asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now make a further statement about the export of calves.

I regret that a slip of the tongue in answering a supplementary question on 8th December caused me to mislead the House and has given rise to misunderstanding. Once animals are disembarked in another country, our regulations cease to apply and a check on their welfare is then a matter for the importing country.—[Vol. 808, c. 228.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when the Agricultural Advisory Council's Report on Soil Structure will be published.

Printing has been delayed by the power cuts. The Report will be published as soon as possible after Christmas.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the use of live fowl pest vaccine is to be made permanent in this country; what regulations or conditions he is attaching to its uses; and whether his authorisation of its use means the acceptance by him that fowl pest is now endemic in Great Britain.

Live vaccines of the Hitchener B1 strain are being approved for use in this country on a continuing basis alongside the inactivated vaccine. No conditions attach to the use of these vaccines provided they have been licensed under the Therapeutic Substances Order. I would not accept that approval of the use of the Hitchener B1 vaccine will make fowl pest endemic in Great Britain.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to limit imports of food from the Argentine to the average level of our exports to that country.

I have been asked to reply.No, the Government do not favour bilateral trading policies and we hope to see an expansion of trade with Argentina in both directions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what are the numbers of staff employed in the Farm Manager and Deputy Farm Manager Classes, Animal Health Division; and of them what is the number for which accommodation is not provided.

One farm manager and two deputy farm managers. All occupy officially provided accommodation for which they pay rent.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to examine the safety of canned tuna fish following the United States Food and Drug Administration's discovery that one in five cans of tuna fish sold in the United States contain an unacceptable trace of mercury.

Such an examination was started within a few hours of information reaching this country about the findings in the United States of America.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will introduce legislation to give security of tenure in appropriate circum- stances to the family of a deceased agricultural tenant.

I have no proposals for amending the legislation on security of tenure for tenant farmers.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how the price of bread in Cardiganshire differs from the average price for the United Kingdom.

Information about the average price of bread in Cardiganshire is not readily available. The average retail price in Wales does not differ significantly from the comparable figure for Great Britain, although in areas remote from the nearest plant bakeries, like Cardiganshire, a small surcharge is made because of the long road transport hauls involved.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he has studied the report of the Council on Environmental Quality, a copy of which has been sent to him, advising the President of the United States of America that the ocean dumping of toxic industrial wastes should be terminated immediately; and if he will adopt these proposals in relation to ocean dumping in British coastal waters.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to him by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment on 16th November in which he referred to a review concerning marine pollution. This review, which is being carried out by the Departments concerned, will take account of the contents of the Report to which the Question refers. I must not anticipate the results of the review, but it would be wrong to assume that toxic wastes cannot be disposed of in the sea under conditions in which no harm results to the marine environment.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will list the annual number of prosecutions there have been for poaching inside the United Kingdom fishery limits since the 12-mile limit was adopted in 1964.

The information is as follows:

Year	No. of Prosecutions
1964	1
1965	18
1966	15
1967	18
1968	11
1969	9
1970	16

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies his Department has made of the causes of plankton blooms in British coastal waters, and of the changes these induce in the productivity of marine life in the area.

The Shellfish Laboratory at Burnham-on-Crouch studied the plankton bloom which occurred in 1968 between the Firth of Forth and Bridlington, in collaboration with other laboratories. The results were published in "Nature" on 5th October, 1968. The area has since been monitored.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what studies his Department have made of the effects of china clay waste on marine life in St. Austell and Mevagissey Bays.

The Ministry has carried out studies of china clay deposits in the areas concerned, including surveys of the fauna in St. Austell Bay using a local commercial trawler. The results were published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association in August, 1970.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that particulate trade wastes dumped in the Irish Sea do not smother benthic animals, and do not reduce photosynthesis by phytoplankton in the area.

Dispersibility is one of the factors that are taken into account by my Department in dealing with applications to dispose of wastes at sea under the voluntary arrangements which it operates.

asked the Minister for Aviation Supply how many complaints of sonic booms he has received from the council of the Isles of Scilly during the past three months; what undertaking he has given that the French Concorde will not fly over the Isles of Scilly; and whether he is satisfied that the French Government are co-operating with the British Government to prevent this happening in the future.

The authorities in the Isles of Scilly have complained that sonic booms have been heard on five occasions on days when the French-assembled Concorde prototype has been flying. The designated test routes for the French-assembled Concorde ensure that no sonic booms should be heard in the United Kingdom and the French authorities have instructed S.N.I.A.S. to ensure that these routes are strictly followed in the future.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will publish in HANSARD a detailed statement showing how the bill of £348 16s. 3d. presented to the Tower Hamlets local authority for the use of Servicemen to clear refuse during the recent strike was made up, how much for the salaries for each of the officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks, and how much for the use of plant and equipment; and on what basis of time spent was the charge made.

£341 10s. 9d. was the cost of the use of Army transport, and additional rations and allowances for those taking part cost £7 5s. 6d. The pay of the Servicemen employed is not included in the extra costs charged because it would have been incurred in any event. The time spent on the task was 308¼ man-hours.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if agreements have been made with the unions in Her Majesty's Dockyard, Devonport, so that it will be possible to pay the £20 bonus to all those qualified to receive it before Christmas.

The Trade Unions have not yet accepted the agreement which was offered to them for signature in September last.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will now direct one of Her Majesty's ships, with a naval doctor and a fully equipped naval berth, for fishery protection duties off the northwest coast of Iceland to replace H.M.S. "Malcolm" after 19th December until the mother-ship "Miranda" is available for duty and on station.

No.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why another of Her Majesty's vessels was not available with medical facilities aboard to replace H.M.S. "Malcolm" as fishing protection vessel off the north-west coast of Iceland until the mother ship "Miranda" was available for duty and on station.

There are no plans to deploy another frigate to the north-west coast of Iceland on H.M.S. "Malcolm's" return to the United Kingdom. Arrangements are being made by the Department of Trade and Industry to support the fishing fleet in this area until the "Miranda" arrives on station.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give an estimate of the expenditure by local education authorities during each of the last three financial years on audio-visual aids; how much of that expenditure was on equipment; and how much on films, slides and similar material for use with such equipment.

No information is available which would enable me to make an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will list the polytechnics which have students enrolled who are confined to wheelchairs;(2) if she will list the universities which have students enrolled who are confined to wheelchairs;(3) how many universities had students enrolled who were confined to a wheelchair for each of the last five years; and what was the corresponding figure for 1960–61.

I am in touch with the Central Council for the Disabled about the collection of the relevant information, which is not available within the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the number of university departments offering a degree course in oceanography and marine biology, and also the number of departments awarding degree courses in ocean engineering.

I understand that oceanography forms part of first-degree courses at the Universities of East Anglia, Liverpool and Wales (Bangor and Swansea) and can be studied at postgraduate level at the Universities of Southampton and Wales (Bangor). Marine biology forms part of first-degree courses at the Universities of Belfast, East Anglia, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Queen Mary's and Bedford Colleges), Newcastle, St. Andrews, Sheffield, Southampton and Wales (Bangor and Swansea) and can be studied at postgraduate level at the University of Wales (Bangor). There are no courses described as ocean engineering at United Kingdom universities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount of grant-in-aid paid each year to the Social Science Research Council since it was constituted and the amount to be paid for the next two years.

The grants-in-aid to the Social Science Research Council since it was constituted are as follows:—

	£
1965–66 (from 1st December, 1965)	22,000
1966–67	591,121
1967–68	866,305
1968–69	1,470,104
1969–70	2,269,131
1970–71 (estimate)	3,264,000

I cannot give any figures for future years in advance of the submission of Estimates to the House.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the value of sums held under the liability defects clause inserted into building contracts in respect of schools.

The letting of school building contracts is a matter for the local education authorities and governors and managers of voluntary schools. Normally the R.I.B.A. form of contract is used and for most contracts 2½ per cent. of the value is withheld during the maintenance period, usually six months. The total value of these sums is not known to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will reconsider the 1972–73 allocation of primary school replacements amounting to £150,000 in the county of Derbyshire.

My right hon. Friend is satisfied that Derbyshire has a fair share of the resources available in 1972–73. Local education authorities have just been asked for their proposals for the following programme, which will be the second in a series designed to bring within sight the replacement or improvement of sub-standard 19th century primary schools for which there is a long-term need.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will meet a deputation from the Derbyshire Education Committee to discuss an increase in the allocation of resources for Derbyshire primary schools in order to restore the amount to its 1970–71 level.

My right hon. Friend will be glad to discuss Derbyshire's problems with representatives of the local education authority when she is in the county next month.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will allocate sufficient money to Derbyshire Education Committee to remove all outside toilets in the Derbyshire schools over the next two years.

The local education authority decides how far to use its minor works allocations for this purpose. Its allocation in 1972–73 will be nearly 10 per cent. greater than in the previous year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the primary schools at present in use in the Upper Agbrigg and Saddle-worth educational districts of the West Riding which were built before 1903, and the number she estimates will still be in use in five years time.

The list submitted to the Department by the West Riding local education authority of old primary schools requiring improvement or replacement includes the following schools built before 1903 in the Upper Agbrigg Division:

• Denby Dale Clayton West Kayes Junior and Infant;
• Denby Dale District Junior and Infant;
• Holmfirth Wooldale Junior;
• Kirkburton Flockton Junior and Infant;
• Kirkburton Kirkheaton C.E. Junior and Infant;
• Kirkburton Thurston Endowed Junior and Infant.

No schools in the Saddleworth county district are included in the Authority's list.It is the Government's hope that the elimination of unsatisfactory 19th century primary schools will be in sight at the end of a five-year period, beginning with the recently announced programme for 1972–73. But how quickly individual schools can be replaced or improved will depend upon the local education authority's assessment of the relative priorities and on the resources available year by year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what plans she has for reducing the admission age to the Open University to 18 years.

The Open University is responsible for its own admission arrangements. I have asked the University authorities to consider the contribution it can make to the development of higher education provision in the future. It has agreed to examine the matter in consultation with other educational bodies and to let me have its conclusions by next May.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will reconvene the working party on teachers' pensions.

I think it best to wait until the Government's proposals are known for the future of the National Insurance schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will seek powers to make additional grants for alterations to school buildings necessitated by reorganisation schemes.

No, because I think that any additional capital resources which can be made available should be applied to primary schools, Authorities can, if they so wish, use their allocations for building for raising the school-leaving age and for minor works to carry out alterations to school buildings which will help reorganisation. Further help is often given by projects authorised in the major programme to meet basic need.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimated cost of the changeover to metric units of all textbooks and ancillary equipment; and whether the cost will be met by the local education authorities or the Government.

No estimate is possible. Expenditure by local education authorities on books and equipment is included in relevant expenditure for the purposes of rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action the Government have taken on Resolution (70)24 adopted on 2nd July, 1970, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relating to regulating the manufacture, marketing and use of pesticides with a view to protecting the environment.

The Resolution has been drawn to the attention of the Departments principally concerned who are considering what further action, if any, needs to be taken in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action the Government have taken on Resolution (70)19 adopted on 5th June, 1970, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relating to educational and cultural uses of radio and television in Europe and the relations in this respect between public authorities and broadcasting organisations.

The Government has taken careful note of this Resolution. The present position in the United Kingdom is as follows. The provision of cultural and educational broadcasts is laid down in the Charter of the British Broadcasting Corporation which already has links with appropriate cultural and educational organisations. The links to cultural organisations are usually informal, but under the requirements of its charter those on educational broadcasting are formal through such bodies as the Schools Broadcasting Council and the Further Education Advisory Council on which the Education Departments are represented.Links on the Independent Television side are along similar lines and the two sides have informal consultative channels to prevent overlap of educational broadcasts. The responsibility for providing receivers and other equipment in schools lies with the local education authorities and the rôle of the Education Departments is an advisory one exercised mainly in this connection through H.M. Inspectorate. Virtually all schools have radio receivers and at least 60 per cent. television sets; distribution of television sets is uneven and is influenced to some extent by variation in quality of reception. Most schools have sound recording equipment and the installation of video recording equipment is gathering momentum; the comparatively high cost of the latter is a significant factor.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of staff employed in the grades A and B of the Farm Manager Classes by the Agricultural Research Council; and of them what is the number for which accommodation is not provided.

The numbers of staff employed in the Farm Manager Classes in the Agricultural Research Council institutes and the institutes which they Grand aid total:

Grade A	10
Grade B	8
Personal salary scales	5

Of these, two are not provided with accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to publish the figures for 1st January, 1970 of pupils who, or both of whose parents, immigrated to this country in the previous 10 years from the new Commonwealth.

The figures for January, 1970, will appear in Volume 1 of Statistics of Education, 1970, which is expected to be published in the summer of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now include the Churchfields School, Swindon, extensions in the 1971–72 starts programme.

It is not possible to add any projects to the 1971–72 starts programme. The Churchfields project is included in Wiltshire's 1971–72 Design List, with a view to work starting in 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school children attending primary schools in Molesey have been offered selective grammar school places following the 11-plus examination held at the beginning of 1970; what percentage this number is of the total child population in the relevant age group in Molesey; and how this percentage compares with

	Sickness	Industrial injury (industrial accidents and prescribed industrial disease)	Unemployment		Stoppages of work due to industrial disputes
	Days of certified incapacity (Great Britain)*		Estimated working days lost (United Kingdom)†		Working days lost in all stoppages in progress (United Kingdom)
Year ended	millions	millions	Year ended	millions	Year ended 31st May	millions
4th June, 1960	275‡	21	13th June, 1960	110	1960	6·0
3rd June, 1961	279	19	12th June, 1961	92	1961	3·3
2nd June, 1962	not available§	20	18th June, 1962	106	1962	5·9
1st June, 1963	289	20	10th June, 1963	155	1963	1·8
30th May, 1964	287	22	15th June, 1964	120	1964	2·5
5th June, 1965	299‡	23	14th June 1965	93	1965	2·7
4th June, 1966	311	24	13th June, 1966	86	1966	2·2
3rd June, 1967	301	23	12th June, 1967	131	1967	2·3
1st June, 1968	328	23	10th June, 1968	152	1968	4·7
31st May, 1969	329	23	9th June, 1969	148	1969	4·1
30th May, 1970	not yet available		8th June, 1970	154	1970║	8·6
* For national insurance purposes on the basis of six working days in a week Days of incapacity following termination of injury benefit are included under sickness.
† On the basis of 250 working days in a year.
‡ 53 week period.
§ Routine tabulations were not prepared for 1961–62 which was the year in which a special inquiry into the incidence of incapacity for work was carried out by the then Ministry of Pensions and National Insurance.
║ Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the representations he received with regard to changing the Construction Industry Training Board Levy to its current levy order dated 19th March, 1970.

Representations against the Construction Industry Training Board's that for the Esher educational district as a whole, and for the administrative county of Surrey as a whole.

This information is not available within the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many working days have been lost in each of the last 10 years through sickness, injuries, unemployment and strikes, respectively.

Following is the information available:proposals relating to its current levy order were received in late 1969 and early 1970 from the following:The National Federation of Building Trade Employers, The National Federation of Builders' and Plumbers' Merchants, The Federation of Associations of Specialists and Sub-Contractors, The Electrical Contractors' Association, The Electrical Contractors' Association of Scotland. In addition, a large number of letters were received from hon. Members who had received complaints and representations from their constituents.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will refer to the Commission on Industrial Relations the action of the chief telecommunications superintendent of the Post Office Corporation in having the literature of a small registered trade union, the National Guild of Telephonists, sought out, removed and destroyed whenever found on Post Office premises.

No, My right hon. Friend does not regard this matter as appropriate for reference to the C.I.R.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what administrative steps will be taken to ensure an up-to-date list of members of trade unions is filed with the Registrar of Trade Unions; and what measures will be taken to ensure that such a list is correct or to assist in keeping such a list up to date.

The Industrial Relations Bill does not propose that such lists be filed with the new Registrar of

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREAS COVERED BY THB EDINBURGH, LEITH AND PORTOBELLO EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
	Edinburgh	Leith	Portobello
7th December, 1970 (provisional)	4,691	1,606	893
8th December, 1969	3,803	1,346	668
7th December, 1964	2,700	659	205
Percentage increase—
December, 1964 to December, 1970	73·7	143·7	335·6
December, 1964 to December, 1969	40·9	104·2	225·9

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, under the terms of reference, he will ensure that Members of Parliament will be enabled to submit evidence to the Industrial Court to be appointed to inquire into the industrial dispute in the electrical supply industry.

The decision as to who shall give evidence is a matter for the Court of Inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek powers to make unlawful the compulsory pre-entry conditions laid down by professional organisations not registered with the Registrar of Trade Unions.

No. The Government do not propose to restrict the right of any organisations—whether registered or not—to establish conditions for entry to employment based on skill, experience or educational qualifications.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons in the Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello employment exchange districts, respectively, were registered as unemployed on the latest date for which figures are available; what was the figure for the equivalent period in 1969; and what percentage change this represents over the equivalent period in 1964.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether the terms of reference for the Industrial Court to inquire into the industrial dispute and the salaries of workers in the electricity supply industry will include the question of the 51 per cent. increase granted in the past two-and-a-half years to the Chairman of the Electricity Supply Industry;(2) whether he will arrange, when drawing up the terms of reference for the Industrial Court to inquire into the wages dispute affecting the electricity supply industry, for them to take into account the fact that the Chairman of the Electricity Council's salary has been increased on three occasions since April, 1969 until January, 1971, by some 51 per cent.

No. The terms of reference of the independent Court of Inquiry will require the Court to take into account the interest of the public and of the national economy. It is for the Court itself to decide how it will do this.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether legal aid will be available for litigants appearing before the Industrial Tribunal and/or the National Industrial Relations Court; and what estimate he has made of the likely cost.

Legal aid is not available before industrial tribunals at present and there are no proposals for making a change. The question of legal aid before the National Industrial Relations Court, including the financial implications, is being studied.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what remuneration will be paid to the Registrar and Assistant Registrar of trade unions and other officials consequent upon the provisions of the Industrial Relations Bill.

The Industrial Relations Bill provides for payment to the Chief Registrar of such remuneration as the Secretary of State may determine with the approval of the Minister for the Civil Service; and to Assistant Registrars and other officials of such remuneration as the Chief Registrar may determine with the like approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in view of the work being done by the Monmouthshire Branch of the British Productivity Council, as evidenced by the recent report which he has received, he will reconsider his decision to phase out the grant to the national body.

No. I regret that no trace can be found of the report referred to having been received. However, while the valuable work of the British Productivity Council and the various local productivity associations is recognised, the Government consider it more appropriate for these services to be financed by industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the total annual cost to public funds of the regional employment premium since its introduction; and what proportion was awarded in respect of adult males, adult females, juvenile males and juvenile females in each year, in Wales.

The total amount paid to registered establishments in development areas in Great Britain in respect of Regional Employment Premium from its inception up to the end of the second quarter of the current financial year is £296,890,000. I regret that the information asked for in the second part of the Question is not immediately available in the form requested, but I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) if he will give the figures, by industry, of employment vacancies in Wales in the years 1960 to 1970;(2) if he will give the figures for the increase and decrease of employment, by industry, in Wales during the period 1960 to 1970.

I am arranging for the information to be obtained and I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if his attention has been drawn to misleading advice contained in advertisements issued in local newspapers by his Department relating to the protection and remedies afforded by the Rent Act, 1968, in that furnished tenants should refer their cases to rent tribunals before notice to quit has been served, with the result that the period of security which they might otherwise enjoy could be abridged; and if he will make the necessary corrections.

My attention has been drawn to comments made about these advertisements. I do not consider that the advice given in the advertisements was in any way misleading.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will recommend to local authorities that housing advisory officers should be appointed in every city that has a serious housing problem.

I am to recommend to selected local authorities with a serious housing problem the establishment of a housing aid centre.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will allow local councils building warden-controlled old people's flats a reduced interest loan on the building capital required.

The present subsidy arrangements, which in effect reduce the loan charges, include a cost yardstick system which takes into account the higher cost of providing additional facilities for warden-assisted old people's housing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have completed the elimination of all slums in their areas; and whether he will take this into account when allocating the proposed new subsidies.

I believe that few authorities have done so, although in a number of areas the problem is not substantial. The reform of housing finance will have regard to the problems of housing authorities as they affect them in the future.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if local housing authorities which remove slums too quickly will be limited in their access to the Public Works Loans Board.

If the hon. Member will write explaining more fully the point he has in mind I will look into it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many houses he expects will have been built by local authorities for sale in 1970; and how many he expects to be built in 1971.

In the first 10 months of 1970 local authorities in England and Wales had completed 359 dwellings for resale. It is not possible to forecast the number for 1971, but it will be small.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the local authorities now building houses for sale, and the local authorities who have permission to build for sale but have not yet begun building, respectively.

The following local authorities currently have dwellings under construction which are intended for resale: Swindon Borough Council, Lambeth (London) Borough Council, Stoke County Borough Council, Winsford Urban District Council, Huyton-with-Roby Urban District Council, Wortley Rural District Council.The following local authorities have been given consent to undertake building for sale, but have not yet begun building: Cranbrook Rural District Council (final stage of three-part scheme), Worsley Urban District Council, Macclesfield Borough Council, Nantwich Urban District Council.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities have built post-war houses at a rate of more than 90, 100 and 110 respectively, per 1,000 head of the population.

The information is not readily available in the form requested. The hon. Member can, however, make the calculation with the aid of Local Housing Statistics. England and Wales, for 1966 onwards and the Appendix to the Housing Return for England and Wales for 1965, all of which are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement as to the circumstances of the accident which took place on the M1 motorway at Nuttall, Nottinghamshire, on 14th December, 1970.

Four multiple accidents occurred in fog near the Nuthall Intersection at about 10 a.m. on 14th December. Fog warning lights were in operation.The first accident involved 14 northbound vehicles and the other three 37 southbound vehicles. There were four deaths, five serious injuries and eight slight injuries. The northbound carriageway was re-opened at 2 p.m. and the southbound at 4 p.m. Excessive speeds did, I understand, play a considerable part.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many people have died and how many people have been injured as a result of accidents on the M1 motorway during 1970; and how these figures compare with 1968 and 1969.

This information is not immediately available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the provisions of the Transport Act, 1968, so as to allow the Government to make a 100 per cent. grant towards unremunerative rural bus services.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the details submitted to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, showing that Mr. Kevin O'Sullivan has admitted to owning 400 to 500 cars during the past six years without ever having paid any road tax on same, he will cause this person to be prosecuted.

Enforcement of vehicle excise law is a matter for the Local Licensing Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will request the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board to send promptly to its stockholders a circular letter explaining its proposals for a reorganisation of its capital.

I understand that the Board intends to circulate this information as quickly as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on his policy as regards grant-aid for the Cambrian coast rail passenger service from Machynlleth to Pwllheli.

I am now paying grants totalling some £350,000 a year to the British Railways Board in respect of this service. A cost/benefit study carried out by the Economic Unit of my Department was published at the beginning of the year. Its conclusion was that the costs of retaining the line were substantially greater than the quantifiable benefit to the community of retention. I have therefore told the British Railways Board that it is unlikely that I shall renew the grant undertaking for this service, when it expires at the end of 1971, unless I have by then refused consent to a statutory proposal to withdraw the service.If the Railway Board publish a statutory closure notice, a decision will not be made until after all the normal consultations have been held and full consideration has been given to all the factors involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department is carrying out into the psychological causes of motorway madness on the part of drivers; and whether any particular category of driver tends to be more responsible than others.

General research into driver behaviour covers the factors relevant to motorway driving in all conditions, but there are no indications so far that the problem to which my hon. Friend refers is related to any particular category of driver.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware of the dangers resulting from the fall of material, and in particular building debris, from uncovered lorries using major road routes; and whether he will consider making it compulsory for such vehicles to be covered during transit.

The law already requires lorry loads to be so secured so that they will not fall off. There are over 6,000 successful prosecutions a year for loading offences. The mere fact that a lorry is sheeted may conceal dangers in the way it is loaded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to ensure that motor car bodies fulfil certain minimum requirements in terms of strength as a safety measure.

Not yet.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the evidence submitted to him by the hon. Member for West Ham, North, regarding heavy tipper lorries being used without road fund licences, or insurance, and with defective tyres and false number plates, and generally evading the Road Traffic Acts he will take steps to initiate a special road spot check to discover the extent to which heavy tipper lorries are carrying on these illegal activities.

I am intensifying enforcement checks particularly on major construction sites and am taking other steps to discourage illegal operation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is aware that one part D.D.T. in 100,000 million parts of salt water can kill marine life; and what steps he will take to prevent this chemical reaching the marginal seas around Great Britain.

I have been asked to reply. Following a recommendation by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and other Toxic Chemicals in December, 1969, the Government have already arranged for certain uses of D.D.T. for which adequate and less persistent alternatives are available to be phased out in order to reduce amounts in the environment.I would refer my hon. Friend to a recent report by the Research Committee on Toxic Chemicals on the effects of D.D.T. on marine life. This summarises the results of research work in the United Kingdom on the effects of insecticides on the marine environment, and states that there is no conclusive evidence of any detrimental effects on marine species in the seas around Britain.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present staff establishment of the Land Commission; and what was it on 18th June, 1970.

The present staff of the Land Commission, on 14th December, 1970, is 476 compared with 994 on 18th June, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will direct the attention of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution to the problem of discharge of fly-ash off the Durham coast, as a result of which only 30 per cent. of the species recorded there 100 years ago now survive, and invite their recommendations for remedying the situation.

I will consult the Commission as to the possibility of a study by them of marine pollution.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will direct the attention of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution to the problem created by the fact that the entire sewage from the city of Edinburgh is discharged untreated into the Forth Estuary, and invite their recommendations for preventing the resulting over-enrichment of the marine environment.

No. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I, while well aware of the disadvantages to amenity caused by the lack of sewage treatment plant for Edinburgh, do not intend to refer specific local problems of this nature to the Commission.Sewage from the City of Edinburgh is at present discharged untreated into the Forth through nine outfall sewers, but proposals for treatment works are now under consideration. The Edinburgh Corporation's Consulting Engineers are engaged in investigating the location of the outfall for the treated effluent; and research is being carried out by Edinbugh University into some aspects of the design of the sewage treatment works. A Provisional Order in connection with the project has just been published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give the estimated number of domestic non-returnable containers for food, drink and cleansing materials made from glass, metal and plastic, respectively, and the relative figures for 1965 and 1960.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the Government has taken on Resolution (70) 12 adopted on 7th March, 1970 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe relating to the control of sulphur dioxide emissions into the air.

Several elements of our clean air policy operate to reduce emissions of sulphur dioxide. Ground-level concentrations of sulphur dioxide in this country have fallen by an average of one-third during the last 10 years, owing partly to growing domestic use of low-sulphur or non-sulphurous fuels and partly to better dispersal of industrial emissions through tall chimneys. I am advised that this tendency is likely to continue. Research by the nationalised industries and the oil companies into removing sulphur from fuels and flue gases is being watched by the Alkali Inspectorate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the traditions and history of service to the community of the county boroughs and larger boroughs in the West Riding of Yorkshire, he will not impose upon them any significant loss of identity or powers in the reorganisation of local government.

I am mindful of the great services rendered to the community by local authorities of all types, and not least those in the West Riding. But my hon. Friend will not expect me to anticipate the White Paper on local government reform which will be published in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on what changes will be made in respect of the Sports Council, regional sports councils and executives.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave the day before yesterday to the hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Dormand).—[Vol. 808, c. 355–56.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment 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 within the general responsibility of his Department, such as transport and local authorities, are unable to cope with the difficulties created; and whether he will set up an emergency committee to prepare ways and means to ensure the satisfactory working of the services fully within the control of his Department during such emergencies.

I do not accept the implication in the first part of the hon. Member's Question. In my judgement the authorities are to be commended for the way they coped with their difficulties. Machinery already exists in my Department to ensure that if there is a threat of an emergency suitable preparations are made in the light of past experience.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the amount of the annual domestic rate subsidy paid to Mansfield Borough Council, Mansfield Woodhouse Urban District Council, and Warsop Urban District Council in poundage, and amount for each year since the subsidy was paid; and what increase is proposed for the coming financial year.

The latest estimates of the domestic element for these three local authorities are as follows:

	Mansfield B.C.	Mansfield Woodhouse U.D.C.	Warsop U.D.C.
	£	£	£
1967–68	19,544	7,457	3,625
1968–69	40,368	15,364	7,408
1969–70	63,045	23,955	11,582
1970–71	86,394	32,825	15,868

The amount of the first estimate for 1971–72 together with revised estimates for the two previous years are to be notified to the local authorities early in the New Year. The domestic element provides for the following reductions in rate poundage:

	Dwelling-houses	Mixed hereditaments
1967–68	5d.	2d.
1968–69	10d.	5d.
1969–70	1s.3d.	7d.
1970–71	1s. 8d.	10d.
1971–72	1s. 10·8d.	10·8d.
	9½p	4½p

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will state the estimated cost of schemes for the reclamation of derelict land in Lancashire so far authorised; and what proportion of such costs is for reclamation in Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesbury.

Since 1st April, 1967, when derelict land grant to local authorities became generally available throughout Lancashire, 81 schemes amounting to an estimated gross cost of £2·18 million have been given final approval of which six schemes at an estimated gross cost of £0·43 million fall partly or wholly within the areas of Leigh, Atherton and Tyldesley.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what conclusions he has reached concerning the applications made by the British Broadcasting Corporation for planning permission for a very high frequency television transmitter for Shropshire; whether he is aware of the difficulties caused by his delay in making known his decision; and what action he will take to resolve them.

My right hon. Friend is aware of the difficulties but he has not yet been able to resolve all the points material to a decision.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development if he will make a statement on the amount of overseas aid expended in the financial year 1969–70.

The amounts are as follows:

	£ million
Basic Programme	205·0
Additional items	13·8
Total Gross Economic Aid	218·8

I am sorry that the amount for Additional Items was understated in answer to the right hon. Gentleman's Question on 20th November last.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what is the total sum of grants and loans, respectively, made by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of Kenya in the five years prior to independence and in the years since independence, respectively.

UNITED KINGDOM ECONOMIC AID* TO KENYA 1958–69 TO 1969–70
£ thousands
			Grants		Loans
Year			Financial	Technical assistance	Inter-government	C.D.C.† investment	Total
1958–59	…	…	2,088	—	750	475	3,313
1959–60	…	…	1,654	—	2,300	145	4,099
1960–61	…	…	1,183	—	6,830	1,604	9,617
1961–62	…	…	8,559	2,694	4,000	1,192	16,445
1962–63	…	…	5,650	2,147	4,495	373	12,665
1963–64	…	…	4,291	3,842	6,547	682	15,362
1964–65	…	…	4,583	3,108	9,782	816	18,290
1965–66	…	…	2,882	4,170	6,468	1,142	14,932
1966–67	…	…	453	3,031	5,774	1,613	10,870
1967–68	…	…	472	3,770	5,049	1,693	10,984
1968–69	…	…	11	4,190	5,480	1,736	11,417
1969–70	…	…	793	3,005	5,919	2,628	12,345
Total	…	…	32,620	29,956	63,394	14,369	140,339
* Excluding all military and private sector flows.
† Before 1961–62 the amounts shown are exchequer advances to the C.D.C. For 1961–62 and thereafter, they refer to investment by the C.D.C.
Kenya became independent on the 12th December, 1963.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what specific grants or loans have been made towards the assistance of compassionate cases in Kenya by Her Majesty's Government since the independence of Kenya.

Since independence Her Majesty's Government has made available to the Kenya Government the following sums for the purchase of farms in compassionate cases:

• 1964—£400,000 grant and £261,000 loan.
• l965—£365,000 loan.
• 1966—£233,000 loan.

asked the Minister for Overseas Development what amounts of grants and loans have been given by Her Majesty's Government towards the one million acre and 400,000 acre resettlement schemes in Kenya, respectively; and what is the number of European farms purchased and the approximate number of Africans resettled on these farms under each of these schemes.

Her Majesty's Government have made available grants of £10,135,000 and loans of £10,039,000 towards the million acre scheme. A further loan of £6 million was made available for land transfer schemes for 1969–70, in which it was expected that up to 400,000 acres of British-owned mixed farming land would be transferred.

The following is the information:£4,150,000 of this was for the purchase of farms by the Kenya Agricultural Development Corporation, £1,300,000 was for the transfer of farms through the Kenya Agricultural Finance Corporation and £550,000 was for the "Harambee" settlement scheme.Over 700 European farms have been purchased under the million acre scheme and about 200 British farms will have been purchased under the 1966–70 programme. More than 32,000 African families have been settled under the million acre scheme. The number of families settled under the "Harambee" scheme is not yet known.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the danger caused to the Embassy car in Paris on Thursday, 10th December; for what purpose the car was being used; whether he will give the estimated costs of the repairs to this car; and whether he will make a statement.

The Embassy Rolls-Royce was accidentally caught in a street riot while carrying my right hon. Friend, the Member for Streatham (Mr. Sandys) to a meeting of the Presidential Committee of the Western European Union.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether every Member of Parliament has the right to use State cars belonging to embassies abroad; and on what basis of repayment is such use assessed.

It is quite proper for a Member of this House when abroad on official business to enjoy the free use of official transport subject, of course to its availability and at the discretion of Her Majesty's Representative.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the degree of implementation by the Government of the United Arab Republic of the terms of the Anglo-United Arab Republic Financial Agreement of 1959.

With very few exceptions, property due for release from sequestration under the Financial Agreement of 1959 has now been released. Problems remain over property which was resequestrated under further measures of the Government of the United Arab Republic in 1961 but in these cases too releases have been proceeding following the Exchange of Notes of 1967.Her Majesty's Government are continuing to work for the release of the remaining property under sequestration. In many cases this can best be done by helping individual owners or their agents with particular problems which arise with the Sequestrator or other United Arab Republic authorities concerned but we have also impressed upon the Government of the United Arab Republic the importance we attach to the disposal of these outstanding cases in the interests of good relations between our countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many loyal civil servants who refused to serve in Rhodesia after the Unilateral Declaration of Independence are still receiving Government assistance.

Twenty-two of the loyal Rhodesian public servants who were admitted to Her Majesty's Government's Scheme of Assistance are currently receiving payments in accordance with the Parliamentary statements of 22nd December, 1965, and 14th June, 1966.—[Vol. 722, c. 469–470; Vol. 729, c. 251–252.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what compensation has been paid and is still being paid to the civil servants who refused to serve in Rhodesia after the Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

The Scheme does not provide for compensation but for certain payments relating to salary and the safeguarding of pensions in accordance with the Parliamentary statements of 22nd December, 1965, and 14th June, 1966. These payments are currently being made at the rate of some £17,000 per annum.—[Vol. 722, c. 469–70; Vol. 729, c. 251–252.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has now received the report of Sir William Luce concerning the Gulf States; and what action he is going to take.

Sir William Luce has reported to my right hon. Friend on the results of his visit to the Gulf Region earlier in the year but consultations with those concerned are still continuing, and Her Majesty's Government's future policy in the Gulf is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action the Government has taken on Resolution (70)18 adopted on 5th June, 1970, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relating to the co-ordination of university research at European level.

The responsibility for planning research at British universities is a matter for the university authorities. The extent to which Her Majesty's Government could comply with Resolution (70)18 is at present under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further action the Government has taken on Resolution (70) 22 adopted on 5th June, 1970, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relating to the preservation and renovation of Venice.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Overseas Development told the hon. Members for Newcastle-upon-Tyne, East (Mr. Rhodes) and Plymouth, Devonport (Dame Joan Vickers) on 17th July, Her Majesty's Government have, in advance of the production by the Italian Government of their comprehensive plan for the protection of Venice, asked appropriate British institutions to consider if there was anything they could do to help.In response, the Victoria and Albert Museum are sending a number of their conservation staff to work in Venice from time to time.—[Vol. 803, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is his estimate of the gross contribution the United Kingdom would be called upon to make to the Community budget in 1977, on the assumption that that budget was then 4,500 million dollars.

On the basis of the proposals which we have tabled in Brussels this week and which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster described to the House in his statement on 16th December, our gross contribution, on the assumption stated in the Question, would lie between £240 and £280 million.—[Vol. 808, c. 1354–6.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of Her Majesty's Government's decision to limit the maximum weight and length of goods vehicles below the maxima prevailing in the European Community, he will reserve this matter in his current negotiations.

Since the European Community has not agreed legislation governing the maximum weight and length of goods vehicles, the question of a reservation in the negotiations does not arise.