asked the Minister of Aviation Supply how many complaints have been received by his Department of illness, dizziness, or pain caused by sonic booms; and how many of these were justified.

The Department has so far received 26 letters in which the writers stated that Concorde's boom had affected them physically. Most of the effects described were minor. Such cases are not investigated individually unless a serious effect on health is alleged.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply how many complaints have been received by his Department and its agents of actual physical damage to buildings as a result of the Concorde boom; how many of these have been investigated; how many have proved justified; and in how many cases was the structure concerned on the point of failure.

Up to 15th January there had been 395 claims for damage to structures from Concorde's sonic boom. 123 had been accepted, and 41 rejected or not pursued by the claimant. The remainder are still being investigated. In general, our experience so far is that where damage has occurred this has stemmed from an existing weakness in the structure.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply how many complaints have been received by his Department of children being hysterical as a result of sonic booms; and how many were justified.

Four of the letters we have received following Concorde's test flights mentioned that children had been disturbed by Concorde's boom, but none stated that a child had become hysterical.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what investigations he has carried out into the effect of sonic booms on the nesting habits of sea birds.

Ministry officials are discusing with the Nature Conservancy the possibility of making a detailed study of the effects of Concorde's boom during the coming breeding season.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what investigations he has made into the effects of sonic booms on unborn babies.

The effect of a sonic boom in such cases will be similar to that of any loud noise. There is no evidence that it is likely to cause harm to unborn children.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what investigations he has made of complaints that sonic booms have caused cliff falls on Lundy Island; and whether these were justified.

No such complaints have been received.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what consideration he has given to the evidence by the authorities of three United States national parks that sonic booms cause rock falls, a copy of which is in his possession; and if he will publish his findings.

My right hon. Friend is aware of these reports but the circumstances were quite different from those of Concorde's test flights. The possible effect of Concorde's boom on cliffs was investigated very carefully before the present series of tests was authorised, and their actual effect has since been measured. The effect on an unstable cliff proved to be about twice that of a single moderate sea wave. This suggests that, by comparison with the cumulative effect of waves, the effects of Concorde's boom will be negligible.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply why he did not hold consultations with the Bedfordshire Rural District Council and the Bedfordshire County Council before deciding to transfer the training of British Overseas Airways Corporation pilots and others from Stansted to Thurleigh.

The use of Thurleigh for the B.O.A.C. training flights is not a new activity, but only an extension of a type of flying already undertaken there. As my hon. Friend is aware, arrangements were made to inform the local authorities at a meeting on 6th January of the intended build-up of the number of training flights. This build-up will be a gradual process.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply whether he envisages the bulk of the movements for the training of pilots at Thurleigh will take place during the summer period or whether they will be spread evenly during the year; and whether asymmetric and low flying is also td be undertaken in the vicinity of Thurleigh.

For training fights at Thurleigh, B.O.A.C. will normally use aircraft made available for short periods between scheduled flights. On balance the flying will be fairly evenly spread throughout the year. Some of the mandatory training exercises involve a simulated engine failure on take-off and approach. There will be no low flying as it is generally understood; normal civil aircraft procedures will be followed.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what noise level his Department lays down as being acceptable a quarter of a mile each side of an airfield runway; and what is Concorde's noise level within this area.

Questions arising out of engine noise at airports are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. One of Concorde's design aims is that it should meet the airport noise regulations at present in force in this country and overseas.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what investigations he has made of the long-term effect of supersonic aircraft on the upper atmosphere.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to the Question on this subject from the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) on 18th November, 1970.—[Vol. 806, c. 400.]

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply whether the Jaguar project is progressing as scheduled.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply if he will make a statement on the progress of the Anglo-French Jaguar Programme.

I would refer my hon. Friends to the reply I gave on 13th January to the Question from the hon. Member for Glasgow, Govan (Mr. Rankin).—[Vol. 809, c. 79.]

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply if he will now make a further statement on the financing of Concorde production.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply earlier today to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Wilkinson).

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply if he will make a statement on the provision of the new jet trainer for the Royal Air Force.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my right hon. Friend's answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow, East (Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson) on 18th November, 1970.—[Vol. 806, c. 1218.]

asked the Lord President of the Council why he will not introduce legislation to ensure that, wherever matters affecting Great Britain's international rights of decision and Parliamentary control of endorsement of foreign treaties are placed before the Houses of Parliament for decision, such will not become operative until a two-thirds majority of both Houses has been secured.

I do not consider we should introduce special voting procedures for particular issues. Our historic practice is that a straight majority is sufficient.

asked the Lord President of the Council why he will not, as a means of assisting the Government in its policy of reducing prices, and to see how this can best be done, move to appoint a select committee whose duty it will be to investigate and report on all matters pertaining to retail prices and the best method of controlling and reducing them.

I have already made clear how I think the House can best deploy its Select Committee resources.

asked the Lord President of the Council how many single and double rooms are available within the Palace of Westminster for hon. Members other than Ministers.

Eighty-seven single room and 38 double rooms.

asked the Lord President of the Council if the Government will conduct a survey within the Palace of Westminster to identify unused or underused accommodation which could be converted to single or double offices for hon. Members of the House of Commons.

The Services Committee keep all accommodation within the Commons part of the Palace of Westminster under continuous review. They would not hesitate to allocate to Members any suitable unused or underused accommodation, but the Committee are unaware of any such accommodation at the present time.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement on the rules determining the acceptance or rejection of applications for lobby tickets, particularly in relation to the technical Press.

The Services Committee of last Session resolved that all applications for access to the Press Gallery and the Lobby should be decided by Mr. Speaker on the advice of the authorities of the House. This recommendation was accepted by Mr. Speaker.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will move to amend the Standing Orders of the House to permit the introduction of a period in major debates during which speeches of not more than five minutes duration can be made, on a voluntary basis.

The hon. Member's suggestion is attractive at first sight. However, when considered further, it presents many practical difficulties.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, during the Committee stage of the Industrial Relations Bill, he will arrange for the names of Members who are speaking to be exhibited on the closed-circuit television.

Yes, I will arrange for this to be done, but there may be occasions if the business of the House is proceeding rapidly when it will not be possible.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is aware that the present facilities of putting wheel chairs at the back of the Strangers' Gallery are unsatisfactory so far as the disabled occupants are concerned and that they have difficulty in observing proceedings visually; and whether he will make some change in the present arrangements.

I am aware of this problem. The difficulty is that access to seats lower down the Strangers' Gallery could be achieved only by structural alterations which would reduce the number of seats.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to set up a Select Committee to examine the merits of enabling local authorities, on the advice of the medical officer of health, to conduct urine tests for school pupils for evidence of drug taking.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, in order to increase the opportunities for back bench Members to raise matters of constituency concern, he will consider recommending, apart from Mr. Speaker's own selection, an equal selection of subjects per week to be debated on the Adjournment between those randomly chosen by Ballot and those chosen in order of chronological application.

I have no doubt the Procedure Committee will have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether the review body which is to investigate Members of Parliament's salaries and conditions will invite evidence from Members, their secretaries and the general public; whether the Government will submit evidence; what action a Member of Parliament must take if he wishes to give oral evidence; and to whom he must write if he wishes to submit written evidence.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today on the same subject to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the model scheme for rent rebates issued by his Department to local housing authorities and now adopted by the London Borough of Brent precludes that authority from applying it to council tenants housed under Phase One of the Chalkhill Development Scheme.

I consider that a local authority's rent rebate scheme should cover all its tenants but at present each authority has complete discretion on rent rebates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will issue a circular to housing authorities requesting them to co-operate with bona fide self-help housing groups to allow them to use empty council-owned short-life property for housing purposes along the lines agreed between the London Borough of Lewisham and the Lewisham Family Squatting Association, details of which have been sent to him.

In London, where the problem is particularly important, all housing authorities were urged to make more interim use of their empty housing awaiting demolition, in a circular letter dated 4th July, 1969, of which I am sending the right hon. Member a copy. I hope that any local authority with a housing problem will make arrangements to achieve the maximum utilisation of empty houses whilst protecting the position of those on the waiting list.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now make a statement on his discussions with local authorities regarding the raising of council house rents, removal of subsidies, fixing of fair rents, and the effect on council house building programmes.

As consultations are still in progress I cannot at present make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to introduce fresh legislation on housing finance.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, North (Mr. McNamara) on 10th November.—[Vol. 806, c. 96.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek to amend the Leasehold Reform Act to allow housing associations to purchase on fair compensation terms the freeholds of leasehold properties which they own.

My right hon. Friend has no proposals for extending the operation of this Act.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the 45 deaths which occurred in public swimming baths and pools in 1969, he will make recommendations to local authorities and others responsible for the management of pools for adequate supervision by qualified attendants or lifeguards and for a code of safety giving guidance on pool capacity and equipment.

Local authorities already have powers under Section 233 of the Public Health Act to make bye-laws for the prevention of accidents in baths which are not under their management. The model byelaws issued for their guidance include a requirement that an attendant shall be in attendance who is proficient in swimming, life saving and artificial respiration. As far as their own baths are concerned, most authorities provide fully qualified staff.Guidance on design of pools including the question of safety, is available in Design Bulletin 4 of the former Ministry of Housing and Local Government. I am considering whether further guidance is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his policy with regard to constructing motorways over land where there are valuable mineral deposits.

In evaluating alternative routes account is taken of the economic effects of different methods of dealing with such deposits or of avoiding them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that there is adequate examination of improving existing roads when consideration is being given to constructing new roads in Green Belts.

Yes. When considering solutions to traffic problems, the possibility of improving the existing road is the first course to be examined. But where traffic volumes are high and the widening of the existing road would involve destruction of a large number of properties and interference with many others, an entirely new road may be preferable on both economic and environmental grounds.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the scheduled opening dates of those sections of the M4 motorway between Tormarton and Holyport presently under construction.

All sections are scheduled for opening by the end of 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will initiate an inquiry into the possibility of siting an international airport in Yorkshire as an alternative to a third London airport.

I refer the hon. Member to the Answer given by my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to the hon. Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Wilkinson) on 18th January.—[Vol. 809, c. 173.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when road works commenced on widening that section of the M4 motorway which lies within the constituency of the hon. Member for South Buckinghamshire; what is the completion date of the work; and if the work is on schedule.

Work started in October, 1969. The expected completition date is October, 1971, and the work is on schedule.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when plans will be available, and approximately when work will begin, upon the Derby sections of the proposed A5111 Exeter to Leeds trunk road.

My right hon. Friend hopes to publish proposals by the end of the year. It is too early to say when work may start.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to make an official visit to north-east Lancashire to assess the need to improve the infrastructure, housing and environment of existing industrial towns.

I am anxious to examine by personal visit the environmental problems of as many as possible of the areas like north-east Lancashire,

Name of Main Contractor						Aggregate value of contracts (Tender sums)
						£ million
1. W. & C. French (Construction) Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	47·3
2. Sir Alfred McAlpine & Son Ltd. and Leonard Fairclough Ltd. (in consortium)*						43·1
3. A. Monk & Co. Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	30·3
4. Costain Civil Engineering Ltd. †	…	…	…	…	…	29·7
5. John Laing Construction Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	24·9
6. Dowsett Engineering Construction Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	22·4
7. Sir Lindsay Parkinson & Co. Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	22·4
8. George Wimpey & Co. Ltd. and Kier Ltd. (in consortium)‡				…	…	21·2
9. Christiani-Shand§	…	…	…	…	…	17·2
10. A. E. Farr Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	13·8
11. Tarmac Construction Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	13·1
12. Fitzpatrick & Son (Contractors) Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	10·8
* These firms have received other contracts:
individually—
Sir Alfred McAlpine & Son Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	21·3
Leonard Fairclough Ltd.	…	…	…	…	…	2·3
in consortium—
Leonard Fairclough Ltd. in consortium with Amey Asphalt Ltd.						2·0
Leonard Fairclough Ltd. in consortium with Cementation Construction Ltd.						10·0
† This firm has received one other contract in consortium with Sydney Green & Sons (Contractors) Ltd. valued at £5·5 m.
‡ George Wimpey & Co. Ltd. has received one other contract valued at £0·4 m.
§ A consortium of Christiani & Nielson Ltd. and Lehane MacKenzie and Shand Ltd.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of his policy to assist urban renewal and improve infrastructure, when he will make a statement on the Central Lancashire New Town Designation Order, which is causing anxiety in north-east Lancashire.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make a statement soon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will give particulars of the 12 firms which have received, in aggregate, the greatest value of road building contracts placed by his Department in the past three years, and the total value of the contracts received by each.

During the three years ended 31st December, 1970, contracts over £100,000 for trunk roads and motorways were awarded as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will commission an inquiry into the advisability of metering domestic water supplies, in view of the estimated increase in the demand for water over the next two or three decades.

My Department has already started a research study into the effect of metering on demand, and is exploring the possibility of further studies. When I receive the preliminary results of current studies, I shall consider the need for a wider inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress has been made by the working party on sludge disposal in Liverpool Bay; and when it is expected to make a report on its findings.

The Working Party expect to complete the experimental field work very soon and hope to report in April.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the construction of a second main runway at Ringway, and Manchester Airport's consequent increased capacity in the future, were taken into consideration in his refusal to sanction a runway extension at Leeds/Bradford Airport; and whether the same criteria of aircraft noise prevention are to be imposed before planning permission is granted to build a new runway at Ringway.

The answer to the first part of the question is, "No".As to the remainder, there is as yet no application for planning permission to construct a second runway at Ringway. If an application is made it will be considered on its merits in the usual way.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement about the future of the regional consultative economic planning groups.

The Groups have already done valuable work in helping to pave the way for the creation of effective co-operation between the local planning authorities and the creation of Executive Regional Agencies for planning and promotion. I regard this as their main rôle, especially as regional co-operation of this kind is so valuable in the context of the prospective reform of local government.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fishing boats under 40 foot are now working around the Scottish coast.

At 31st December, 1970, 1,538 motor fishing vessels of less than 40-foot length registered in Scottish ports were engaged in commercial fishing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the organisations he has received representation from or had discussion with about the future of bull licensing in Scotland.

Discussions were held with the industry and others concerned with bull licensing. The main bodies included the Animal Breeding Research Organisation: the AI organisations: the Agricultural Export Council: the British Veterinary Association: the Bull Beef Producers Association: the Meat and Livestock Commission: the Milk Marketing Boards: the National Cattle Breeders Association: the National Farmers Unions: the British Cattle Breed Societies: the Royal Highland and Agricultural Society: the Royal Agricultural Society of England and Wales; and my Licensing of Bulls Advisory Committee. Written representations have also been received from a number of organisations and individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to make a statement on the future of bull and boar licensing in Scotland.

I expect to make an announcement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when the proposed new secondary school to be built at Robert Smillie Park, Larkhall, will be ready; how many school places will be provided there; and what is the estimated cost of the project.

Lanarkshire Education Authority hope to complete the first phase of this project by the end of 1972. This will provide some 1,400 places and is estimated to cost £1 million. Proposals for the second phase have still to be submitted.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will give the known particulars of the numbers and the weight of salmon caught by inshore fishing and by drift-net fishing, respectively, off the coast of Greenland during the year 1970.

This information is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give the numbers of salmon smolts and salmon kelts, tagged in the United Kingdom, which are known to have been recaptured within Greenland territorial waters and by drift-netting on the high seas, respectively, in 1970; and whether he will give particulars of the rivers in which any of these fish were tagged.

The numbers of tagged smolts so far known to have been recaptured at Greenland in 1970, and the rivers in which they were tagged, are shown below:

	River of Origin	Number recaptured at Greenland
A. Scotland	Conon	3
	Dee (Aberdeen)	7
	Tay	6
B. England	Axe	18
	Exe	15
	Ure	6
	Total to date	55

These recaptures cannot be divided between coastal waters and high seas.No reports have been received of the recapture at Greenland in 1970 of kelts tagged in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total number of visitors and tourists from overseas and from other parts of the United Kingdom, respectively, to Scotland in each of the years 1964 to 1970 at the nearest convenient date; and whether any extension to the licensing hours was made in that period.

The best estimates that can be made on available data are as follows:

Year	Visitors from overseas Millions	Visitors from other parts of the United Kingdom Millions
1964	0·36	2·3
1965	0·40	2·4
1966	0·41	2·2
1967	0·47	2·2
1968	0·53	2·7
1969	0·54	3·0
1970	Figures not yet available

During this period there was no change in the licensing laws governing permitted hours.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on fowl pest in Scotland.

My right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food and I have just completed a review, in consultation with the Scottish poultry industry, of policy against fowl pest.The continuing spread of the outbreak in the south has created a situation in which it is essential that Scottish flocks should be protected by vaccination against infection. The recent outbreak in Stirlingshire emphasises this. In view of this extension of vaccination, the slaughter of infected birds and the payment of compensation will be terminated in Scotland on 31st May except for the rare peracute form of the disease. Supplies of dead and live vaccine are available and I hope Scottish poultry keepers will act quickly to protect their flocks from the disease. The conditions of the Poultry Health Scheme are being altered to permit the use of live vaccine.The existing restrictions on the movement of live poultry into Scotland will continue. This is not only a measure to protect Scottish poultry stocks from fowl pest but is also a recognition of the relative freedom of Scottish poultry from a number of other diseases.My Department will be undertaking an intensive information and publicity campaign for poultry keepers in Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the arrangements for supplying the British European Airways Corporation's airbus requirements.

No. British European Airways are reviewing the position and will let us know their requirements as soon as their re-appraisal is completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will call for an immediate report from his inspectorate on the violations of the air navigation orders regulating pilots' hours of work by a certain airline, details of which have been sent to him by the hon. Member for Nuneaton; and whether he will make a statement.

The Department's Flight Operations Inspectorate, in collaboration with the Air Registration Board and with the agreement of the airline concerned, is engaged in a thorough investigation of the matters referred to in the Question and in recent Press reports. I have no Statement to make at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he proposes to make an official visit to North-East Lancashire to assess the need for diversification of industry within that area and to determine methods by which this objective can be achieved.

My right hon. Friend and I have no immediate plans to visit North-East Lancashire, but the Department is well informed on the situation in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will publish a list of manufacturing units in the North-West Region under Government control.

No. I am writing to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what conclusions he has reached on the future of his Department's smallholdings estates at Gatton Bridge and Holland, Lincolnshire.

While I consider that these estates should continue to be used for their present purpose, the provision of smallholdings is essentially a local government function. I am therefore exploring the possibilities of transferring the estates to a local smallholdings authority. I shall be concerned to secure the future of the estates as smallholdings and fully to safeguard the interests of the present smallholder tenants.The estates lie within the administrative area of the Lines (Holland) County Council. I am therefore approaching the County Council in their capacity as smallholdings authority to ascertain whether they would be prepared in principle to acquire the estates from my Department on terms to be agreed. A limited area of land at Sutton Bridge may be required for purposes other than smallholdings, such as statutory allotments and housing developments, and full regard will be paid to these requirements in the arrangements for disposal of the estates as a whole.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether the question of the supply of liquid milk by Continental producers to the United Kingdom market is a matter for negotiation before the current negotiations with the European Economic Community are concluded.

Whether such a trade were possible would depend on a number of factors, including changes in present hygienic requirements. The European Economic Community does not yet have a common policy in this sector nor a liquid milk regulation, and we are not negotiating on this point in advance of a decision whether or not we should enter the European Economic Community.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is aware of delays in transactions through the Land Registry; and if he will make a statement.

I am aware of the delays in dealing with applications for official search in the Land Charges Department of the Land Registry.As I explained to the House on 8th December, in answer to the hon. Member for Rochester and Chatham (Mrs. Fenner), the delays are mainly due to an increase of 40 per cent. or more in the number of applications reaching the Registry. Extra staff have been engaged and I am glad to say that the extent of the delay is now being reduced.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will seek powers to relieve persons and corporate bodies who are required by law to serve notices or other documents within a prescribed period, such service being authorised by post, from any penalties or damages that they may otherwise suffer as a result of compliance with the requirement being rendered impossible due to the strike of the Post Office workers.

Under the Rules of the Supreme Court and the County Court Rules the court already has power to extend the time required for the taking of any steps in legal proceedings. While the postal strike lasts the Masters and Registrars will exercise this power freely in appropriate cases. The President and the Senior Master have issued practice directions extending from 8 to 14 days the time for entering an appearance or giving notice of intention to defend in all proceedings in the High Court.

asked the Minister of State for Defence, why on 27th August, 1970, his Department declined to investigate the personal case referred to it on 9th July, 1970, by the hon. Member for Manchester, Ardwick; and why his Department subsequently investigated that personal case without advising the hon. Member for Manchester, Ardwick, accordingly.

There were no grounds for an investigation into the individual conduct of the troops in the personal case in question and no such investigation was undertaken. The fact that the particular complaint was based on incorrect information came to light subsequently. By that time, the hon. Member's attention was concentrated, both in the House and in correspondence, upon the legality of the restrictions imposed by the Army.

asked the Minister of State for Defence on what date his Department commenced investigation into the personal case referred to him on 9th July, 1970, by the hon. Member for Manchester, Ardwick.

The fact that the original complaint was based on incorrect information was learnt on 23rd October, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what co-operation in participation in educational research the Associated Examining Board is providing to the Ministry of Education of the illegal Southern Rhodesian régime to find a test which would be a better predictor of success at university than the present A-level system.

I am making enquiries of the Associated Examining Board, which is an independent body.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the offer to local education authorities of a film which depicts the sex act, she will now consider setting up a committee to advise her on aids to sexual education so that she will be in a position to indicate to authorities where material on offer is potentially dangerous or offensive.

The selection of teaching materials including those on sex education is a matter for local education authorities and the schools. I hope, like my predecessors, to rely on their good sense in these matters. Advice on sex education is already available to me from the Chief Medical Officer, the Department's own medical officers and Her Majesty's Inspectorate. Within their respective spheres both the Schools Council and the Health Education Council offer guidance on curriculum questions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the British policy towards the European Space Research Organisation.

There is no change in British policy towards E.S.R.O. but the position may have to be reassessed in due course as both France and Denmark have now given notice to secede.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what was the average concentration of polychlorinated biphenyls found by the National Environmental Research Council in the livers and blubber of seals found dead around the Cornish coast in 1970; how this differed from the levels found in North and East Anglia; what is her Department's estimate of a lethal concentration in seals; and what estimate she has made of the source of this pollution;(2) what were the average concentrations of mercury found by the National Environmental Research Council in the livers and blubber of seals found dead around the Cornish coast, the northern coasts, and the East Anglian coast in 1971; what is her estimate of a lethal concentration in seals; and what estimate she has made of the sources of this pollution.

Seals found dead on the Cornish coast at the end of 1969 were analysed for polychlorinated biphenyls and mercury. The results from these and comparable samples from other parts of England are given in Natural Environment Research Council publications Series C: No. 1: 1970. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member and another has been placed in the Library.The data so far obtained are not sufficient to indicate what level of contamination might be lethal to the animals. Material from seals is still being collected and further analyses are being made. The report concludes that the deaths were attributable to natural causes and particular sources of pollution are not known to be involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what were the maximum, average and minimum levels of mercury found in samples of seawater taken from British coastal waters in 1970; how many samples were tested; and from how many different areas they were taken.

Measurements of the inorganic mercury content of seawater in the English Channel were made at three locations during the period May to December, 1970. Four sets of measurements were taken, five or six samples being taken on each occasion. The average concentration of mercury present in each group of samples ranged from 0·014 to 0·021 microgramme per litre of seawater. The average concentration in the samples as a whole was 0·019 microgramme per litre. The number of samples totalled 22.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many construction workers are currently unemployed in Wales and Carmarthenshire, respectively, listed by crafts.

Following is the information:

OCCUPATIONAL ANALYSIS OF THE NUMBERS OF MEN REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT 7TH DECEMBER, 1970 WHO LAST WORKED IN CONSTRUCTION
	Wales	Carmarthenshire
Carpenter, jointer, shutterer	230	15
Bricklayer	233	10
Mason, stone carver	9	—
Slater, tiler, thatcher, etc.	21	—
Plasterer	107	1
Floor and wall tiler, etc.	9	—
Painter, decorator, signwriter	351	16
Plumber, gas fitter, etc.	96	3
Glazier	2	—
Pavior, road etc. surface layer	11	—
Steel erector, sheeter	197	6
Electrician, cable jointer, linesman	92	2
Mechanical handling plant, etc. operator	253	14
Erector, millwright, maintenance fitter	45	5
Miscellaneous building and civil engineering workers	520	19
Labourers and other occupations	6,003	181
Total	8,179	272

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many people were earning less than £1,000 per annum in 1969–70 in Wales and Carmarthenshire, respectively; and what proportion this was of the working population.

Such information on annual earnings in 1969–70 is not available. However, the following New Earnings Survey 1970 results relate to employees in full-time employment whose earnings in the survey pay-period in April, 1970 were not affected by absence during the period.

PERCENTAGE WITH GROSS WEEKLY EARNINGS UNDER £20
	Wales	Great Britain
Men aged 21 and over
Manual	21·1	21·2
Non-manual	11·7	11·4
All	18·3	17·7
	(about 90,000 men)
Women aged 18and over
Manual	96·2	93·4
Non-manual	72·4	72·6
All	80·6	79·6
	(about 150,000 women)

Corresponding figures for Carmarthenshire are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs where are the pre-independence governmental records of the executive council of Kenya.

The Minutes of the Executive Council of Kenya from 1907 to 1939 are held by the Public Record Office. Minutes for subsequent years are in possession of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many people under contract to the illegal régime in Southern Rhodesia conduct their operations from 6–8, Agar Street.

The Rhodesia Pensions Office in 6–11, Agar Street, has a staff of two persons under contract to the illegal régime assisted by two clerks and a stenographer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of the Republic of South Africa concerning the use of the Katima Mulilo airbase for operations in and over Southern Rhodesia.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will now make a further statement on the action he proposes to take to safeguard the income of charitable and sporting organisations as a result of the decision of the House of Lords in the case of Singette v. Martin.

I propose shortly to introduce legislation to enable those schemes, established by the decision in Singette v. Martin to be lotteries, from which charitable and sporting organisations have received income, to continue to operate for a temporary period, subject to appropriate controls.

SECTION 1 OF THE DOGS (PROTECTION OF LIVESTOCK) ACT 1953 PERSONS PROCEEDED AGAINST IN 1969
				Persons dealt with summarily
				Number of persons proceeded against	Charge withdrawn or dismissed	Found guilty
						Absolute discharge	Conditional discharge	Fine	Total	Proceedings not completed
Male	…	…	…	891	47	11	6	825	842	2
Female		…	…	320	11	7	6	295	308	1
Total	…	…	…	1,211	58	18	12	1,120	1,150	3

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers of cars or lorries have been prosecuted in recent months as a result of accidents in fog on motorway M1; and with what results.

There is room for differences of view as to the degree of impaired visibility to be treated as fog for this purpose. Subject to that, police records indicate that, arising out of accidents in fog on the M1 motorway in 1970, there were 30 prosecutions, all resulting in convictions, and there are 10 others pending.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people at present held in prison

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will bring up to date the figures showing the total number of persons convicted under Section 1 of the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act, 1953, sent to the hon. Member for Rye in reply to a Question on 12th February, 1969.

The latest available information is as follows:having been convicted of crimes would have been detained in any case, had a crime not been committeed, on account of mental abnormality.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give in more detail particulars of the 3,500 cases of apparently unlicensed vehicles which were reported by the Metropolitan Police, West Ham sub-division, between 1st January, 1971, and 5th January, 1971, to the Greater London Council; and what area or roads this covered.

The figure relates to the whole of 1970. I have written to the hon. Member to apologise for a slip about the date in a letter I wrote to him early this month and to ask what detail he seeks. The West Ham sub-division covers the part of the London Borough of Newham north of the Metropolitan underground railway line.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why police and police vehicles were used in assisting Mr. George Best on Monday, 11th January, 1971, in Islington; how many police and vehicles were used; why a police escort was provided; what were the total costs involved; whether Mr. Best will be charged for these amounts; and whether he will make a statement.

Two police officers were deployed for two hours and 11 officers for 15 minutes to control a crowd of well over 100 persons, some of whom were unlawfully present on private premises. Two police vehicles escorted Mr. Best's car to the nearest main road to ensure that no disorder occurred. No additional costs were involved.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish details of the costs of the referenda that have been held on Sunday opening of public houses in Wales and Monmouthshire; and if he will give an estimate of how much future referenda will cost.

The costs are borne by the local authorities concerned. I have no information on which to base an estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners were recommended by the Parole Board for early release in 1969.

1,835 (exclusive of 29 serving indeterminate sentences).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many of those who had been released on parole were recalled to prison in 1969.

Ninety (exclusive of three licensed from indeterminate sentences).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many people on parole committed offences in 1969; and what percentage of those on parole this represented.

Seventy-three (exclusive of 10 licensed from indeterminate sentences); approximately 4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what mental condition short of the killing of another person creates an emergency demanding admission to a mental hospital;(2) why Bromham Hospital did not accept Nigel Ubanowicz voluntarily as an emergency patient on 19th December, 1970, after they had been informed by telephone that in the absence of such a step the mother might leave home;(3) what made the delivery of Nigel Ubanowicz to Bromham Hospital on 19th December, 1970, create an emergency demanding admission which was not known to have existed before;(4) how Bromham Hospital were able to admit Nigel Ubanowicz on 19th December if there were no bed unoccupied.

Admission of individual persons, whether on an emergency basis or otherwise, is a matter for the professional discretion of the consultant in the light of all relevant circumstances.Following the telephone conversation between my hon. Friend and another member of the hospital staff, the Medical Superintendent at Bromham Hospital arranged for the mental welfare officer and family doctor to be consulted about the need for emergency admission and this was being done when Nigel Ubanowicz arrived. The bed found for him was not one the consultant regarded as suitable for a boy of his age but was the best arrangement the hospital could make in the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many applications have been made under the Farm Amalgamations Scheme, 1967, in Wales and Carmarthenshire, respectively, since the inception of the scheme to date; and how many have been approved.

Up to 30th November, 1970, 610 applications were made in Wales, of which 204 have been approved and 196 are still under consideration. For Carmarthenshire the figures are 141, 34 and 49 respectively.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) if he will take steps to end the position whereby the United Kingdom is the only metalliferous-mineral-producing country in the world without special tax structures;(2) why the United Kingdom has adopted the opposite point of view to other European and Commonwealth countries as to the value of special tax structures for the metalliferous mining industry.

Any taxation proposals which my right hon. Friend brings forward will be those which in his judgment are best suited to the particular circumstances of this country.As my hon. Friend is no doubt aware, special provisions for the mining industry already exist in our capital allowances code. I am taking steps to have these provisions re-examined, since the legal provisions governing them are rather complex, and might perhaps be simplified.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount, for the last year for which figures are available, of rebates from death duties on agricultural land.

£10·7 million in 1969–70.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, before requiring a nationalised industry or corporation to divest itself of a profitable activity or activities, he will reduce the financial target for the industry or corporation in question.

It is customary to review the financial objective of a nationalised industry when there is a significant change in the industry's circumstances.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will consider reducing the rate of purchase tax payable on educational gramophone records and those of serious classical music;(2) whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will consider exempting language-teaching gramophone records from purchace tax;(3) whether, in his forthcoming Budget, he will consider exempting gramophone records of serious music by contemporary British composers, such as those at present subsidised by the Gulbenkian Foundation, from the payment of purchase tax.

I cannot anticipate my right hon. Friend's Budget proposals.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the proceeds of a tax on personal wealth at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum, on the assumption that personal wealth up to £50,000 would be exempted from such a tax.

About £600 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer, in view of the requirement for interest to be paid on special contributions as from 1st January, 1969, even if a demand had not been sent to the taxpayer from that date, what action he is taking to expedite the finalisation of assessments without further delay.

The vast majority of the assessments to special charge under the Finance Act, 1968, have been finalised. I am satisfied that the Inland Revenue are well aware of the need to clear up the remaining cases as quickly as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what factors are taken into account when calculating the amount of tax to be deducted for part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment; and whether he will make a statement.

In general, income tax is not deducted from the taxable emoluments of members of the Ulster Defence Regiment. These emoluments are covered by part of the personal allowances due to the individual member and the allowances given against the rest of his income (e.g. in a P.A.Y.E. coding) are correspondingly restricted.