asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy concerning non-vocational further education courses.

They rightly form a part of further education provision.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many new primary schools have been opened in England and Wales since 1964.

Three thousand two hundred and twenty-six.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the approved figure for the Leicestershire County Council's major building programme for 1971–72 is less than one-sixth of the sum requested and smaller than the approved total in all but one of the six preceding years.

This programme was approved by the last Government. Leicestershire's programme for 1972–73, which my right hon. Friend has just approved, is the largest for five years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why all the Leicestershire County Council's proposals for replacing old schools have been rejected.

The last Government did not approve any of Leicestershire's replacement proposals for the 1971–72 programme. My right hon. Friend has just approved two for 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much the actual expenditure of public funds on education, at current prices, has risen during the past five years.

In England and Wales, but including universities throughout Great Britain, from £1,453 million in 1965–66 to an estimated £2,034 million in 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a study of drug-taking among 15 to 18-year-old school pupils.

Studies already carried out have shown that it is difficult to reach reliable conclusions, and I do not at present propose to commission another.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision will be made for adequate maintenance grants for low-income parents of pupils over the age of 15 years when the school-leaving age is raised to 16 years.

Maintenance allowances are payable only for children above compulsory school age. They are intended to encourage and assist parents whose children would be free to leave school and start earning but who want to continue their full-time education. When the school-leaving age is 16, children of 15 will not be free to enter employment and the question of encouraging them to stay at school will not arise.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special provisions she will make for books and equipment made necessary by the raising of the school-leaving age.

Expenditure of this kind will be taken into account in the relevant rate support grant negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the shortage of medical practitioners predicted in the Report of the Royal Commission on Medical Education, Command Paper No. 3569, she will encourage the foundation of a Medical School in the University of Bradford.

I announced on 18th November that there will be a new medical school at Leicester. The University of Bradford was not among those recommended for future medical schools by the Royal Commission on Medical Education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now increase the grant to the Arts Council to enable it to meet the increased cost of producing first-class operas in cities and regions outside London and, in particular, to further the production of the Phoenix Opera Company.

Subject to Parliamentary approval the Arts Council grant for 1971–72 will be £11·9 million. The Council decides on the allocation of its grants and on subsidies to individual companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will take steps to ensure that universities do not charge more for residence and meals than students receive in grants for those purposes.

No. Universities decide their own charges for residence and meals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what criteria are used by her in deciding on use of her reserve powers to determine that an education authority has acted unreasonably by failing to provide discretionary grants for full-time education for students over 16 years of age.

No direction under Section 68 of the Education Act, 1944, has been given in connection with discretionary grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek powers to ensure that grants made for the purposes of higher educa- tion should be used for the purpose intended.

Grants are made to enable students to attend a course. It rests with the academic authorities and the award-making bodies, acting in consultation, to ensure, where necessary, that they are used for this purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will issue advice to education authorities not to debar mature students from receiving educational grants solely on the grounds of age.

I propose to ask local education authorities to give particularly sympathetic consideration to grant applications—which usually come from older students—in respect of courses at adult residential colleges.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will indicate the age of each school building still being used by the St. Helens County Borough Council Local Education Authority, as junior schools, secondary schools, special schools for mentally retarded children, workshops and training schools for backward adults, and their positions in relation to industrial factories and gasworks.

Information about the age and precise location of maintained schools is not available in the Department. Establishments other than schools for mentally retarded children and adults are a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Social Services.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what decision has now been taken regarding arrangements to secure the preservation as a naval museum moored off Greenwich of H.M.S. "Belfast".

No proposal has been put to my noble Friend for mooring H.M.S. "Belfast" off Greenwich as a naval museum. He is considering a scheme for mooring the ship at Devon-port. He hopes to take a decision shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to ensure equal treatment for all schoolchildren receiving free school meals.

No. A circular on this subject was sent to local education authorities as recently as March, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will take steps to introduce a national scheme for the payment for school meals by prepaid tokens.

No. I believe that it is best to leave it to the local education authorities, who run the service, to make the arrangements for collecting the charge.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy concerning loans for full-time postgraduate students.

I am examining the implications of a loans scheme for postgraduate students but have no announcement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will introduce legislation to control the export of historical manuscripts; and whether she will make a statement.

My noble Friend the Paymaster-General is considering the matter, on which there are wide differences of opinion, and has no statement to make at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is satisfied with the provisions for and extent of computer education in the country as a whole; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is glad to note that in all sectors of the education service the provision of courses in computer education and support for them is growing.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the fact that the Velasquez portrait of Juan de Parega has now been sold to an overseas buyer, she will review the existing purchase grant available from public funds to the trustees of the National Gallery.

The purchase grant for the National Gallery is settled quinquennially. This is the first year of the current period. No review is being undertaken.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give details of the financial applications made to her Department during the last three years by the Inner London Education Authority to improve the conditions of school toilet facilities.

The Department has approved 34 minor projects, at a total cost of £117,000, at voluntary aided and special agreement schools. I have no information on the sums that the Authority has spent on improving toilets at county and controlled schools, which is a matter for it to decide within its minor works allocations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the optimum number of places the universities will need to create to meet the demand from qualified students in each of the next 10 years.

The number will depend on decisions which have still to be taken on the development of higher education generally in the 1970s.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make an official visit to St. John's Church of England, St. Mary's Roman Catholic, and Mather Street County, Junior and Infants Schools in Failsworth, Lancashire.

No. Much as I would like to do so, I cannot accept all the invitations that I receive to visit schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has to reconstitute the Central Advisory Council for Education (England).

None, at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in how many instances during the past 10 years head teachers of maintained or voluntary primary and secondary schools in England have been dismissed for malpractice or crimes, and for incompetence or failure to perform their duty, respectively.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will have compiled and circulated to local education authorities a list of recommended books of reference for the teaching of sex education in schools;(2) if she will issue a circular to local education authorities advising against the use of a booklet entitled, Sex Education, published by the National Secular Society in the teaching of the subject in schools.

No. I am sure it is best to rely on the good sense of teachers and local education authorities in these matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy on the future of the direct-grant schools; and whether she will make a statement.

As my hon. Friend knows from my Reply to an earlier Question, I intend to fulfil the promise in our election manifesto to encourage direct grant schools. I have not yet received the proposals which I invited the Direct Grant Joint Committee to let me have and I am not yet ready to make any statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which national museums and art galleries have expressed approval of the Government's proposal to impose charges for admission, and which have expressed disapproval.

Negotiations with the national museums and galleries are not complete and my noble Friend is not at this stage ready to report on them. Public expressions of disapproval of the proposal to charge for admission have been made by the Trustees of the National Portrait and Tate Galleries.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the details relating to museum charges are to be announced.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave today to my hon. Friend the Member for Chelmsford (Mr. St. John-Stevas), the hon. Member for Manchester, Blackley (Mr. Rose) and the right hon. Member for Vauxhall (Mr. Strauss).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she will announce the building projects approved under the Third Phase of the Urban Aid Programme.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary expects that approval letters will be sent to local authorities very early in the new year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many nineteenth century primary schools are still in use in the county of Derbyshire; how many will be replaced in 1972–73 as a result of the Government's allocation; and how many years it will take to remove them all at that rate of replacement.

I understand from the local education authority that there are some 240 primary schools in Derbyshire which date from before 1903. Not all these will need to be replaced or improved in the major programme. A number have already been modernised; for some there may be no long-term need; and others are very small and may be replaced or improved from minor works allocations. Two of the larger schools will be replaced in the 1972–73 major programme and I hope that good progress will be made with other necessary improvement and replacement projects in subsequent years.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement on the projects for the improvement or replacement of primary schools in the Northern Region to be included in the building programme for 1970–71, 1971–72, and 1972–73, respectively.

There will be 13 primary improvement projects in 1970–71 worth £1·1 million, 26 in 1971–72 worth £1·9 million and 39 in 1972–73 worth £3·3 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what research is being undertaken under Government auspices with a view to the production of a bio-degradable plastic.

The Science Research Council is at present discussing with three universities possible research projects on the microbiological degradation of plastics.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many coloured schoolchildren are at present attending schools for the educationally sub-normal; what proportion this figure is of the total number of coloured children at school in Great Britain at the present time; and what is the correspond- ing number and proportion for native white schoolchildren.

Departmental statistics of immigrant pupils do not refer to colour but to children born overseas or born in this country to parents who had lived here for less than 10 years. In January, 1970, there were 3,087 immigrant pupils of New Commonwealth origins in schools for the educationally sub-normal in England and Wales. This was 1·3 per cent. of the total numbers of immigrant pupils of New Commonwealth origins in maintained schools in England and Wales. Comparative figures for children who fall outside the Departmental definition of immigrant pupils—not all of whom will be white or of British origin—were 50,281 and 0·6 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is aware that on any terms for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community the criterion will be the free interchange of labour between the countries of the Six and Great Britain; what action she intends to take to arrange for an adequate supply of qualified teachers for the purpose; and what is her estimate of the costs of these changes in our educational programme.

I do not expect that there will be any large or early effect upon the supply of teachers in this country if we join E.E.C.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much financial aid from Government sources is being devoted to research into the causes and cure of migraine.

As I explained in my Reply to the hon. Member for Newark (Mr. Bishop) on 4th December, it is not possible to estimate the cost of research into the causes and cure of migraine, and I am, therefore, unable to estimate the contribution from Government sources.—[Vol. 807, c. 475.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the number of sufferers from migraine.

I have nothing to add to the Answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Social Services on 27th November.— —[Vol. 807, c. 241.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many local education authorities spent less than £1 per head on school books for each child in primary schools during the year 1969–70, and which.

Detailed statistics for 1969–70 compiled by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants and the Society of County Treasurers will not be published until next February, but I understand that there were 71 such authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the teacher/pupil ratio, respectively, for primary schools and secondary schools, for the country as a whole, and for the City of Nottingham, respectively.

The figures are as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the date on which she expects to receive the report of the Committee of Inquiry into the training of teachers.

I would refer to the Reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maude) on 8th December.—[Vol. 808, c. 108–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she plans to designate any additional polytechnics by 1980.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer which I gave to his Question earlier today.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek powers to promote or introduce higher education courses designed to teach and inform the public as to their rights in law.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why the ceiling for expenditure for the minor works programme for Leicestershire for 1971–72 has been fixed at £308,000, a lower figure than the previous year, in view of that authority's application for more than three times that sum for the provision of indoor toilets, halls, staff rooms, playgrounds, playing fields and other amenities.

This allocation was made by the last Government. Leicestershire's allocation for 1972–73, which my right hon. Friend has just announced, is £330,000, the same as in 1970–71.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by what authority the Leicestershire County Council is using funds authorised for its minor works programme for its major works programme.

Each local authority can decide how to use its allocation for minor works costing up to £30,000 each, including projects designed to provide extra teaching accommodation where a major project would not be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is aware that many schools are without medical examination rooms; if she will make it a condition of approval of capital expenditure that such rooms are provided for all schools and medical suites for large comprehensive schools; and if she will make a statement.

No. Statute requires that in schools maintained by local education authorities, suitable accommodation shall be immediately available at any time during school hours for medical inspection or treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage increase in students' fees for non-vocational adult education classes she estimates as a result of savings to be made in educational expenditure for this purpose on the basis that there is no reduction in the numbers of students attending classes.

I would refer the hon. Member to the Answer given today to the hon. Member for Acton (Mr. Spearing).

asked the Minister of State for Defence what proportion of each of the Armed Forces appears on the recently compiled voters rolls; what facilities are available to those serving overseas to find out if their names are on the voters roll; and if he will make a statement.

Figures are not yet available for the recently completed roll for each Service. For the 1970 Roll, however, it is estimated that about 32 per cent. of Service men registered. The appropriate Electoral Registration Officer sends an acknowledgement to Service men to indicate that their registration form has been received. It is intended to have the new procedure considered by the Electoral Advisory Conference early in the New Year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence, in view of the changes in relation to release of young Service recruits, whether he will seek powers to assist those young men who deserted after being refused release.

No further powers are needed. Existing powers will always be exercised in relation to the circumstances of each case.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent discussions with European Defence Ministers about burden-sharing in the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation.

The text of the official communiqué is as follows:

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arrangements are being made in connection with the defence run-down in Singapore to retain separate schools, hospitals, swimming pools and recreational facilities for the British forces remaining in Singapore after the end of 1971.

We are studying the educational, medical and recreational facilities needed for our forces in Singapore after 1971 and will be discussing these with the Singapore Government. At this stage I cannot give details of the arrangements that will be made.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what size of British naval ships are expected to call at the proposed Diego Garcia base.

This will depend on the extent of the facilities to be provided there.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether the proposed base at Diego Garcia will cater for Nimrod aircraft.

There are no such plans.

asked the Minister of State for Defence to what extent the United Kingdom will assist in the manning of the proposed base at Diego Garcia.

A small number of naval personnel will be provided when the facility is operational.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what study has been made of construction costs of a limited naval facility at Diego Garcia.

Budgetary estimates have been made by the U.S. authorities.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what study he has made of the effects of cyclones, hurricanes and storms in the Diego Garcia area.

Those normally undertaken by the Service authorities.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what study he has made of the tonnage of coral limestone required to build a harbour wall at Diego Garcia to give shelter for ships.

None.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether any reduction is contemplated in the period of engagement required of Royal Navy ratings and Royal Marines other ranks who join as adults.

At present, with certain limited exceptions, adults joining the non-apprentice Branches of the Royal Navy, and those joining the Royal Marines, engage for nine years active service. As from 1st January, 1971, recruits to these Branches of the Royal Navy, and to the Royal Marines who are over 17½ years old will be offered, as an alternative, an engagement which will allow them to opt to end their active service after four years from the age of 18, or, if they were over 18 when they joined, from the date of joining.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many foreign aircraft have been purchased by the Royal Air Force in each of the last six years.

The numbers of military aircraft purchased from abroad, delivered in the last six years, are as follows: 1965, 16; 1966, 2; 1967, 51; 1968, 80; 1969, 105; 1970, 4. These figures include aircraft purchased for the Royal Navy and Army Air Corps, as well as for the Royal Air Force.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future Army command structure in the United Kingdom.

To meet the needs of the Army in the 1970s, it has been decided to abolish the present three geographic Commands and one functional Command in England, and to establish one Army Command for the whole of the United Kingdom.This Command will be called United Kingdom Land Forces and its headquarters will be located at Wilton near Salisbury. It will become effective on 1st April, 1972 when the present Headquarters Southern Command (at Hounslow) will close and Headquarters Army Strategic Command (at Wilton) will be absorbed into the new Headquarters United Kingdom Land Forces.Headquarters Northern Command (at York) and Headquarters Western Command (at Chester) will close later that year. Headquarters Scotland and Headquarters Northern Ireland will remain in being at their present locations and for most purposes will come under command of Headquarters United Kingdom Land Forces during 1972.The number of Districts will be reduced by two during 1972–73 by combining the present Eastern and East Midland Districts into one new Eastern District with its Headquarters at Colchester; and by amalgamating the present Northumbrian, Yorkshire and North West Districts to form two Districts—North East and North West Districts, with Headquarters at York and Preston respectively.These new arrangements are designed to improve efficiency by streamlining methods of work and to achieve considerable economies in manpower and other resources now devoted to the administration of the Army in this country.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why the Army authorities advised the Northern Ireland Government to order the curtailment of the traditional ceremonies surrounding the burning of the effigy of the traitor Lundy on private property in the City of Londonderry on or around 19th December; if he is aware of the widespread concern in Northern Ireland at the Army's decision; and if he will now give an assurance that the holding of such traditional ceremonies will not be interfered with by the Army in the future.

Decisions concerning the holding of traditional public celebrations are taken by the appropriate authorities of the Northern Ireland Government, after they consider all the relevant factors, which include the advice given by the security authorities through the Joint Security Committee.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why some members of the Ulster Defence Regiment are going on guard duty at Newcastle Telephone Exchange, County Down, Northern Ireland without arms; and, in view of the fact that the exchange has been damaged recently by a bomb explosion, if he will now direct that all members of the Ulster Defence Regiment on guard duty there will be properly armed.

Members of the Ulster Defence Regiment guarding the Newcastle Telephone Exchange are, and always have been, adequately armed.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what will be the future role of the Army Officer Cadet Training Unit, Mons; and if he will make a statement.

This unit will continue to train Army Officer cadets for Short Service Commissions and for some Special Regular Commissions.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what he estimates expenditure to be in the current financial year on the university air squadrons of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; and what is their current establishment of both regular and volunteer reserve other ranks and officers.

£1,350,000. The current regular establishment is 78 officers and 74 airmen. The establishment provides for a maximum of 689 pupils who may be regular officers serving as university cadets or Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve officers or airmen. There is no specific breakdown of the pupil establishment between these three categories.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he intends to make any change in the equipment, organisation or rôle of the air experience flights and university air squadrons of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; and if he will make a statement.

All these matters are under study but 1 am not yet in a position to say what, if any, changes will be made.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what he now estimates expenditure to be in the current financial year on the air experience flights of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve; and what is their current establishment of regular and volunteer reserve officers and other ranks.

£390,000. The current establishment is 12 regular officers, and 200 officers of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Training Branch). No airmen are on the establishment.

asked the Minister of of State for Defence what the rôle of Royal Air Force, Church Fenton, will be for the future; and whether this is operationally compatible with the utilisation of the airfield on a joint-user basis for scheduled civil air transport services.

The rôle of Royal Air Force, Church Fenton is to give basic flying training. This is a long-term task and is not compatible with its use by any scheduled civil air service. The airfield is, however, available during working hours, and with prior permission of the Commanding Officer, for use by civil aircraft on inland flights.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the results of the trials of the £100 million North Atlantic Treaty Organisation air defence ground environment network; and if it will be operational by 1972.

I understand that the system, which is expected to be in operation in 1972, will be the subject of trials next year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of H.M.S. "Centaur".

H.M.S. "Centaur" has been used as an accommodation ship for the last five years. The requirement for her in this rôle has now lapsed, and she has been approved for disposal by scrapping.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the future of H.M.S. "Lion".

"H.M.S. "Lion" will not now be converted to carry helicopters. The future of the ship is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will arrange to meet representatives of the Police Federation to discuss ways and means of resolving their request for a 35 per cent. salary increase for the police.

Police pay is a matter, in the first instance, for the Police Council, on which my right hon. Friend is represented.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what progress has been made in the negotiations on increased pay for the police.

On 11th December a revised offer was made by the official side but was not accepted by the staff side. There will be another meeting on 8th January.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the future of the emergency voluntary ser vices before the House rises before the recess.

The review that has been put in hand will take some time to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why action was not taken against Prisoner 654761, held at Armley Gaol, Leeds, arising out of allegations the prisoner made about the conduct of prison officers, which were later found by his Department to be unfounded.

I have sent the hon. Member a full account of the events in this case. The inquiry into the prisoner's allegations did not show a clear case for charging him with making false and malicious allegations against an officer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recommendations he has made concerning the use of carbon tetrachloride in household cleaning agents.

The Home Office has circulated to the trade recommendations as to the warnings to be included on the labels on cleaning fluids containing carbon tetrachloride.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that the industrial dispute in the electricity supply industry has shown that in national emergencies such as this the various public services falling within the general responsibility of his Department, such as the police, are unable to cope with the difficulties thus created; and whether he will set up an emergency committee to prepare ways and means to ensure the satisfactory working of public services in such emergencies.

I do not accept the imputations against police efficiency in the first part of the Question. The answer the to the second part is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to amend the Race Relations Act, 1965, to allow Her Majesty's Customs and Excise to confiscate material which, if published in Great Britain, would be unlawful under the Act.

My right hon. Friend has no evidence to suggest that this is necessary at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, of 10th December, 1970, showing that the authorities concerned, for which he has Ministerial responsibilities, are refusing to take action in accordance with their statutory authority to enable the hon. Member to carry out his Parliamentary duties; and what action he proposes to take concerning this matter.

The hon. Member's letter was received on Monday 14th December and is being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consult chief constables with a view to the establishment of rescue helicopters at strategic points along motorways to facilitate the evacuation of casualties, particularly in cases of multiple accidents.

The Home Office has considered, with chief officers of police, the circumstances in which helicopters might be employed for police purposes. I doubt whether it would be right to use them in the manner suggested by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons, male and female separately, have signed the Disabled Persons' Register at Chester-le-Street, Birtley and Washington Employment Exchanges; for what periods they have been signing; and why they have not been found suitable employment.

On 14th December, 1970, 169 males and 12 females who are registered as disabled were on the unemployed registers at these Employment Exchanges. Of these, 21 males and one female had been unemployed less than six weeks, 27 males and three females between six weeks and six months, 21 males and one female between six months and a year, and 100 males and seven females over one year. The lack of employment in the area which affects both disabled and able-bodied people has made resettlement difficult. Many of them are also in the older age groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what provision he is making in the Codes of Regulations to control the use of highly inflammable foam material used in furnishings;(2) what provision he is making in the Codes of Regulations concerning the storage of polyether foam used in furniture manufacture; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is at present investigating foam plastic materials (including polyether foam) used in furniture manufacture in relation to their fire dangers and relevant research is also going on at the Fire Research Station at Boreham Wood. It is important to have all the findings before deciding whether any fresh regulations are needed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for amending the Rag and Flock Act, 1936, to include provisions for controlling the use of highly inflammable foam material in bedding and furnishings.

I have been asked to reply.Regulations relating to the flammability of foam materials used in bedding and furniture could, if necessary, be made under the Consumer Protection Act, 1961, but my right hon. Friend does not consider that such regulations would be justifiable at the present time.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on the assumption that the rate of increase in the index of retail prices between 20th October and 20th December, 1970 will be equal to the average rate of increase in the ten preceding months and making a similar assumption about the rise in the index of average earnings, what will be the purchasing power of the index of average earnings on 20th December, 1970 expressed as a percentage of its purchasing power on 20th December 1969.

On the hypothetical assumptions stated, the index of average earnings would rise by about 5½ per cent. more than the general index of retail prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from representative bodies and from wool textile companies in favour of disbanding of the Wool Industry Training Board, and in favour of reducing levies payable to it, respectively.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the net decline in employment in the Yorkshire and Humberside region between April, 1966, and June, 1970.

Provisional estimates show a decrease between March, 1966, and March, 1970, of 109,000 employees in employment in the Yorkshire and Humberside region. There are no estimates for April, 1966, and estimates for June, 1970, are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to ensure that foam filling used in the manufacture of soft toys is flame retardent; and if he will issue instructions that all soft toys be stamped, highly inflammable, unless flame retardent foam is used.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend does not consider that the degree of risk presented by foam fillings which are not flame-retardent is such as to call for action of this kind, but he proposes to suggest to the British Standards Institution that the flammability of such fillings might be considered by the technical committee concerned with the safety of toys.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if his attention has been drawn to a recent incident where a teddy bear had a flame passed beneath one arm and within two seconds was wholly ignited due to the foam filling being highly inflammable; and, having regard to the fact that the use of lighted candles will be prevalent in the next few weeks, if he will take urgent steps to inform parents and children of the danger of fire from the stuffing in soft toys.

I have been asked to reply.The fire hazard presented by soft toys depends, in the main, on the ignitability of their outer fabric rather than the flammability of the filling material. I understand that the British Standards Institution will shortly be publishing an amendment to the Code of Safety Requirements for Children's Toys requiring such fabrics to pass a flammability test. My right hon. Friend does not consider that any public warning about the flammability of foam fillings in toys is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will take steps to ensure that no nurses are forbidden to wear union badges on their uniforms.

We are not aware that any nurses have been forbidden to do this.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what arrangements he makes to ensure the full collection of selective employment tax in respect of all persons working in strip-tease clubs.

Liability for the payment of selective employment tax and its enforcement are the same in this occupation as in any other. Selective employment tax is an integral part of the employed person's national insurance stamp and the employer is liable for payment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much he estimates he will save in the first year of its operation by not paying unemployment benefit for the first three days of claiming.

About £2 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of homeless families in the Greater London area to the last convenient date; and how this compares with previous figures.

My information relates to families in temporary accommodation maintained by local authorities. On 30th September this year there were 2,787 families living in such accommodation in Greater London. This compares with 2,359 families at the end of 1969 and 2,016 at the end of 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now publish the results of the investigation into the widely publicised allegations made in May and June, 1970, that live foetuses were being sold for research, without waiting for a further long-term inquiry.

The investigation resulted in a decision to take no further action beyond the setting up of the inquiry referred to in my reply on 1st December to the hon. Member for Roxburgh, Selkirk and Peebles (Mr. David Steel), and the letter sent to nursing homes approved under the Abortion Act.—[Vol. 807, c. 326.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what has been the total cost to date to public funds of supplementary benefits paid to the families of men involved in the Scottish bakery workers' strike.

Supplementary benefit payments to the families of men involved in the strike totalled £3,512 to 8th December.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make special discretionary benefits, such as medically required diet allowances, payable as of right to retirement pensioners, on production of an appropriate medical certificate from their doctor, without the necessity of undergoing a supplementary benefit means test.

No. The supplementary benefits scheme provides additions for those with exceptional expenses such as special diets. A retirement pensioner who does not qualify for supplementary benefit after account is taken of such expenses is regarded as having a sufficient income to meet them.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will permit the commutation of a war pension to a lump sum entitlement, on the basis of agreed life expectancy tables, in order to enable capital to be raised for business purposes where regular employment is precluded by the nature of the disability.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on the assumption that the rate of increase in the index of retail prices between 20th October and 20th December, 1970, will be equal to the average rate of it crease in the 10 preced- ing months, what will be the purchasing power of the National Insurance pension on 20th December, 1970, expressed as a percentage of its purchasing power on 20th December, 1969.

93 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received concerning the position of women over 60 years of age in receipt of National Insurance pensions who continue to be liable for prescription charges.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations have been made to him to the effect that a wife who is over 60 years of age, and receives a retirement pension should automatically be exempted from prescription charges; and what reply he has sent.

About 130 letters. Replies explain the help which is available to those who need it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost to public funds of exempting all persons over 60 years of age not in full-time work from National Health Service charges.

About £7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) if he will take steps to exempt dependants of persons in receipt of National Insurance pensions from existing National Health Service charges;(2) if he will take steps to exempt all persons in receipt of National Insurance pensions from existing National Health Service charges.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 24th November.—[Vol. 807, c. 72.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what investigations he has instructed to ascertain the proportion of bedding used in the hospital service containing highly inflammable foam filling; how soon he proposes to replace such filling with flame retardent foam; and if he will publish the findings of such investigations;(2) what instructions have been issued to geriatric establishments to ensure that, where foam filling is used in mattresses, that it be of a flame retardent material, thereby minimising the risk of fire.

None at present but hospital authorities will be informed of the results of current research into the advantages and disadvantages of flame-retardent foam as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will provide the cost-benefit figures, in relation to other expenditure within the overall health budget, on which he based his decision to run down the provision of the mass X-ray service.

The decision to run down this service was not taken primarily for reasons of economy, but because general population surveys now reveal relatively few cases of active tuberculosis for the number of persons examined. The service will continue to be used for surveys of population groups at special risk; and in some areas to meet the needs of general practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services, how many hostels and hostel places are available under local authority control and under the control of voluntary organisations, respectively, for the purpose of rehabilitating drug addicts.

One hostel of 13 places under local authority control and 7 hostels with a total of 91 places under the control of voluntary organisations. I know of plans for 4 further hostels, with a total of 44 places. One of them will be under local authority control.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the number of known cases of syphilis, gonorrhoea and other venereal diseases in the first half of 1965 and in the first half of 1970.

The numbers of new cases attending clinics in England were:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if it is his policy that local authorities should make provision for over 16 years old severely mentally handicapped people to attend adult training centres; and what guidance he is giving in this matter, having regard to the representations made by the honourable Member for Newark.

Local authorities' responsibility for the care of the mentally handicapped includes the provision of centres or other facilities for the training and occupation of adults according to their needs and capacities. As my right hon. Friend informed the hon. Member for Smethwick (Mr. Faulds) on 1st December he expects to issue policy guidance on the services for the mentally handicapped probably in the early spring.—[Vol. 807, c. 327.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what plans he has for measures to reduce the incidence of lung cancer and other diseases associated with cigarette smoking.

I am very conscious of the seriousness of the health risk and I intend to meet representatives of the tobacco manufacturers to discuss further measures.