asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the recent visit to Northern Ireland of the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the official visit of the Secretary of State for Defence on 28th and 29th January to Northern Ireland.

During the course of his recent visit to Northern Ireland, my noble Friend had discussions with the Northern Ireland Cabinet about the security situation and the measures required to deal with it.Discussions were also held with the Royal Ulster Constabulary and the military authorities to review the methods by which the security forces are discharging their rôles of maintaining peace and order, firmly and impartially enforcing the law, and combating subversion.My right hon. Friend took this opportunity of visiting Army units in Northern Ireland and was impressed with their high morale and with the efficiency they are displaying in carrying out their demanding and often unpleasant tasks.I will arrange for the text of the communiqué published after the meeting with the Northern Ireland Cabinet to be placed in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will undertake a review of the medium-term rôle and method of operation of the Army in those areas of Northern Ireland where it has the main security rôle.

The rôle of the Army will be to continue to assist with the maintenance of peace and order, with the firm and impartial enforcement of the law and with the combating of subversion. There are no grounds for a review now of this rôle. The methods of discharging it are continuously under review, and a particular assessment of them was made by my noble Friend the Secretary of State during his recent visit to Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Nimrod aircraft are now in service with the Royal Air Force.

Just over half the Nimrods on order for the long-range maritime reconnaissance force have been delivered, and it is expected that the remainder will be delivered in the coming year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what reports he has of an incident which took place at approximately 2 a.m. on 16th January, 1971, on the Kasmir Road, Belfast, when two policemen were forced to leave their duty area by a military patrol headed by Sergeant Thorpe, one of the policemen having a rifle butt stuck in his back; why this incident was allowed to occur after a similar incident the night before; and if he will now condemn the action of the patrol, have Sergeant Thorpe repri- manded and apologise to the policemen concerned for the treatment to which they were subjected.

In the early hours of 16th January a routine Army patrol of three men, of which the N.C.O. named was not a member, saw two R.U.C. constables in Kasmir Road surrounded by a menacing crowd of 40 men. The corporal commanding the patrol advised the R.U.C. constables to leave the area, at the same time making it plain to them that he could not give them any orders. At no time did the soldiers touch the constables with their hands or weapons or point a weapon at them.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why an Army advertisement headed "Something different every day", appears in national newspapers bearing the Union flag, whereas when it appears in Northern Ireland newspapers the Union flag is deleted.

This advertisement bearing the Union flag has appeared in certain Northern Ireland newspapers.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why the military patrol did not deal with the hostile crowd at the Kasmir Road, Belfast, who on 15th January obstructed two Royal Ulster Constabulary constables, in the execution of their duty, instead of ordering the Royal Ulster Constabulary constables back to their station.

The military patrol dealt with the situation in the way it considered to be in the best interests of the personal safety of the R.U.C. constables concerned.

asked the Minister of State for Defence, approximately how much in total has been spent in each of the last three financial years and, approximately, how much so far in 1971–72 on defence for, and in, Northern Ireland, including servicemen's pay, barracks, accommodation, weapons, transport, overheads and all other items; and how this compares with Her Majesty's Government's expenditure in Northern Ireland on housing and on providing employment in each of these years.

As I explained in a written answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Bristol, North-East, (Mr. Adley) on 9th July, 1970, it is not possible to make any very meaningful estimate of the budgetary cost of our defence commitments in respect of a particular area. As regards the second part of the Question, expenditure in Northern Ireland on housing and on providing

RECRUITING FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDING 31ST DECEMBER
	Royal Navy and Royal Marines			Army			R.A.F.
	1969	1970	Increase or decrease	1969	1970	Increase ot decrease	1969	1970	Increase or decrease
Adult male other Ranks	1,057	1,110	+43	5,621	5,996*	+375	2,677	2,798	+121
Juniors (including apprentices)†	2,178	2,628	+450	5,429	5,338*	-91	1,695	1,683	-12
Womens' Services (including nurses)	536	608	+72	1,257	1,303	+46	1,383	1,383	—
Notes
* In November, 1970, Army recruiting figures were put on to a new basis, recruits being counted in the month in which they report for duty instead of on attestation. In consequence, some 850 Army male entrants who would have been counted in these six months totals will be counted in January, 1971.
† Also includes young soldiers and young airmen.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action is being taken in regard to H.M.S. "Blake" in order to ensure that she can return to her rôle as a major helicopter carrier and spend less time out of service.

H.M.S. "Blake" is currently in hand at Portsmouth for docking and essential maintenance which is planned to be completed by June.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what payments he estimates have been made for each year since 1960 which have been exempted from income tax under Section 457 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, now Section 366 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1970.

As there was no necessity for these payments to be separately recorded in a form which would enable the required estimates to be made, the information is not available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give the recruiting figures for the last six months for the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force and women's and boys' service and how these compare with the same six month period of the previous year.

The information is as follows:

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will consider a naval version of the multi-rôle combat aircraft for carrier operations with the Fleet Air Arm in the late 1970s and 1980s.

No.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in view of the successful completion of trials by the naval version of Jaguar at the Royal Aircraft Establishment, Bedford, and at sea, he will now consider this aircraft for the Fleet Air Arm.

No. There are no plans to purchase the Jaguar for the Fleet Air Arm.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the future of the Red Arrows Demonstration Team.

A Board of Inquiry has been set up to investigate the accident of 20th January. We shall review the future programme for the team in the light of its findings. In the meantime the Red Arrows will be largely engaged in training. The team's resources will not, for the time being, permit more than a limited programme of public display flying.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what exercises are taking place with the South African Navy.

An annual exercise is held with the South African Navy. The last occasion was in August, 1970. Small-scale exercises with H.M. ships passing through the area also take place from time to time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what progress the security forces have made in restoring full law and order in urban areas of Northern Ireland dominated by the Irish Republican Army or other subversive movements.

There is no area in Northern Ireland which the security forces do not enter. In certain parts of Belfast and Londonderry, however, the maintenance of law and order remains difficult owing to the limited co-operation of the local residents.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what progress is being made in the evolution of Shorts Blowpipe missile system; and if he will make a statement on its potential requirements for the Armed Forces.

The development programme for this missile continues to make progress although it will still be some time before it is completed. It would be contrary to normal policy to give detailed forecasts of the Forces' production requirements. It is envisaged that the weapon will, if successfully developed, be introduced extensively into service with the Army and will also be used by the Royal Marines.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about operations in Northern Ireland since the visit of the Secretary of State.

In response to a series of violent disturbances, the security forces have vigorously undertaken their tasks of arresting those responsible, of dispersing crowds, of searching for offensive weapons and, where necessary, of controlling movement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what further proposals he has for amending the law with regard to the handling of dangerous drugs.

Subordinate legislation under the Misuse of Drugs Bill will be necessary to control such matters as the safe custody, packaging and transport of dangerous drugs. Details have yet to be formulated.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to establish a procedure whereby compensation may be obtained on an ex gratia basis by people who are refused bail and are subsequently acquitted.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many au pair girls are working in the United Kingdom; and if he will list the statutory provisions protecting them from exploitation by those persons with whom they reside.

About 20,000. Au pair girls and their hostesses are given advice by the Home Office about their respective obligations, and to aid or abet any breach of landing conditions would be an offence under Article 25(2) of the Aliens Order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he intends to introduce legislation governing the conditions of employment of au pair girls.

The Government are considering the provisions of the European Agreement on Au Pair Placement but my right hon. Friend regrets that he is not yet in a position to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for a report from the Chief Constable of the West Yorkshire Constabulary on the present shortfall of police personnel, and on the action that is being taken to increase recruitment.

Against an authorised establishment of 4,663, the strength of the force at the end of 1970 was 3,648. This represents an increase in strength of 116 during 1970, compared with an increase of five in 1969. Recruitment is being assisted by a substantial increase in national publicity, and by support for the local campaign in the area of the force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to draw to the attention of the responsible authorities the desirability of approximating the salaries of officers in the Probation Service to the salaries of officers of equivalent grades and responsibilities in the Children's Service.

I have no doubt that the Joint Negotiating Committee for the Probation Service will take due account of remuneration in the local authority social services before making any recommendations to my right hon. Friend about probation pay.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in the light of the observation of Mr. Justice Caulfield in Regina v. Cairns and Others, he will initiate a review of the provisions and operation of the Official Secrets Act.

I would refer my right hon. and learned Friend to the reply given to Questions by the hon. Member for Pontypool (Mr. Abse) and others on 9th February.—{Vol. 810, cols. 134–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will break down the figures which are available showing that for the petty sessional divisions comprising the North-East London Magistrates' Courts fines had increased from £43,512 in 1967, £45,447 in 1968, and to £66,051 in 1969; and how much of these increased amounts was due to accumulation of fines which had not been paid from previous years.

These figures relate to the amount of fines due for payment at the end of the year.I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give more details on the means, method, and procedure now being adopted in connection with his consultations which are in train or on means of improving the present arrangements for collecting fines; and whether he will publish in HANSARD all factual evidence to show what proportion of the £5,434,049 of fines which were still outstanding for payment on 30th June, 1970, had accrued over the years for which the time for payment had expired.

The consultations are with the Justices Clerks Society and other bodies concerned with the arrangements for the collection of fines. The information asked for in the second part of the Question is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on the revision of ward boundaries within the London Borough of Camden.

My right hon. Friend has received the report of the Commissioner, and expects to be able to announce his decision later this month.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what difficulties are at present being experienced in Lancashire in the recruitment of an adequate number of probation officers.

All five probation and after-care areas in Lancashire have had to appoint untrained persons as probation officers in recent months. But Lancashire should benefit from the increased number of probation students likely to complete their training in the course of 1971 and from new courses in Liverpool and Manchester starting this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the total number of aliens, including spouses and dependants, who were accepted for permanent settlement in Great Britain in 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970.

The numbers, which include both aliens admitted for settlement and those later accepted as permanent residents, were 18,346, 20,093, 21,862 and 20,917.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the basis upon which he estimates that there would be a large expense of labour and finance in keeping records of statistics of entry permits into the United Kingdom of foreign and Commonwealth nationals and Soviet citizens in particular; and what is his estimate of the costs.

Statistics of Commonwealth citizens and foreigners admitted to the United Kingdom are already published as White Papers. The additional information recently requested by the hon. Member was much more detailed and would, clearly, take much more labour and expense to provide.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department on what date the local police received information requesting them to enforce the law regarding vehicles parked outside the sub-post office in Chequers Way, N.13, and the fleet of vehicles owned by firms whose names have been sent to him; what action was taken; and whether he will request the police to investigate the large number of vehicles which are, and have been for months past, parked illegally without road fund licences in Durham Road, N.7, Caledonian Road, N.1, Forge Park, N.7, Chequers Way, N.13, and Tottenhall Road, N.13.

I have asked the Commissioner of Police and I will write to the hon. Member when I have the information.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will consider reappointing Mr. Speaker's Conference on Electoral Law Reform to consider the subjects of government by referendum and proportional representation.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent the increased total of fines from £10,049 in 1967 to £11,158 in 1969 for the petty sessional division of Newham was due to increased fines imposed and to arrears in payment of fine imposed but not paid in previous years.

These figures relate to the amount of fines due for payment at the end of the year.I regret that the information asked for is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many building workers, including apprentices, are currently out of work in the Mexborough and Wombwell Employment Exchange areas.

At 11th January there were 361 persons registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Mexborough and Wombwell Employment Exchanges who last worked in the construction industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will, in view of the shortage of catering staff, relax the qualifications of service required from those applying for work permits in Great Britain.

No. The qualifications of age and experience now required of skilled and semi-skilled workers were determined after consultation with both sides of the industry and are kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the increase in the cost of living following the electricity board's announcement of price increases; and if he will make a statement.

My Department has not yet received details of the tariff changes announced by the boards, but the direct effect will be that a rise of 12 per cent. in domestic electricity charges would raise the General Index of Retail Prices All-items figure by about two-fifths of a point, or about one-quarter of one per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the estimated percentage of workers in the United Kingdom who work less than a six-day week; and what are the equivalent figures for the countries of the Common Market.

I have no statistical information on the percentage of workers who work a six-day week in the countries of the Common Market or in the United Kingdom, but the figures for Great Britain for September, 1968, show that about 84 per cent. of all day workers worked a 5-day week or less.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will take steps to require the provision of access for the disabled to new buildings used as places of employment.

My right hon. Friend has no power to do this and as only a comparatively small proportion of disabled workers have ambulatory difficulties it would be inappropriate to seek legislation to impose a general requirement of this kind. The experience of disablement resettlement officers is that where difficulties occur, employers are generally willing to make arrangements to overcome them.I am, however, considering what might be done to encourage employers to take the needs of disabled people into account when planning new premises.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why many factories built with financial support from public funds do not have accessibility provisions and suitable toilet facilities for the disabled at ground floor level.

Financial assistance for building factories is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. The House will know that the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, has made some provision as regards accessibility to public buildings. As regards factories and other buildings which are not open to the public no general requirement has been made and I would refer the hon. Member to my reply today to his previous Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware of the discrepancy of work opportunity for the disabled as between town and country; and if he will increase the number of designated employment jobs for the disabled.

It is difficult to get the exact evidence, but employment opportunities are possibly more restricted in some more remote areas. It is hard to see how the further designation of specific employment would help in such a situation. The advice of the National Advisory Council on the Employment of the Disabled has always been against the extension of designated employment, but if the hon. Member will let me know more precisely what he has in mind, I will look into the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what further research has been done by his Department regarding suitable employment for the seriously disabled who want to work; and if he will make a statement.

My Department, in collaboration with the Royal National Institute for the Blind and St. Dunstan's, has commissioned the Production Engineering Research Association to study the needs and abilities of blind people operating industrial machines and processes and to identify machine tools and manufacturing processes which may be adapted for operation by blind people, with particular emphasis on new forms of conventional machines and new processes. Market research and surveys in the field of sheltered employment are regularly undertaken by Remploy Ltd. and Industrial Advisers to the Blind Ltd.; In general, my Department's officers constantly review the employment needs and potentialities of those registered severely disabled people who are capable of remunerative work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give the comparison between the latest unemployment figures for the Greater London area and the rest of England.

At 11th January, 1971, there were 65,937 persons registered as unemployed in the Greater London area and the percentage rate of unemployment was 1·5. The corresponding figures for the rest of England were 467,000 and 3·0.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers and percentage rates of registered unemployed persons at Consett and Stanley employment exchanges, County Durham, at 18th June, 1970, and at the latest available date.

The total numbers registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Consett and Stanley Employment Exchanges at 8th June, 1970, and 11th January, 1971, were 1,477 and 1,750 respectively. At these dates the percentage rates of unemployment for the Consett, Lanchester and Stanley travel-to-work area were 5·0 and 5·9. Unemployment statistics are not available for 18th June, 1970, and the rates of unemployment are not available for parts of the Consett travel-to-work area.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why he will not request the Wilberforce Inquiry into the electrical power workers' dispute to consider and report on the £1,500 per annum increase in the salary of the General Secretary of the Electrical Trades Union and the various increases ranging from £400 per annum to £970 per annum to be paid to the other officials of this trade union.

Because the court was an independent body it was for the court to decide what matters it wished to take into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is aware that between 6th November, 1970, and 3rd January, 1971, the costs of 33 items which had cost £5 rose to £5 5s. 6d.; and whether he will revise his cost of living index figure to include the day-to-day items upon which the retired and poorer sections spend most of their incomes.

I am not aware of the particular figures to which the hon. Member refers, but I am satisfied that the General Index of Retail Prices reflects accurately the changes in retail prices of the goods and services purchased by nearly nine-tenths of all households in the United Kingdom, including practically all wage earners and most small and medium salary earners. Changes in the prices of the goods and services, other than housing, purchased by one-person and two person pensioner households are reflected in the indices for these households which are published quarterly by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the minimum qualifications for entry into the Factory Inspectorate; and what is the current commencement salary for new entrants.

Candidates should normally have a degree or an equivalent or higher qualification. Candidates without these academic qualifications but with good technical qualifications who have studied at least up to the standard of the Higher National Certificate and have had at least three years works' or other relevant experience are also considered. The duties call for maturity of outlook and judgment, together with an interest in practical affairs and industrial conditions and a personality suitable for dealing with people at all levels from factory floor to top management of large concerns.Entry is normally at the minimum of the salary scale—£1,135—but a higher starting salary up to £1,476 may be authorised for a candidate with qualifications or experience considered to be of special value and above the normal entry requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate she has made of the likely percentage reduction in demand for school dinners in Manchester where the price is increased to 2s. 5d. in April, 1971; and what this estimated reduction will be in absolute figures.

I have made no such estimates for particular local education authority areas. I understand that Manchester L.E.A. has not yet finalised its own estimate.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is aware of the difficulties in obtaining deliveries of oil for central heating purposes in some schools in the inner London area; what steps she has taken to overcome this shortage; what advice she has given to school authorities to alleviate difficulty for teachers and pupils in cold weather; and if she will make a statement.

With the ending of the strike of the tanker drivers, the situation is rapidly returning to normal, and the Inner London Education Authority hopes that all its schools will be open by the middle of next week. The Authority took all possible steps to reduce the effects of the strike, both by using other forms of heating where this was practicable and by providing alternative accommodation, in some cases in church halls and neighbouring schools. Both the Authority and my right hon. Friend very much regret the disruption of children's education caused by the strike.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what report has been made to her by her representative on the co-ordinating committee set up in 1968 to consider the establishment of a nationally recognised examination in computer programming as to its progress; and if she will make a statement.

Following an approach from the United Kingdom Coordinating Committee for Examinations in Computer Studies, the City and Guilds of London Institute published last summer a syllabus and scheme of examination for a new Basic Certificate in Computer Programming of the Institute. Certain colleges of further education and some private computer schools are known to be offering courses leading to the examination. The first examinations were held in December.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is now in a position to review the 1972–73 primary school replacement allocation for Derbyshire Education Committee.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 22nd January.—[Vol. 809, c. 344.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of school leavers entering Oxford and Cambridge came from independent schools in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970 respectively.

Information is available only for independent schools recognised as efficient. The figures for those entering direct from these schools were as follows:

Academic Years				Per-cent.
1964–65	…	…	…	36·2
1965–66	…	…	…	39·2
1966–67	…	…	…	37·0
1967–68	…	…	…	34·3
1968–69	…	…	…	40·0

No information is yet available for 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of school leavers from public and other independent schools entered further education in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970 respectively.

Information is available only for independent schools recognised as efficient. The figures for those entering direct from these schools were as follows:

Academic Years				Per-cent.
1964–65	…	…	…	52·0
1965–66	…	…	…	50·6
1966–67	…	…	…	55·6
1967–68	…	…	…	58·0
1968–69	…	…	…	57·9

No information is yet available for 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Education ad Science what percentage of school leavers for maintained schools entered full-time further education in 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively.

The figures of those entering direct from these schools were as follows:

Academic Years				Per-cent.
1964–65	…	…	…	14·5
1965–66	…	…	…	15·0
1966–67	…	…	…	16·5
1967–68	…	…	…	17·0
1968–69	…	…	…	17·9

No information is yet available for 1969–70.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary school classes in the Newcastle-upon-Tyne Local Education Authority area had more than 35 pupils in the term commencing 19th September; and what was the sum total of pupils in such classes.

This information is not available in the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provision is made in the training of teachers to assist them in dealing with disabled children attending schools for the able-bodied; and what discussions she has had regarding this training with the appropriate authorities.

Most students in colleges of education have an opportunity to learn about the handicaps they are likely to encounter in ordinary schools, and I am hoping that this aspect of their training will be developed further.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what provisions her Department insists upon for the disabled in new schools, and in new buildings in old schools; and what additional financial help is provided for such facilities.

Section 8 of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970, imposes certain duties on those responsible for the provision of new schools. Guidance on the implementation of the Act has been given in the Department's circular 65/70, a copy of which I am sending the hon. Member. Provided that the needs of the disabled are taken into account early in the planning stage, little extra cost is involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what guidance is being given to local authorities when building new comprehensive schools in respect of sports facilities and swimming pools being made available to the disabled; if guidance is given for the provision of these facilities by disabled people at night and weekends; and if she will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend is confident that local education authorities and others responsible for providing schools will do their best to make the sports and other facilities available to disabled users. General guidance on the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act has been given in a Departmental circular, a copy of which I have already sent to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will pay an official visit to the Disabled Living Foundation's permanent exhibition; if she will encourage her officials and inspectors to also pay such visits; if she will inform local education authorities of the importance of this exhibition; and if she will make a statement.

My Department has been interested in this exhibition from the time it was proposed, and specialist officers are arranging to visit it. I very much hope to visit it myself in due course.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has for changing the method of financial assistance to universities; and if she will make a statement.

I have no such proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of schools, maintained and

	1965–66	1966–67	1967–68	1968–69	1969–70	1970–71
Number of teachers taking courses in the education of:
maladjusted children	22	23	35	32	24	34
ESN, backward and slow learning children	81	86	86	84	95	104
handicapped children generally (in-cluding maladjustment, ESN, slow learners, socially deprived children, etc.)	243	326	323	336	340	350

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the amount to be provided for current expenditure on education in Wales from 1970–71 to 1974–75 out of the total provided on page 36 of the White Paper, Command Paper No. 4578; and how the figures differ from those envisaged in Command Paper No. 4234.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers to his Questions given today by my right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales on primary and secondary education expenditure. Figures for the total expendi- private, respectively, catering for maladjusted children.

There are 164 schools in England catering wholly or mainly for maladjusted pupils, of which 99 are special schools maintained by local education authorities, 19 are non-maintained special schools run by charitable organisations and trusts, and 46 are independent schools. A number of other schools cater for small groups of maladjusted pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many teachers have taken a specialist qualification in the education of maladjusted children in each of the last five years; and what is the number expected to take one this year;(2) how many teachers have taken a specialist qualification in the teaching of educationally sub-normal children in each of the last five years; and what is the number expected to take one in the current year.

The figures requested are given in the table below, which also includes figures of teachers attending courses concerned with handicapped children more generally.ture on education in Wales are not available as separate records are not kept.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money has been allocated to the Welsh Arts Council from 1970–71 to 1974–75 out of the total specified on page 35 of the White Paper on Public Expenditure, January, 1971; and how much the figures differ from those envisaged in Command Paper No. 4234.

The amount of the grant to the Welsh Arts Council is decided by the Arts Council of Great Britain and not by the Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will list the responsibilities her Department has with regard to the prevention of oil pollution;(2) what arrangements her Department has for co-ordinating its activities in the prevention of oil pollution with those of other Departments; and if she is satisfied with the arrangements in the light of recent collisons and explosions in the English Channel.

My Department has no responsibility for control of oil pollution, but the research councils undertake research on the nature and effects of oil pollution and methods of dealing with it. In particular, the Natural Environment Research Council collaborates in providing scientific advice on methods of dealing with oil pollution.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the present pupil/teacher ratio in the West Riding County Council area; and how this figure compares with the rest of the country.

In January, 1970, 23·7 in the West Riding, 22·7 in England and Wales (including in each case unqualified teachers and part-time teachers at their full-time equivalent). Differences such as this are in part due to the quota system, which apportions teachers to authorities according to their needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of classes in primary schools with more than 40 pupils, and in secondary schools with more than 30 pupils, in the West Riding County Council area, and the number of such classes in the Mexborough and Staincross divisional education districts.

In January, 1970, 172 and 1,438 teaching groups respectively in the county area. The Department's data are not analysed for districts within a local education authority area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will invite the National Institute for Economic and Social Research to a meeting at 10, Downing Street to receive its advice on national economic problems.

No.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will invite the heads of Government of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development Countries to a meeting at 10, Downing Street to discuss common economic problems.

No. These problems will be discussed at the O.E.C.D. Ministerial Council Meeting in Paris in June, at which the Government will be represented.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the total amount of deductible expenses under Schedule E for each year since 1960–61.

The estimated figures up to 1968–69 (the latest year for which they are available) are as follows:

				£ million
1960–61	…	…	…	183
1961–62	…	…	…	232
1962–63	…	…	…	245
1963–64	…	…	…	265
1964–65	…	…	…	274
1965–66	…	…	…	280
1966–67	…	…	…	288
1967–68	…	…	…	308
1968–69	…	…	…	324

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much annual revenue he estimates will be forgone by the Exchequer as a result of the reintroduction of the non-aggregation rule for children's investment income.

The yield from the present rule is estimated at £15 million-£20 million a year.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the cost to the Exchequer in income tax and surtax, respectively, forgone as a result of the allowance of business entertainment expenses against tax for each of the 10 years prior to 1965; and what estimate he has made of the annual loss of revenue from the reintroduction of this allowance.

Information on which to base these estimates is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many private discretionary and other family settlements are in operation in Great Britain; and what is his estimate of the amount of money covered by such trusts.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates estate duty yield is annually diminished as a result of the exclusion from liability of private discretionary trusts, after allowing for the yield from the changing provisions on discretionary trusts.

I am not clear what exclusion from the estate duty charge the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional estate duty accruing to the Treasury each year as a result of the discretionary trust provisions incorporated in the 1969 Finance Act.

The Financial Statement and Budget Report 1969–70 estimated the full year yield from the changes in the estate duty treatment of settled property as £10 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional yield in capital gains tax of treating all advances made by trustees out of capital to beneficiaries under private discretionary trusts as gifts with the whole of the advance being treated as a chargeable gain.

No estimate is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many accumulation settlements are currently in existence in Great Britain in favour of infants; what is the total capital value of the sums at present covered by them; and what saving in family liability to income tax, surtax and estate duty lie estimates is at present achieved by their use.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims were made by residents of Malta for repayment of United Kingdom income tax paid by them on dividends, interest and royalties flowing from this country; and what were the amounts involved, including the estimated loss of surtax in each of the income tax years since the Double Taxation Relief (Taxes on Income) Order, 1962, came into force.

The only information available relates to income tax on dividends and is as follows:

			Number of claims for repayment under Double Taxation Order	Amount of income tax repaid or not withheld
				£000
1966–67	…	…	12	0·1
1967–68	…	…	170	15·9
1968–69	…	…	410	80·1
1969–70	…	…	770	230·3

There is no entitlement to repayment of tax deducted from interest or of income tax deducted from dividends paid before the corporation tax era.No figures of the surtax involved are available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much has been granted to surtax payers for each of the last 10 years in the form of tax relief on covenants for the purposes of separation agreement and divorce orders.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual loss of revenue to the Exchequer from exempting gains on the sale of trading assets from capital gains tax liability.

The information to make such an estimate is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much death duty he estimates is at present lost each year on account of gifts inter vivos and settlements made in consideration of marriage.

No estimate is possible because the information about gifts outside the estate duty net is incomplete.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many claims for estate duty were made under Section 46 of the Finance Act, 1940; and what were the amounts of duty involved in the last 10 financial years.

Information is only available for the last nine financial years, over which the total number of claims made under Section 46 of the Finance Act, 1940, was 60. The amount of duty involved in these claims is not known, but is probably small.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will seek powers to render ineffective the practice of making deathbed purchases of agricultural land with the purpose of avoiding estate duty.

I have noted the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what has been the net amount of British investment abroad for each year since 1960; and, for the same period, what have been the annual over- seas interest and dividend returns to British residents in the United Kingdom.

Information on United Kingdom private investment overseas and interest profits and dividends receipts is shown in Tables 26 and 21 respectively of the 1970 Pink Book on the United Kingdom Balance of Payments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is the total amount of British funds currently invested in land and mutual funds in, respectively, Bermuda, the Isle of Man, Rhodesia, Eire, the Bahamas and the Channel Islands; and how much was newly invested in each of these areas in 1970.

This information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much tax and estate duty he estimates is avoided as a result of covenants taken out in favour of their grandchildren by persons with an annual income over £5,000 and with capital holdings in excess of £20,000, respectively.

Information on which to base the desired estimates is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the amount of estate duty forgone, for each of the last 10 years, on life assurance premiums paid by employers for employees and their wives and children.

The proceeds of such assurances may be chargeable to estate duty in certain circumstances. I cannot give an estimate of the additional duty that would have been payable if they had been chargeable in all cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimates he has made of the annual loss in estate duty on policies of life assurance written on trust under the Married Women's Property Act, 1882; and where the premiums are paid in circumstances enabling the settlor to take advantage of the normal expenditure exemption under Section 37 of the Finance Act, 1968.

No estimate is available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the amount of surtax forgone by the Inland Revenue, for each of the last 10 years, as a result of corporate remuneration in the form of non-contributory pension schemes, stock options, and assistance with housing, children's education and car and travel expenses, respectively, detailed by each item separately.

The hon. Member appears to be under a misapprehension. In general, gains on the exercise of stock options (since 1966) and remuneration in the form of assistance with housing, children's education and car and travel expenses are liable to tax. For the rest, information is not available on which to base the desired estimates.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many surtax directions have been made against closely-controlled companies for each of the last 10 tax years; and how much income was involved for each year.

The information is as follows:

Year ended 31st March		Number of Surtax directions	Income involved £m.
1961	…	1,548	18·7
1962	…	1,524	18·3
1963	…	1,452	18·9
1964	…	1,573	17·5
1965	…	1,890	21·4
1966	…	2,152	19·5
1967	…	2,478	22·5
1968	…	2,169	24·5
1969	…	1,680	22·9
1970	…	4,475	11·7

Surtax directions do not arise under the close company legislation introduced in the Finance Act, 1965. The figures above for the years 1966 to 1970 therefore relate to pre-1965 cases.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many estate duty affidavits were lodged with the Inland Revenue in each of the last 10 financial years for the estates of persons dying domiciled outside the United Kingdom but having property situated within it.

The only figures available, which relate to estates of £5,000 or more are as follows:

1960–60	…	…	…	1,112
1961–62	…	…	…	1,226
1962–63	…	…	…	1,025
1963–64	…	…	…	982
1964–65	…	…	…	1,028
1965–66	…	…	…	966
1966–67	…	…	…	966
1967–68	…	…	…	988
1968–69	…	…	…	989
1969–70	…	…	…	1,126

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many special consents have been given by the Treasury under Section 468 of the Income Tax Act, 1952, now Section 482 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act, 1970, in each of the last 10 income tax years; in how many cases in the same period companies have taken advantage of the general consent provisions; and in how many cases criminal proceedings were taken under the same provisions; and what penalties are imposed in the same period.

The figures requested in the first part of the Question are as follows:

1960–61	…	…	…	387
1961–62	…	…	…	458
1962–63	…	…	…	429
1963–64	…	…	…	432
1964–65	…	…	…	466
1965–66	…	…	…	472
1966–67	…	…	…	552
1967–68	…	…	…	600
1968–69	…	…	…	682
1969–70	…	…	…	862

The answers to the three other parts of the Question are, respectively, this information is not available, none and none.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the additional yield in capital gains tax of limiting the principal private residence exemption under Section 29 of the Finance Act, 1969, to the first £20,000 of the sale proceeds.

The information on which to base this estimate could not be obtained without a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what he estimates to be the loss of tax to the revenue for each year since 1960, arising from the dispensation of tax-free lump sums payable on ratirement, loss of office and similar contingencies.

Information on which to base these estimates is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what total annual loss of tax he estimates to have accrued to the Inland Revenue for each year since 1945 as a result of top hat pension schemes aimed at tax avoidance rather than saving for retirement.

Information on which to base these estimates is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by how much he estimates the current annual estate duty yield to be reduced as a result of the exclusion from estate duty liability of the assets of pension funds.

Estate duty falls on property passing on a death and assets of pension funds could only so pass, if at all, as being settled property. I assume the hon. Member has in mind the exclusion of pension funds from the charge arising on the death of a beneficiary under a settlement. I have no information as to how much duty would be charged if this exclusion were withdrawn.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much revenue he estimates has been forgone by the Exchequer for each of the last 15 years in respect of covenants in favour of individuals, divided between income tax and surtax.

The only figures available related to the amounts of tax relief for the years 1962–63 to 1966–67. These are:

			Income tax	Surtax
			£m.	£m.
1962–63	…	…	5¼	10¾
1963–64	…	…	5½	11½
1964–65	…	…	6	12
1965–66	…	…	6¼	12¾
1966–67	…	…	6	12

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer by what authority the Inland Revenue obtains information from non-resident trustees of settlements governed by English law and of settlements governed by foreign law; and what evidence he has of the effectiveness of its powers in preventing the evasion of United Kingdom taxes, including estate duty.

The tax law gives the Inland Revenue wide powers to obtain information from non-resident trustees, or, where necessary, from other persons. These powers are generally effective once the Revenue has knowledge of a transaction.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many cases of evasion of income tax and surtax have been investigated for each of the last 10 years; how much tax was recovered each year as a result; how many persons were prosecuted; and what was the total size of the fines imposed, respectively, for each year.

This information, so far as it is available, is given in Tables 25 and 26 of the 112th Report of the Commissioners of Inland Revenue (Cmnd. 4262).

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what estimate he has made of the annual loss of revenue to the Exchequer of abolishing the distinction between earned and unearned income.

The cost of extending earned income relief to all investment income is estimated at about £250 million.