asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she had with representatives of the teaching profession before withdrawing circular 1065.

I have nothing to add to my speech in the House on 8th July.—[Vol 803, c. 676–88.]

I am glad that the right hon. Lady has now had discussions with members of the teaching profession. May we assume that this will be her future practice instead of rushing in and making statements beforehand? Can she say how many authorities have reacted to her circular and how many will continue with comprehensive reorganisation?

I cannot answer specifically the last question at the moment. I have had a number of representations, some from teaching staffs in schools. In the case of one school I had two petitions, one for and one against the circular.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has for the expansion of nursery education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has for more nursery school provision.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the need for more provision for under-fives and this will be considered together with other claims on resources for education and the other social services. Progress under the urban programme will continue in deprived areas.

Can the hon. Gentleman say what sort of increase is likely with the urban aid programme? In view of the fact that his Department is rather keen on withdrawing circulars and issuing new ones, is he now prepared to withdraw circular 8/60 and to allow local authorities freedom to set up nursery classes where they have the resources and teachers, because many are anxious to exercise this freedom?

The hon. Member will know that over 10,000 places have been approved in the first two phases of the urban aid programme. It would be premature to announce any withdrawal of the circular.

Would the hon. Gentleman not be more forthcoming? The Tory manifesto said:

"We recognise the need for expansion of nursery education."

By how much is it to be expanded, where and when?

The right hon. Gentleman will see as the programme develops.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has received from the Liverpool City Council for the organisation of secondary education in that city.

None, Sir.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that her Conservative colleagues who control the City Council of Liverpool have considered and are considering a system of secondary reorganisation based on a 12-plus examination? Will she save everyone a great deal of time, trouble and unnecessary anxiety by saying that she will not approve any system of reorganisation based on an examination at 12-plus?

I cannot comment on any scheme which I have not received.

On a point of order. In view of the extremely unsatisfactory answer, I beg to give notice that I shall raise the matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will change the basis of a class size of 40 in the building of new primary schools and the conversion of old ones.

Nothing in the Department's Regulations or practice requires new or remodelled primary schools to be designed for classes of 40 pupils.

Is the Secretary of State aware that local authorities having conversions and mergers of schools are working on a basis of 40 children per classroom? Will she instruct local authorities to reduce this number so that more classrooms will be needed for the same number of children?

We are constantly remodelling schools. The building regulations are based on the number of places in the school and nothing in the Regulations requires authorities to design those spaces for a particular number of children in the class. Indeed, they usually have very open plans in these days.

What is the right hon. Lady's target for class size? Does she accept the target which I set out at Swansea on 12th March this year, or does she still adhere to the 1965 National Advisory Council target?

I noticed that the right hon. Gentleman set out a target, but, as usual, he did not provide the money for achieving it.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that the previous Government increased the number of teachers in training by 86 per cent.? By what percentage will she increase the number of teachers?

The limiting factor on class size now is not so much that of teacher supply as of capital resources for the extra space required.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about her policy towards the future of direct grant schools, and the Ursuline Convent School, Ilford, in particular.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement concerning her policy regarding the future of the direct grant schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has for assisting the direct-grant schools; and whether she will make a statement.

It is our expressed intention to encourage the direct grant schools. I am at present in consultation with the Direct Grant Joint Committee. No formal proposals have been received about reorganising the Ursuline Convent School.

Is there any way in which the Minister can give a guarantee that the arrangements which she makes will not be "mucked up" in future by Socialist Governments?

Unfortunately I cannot give that guarantee, but they will not, in my hon. Friend's vernacular, be "mucked up" by me.

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on her statement and warmly welcome it. Will she embrace my view that the direct grant schools do not represent a divisive influence in our society? Therefore, will she do her utmost to encourage the high quality which such establishments engender?

Yes, Sir.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement about her policy on teacher training to enable schools to deal with the misuse of drugs.

Information on drugs usually forms part of health education at colleges of education.

What about information on moral standards?

The Question is about drugs, and it is about this that I am answering.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement of policy on comprehensive schools.

The Government's aim is to ensure that all pupils shall have full opportunities for secondary education suitable to their needs and abilities. Authorities will be freer to determine the shape of secondary provision in their areas.

I congratulate my right hon. Friend on sticking to her principles and her election pledges. What principle will operate if a local authority, contrary to the Ministry's opinion and advice, decides to impose universal comprehensive education in its area?

The question will come to the Department under Section 13 of the 1944 Act and the Minister will then have to decide the question in the light of all the circumstances, including the objections received.

Are not we right in assuming that the Minister's policy is that there should be local freedom in this matter and that she will not impose what one hon. Member opposite called her advice in this matter but will allow local authorities to select as they see best?

The policy is to restore the position under the 1944 Act. That was expressed in the debate on 8th July, when I spelt it out in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement of Government policy on the proposed public lending right.

My noble Friend the Paymaster-General will be giving consideration to this proposal and will make a statement in due course.

I am grateful to my right hon. Friend for that reply. As the Government are concerned about the new poor, and as authors are a considerable portion of that new class, will she give urgent consideration to allowing authors to get a fair return on books which are borrowed from a public library?

I will communicate what my right hon. Friend has said to my noble Friend, and I am sure that he will make a statement as soon as he can.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many grammar schools for boys or girls, or co-educational, in England and Wales continue to accept pupils subject only to the 11-plus examination or later entry, on a selective basis, calculated at the latest convenient date.

In January, 1969 there were 1,098 maintained grammar schools in England and Wales, 361 for boys, 373 for girls and 364 co-educational. All of them admitted pupils on a selective basis.

Will my hon. Friend accept at once that it would be impossible to convert this mass of secondary schools on to a comprehensive—and universally comprehensive—basis in any short length of time and that selectivity will have to continue for the foreseeable future on the basis on which it is conducted at present or with relatively minor changes?

Yes, Sir. I attempted to make the same point in the debate on the Loyal Address, though not so eloquently.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that in a city such as Salford, where unfortunately selection is still practised, some schools at the last examinations had one grammar school pass while others had 60 to 70? Is not this deplorable and, because of this policy, are there not certain children in some areas who are precluded from any further education?

Whatever it may be, that particular matter is not a matter for the Department, and it is worth recalling that it took place under the policy of the last Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will confirm the school building programme already authorised for South Shields; and whether she will invite applications for additional capital works in areas of special social need.

School building programmes which have been approved do not require my right hon. Friend's confirmation. Local authorities were invited in June to submit by September proposals for minor capital works in areas of special social need under Phase III of the Urban Programme.

Will the hon. Gentleman confirm that he intends to see a continuation of the very valuable authorisations for replacement of old schools which we had under the previous Administration and even to expand these in the future?

I hope that I made it clear to the hon. Gentleman that all proposals which have been approved do not require additional confirmation. I think that that gives the assurance which he requires.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement on the proposals for secondary education reorganisation now before her Department.

I understand that the hon. Gentleman intends this Question to refer only to South Shields. I am informed that the authority, at its meeting on 29th July, will decide whether it wishes the Department to consider further the proposals now before it.

Is the right hon. Lady prepared to accept proposals which would set back the whole agreement which has been reached in this town after long discussion and argument and which would result in the acceptance of continued selection at 11-plus?

When the authority has let us know what it wishes to happen, we will consider the proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, whether, in the interests of educational freedom, she will take steps to increase the number of schools which cannot be interfered with by her Department or local authorities.

I believe in a healthy independent sector. Schools which are not maintained by local education authorities are subject to the provisions of Part III of the Education Act, 1944 or of the Direct Grant School Regulations 1959.

May I assume that my right hon. Friend will re-emphasise the desirability of a strong independent sector in the interests of educational advance and experiment? Will she confirm that one child independently educated saves the Treasury about £1,500?

I could not confirm the specific amount, but apart from that the answer is "Yes" to both parts of my hon. Friend's supplementary question.

Will the right hon. Lady investigate those schools where unqualified people are in charge? Will she investigate those which have not been approved as efficient by her Department and particularly those which are not purpose-built?

The schools are inspected by Her Majesty's Inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she will be starting discussions with university representatives about the development of higher education in the 1970s.

The Department is already in consultation with the University Grants Committee about this.

Is my hon. Friend aware that his promptness will be welcomed? Will he confirm that it is not the intention to put excessive strain on universities by urging them to expand too much or too fast?

I am certain that these are factors which must be foremost in the discussions to which I have already referred.

May I ask the Under-Secretary the question which I asked his right hon. Friend and to which I received no reply? By what percentage is it proposed to increase teacher-training over the next five years?

This is one of those matters which is clearly under consultation at present, within one month of the Conservative Government taking office.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to phase out corporal punishment in schools.

In my view, this is properly within the discretion of local education authorities and teachers.

Is the Under-Secretary aware that in almost no other European country is corporal punishment permitted? Is not corporal punishment in schools unnecessary, does it not teach children to approve of physical violence, and does it not often lead to sadistic practices?

I am well aware that this a matter which arouses strong feelings both ways, but I still believe that it is better left in the way I first suggested.

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the unsatisfactory nature of the answer, I shall seek leave to raise this matter on the Adjournment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make proposals for encouraging the provision of playgroups and similar nursery facilities for children under five in those areas where formal nursery schools or classes cannot yet be made available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to encourage the expansion of playgroups and to assure a greater Departmental responsibility for them.

Responsibility for the inspection and registration of playgroups will be a matter for social service departments of local authorities under the Local Authorities (Social Services) Act passed by the last Parliament and for my right hon. Friends the Home Secretary and the Secretary of State for Social Services. But I recognise the educational importance of the work done by playgroups and I hope that, in suitable cases, local authorities will continue to give assistance to them.

In view of the great growth of the playgroup movement, has not the time come to establish some more formal links with the Department of Education and Science, especially in regard to the setting and maintenance of standards of education, rather than leave it so much on health grounds?

My hon. Friend, who is expert in these matters, will understand the problem arising out of his suggestion in relation to the legislation to which I have just drawn attention, but I shall, naturally, look at them in the light of his observations.

Does not the hon. Gentleman agree that, however sympathetic he may be to the playgroup movement, it is difficult to encourage playgroups to develop under his Department if the Department has no responsibility for them? Will he, therefore, again consider sharing responsibility for playgroups with the new Social Services Committee and, in the meantime, issue a circular to local education authorities drawing attention to the needs of the under-fives not covered by nursery schools?

I have gently to remind the hon. Lady that the legislation under which we work was the product of her own Government.

Before I was there.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will restore to local education authorities freedom to carry out mini-minor improvements to schools; and within what limits.

No decision has yet been made about mini-minor works. Local education authorities are free to use their minor works allocations for projects which individually cost up to £30,000.

Would not my hon. Friend agree that to restore "mini-minors" would enable a great many exasperating small defects to be removed from schools which at present have to remain in old buildings, particularly primary schools in rural areas?

I know that my right hon. Friend's mind is in no way closed to suggestions in this respect, but my hon. Friend will recall that few minor projects now need individual approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will publish a White Paper on Government policy towards secondary education and school-building programmes.

Not at present.

Will not the right hon. Lady agree that for those who are trying seriously to get on with the job of accepting responsibility for the education of our children, it is not good enough only to have a thoroughly negative circular from her Department, and that there is urgent need for a clear indication of what positive thinking there is on the things that matter?

That was positive thinking, and the 1944 Act, as amended, is a positive Act under which great advances were made by previous Ministers of Education.

Will my right hon. Friend bear in mind that, in following her admirable policy of restoring freedom of choice to local authorities, it is essential that, where selection is chosen by a local authority, resources be made available to allow it to work properly through the provision of adequate numbers of school places?

Yes, Sir. I am grateful to my hon. Friend for raising that point.

In the Press notice issued after the right hon. Lady met the National Union of Teachers, she was reported as saying that she would consider issuing a further circular to give guidance. Has she now abandoned that?

No, Sir. The answer which I gave to the right hon. Gentleman's hon. Friend was, "Not at present".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she proposes to take following the proposal by the Inner London Education Authority to discontinue contributions towards places at direct grant and independent schools in the London area.

At most of the direct grant schools affected by the decision of the I.L.E.A., other local education authorities have been taking up all or nearly all of the free places which the schools are required to offer as a condition of grant. I am in consultation with the Direct Grant Schools Committee about the future of the direct grant schools.

I am glad that many of the other boroughs, particularly outer London boroughs, are interested in taking up these places, but will my right hon. Friend give an assurance that she will give every possible encouragement, perhaps even by financial contribution, to enable these outer London boroughs to take up the places relinquished as a result of that spiteful and short-sighted decision by the Inner London Education Authority?

That is one of the matters which I am considering with the Direct Grant Schools Committee.

Is the right hon. Lady aware that her answer, her abominable circular and her whole philosophy towards education are a complete negation of the Prime Ministers "One Nation" theme? Will she tell us who is the hypocrite?

You are.

I think that my hon. Friends are answering that question adequately.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will issue a circular to local authorities giving guidance to them on their policy towards financial grants by them to universities.

No, Sir. This is best left to the judgment of the local authorities.

Whatever may be the eccentric excesses of an unrepresentative minority of the student community, does not the hon. Gentleman agree that it is totally ill advised for ill-informed local authorities crudely to try to tie political strings to the financial support which they give to universities?

The hon. Gentleman knows that I share his concern at the link between local authorities and the university or other institutions in their area, but I do insist that this is a matter for their decision.

asked the Secetary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has received from the West Riding County Council for the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines in the Pontefract and Featherstone area.

Last February, the authority withdrew its proposals for reconsideration.

I am not surprised at that. But is the right hon. Lady aware that most of the surrounding area has already gone comprehensive, that Pontefract and Featherstone are desperately wanting the reorganisation of secondary education on comprehensive lines, and that the only thing stopping this is the further school accommodation which is desperately needed, especially in the Featherstone area? Will she, therefore, given an instruction and some extra resources to the West Riding County Council so that it can get on with the school building so necessary in this area in order to let us have comprehensive education?

School building is the limiting factor in these proposals. It was the limiting factor also under Circular 10/65.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science is she will include in the 1971–72 building programme the project for the rebuilding of the Conisbrough Northcliffe Secondary School.

My right hon. Friend is considering a proposal by the West Riding Authority for the improvement and extension of this school for inclusion in the preliminary list of projects which may be expected to start in 1972–73.

Will the hon. Gentleman take into account that this school has suffered subsidence and there are 14 temporary classrooms placed hotch-potch around the area, and will he, therefore, consider bringing the project forward a year earlier to ensure that proper accommodation can be found for the children there?

I could not under take to do that. The school building starts which we inherited for 1971–72 are already fully committed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the hardship caused by increased bus fares to parents of schoolchildren travelling less than two miles to school in the case of children under eight years old and less than three miles in the case of children over eight years old, she will take steps to abolish the limits on free transport for school children, particularly in rural areas.

Local education authorities already have discretionary powers to provide free transport for children living within the statutory walking distances.

I thank my hon. Friend for that reply, but is he aware of the anxiety caused to a growing number of working mothers, especially since the introduction of British Standard Time?

I am aware of the problems and of my hon. Friend's concern about them, which was evidenced in our proceedings last week, but on the specific point which he raises I draw his attention to the latitude which is available.

Will the Government give an undertaking that they will not increase the charges for school transport?

That does not arise out of this Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has for increasing the number of residential school places for educationally subnormal children and maladjusted children.

Schools already under construction will provide 257 residential places for educationally subnormal children in England and Wales. I expect that nearly 400 further places will be provided in buildings to start not later than March, 1972. The equivalent number of places for maladjusted children is 616 and 350.

Will my hon. Friend keep in mind that there is a desperate shortage at national level in both categories, and that the finding of places for both educationally subnormal children and maladjusted children gives local authorities some agonising problems?

It happens to be one of my particular interests, and I know that my hon. Friend has concerned himself much with it, but I can only give as an answer, "Within the terms of the resources available".

Will the hon. Gentleman agree that it is possible to deal with some maladjustment cases by special units attached to existing schools rather than by providing relatively expensive buildings as special schools, and will he look into that?

I am always prepared to look into any possibility in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will approve the request to combine the Mexborough Secondary School with the Mexborough Grammar School so as to form a comprehensive unit.

No such proposal has been made to my right hon. Friend by the West Riding local education authority.

Is the Minister aware that the Mexborough and District Divisional Education Committee has given approval for the combination of the two schools to take place, that the existing secondary school will be with us for a long time and that the reactionary attitude of the West Riding County Council in not allowing the schools to go comprehensive means that there will be children in the Mexborough district condemned to existing secondary school education and not having the opportunity of a better kind of education?

I am aware of the point about the Divisional Executive, but I remind the hon. Gentleman—I think he knows it well—that it has only advisory functions, and no proposal has been received from the authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement about the future entry of Kenya Asians into this country.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply which my hon. Friend the Minister of State gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Portsmouth, West (Mr. Judd) on 9th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 87.]

As we have certain special moral obligations towards Kenya Asians with British passports, and as they would much more easily be absorbed into our society, would my hon. Friend consider asking the Government of India and Pakistan to waive their quota to give Kenya Asians with British passports priority?

As my hon. Friend knows, British passport holders from East Africa are now permitted into this country on the basis of 1,500 special vouchers per year. My right hon. Friend is considering the whole question and will make a statement.

Have not the Government of India stated that they are prepared to waive their quota, for what that is worth, in favour of these very admirable potential immigrants into this country?

All I can say is that my right hon. Friend will take that into account in the consideration which he is giving to the question.

On a point of order. May I ask whether the right hon. Member for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Central (Mr. Edward Short), sitting on the Opposition Front Bench, is shadow for both home and educational affairs? If he is not shadow for home affairs, where is the shadow Home Secretary?

Order. I have always deprecated points of order during Question Time unless they are necessary. That was not a point of order; it was a point of curiosity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now take steps to implement the findings of the Boundary Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to take steps to carry out the findings of the Boundary Commission.

The necessary resolutions were tabled on 9th July and, as my right hon. Friend the Leader of the House said on 16th July, they will be moved as soon as possible after the Summer Recess.

Whilst I welcome the statement that we shall correct one of the anomalies on the last General Election, will my hon. Friend also try to do something about the other unfairness, to those who were disenfranchised by being away on holiday?

That is a matter which will also be considered.

Does the hon. Gentleman agree that the Boundary Commission's figures will possibly be 10 years out of date before the next General Election? Does he also agree that the figures will be even more warped in the big cities with slum clearance, like Manchester, Birmingham or Hull? Does he take that into account, and will he look at the matter again?

The Commission was required to submit reports on the basis of a 10 to 15 year programme. It produced those reports this year, and they should have been implemented by the previous Government. If they had been implemented, the comment which the hon. Gentleman made about discrimination between the sizes of various constituencies would no longer apply.

Will my hon. Friend ask the Boundary Commission to review individual proposals where there have been changed circumstances since the original proposals were made?

The Question dealt with the implementation of the findings of the present Boundary Commission. I think that I am right in saying that there is always power to review cases if they are referred to the Commission.

Is the Minister aware that since the Boundary Commission Reports were produced the franchise has been extended to 18-year-old voters, which has increased the electorate by well over three million? Therefore, will he ask the Boundary Commissioners to look again at their proposals so that that may be taken into account well before the next General Election?

The fact stated by the hon. Gentleman has extended still further the discrepancy between existing constituencies and is still greater justification for carrying out the proposals of the present Boundary Commission, as we intend to do immediately after the Summer Recess.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to release the site of Pentonville Prison to the Islington borough for building purposes.

My right hon. Friend could not contemplate doing so until the supply of prison places in London and the South East is more nearly in line with the need.

Will the hon. Gentleman recognise that at present Islington is carrying a very heavy burden by having two 12-acre prisons on its territory at a time when it is desperately short of new land for house-building? Will he do his utmost to speed the time when Pentonville Prison can be re-sited, particularly since a decision has apparently been made that Holloway prison will be rebuilt on its present site?

We are well aware of the acute housing problems in Islington and that there are two prisons in the Borough. It would be raising false hopes if I suggested that we could give up Pentonville in the near future, but we shall consider this in long-term planning when the supply of prison places in London and the South-East is more nearly in line with the needs of the Prison Department, which I am sure the hon. Gentleman will accept are very grave.

May I ask two questions?—[HON. MEMBERS: "No"] First, will my hon. Friend pay particular regard to any questions on prisons from someone with the name "Cunningham"?—[HON. MEMBERS: "Why?"] Second, will my hon. Friend look into the totally ridiculous financial provisions regarding the reversion of prison sites to local authorities? Those financial provisions are quite out of date in the modern world.

If I may answer my hon. Friend's second question, I am aware that Section 38 of the Prison Act gives local authorities reversionary rights on the sites of certain prisons at prices fixed when they were first taken over in 1887. I am advised that that does not apply to Pentonville.

On a point of order. The point of the first supplementary question of the hon. and learned Member for Darwen (Mr. Fletcher-Cooke) was quite lost on me. I wonder whether it was meant to be insulting to my hon. Friend the Member for Islington, South-West (Mr. George Cunningham). Could we have the purport of the question which was asked and not answered by the Minister?

Order. I share the hon. Gentleman's ignorance of the meaning of the first part of the hon. and learned Gentleman's supplementary Question.

On a point of order. One of the most distinguished names in the history of the administration of prisons is that of Sir Andrew Cunningham, as I think the hon. Gentleman would admit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many immigrants during the past five years have been recommended for deportation by the appropriate court on conviction of a criminal offence; and how many of them have been in fact deported.

During the five years ended 31st December, 1969 the courts recommended the deportation of 3,015 aliens, Commonwealth and Irish citizens, of whom 1,747 were deported.

Will my hon. Friend give an assurance that under this Administration more attention will be paid to the views of the judges, who are possibly in the best possible position to assess the merits of the cases before them, rather than the Administration itself?

I will say only that in many cases deportation orders were not carried out because of technical reasons and because they were wrongly framed.

What useful purpose could possibly be served by obtaining this information in isolation?

That is a matter for my hon. and learned Friend who put down the Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to receive the report of his committee of experts in regard to possible health hazards to users of enzyme washing powders.

The first inquiries are inconclusive and a wider investigation is to be made during the next six months.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that there is considerable public anxiety about the incidence of dermatitis arising from the use of these powders? Would he consider requiring some kind of warning to be printed on the packet?

Certainly, if that is proved to be the case. However, at the moment we do not have sufficient information and we need a great deal more. I will bear the suggestion in mind.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that a former Prime Minister, Mr. Harold Macmillan, set up a Committee in 1953 which reported on the effect on a human being of the use of washing powders? Why has that not been followed up?

Investigations are now going on, but the composition of washing powders has changed a great deal since the time the hon. Gentleman mentions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to ensure that colours used in cosmetics conform to a permitted list which has been approved by his technical advisers.

I have no evidence that a general control of this kind is necessary. The trade associations concerned will shortly be publishing a code of practice giving guidance on the safety of ingredients used in cosmetics and I have no doubt that manufacturers generally will comply with it.

Are any of the colourants which are banned from food being used in lipstick and other cosmetics? If so, what action is being taken against abuses and to protect the public?

I understand that the hon. Lady asked a similar Question earlier this year. We are looking into this matter. She was concerned with the substance called Ponceau MX. Inquiries are being made and I will inform the hon. Lady of their outcome.

rose—

Order. One Member, one question.

Will my hon. Friend consider recommending cutting out bright red?

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to provide remand facilities for women in the Midlands.

A search is being made for a building which could house women on remand in secure hostel conditions. A number of buildings have been considered but so far none has been found which is suitable or could be readily converted for this purpose.

Does my hon. Friend realise that this is an urgent matter? It is costing a great deal of money to escort these unfortunate women and they are being caused much disquiet and discomfort.

I appreciate that, but there are many other ways to spend money on the heavy overcrowding in the prison service which we have inherited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many police were recruited to the constabularies of England and Wales in each of the last 10 years; and what was the total strength of the police forces in each of these years.

I will, with permission, circulate the information in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

Will the hon. Gentleman agree that in the last five years there has been a considerable increase in the strength of constabularies in England and Wales? Will he also say what proposals the Government now have to maintain the improvement which occurred under the Labour Administration?

There has been an improvement, but police forces generally are well below authorised establishment. We are considering as a matter of urgency what further measures may be taken.

Did not the Labour Administration deliberately cut recruiting to the police forces, even though there was sufficient demand for recruiting? Will my hon. Friend now take all steps in his power to increase the recruiting ability of the police forces?

My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Recruiting for the police forces suffered considerably because of the artificial restriction on recruiting imposed by the Labour Administration. Fortunately, recruiting has now recovered from that.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what requests he has received to amend the Representation of the People Act, 1969, Section 15; and what reply he has sent.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations; and provisions for amending the qualifications for election to and membership of local authorities are contained in the Local Government (Qualification of Councillors) Bill being introduced today.

Is the hon. Gentleman aware that any legislation which changed the present situation and reverted to the arrangement by which people were entitled to vote for and sit on local authorities in spite of non-residence would be regarded as a contradiction of democratic principles? In view of that, is he prepared to assure the House that, in spite of the considerable pressures to which he has been subjected by a vocal but totally non-representative minority, he will not atttempt to take such action?

The hon. Gentleman had better await the terms of the Bill, which he will be able to see shortly. He will find that it incorporates not only the principle of the ownership or occupation of property as a qualification, but the Maud recommendation giving the right to stand for election if a person's principal place of work is in the area.

asked the Prime Minister if he will take steps to co-ordinate the functions of the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Housing and Local Government.

The machinery of Government in this area is under review.

During the period of this review—and we do not know how long it will take—will the Prime Minister do something about the lack of co-ordination between regional planning councils and the joint conferences of local authorities?

I have already said that the results of the review will be announced in the autumn, but I shall certainly attend to the points which the hon. Gentleman mentioned.

asked the Prime Minister whether he proposes to participate in the negotiations on proposed entry of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community.

I would refer to my reply to a Question by the right hon. Member for Kettering (Sir G. de Freitas) on Tuesday.—[Vol. 804, c. 96.]

Would the Prime Minister repeat that reply, because I am not fully aware of it? In any case, in view of his vast experience of failure in this field, will he make sure that he goes to Brussels and has another go? Will he understand that the housewives of this country, to whom he owes his present position more than to anybody else, will not tolerate the subsidisation by them of inefficient, small, French peasant farmers?

I am sorry that the hon. Gentleman has difficulty in recalling events as recent as last Tuesday.

I said in that reply that negotiations would be carried on by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and that I did not propose to take part in them myself.

I thank the hon. Gentleman for his compliments, but my experience is that it is a better arrangement that negotiators should be allowed to carry on negotiations unimpeded by any colleagues, and I therefore do not propose to go to Brussels myself.

In view of the importance of agriculture and food, which has been emphasised in the negotiations, will the Prime Minister say whether the views of his right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, in an interview reported in the Daily Express recently, represent the Government's views on the C.A.P.?

My right hon. Friend expressed those views very clearly. In reading that article, it is important to distinguish between the views of my right hon. Friend and the views of the journalist who wrote the rest of the article.

asked the Prime Minister if he will include the Minister of Overseas Development in the Cabinet.

asked the Prime Minister if he will give an assurance that he will retain the Ministry of Overseas Development as a separate Department.

No, Sir. I would refer to my reply to a Question by the hon. Member for Hackney, Central (Mr. Clinton Davis) on 14th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 185.]

Is the Prime Minister aware that this suggestion has come from other quarters where there is no possibility of any bias being attached to the suggestion? Would he not agree that if he as Prime Minister were to make this announcement, it would establish confidence not only in his Government's intentions but among people overseas that they will be involved in overseas aid under his Administration?

I do not accept that the effectiveness of overseas aid, let alone the quantity, depends on the Minister being in the Cabinet. In any case, I do not want to prejudge the review of the organisation, the results of which I shall announce in October.

With regard to the second Question, is my right hon. Friend aware that what matters is not so much the maintenance of a separate Ministry of Overseas Development, although that Department has served the nation exceedingly well by any yardstick, but that the concentration of expertise that it represents should not be dispersed? Is he further aware that what really matters, too, is the Government's will to have a sensible, balanced, expanding, well-thought-out aid programme and that it is upon that test that the Government will be judged?

I agree with my hon. Friend on both points. I would only add to the last one that it depends on what private investment it is possible to get into the developing countries and the sort of reception which the developing countries will give to those who want to invest in them.

asked the Prime Minister what are to be the cost limitations imposed upon the answering of Questions by Ministers; and by whom such limitations can be varied in individual cases.

There has been no change in the existing practice under which Ministers consider in individual cases whether the cost of preparing the Answer would be disproportionate.