asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on his future policy on immigration.

I would refer the hon. Member to my speech in the debate on the Expiring Laws Continuance Bill on 25th November.—[Vol. 807, c. 478–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent in his forthcoming legislation on immigration he plans to alter the terms of the Ireland Act, 1949.

I would ask the hon. Member to await the publication of the Bill foreshadowed in the Gracious Speech and meanwhile not to give weight to speculation in the Press.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to reorganise the emergency services in a way which will enable volunteers to play a full part.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bridgwater (Mr. Tom King) on 19th November).—[Vol. 806, c. 465.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to acknowledge the efforts made by members of voluntary civil aid societies and others who have, at their own expense, continued to train for emergencies since the Civil Defence Corps and the Auxiliary Fire Service were disbanded.

I am aware of the valuable work done by many voluntary organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now make a statement about the future of the civil defence services.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave today to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will arrange for the Annual Report of the Commission of Police of the Metropolis to give fuller details of prosecutions for motoring offences, with special reference to prosecutions for ignoring new prohibited right-hand turns instituted as a result of police traps set within the first 14 days of the prohibition's taking effect.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many Kenyan Asians possessing British passports are at present in Paris, or in other European towns, awaiting permission to enter Great Britain; and how many of these have families already living in Great Britain.

So far as I am aware, four, one of whom has two brothers in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will terminate the appointment to the Community Relations Commission of Dr. David Pitt, in view of his public observations regarding the police and the coloured community.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers were in post for each year from 1964 to the latest convenient date; and what proposals he has for improving recruiting in the future.

The strength of the service on 31st October was 3,422. The Government consider that by 1975 4,400 probation officers may be needed to enable the service to cope with increases in its present tasks, and as many as 4,700 if greater use is to be made of treatment

STRENGTH OF THE PROBATION AND AFTER-CARE SERVICE 1964–1970
					Established Officers	Temporary Officers	Total Whole-time staff
31st December, 1964	…	…	…	…	2,167	17	2,184
31st December, 1965	…	…	…	…	2,319	20	2,339
31st December, 1966*	…	…	…	…	2,557	37	2,594
31st December, 1967	…	…	…	…	2,745	45	2,790
31st December, 1968	…	…	…	…	2,960	52	3,012
31st December, 1969†	…	…	…	…	3,172	61	3,233
31st October, 1970	…	…	…	…	3,348	74	3,422
* Prison welfare officers are included from 1966 onwards.
† Social workers in detention centres, remand centres and borstal allocation centres are included from 1969 onwards.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to ensure that police authorities in the Metropolitan Police area take action on complaints of harassment of tenants made to them.

When such complaints are made to the police, their function (which they well understand) is to prevent breaches of the peace; to make such investigations as they can on the spot into possible criminal offences; to warn those concerned of possible offences under the Rent Act, 1965; and to report on any such offences to the local authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many children are currently in the care of local authorities because their parents are unable to provide a home for them.

The available information is that out of 51,542 children who came into the care of local authorities in England and Wales during the year ended 31st March, 1970, 2,693 did so because their families were homeless.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what priority her Department gives to the protection of children placed in children's homes under Section 1 of the 1948 Act for whom the local authority has not

This is a matter for local authorities, who are under a duty to exercise their powers so as to further the best interests of any child in their care. If the hon. Member has in mind the provisional proposals of the Departmental Committee on the Adoption of Children for extending these powers, I would refer her to the reply which my right hon. Friend gave to Questions by the hon. Members for Glasgow, Gorbals (Mr. McElhone) for Accrington (Mr. Arthur Davidson), and for Blyth (Mr. Milne) on 29th October.—[Vol. 805, c. 168.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek powers to introduce a permitted list of additives and colours which may be used in cosmetics.

I have nothing to add to the reply given to the hon. Lady's previous Question on this subject on 23rd July.—[Vol. 804, c. 747–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of public concern, he will publish an interim report on his investigation into enzyme washing powders.

My right hon. Friend must await the report from the Home Office's medical advisers, which he expects to receive early next year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will consider a reduction in the minimum period to be served before parole is granted to those imprisoned without having a previously unsatisfactory record, particularly where the family situation is such as to make a return home desirable.

I am keeping the scope of the parole scheme under close review and will bear this suggestion in mind; but it does involve some practical difficulties.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the maximum number of police officers engaged at any one time in the removal of parked vehicles in the Metropolitan Police Area; and what is the total parking capacity of the official pounds used in connection with this purpose.

During a recent six-day week, the average number of police officers principally employed on these duties at any one time was about 27, and of civilian staff 19. The pounds regularly used hold about 860 vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further consultations he has had with Northern Ireland Ministers.

My hon. Friend the Minister of State met the Minister for Community Relations yesterday.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now reconsider his decision to withdraw the police road safety teams from their work in the schools in the light of recent representations by local authorities and other interested bodies that visits by the local police will not be an adequate substitute for these expert teams.

It is for chief officers of police to decide how best to deploy the resources available to them; and it seems premature to condemn the new arrangements in the Metropolitan Police district, which are not to be introduced until next July.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what circular he has issued to local authorities concerning the action to be taken for inspecting and where necessary clearing beaches of unexploded missiles.

Circulars have been issued to local authorities and chief constables on a number of occasions since 1946 establishing a procedure to ensure that, whenever unexploded missiles are found, the Service authority responsible for removal or disposal is informed without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the Government's action in granting salary increases of 43 per cent. to higher paid civil servants, he will give the reasons why he will not take steps to enable the police forces to be granted similar increases in their salaries.

Because police pay is a matter for negotiation on the Police Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, following the meeting of the Police Council on 30th November, he will make a statement as to the status of the negotiations and of the steps which he is taking to expedite the achievement of a satisfactory settlement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his intentions with regard to an increase in police pay.

I would refer the hon. Members to the reply I gave today to Questions by the hon. Members for Rugby (Mr. William Price) and Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a further statement on police pay.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave today to Questions by the hon. Members for Rugby (Mr. William Price) and Bassetlaw (Mr. Ashton).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will confiscate all copies of "World Youth", published in Budapest, coming into this country, pending their reference to the Race Relations Board and investigation under the Race Relations Act, 1965, as containing material inciting hatred against a section of the population on grounds of ethnic origin.

My right hon. Friend has no power to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will pay a visit to Oakwood Hall, Romily, with a view to considering new methods of dealing with children in need of care.

My information is that Oakwood Hall is not at present in use. If the hon. Member has information which he wishes to bring to my notice I shall be glad to consider it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the present position of the strength of the Metropolitan Police measured against establishment; and what special steps he is taking to stimulate recruitment.

Against an authorised establishment of 26,055, the strength at the end of October was 21,031. As regards the second part of the Question I would refer my right hon. and learned Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Croydon, South (Sir R. Thompson) on 29th October.—[Vol. 805 c. 164.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make regulations to raise the minimum age of committal to a borstal institution, with a view to averting any repetition of the circumstances in which a 15-year-old boy was recently detained before sentence in Oxford prison.

No. It would not be appropriate to do so now, in the absence of adequate alternative facilities for dealing with offenders under 17 who are now sent to borstal.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will reconsider the decision to make religious worship in young offenders' establishments voluntary, in view of the concern this has caused.

I see no reason to change my recent decision, which was based on the results of a pilot scheme and the recommendations of a working party under the Chaplain General of Prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will issue information to the public and the police as to the provisions of the existing law relating to picketing during industrial disputes.

The police are, I know, well aware of these provisions; and I have no reason for thinking that the issue of such information to the public is called for at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reply he has given to the request for advice from the Electoral Registration Officer of the Borough of Islington concerning the latter's correspondence with the hon. Member for Islington, South-West, about the conduct of electoral registration in Islington.

No written reply was sent, but Home Office officials had a discussion with the electoral registration officer. I understand that he has written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what information about the conduct of electoral registration a registration officer is debarred from providing to Members of Parliament.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what guidance he issues to electoral registration officers about follow-up action when occupants do not return Form A;(2) what guidance he issues to electoral registration officers on publicising the conduct of the electoral registration canvass.

This is contained in paragraph 9 of Circular No. RPA 142 dated 22nd July, 1969, a copy of which is in the Library of the House. Registration officers are there advised on the prompt use of forms of reminder where Form A is not returned by the qualifying date; to publicise in the local Press the dates on which forms are to be sent out and canvassers will be at work; and to follow this up with an indication of the results obtained from the canvass, for instance the proportion of forms returned in the first week or two.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes he proposes to make in aftercare services for prisoners on release.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer which I gave today to a Question by the hon. Member for Liverpool, Toxteth (Mr. Crawshaw).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consultations he has had with the Government of Northern Ireland about the abolition of investment grants; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to what my hon. Friend the Minister of State said in the debate on 18th November.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable indicating in what way Sir Arthur Young's period of service as head of the Royal Ulster Constabulary has affected his position as head of the City of London police with regard to length of service and pension rights.

Not at all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable as to what steps he will take as a matter of urgency to improve police recruitment levels in the Oldham area where the divisional force is nearly 70 men under strength and up to 32 hours' overtime a month per constable is proving necessary.

I understand that the Chief Constable of Lancashire plans a major recruiting campaign for his force. This will include a poster advertising scheme supplemented by newspaper advertising, recruiting shops in town centres, and exhibitions. The manpower requirements of the Oldham area are kept under close review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what percentage the Metropolitan Police, and K Division in particular, are short of their authorised establishment; and how the wastage of manpower in K Division, through voluntary premature resignations, compares with that in the force as a whole.

Provisional figures for the end of November indicate that the strength of the Metropolitan Police is 19·1 per cent. below authorised establishment. The corresponding figure for K Division is 20·2 per cent. In the first eleven months of this year 650 police officers resigned from the Metropolitan Police without pension or gratuity. Of these, 27 were from K Division.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make proposals for retrenchment in commissions and other bodies which are concerned with inter-racial relations and receive public funds.

The Community Relations Commission and the Race Relations Board, which are the two statutory bodies concerned with race relations in this country, receive only such funds as they need for the adequate discharge of the duties laid on them by the Race Relations Act, 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to reduce the dangers of illegal drug taking.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the provisions of the Misuse of Drugs Bill now before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider legislation on drug addiction designed to impose treatment in medical centres instead of prison for addicts whilst retaining prison sentences for narcotic pushers; and whether he will make a statement on his general policy on addiction.

The answer to the first part of the Question is "No".As regards the second part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to statements made in connection with the Misuse of Drugs Bill which is before the House.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he proposes to introduce legislation to lengthen the period spent in prison of persons sentenced for murder.

No. A person convicted of murder must be sentenced to imprisonment for life. There is, therefore, no legal limit to the time for which he may be detained in prison. Subject to Parliament's decision last year to make permanent the abolition of capital punishment, the penalty for murder is among the matters for consideration by the Criminal Law Revision Committee in its current review of the law relating to offences against tile person, including homicide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the chief constable as to why no answer has been forthcoming to repeated inquiries by the hon. Member for Derby, North, of the Derbyshire Constabulary concerning investigations into the marriage of Mrs. G. Shankar of 18, Vale Street, Derby, and the impounding of her husband's passport.

The police have been unable to trace Mr. Shankar, whose permitted stay in this country expired in August, 1969. I am writing to the hon. Member about the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will introduce legislation to implement within the police service the general principles set out in paragraph 12 of the Industrial Relations Bill Consultative Document, namely, that every individual has the right to participate in trade union activities, that employees have the right to collectively negotiate with their employer, and that employees should be free to withdraw their labour: and if lie will make a statement.

The Police Acts 1964 and 1969 and regulations made under them prescribe that every member of a police force under the rank of superintendent shall be a member of the Police Federation and that negotiations on pay and related matters shall take place in the Police Council where the Federation is represented. Because of their special responsibilities policemen do not have the right to strike and the Police Federation for England and Wales recently affirmed that they do not want it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent discussions he has had with brewers over changes in the licensing laws.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he will institute an inquiry into the licensing laws with a view to legislation to provide licensees the opportunity to select their own hours within the permitted number of hours of opening;(2) whether he will draw the attention of magistrates to their powers to provide wider amenities in licensed premises, in particular for the family of all ages to attend licensed premises if the licensee will provide suitable accommodation for that purpose.

My right hon. Friend is considering the need for a general review of the liquor licensing law in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce now the use of a computer to assist criminal investigation in the Metropolitan Police force as an interim measure for the provision of records and statistics prior to the main proposals for 1972.

All available effort is being devoted to assisting criminal investigation by bringing the police national computer into operation as soon as possible. It would be impracticable to make interim arrangements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) what measure he proposes to take to provide those engaged in criminal investigation in the Metropolitan Police with secretarial and civilian assistance comparable to commerce and industry, to cut down the paperwork which a detective is expected to undertake;(2) whether he will recruit to the Metropolitan Police Force specially qualified persons, regardless of age, including accountants and experts to assist those engaged in criminal investigation, with particular reference to the Fraud Squad and other squads investigating robberies.

There are 865 civilian staff in executive, clerical, typing and ancillary classes at present employed in the Criminal Investigation Department, and 435 specialist staff, including fingerprint officers, photographers, scientists, and scenes-of-crime officers. The complement is regularly reviewed. In addition, the fraud squad and others call as necessary on the services of other specially qualified people.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review as a matter of urgency the equipment needs of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Metropolitan Police, in particular the need for more observer vans, for the supply of recording machines and of photographic equipment, vital to secure the detection of criminals.

The Commissioner of Police keeps the equipment needs of the Criminal Investigation Department under regular review and is satisfied in particular that there is no deficiency in the kind of equipment specified by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Criminal Cases Act, 1952, so as to require a court which does not make an order for costs to be paid by the prosecutor to the defendant on dismissal of an information to state its reasons.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent it is his policy to secure that alcoholics shall be treated by way of sentence in hostels or halfway houses and removed from prisons in future; and when he expects this objective to be achieved.

Although my right hon. Friend regards it as in general desirable that alcoholics should be treated outside prison, he cannot yet say when it will be possible to bring into force Section 91 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, which abolishes imprisonment for the offence of being drunk and disorderly. He will, however, make a statement in due course about a report submitted to him by a Working Party on Habitual Drunken Offenders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the Shop Acts; and whether, as an interim measure, he will legislate to provide a discretion enabling shops to open in the evenings within an acceptable framework of opening hours.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he now proposes to introduce legislation to amend the Shops Act in order to permit all retail stores to carry on six-day trading if they so wish.

The House will have the opportunity of considering these and other aspects of weekday trading by shops when it comes to debate the Shops (Weekday Trading) Bill introduced by my hon. Friend the Member for Dorset, South (Mr. Evelyn King), which is down for Second Reading on Friday, 11th December. My right hon. Friend would not wish to anticipate that debate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why the practice of checking passports on cross-channel ferries during passage was stopped; what is his estimate of the additional work load this placed on Customs officers at the port of arrival and of the increase in time taken by passengers to clear Customs; and if he will now revert to the previous practice.

At the instance of the Dover Harbour Board and the carriers, immigration officers no longer examine car ferry passengers on the crossing. The heavy traffic of this summer's peak period resulted in delay to some passengers, which my right hon. Friend regrets, but he is reviewing the arrangements and believes that the new system should prove more efficient and economical than the old.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the reasons why he will not introduce the necessary legislation to give him the authority to compel chief officers of the police to implement the fixed penalty system for vehicles which fail to show a current road fund licence.

Because it would not be appropriate for my right hon. Friend to have such a power.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he will not seek to amend the Registered Charities Act to regulate the profits being made by private firms from charitable donations, in view of the evidence now available of the abuse being practised by these firms and individuals.

I am not aware of any evidence of abuse in this matter. If the hon. Member has any particular case in mind, he may wish to bring it to the notice of the Charity Commissioners.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the reasons why he will not seek powers to increase firemen's salaries by 43 per cent., in view of the Government's action in raising the salaries of the higher-paid civil servants and chairmen of nationalised boards by this amount.

Because my right hon. Friend thinks it right that fire service pay should be negotiated in the National Joint Council for Local Authorities Fire Brigades.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the Chief Constable about attacks on, and obstruction of fire-fighting by, the Essex Fire Brigade at the University of Essex.

My right hon. Friend has received a report from the chief constable which indicates that some published accounts of this incident were greatly exaggerated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on his decision to increase the pay of chief constables by £1,000 per annum; and how this increase compares with the 43 per cent. recently awarded to certain of the higher-paid civil servants.

There is no basis for comparison.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what conciliation assistance his Department gave in the recent coalminers' industrial dispute.

None. Agreement was reached in this dispute through direct negotiations between the National Coal Board and the National Union of Mineworkers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many coal miners are currently unemployed in England and Wales and in the Northern Region; and how many of these are aged 55 to 65 years.

On 9th November, 1970, 19,831 males who last worked in coal mining were registered as unemployed in England and Wales, of whom 7,380 were in the Northern Region. There is no age analysis of these figures, but a special return for 14th September, 1970, confined to workers affected by colliery closures included 13,142 men aged 55 and over who were registered as unemployed in England and Wales, of whom 5,853 were in the Northern Region.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the percentage rate of unemployment in the coal-mining industry compared to the overall male rate calculated on a national and regional basis.

Following is the information:

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR MALES AT 9TH NOVEMBER, 1970
	Coal-mining	All industries and services
South East	2·8	2·2
South Western	6·4	3·9
West Midlands	4·4	2·8
East Midlands	4·5	3·0
Yorkshire and Humberside	4·0	4·0
North Western	5·8	3·8
Northern	10·2	6·1
Scotland	5·7	6·0
Wales	4·8	4·8
Great Britain	5·6	3·5

The total numbers of males registered as unemployed, including those temporarily stopped, have been expressed as percentages of the estimated numbers of male employees, employed and unemployed, at June, 1969. The coalmining percentage takes account of all males registered as unemployed who last worked in coalmining regardless of whether they are likely to work in that industry in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies there are in the coalmining industry in England and Wales and the Northern Region for miners and craftsmen; what is the ratio to the number unemployed; and what steps are being taken to fill these vacancies.

At 4th November, 1970, the number of notified vacancies in coalmining in England and Wales and in the Northern Region was 4,263 and 283 respectively. The statistics do not distinguish between vacancies for miners, craftsmen and others. The number of unfilled vacancies to every hundred males registered as wholly unemployed who were last employed in coalmining was 21·5 in England and Wales and 3·8 in the Northern Region. In calculating these ratios, all males registered as wholly unemployed who last worked in coalmining have been included, regardless of whether they are likely to work in that industry in future. The Department is in close touch with the National Coal Board at National and local level to ensure that the vacancies are brought to the notice of potentially suitable workers, including those willing to move to collieries in areas of labour shortage.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, for the latest available date, the total number of registered unemployed at the Frederick Street Labour Exchange, Stratford, E.15; how this compares with the

Duration analysis of the numbers registered as wholly unemployed in the area covered by the Stratford Employment Exchange
					November 1965	November 1966	November 1967	November 1968	November 1969	November 1970
MEN
Up to 2 weeks		…	…	…	113	211	163	213	160	172
Over 2 and up to 4 weeks				…	40	97	120	105	101	78
Over 4 and up to 8 weeks				…	45	139	161	121	98	114
Over 8 weeks		…	…	…	74	163	446	311	374	291
Total wholly unemployed				…	272	610	890	750	733	655
Temporarily stopped and casual workers	…	…	…	…	17	32	40	20	11	25
Total registered unemployed				…	289	642	930	770	744	680
WOMEN
Up to 2 weeks		…	…	…	65	67	59	28	41	37
Over 2 and up to 4 weeks				…	17	15	18	3	5	9
Over 4 and up to 8 weeks				…	15	13	14	8	3	4
Over 8 week		…	…	…	10	35	12	4	5	8
Total wholly unemployed				…	107	130	103	43	54	58
Temporarily stopped and casual workers	…	…	…	…	—	3	—	—	—	—
Total registered unemployed				…	107	133	103	43	54	58
BOYS AND GIRLS
Up to 2 weeks		…	…	…	44	56	64	53	57	50
Over 2 and up to 4 weeks				…	3	12	7	1	11	8
Over 4 and up to 8 weeks				…	2	2	3	—	—	2
Over 8 weeks		…	…	…	—	—	—	1	3	—
Totally wholly unemployed				…	49	70	74	55	71	60
Temporarily stopped and casual workers	…	…	…	…	—	2	—	1	—	—
Total registered unemployed				…	49	72	74	56	71	60
At November 1964, 388 men, 148 women and 65 boys and girls were registered as unemployed, but an analysis of these figures, by duration, is no longer available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he can now give a date when his Department hope to open its training centre at St. Helens.

Training is expected to start in the early Spring of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why, in view of the fact that he received the Report from the National Board for Prices and

Following is the available information:Incomes on higher-paid officers of the armed forces on 16th October, this had not been published by 27th November; and whether he will give an assurance that this will not be published during the Christmas Recess.

The Government are considering the recommendations. The report will be published before the recess.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects to receive and publish the Report of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on their inquiry into the contract cleaning industry; and, in view of the industrial unrest in this industry, if he will seek to expedite the publication of this report.

My right hon. Friend expects to receive this report in March, 1971, together with those of the two other current references involving low-paid workers. We do not think it would be desirable to ask the board for an earlier report on any of these interrelated references, which raise important and complex issues.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish the Report of the Commission on Industrial Relations recommending that the non-clinical staff and doctors not involved in treating patients employed by the Medical Research Council should join the Association of Scientific, Technical and Managerial Staff; and what action the Government propose to take on this recommendation and report.

The report was published on 27th November as Command Paper No. 4531. It is now for the parties concerned to decide what action to take.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will now confirm that air crews of vertical take-off landing aircraft to be deployed with the fleet in the new command cruisers or other ships after the phasing out of H.M.S. "Ark Royal" will not be provided by the Royal Navy.

Trials at sea with the current version of the Harrier continue but no decision has been taken to deploy such aircraft at sea. The question which Service would operate them does not, therefore, yet arise.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many new recruits have been obtained for the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders as a result of the special recruitment campaign; what was the total cost of the campaign; and whether he intends to continue it.

The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders have attracted 23 recruits to the Scottish Division since the regiment started recruiting again last September. This achievement was comparable with that of the other regiments of the Division which will continue its recruiting efforts. Expenditure on recruiting publicity is not apportioned to individual regiments.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) what liaison exists between his Department and the United States authorities to ensure immediate warning in the event of any emergency occurring at the Polaris base on the Clyde; and if he will make a statement;(2) when his Department were notified of the outbreak of fire on board the Polaris depôt ship on the evening of Saturday, 28th November.

At 11.35 p.m. on Saturday, 28th November, fire broke out on the U.S.S. "Canopus" at anchor in the Holy Loch. The fire was confined to the baggage room and was completely extinguished by 3.30 a.m. on Sunday. There was at no time a risk of a nuclear explosion. I regret that three United States sailors lost their lives as a result of the fire.It is standard procedure in the event of an emergency on board U.S.S. "Canopus", whether a fire or a nuclear hazard, for the Clyde Submarine Base to be informed. Contingency plans, which provide for the alerting of local civil authorities as necessary, are then put into effect. In this case, the Clyde Submarine Base was informed at 1.50 a.m. on Sunday morning that a fire had occurred and that there was no danger. Clyde Base firefighting facilities were at once offered but were not required.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give consideration to the resiting of the Polaris submarine base on the Holy Loch, taking account of the advances in technology over the past eight years.

No. I am not aware of any advances in technology which would justify such consideration.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the present safety and security arrangements at the Polaris Submarine Base on the Holy Loch; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. As far as a statement is concerned, I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I have given today to the hon. Member for Renfrew, West (Mr. Buchan).

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many married quarters are available for Royal Air Force families in Royal Air Force, Germany; and how many families are on the waiting list.

There are about 3,940 married quarters and hirings available and some 1,150 families on the waiting list.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many married quarters are available for army families serving in the British Army of the Rhine; and how many families are on the waiting list.

There are nearly 21,000 Army quarters, including hirings, in B.A.O.R. and a waiting list of about 4,000, of whom nearly half are living with their families in private accommodation until official quarters are available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many recruits have been refused discharge from Her Majesty's Forces in the last five years, after having applied during the first three months of their service; and what procedure is open to them to complain about the system of application, and also to appeal against the decision.

Since male other rank recruits have a statutory right to purchase their discharge for a nominal sum during the first three months of service—six for young Servicemen—no such application could be refused. Any Serviceman has the right to complain to his commanding officer in respect of any matter in which he feels himself wronged.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many applications for discharge by purchase have been received from members of each branch of the Royal Navy who were adult entrants; and how many of these applications were approved.

Applications for discharge by purchase received from Royal Naval ratings are reviewed every three months. During the last application period ending 30th September, 1970, the numbers of applications received from adult entrants, and the numbers approved, were as follows:

Branch	Total Applications	Total Approved
Seaman	43	20
Marine Engineering	47	27
Weapons and Electrical Engineering	22	12
Supply and Secretariat	13	9
Communication	8	3
Medical	4	3
Regulating	2	2
Naval Airman	5	2
Naval Air Mechanic	2	1
	146	79

Numbers in the form requested are not readily available for earlier periods.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether machine gun links and light press work produced by the Royal Ordnance factories are competitive in price with the same work undertaken by private firms; and what steps he takes to determine that they are so competitive.

Royal Ordnance Factories are generally competitive in price with private firms for this kind of work.Competitive tendering is carried out unless it is clearly necessary to allocate work to a Royal Ordnance Factory under the well established preferred source policy.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why the manufacture of light press work, such as machine gun links, previously undertaken by private firms is now carried out at the Royal Ordnance factories, notably that at Radway Green; and what capital expenditure was incurred to equip that factory to do the work.

There has been a reduction in the volume of defence work of this kind and it is likely that the share available for private industry will be less than in the past. Capital expenditure at R.O.F. Radway Green in recent years has been incurred only on replacements for existing plant for this kind of work.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether there has been any substantial decrease in the Government's requirements for 7·62 mm. links and charges; and what trend is now anticipated.

Yes. No marked change in the present level of requirements is anticipated over the next few years.

					1969–70			1970–71 (up to end of November 1970)
ROYAL NAVY
Adult and Junior 'O':
					Entries	Target	Difference	Entries	Target	Difference
Seaman		…	…	…	896	1,540	-644	796	859	-63
Communication			…	…	216	320	-104	158	244	-86
Mechanic (E)		…	…	…	541	890	-349	398	625	-227
Electrical Mechanic			…	…	584	1,000	-416	548	630	-82
Naval Airman			…	…	58	115	-57	55	88	-33
Naval Air Mechanic				…	149	200	-51	145	147	-2
Medical Technician			…	…	15	45	-30	6	30	-24
Medical Assistant			…	…	49	90	-41	48	66	-18
Writer	…	…	…	…	53	110	-57	105	84	+21
Stores	…	…	…	…	37	110	-73	78	97	-19
Cook	…	…	…	…	159	160	-1	139	135	+4
Steward		…	…	…	117	145	-28	85	110	-25
Mechanician Apprentice				…	58	90	-32	43	60	-17
Total			…	…	2,932	4,815	-1,883	2,604	3,175	-571
ROYAL MARINES
Adults	…	…	…	…	663	870	-207	453	590	-137

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the number of Royal Navy detention quarters in the Far East; how many men are presently detained; and how many of these men are married and have their families with them in the Far East.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will invite tenders from private firms for the manufacture of machine-gun links and other light press work.

Yes, for certain types.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the number of adult entrants recruited into each branch of the Royal Navy in 1969 and in 1970 to the nearest date; and by how many the numbers exceeded or fell short of the recruitment target.

An entry target is not assessed for Royal Navy Adults only, but on a combined Adult (Age 17½–33 years) and Junior "O" (Age 15¾–17½ years) basis. Royal Marines however do have an adult only entry target. The comparison tables below have been compiled on financial years, this being the period on which entry targets are calculated for both Royal Navy and Royal Marines.

There are no Naval Detention Quarters in the Far East. Naval ratings sentenced to comparatively short terms of detention serve their sentences in the Army corrective training establishments in Singapore and Hong Kong. Those with longer sentences are committed to the Naval Detention Quarters at Portsmouth. There are at present eight ratings in detention in Singapore and one in Hong Kong. One of those in Singapore is married, but his family is in the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in view of the decision to situate the Royal Air Force's Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit at Royal Naval Air Station, Brawdy, his Department will consider the retention of an air-to-ground firing range at Royal Air Force Pembrey for alternate use for operational or meteorological reasons by the aircraft of the Jaguar Operational Conversion Unit.

No final decision about the Pembrey Range has yet been taken.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) what will be the future location and rôle of No. 229, Operational Conversion Unit, Royal Air Force, in view of the decision not to order the Jaguar B;(2) whether he will make a further statement on his plans for the future of Royal Air Force Chivenor as a flying station.

No. 229 Operational Conversion Unit, R.A.F., shortly to be re-titled No. 229 Tactical Weapons Unit, is to be moved to Lossiemouth, beginning in August, 1972. The move will be completed by March, 1973, when Chivenor will close. Recent decisions on the Jaguar—a small number of the B version of which will still be required—will not affect these plans and the unit will retain its present rôle.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether his Department will examine a simplified and cheaper version of the Jaguar B to meet the Royal Air Force requirement for a new jet trainer for advanced flying training.

We shall be prepared to consider any realistic proposals for meeting the R.A.F.'s requirement.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what report he has received of a British soldier gone missing in Belfast in or around 26th November, 1970.

A soldier who went absent in Belfast on 25th November was subsequently arrested and returned to his unit on the following day.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the policy of Her Majesty's forces in Northern Ireland in relation to the placing of subversive posters liable to lead to a breach of security, an example of which has been sent to him by the hon. Member for Antrim, North.

The practice is to support the Royal Ulster Constabulary in prosecuting those responsible for the distribution or display of posters which are likely to cause a breach of the peace.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the transfer to the Maltese Government of the military equipment held by Maltese units formerly part of the British Army.

On 1st October, 1970, the Maltese Government assumed responsibility for certain units which until then had formed part of the British Army. The equipment held at that date by the units concerned, valued at £244,000 was left in their possession. The Government have agreed to this equipment being transferred, without charge, to the Maltese Government.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the latest developments concerning the three men in Portsmouth Dockyard who have been without work for more than two years.

Two have accepted work as welding sentries; the third is away sick.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many private property owners have received to date grants and loans, respectively, in respect of their storm-damaged properties in Glasgow in January, 1968; and how many recipients completed the repairs;(2) what were the total sums in grants and in loans, respectively, awarded to private owners for the repair of their storm-damaged properties in Glasgow in January, 1968; how much has been repaid; and what sum is still outstanding.

£6·2 million has been paid by Glasgow Corporation, with the assistance of a Government loan of £3·9 million, for the repair of about 65,600 privately-owned houses. I am assured by the Corporation that these repairs have been completed. This money is recoverable from the individual owners by the Corporation who may reduce the amount recovered on hardship grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards the provision of a permanent landing strip on the Island of Barra.

Plans have been prepared for an airstrip on Barra which would cost about £80,000 if carried out by the Army under their programme of military aid to the community. The cost would fall on Inverness County Council and the Highlands and Islands Development Board is considering a request from the Council for financial assistance.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what progress has been made towards the establishment of a health centre in Cumnock.

Following the meeting my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Education had with the local deputation led by the hon. Member on 23rd September, officers of the Scottish Home and Health Department were asked to have discussions locally about the possibility of health centre development in the Cumnock area. Informal local discussions are almost completed and a report will shortly be submitted to me. Thereafter I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give approval for the establishment of a pelican crossing near the junction of Muir Street and Cadzon Street, Hamilton, for convenience and safety of schoolchildren crossing those roads several times a day; and if he will make a statement.

I gave approval for this crossing on 18th August. I understand that the town council is now considering tenders for supply of the equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will have consultations with the American naval authorities with regard to the recent fire on the Polaris depot ship at the Holy Loch: and if he will make a statement.

Since arrangements already exist for my Department to be informed promptly about any nuclear emergency in the Clyde area which might be hazardous to the public, I do not consider that any such consultations would serve a useful purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if any of the protective services under his Department, such as the local fire authority, were notified of the recent outbreak of fire on the Polaris depot ship in the Holy Loch.

I understand that since the fire was brought under control by the crew of the depot ship the responsible authorities did not judge it necessary to notify the local protective services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is satisfied with existing liaison and notification arrangements regarding emergencies between the United States authorities and local authorities in the vicinity of the Polaris base on the Clyde; and if he will make a statement.

The responsibility for making such arrangements is not mine. But I have no reason to suppose that the arrangements for notifying the appropriate services as necessary in the event of an emergency are in any way defective.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will instruct regional hospital boards and boards of management to identify the country of origin of foreign visitors receiving treatment by the National Health Service and to record the charge of any such treatment to the National Health Service.

No. I do not consider that the work required would be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many foreign visitors received medical treatment in England and Wales in the year 1968–69; and what was the charge thereby on the National Health Service.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what consultations he has had with the Government of the United States of America with a view to arranging reciprocal benefits under the National Health scheme for the respective nationals of each country.

There is at present no scope for a reciprocal arrangement between the National Health Service and the United States schemes of hospital insurance and medical insurance for pensioners and elderly people. Apart from a system of medical assistance for poor people, these two insurance schemes are the only United States Government schemes providing medical or hospital treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations have been made to him regarding the plight of retirement pensioners.