asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he is aware of the continued uncertainty among those engaged in intensive husbandry following the issue of the Brambell Report; and what action he now proposes to take.

Welfare codes for cattle, pigs, domestic fowls, and turkeys were published in January, 1970. My right hon. Friend and I hope shortly to announce whether we propose to amend the codes in the light of the two recent reports on livestock welfare which were placed in the Library on 29th September. Any proposed changes would be the subject of consultation with the industry.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information under the voluntary arrangements was given to his Department during the last three years by Messrs. Mars Limited regarding increases in prices either directly or through reduction in size.

Details were provided of proposed price and weight changes, together with supporting information.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make regulations requiring active ingredients to be named on containers and labels to bear a distinguishing mark indicating the extent of any hazard to human or other forms of life and words of explanation and warning.

Regulations requiring pesticide products used on farms and in gardens to be labelled with the names of any scheduled active ingredients are now being prepared under the Farm and Garden Chemicals Act, 1967. Under the Pesticides Safety Precautions Scheme the active constituents are, however, already marked on most products' containers, which also carry the recommended safety precautions.Further regulations requiring labels to include toxicity symbols will be considered when the discussions towards a uniform system which we are having with other countries in the Council of Europe are completed.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is satisfied that there is no risk to stock or crops in the vicinity from the dumping of 5,000 cubic yards of cyanide-poisoned earth at Headley in North Hampshire, and in particular that there is no risk of water contamination affecting either crops or livestock supplied from streams and wells in the vicinity; and if he will make a statement.

I understand that the Hampshire County Council received expert advice from the Thames Conservancy that the material buried at Headley will not contaminate ground or surface water. The method of disposal was in accordance with the recommendation of the Committee on the Disposal of Solid Toxic Waste. There should, therefore, be no risk to stock or crops.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if, in view of the fears felt in the agricultural industry, he will make a statement as to the minimum transitional period which Her Majesty's Government would be willing to accept for British agriculture in the event of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community.

I have nothing to add to the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Banbury (Mr. Marten) on 27th October, 1970.—[Vol. 805, c. 67–8]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he intends to abolish the Meat and Livestock Commission.

As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer explained to the House on 27th October, the review of the rôle of Government and public authorities will be a continuing process. My right hon. Friends and I have no plans at present for abolishing the Meat and Livestock Cornmission.—[Vol. 805, c. 38]

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what development funding has been provided by the Government for the Hawker Siddeley HS 1182 strike/trainer; and if he will make a statement.

None. As explained in Command 4521, we are considering the best choice of a number of ways of meeting the R.A.F.'s requirement for a new jet trainer. Hawker Siddeley Aviation Ltd. is among those who have been invited to submit proposals.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply how many claims for compensation for damage caused by the recent test flights by Concorde have been received by his Department from Caernarvonshire; what progress has been made in settling them; and how many related to damage to property, to livestock, and to personal health, respectively.

Four claims have been received from Caernarvonshire. One of these was for damaged glass, and terms of compensation have been accepted. The damage in the other three cases was not specified but is being investigated.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what further percentage increases are required in Civil Service pensions awarded for 40 years reckonable service, in the Outer London area, to postmen, clerical officers, executive officers, higher executive officers, senior executive officers and principal executive officers, respectively, retiring at the end of 1951, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1961, 1963, 1965, 1967 and 1969 in order to bring them level in money terms with pensions awarded on the same basis to persons in the same grades who retired on 30th June, 1970.

The percentages for the Civil Service grades are set out

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many claims for compensation following firing manœuvres or other military operations he has received in each of the last five years from people living in the rural districts of Devizes and Pewsey; and how many of these claims have been met wholly or in part.

Following is the information:

asked the Minister of State for Defence how soon he expects to be able to make a statement about the future of the Royal Air Force Station, Syerston, Nottinghamshire, which is at present run on a care and maintenance basis.

Not until some time in 1971, at the earliest. I shall write to the hon. Member when I have some definite information for him.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will take steps to discourage contractors for the supply of defence equipment for his Department from employing self-employed designers and technicians wherever possible, in view of the fact that those not genuinely self-employed avoid much of the legislation to which other workers are subject.

We continue to adopt a critical and discriminating attitude to the employment of self-employed designers and technicians and discourage the practice in those cases where it is not properly justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy regarding advice to local education authorities on grants to students of the Open University.

Open University courses leading to first degrees will be part-time, and it is open to local education authorities to make discretionary awards in such cases. This will be confirmed in a circular which will be issued soon. I understand that the local authority associations have recommended their members to make grants to students to cover the fee for the summer school and related travelling expenses.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will take steps to provide extra facilities for nursery schools for the children of widowed or divorced mothers; and if she will take steps to provide free or special low-cost facilities in order to alleviate child poverty among these categories.

No fees are charged in nursery schools maintained by local education authorities. Day nurseries provided by local health authorities and which are the concern of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Social Services provide day care for children under 5 who have a special health or welfare need and those whose mothers are obliged to go out to work because they are unsupported come within this category. Fees are charged in day nurseries but they take account of individual means, and only about one-sixth of the cost of the day nursery service is recovered by way of charges. The provision of additional nursery schools and day nurseries in areas of special social need forms part of the urban programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many unqualified teachers have been dismissed by Nottinghamshire County Council this year; and how many are undertaking training courses in order to qualify;(2) how many local authorities, and which, are giving compensation to unqualified teachers they have dismissed this year; and what are the terms of the compensation;(3) what estimate she has made of the number of unqualified teachers who will be dismissed by local authorities this year; and how many more are taking training courses in order to qualify.

I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many unqualified teachers of shorthand and/or typewriting have, during the last 14 months, been recommended by local education authorities to her for her consideration to confer on them qualified teacher status; how many teachers of these have been accepted by her for such status; and how many had less than 20 years' satisfactory teaching service.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will give the amount of central Government asistance to British universities as absolute amounts and as a percentage of Government expenditure and expenditure on education for the years 1945, 1955, 1965 and 1970, respectively.

Figures for 1945 are not available. Details for the later years are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the fact that the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has indicated that he will be withdrawing in July, 1971, the police road safety teams from their present duties in the schools and other spheres within the jurisdiction of Road Safety Councils, she will provide alternative instruction to school pupils on road safety.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Transport has been in touch with the local authorities concerned about the possibility of alternative arrangements. Advice to teachers about road safety education has been given in the Department's pamphlet "Safety at School", and teaching materials provided by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, to which the Department makes a grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, if he will take steps to compel or encourage the setting up of industrial safety committees in all firms employing over 25 people.

My right hon. Friend has started consultations with the C.B.I., the T.U.C. and the nationalised industries as to the best way of getting improved arrangements for joint consultation on safety matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to enable industrial training boards to vary the method of assessing the amounts of levy payable at their discretion.

Under existing legislation, industrial training boards may already make proposals to my right hon. Friend to vary, from one levy period to the next, the method of assessing the levy. It would not be desirable to give boards a discretion to vary the method, either generally or in relation to a particular firm, while a statutory levy order is in force.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what sum has been paid under the Redundancy Payments Act to date; and how many have received payment from the Fund.

Payments made under the Act totalled £249,019,000 to 1,087,242 employees in the period 6th December, 1965, to 31st August. 1970. 75,176 of these employees received guarantee payments direct from the Redundancy Fund under Section 32 of the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many Government training centres there now are in Nottinghamshire; and what plans he has to increase this number, in view of the need to retrain redundant miners and ex-miners in the county.

There are no Government training centres in Nottinghamshire, but the county is served by the centres at Long Eaton and Sheffield. As to future plans, I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member on 27th October, 1970.—[Vol. 805, c. 56.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has to amend the Industrial Training Act, 1964.

Any necessary amendment of the Act will be considered in the light of my right hon. Friend's review of the work of the industrial training boards, which is now in progress.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total number of staff in his Department who are engaged wholly or partly on the modifications of the Industrial Training Act, 1964.

None. No one is employed specifically on modifying the Act, but some 12 staff are engaged wholly or partly on the review of industrial training.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether the British Government delegates to the Internatonal Labour Organisation will press for the early convening of the Joint Committee on the Public Service.

Not until the Organisation's financial position improves and not at the expense of other meetings which have been postponed for the same reason.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the figures of the number of people killed or seriously injured expressed as a percentage of total casualties, for roads with 30 miles per hour, 40 miles per hour, 50 miles per hour and 70 miles per hour limits, respectively, in Great Britain for the last three successive years.

Figures are readily available only in the following form:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give figures for any recent convenient month showing the number of fatal and serious casualties in Great Britain between the hours of 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m., and 10 p.m. to midnight, with comparable figures for the same period before the breathalyser test commenced in 1966, with the percentage change.

Following are the figures for June:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when proposals can be expected for legislation to provide safety precautions against jack-knifing of articulated vehicles.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer I gave to the hon. Member for the Hartlepools (Mr. Lead-bitter) on 29th October.—[Vol. 805, cols. 202–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the fact that the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has indicated that he will be withdrawing in July, 1971, the police road safety teams from their present duties in the schools and other spheres within the jurisdiction of road safety councils, he will make alternative arrangements for the performance of duties previously carried out by the police road safety teams.

No. This is a task for local authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the authorities concerned issue licence renewal reminders to those having to pay a dog licence, radio and television licence, and a driving licence, respectively, but that no reminder is issued to car owners for their road excise licence and to heavy lorry drivers for their licences; and whether he will take steps to introduce such a reminder scheme in the future.

Under the computer-based centralised licensing system now being planned reminders of the expiry of vehicle excise licences will be issued automatically. This would be impracticable under the present system. Arrangements have been made for reminders to be issued to holders of heavy goods vehicle drivers' licences when the first of these expire in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take steps to ensure that British car manufacturers establish a uniform pattern of safety regulations along with their European counterparts to avoid the provision of separate pieces of safety equipment for separate export markets.

Her Majesty's Government is participating fully in the work of the Economic Commission for Europe, which is drawing up internationally agreed regulations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the acreage of his Department's depot in Stonebridge, London, N.W.10, which was formerly part of the Ministry of Public Building and Works.

6·5 acres.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his Department's depot in Stonebridge, London, N.W.10, formerly part of the Ministry of Public Building and Works, is now surplus to Government requirements or is expected to so become in 1970 to 1971.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make available the site of his Department's depot at Stonebridge, London, N.W.10, formerly part of the Ministry of Public Building and Works, for purchase by the London Borough of Brent for housing purposes and other community needs.

I will certainly bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind, if there is a change in the Government's requirement for this depot.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will hold an inquiry into the proposed increases in the price of cement.

The Cement Makers' Federation announced last September that the price of Portland Cement would be increased by 12s. per ton from 1st October, 1970. The federation stated that there would be no further increases in the price of cement for at least nine months unless there were substantial increases in the cost of manufacture. I have expressed to the federation my concern at the possible effects on the already reduced workload of the construction industry of any increase in the price of a basic building material, but see no grounds for a specific inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the concern of many in rural areas whose interests are adversely affected by agricultural development possible under existing planning legislation, he will review such legislation in order to protect the rights of those thus affected.

The General Development Order, which grants permission for various classes of development, including certain agricultural development, is being reviewed. Preliminary proposals were sent to various bodies some time ago. I am now considering further action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he intends to take to prevent the increase in water rates forecast in Report 152 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on pay and productivity in the water supply industry.

Water undertakers are having to finance essential new capital works at considerable cost to meet increased consumption. In addition, there are increases from time to time in the prices of the power, materials and services which they use. Water undertakers were reminded recently in Circular 53/70 (Circular 63/70 in Wales) that, while rising costs may make increases in some charges unavoidable, every effort should be made to keep increases to the minimum consistent with maintaining a proper service. The stabilising of costs and overheads by increasing the productivity of the industry as a whole is to be commended.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to increase the domestic element of the rate support grant for the financial year 1971–72 to a figure above or below 10 new pence.

My right hon. Friend will make known his intention in regard to the domestic element of rate support grant in the Rate Support Grant Order when it is brought before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what proposals he now has for the expansion of the overseas aid programme; and how soon it is expected that the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development target of 1 per cent. gross national product will be achieved.

The Government's proposals for the expansion of the overseas aid programme are contained in the White Paper on "New Policies in Public Spending", Cmnd. 4515. As my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the United Nations General Assembly on 23rd October, we shall do our best to reach the 1 per cent. target by 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent talks in London with Mr. Koun Wick, Foreign Minister of Cambodia.

My right hon. Friend had a useful exchange of views with the Cambodian Foreign Minister on Cambodia and Indo-China and reaffirmed our sympathy and support for Cambodia in its present difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent discussions in London with Marshal Ky of South Vietnam.

No such discussions took place with Vice-President Ky.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on his recent discussions in London with Prince Souvanna Phouma, of Laos.

My right hon. Friend discussed the situation in South-East Asia. He was particularly interested to hear Prince Souvanna's views on the problems of Laos, which, as the House knows, spring mainly from the continuing presence and activity of large numbers of North Vietnamese troops, in contravention of the 1962 Geneva Agreement on Laos. He assured the Prince of Her Majesty's Government's continuing support for himself and his Government in their difficult situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will undertake to discuss with this country's partners in the European Free Trade Association the question of the fishing industry and fishing limits prior to talks on this matter arising from Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community.

Two of our E.F.T.A. partners, both with large fishery interests, are also applying to join the European Communities. We are already in touch with them, as we are with other E.F.T.A. countries, on matters of mutual interest arising from our application to join the European Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will give deails of the negotiations which have taken place in regard to the fishing industry and fishing limits arising from Great Britain's application to join the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to the hon. Member for Kingston upon Hull, West (Mr. James Johnson) on 27th October. [Vol. 805, c. 68.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what amount was given by his Department to the National Marriage and Family Guidance Council for the preservation of marriage; what was the cost to the State for legal aid in divorce cases in the most recent year; and if he will seek to increase the amount spent on marriage preservation in the future;(2) if he will give the total grant payable each year since 1965 to the National Marriage and Family Guidance Council; and what further provision he is making to meet the demands likely to be made on the Council following the coming into operation of the Divorce Reform Act in January, 1971.

The annual amount of Home Office grant to the National Marriage Guidance Council since 1965 has been as follows: 1965–66, £30,000; 1966–67, £42,000; 1967–68, £42,000; 1968–69, £42,000; 1969–70, £70,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the problems caused by the shortage of probation hostels and trained staff; and what plans he has for meeting these difficulties and for improving the conditions of service.

When Part I of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1969, comes into effect next year, a substantial number of places, at present occupied by young persons aged 15 and 16 years, will become available. It is expected that there will then be sufficient places to meet the needs of the courts for young offenders aged between 17 and 21 years. Facilities for the training of supervisory staff are continuing to be developed. Conditions of service are the responsibility of the Standing Joint Advisory Committee for Staffs of Children's Homes; considerable improvements have been effected in the last two years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the British Safety Council and other bodies regarding safety on showgrounds and at fairs; and what action he proposes to take.

Local authorities have power under Section 75 of the Public Health Act, 1961, to make byelaws for securing the safety of the public at fairgrounds. The views of the British Safety Council on the need for further legislation have been made known to the Home Office, but my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that this is required.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations have been made to him by the Magistrates' Association regarding the need to make operative the payment of loss of earnings allowances to magistrates and the abolition of the present limit governing the payment of subsistence allowances as provided for in the Justices of the Peace Act, 1968; and what action he proposes to take to implement the Act.

The Magistrates' Association has represented to my right hon. Friend its desire for the early implementation of the legislation referred to. This is being considered, but he is not yet able to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation requiring that all electrical goods sold be safe.

My right hon. Friend has been considering representations to this effect and, also, whether it would be feasible to impose specific requirements within the limits of the existing law. He will shortly be circulating proposals of the latter kind for comment by all concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police has indicated that he will be withdrawing in July, 1971, the police road safety teams from their present duties in the schools and other spheres within the jurisdiction of Road Safety Councils.

To enable the members of the team to undertake direct accident prevention work. School visits are to be undertaken by local police in collaboration with local authority road safety officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give an assurance that it remains the policy of Her Majesty's Government to maintain the principles set out on page 475 of the evidence of the Department of Employment to the Select Committee on Race Relations and Immigration on 5th March, 1970.

I would invite the hon. Gentleman to await the legislation foreshadowed in the Gracious Speech.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the voluntary work done by children's playgroup supervisors, he will take steps to establish recognised qualifications and introduce weekend courses of studies whereby these persons may qualify.

Short courses for children's playgroup organisers from all parts of Scotland have recently been introduced by my Department, and a variety of courses for playgroup supervisors and mother helpers is held locally. I intend to have further consultations with the interests concerned on the question of qualifications for those who work in this field.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (1) what discussions he has had with the Post Office with regard to further increases in telephone charges or rentals; and what requests he has received from the Post Office to increase its target return on capital;(2) if he will take steps to set up an inquiry into the administration and financial management of the Post Office; whether he is satisfied that the revenues received by the Post Office during the current financial year will be adequate for the Corporation to discharge its responsibilities to the public without any further increases in telephone or postal charges during the financial year from April, 1971; and if he will make statement;(3) whether he will recommend the setting up of a Royal Commission to inquire into the financial management of the nation's communications services.

I foresee no need in the coming year for major changes in telephone and postage charges beyond those recently announced, and I do not favour an inquiry at the present time.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to apply preferential rates of postage to magazines and journals.

No, I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the recommendation which appears at paragraphs 65 and 66 of the Report of the Post Office Users' National Council on the recent postal tariff increases and has been accepted by the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what action he proposes to take to ensure that elderly people are made fully aware of the social benefits that exist for their welfare.

I am considering what further measures might be practicable to increase awareness of benefits nationally. Publicity for services for which local authorities are responsible is best determined locally.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give the current figures relating to the shortage of medical, consultant and other staff for hospitals in the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board area; and what action is being taken to fill the vacancies.

At 30th September, 1970, there were 1,724 medical staff—720 consultants and 1,004 others—working in the hospitals administered by the Sheffield Regional Hospital Board and the United Sheffield Hospitals, excluding locums and general practitioners working part-time in those hospitals. This is an increase of 88, or 5·4 per cent., over the previous year: for consultants alone the figures are 35 and 5·1 per cent. There were 149 vacant posts (including 54 consultant), but 51 (including 15 consultant) were occupied by locums. The vacancies are being, or will be, advertised.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what dates he proposes to make operative the various sections in the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act; what financial grants are being made available to local authorities to implement the Act; and if he will substantially increase the publicity regarding the Act both to local councils and to the public.

Section 1 will be brought into force when social services departments of local authorities have been set up and are in a position to carry out the necessary work in its proper context. Any expenditure by local authorities under the Act is relevant expenditure for the determination of rate support grant. The circular explaining the Act, issued to local authorities on 17th August last, was widely publicised: local publicity about services is a matter for each authority to consider in relation to its own area.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what are the number of general practitioners and the average number of patients on the lists in Sunderland for the latest available date.

Seventy-nine doctors are now providing full general medical services in the area of the Sunderland Executive Council and the average list is 2,805 patients. Two more doctors will join the Council's medical list on 1st November and the average list will then be 2,737.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the increasing incidence of coronary occlusion and the variety of factors which contribute to the causes of the condition, he will undertake to make this condition, whether fatal or not, a notifiable disease throughout England and Wales, at least for those under 65 years of age.

No. I am advised that this would not be helpful at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he is aware of the concern caused by the non-transferability of private occupational pension rights when workers change their jobs; and if he will take steps to secure transferability in order to encourage greater mobility of labour and to give security to workers in later years.

We are preparing detailed proposals for legislation on the preservation of occupational pension rights which we will be discussing with representatives of occupational pension schemes and others concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he is taking to improve recruitment of doctors for general practice, with particular relation to the Derby area.

Initial practice allowances are available to encourage doctors to begin practising in areas such as Derby which are designated as under-doctored by the Medical Practices Committee. We shall continue, by financial and other means, to encourage the more efficient organisation of general practice and the building of modern premises, whether by local authorities in health centres or by doctors themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many wives of United States Service men stationed in the United Kingdom were drawing family allowances in the most recent convenient period for which figures are available.

About 1,200 wives of United States Service men are still drawing family allowances to which they became entitled before 6th April, 1970, but since that date new claims from such families have been disallowed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the date of operation of the revised dental, ophthalmic and prescription charges, the new charges for appliances and the abolition of cheap welfare milk.

It is intended to introduce the revised dental, ophthalmic and appliance charges, and the 4s. prescription charge on 1st April, 1971, and to abolish cheap welfare milk from 4th April, 1971.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what proportion of total capital investment went into the public and private sectors of industry, respectively, in the most recent convenient period; and what was the resulting increase in productivity in each case.

In the year ending June, 1970, 20 per cent. of total gross domestic fixed capital formation was invested by industries, other than dwellings and public services, in the public sector and 46 per cent. by the corresponding industries in the private sector. The resulting increases in productivity cannot be estimated.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to remove or reduce the purchase tax on toothpaste, in view of the fact that it is at a higher rate than that on sweets.

We will keep this suggestion in mind during the current review of indirect taxation.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in his forthcoming legislation, he will express the rates of income tax applicable for the financial year 1971–72 in decimal currency, in view of the fact that the changes will come into effect after the changover to decimal currency.

The rate of income tax for 1971–72, like the rate for the two previous years, will be expressed as a percentage.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the comparative figures for the percentage rise in the standard of living, as measured by real national product per head of the population, for the United Kingdom and for other similar countries in the period 1964 to date.

The figures requested are given in the table below. Figures for 1969 are not yet available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what information he has through the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development on the comparative figures for the increase in wages and salaries and prices in Great Britain and Western European countries since 1964.

The information is given in the table below. The figures for wages and salaries are taken from the O.E.C.D. publication on national accounts and relate to the total wages and salaries paid. They thus include the effect of any changes in the size of the labour force.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further action he is taking to provide safeguards against near misses in the air; and if he will make a statement.

There is a standing procedure by which all reported air misses are investigated and considered by an independent body. Consequent remedial action is taken as necessary. The resources and techniques of the national air traffic control service are being continually developed. In particular, the progressive introduction of improved secondary surveillance radar into the air traffic control system will enable displays to be labelled with callsigns and other relevant information, and will in due course also include continuous read-out of altitude from the aircraft altimeter. This will greatly assist the controller in the maintenance of safe separation between aircraft. The Department is also keeping closely in touch with research aimed at the development of airborne anti-collision equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action is being taken to speed up international discussions on air safety with particular reference to air piracy; and if he will make a statement.

As I indicated in my statement on 28th October the United Kingdom has been active in furthering international consideration of this problem. It was amongst the first nations in 1968 to ratify the Tokyo Convention on Offences and Certain other Acts committed on board aircraft; it has played an active rôle in the preparation of the draft of a Convention on hi-jacking which is to be considered by a diplomatic conference at the Hague in December; it was one of the states which requested the International Civil Aviation Organisation (I.C.A.O.) to convene an Extraordinary Session of the Assembly in Montreal in June to consider all forms of unlawful interference with civil aircraft; and this month at the invitation of Her Majesty's Government, the Legal Committee of I.C.A.O. has been meeting in London to draft a further convention on acts of violence other than hi-jacking, which will now go to a Diplomatic Conference. In conjunction with my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, however, I certainly will not hesitate to seek further to speed up international discussions where this would be productive. [Vol. 805, cols. 115–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proposals he has to encourage business, private and club flying and gliding, having regard to the need to assist the British light aircraft industry.

The light aviation movement has grown steadily in recent years and the Department keeps in close touch with representative bodies about its needs. We have no proposals in hand to assist the light aircraft industry indirectly through that movement. Direct assistance to the industry is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Minister of Aviation Supply.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what recommendations his Department will be making to the Royal National Lifeboat Institution arising from recommendations in the report on the Fraserburgh Lifeboat tragedy.(2) what talks he intends having with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution following the report on the Fraserburgh Lifeboat disaster.

The Executive Committee of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution on 22nd October issued a statement of the action they have initiated following the report of the court into the accident to the Fraserburgh lifeboat, and I am keeping in touch with the Institution about these developments. Arrangements have been made with the Institution that the Government will continue to co-operate with it, as recommended in the report, by making available to the Institution the expert knowledge, experience and facilities available in research establishments and in the Marine Division of the Department, insofar as these are relevant, on design of lifeboats in relation to their rôle in the varying sea conditions round our coasts.The Department will also have early talks with the Institution as with other authorities concerned, following the recommendation in the report about the organisation of marine search and rescue.I have particularly in mind the Government's direct responsibility for the rôle of the Coastguard. This was described in the Report of the Committee to review the Marine Search and Rescue Organisation of the United Kingdom, published earlier this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many men and women, respectively, are employed in Government-financed factories in the Northern Region at the latest available date.

In August, 1970, 37,910 men and 40,580 women were employed in factories provided under the Local Employment Acts. These figures exclude employment in factories provided by the Department but which have been sold.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many men and women, respectively, are employed in Government-financed factories in Sunderland at the latest available date.

In August, 1970, 6,130 men and 5,640 women were employed in the Department's factories provided under the Local Employment Acts. These figures exclude employment in factories provided by the Department but since sold.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on progress towards European technical collaboration.

It is making good but somewhat slow progress. We hope the pace will improve when we are inside an enlarged European Economic Community—particularly at the industrial level to which we attach the greatest importance. At the Government level we support the work going on in organisations like the E.C.E., the European Space Research Organisation, and the fifteen-nation group organised by the E.E.C. We also attach great importance to our participation in a number of bilateral and multilateral projects where Government initiative is combined with industrial co-operation.We also have valuable technological agreements with a number of East European countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what changes are proposed in industrial development certificate policy currently in operation; and if he will make a statement.

I will be making a statement when the present review of exemption limits for industrial development certificates is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that there is a 10 per cent. male unemployment in the Mid-Northumberland employment exchange area; and what steps he proposes to rectify the position.

The rate of unemployment in Morpeth is currently 8·2 per cent. The measures announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 27th October should encourage expansion and new employment in the development areas. My Department will continue to draw the attention of suitable firms to the possibility of locating in Morpeth.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the identities of the aircraft that flew low over Westminster and Kensington at a high power-output at 05.50 hours on 27th October and at 05.45 hours on 28th October; what were the operators and the flight numbers; and why these flights were so unusually low and loud.

The aircraft concerned appear to have been a Boeing 707 on Pan American Flight No. PA167 which landed at Heathrow at 05.58 on 27th October and a Boeing 707 on B.O.A.C. Flight No. BA851 which landed at 05.52 on 28th October. No other complaints have been received. I am making further inquiries about their height on approach and will advise my hon. Friend of the outcome.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will announce the date by which applicants should notify his Department of the existence of contracts under the arrangements outlined in paragraph 4 of the White Paper on Investment Incentives, Command Paper No. 4516.

Firms intending to apply for investment grant in respect of expenditure incurred on or after 27th October, 1970 under a contract made on or before 26th October, 1970 should send particulars of the contract to the Department of Trade and Industry not later than 28th February, 1971 for registration. Copies of the appropriate registration form will be sent during November to all firms who have at any time applied for investment grant. Other firms will be able to obtain copies from any one of the Investment Grant Offices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the maximum permitted quota of imports of fishing reels from Japan to the United Kingdom for each of the years 1963 to 1969.

There were no quota restrictions on these imports during the period.In 1967 following inter-industry discussions Japanese exports of fixed spool reels to the United Kingdom were voluntarily limited to 200,000 reels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the actual total of Japanese manufactured fishing reels imported into the United Kingdom for each of the years 1963 to 1969.

In 1963 and 1964 imports of fishing reels were not separately recorded.Imports from Japan in subsequent years were as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many people were engaged in the manufacture of fishing reels in the United Kingdom on 1st January, 1970 or on the most recent date for which figures are available.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if, in view of the traditionally higher level of production costs experienced by farmers in Wales, he will institute a survey of these costs in the Principality.

Information about farmers' costs and returns in Wales is already available from samples of farms in the Farm Management Survey, the National Investigation into the Economics of Milk Production and other surveys undertaken by universities in England and Wales. This does not suggest that the costs of production on Welsh farms are generally higher than on comparable farms in England.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how soon he hopes to be able to publish his proposals for the reorganisation of hospital services in Wales.

I have no plans to publish proposals for the reorganisation of hospital services in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what plans he has for assisting and fostering industrial development in South Cardiganshire.

I am still considering the problems of Mid-Wales, including South Cardiganshire. The Government will continue to do all they can to continue to attract industry to this part of Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how it is proposed to finance the new Welsh Teaching Hospital; and if he will give an undertaking that this will not mean the closure of any other hospitals.

The capital cost of the University Hospital of Wales, Heath, Cardiff, is being met by the Welsh Hospital Board from funds made available by my Department; the net additional revenue costs of the new hospital and of the consequential changes in the services provided by other hospitals will also be met from funds provided by my Department.My right hon. and learned Friend is currently considering the proposals of the Welsh Hospital Board for the consequential reorganisation of the hospital service in the Cardiff area. He is not yet in a position to make a statement.