asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what further measures have been introduced at London Airport and Gatwick to counter hijacking following the three successful hijack attempts by Palestinians in September.

I have been asked to reply.The Government's prime aim has been to take all steps possible to prevent hijackers from boarding aircraft, and every effort has been made to achieve this object and to improve security arrangements generally. For obvious reasons it would be inadvisable to describe these measures in detail. But I will, with permission, circulate in the OFFICIAL REPORT a statement outlining in general terms the security precautions which have been taken at British airports and by British airlines.Following is the statement:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many deaths on the roads in the United Kingdom were caused by jack-knifing of articulated vehicles; and what proportion this was of the total in the years 1968 and 1969.

The information is not available in exactly the form requested.In Great Britain in 1969, the only full year for which figures are available, 44 articulated vehicles jack-knifed in fatal accidents, which was less than ½ per cent. of all fatal accident involvements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he now has for the erection of safety barriers on motorways and dual carriageways.

I propose to complete the installation of central reserve safety fences on M1 up to Catthorpe by the end of 1971, and on 1,000 miles of motorway by 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now arrange the construction of a safety barrier on the M6 motorway.

Programming of the busiest stretches is in hand.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the mileage of motorways in Great Britain with a crash barrier along the central reservation compares with that in France, Germany, Italy and the United States, according to information available to him from international sources.

At 31st March, 1970 there were 66 miles of central reserve safety fences on motorways in England; this figure does not include safety fences at bridge piers or similar obstructions.Information from abroad is not generally available on the mileage laid but the criteria used in different countries results in the very extensive provision of

safety fences. Criteria with some information on lengths laid are given below:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he has not authorised more pedestrian signs showing when it is safe for pedestrians to use the pedestrian crossings.

I assume my hon. Friend is referring to the new Pelican crossings. It is up to local authorities to make proposals in the first instance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has yet made a decision on a national formula for the reimbursing of fares for retirement pensioners to private companies where there are no local authority services available for concessionary fares.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South-West (Mr. Tom Boardman) today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) what studies he has made of the social problems arising from application for closures of passenger rail services; and if he will make a statement;(2) what studies he has made of the costing of British Railways on proposed passenger rail closures; and if he will make a statement;(3) what studies he has made on additional road accidents arising from further traffic on proposed closure of passenger rail services; and if he will make a statement;(4) what studies he has made of changing population in the areas where British Railways are applying to close passenger services; and if he will make a statement.

All the factors to which the hon. Member draws attention are studied in relation to each individual proposal to withdraw a rail passenger service.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he has made of the question of seeking powers to re-open closed passenger rail services; and if he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the indifferent roads linking the industrial area of Bolton with Merseyside conurbation and the Port of Liverpool, he will now give urgent consideration to including Route 225 in the road programme, taking into consideration the provision already made for its intersection with both M6 and M61.

There is at present insufficient justification for providing this route as a trunk road but if the local authority wishes to put it forward as a candidate for inclusion in the principal road preparation list we shall, of course, consider it. I cannot say what the result would be.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the amount of money lost to the Revenue in the case of the 76,667 convictions in 1969 for keeping unlicensed vehicles on the road; in how many of these 76,667 cases of convictions was the maximum penalty of five times the annual rate of duty plus the amount of back duty imposed; and what was the average penalty paid in these cases.

Loss of revenue does not arise on conviction for unlicensed use of a vehicle as the court is required to order payment of back duty claimed by the licensing authority. The number of cases in which the maximum penalty was imposed could not be ascertained without disproportionate time and effort. I understand from my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary that the average penalty was£7 11s. 6d.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the inability of the local authorities and the police to enforce the law regarding unlicensed road vehicles, he will seek powers to appoint officers from his own Department to carry out this task.

As I told the hon. Member today, local licensing authorities and the police are already active, within the limits of available manpower, in enforcing vehicle excise law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is now in a position to make a further statement about the future of carriers' licensing.

An Order will shortly be laid before the House to abolish the remnant of carriers' licensing affecting large goods vehicles as from 1st December, 1970. Before reaching this decision, I consulted the British Railways Board along with other interested parties, and I have taken into account the anxieties they feel that the abolition of carriers' licensing will affect their carryings of freight.The Order will also provide for bringing into the operators' licensing system on 30th November, 1970, those vehicles belonging to the Post Office Corporation, and on 1st March, 1971, those farmers' vehicles licensed under the F-excise tax system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what improvements are proposed for the A21 road between Tonbridge bypass and Hastings.

The following improvements are proposed by the highway authorities responsible for A21 (a principal road):

Flimwell Diversion—Work planned to start in 1972.

Vinehall to Paygate—Being prepared for possible programming within the next 5 years.

Northern connection of proposed Hastings spine road to A21 or widening parts of Sedlescombe Road North—Being prepared for possible programming within the next 5 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proportion of the increase in expenditure on roads and public lighting between 1968–69 and 1973–74 forecast in the White Paper, Public Expenditure 1968–69 to 1973–74, Command Paper No. 4234, is expected to be due to demographic factors and what proportion to other factors.

Expenditure on roads and public lighting is determined by a variety of considerations including the present state of the roads, the traffic on them and its likely growth, and the economic benefits to be obtained from road improvements through savings in journey time and reduced accidents. It is not possible to isolate within these considerations the proportion due to demographic factors.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what future action he proposes to take to ensure that people living in areas to be affected by motorway development are to be made fully conversant with any such development that will affect their homes and local amenities.

I am considering introducing arrangements that will give more extensive publicity to road proposals at the time they are published in draft Orders or Schemes under the Highways Act, with a view to alerting those concerned and giving them a better opportunity to find out what is proposed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will discontinue, on routes intended to be developed as motorways, the practice of rebuilding sections of such routes as all-purpose roads thereby increasing both the danger of accidents and the eventual cost of rebuilding as a motorway.

Each case is considered on its merits with regard both to the standard and timing of improvements. Where practicable, improvements are designed for future incorporation into planned motorway or other comprehensive schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a grant towards the provision of Class A lighting through Madeley Village, North Staffordshire.

Application for grant has been made by the highway authority, Staffordshire County Council. A Class A lighting scheme, including this length of the A525 through Madeley Village, is in its preparatory stages. Approval will be considered when the highway authority has confirmed the details of the scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the recommended standard for the provision of recreational open space per head of population.

There is no recommended standard for this but the Sports Council, in its publication "Planning for Sport", recommended methods by which local authorities can assess their own sports requirements. I will send the hon. Member a copy.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what authority he directs local authorities to improve recreational provision.

My right hon. Friend has no statutory powers to give local authorities directions in this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has reached any conclusions on the prevention of accidents in fog on motorways, especially on the possibility of fitting reflectors between the lanes, as suggested to his Department on 27th January, 1970, following the accidents on M.1 in December, 1969.

Reflecting studs are already fitted between lanes. Observance of the new motorway signals will also help, but the best safeguard of all is careful driving, to match the conditions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the planners' blight that the area has endured for many years, and of the insecurity and uncertainty felt by residents over recent months, when he will announce his findings on the Hawley Road No. 1 Compulsory Purchase Order.

My right hon. Friend hopes to be able to announce his decision shortly on the Hawley Road Open Space Compulsory Purchase Order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to reduce the costs of travel in London.

My aim in London as elsewhere is to encourage the development of an economic and efficient transportation system. This involves far more than simply reducing travel costs.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what country parks and picnic sites, respectively, have been approved for grant aid.

Grant under the Countryside Act 1968 has been approved for the following country parks and picnic sites in England and Wales:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give an assurance that Her Majesty's Government will refrain from paying terminal gratuities to the chairmen and members of the Land Commission and the National Board for Prices and Incomes when these are wound up.

I must ask the hon. Member to await the legislation to dissolve the Land Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on a second survey and census of the Pennine Way.

The Countryside Commission is at present discussing with the local authorities concerned plans for carrying out in 1971 a survey and census of the Pennine Way in order to obtain information about the use made of the route, the types of users and their attitude to the accommodation and other facilities available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give additional financial assistance towards the improvement of unadopted roads.

No. Local authorities already have power to contribute to the cost of private street works and also, in case of hardship, to allow a frontager to spread payment of his street works charges over a period of not more than 30 years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the financial arrangements agreed for dealing with the pollution of the River Tyne will be concluded.

As my hon. Friend is aware, the Tyneside Joint Sewerage Board's applications for planning permission and loan sanction constitute a complex scheme but we hope to issue a decision very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action is being taken to reduce the level of unemployment in the construction industry.

The Government have already had talks with the local authority associations on land release, abolished the import deposit scheme, made tax reductions and are introducing a new system of depreciation allowances.The Government believe that these measures will help to stimulate demand in the industry and alleviate unemployment. There are already signs that this is happening. Building society advances are already at a much higher level than they were under the previous Administration.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is satisfied with security in respect of House of Commons notepaper and envelopes; and if he will make a statement.

Notepaper and envelopes are supplied in bulk by the Serjeant at Arms' Stores only to Members and their secretaries. It is therefore up to each Member to make sure that no unofficial use is made of such paper. Although there is some risk of pilferage from the racks in the House, the authori- ties of the House are satisfied that there is no widespread abuse.

asked the Lord President of the Council what new security measures he intends to take in the House of Commons in the light of the incident which occurred on Thursday, 23rd July.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply today to my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Mudd).

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will now make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's proposals for the future of the Estimates Committee.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to the questions from the hon. Members for Ash-field (Mr. Marquand) and Ashton-under-Lyne (Mr. Sheldon).

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the Government will now refer the question of Members of Parliament's salaries to the National Board for Prices and Incomes or to another independent authority for consideration.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will propose a change in the rate of Members' car allowance to bring this into line with the rates payable to members of local authorities.

The Members' car allowance has been reviewed in the light of current operating costs, and the Government propose that the present allowance of 6d. a mile should be increased to 1s. a mile. This would substantially achieve what my right hon. and learned Friend seeks. The Resolution required to give effect to this proposal will be brought before the House as soon as possible.

asked the Lord President of the Council in view of the fact that civil servants on salary scales above, below and on a par with those paid to Members of Parliament are paid up to 11¼d. per mile car allowance when using their private cars on state business whereas Members of Parliament are allowed to claim 6d. per mile, whether he will seek to adjust the latter to a figure nearer to 11¼d.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why the daily OFFICIAL REPORT of House of Commons Parliamentary Debates, Hansard, is now not being delivered to the homes of hon. Members in London before noon; and if he will take steps to see that it is delivered in future not later than 8 a.m. by, if necessary, an agency other than the Post Office.

By the joint effort of St. Stephen's Parliamentary Press and the Post Office, Members living in the London postal areas normally receive their copies of Commons HANSARD between 7.15 and 9.15 a.m. There has so far as I am aware been no change in this service over recent years except on occasions when there have been unavoidable delays in over-night printing.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proposals he has to terminate or modify current voluntary restraints on overseas portfolio investment in the sterling area.

We shall consider these matters as the situation allows.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will improve the adhesives on the official On Her Majesty's Service envelopes or supply self-adhesive envelopes.

The adhesives on O.H.M.S. envelopes are up to commercial standards and generally satisfactory in use. However, I am having recent complaints investigated. If other hon. Members have evidence of defective adhesive on O.H.M.S. envelopes perhaps they would write to me. Self-sealing envelopes are supplied when the extra cost can be justified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of revenue raised by gaming machine holiday season licences for the 1970 holiday season.

About£821,000.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue was raised by purchase tax from coin-operated gaming and amusement machines during the financial years 1968–69 and 1969–70.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many miners and building workers are registered as unemployed in the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges.

In the area covered by the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges there were, at 12th October, 381 persons registered as unemployed who last worked in coalmining and 250 who last worked in the construction industry. These figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware of the threatened strike on 11th November by more than 100,000 shipbuilding and engineering workers in Glasgow and the West of Scotland against the number of redundancies proposed in the area; and what steps he proposes to avert this stoppage of work.

I understand that a token one-day strike of engineering and shipbuilding workers in Glasgow and the West of Scotland has been called for 11th November as a protest against redundancies recently declared in the area. The Government are continuing their efforts in consultation with local authorities to introduce new industry to the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he intends to take to strengthen consumer protection following the publication of the Consumer Council's Report, "Justice out of Reach".

The recommendation in this report was that informal small claims courts should be attached to the county courts. That is a matter for my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to ensure that consumer produce is sold in recognisable quantities such as fractions or multiples of the pound avoirdupois.

Most basic foodstuffs are already required to be packed in such sizes by the Weights and Measures Act 1963. It seems undesirable to introduce new prescribed quantity requirements in advance of metrication.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give loan sanction for the extension of the terminal apron and the provision of a parallel taxiway at the Newcastle Airport.

I cannot sponsor this at present; the Airport Committee has, however, submitted a revised scheme and this is now being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement about his proposals for the restriction of night jet aircraft flights into and out of London Airport for 1971.

Night jet aircraft movements at Heathrow will be restricted to 3,500 between the hours of 11.30 p.m. and 06.00 a.m. during the period from 1st April to 31st October, 1971. This limit has remained unchanged for six years despite growing demand and fewer non-jet flights.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total number of motor vehicles exported in the period January, 1965 to January, 1970 and the period January, 1961 to January, 1965.

Exports of complete new passenger and commercial vehicles (excluding motor cycles, three-wheeled vehicles, dumpers and dump-trucks) in the five years 1965–69 and the four years 1961–64 were respectively 3,766,000 and 2,590,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what percentage of the motor vehicle industry is owned by United States companies.

United States companies own about one-third of the net assets of the industry, defined as including businesses mainly engaged in manufacturing cars, commercial vehicles, caravans, motor bodies, engines, and certain other parts and accessories.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is satisfied that the provisions of the Electricity Act 1947, which referred to the obligation of electricity boards to secure, so far as is practicable, the development, extension to rural areas and cheapening of supplies of electricity, are being satisfactorily carried out.

Yes. Ninety-seven per cent. of the farms in England and Wales now receive a public supply of electricity. Since 1948 average electricity prices have risen by 66 per cent. while general retail prices have risen by 154 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will bring in legislation to establish a uniform tariff for the supply of electricity in Great Britain.

No; a completely uniform tariff would be incompatible with area boards' continued responsibility for their individual financial performance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish the report of the inspectors appointed to investigate the affairs of the Pinnock Finance Company (Great Britain) Limited.

I will decide as soon as possible whether or not to publish the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to publish the report of his inspectors into the affairs of the Pinnock and Associated Companies; and whether he will make a statement on what action he proposes to take in the light of these investigations.

I will decide as soon as possible whether or not to publish the report.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has for loans, grants and industrial development certificates policy for industrial development in the Northern Region; what changes have been made in these policies since 18th June; and to what extent the total aid differs from that which existed before June, 1970.

I would refer the hon. Member to the statement made by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer yesterday about the Government's proposals for investment incentives. I can assure him that industrial development certificates will continue to be freely available in the Northern Region.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, whether he will now give the costs to his Department of all items of expenditure incurred with regard to the Bloom inquiry, prior to and up to the date of the commencement of legal proceedings.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which my hon. Friend gave to him on 15th July.—[Vol. 803, c. 212–13.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total area of factory floor space in respect of which industrial development certificates have been issued in Wales since 18th June, 1970; and what was the total area in respect of which industrial development certificates were issued in Wales in 1969.

Sixty-three industrial development certificates were issued in Wales during the period 1st July, 1970 to 30th September, 1970 for 1·6 million square feet. During 1969, 315 certificates were issued in Wales for 8·3 million square feet. I regret that figures from 18th June are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the total amount of investment grants and building grants, respectively, paid to developers in Wales since 18th June, 1970; and what were the respective totals of such grants paid to developers in Wales in 1969.

Payments of investment grant to claimants in Wales between 19th June and 16th October, 1970 were£15·4 million and in 1969 were£45·7 million. Payments of building grant in Wales between 18th June and 24th October were£1 million and in 1969 were£1·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the report of the Monopolies Commission on restrictive practices in relation to the supply of professional services to be published; and whether he will make a statement.

The report was published this morning. The Commission has assembled in this report a wide range of factual information about the professions, as well as a body of general considerations which it regards as relevant to the assessment of the merits of those professional practices which were referred to it. It takes the view that, without more investigation than could be undertaken in a general inquiry of the sort it was asked to make, it would not be possible to say how far the practices of any particular profession were justifiable in the light of those considerations. It has not, therefore, reached a final judgment either upon the specific practices of any profession or on the general effect of the practices on the public interest.The Commission finds that there is no reason to suppose that all restrictions at present operated by professional bodies are fully justifiable by reference to the considerations it has set out. The Commission makes two recommendations to ensure that those restrictions which operate against the public interest are identified. First, it thinks that the professions themselves should examine their restrictive practices in the light of the report with a view to abolishing or amending them, as necessary. Secondly, in order to supplement the guidance given in the report about the desirability of specific types of restriction, it suggests that the Department responsible should refer in close succession to the Monopolies Commission or its successor body the supply of particular professional services in which restrictive practices are known to prevail so that the Government could have power to deal by Order with any which might be found to be against the public interest.I welcome the report not only as a significant contribution to thinking about the economic consequences of those professional practices with which it deals specifically, but also because its observations about the criteria, both economic and otherwise, to be used in assessing the balance of advantage to the public interest may well be relevant to collective restraints on the provision of services in general.With regard to the Commission's two specific recommendations, I shall be writing to all the professional associations which gave evidence to the Commission, or which are mentioned in the report, inviting them to re-examine their professional practices in the light of its findings and to let me know within six months of any modifications they are proposing to make to them in consequence. When I have received the observations of the professions I shall decide what further action should be taken on the Commision's other recommendation that I should make references of particular professional services to the Monopolies Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how he proposes to implement changes in assistance to industry under the Local Employment Acts announced in the White Paper on Investment Incentives.

The White Paper on Investment Incentives (Cmnd. 4516) published yesterday announced a number of steps which the Government intend to take to provide further assistance under the Local Employment Acts, including their intention to seek powers to increase the rates of building grant in the development areas. It is proposed in these areas to raise the normal rate from 25 per cent. to 35 per cent. of the eligible expenditure and the higher rate (which is available in special circumstances) from 35 per cent. to 45 per cent. There will be no change in the rates in the intermediate areas.The increased building grants and other additional assistance will not be available for proejcts which were started before yesterday. Subject to this, effect will be given, where appropriate, in offers made from now on to the intention to use more extensively the power to make loans and to the increase in the administrative limits on the assistance made available in relation to the jobs to be provided.The increase in the rates of building grant will require legislation. No offers or payments of grant at the new rates can be made until this legislation is in force. It is, however, intended, subject to the terms of the legislation, that development area projects for which a building grant is offered from now on or has already been offered should be able to benefit from the new rates, provided that none of the work which is eligible for grant was started before yesterday or, in the case of the purchase of a new building, other than one constructed for occupation by the applicant or an associated company, the contract to purchase was not made before yesterday. For this purpose the start of work means the start of any work on the site, if the cost of that work would fall to be treated as part of the expenditure eligible for building grant.There will be a change in the basis of calculation of operational grants in the special development areas, following the withdrawal of investment grants, which enter into the preesnt calculation. Operational grants offered in future will be calculated on the basis of 20 per cent. of the eligible wage and salary costs of the project during the first three years of operation, subject to a limit in cases where the employment to be provided does not justify a grant of the full amount.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether he will make a statement on the United Nations Economic and Scientific Co-operation Conference of Ministers of the European Member States responsible for science policy; and what steps are being taken to implement its recommendations.

Fewer than half the 54 recommendations adopted by the conference were addressed to Member States. Most of those that came within the responsibility of my Department are in line with our present policy. We are considering what further action if any is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she proposes to take regarding the recommendations in the report on the Youth Service, Youth and Community in the 70s.

The Government will announce their views on the development of youth work in due course, taking into account the recommendations of this interesting Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if he will state the names of the members currently serving upon the Youth Service Development Council and the dates of the meetings which the council has held this year.

The Members of the Youth Service Development Council are listed on page iv of the Y.S.D.C. Report "Youth and Community Work in the 70s". The Chairmanship is vacant. The Council met on 15th-16th March, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to require companies which have laid criminal charges against customers suspected of stealing from their shops to pay the legal costs of customers when acquitted and publicly to apologise through newspaper advertisements for their mistake.

No. The Costs in Criminal Cases Act, 1952, already empowers a court, on dismissal of an information, to make such order as to costs to be paid by the prosecutor to the defendant as it thinks just and reasonable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will institute an inquiry into the organisation and methods of private security organisations, with special reference to the security methods used by retail stores.

No. Any use of unlawful security methods would be a matter for the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will require the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis to include in his annual report an account of his investigations into the circumstances of the charging of Mrs. Molly Horne, acquitted of stealing from a store in Romford on Friday, 10th April, 1970.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek to change the designation of Her Majesty's Prisons to that of State Prisons.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a further statement concerning the future of British Standard Time.

The results of the Government's inquiry into the effects of British Standard Time are set out in the White Paper on the Review of British Standard Time published today. The Government are not seeking to influence the final decision in any way, and the paper presents the arguments both for and against the new time system without making any recommendation whether or not it should be retained. To enable hon. Members to debate this matter fully, draft orders making British Standard Time permanent will shortly be laid before both Houses of Parliament in accordance with Section 4 of the British Standard Time Act, 1968 and it will then be for Parliament to decide, on a free vote taken in the light of the information contained in the White Paper, whether these orders should be approved or rejected.

asked the Prime Minister what change has been made in the composition of the United Kingdom delegation to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Lord Walston has been appointed a member of the United Kingdom delegation to the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe in the place of the right hon. The Lord Listowel.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the Government have now reached conclusions on the recommendations of the Committee on Herbage Seed Supplies; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. After careful thought and discussion with organisations representing the United Kingdom herbage seed industry, the Government have decided not to take action on the recommendations of the Committee on Herbage Seed Supplies at the present time. Many of these would require statutory intervention but in the Government's view fresh legislation is not in present circumstances necessary or appropriate for dealing with the problems of this industry.The Government's main objective for the herbage seed industry is that it should be capable of providing our grass farmers with assured supplies from home and abroad of good quality seed, at reasonable prices, of varieties tested under British conditions. In the Government's view this aim can best be achieved by voluntary action initiated by the industry and within the framework of the present law. We have undertaken to discuss with its representatives how such action might be promoted. I would emphasis that a viable home seed production industry producing what the market needs must continue to play an important rôle.The Government will keep the position of the industry, including home seed production, under close review in the light of the negotiations now going on for entry into the European Economic Community, of developments within the Community and of other factors which may affect the industry's future.I would like to take this opportunity of thanking Lord Donaldson and his colleagues publicly for their valuable work in surveying and analysing the problems of this small but important industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement about the differential suffered by the Northern Ireland farmer in the cost of feedingstuffs in comparison with his English counterparts.

My right hon. Friend and I understand that the Northern Ireland Government are taking the differential into account in their Development Programme for 1970–75.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will now make a statement on the United Kingdom military commitment in the Far East.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy 1970 (Cmnd. 4521) published today and to the statement which I subsequently made in the House.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what were the circumstances which led to the opening of a complaints centre in Tennent Street, Royal Ulster Constabulary Station, Shankill Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland; how many complaints were received; and by whom were these investigated.

Complaints were made about the handling by the Security Forces of the riots which occurred in the Shankill district of Belfast between 26th and 28th September. A centre to record and investigate the complaints was opened and manned jointly by the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the Royal Military Police. Two hundred and seventeen complainants recorded statements, of which 12 were later retracted. Investigations are being carried out by the Special Investigation Branch of the Royal Military Police and by the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why the Army authorities did not appoint a representative to attend an investigating inquiry set up by the people of the Shankill Road, Belfast, and presided over by a former Speaker of the House of Commons, Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Government decided that no official inquiry was to be held into the Shankill disturbances of 26th to 28th September. It was therefore inappropriate for the Army to take part in an unofficial inquiry.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what restrictions are applied by his Department in relation to arms supplied to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries involved in colonial wars.

The supply of arms to N.A.T.O. countries, as to other countries, is subject to approval by Her Majesty's Government of export licence applications. Each application is considered on its merits in the light of the relevant political, economic, security and strategic considerations.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many troops he now estimates will remain in the Far East by the end of 1970; and how many are currently serving in Northern Ireland, respectively.

The Regular British Army in the Far East at September, 1970, including Royal Marines and Gurkhas, totalled about 17,000. As the run-down proceeds this number will decrease progressively. Some 7,000 Regular soldiers and Royal Marines are at present serving in Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the present position of the proposal to join with Italy and Germany to build a multi-rôle combat aircraft; and if he will make a statement.

The first major development phase which we launched with our German partners in July is now under way. I am glad to say that the Italian Government have decided to join in these arrangements.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future of Royal Naval Air Station, Brawdy, in Pembrokeshire.

It was announced in March that when the Royal Naval Air Station at Brawdy closed in April, 1971 the R.A.F. helicopter school would be moved there from Tern Hill in Shropshire. As a result of the decision announced in the 1970 Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy (Cmnd. 4521) to increase the number of Jaguar front-line aircraft a new requirement has arisen to use Brawdy for the Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit when that unit forms in the latter part of 1972. The move of the helicopter school will therefore be cancelled.The station will operate on a reduced basis with some reduction in civilian employment at the airfield until the Operational Conversion Unit forms, but eventually there will be more servicemen and significantly more civilian jobs at Brawdy than would have been provided by the helicopter school.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will extend the opportunities for Service personnel of all ranks to attend colleges of further education.

The opportunities are many and varied. If my hon. Friend has a particular point in mind I shall be glad if he will write to me.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on his policy for recruitment to the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

Recruits who, on enlistment, express a preference for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders will be noted for service with the Regiment, subject to vacancies occurring and manning priorities.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future rôle of the now reduced 1st Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

The representative company of the 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, will be given a rôle as an airportable company in a brigade of 3 Division.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will publish a note of the number of officers, non-commissioned officers and men and their ranks who will form the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders.

The representative company of the 1st Battalion, The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, will have 6 officers, 114 non-commissioned officers and men, and 6 pipers.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he has costed his proposals for the reformation of the Territorial Army; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy (Cmnd. 4521) presented this afternoon. The costs of the expansion will be able£5 million to£6 million a year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will now make a statement about future plans for British forces in South-East Asia.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Rutherglen (Mr. Gregor Mackenzie).

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will now make a statement about the multi-rôle combat aircraft programme.

I refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave today to the hon. Member for Wembley, North (Sir E. Bullus).

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will now make a statement on the future role of aircraft carriers in the Royal Navy.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy 1970 (Cmnd. 4521) published today.

asked the Minister of State for Defence, having regard to international developments since July, 1970, whether he will make a further statement on recruitment of additional battalions of Gurkhas for Far East service and elsewhere.

The Brigade of Gurkhas will remain in being with either 4 or 5 Gurkha Infantry battalions.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he is aware that the supply of winter clothing for the British Army of the Rhine is inadequate; and what steps he is taking to remedy this deficiency.

Supplies to the present scales of clothing are adequate. Improvements to the scales, which take advantage of new ideas and new materials, are being considered.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has for the evacuation of Army and Royal Air Force families and hospital patients from the east of the River Weser in Germany in the event of an emergency.

It would not be in the public interest to reveal details of our military plans.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what progress is being made with the standardisation of Army and Air Force equipment for the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

Comprehensive machinery exists, within N.A.T.O., for the pursuit of equipment collaboration, standardisation and inter-operability. The Conference of National Armaments Directors provides a valuable means for the harmonisation of national equipment plans and exchanges of information; several major N.A.T.O. projects covering a variety of equipment needs have been put in hand. They include the Multi Rôle Combat Aircraft, the Jaguar aircraft, and the new FH 70 Howitzer in which the United Kingdom is playing a leading rôle.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will take steps to provide one corps in Germany with a forward storage dump.

The possibility of making improvements to the logistic support arrangements for 1 (British) Corps is under consideration.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what formal training in man management is received by officer cadets of the Army and the Royal Air Force.

Great emphasis is placed on man management training for Army officer cadets at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, and the Mons Officer Cadet School. The same is true for R.A.F. officer cadets at the R.A.F. College, Cranwell, and at the Officer Cadet Training Unit, Henlow. This subject, which covers leadership, the exercise of command, welfare, morale, communication and behavioural science, is introduced in several aspects of the cadets' work. Formal training in man management amounts to about 80 hours at Sandhurst and Cranwell and about 40 hours at Mons and Henlow.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action he is taking to replace the training facilities which have been available in Libya.

In the short term we are meeting our training requirements by increased use of existing facilities in co-operation with N.A.T.O. For the longer term we are examining possible additional areas for large-scale operational training.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he is aware that Army and Royal Air Force personnel and their families are obliged to make frequent purchases in local civilian shops owing to the inadequate quantity and quality of goods supplied by the Navy, Army and Air Force Institute; and if he will take steps to remedy this situation.

N.A.A.F.I. do their best to supply a range of goods comparable with those the Serviceman can buy to satisfy his needs at home. As part of this policy both quality and variety are continuously scrutinised to keep up standards and to meet any changes in consumer demand.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will take steps to convert Navy, Army and Air Force Institute shops in Germany to supermarkets, where such action will improve their efficiency and increase the convenience of customers.

All N.A.A.F.I. shops in Germany already have self-service facilities of the supermarket type for groceries and provisions. The larger shops also sell a very wide range of goods, from clothing to refrigerators. Several shops have been extended and improved, and this process will continue, where the demand justifies it.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement of the position of boy entrants to the Armed Forces.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Surbiton (Mr. Nigel Fisher) and the hon. Member for Eton and Slough (Miss Lestor).

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will give details of his plans for purchasing 5 C5A military jet transports from the United States of America at a cost of $125 million for use in the Far East; when he expects to conclude the purchase; and whether he will make a statement.

I have no such plans.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make an announcement on the Government's intentions regarding the implementation of the National Board for Prices and Incomes' recommendation on salary increases for the higher paid members of the Services; and whether he will give an assurance that the Government's policy of limiting increases to amounts around 6 per cent. will be implemented in these cases.

Publication of the Board's report is expected shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) if he will publish a Green Paper on the reform of Scottish local government finance;(2) if he will take steps to reform the local authority grant system;(3) if he will examine the possibility of a regionally differentiated payroll tax as a means of raising revenue for local authorities.

The Government intend to publish proposals on local government finance for Great Britain as a whole. These proposals will take account of studies of possible new sources of local revenue and will deal with the form and scale of Government grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state for each education authority area the pupil/teacher ratio for primary and secondary schools, respectively, for the last financial year for which figures are available.

The figures at January, 1970, the latest date for which information is available, are set out in the table below.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now give a date for the publication of a White Paper on the reform of local government in Scotland.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave on 8th July to the hon. Member for Greenock (Dr. Dickson Mabon) and my hon. Friend the Member for Ross and Cromarty (Mr. Gray).—[Vol. 803, c. 664–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his policy regarding the continuation of the 50 per cent. derating of Scottish industry.