding immigrants' homes on receipt of anonymous telephone calls, and that this was done recently during a wedding party in Westbury Road, Forest Gate, E.7, following upon a children's birthday party; and in how many other cases involving persons other than immigrants such raids have taken place during the past four years in the Forest Gate area.

The police went to see the owner of 45, Westbury Road, Forest Gate, E.7, about an allegation, which was not made anonymously by telephone, that persons who had entered the country illegally were in the house. Police officers often make visits to private houses but I have no useful information on how far these involve immigrants or others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received relating to the subcontracting of work to Her Majesty's Prison, Dartmoor; and when he will reply.

Representations from three sources, including my hon. Friend, have been received and answered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, for the protection of local authorities and of other persons of whose bona fides he is satisfied, he will introduce legislation similar to the Indecent Advertisements (Amendment) Bill [Lords] which was introduced in the last Parliament.

The Indecent Advertisements (Amendment) Act, 1970, received the Royal Assent on 29th May, 1970, and came into force immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to standardise the practice relating to applications for legal aid in magistrates' courts.

Magistrates' courts may grant legal aid—subject to means—where it appears to the court desirable to do so in the interests of justice, and my right hon. Friend has no power to issue directions on how they should exercise their discretion. No doubt, however, they are aware of the recommendations on this matter made by the Departmental Committee on Legal Aid in Criminal Proceedings, which reported in 1966.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what has been the incidence of fires in industrial establishments over the past five years in the City of Sheffield.

The number of fires in industry attended by the local authority fire brigade in 1969 was about 170. The figures for earlier years were:

1968	…	…	…	…	140
1967	…	…	…	…	136
1966	…	…	…	…	155
1965	…	…	…	…	236

asked the Minister of Overseas Development what further steps are proposed to promote Voluntary Service Overseas; and how many young persons are currently engaged overseas in this service.

Voluntary Service Overseas, and the other voluntary societies co-operating in the British Volunteer Programme plan to continue and expand their efforts to publicise the programme among young people. Special attention will be paid to increasing the supply of volunteers with technical and vocational qualifications. 1,896 volunteers are at present overseas under the auspicies of the programme.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will ensure that the regional employment premium will continue to be paid to manufacturing industries in Scotland.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Members for Rutherglen (Mr. Gregor Mackenzie) and Newcastle-upon-Tyne, West (Mr. Bob Brown) on 7th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 464.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what reductions in prices to housewives he estimates will follow the abolition of the selective employment tax.

How far prices will be reduced when S.E.T. is abolished depends on how far it has been passed on and competitive conditions at the time.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will give an assurance that any decisions on reductions in Government expenditure or restriction upon development and expenditure, will be announced to the House of Commons and not during Parliamentary recesses.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the debate on the Address on 7th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 510.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what short-term measures he intends to take to curb inflation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer my right hon. Friend gave on 7th July to my hon. Friend, the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) and to the hon. Member for Loughborough (Mr. Cronin).—[Vol. 803, c. 478.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will initiate a study of the non-entitlement of seasonal workers to unemployment benefit.

No. Restrictions on the receipt of unemployment benefit by seasonal workers during their off-season have long been a feature of unemployment insurance. The existing rules are based on the recommendations of the independent National Insurance Advisory Committee and I have no reason to think that they are not operating as the Committee intended.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to allow the retrospective alteration of birth certificates of illegitimate children where the mother subsequently adopts the name of the putative father, in order to avoid the lifelong stigma of illegitimacy upon the child.

An entry in a birth register—of which a birth certificate is a copy—records the facts at the time of the birth and may not be corrected to show a subsequent change of paternal surname. Where, however, the name of the father does not appear in the birth registration of an illegitimate child, there is already provision for re-registration to include his name where he is willing to co-operate.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in view of the fact that the arrangements are proposed to be made for retirement pensions to be paid to the over 80s, he will now consider proposing the award of death grants to cover such cases.

No. I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to my hon. Friends the Members for Abingdon (Mr. Neave) and Hornsey (Mr. Rossi) in the course of the Second Reading of the National Insurance (Old Persons' and Widows' Pensions and Attendance

HOSPITAL DOCTORS AND DENTISTS
Date				Increase	Annual Cost £ million
1st January, 1960	…	…	…	22 per cent. over 1955 rates (including two interim awards on 1st April, 1957 and 1st January, 1959)	7·72
1st April, 1963	…	…	…	14 per cent.	9·11
1st April, 1965	…	…	…	—	—
1st October, 1966	…	…	…	13·5 per cent.	10·11
1st October, 1967	…	…	…	—	—
1st April, 1968	…	…	…	—	—
1st January, 1969	…	…	…	8 per cent.	7·81

GENERAL MEDICAL PRACTITIONERS*
Date				Increase	Annual Cost £ million
				Net Remuneration
1st January, 1960	…	…	…	22 per cent. over 1955 rates (including two interim awards on 1st April, 1957 and 1st January, 1959)	5·5
1st April, 1963	…	…	…	14 per cent.	7·7
1st April, 1965	…	…	…	10 per cent.	5·5
				Gross Remuneration
1st October, 1966	…	…	…	12·5 per cent.	13
1st April, 1967	…	…	…	12·5 per cent.	13 (2nd stage of Review Body's Seventh Report)
1st April, 1968	…	…	…	—	2·7 (Increase for practice expenses only)
1st January, 1969	…	…	…	6 per cent.	7·2
* From 1960 to 1965, the awards for general medical practitioners were in terms of net remuneration (i.e. excluding practice expenses); from 1966 onwards, recommendations by the Review Body in respect of general medical practitioners have been in terms of gross remuneration, including practice expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the date, the percentage increase and the total cost of each pay award to doctors in the National Health Service since 1950.

I regret that information in the form requested is available only for increases since 1960. Details are set out in the table below together with the available information about awards prior to 1960.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he has made to secure from each of the drug companies to which the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme applies figures for the levels of expenditure on promotion.

The Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme provides for the supply of annual financial returns which include figures for the levels of expenditure on sales promotion. A few small companies submit more limited returns.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what consideration he has given to having Scotlands' interests advanced in the current Common Market negotiations.

I can assure the hon. Member that Scottish interests will be kept fully in mind in the negotiations.

asked the Minister of Transport if he will obtain from the National Board for Prices and Incomes a report on the increase in fares recently imposed by the North Western Road Car Company; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner) on 10th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 113.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will propose joint nuclear development with France, in view of her strategic nuclear capability and the qualitative development of her submarine-based nuclear force.

The general subject of potential Anglo-French co-operation is one to which we will be giving very careful consideration in our review of defence policy. It would be premature to take a definite position on this issue now.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what steps he is taking through the Armed Forces there to deal more rapidly and effectively with incidents in Northern Ireland such as occurred on the night of 27th-28th June to maintain the peace and to detect and apprehend those responsible for murder, arson and rioting in the city streets.

Following the events of 27th-28th June, steps were immediately taken to accelerate the substantial troop reinforcements already planned for the period of the July marches. New weapons and tactics to assist in security operations are always under review.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will set up an immediate inquiry into the failure of the Armed Forces to prevent the rioting, murder and grievous bodily harm caused in Belfast on the nights of 27th-28th June and 3rd-4th July.

I do not accept that the word "failure" can be applied to the operations of the Armed Forces on the nights in question. As is normal, however, after any major disturbances, the security forces have reviewed the conduct of the operations to discover whether there are any lessons to be learned. No additional inquiry is considered necessary.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether the Government proposes to proceed with the reduction of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders; and whether he will make a statement.

The planned rundown of the Army is being reviewed.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many of the officers, non-commissioned officers and men at present serving in the 1st Battalion the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders have been informed of the regiments in which they are to serve after the reduction of the regiment, specifying the regiments concerned.

162 non-commissioned officers and 265 soldiers have been informed of postings to battalions of Scottish Division as follows:

	Non-Commissioned Officers	Soldiers
To the Royal Scots:
For Service with the 1st Battalion	22	65
For other duties	8	2
To the Royal Highland Fusiliers:
For Service with the 1st Battalion	23	69
For other duties	3	1
To the King's Own Scottish Borderers:
For Service with the 1st Battalion	5	21
For other duties	4	2
To the Black Watch:
For Service with the 1st Battalion	10	15
For other duties	3	—
To the Queen's Own Highlanders:
For Service with the 1st Battalion	22	36
For other duties	5	2
To the Gordon Highlanders:
For Service with the 1st Battalion	51	52
For other duties	6	—

Applications from 42 non-commissioned officers and soldiers for transfer to other arms, corps or divisions of infantry are still being considered. No officers have yet been formally notified of postings to other regiments, although 5 officers have been notified of postings to non-regimental duties outside the Scottish Division.

asked the Minister of State for Defence where and upon what date is the reduction parade of the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders to take place.

Some months ago, it was arranged that the disbandment parade of 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders would take place at Stirling on 30th November, 1970.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in view of the Government's policy of improving the amenities of the development areas, he will now re-consider his Department's proposal to move the Shoeburyness gunnery range to Pembrey.

The issues raised by the Ministry of Defence's proposal to move the Shoeburyness gunnery range to Pembrey have been fully ventilated over the past few weeks at a public inquiry chaired by Mr. Alun Talfan-Davies, Q.C., assisted by Mr. R. St. G. Whelan, A.R.I.B.A., A.M.T.P.I. It would be premature to come to any conclusion until my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales has had an opportunity of considering the findings of this inquiry.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he proposes to take in relation to actual or prospective increases in car insurance rates made by insurance companies, in view of Her Majesty's Government's policy on price increases.

We are not proposing to take any action on this matter.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will obtain from the National Board for Prices and Incomes a report on the price increases imposed on staff using the crew buffet at Manchester Airport; and if he will make a statement.

I am not aware of any circumstances which would justify the Board of Trade inquiring into prices charged at the crew buffet at Manchester Airport.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions the leaflet, advertising pornographic literature published by the Julian Press, which has been sent unsolicited to many constituents.

This leaflet was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions a year ago. As my predecessor informed the House in answering a Question on 21st July, 1969, the Director is of opinion that the leaflet does not offend against the Obscene Publications Acts or against any other legislation.

asked the Prime Minister which Minister will now be responsible for the appointment of members of regional economic planning councils and boards.

I would refer to my reply to a question by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Small Heath (Mr. Denis Howell) on Tuesday.—[Vol. 803, c. 1363.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his recent meeting with the Secretary of State of the United States Government.

My right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary and I discussed with Mr. Rogers a number of world issues of concern to both our countries. The substance of the talks is of course confidential.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will discuss with the National Economic Development Council at its meeting on 20th July the future of the National Board for Prices and Incomes.

No.

asked the Prime Minister if he will provide a list of the present Government committees and commissions which have still not reported; what are their terms of reference; and when their reports are expected.

This is not at present available and the information could be obtained only at a disproportionate cost to public funds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he proposes to take to check the spread of the giant hogweed.

My right hon. Friend's powers under the Weeds Act, 1959, to prescribe weeds as injurious and to require occupiers of infested land to take action against them are intended primarily to safeguard commercial food production. There are not sufficient grounds to justify using these powers against the giant hogweed since there is no evidence to suggest that it has become more common on agricultural land or is a threat to agriculture.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he proposes to take to stop the rise in the price of fertilisers to farmers.

According to my information fertiliser manufacturers have not increased the list prices of their products. I understand however that certain discounts which were given last year may not have been repeated during 1970 and that some increases in merchants' costs may have been passed on to purchasers. I am confident that manufacturers will not depart from the undertaking given to the previous Minister at the time of the last Annual Price Review without reference to my right hon. Friend.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will order a special inquiry into methods of strengthening the producers' rôle and influence in marketing with a view to closing the gap between prices received by the farmer and those paid by the consumer.

I see no need for such an inquiry at present.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he is satisfied with the operation of the Leasehold Reform Act, 1967; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave on 14th July to the hon. Members for Lewisham, North (Mr. Moyle) and Oxford (Mr. Woodhouse).—[Vol. 1803, c. 1352.]

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he is satisfied that the Alkali Inspectorate has the staff and power necessary to take steps without delay to eliminate atmospheric pollution caused by manufacturing processes in the chemical industry; and if he will make a statement

The Alkali Inspectorate have power to enforce the provisions of the Alkali etc. Works Regulation Act, 1906, that industrialists shall use the best practicable means to minimise and render harmless emissions discharged to atmosphere from registered processes. I regard these powers as adequate. I am at present considering the questiton of the adequacy of staff, but I ought to make it clear that the progressive minimisation of objectionable emissions from chemical and other registered industries is primarily a matter of technological advance and application rather than one of enforcement.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what action he proposes to reduce the level of atmospheric pollution of industrial origin on Teesside.

Teesside is an area naturally somewhat prone to mist, and contains a large amount of industry of various kinds which inevitably dirties the air. There has been considerable improvement and this will continue as new methods are introduced, but I am afraid that there are no specific measures that could produce an immediate improvement short of closing down industry and putting people out of work.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is the number of families on the Liverpool Corporation housing waiting list, the number of houses declared unfit by the Medical Officer of Health and the number of dwellings affected by compulsory purchase orders, redevelopment and modernisation schemes, respectively.

This information is not available in the Department but the hon. Member may obtain it from the City Hall.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he will maintain the practive of all Administrations prior to 1964 of holding planning inquiries in public.

It is the normal practice for local inquiries under the Town and Country Planning Acts to be held in public. Inspectors have power to vary that practice in special circumstances and an inspector's discretion to restrict attendance has been exercised on only two recorded occasions. There has been no change in practice since 1964 and none is intended.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government if he will make a comprehensive review of the basis of charges levied by water companies, and seek to give financial assistance where it is found that exceptionally heavy works programmes are required.

I do not think that such a review is needed. A Sub-Committee of the Central Advisory Water Committee examined the basis of charges made by all water undertakers some few years ago and found that the present system, though imperfect, was better than any other which had been suggested. Authorised maximum charges are reviewed from time to time because changes in them require my right hon. Friend's approval.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his policy regarding the continuance of rate rebate schemes administered by local authorities.

I have no present proposals for changing the rate rebate scheme.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government what is his estimate of the amount of land where planning consent has been granted, but development held up as a result of the Land Commission Act.

There is no source of comprehensive information which would enable the extent of withholding of land, or delaying of development, to be quantified.

asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government whether he proposes to increase the domestic element of the rate support grant for the financial year 1970–71.

The domestic element of the rate support grants for 1970–71, as determined by the Rate Support Grant Order, 1968, may be varied only by an Increase Order. The usual time for consideration of such an order is in the autumn.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will now give a firm date for the beginning of the transmission of B.B.C.2 programmes from the Weardale transmitter.

It is for the B.B.C. which is primarily responsible for the extension of its services to announce firm opening dates. The Corporation tells me that it hopes to start transmitting B.B.C.2 from the Weardale Station in the autumn of this year.

asked the Minister of Technology what representations he has had from the Trades Union Congress to prevent landlords overcharging their tenants for electricity; and if he will introduce legislation to deal with this matter.

asked the Minister of Technology whether he proposes to introduce legislation to enforce maximum prices for the resale of gas and electricity by landlords to tenants.

Interested organisations including the T.U.C. were consulted by the Ministry on 23rd February on a scheme with this objective in mind. The T.U.C.'s reply generally supported the scheme. I will consider what further steps to take when all the replies have been received.

asked the Minister of Technology what proposals he has regarding the status of those parts of Wales that are at present classified as grey or intermediate areas for development area purposes; and if he will make a statement.

We have at present no plans for changes in the status of the intermediate area in South-East Wales.

asked the Minister of Technology what is the number of industrial development certificates issued for the Yorkshire coalfield grey area in each of the last five years and the number and size of factories or other units under construction or in preparation in June, 1970.

The numbers of industrial development certificates issued in the Yorkshire coalfield intermediate area are given in the following table. I regret that the other information asked for is not available.

Industrial Development Certificates issued in the Yorkshire Coalfield Intermediate Area
					Number
1965	…	…	…	…	60
1966	…	…	…	…	58
1967	…	…	…	…	93
1968	…	…	…	…	127
1969	…	…	…	…	143

asked the Minister of Technology if he will take steps to ensure the supply of scrap to the steel industry over the next three years.

Exports of scrap required by the United Kingdom steel industry are prohibited; but it is for the industry to secure their supplies.

asked the Minister of Technology what arrangements have been made by his Department to ensure adequate supplies of nickel and chromium to the steel industry over the next five years.

It is the industry's responsibility to make arrangements to ensure supplies of such materials.

asked the Minister of Technology what capital investment programme has been submitted for his approval by the British Steel Corporation for the Special Steels Division for the years 1970 to 1975.

My right hon. Friend's approval relates to the Corporation's general programme. The provision of information on a particular division is normally a matter for the Corporation to consider.

asked the Minister of Technology what steps he will take to ensure that the number of firms moving to Daventry in conjunction with the housing overspill scheme is sufficient to achieve the population targets for the next 10 years.

In operating the industrial development certificate control we take full account of the need for new jobs to support Daventry's housing programme.

asked the Minister of Technology if he will list all the incentives available to attract industry to the intermediate areas of Yorkshire and Humberside.

The financial incentives available to industry in the intermediate areas and which are not available in the non-assisted areas are:

(i) grants at 25 per cent. (in some cases 35 per cent.) of factory building costs linked to the creation of new employment as in the development areas;

(ii) Government built factories on the same basis as in the development areas;

(iii) the full range of training grants and training assistance and help towards the transfer of key workers as in the development areas.

asked the Minister of Technology which parts of Yorkshire and Humberside are classified as intermediate areas.

The employment exchange areas included within the Yorkshire Coalfield and North Humberside intermediate areas are listed in the Intermediate Areas Order, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the progress being made in the provision of road links between the Midlands and South Wales; and when these developments will be completed.

Yes. The contract for the final section of the New Midlands Road from Usk to Coldra has been let. Work is now starting and is expected to take about two years to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what are his Department's plans regarding the future of Llanelly General Hospital.

The Welsh Hospital Board recently provided a nurse training school and residential accommodation for staff at Llanelly hospital. The board is not at present proceeding with any major building schemes nor has it yet notified me of its firm recommendations for the services to be provided at this hospital in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will publish the categories of reasons which were given to his Department by objectors to the Welsh Rural Development Board.

A full account of the objections is contained in the report of the public local inquiry held at Aberyswyth in 1968.