Written Answers

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Written Answers To Questions

Friday, 26th February, 1971

General Sir Ian Freeland (Kidnap Threat Allegation)

asked the Attorney-General what action he is taking to prosecute the members of the Irish Republican Army who are conspiring to kidnap General Sir Ian Freeland, the former General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland.

Inquiries are being made about this allegation. Before any prosecution can be commenced, evidence must be submitted that a criminal offence has been committed within the jurisdiction of the English Courts.

Aviation Supply

Rolls-Royce Limited

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply (1) how many firms in Wales are sub-contractors of Rolls-Royce Limited;(2) what is the total value of subcontracts for Rolls-Royce Limited held by firms trading in Wales.

Full details of subcontracts placed by Rolls-Royce Ltd. are not held in this Department.

Civil Service

Pay

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal's award of a 20 per cent. increase in the salaries of civil servants; what these pay awards will mean to the stated categories of workers; how many will be affected; and when the Government intend to implement the award.

The Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal's award No. 493 provides for payment of an allowance from 1st July, 1970, to 31st December, 1971, for certain technical, drawing office, process and general supervisory and stores supervisory grades, including supervisory staff, to improve their pay relativities with subordinate industrial staff: the award provides for an allowance of £200 for the lower-paid grades tapered to nil for some of the higher-paid grades: the additional cost on the wages bill is estimated to be 8·9 per cent.: some 35,000 staff are covered by the terms of the award, which will be implemented as soon as possible.

Defence

Linesman/Mediator

asked the Minister of State for Defence what representations he has received from the British Airline Pilots Association about the Linesman/Mediator project; and what reply he has sent.

None.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the contribution of the Linesman/Mediator project to the United Kingdom's nuclear retaliatory capacity.

Linesman is part of the United Kingdom's defence system against manned aircraft: it has no other connection with the United Kingdom's nuclear retaliatory capacity.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the area of ground space which will be occupied by the Plessey XL series of computers as part of the Linesman/Mediator project.

About 1,600 square yards.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what links will the Linesman/Mediator project have with the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation systems as part of the early warning procedures.

Early warning information will be automatically exchanged between the Linesman and the N.A.T.O. Air Defence Ground Environment systems.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what basic design changes were necessitated in the Linesman/Mediator project by the cancellation of the Blue Streak; and whether he will make a statement.

None.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what use is made of germanium transistors in the Linesman part of the Linesman Mediator project; and whether he will make a statement.

Extensive use is made of germanium transistors in the Linesman system. They are satisfactory for their task.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what degree of human intervention is necessary in the use of the radar dishes for the Linesman Mediator project; and why a computer-control system is not installed.

The operation of Linesman radars is largely automatic and computers are used extensively but control and supervision is provided by humans.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many service personnel and staff will be required in the continuous operation of the Linesman part of the Linesman/Mediator project.

About 1,500–2,000 Service personnel will be required to operate and maintain the Linesman system.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what computer program language will be used on the Linesman part of the Linesman/Mediator project; and how this will be interchangeable with those of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation countries' systems.

CORAL. This is compatible with the high level language used in the N.A.T.O. Air Defence Ground Environment.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what provision has been made in the Linesman Mediator pro- ject for a full-back system on a national scale against the possibility of either accidental failure or nuclear or conventional-weapon destruction.

Linesman incorporates appropriate standby facilities.

Dunkirk Evacuation (Award)

asked the Minister of State for Defence what representations his Department has received for the award of an emblem to the ex-Service men and women who were evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940; what replies have been made; and if he will make a statement.

There has been only one such representation to the Ministry of Defence in recent years. The matter was raised recently by the hon. Member, to whom I have now written.

Employment

Juveniles (Training Allowances)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assistance is available to unemployed juveniles under the Training Allowances Scheme.

Under the Training Allowances Scheme, young people may receive the following assistance: a weekly allowance, free fares for interviews and for the first journey to take up employment, a special grant for the first week in employment if the employer keeps wages in hand and the parents are unable to support the young person during this week, help towards fares for holiday visits home and special allowances during periods of sickness or emergency.

Aberbargoed, Blackwood And Crosskeys (Juveniles)

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present incidence of juvenile unemployment in the areas served by the Aberbargoed, Blackwood and Crosskeys careers offices.

On 8th February, 1971, in the area covered by the Aberbargoed, Blackwood and Crosskeys careers offices, there were respectively, 45, 102 and 89 young people registered as unemployed.

Special Development Areas

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the seasonally adjusted rate of unemployment and what was the total of the wholly unemployed, at the latest convenient date and 12 months earlier, in each of the employment exchange areas listed in his announcement of 18th February that are now to be treated either as special development areas or intermediate areas.

Seasonally adjusted rates of unemployment are not calculated for local areas.

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT
						Wholly unemployed		Percentage rates
						February, 1971 (provisional)	February, 1970	February, 1970
SCOTLAND
Dumbarton	…	…	…	…	…	698	449	4·2
Alexandria	…	…	…	…	…	927	486
Helensburgh	…	…	…	…	…	248	220
Greenock	…	…	…	…	…	2,568	1,989	6·7
Port Glasgow	…	…	…	…	…	930	727	6·7
Irvine	…	…	…	…	…	539	311	5·0
Dalry	…	…	…	…	…	85	53
Kilwinning	…	…	…	…	…	160	86
Saltcoats	…	…	…	…	…	1,485	1,143
Paisley	…	…	…	…	…	2,404	1,682	3·0
Johnstone	…	…	…	…	…	744	536
Renfrew	…	…	…	…	…	361	189
Glasgow Professional and Executive Employment Office	…	…	…	…	…	588	390	4·7
Glasgow South Side	…	…	…	…	…	4,282	3,485
Barrhead	…	…	…	…	…	1,011	748
Bridgeton	…	…	…	…	…	3,036	2,595
Cambuslang	…	…	…	…	…	386	333
Clydebank	…	…	…	…	…	2,561	1,621
Govan	…	…	…	…	…	2,360	1,830
Hillington	…	…	…	…	…	257	125
Kinning Park	…	…	…	…	…	1,067	1,057
Kirkingtilloch	…	…	…	…	…	487	377
Maryhill	…	…	…	…	…	3,653	2,824
Parkhead	…	…	…	…	…	6,133	4,427
Partick	…	…	…	…	…	2,425	1,880
Rutherglen	…	…	…	…	…	1,087	855
Springburn	…	…	…	…	…	5,580	3,982
Motherwell	…	…	…	…	…	1,098	831	4·9
Airdrie	…	…	…	…	…	1,590	1,143
Bellshill	…	…	…	…	…	786	594
Blantyre	…	…	…	…	…	599	416
Carluke	…	…	…	…	…	183	153
Coatbridge	…	…	…	…	…	1,951	1,413
East Kilbride	…	…	…	…	…	688	402
Hamilton	…	…	…	…	…	1,610	1,387
Larkhall	…	…	…	…	…	572	400
Uddingston	…	…	…	…	…	591	468
Wishaw	…	…	…	…	…	1,203	1,002
Kilsyth	…	…	…	…	…	304	254	9·6
Cumbernauld	…	…	…	…	…	546	327	3·8

The table below shows the numbers registered as wholly unemployed at 8th February, 1971 and 9th February, 1970, in each of the employment exchange areas within the new special development areas and intermediate areas. Percentage rates of unemployment, not seasonally adjusted, are shown for February, 1970. Some of the rates for February, 1971, have been calculated, and the remainder will be ready in a few days. A full list will be sent to the right hon. Member as soon as they are all available.

Following is the table:

				Wholly unemployed		Percentage rates
				February, 1971 (provisional)	February, 1970	February, 1970
Special Development Areas announced on 18th February, 1970
NORTHERN REGION
Hartlepool	…	…	…	2,517	1,944
Hartlepool Headland	…	…	…	331	293	5·7
Peterlee	…	…	…	1,225	1,020
Wingate	…	…	…	646	665	6·5
Blaydon	…	…	…	913	912
East Boldon	…	…	…	304	370
Elswick	…	…	…	1,825	1,872
Felling	…	…	…	767	847
Gateshead	…	…	…	2,342	2,142
Jarrow and Hebburn	…	…	…	1,843	1,269
Newburn	…	…	…	422	472
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	…	…	…	4,864	4,691	5·5
North Shields	…	…	…	1,533	1,367
Prudhoe	…	…	…	258	284
South Shields	…	…	…	3,333	3,296
Walker	…	…	…	1,101	1,144
Wallsend	…	…	…	1,222	1,230
West Moor	…	…	…	699	722
Whitley Bay	…	…	…	868	874
Sunderland	…	…	…	3,407	2,985
Pallion	…	…	…	1,537	1,439
Seaham	…	…	…	518	552	6·0
Southwick	…	…	…	1,408	1,326
Washington	…	…	…	571	632
WALES
Aberdare	…	…	…	697	563
Mountain Ash	…	…	…	299	323	4·3
Merthyr Tydfil	…	…	…	835	882
Dowlais	…	…	…	201	199	5·3
Treharris	…	…	…	164	165
Pontypridd	…	…	…	848	908
Pontyclun	…	…	…	127	129	5·3^*
Tonyrefail	…	…	…	329	372
Intermediate Areas announced on 18th February, 1971
Okehampton	…	…	…	245	249	7·1
Tavistock	…	…	…	217	234	5·8
Oswestry	…	…	…	632	676	5·5
Bridlington	…	…	…	804	790	9·5
Filey	…	…	…	257	266	9·5
Edinburgh	…	…	…	5,444	4,177
Portobello	…	…	…	987	731	3·5^†
^* The rate for Pontypridd, Pontyclun and Tonyrefail relates to a travel-to-work area which in addition to these places includes Ferndale, Tonypandy and Treorchy which were on the original list of special development areas.
^†The rate for Edinburgh and Portobello is for the Edinburgh travel-to-work area. This includes Edinburgh and Portobello, which were made intermediate areas on 18th February, Leith which was already an intermediate area and Dalkeith and Loanhead, which are outside the intermediate areas but within the Scottish development area.
Note: Percentage rates of unemployment can be calculated for the whole of a travel-to-work area but not separately for its constituent parts. The rates shown in the reply are based on the total numbers registered as unemployed.

Manchester

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will list the percentage of unemployed, the percentage of male unemployed and the absolute numbers of unemployed, for greater Manchester as a whole and for each of the employment exchanges in greater Manchester, for the months of February, 1970, and February, 1971.

Following is the information:

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AND PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE MANCHESTER TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREA
					Males		Total, males and females
Employment Exchange Areas					February 1970	February, 1971	February, 1970	February 1971
Manchester	…	…	…	…	4 205	4 685	4,635	5,250
Altrincham	…	…	…	…	783	669	858	768
Eccles	…	…	…	…	333	334	372	436
Irlam	…	…	…	…	84	103	92	125
Levenshulme	…	…	…	…	555	572	602	671
Marple	…	…	…	…	107	101	122	120
Middleton	…	…	…	…	583	719	613	796
Newton Heath	…	…	…	…	801	802	843	871
Openshaw	…	…	…	…	969	937	1,028	1,062
Prestwich	…	…	…	…	227	298	262	358
Salford	…	…	…	…	1,579	1,721	1,711	1,874
Stockport	…	…	…	…	1,761	2,032	2,004	2,312
Stretford	…	…	…	…	779	1,076	865	1,230
Swinton	…	…	…	…	236	325	273	389
Wilmslow	…	…	…	…	118	184	134	211
Withington	…	…	…	…	706	752	801	909
Worsley	…	…	…	…	371	534	421	717
Wythenshawe	…	…	…	…	1,213	1,426	1,335	1,640
Manchester travel-to-work area				…	15,410	17,270	16,971	19,739
Percentage rates		…	…	…	3·5	4·0	2·4	2·8
Percentage rates can be calculated for the Manchester travel-to-work area as a whole but no separately for its constituent parts. The figures for February, 1971, are provisional.

Intermediate Areas

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the average percentage male unemployment and total unemployment for each of the new intermediate

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT
					Average for 1970	June, 1970	July, 1970	August, 1970
Males
Edinburgh and Portobello^*				…	5·4	5·2	5·7	5·7
Bridlington		…	…	…	11·8	8·9	8·7	8·3
Filey	…	…	…	…	10·0	4·2	4·3	4·6
Oswestry	…	…	…	…	6·7	6·3	6·6	6·6
Okehampton		…	…	…	7·1	5·5	5·8	6·2
Tavistock		…	…	…	7·2	6·3	7·0	6·9
Total, males and females
Edinburgh and Portobello^*				…	3·6	3·4	3·7	3·7
Bridlington		…	…	…	8·0	5·9	6·1	5·7
Filey	…	…	…	…	7·1	2·7	2·8	3·1
Oswestry	…	…	…	…	5·1	4·7	5·1	5·1
Okehampton		…	…	…	5·9	4·6	4·8	5·4
Tavistock		…	…	…	4·9	4·1	4·6	4·7
^* Percentage rates for the travel-to-work area which comprises the Edinburgh, Dalkeith, Leith Loanhead, Musselburgh, Portobello and Tranent Employment Exchange areas.

Employment Statistics

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will tabulate for each region and sub-region the areas announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 18th February for 1970 and the monthly figures for June, July, and August, 1970.

Following is the information:number now in total employment, comparing each figure with that for each of the last six years, 10 years, and for 1955 and 1960, indicating how the percentage of those in employment compared with those available for employment has changed.

Following is the information for regions. A limited

ESTIMATED NUMBERS AND PERCENTAGES OF EMPLOYEES IN EMPLOYMENT IN STANDARD REGIONS
							South East	East Anglia	South Western	West Midlands
Numbers of employees in employment(000's)
June, 1955	…	…	…	…	…		7,505		1,165	2,123
June, 1959	…	…	…	…	…		7,779		1,206	2,132
June, 1960	…	…	…	…	…		7,984		1,230	2,217
June, 1961	…	…	…	…	…		8,149		1,262	2,236
June, 1962	…	…	…	…	…		8,281		1,277	2,262
June, 1963	…	…	…	…	…		8,343		1,296	2,265
June, 1964(a)	…	…	…	…	…		8,420		1,318	2,311
June, 1964(b)	…	…	…	…	…				1,320
June, 1965	…	…	…	…	…	7,962		597	1,326	2,346
June, 1966	…	…	…	…	…	8,013		609	1,339	2,374
June, 1967	…	…	…	…	…	7,881		606	1,315	2,300
June, 1968	…	…	…	…	…	7,856		607	1,312	2,271
June, 1969	…	…	…	…	…	7,835		626	1,295	2,271

		East Midlands	Yorkshire and Humberside	North Western	Northern	Scotland	Wales
Numbers of employees in employment(000's)
June, 1955	…	3,230		2,946	1,237	2,107	932
June, 1959	…	3,263		2,901	1,260	2,088	928
June, 1960	…	3,332		2,941	1,270	2,105	948
June, 1961	…	3,387		2,976	1,281	2,116	957
June, 1962	…	3,316		2,959	1,276	2,134	958
June, 1963	…	3,425		2,939	1,261	2,102	962
June, 1964(a)	…	3,468		2,979	1,277	2,133	977
June, 1964(b)	…			2,978	1,277	2,121	979
June, 1965	…	1,413	2,081	2,984	1,301	2,139	985
June, 1966	…	1,426	2,094	2,999	1,309	2,143	986
June, 1967	…	1,424	2,034	2,926	1,279	2,100	952
June, 1968	…	1,398	2,002	2,899	1,255	2,086	950
June, 1969	…	1,402	1,997	2,883	1,253	2,091	936

						South East	East Anglia	South Western	West Midlands
Employees: percentage in employment
June, 1955	…	…	…	…	…	99·4		99·1	99·6
June, 1959	…	…	…	…	…	98·9		98·4	98·8
June, 1960	…	…	…	…	…	99·2		98·7	99·4
June, 1961	…	…	…	…	…	99·3		99·0	99·2
June, 1962	…	…	…	…	…	98·9		98·7	98·6
June, 1963	…	…	…	…	…	98·8		98·5	98·5
June, 1964(a)	…	…	…	…	…	99·2		98·9	99·3
June, 1964(b)	…	…	…	…	…			98·8
June, 1965	…	…	…	…	…	99·0	99·3	98·7	99·4
June, 1966	…	…	…	…	…	99·0	99·3	98·8	99·4
June, 1967	…	…	…	…	…	98·4	98·6	98·0	98·3
June, 1968	…	…	…	…	…	98·2	98·5	97·9	98·1
June, 1969		…	…	…	…	98·3	98·6	97·7	98·4

amount of information on employment is available for sub-regions but it is subject to a number of qualifications and I will, therefore, write to my hon. Friend.

		East Midlands	Yorkshire and Humberside	North Western	Northern	Scotland	Wales
Employees: Percent age in employment
June, 1955	…	99·5		99·0	98·6	98·0	98·5
June, 1959	…	98·7		97·7	97·2	96·3	96·9
June, 1960	…	99·1		98·3	97·5	96·9	97·8
June, 1961	…	99·3		98·7	98·1	97·4	98·2
June,1962	…	98·8		97·9	97·0	96·9	97·6
June,1963	…	98·5		97·4	95·9	95·9	97·2
June, 1964(a)	…	99·1		98·2	97·1	96·9	98·0
June,1964(b)	…			98·2	97·1	96·8	98·0
June, 1965	…	99·2	99·1	98·6	97·9	97·5	97·9
June, 1966	…	99·2	99·2	98·8	98·1	97·7	97·9
June, 1967	…	98·5	98·4	97·9	96·5	96·6	96·5
June, 1968	…	98·3	97·7	97·7	95·7	96·6	96·4
June, 1969	…	98·2	97·7	97·8	95·7	96·7	96·4
In 1965 the boundaries of some regions were changed and for these regions, only grouped estimates can be given for 1964 and earlier years. A revised method of calculation was introduced for the 1965 estimates. For the five regions whose boundaries remained unchanged, estimates for 1964 were made (a) by the old and (b) by the new methods.

Chesterfield

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the percentage male and total unemployment for each calendar month of 1970 for the Chesterfield employment exchange area.

Following is the information:

PERCENTAGE RATES OF UNEMPLOYMENT FOR THE CHESTERFIELD, CLAY CROSS, ECKINGTON AND STAVELEY TRAVEL-TO-WORK AREA^*
			Males	Total, males and females
January, 1970	…	…	5·1	3·9
February, 1970		…	5·3	4·2
March, 1970	…	…	5·3	4·2
April, 1970	…	…	5·8	4·4
May, 1970	…	…	5·8	4·4
June, 1970	…	…	5·5	4·2
July, 1970	…	…	5·6	4·3
August, 1970	…	…	5·7	4·5
September, 1970		…	5·8	4·5
October, 1970	…	…	5·6	4·5
November, 1970		…	5·6	4·5
December, 1970		…	5·6	4·4
^* Percentage rates can be calculated for the whole of a travel-to-work area but not separately for its constituent parts.

Education And Science

Building Craft Courses (Students)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give details of the numbers of students under 18 years of age at present enrolled in craft courses in building subjects in institutions of further education in England and Wales and give the comparative figures for 1969–70 and 1968–69.

The estimated numbers of students under 18 years of age enrolled in craft courses leading to recognised qualifications in building subjects in November of the years 1967, 1968 and 1969 were 30,900, 28,900 and 25,600 respectively. Figures for November, 1970, are not yet available.

Construction Courses (Students)

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will give details of the number of integrated first-year courses in construction planned to start for September, 1970, whether they are new or existing courses, and the numbers currently being undertaken, with the number of students on the courses in institutions of further education in England and Wales.

The number of integrated first-year courses in construction starting in September, 1970, was expected not to exceed the 276 courses (3,147 students) offered in 1969–70. There are now 865 students on 82 such courses of which one started for the first time in September, 1970.

Building And Construction Departments

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) in which regional advisory council for further education areas proposals are being discussed for the closure or partial closure of departments of building and/or construction in technical colleges;

(2) whether she will recommend to local authorities where closures are contemplated of departments of building and/or construction in technical colleges that there should be a period of standstill in such arrangements pending a revival in activity for the construction industry and an improvement in the financial circumstances of the Construction Industry Training Board.

Although enrolments have been declining for some years and existing provision has accordingly had to be rationalised, this has not, so far as I am aware, resulted in construction departments being closed. In only two regions—those of the Southern Regional Council for Further Education and the Regional Council for Further Education for the South West—is the closure or partial closure of such a department under discussion.Responsibility for the internal organisation of colleges and for the provision of courses rests with the colleges themselves and with local education authorities. I am confident that in reaching any decisions about future provision of

				Number of Pupils in Nursery Schools	Number of Nursery Schools	Net expenditure on Nursery Schools
Local Education Authority			January, 1965	January, 1970	January, 1970	1969–70
Counties						£
Bedfordshire	…	…	154	216	3	30,080
Berkshire	…	…	653	804	13	87,171
Buckinghamshire	…	…	801	1,003	10	91,852
Cambridgeshire and Isle of Ely	…	…	302	390	5	48,773
Cheshire	…	…	50	53	1	11,563
Cornwall	…	…	41	41	1	7,363
Cumberland	…	…	40	40	1	4,682
Derbyshire^†	…	…	104	66	1	6,719
Devon	…	…	—	—	—	—
Dorset	…	…	—	—	—	—
Durham^†	…	…	855	792	16	157,460
Essex^†	…	…	289	238	2	28,579
Gloucestershire^†	…	…	40	47	1	7,260
Hampshire	…	…	40	39	1	6,638
Herefordshire	…	…	35	34	1	5,599
Hertfodshire^†	…	…	1,281	1,693	20	159,937
Huntingdon and Peterborough	…	…	114	154	2	24,523
Isle of Wight	…	…	—	—	—	—
Isles of Scilly	…	…	—	—	—	50
Kent^†	…	…	163	53	1	5,830
Lancashire	…	…	2,133	2,726	43	397,125
Leicestershire	…	…	—	—	—	—
Lincolnshire, Holland		…	—	—	—	—
Lincolnshire, Kesteven		…	90	96	2	15,087
Lincolnshire, Lindsey		…	52	62	2	8,260
Norfolk	…	…	119	121	3	18,567
Northamptonshire^†		…	80	161	4	17,371
Northumberland	…	…	—	—	—	—
Nottinghamshire	…	…	77	86	2	14,003
Oxfordshire	…	…	84	109	2	13,598
Rutland	…	…	—	—	—	—

courses in construction, colleges and authorities will have regard to the longer-term implications of such decisions.

Nursery Education

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many children are attending nursery classes in each county and county borough of England and Wales; and how these figures compare with a comparable period in 1965;(2) how much per annum is spent by each county council and county borough on nursery education;(3) how many nursery schools there are in each county and county borough.

The information requested on maintained nursery classes is not available. In January, 1970, there were 121,833 children under five years of age, excluding rising fives, in maintained primary and nursery schools in England. Information about maintained nursery schools in England is given in the table below.

Local Education Authority				Number of pupils in Nursery Schools January, 1965	Nursery Schools January, 1970	Number of Nursery Schools January, 1970	Net expenditure on Nursery Schools 1969–70
Counties							£
Shropshire	…	…	…	143	170	3	35,793
Somerset†	…	…	…	83	90	2	12,164
Staffordshire†		…	…	783	741	12	101,979
Suffolk, Eest		…	…	—	—	—	—
Suffolk, West		…	…	—	—	—	—
Surrey†	…	…	…	875	283	6	51,156
sussex, Eeat		…	…	—	—	—	—
Sussex, West		…	…	273	299	4	32,222
Warwickshire		…	…	361	432	8	57,759
Westmorland		…	…	59	65	1	13,997
Wiltshire	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Worcestershire†		…	…	39	35	1	7,628
Yorkshire, East Riding			…	38	40	1	6,884
Yorkshire, North Riding†				43	45	1	7,852
Yorkshire, West Riding†			…	607	673	10	88,571
County Boroughs							£
Barnsley	…	…	…	195	242	3	16,130
Barrow-in-Furness		…	…	105	112	1	13,616
Bath	…	…	…	—	—	—	^‡
Birkenhead		…	…	—	—	—	—
Birmingham†		…	…	1,353	1,519	24	227,191
Blackburn	…	…	…	120	227	3	24,040
Blackpool	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Bolton	…	…	…	179	221	2	20,743
Bootle	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Bournemouth		…	…	—	—	—	—
Bradford	…	…	…	258	253	3	40,134
Brighton	…	…	…	121	170	2	19,544
Bristol	…	…	…	1,318	1,403	15	186,995
Burnley	…	…	…	482	664	10	87,277
Burton-on-Trent		…	…	—	—	—	2,416
Bury	…	…	…	40	49	1	5,511
Canterbury		…	…	—	—	—	—
Carlisle	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Chester	…	…	…	80	79	2	13,670
coventry	…	…	…	65	63	1	—
Darlington	…	…	…	300	381	5	55,128
Derby†	…	…	…	113	145	2	29,437
Dewsbury	…	…	…	420	519	4	41,986
Doncaster	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Dudley†	…	…	…	145	225	3	29,767
Eastbourne		…	…	—	—	—	—
Exeter†	…	…	…	61	62	1	12,150
Gateshead	…	…	…	40	36	1	6,202
Gloucester	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Great Yarmouth		…	…	—	—	—	—
Grimsby	…	…	…	46	43	1	8,389
Halifax	…	…	…	65	91	1	10,790
Hartlepool^*		…	…	—	200	4	34,477
Hastings	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Huddersfield		…	…	—	100	2	3,600
Ipswich	…	…	…	39	58	1	6,925
Kingston upon Hull			…	114	128	2	57,038
Leeds	…	…	…	105	111	1	10,872
Leicester†	…	…	…	14	19	1	2,786
Lincoln	…	…	…	91	88	2	12,291
Liverpool	…	…	…	432	567	6	76,821
Luton	…	…	…	190	308	3	36,403
Manchester		…	…	228	393	5	46,678
Newcastle upon Tyne			…	90	83	1	16,236
Northampton†		…	…	241	328	5	37,453
Norwich	…	…	…	90	98	1	^‡
Nottingham		…	…	224	166	3	22,282
Oldham	…	…	…	121	149	3	21,026
Oxford	…	…	…	373	409	7	69,000
Plymouth	…	…	…	—	—	—	675
portsmouth		…	…	42	42	1	6,851
Preston	…	…	…	100	98	1	17,607
Reading	…	…	…	309	368	6	42,782

Local Education Authority				Number of pupils in January, 1965	Nursery School January, 1970	Number of Nursery Schools January, 1970	Net expenditure on Nursery Schools 1969–70
County Boroughs							£
Rochdale	…	…	…	314	343	4	52,445
Rotherham		…	…	101	115	1	12,907
St. Helens	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Salford	…	…	…	288	316	6	36,693
Sheffield	…	…	…	299	456	4	49,898
Solihull	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Southampton		…	…	—	—	—	1,260
Southend-on-Sea		…	…	—	—	—	—
Southport	…	…	…	60	75	1	5,551
South Shields		…	…	—	—	—	1,537
Stockport	…	…	…	264	275	5	48,450
Stoke-on-Trent^†		…	…	792	986	14	142,964
Sunderland^†		…	…	59	150	2	16,038
Teesside^*		…	…	—	40	1	6,653
Torbay^*	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Tynemouth		…	…	229	231	2	17,799
Wakefield	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Wallasey	…	…	…	55	64	1	9,082
Walsall^†	…	…	…	140	213	4	28,858
Warley^*	…	…	…	—	193	3	26,910
Warrington		…	…	—	—	—	—
West Bromwich		…	…	—	—	—	—
Wigan	…	…	…	—	—	—	1,201
Wolverhampton^†		…	…	61	204	3	16,941
Worcester	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
York	…	…	…	40	39	1	9,901
Outer London Boroughs
Barking^*	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Barnet^*	…	…	…	—	280	3	28,059
Bexley^*	…	…	…	—	120	1	10,541
Brent^*	…	…	…	—	106	1	18,890
Bromley^*	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Croydon^†	…	…	…	60	148	3	22,017
Ealing^*	…	…	…	—	50	1	8,002
Enfield^*	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Haringey^*	…	…	…	—	329	3	34,374
Harrow^*	…	…	…	—	135	3	25,559
Havering^*	…	…	…	—	—	—	—
Hillingdon	…	…	…	—	115	2	17,557
Hounslow^*		…	…	—	84	1	8,903
Kingston upon Thames^*			…	—	78	1	10,474
Merton^*	…	…	…	—	387	2	^‡
Newham^*	…	…	…	—	474	4	52,074
Redbridge^*		…	…	—	—	—	—
Richmond upon Thames^*				—	100	2	18,640
Sutton^*	…	…	…	—	188	2	21,457
Waltham Forest^*		…	…	—	168	2	17,334
London	…	…	…	2,422	2,914	29	575,070
Total England			…	25,684	31,490	438	4,316,249
^* These authorities did not exist in January, 1965.
^† Boundary changes between 1965 and 1970.
^‡ Not available.

First-Aid Teaching

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what facilities exist in schools for the teaching of first-aid by qualified teachers, representatives of voluntary societies or members of the medical profession.

The curriculum of schools is a matter for the school authorities and head teachers, and the Department does not collect information about the facilities provided. It has, however, issued pamphlets on "Safety at School" and "Health Education", both of which encourage secondary schools to provide training in first-aid suitable to the ages of the pupils.

Brunt's Grammar School, Mansfield

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now give a date for the replacement of Brunt's Grammar School, Mansfield, in view of previous inspectors' reports by her Department which drew attention to the inadequacies of the premises; and if the replacement is still intended to be a comprehensive school.

I cannot say when this school will be replaced: it is the Government's policy to give priority to the improvement of primary schools. I am not aware of any change in the local education authority's intention to replace the school by a comprehensive school.

Mansfield

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many comprehensive schools there are within the Borough of Mansfield; and how many Mansfield pupils are receiving comprehensive education.

The answer to both parts of the Question is "None".

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much money is being allocated to Mansfield to cover the needs for the raising of the school leaving age.

I understand that the Nottinghamshire education authority has not yet completed its own distribution of its allocation for raising the school leaving age. It is for the authority to decide the allocation for Mansfield.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many comprehensive schools there are in the surrounding areas of Mansfield Borough; how many more are due to be opened by the end of 1973; and how many pupils will be receiving a comprehensive education.

There are three comprehensive schools within an eight- mile radius of Mansfield. The Nottinghamshire local education authority plans to open three more comprehensive schools in this area by 1973, when it expects that about 7,440 pupils will be receiving a comprehensive education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) how many pupils who reside within the Borough of Mansfield attend selective schools within the borough; and how many of these selective places are for pupils from the surrounding areas;(2) how many pupils attend secondary schools within the Borough of Mansfield; and how many of these pupils reside within the Borough of Mansfield;(3) how many pupils who reside within the Borough of Mansfield attend secondary modern schools within the borough; and how many places are for pupils from the surrounding areas.

The Department does not collect information of this kind from local education authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has received a definite date for the ending of the eleven-plus examination in the Borough of Mansfield.

No.

Tate Gallery

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what increase there has been in the approximate total value of indemnities given to owners for total loss of objects loaned to the Tate Gallery since the publication of the Supply Estimates, as a result of the holding of temporary exhibitions.

The exhibition of "Andy Warhol" temporarily increases the published liability by approximately £1¼million.

Environment

Private Bus Operators

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the restrictions placed upon private bus operators by certain provisions of the Transport Act, 1968, and by the Traffic Commissioners, he will now introduce amending legislation to make competition possible.

I am examining the working of the system with a view to introducing greater flexibility.

Heavy Goods Vehicles (International Transport Trade)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many heavy goods vehicles, engaged in the international transport trade, T.I.R., entered the United Kingdom from continental Europe during each calendar month in the years 1968, 1969 and 1970;(2) how many heavy goods vehicles, engaged in the international transport trade, T.I.R., carried goods outward from the United Kingdom to continental Europe during 1968, 1969 and 1970.

I regret that this information is not available but I am writing to my hon. Friend.

Local Government Reform (Constituency Boundaries)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the constituencies in England whose boundaries at the next election will be crossed by the county boundaries proposed in the White Paper on local government reform.

This information is not yet available, but I will arrange for details to be placed in the Library as soon as possible.

Francis Committee (Report)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when the report of the Francis Committee will be published.

The report will be published on Tuesday, 2nd March, and copies will be available on that date in the Vote Office. When Members have had an opportunity of studying the report I propose to make a statement about it.

Rents (London Boroughs)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many cases were heard by rent officers in each of the inner London boroughs during each of the years from 1965–70;

(2) how many cases were heard by rent assessment panels in each of the inner London boroughs during each of the years from 1965–70;

(3) in how many cases heard by rent officers in each of the outer London boroughs in each of the years between 1965–70 rents were reduced;

(4) how many cases heard by rent officers in each of the inner London boroughs in each of the years from 1965–70 rents were increased;

(5) in how many cases heard by rent officers in each of the inner London boroughs in each of the years from 1965–70 rents were reduced;

(6) in how many cases heard by rent assessment panels in each of the outer London boroughs in each of the years from 1965–70 rents were reduced;

(7) in how many cases heard by rent assessment panels in each of the inner London boroughs in each of the years from 1965–70 rents were reduced;

(8) in how many cases heard by rent assessment panels in each of the outer London boroughs in each of the years from 1965–70 rents were increased;

(9) in how many cases heard by rent assessment panels in each of the inner London boroughs in each of the years from 1965 to 1970 rents were increased;

(10) how many cases were heard by rent assessment panels in each of the outer London boroughs during each of the years from 1965 to 1970;

(11) how many cases were heard by rent officers in each of the outer London boroughs during each of the years from 1965 to 1970;

(12) in how many cases heard by rent officers in each of the outer London boroughs in each of the years between 1965 to 1970 rents were increased.

The following tables show for each of the inner and outer London boroughs the number of cases determined by rent officers and rent assessment committees which have been analysed by computer, and the number of rents reduced, increased or remaining unchanged, for each year since 1966, when rent regulation began to operate. These figures relate to first registrations only and exclude registrations which are not comparable with the previous rent because of improvements, etc. Therefore, the total number of applications con

INNER LONDON 1966
			First Registration by Rent Officer				Rent Assessment Committee
Area			Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased	Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
City of London		…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Camden	…	…	231	66	75	90	—	—	—	—
Greenwich	…	…	230	73	36	121	—	—	—	—
Hackney	…	…	147	103	7	37	—	—	—	—
Hammersmith		…	254	168	16	70	—	—	—	—
Islington	…	…	251	142	50	59	10	10	—	—
Kensington/Chelsea			332	102	38	192	10	6	—	4
Lambeth	…	…	352	181	47	124	20	16	—	4
Lewisham	…	…	86	56	1	29	11	9	—	2
Southwark	…	…	308	226	5	77	47	41	1	5
Tower Hamlets		…	364	237	99	28	38	30	—	8
Wandsworth		…	229	76	72	81	11	9	—	2
Westminster		…	265	95	36	134	39	14	2	23
Total		…	3,049	1,525	482	1,042	186	135	3	48

INNER LONDON 1967
			First Registration by Rent Officer				Rent Assessment Committee
Area			Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased	Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
City of London		…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Camden	…	…	566	224	90	252	37	22	1	14
Greenwich	…	…	323	122	24	177	41	18	18	5
Hackney	…	…	804	586	13	205	247	229	3	15
Hammersmith		…	474	212	29	233	87	63	7	17
Islington	…	…	696	370	53	273	114	99	1	14
Kensington/Chelsea			608	145	46	417	88	30	5	53
Lambeth	…	…	823	204	121	498	90	46	6	38
Lewisham	…	…	595	320	27	248	153	138	4	11
Southwark	…	…	565	265	17	283	181	159	1	21
Tower Hamlets		…	462	331	14	117	139	123	—	16
Wandsworth		…	614	108	91	415	86	34	4	48
Westminster		…	899	186	151	562	138	70	8	60
Total		…	7,429	3,073	676	3,680	1,401	1,031	58	312

INNER LONDON 1968
			First Registration by Rent Officer				Rent Assessment Committee
Area			Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased	Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
City of London		…	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
Camden	…	…	925	345	49	531	208	187	3	18
Greenwich	…	…	240	90	25	125	26	17	—	9
Hackney	…	…	953	694	18	241	443	343	7	93
Hammersnith		…	276	99	27	150	13	5	—	8
Islington	…	…	528	185	42	301	38	33	—	5
Kensington/Chelsea			78	11	5	62	19	4	—	15
Lambeth	…	…	564	148	79	337	30	18	—	12
Lewisham	…	…	418	212	21	185	69	56	—	13
Southwark	…	…	509	205	25	279	6	5	—	1
Tower Hamlets		…	222	154	6	62	39	32	—	7
Wandsworth		…	484	71	66	347	22	18	1	3
Westminster		…	1,178	222	133	823	253	100	4	149
Total		…	6,375	2,436	496	3,443	1,166	818	15	333

sidered by rent officers will be considerably larger than indicated by these figures.

INNER LONDON 1969
			First Registration by Rent Officer				Rent Assessment Committee
Area			Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased	Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
City of London		…	26	—	—	26	—	—	—	—
Camden	…	…	555	182	41	332	70	50	1	19
Greenwich	…	…	217	86	17	114	9	8	1	—
Hackney	…	…	725	484	21	220	145	109	1	35
Hammersmith		…	288	110	25	153	10	7	—	3
Islington	…	…	460	199	61	200	25	19	—	6
Kensington/Chelsea			548	99	39	410	70	24	3	43
Lambeth	…	…	684	156	44	484	42	11	1	30
Lewisham	…	…	294	123	16	155	50	17	1	32
Southwark	…	…	774	193	18	563	30	5	—	25
Tower Hamlets		…	206	130	16	60	17	14	1	2
Wandsworth		…	610	86	71	453	5	2	—	3
Westminster		…	877	109	72	696	186	29	5	152
Total		…	6,264	1,957	441	3,866	659	295	14	350

INNER LONDON 1970
			First Registration by Rent Officer				Rent Assessment Committee
Area			Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased	Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
City of London		…	37	—	—	37	—	—	—	—
Camden	…	…	572	125	32	415	57	20	—	37
Greenwich	…	…	295	74	26	195	4	2	—	2
Hackney	…	…	336	220	25	91	85	56	20	9
Hammersmith		…	489	55	28	406	8	6	—	2
Islington	…	…	491	105	37	349	22	17	—	5
Kensington/Chelsea			360	78	17	265	48	9	2	37
Lambeth	…	…	632	88	31	513	32	19	1	12
Lewisham	…	…	561	225	37	299	41	23	9	9
Southwark	…	…	335	91	21	223	3	—	—	3
Tower Hamlets		…	142	82	17	43	3	2	—	1
Wandsworth		…	497	60	33	404	3	—	—	3
Westminster		…	736	69	82	585	33	9	2	22
Total		…	5,483	1,272	386	3,825	339	163	34	142

OUTER LONDON 1966
			First Registration by Rent Officer				Rent Assessment Committee
Area			Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased	Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
Barking	…	…	40	28	2	10	1	1	—	—
Barnet	…	…	257	86	22	149	17	8	2	7
Bexley	…	…	70	23	6	41	9	4	4	1
Brent	…	…	291	163	25	103	32	30	—	2
Bromley	…	…	213	63	76	74	7	2	—	5
Croydon	…	…	201	86	11	104	11	8	—	3
Ealing	…	…	295	138	22	135	23	22	—	1
Enfield	…	…	82	43	7	32	—	—	—	—
Haringey	…	…	234	163	8	63	33	31	—	2
Harrow	…	…	151	18	44	89	3	—	2	1
Havering	…	…	49	28	5	16	—	—	—	—
Hillingdon	…	…	192	38	20	134	7	5	—	2
Hounslow	…	…	64	32	3	29	12	9	1	2
Kingston	…	…	61	26	4	31	6	5	—	1
Merton	…	…	137	62	22	53	7	5	—	2
Newham	…	…	163	125	3	35	33	33	—	—
Redbridge	…	…	123	54	7	62	6	5	—	1
Richmond	…	…	121	40	25	56	7	6	—	1
Sutton	…	…	62	16	10	36	—	—	—	—
Waltham Forest		…	164	63	35	66	8	8	—	—
Total		…	2,970	1,295	357	1,318	222	182	9	31

OUTER LONDON 1967
			First Registration by Rent Officer				Rent Assessment Committee
Area			Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased	Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
Barking	…	…	51	43	3	5	18	17	—	1
Barnet	…	…	815	143	42	630	106	49	3	54
Bexley	…	…	108	28	16	64	20	13	—	7
Brent	…	…	347	132	40	175	40	31	—	9
Bromley	…	…	237	42	16	179	10	6	—	4
Croydon	…	…	347	84	17	246	27	14	—	13
Ealing	…	…	626	252	28	346	36	22	1	13
Enfield	…	…	245	85	32	128	33	27	3	3
Haringey	…	…	786	266	31	489	122	96	1	25
Harrow	…	…	181	8	30	143	8	—	—	8
Havering	…	…	132	24	17	91	6	3	—	3
Hillingdon	…	…	89	19	20	50	5	1	—	4
Hounslow	…	…	220	85	7	128	41	33	2	6
Kingston	…	…	139	43	29	67	36	27	2	7
Merton	…	…	275	21	29	225	34	12	—	22
Newham	…	…	370	233	6	131	145	111	1	33
Redbridge	…	…	211	62	9	140	37	24	2	11
Richmond	…	…	308	41	52	215	11	6	1	4
Sutton	…	…	210	37	13	160	21	20	1	—
Waltham Forest		…	493	140	108	245	85	68	4	13
Total		…	6,190	1,788	545	3,857	841	580	21	240

OUTER LONDON 1968
			First Registration by Rent Officer				Rent Assessment Committee
Area			Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased	Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
Barking	…	…	32	12	6	14	4	—	1	3
Barnet	…	…	600	85	36	479	67	8	—	59
Bexley	…	…	91	35	6	50	6	6	—	—
Brent	…	…	302	90	39	173	13	4	1	8
Bromley	…	…	200	31	12	157	11	—	—	11
Croydon	…	…	189	70	19	100	6	5	1	—
Ealing	…	…	513	88	23	402	171	24	—	147
Enfield	…	…	109	37	27	45	14	8	—	6
Haringey	…	…	615	183	25	407	69	27	3	39
Harrow	…	…	162	12	13	137	6	4	—	2
Havering	…	…	86	14	10	62	4	1	—	3
Hillingdon	…	…	204	26	14	164	6	2	—	4
Hounslow	…	…	159	39	11	109	17	12	—	5
Kingston	…	…	179	29	28	122	28	6	3	19
Merton	…	…	197	17	23	157	7	1	—	6
Newham	…	…	267	102	9	156	54	14	—	40
Redbridge	…	…	177	23	7	147	3	2	—	1
Richmond	…	…	285	32	35	218	22	4	2	16
Sutton	…	…	111	11	12	88	4	2	—	2
Waltham Forest		…	693	46	205	442	6	4	—	2
Total		…	5,171	982	560	3,629	518	134	11	373

OUTER LONDON 1969
			First Registration by Rent Officer				Rent Assessment Committee
Area			Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased	Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
Barking	…	…	37	11	7	19	1	1	—	—
Barnet	…	…	470	73	29	368	13	3	—	10
Bexley	…	…	87	16	8	63	3	3	—	—
Brent	…	…	366	83	20	263	10	5	1	4
Bromley	…	…	235	53	17	165	6	2	—	4
Croydon	…	…	185	76	9	100	7	6	—	1
Ealing	…	…	374	62	16	296	1	1	—	—
Enfield	…	…	121	37	9	75	16	8	1	7
Haringey	…	…	446	156	12	278	65	39	2	24
Harrow	…	…	157	20	14	123	6	2	—	4
Havering	…	…	120	28	17	75	10	9	—	1
Hillingdon	…	…	94	5	10	79	4	—	—	4
Hounslow	…	…	193	32	5	156	7	4	—	3
Kingston	…	…	157	31	10	116	18	9	—	9
Merton	…	…	212	15	31	166	7	5	—	2
Newham	…	…	230	85	5	140	7	4	—	3
Redbridge	…	…	112	23	4	85	4	1	—	3
Richmond	…	…	275	69	19	187	21	8	—	13
Sutton	…	…	136	28	6	102	3	1	—	2
Waltham Forest		…	923	81	262	580	7	7	—	—
Total		…	4,930	984	510	3,436	216	118	4	94

OUTER LONDON 1970
			First Registration by Rent Officer				Rent Assessment Committee
Area			Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased	Total Deter	Reduced	Unchanged	Increased
Barking	…	…	45	17	9	19	1	1	—	—
Barnet	…	…	367	44	30	293	9	5	—	4
Bexley	…	…	67	13	2	52	—	—	—	—
Brent	…	…	420	72	34	314	7	5	—	2
Bromley	…	…	181	22	8	151	7	1	—	6
Croydon	…	…	259	52	17	190	14	4	—	10
Ealing	…	…	506	27	13	466	4	3	—	1
Enfield	…	…	205	67	15	123	19	12	2	5
Haringey	…	…	373	120	16	237	46	17	—	29
Harrow	…	…	166	8	12	146	6	1	—	5
Havering	…	…	108	12	13	83	6	5	—	1
Hillingdon	…	…	103	9	18	76	2	1	—	1
Hounslow	…	…	100	27	5	68	4	1	—	3
Kingston	…	…	192	29	8	155	3	1	1	1
Merton	…	…	243	12	31	200	—	—	—	—
Newham	…	…	202	70	6	126	9	5	—	4
Redbridge	…	…	154	24	7	123	10	3	—	7
Richmond	…	…	168	32	10	126	40	12	—	28
Sutton	…	…	84	14	3	67	2	—	—	2
Waltham Forest		…	227	32	36	159	3	3	—	—
Total		…	4,170	703	293	3,174	192	80	3	109

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Oil (Prices Settlement)

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the recent settlement between the internatonal oil companies and the member States of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries.

Her Majesty's Government have taken note of the settlement reached between the two sides in Tehran on 14th February. The Government have also noted the public statements made by His Imperial Majesty The Shah of Iran during the negotiations concerning the readiness of the Persian Gulf members of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries to sign a 5-year agreement and to eschew price "leap-frogging" as between the Persian Gulf and other areas. They are glad to learn that assurances to this effect are included in the terms of the Tehran agreement. While Her Majesty's Government recognise the legitimate rights and needs of the oil-producing countries, I take this opportunity to emphasise that the maintenance of supplies of oil at reasonable and stable prices is also important to the economies of all consumer States, including a great many developing countries.

National Finance

Personal Taxation

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the cost to the revenue of allowing everyone who pays tax and surtax on earned income only to keep the last 37½p. of each £ sterling earned.

Assuming that earned income was treated as the bottom slice of a mixed income, about £17 million for a full year.

Cheques

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether, in view of the fact that the advice of banks regarding the writing of cheques is insufficient proof against forgery, he will include a Clause in the forthcoming Finance Bill to make illegal any cheque which does not have the amount wholly in words as well as in figures.

No; this is a matter for the banks and their customers, but it is open to anyone who so wishes to write

			Total Housing Stock ('000s)	Rented from Local authorities, Development Corporations and Scottish Special Housing Association Per cent.	Owner-Occupied Per cent.	Rented from Private owners Per cent.	Other tenures Per cent.
1961 (April)	…	…	1,627	42·7	25·6	23·5	8·2
1966 (April)	…	…	1,697	46·8	28·4	17·9	6·9
1969 (December)		…	1,772	50·5	29·8	12·9	6·8

Potatoes (Export)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he will take steps to prevent the selling of potatoes for export under the code number of another farmer.

the amount on a cheque wholly in words as well as in figures.

Barracks, Kensington

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if the change of use envisaged for the site of the barracks in Kensington Church Street will be referred to the Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council before any commitments are made by the Crown Commissioners; and what sites besides the area covered by the barracks are involved in redevelopment schemes he has currently under consideration.

Consultations have taken place with the Kensington and Chelsea Borough Council, and will continue, over the use of this site. On the second part of my hon. Friend's question, I shall write to him.

Scotland

Housing Stock

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what was the total stock and the proportion of dwellings in Scotland, in 1945, 1950, 1955, 1960, 1965 and 1970, respectively, falling within each of the following classifications of tenure, rented from local authorities and new town corporations, owner/occupied, rented from private owners and other tenures.

I regret that this information is not available for these years, but the figures for 1961, 1966 and 1969 are as follows:

Both ware and seed potatoes are exported. Consignments of ware potatoes are often identified in the export documentation by reference to the code number allotted to the farm of origin for agricultural statistics purposes.

Consignments of seed potatoes are identified by the number allotted to the crop under the Growing Crops Certification Scheme. Spot checks are carried out by my inspectors as part of the procedure of confirming particulars required in the export certificates for seed potatoes and I see no reason to elaborate this procedure.

Housing Subsidies

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the average subsidy paid to Scottish local authorities per house; and what is the average income tax relief granted to persons with a £5,000 mortgage in Scotland paying the standard rate of income tax.

Area				Number of Houses	Work
Hillend Road	…	…	…	7	Conversion of 1 house to form 7.
Maxwell Road	…	…	…	1	Conversion.
Cumbernauld Road		…	…	45	Conversion of 69 houses to form 45.
Newark Drive	…	…	…	7	Conversion of 1 house to form 7.
Maryhill Road	…	…	…	3	Conversion of a shop to form 3 houses.
Aytoun Road	…	…	…	33	Conversion of 3 houses to form 33 flatlets for elderly people.
Newark Drive	…	…	…	14	Conversion of 2 houses to form 14 flatlets for elderly people.
Clouston Street	…	…	…	2	Structural improvement.
craigton, Greenhead, Drumoyne and Mosspark	…	…	…	2,495	Electrical wiring improvements.
Riddrie	…	…	…	992	Electrical wiring improvements.
Note: No applications are awaiting approval.

Hospitals (Complaints)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for improving the present arrangements for handling complaints involving hospitals.

I have no plans to alter the arrangements which hospital authorities introduced in 1970 on the recommendation of the report of the Working Party on Suggestions and Complaints in Hospitals.

Peat (Research)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a grant for research into the extraction of paraffin, wax and chemicals from peat.

The Highlands and Islands Development Board has power to commission such research, but I understand that a preliminary review made by the board indicated that further investigation would not be justified. If

The average subsidy per house paid to Scottish local authorities in 1969–70 was about £34. The information requested in the second part of the Question is not available.

Glasgow (Housing Improvement Grants)

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the applications by Glasgow Corporation for improvement grants for local authority housing approved since 1st January, 1968, showing the areas and numbers of the houses concerned and the work to be carried out; and if he will also detail any applications not yet approved.

the hon. Member has any new information I would be grateful if he would pass it to the board.

Social Services

Sickness Benefit

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what assessment is made by his Department of sickness benefit paid to individuals classified as staff, who are receiving full salary when sick; and what he is doing to stop individuals being better off when sick than working.

None. Employed and self-employed people are entitled, by virtue of the national insurance contributions which they and their employers pay, to receive sickness benefit if they become incapable of work. Benefit is payable without regard to other income from either an employer's sick-pay scheme or any other source. In practice many employers pay sufficient wages during short-term sickness to make up an employee's insurance benefit to the level of his normal pay; and the Government welcome this as good industrial practice.

Trade And Industry

White Fish Authority (Holland-Martin Report)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what negotiations he has had with the White Fish Authority on the implementation of the Holland-Martin Report, excluding the recently announced decision to have representatives of the White Fish Authority on the working party considering the radio recommendations of the Holland-Martin Committee.

Discussions with the White Fish Authority on the Holland-Martin Report have taken place concerning the provision of the support ship; progress on the general implementation of the recommendations; on the training of fishermen; and, at technical level, on research and development. We shall be consulting the authority and others interested further on draft rules and regulations designed to implement the recommendations.

Turnhouse Airport

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to complete discussions with the British Airports Authority about the transfer of Edinburgh (Turnhouse) Airport to the Authority; and if he will make a statement.

Agreement has been reached between the B.A.A. and the Government over arrangements for transferring Edinburgh (Turnhouse) Airport to the British Airports Authority on 1st April, 1971, and for a contribution by the Government towards the development of the airport being planned by the Authority.The main terms of transfer are as follows:

(i) the civil airport (excluding equipment required for the aerodrome navigation services) is to be transferred free of charge;

(ii) the aerodrome navigation services will continue to be provided by the National Air Traffic Control Services for 21 years;

(iii) the National Air Traffic Control Services will pay appropriate rentals for accommodation occupied and for services provided by the Authority.

It was announced last year that, subject to planning permission and land purchase, a new main runway and terminal complex is to be provided at Turn-house. Responsibility for carrying out this development, subject to planning permission, will rest with the Authority which has already done a good deal of preliminary work.

The estimated cost of a new 8,400 ft. runway with associated taxi-ways, lighting etc. and of a new terminal complex to meet forecast requirements until about 1980 is £8·8 million at first quarter 1970 prices. The Department of Trade and Industry will bear three-quarters of the cost of the development—subject to agreed adjustments including inflation effects—within a maximum of £6·5 million at first quarter 1970 prices. The Department will also bear the cost of a new control tower to serve the developed airport.

Miners (Pneumoconiosis)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will express, in percentages of the total work force in the coal mining industry, the number of miners certified as suffering from pneumoconiosis for the years 1960 to 1969, inclusive.

The following percentages have been calculated using (a) the total number of National Coal Board employees in the coal mining industry at 30th September in each year and (b) the numbers of employees and former employees of the coal industry certified under the National Insurance (Industrial Injuries) Act in each year.

1960	…	…	…	…	0.50
1961	…	…	…	…	0.44
1962	…	…	…	…	0.36
1963	…	…	…	…	0.39
1964	…	…	…	…	0.22
1965	…	…	…	…	0.19
1966	…	…	…	…	0.20
1967	…	…	…	…	0.16
1968	…	…	…	…	0.20
1969	…	…	…	…	0.18

Investment Grants (Payment)

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will accelerate the payment of investment grants due to claimants bearing in mind, amongst other things, the failure of Rolls-Royce.

Yes, I have decided that investment grant payments relating to capital expenditure in the quarter April-June, 1970, will be paid one month earlier: that is, from 1st March, 1971, instead of from 1st April. This acceleration in grant payment will be made in respect of all claimants and will provide some £10 million to £20 million extra cash flow to industry in the month of March. Additionally, payment of claims in respect of expenditure incurred 1st July-26th October, 1970, will be brought forward by three months to begin on 1st April, 1971, which will increase the cash available to industry in the period to the end of June by up to a further £30 million. I believe that this bringing forward of payments which would eventually be done to industry in any case will be helpful in the context of current liquidity problems.

Environment

Motorway Crash Barriers

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many miles of motorway central crash barriers have now been installed since he announced his intention to carry out this work. Mr. Graham Page: Since my right hon. Friend announced his intention on 27th August last to provide safety barriers on 1,000 miles of motorway by the end of 1975, 10 miles have been erected on M62, seven on M4 and a further eight miles on three other separate lengths.My right hon. Friend hopes to start work on M1 in April with a view to completing the London—Birmingham section by the end of the year.

Rother Valley (Derelict Land)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of sites and the total number of acres of derelict land within the Rother Valley constituency; and what is the number of sites and acres of derelict land which have been cleared or improved in each of the last 10 years.

The local planning authority reported that at the end of 1969 there were 474 acres, of which 392 acres were considered to justify treatment. The number of individual sites was not given. The acreage restored from 1964 to 1968 was reported as nil; for 1969 as 18; and a preliminary report gives a figure of at least 70 acres restored in 1970. Earlier figures have not been supplied. Since 1968 five local authority schemes covering 165 acres have been given final approval by the Department for grant purposes, allowing work to start.

A6 Road, Narborough

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates construction will begin of a subway under or a footbridge over the A46 at Narborough, Leicestershire.

My right hon. Friend has no plans at present to construct either a subway or a footbridge at Narborough.

Departmental Buildings, London

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects his Department to move into the Horse-ferry Road building; and what will then become of the Whitehall building, St. Christopher House and Lambeth Bridge House, formerly occupied by the Ministries of Housing and Local Government, Transport and Public Building and Works, respectively.

When the Horse-ferry Road building is completed, it will be occupied by those concerned with central tasks of the Department of the Environment, or who are needed to advise Ministers. Consequential changes will be made in the Department's use of the other buildings mentioned, but these will be kept to the minimum compatible with the needs of the Department and the efficient management of the Government estate.

Greater London Development Plan (Inquiry)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to alter the composition of the Panel of Inquiry into the Greater London Development Plan.

In view of Professor James' absence from the panel through illness, I am appointing Professor Edgar Rose, Professor of Town and Country Planning at the University of Aston in Birmingham, as an additional member of the panel so that he may sit with it on the resumption of the inquiry on 3rd March.It is clearly important for the panel to have the benefit of the views of an environmental planner during the hearing of the transport matters with which it is now dealing.

Worksop (Land)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to be able to give an answer to communications from the hon. Member for Bassetlaw regarding Worksop Borough Council and land originally offered to it by the Land Commission at Kilton and now planned to go for auction.

A reply has now been sent.

Wales

Rolls-Royce Limited

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what effect he estimates the financial misfortunes of Rolls-Royce Limited will have upon firms trading in Wales.

I have been asked to reply.The effects generally in the United Kingdom of the insolvency of Rolls-Royce Ltd. and the Government's measures to deal with it cannot at this stage be estimated with any degree of precision. There are a number of uncertain elements in any such calculation, some of which will take some time to determine.

Local Government Reform

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list all the bodies he consulted before producing his local government proposals for Wales.

No formal consultations were undertaken. The previously expressed views of the local authorities on local government reform were fully taken into account.

Volume 812: debated on Friday 26 February 1971

Written Answers To Questions

General Sir Ian Freeland (Kidnap Threat Allegation)

Aviation Supply

Rolls-Royce Limited

Civil Service

Pay

Defence

Linesman/Mediator

Dunkirk Evacuation (Award)

Employment

Juveniles (Training Allowances)

Aberbargoed, Blackwood And Crosskeys (Juveniles)

Special Development Areas

Manchester

Intermediate Areas

Employment Statistics

Chesterfield

Education And Science

Building Craft Courses (Students)

Construction Courses (Students)

Building And Construction Departments

Nursery Education

First-Aid Teaching

Brunt's Grammar School, Mansfield

Mansfield

Tate Gallery

Environment

Private Bus Operators

Heavy Goods Vehicles (International Transport Trade)

Local Government Reform (Constituency Boundaries)

Francis Committee (Report)

Rents (London Boroughs)

Foreign And Commonwealth Affairs

Oil (Prices Settlement)

National Finance

Personal Taxation

Cheques

Potatoes (Export)

Barracks, Kensington

Scotland

Housing Stock

Housing Subsidies

Hospitals (Complaints)

Peat (Research)

Glasgow (Housing Improvement Grants)

Social Services

Sickness Benefit

Trade And Industry

White Fish Authority (Holland-Martin Report)

Turnhouse Airport

Miners (Pneumoconiosis)

Investment Grants (Payment)

Environment

Motorway Crash Barriers

Rother Valley (Derelict Land)

A6 Road, Narborough

Departmental Buildings, London

Greater London Development Plan (Inquiry)

Worksop (Land)

Wales

Rolls-Royce Limited

Local Government Reform