asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will make a statement on the future of the Home-Grown Cereal Authority.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the White Paper "Proposed Changes in the Work of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food" (Cmnd. 4564), paragraphs 7 and 8 of which are concerned with a number of organisations including the Home-Grown Cereals Authority.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what percentage of the total home sales of butter in the United Kingdom is currently taken up by the British dairy farmer; and what percentage is taken up by the New Zealand producer.

Between 1st January and 31st December, 1970, 14 per cent. of the total supply of butter to the United Kingdom market was home produced and 35 per cent. was supplied by New Zealand.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what arrangements are in operation for sample checks for lead contamination to be made on canned food and drink sold in home-manufactured cans not fully lacquered internally, and also on imports from abroad.

Sample checks are regularly made of all foods, including canned food and drink, by local food and drugs authorities and port health authorities to ensure that they comply with the Lead in Food Regulations, 1961.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will reconsider his policy not to provide compensation and bridging aid to farmers who have incurred substantial losses due to fowlpest, in view of the spread of the disease.

No. Farmers who need bridging aid should look to their banks in the normal way. While I sympathise with those who have incurred losses, the provision of compensation or other Government aid would only reduce the incentive to achieve a high level of vaccination which is essential to effective control of the disease.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentages of adult male workers were earning over £25, between £21 and £25, between £16 and £20, and below £16 a week, respectively, at the time of the latest survey of earnings by his Department.

The following results of the New Earnings Survey relate to April, 1970, and men aged 21 and over in full-time employment in Great Britain whose pay in the survey pay period was not affected by absence. Gross weekly earnings exclude income in kind and include the average weekly value of annual and other periodical bonus and commission payments.

Percentage with earnings in the range Range of weekly earnings Manual workers Non-Manual workers All workers £26 and over 47.9 68.6 55.4 £24 or over but less than £26 10.5 7.2 9.3 £20 or over but less than £24 20.4 12.8 17.6 £16 or over but less than £20 14.9 8.4 12.6 Less than £16 6.3 3.0 5.1

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) whether the military intelligence service operating with the security forces in Northern Ireland is aware of the number of members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army in the Falls area of Belfast;

(2) whether the military intelligence service operating with the security forces in Northern Ireland can state the number of members of the Irish Republican Army in the Falls area of Belfast.

It is not normal practice to reveal intelligence information of this kind.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what special facilities he is making available for families in the United Kingdom to send communications to Servicemen overseas during the Post Office strike.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Windsor on 3rd February.—[Vol. 810, c. 398. ]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Her Majesty's Government will now recognise the new Government of Uganda.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recognition by Her Majesty's Government of the new military Government in Uganda.

The British High Commissioner in Uganda attended the swearing-in of the newly appointed Council of Ministers of Uganda on 5th February. He has been instructed to conduct Her Majesty's Government's business with them from now on.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Great Britain's contribution to the joint Common Market budget, in view of the French demand that Great Britain should have a maximum of five years, at the end of which Great Britain should pay 21.5 per cent. of an unrestricted growth annual budget; and what was Great Britain's response.

The range of the United Kingdom contribution to the budget of the European Economic Community is a matter for negotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether Article 48 of the Treaty of Rome, which provides that workers in member States will have the right to accept offers of employment in other member States, will have freedom of movement and residence between member States and a conditional right to remain in the territory of a member State after being employed in that territory is yet fully in operation.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will regard any figure in excess of 20 per cent. of the total Common Market budget, either between now and 1980 or after 1980, as an acceptable level for the United Kingdom contribution.

The range of United Kingdom contribution to budget of the European Economic Community is a matter for negotiation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he accepts the European Economic Community Report that Great Britain's contribution to the total Common Market budget, estimated at no more than 13–15 per cent. till 1980, will jump to 22–23 per cent. in the following one year.

The Community has not transmitted any report in these terms to Her Majesty's Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what were the highest numbers of people under detention and in restriction, respectively, at any one time, in Rhodesia during the Prime Ministership of Sir Edgar Whitehead and since the Unilateral Declaration of Independence.

The highest number of people under detention and in restriction at any one time during the Prime Ministership of Sir Edgar Whitehead was 510. This was in February, 1959, when a State of Emergency was declared. The great majority of these had been released by the following August.

According to Rhodesian statements, the highest number of people under detention and in restriction at any one time since the illegal declaration of independence was 170 and 450 respectively. This was in February, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the illegal Southern Rhodesian régime that freedom fighters attempting to overthrow the régime must, in cases of capture, be treated in accordance with the stipulations laid down in the 1949 Red Cross Geneva Convention, since failure to do so constitutes a violation of the Universal Declaration and a disregard of the standards of international covenants on human rights.

No. Whilst Her Majesty's Government deprecate any acts which conflict with universally accepted humanitarian principles, they do not consider that the 1949 Red Cross Geneva Conventions apply to the present situation in Southern Rhodesia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the number of overseas countries having consular or other official national representation in Rhodesia on 31st December, 1969, 31st March, 1970, and 31st January, 1971, respectively; and what are the names of the countries still so represented at the present time.

On 31st December, 1969, 12 countries maintained consular or other official representation in Southern Rhodesia. By 31st March, 1970, 10 of these countries had withdrawn their representation. At the present time only South Africa and Portugal are still represented.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will call a conference of European Foreign Ministers to No. 10 Downing Street to discuss current common problems.

There are no plans to do so at present but a Ministerial meeting of Western European Union, at which the Foreign Ministers of the Six will be present, is due to take place in London during the summer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report as to whether the police have yet located the source of three cyanide tins washed up near Bognor Regis; and if he will make a statement.

Police inquiries are not yet completed. I will write to my hon. Friend when they are.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will in future keep records and statistics on all cases of applications by foreign nationals, in particular Soviet citizens, and by British Commonwealth citizens, for entry permits to the United Kingdom.

The labour and expense of keeping records and statistics in the form suggested by the hon. Member could not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will instruct his representatives on the Police Council to recommend that in future police salaries should be adjusted by the same percentages and on the same dates as the salaries of judges, chairmen of nationalised boards and higher paid civil servants.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants in his Department are in receipt of salaries in excess of the Ministerial salary payable to the Under-Secretary of State in his Department.

195.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants in his Department are in receipt of salaries in excess of his own Ministerial salary.

Five.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many civil servants in his Department are in receipt of salaries in excess of the Ministerial salary payable to each of the Ministers in his Department.

75.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what additional staff have been recruited to the Passport Office since November, 1970; and whether there has been any reduction in the time taken to handle passports, reply to letters and answer telephone inquiries.

As regards the first part of the Question, I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply I gave to a Question by my hon. Friend the member for Bradford, West (Mr. Wilkinson) on 13th January.

As regards the second part of the Question, the arrears of work have been substantially reduced and the telephone inquiry service has improved. But the effects of the postal strike, by limiting the number of incoming letters and by holding up the despatch of replies, make it difficult to assess the prospects. My right hon. Friend will keep the situation under close review.—[Vol. 809, c. 74–75.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further progress has been made towards establishing a health centre at Cumnock.

Informal local discussions have been completed and my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Health and Education expects to be able to write to the hon. Member shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware of the present unsatisfactory consulting facilities available for general practitioners and their patients at Auchinleck; and what steps he proposes to take to improve the position.

Yes. I hope shortly to put proposals to improve the position to the statutory interests concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many of the 2,588 children remanded for reports in remand homes after finding of guilt during the year ended 31st December, 1969, were later given custodial sentences; and how many were not.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the local authorities in Scotland which have used their powers under Section 34 of the Transport Act, 1968, to support essential rural bus services.

The following local authorities, in some cases jointly, are assisting rural bus services under Section 34 of the Transport Act, 1968: Banff County Council. Dufftown District Council. Roxburgh County Council. Kelso Town Council. Lasswade District Council.

In addition, the following authorities have notified me of their intention to support a bus service under this power and I am considering their application for grant: Argyll County Council. Ardnamurchan District Council.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services in how many cases where it has been necessary to ascertain that the voluntary price regulation scheme is not being unfairly operated by imports from overseas, directives have been given to the suppliers of drugs for the National Health Service to reveal information under the Emergency Laws (Re-enactment of Repeals) Act, 1964.

Two companies have been directed to supply information simi- lar to that provided by companies cooperating in the Voluntary Price Regulation Scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will make a statement on the availability of emergency electrical equipment in public hospitals.

Most large hospitals have their own standby generating plant to provide emergency supplies of electricity for essential services. Hospital boards are purchasing additional plant, and there are standing arrangements with the Ministry of Defence for the loan of mobile generators in an emergency. These arrangements were put into force in the recent period of work-to-rule in the electricity supply industry, when boards also secured mobile generators from other sources, including the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what steps he has taken since the last industrial dispute in electricity supply to ensure that, in any future work to rule, hospitals will not be cut off from their power supply.

It is impracticable to ensure that no hospitals will be cut off from power supplies during a period of work-to-rule by electricity supply workers. Hospital boards keep in touch with electricity boards to try to ensure that interruptions are kept to a minimum and that where possible warnings are given. Most large hospitals have their own standby generating sets to provide supplies of electricity for essential services; additional plant is being purchased by hospital boards, and these arrangements are supplemented by mobile generators provided by the Ministry of Defence and other sources, including the Post Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the cost of the one million leaflets and of the posters which he proposes to issue informing families of the availability of liquid vitamin drops.

£2,610.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many treatment centres have been set up for persons who have become psychically or physically dependent upon drugs; and where they are located.

Twenty-five hospitals hold special clinics for the out-patient treatment of drug dependence. All have access to in-patient facilities. In areas where the demand for treatment does not warrant the setting up of special clinics, it is provided in general psychiatric units. The special clinics are in the following places:

Cheshire Moston Hospital, Chester.

Hampshire Knowle Hospital, Southampton. St. James' Hospital, Portsmouth.

Hertfordshire Queen Elizabeth II Hospital. Welwyn Garden City.

Lancashire Prestwich Hospital, Prestwich.

London Charing Cross Hospital, W.C.2. Guy's Hospital, S.E.1. Hackney Hospital, E.9. Lambeth Hospital, S.E.11. The Maudsley Hospital, S.E.5. Norwood and District Hospital, S.E.19. Paddington Day Clinic, W.2. Queen Mary's Hospital, S.W.15. St. Clement's Hospital, E.15. St. Giles Hospital, S.E.5. St. George's Hospital, S.W.17. St. Luke's Hospital, N.10. St. Mary's Hospital, W.9. University College Hospital, W.C.1. West Middlesex Hospital, Isleworth, Middlesex. Westminster Hospital, S.W.1.

Nottinghamshire Mapperley Hospital, Nottingham.

Oxfordshire Littlemore Hospital, Oxford.

Sussex Herbert Hone Clinic, Brighton.

Warwickshire All Saints Hospital, Birmingham.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether consultative centres have been established where persons can seek professional advice and assistance in their efforts to abstain from drug taking; and where they are located.

No specialised consultative centres have been established in the community field but local authority social service departments give advice and assistance to anyone with a drug problem, and hospitals which undertake the treatment of drug dependence may also help in this way. An increasing number of local authorities are seconding social workers for special training in the problems of drug abuse. Advice and help is also available under arrangements made by local councils of social service and other agencies and at residential and day centres for drug addicts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated cost of raising pensions to £8 for a single person and £14 for a married couple.

About £1,175 million a year for retirement pensions without allowing for accompanying changes in other benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the purchasing power of the retirement pension taking October, 1964, as 100, in March, 1965, March, 1966, March, 1967, March, 1968, March, 1969, March, 1970, and at the latest available date.

Following are the figures: October, 1964 … … 100 March, 1965 … … 116.4 March, 1966 … … 111.6 March, 1967 … … 107.8 March, 1968 … … 117.3 March, 1969 … … 110.4 March, 1970 … … 116.7 December, 1970 … … 110.2

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are currently drawing discretionary additions of supplementary benefit because of special needs for extra heating.

About 150,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people he estimates will be drawing discretionary additions of supplementary benefit because of special needs for extra heating in June, 1971, under the wider criterion the Supplementary Benefits Commission has introduced.

No firm estimate can be made in advance, but the number may be of the order of 350,000 when both the new criteria and the higher rates of special addition have been fully applied.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether his Department has made use of mass media and other educational resources to inform the public, especially school-children, on the problems associated with the self-administration of dependence-producing drugs, so as to conform with Recommendation 609 of the Consultative Assembly of the Council of Europe.

A number of ways of conveying information about these problems are used by different agencies but the use of mass media has not so far been judged appropriate. The question of the Government conforming with the Council of Europe recommendation does not at present arise, because it is addressed to the Committee of Ministers, which has not yet taken a decision on it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services to what extent the British Medical Association has disagreed with his proposals to extend the list of exemptions from prescription charges; and what representations he has made to its members.

My right hon. Friend has made no such proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proportion of the gross national product was devoted to cash benefits paid as social security in each year from 1964 to the latest available date.

The figures are as follows: Year Per cent. 1964 … … … 6.8 1965 … … … 7.3 1966 … … … 7.4 1967 … … … 7.9 1968 … … … 8.6 1969 … … … 8.7

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in table form the percentage of average earnings represented by the various social security benefits for each five-year period from 1945 to the latest available date.

Following are the figures for flat-rate National Insurance retirement pension: Single Rate Married Rate July, 1945 … 8.2 16.5 October, 1950 … 17.3 27.9 October, 1955 … 17.9 29.2 October, 1960 … 17.2 27.5 October, 1965 … 20.4 33.2 October, 1970 … 17.8 28.9

Other comparable benefits have moved broadly in step.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how the activity rates for women in West Cumberland compare with the figures for women in the Northern Region, the South-East Region, and in Great Britain, respectively.

The most recent information, derived from the 1966 Sample Census, is as follows: ACTIVITY RATES—WOMEN All women Per cent. Married women Per cent. West Cumberland (i.e. Whitehaven M.B., Workington M.B. and Maryport U.D.) 39.2 32.6 Northern Region 37.8 32.4 South-Eastern Region 44.4 40.3 Great Britain 42.2 38.1

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry which maritime trade unions or associations were consulted about the decision to grant dispensation to certain vessels from the requirement to carry radio officers, and when; and which maritime unions were not consulted.

There was consultation and discussion with the Radio and Electronic Officers Union and the Merchant Navy and Airline Officers' Association between the years 1965 to 1968. Records of these discussions were sent to the Mercantile Marine Services Association and the National Union of Seamen.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the estimated range limits of radio telephone equipment to be placed on their vessels in both the best and worst technical receiving conditions; where are the necessary stations for such radio telephone communications along the coast between the Tyne and London; and what are the land distances between them.

It is not possible to quantify range limits. Main radio-telephone equipment is designed to meet the normal range of 150 miles as laid down in the Safety of Life at Sea Convention, 1960. The distances between the Post Office stations between the Tyne and London are: Cullercoats to Humber 118 miles, Humber to North Foreland 124 miles.

asked the Secretry of State for Trade and Industry when his Department first received representations from the shipping industry requesting dispensation from carrying radio officers in certain trades; when the request was granted; on what grounds it was granted; and what evidence was produced to substantiate their request, particularly the economic effect of foreign competition.

The shipping industry first requested the dispensation in January, 1965, and it was granted in November, 1970. In granting this dispensation the Department was concerned only with safety considerations. Mr. Prescott asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether those vessels between 1,600 and 3,000 gross tons granted dispensation from the requirement to carry radio officers while on the North Sea Coastal coal trade will be allowed to sail outside the home trade limits on either foreign or middle trade articles without a radio officer.

The vessels in question will not be allowed to sail outside the North-East Coast coal trade limits without a radio officer.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, before any other such areas are designated for further dispensation from the requirement to carry a radio operator, he will enter into full discussion with the representatives of all maritime unions.

I will continue to consult the appropriate unions about such matters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the minimum manning of both officers and ratings to be observed on those vessels granted dispensation from carrying a radio officer; and who will be responsible for those duties normally carried out by radio officers, such as general maintenance of electrical equipment, radar, radio weather reporting, handling of commercial radio traffic, paperwork and the determination of the vessel's navigational position or another vessel in distress by the use of direction finding radio equipment.

There are at present no minimum manning scales for officers and ratings for cargo ships engaged in the United Kingdom coastal trade. In a ship granted dispensation from carrying a radio officer his duties would be undertaken, as necessary, by the master, deck officers and engineer officers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what instruction he gave the British delegation to the recent International Maritime Consultative Organisation discussions on the proposals that radio officers be removed from vessels trading on the coasts of the North Sea, English Channel, Irish Sea, Baltic, Mediterranean, Adriatic, Black Sea and the coasts of Australia; and if, in further discussions on these matters, he will undertake to support the majority of other nations that oppose this proposal.

The United Kingdom considered that it was premature to consider a general proposal for radio-telephony based on areas of operations of ships. The United Kingdom's policy in future discussions will depend upon the circumstances then prevailing.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will review his decision to grant dispensation from the requirement to carry radio officers, in view of the increasing amount of collisions taking place around British congested sea lanes caused by the switch to radio telephone communication, which cannot handle more than one disaster call or ascertain the position of vessels in disasters and requires the use of a common language, instead of wireless telegraphy.

I do not accept that the dispensation entails any degradation in safety standards on ships engaged in the restricted voyages of the North-East Coast coal trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many representations he has received, and from whom, since he announced his decision on 5th November to allow colliers on the North-East Coast to dispense with wireless transmission equipment and radio officers.

Representations have been received from the Radio and Electronic Officers Union and the International Transport Workers Federation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what considerations have been submitted to him to alter the view submitted by the United Kingdom in its evidence to the Fourth Session of the International Marine Commission Organisation Sub-Committee on Radiocommunication in March, 1968 on the difficulties associated with radio telephone distress frequency of 2,182 kilocycles in respect of vessels between 1,600–3,000 tons engaged in the North-East Coast coal trade.

The views expressed by the United Kingdom to the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation were in the context of the use of 2182 kHz in the marine radio distress network generally, and were not related to ships engaged in the restricted voyages of the North-East Coast coal trade.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why he agreed on 5th November, 1970 to grant a dispensation to allow vessels between 1,600–3,000 tons engaged in the North-East coal trade to sail without wireless transmission installations and radio officers.

Because for these restricted voyages the dispensation would involve no degradation in safety standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why the Radio and Electronic Officers Union was not asked for their observations before granting the dispensation to colliers on the North-East Coast to dispense with wireless transmission equipment and radio officers.

The Radio and Electronic Officers Union was consulted about the matter during the years 1965 to 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how his Department intend to approach the Area of Operations concept, the use of radio telephone by fishing vessels in selected fishing areas; and what areas he is suggesting for this operation.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer which I have given today to the hon. Member for Kingston-upon-Hull, East (Mr. Prescott) about the "area of operations" concept. The use of radio-telephony or radiotelegraphy by fishing vessels in different areas will be discussed by the working group set up to produce new radio rules for fishing vessels.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many vessels carrying only radio telephone equipment have been involved in shipping accidents, collisions and losses on the North-East coast in the past five years; and how many lives have been lost.

The Department's records do not readily provide the information requested, which could be obtained only with the expenditure of undue time and effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what fresh evidence was submitted by the British Shipping Federation to the Department of Trade and Industry since January 1968 which enabled him to grant a dispensation to colliers on the North-East Coast to dispense with wireless telegraphy installations and radio officers.

No fresh evidence was submitted since 1968 but all the evidence which had been submitted up to that time was carefully taken into account before the decision was taken to grant the dispensation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many vessels qualify to take advantage of his dispensation to allow vessels between 1,600 to 3,000 tons on the North-East coal trade to sail without wireless telegraphy equipment and radio officers; how many have applied; and in how many has the wireless telegraphy equipment been removed.

Probably less than 20. So far there have been no applications for individual dispensation and no such ships have been allowed to sail without radiotelegraphy equipment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the percentage volume increase in United Kingdom imports and exports, respectively, in 1970, as compared with 1969.

For the first 11 months of 1970 compared with the corresponding period of 1969 the increases were 7 per cent. (excluding U.S. military aircraft) and 4 per cent. respectively; figures for 1970 as a whole will be published on 24th February.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those industrial research associations which are currently in receipt of Government grants; and the amount of each grant.

The grants paid in 1969–70 to research associations now in receipt of grant either from the Department of Trade and Industry or the Department of the Environment were as follows: Research Association Grant (£) Brush … 5,857 Cast Iron … 142,657 Ceramic … 113,160 Coke … 60,895 C.I.R.I.A … 257,200 Cotton … 103,740 Cutlery … 16,397 Drop Forging … 29,159 Electrical … 144,309 Flour Milling and Baking … 86,604 Food … 92,710 Fruit and Vegetable … 30,826 Furniture … 57,970 Glass … 48,620 Heating and Ventilating … 24,299 Hosiery … 48,212 Hydromechanics … 41,032 Industrial Biology … 124,825 Industrial Psychology … 39,124 Lace … 9,250 Lambeg Industrial … 38,314 Launderers … 56,728 Leather … 55,021 Machine Tool … 82,842 Motor … 104,792 Commonwealth Mycological Institute … 12,776 Non Ferrous Metals … 94,491 Paint … 31,164 Pira … 111,888 Production Engineering … 197,050 Rubber and Plastics … 109,373 Scottish Textile … 30,710 Sira Institute … 231,382 Ship … 381,520 Shoe … 47,431 Spring … 10,929 Steel Castings … 70,719 Tar … 34,535 Timber … 79,977 Water … 80,340 Welding Institute … 356,352 Welwyn Hall … 33,473 Wool … 108,622 S.C.C.T.R.* … 15,581 * Standing Consultative Conference on Textile Research.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what improvement in aircraft movement delays at Heathrow has taken place since the recent inauguration of the Linesman/Mediator system of air traffic control; and whether he will make a statement.

The first stage of the Mediator project came into operation only on 1st February. It may be some time before it has any marked effect on the Heathrow movement rate.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what increase in the effort and activity of the National Air Traffic Control Service staff has taken place since the introduction of the Linesman/Mediator at Heathrow Airport.

None. The Mediator system (now introduced into operation at the London Air Traffic Control Centre, West Drayton) is designed to relieve air traffic controllers progressively of routine tasks. This should enable them to concentrate their effort on maintaining the safety and expedition demanded by the steady increase of air traffic.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will will now introduce proposals for the relaxation of affinity group rules for charter flights similar to those introduced by the American Civil Aeronautics Board.

The Department has not yet received details of the United States Civil Aeronautics Board proposals but, if the press reports are correct, they seem to be interesting.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that in his forthcoming Budget he will not seek to end the exemption from taxation of all annual subscriptions paid by members of professional institutions to their respective institution.

I do not envisage any change in the present position in which, subject to conditions, relief for annual subscriptions to certain professional bodies is allowable under Section 192 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1970.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will seek powers to exempt from taxation trade union contri- butions paid by trade unionists to all trade unions which are affiliated to the Trades Union Congress.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the value of United Kingdom invisible exports to and invisible imports from each Commonwealth country in the Continent of Africa in each of the last five years; and what has been the percentage change for each year and as an annual average for the period.

Details of invisible transactions with individual countries are not generally available, but approximate estimates of total United Kingdom invisible credits and debits with Commonwealth countries in Africa for 1968 are as follows: £ million Credits* … … … 155 Debits† … … … 75 Net balance … … … +80 *Including interest, profits and dividends on overseas investment. †Including United Kingdom government ex-penditure overseas.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will list the existing statutes or regulations in the United Kingdom which will be affected by any acceptance by Her Majesty's Government of Article 98 of the Treaty of Rome.

There are no such statutes or regulations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide, in tabular form, a classification of income, by range of income after tax, as in Table 51 on page 63 of Inland Revenue Statistics 1970, for 1956, 1960 and for the most recent possible year.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Table 58 on page 72 of the hundred and first annual Report of the Inland Revenue and Table 70 on page 76 of its hundred and fifth Report, and to Social Trends No. 1, page 86.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment can be in a position where tax is deducted from emoluments which they are likely to receive in the future from the Ulster Defence Regiment but have not in fact received; and what is the maximum gap which is likely to occur between the making of the deduction and the receipt of the emoluments.

The answer to my hon. Friend's Question is "No"; and where under the arrangements mentioned in my reply of 20th January the allowances given in a P.A.Y.E. coding are restricted to take account of taxable emoluments from the Ulster Defence Regiment, steps are taken, where possible, to ensure that the adjusted coding is applied only from the date on which regimental pay is first received.—[Vol. 809, c. 307–8.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether sixpences will be withdrawn for melting shortly after D-day; and if he will make a statement.

The Mint will accept from the banks any sixpences surplus to their requirements, but the Government's policy is that the sixpence will remain legal tender for at least two years after D-day, and adequate reserves of this coin will be available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to limit applications from firms in the United Kingdom for loans of more than five years in the Eurobond market.

None, save that consent is normally not given for loans for domestic expenditure of low priority in terms of the guidance given to United Kingdom banks on domestic lending.

asked the Attorney-General why Luton was omitted from the list of High Court and Crown Court centres, in view of the fact that it was recommended as a Crown Court on the South-Eastern Circuit by the Royal Commission on Assizes and Quarter Sessions.

The Royal Commission on Assizes and Quarter Sessions recommended that Luton should become a 2nd-tier centre when courts become available there. The answer which I gave to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Southport (Mr. Percival) on 26th January referred to those places which my noble Friend the Lord Chancellor had provisionally decided should be court centres immediately after the coming into operation of the Courts Bill. No decision has yet been made with regard to the Commission's recommendation for Luton.—[Vol. 810, c. 98.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will agree to allow all sea defence schemes and sewerage schemes costing less than £100,000 to be financed from the large projects reserve pools so as not to be a charge to ratepayers.

This Question appears to be based on a misconception. The large projects pool is a sum held in reserve from the total amount of capital expenditure on locally determined schemes by local authorities as a whole. An allocation from the pool to a particular authority increases the amount which that authority can spend on such schemes and this in turn must lead to an increase in the charge to ratepayers. The existing arrangements under which central Government grants may be made to cover part of expenditure on coast protection works and on certain rural sewerage schemes continue to apply to any expenditure incurred by the authority on them within its allocation for locally determined schemes as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will allow all local government schemes which were sanctioned by the Welsh Office prior to the Government's block allocation policy published last November to be financed from central funds under the terms obtaining prior to the change in policy.

In so far as the Question relates to locally determined schemes, this would be contrary to the arrangements agreed with local authority associations.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will request the Welsh Economic Council to report upon the problems of facing local authorities in Wales in connection with increases in rates made necessary in consequence of Government policies.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what progress is being made in the acquisition of land for the proposed new general hospital for Caernarvonshire and Anglesey at Bangor.

I am not yet able to add to the answer given to the right hon. Member on 6th November, 1970.—[Vol. 805, c. 492.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what reports he has recently received about the proposed new general hospital for Caernarvonshire and Anglesey at Bangor; what conclusions he has arrived at on these reports; and if he will make a statement.

As I informed the right hon. Member in my letter of 14th January, the Welsh Hospital Board's assessment of the requirements of this hospital is under consideration and I hope that it will reach conclusions over the next few months.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will introduce legislation to enable the Welsh Tourist Board to impose a levy on local authorities in Wales to finance the proper development of Welsh tourism.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is aware that, as a result of the closure of the Billet Mill at the Albion Works, Briton Ferry, on 27th February, approximately 300 workers will become redundant; and what steps he will take to provide employment for the men affected by this closure.

Yes. The Department of Employment will do all it can to find suitable alternative employment for those workers who are affected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what increases in the price of flooring tiles have been made since 18th June, 1970.

There are three principal types of flooring tiles: plastic tiles quarry tiles, and ceramic tiles. No information on prices of plastic and quarry tiles is available.

The price of ceramic floor tiles was increased by about 9 per cent. in October, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the date on which Lancaster House has not been open to the public on Sundays during the last year and the reasons for the withdrawal of its facilities.

Lancaster House is normally open for public viewing at weekends from Easter until mid-December. It was closed on Sundays, 12th April, 26th April, 3rd May, 10th May, 17th May, 27th September, 4th October and 11th October, during 1970 to allow official conferences to be held in the State Rooms. From 13th October the building has been continuously closed for extensive re-decoration to the hall and staircase.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent there is discrimination in his Department against employing women as examiners for the driving test.

Not at all.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of driving test examiners are women.

About 1 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will allow women applicants for the driving test to be examined by women examiners;

(2) whether it is permissible for a woman applicant for a driving test to take her test in another town under the supervision of a woman examiner.

In general, candidates are able to choose the centre from which their tests are conducted. If any woman candidate specifically asked to be tested by a woman examiner every effort would be made to meet her wishes if a woman examiner is available at the centre in question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what percentage of applicants for the driving test are women.

During 1970, 46 per cent. of driving tests were taken by women.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which areas and towns having a population of 100,000 had no women driving examiners on 1st February.

There are women driving examiners in Birmingham (2), Bury (Lanes), Dumbarton, Nuneaton, Orpington, Redditch, Southend-on-Sea, Southampton, Wallasey and Worksop.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the pass rate for driving tests conducted by a man examiner compares with that of a female examiner.

There is no significant difference.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, during the period of the Post Office strike, he will relax the regulations under the Road Traffic Acts concerning the renewal of driving licences, since no reminders are at present being issued.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers I gave my hon. Friend the Member for Leominster (Sir Clive Bossom) yesterday.—[Vol. 810, c. 455–6. ]