asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many nursery school places are provided by the London Borough of Waltham Forest; and what plans she has to increase the provision of such places.

In January, 1970, there were 59 full-time and 108 part-time pupils in maintained nursery schools in Waltham Forest. Two additional nursery schools are being provided under the urban programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will introduce legislation to bring the working conditions of university lecturers within the scope of the Offices, Shops and Railway Premises Act.

I think it appropriate to await the report of the Committee on Safety and Health at Work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is Her Majesty's Government's policy with regard to sponsorship of the arts, with particular reference to the theatre; and if she will make a statement.

The main channel of the Government's sponsorship of the arts is the grant-in-aid to the Arts Council, whose discretion in artistic matters is valued by my noble Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy with regard to the proposed new polytechnic in Lancashire; and if she will make a statement.

The Lancashire and Preston local education authorities were invited last August to prepare a scheme for the establishment of a polytechnic to be based on the Harris College, Preston.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many projects in educational priority areas her Department will be supporting in the year 1971–72.

Projects designed to replace or substantially improve about 150 schools in socially deprived areas were approved to start in 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in the returns received from local education authorities on secondary reorganisation, she will ask for information on the ability range of pupils admitted to those schools designated as comprehensive schools.

No specific returns are received from local education authorities on secondary reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will meet a deputation from the Derbyshire Education Committee to discuss educational problems in the county.

My right hon. Friend met representatives of the authority in Buxton in January.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice her Department gives to local education authorities regarding the teaching of knowledge about fresh foods; and if she will instruct her inspectorate to advise domestic science teachers on ways of interpreting the date stamping or codes on convenience and pre-packed foods.

The first part of the Question raises a curricular matter which is properly left to schools and colleges. The answer to the second part is "No"; the subject of date marking is being considered under arrangements for which my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the annual rate of increase of pupils in school in Leicestershire now compared with the figure for 10 years earlier.

The number of pupils in maintained primary and secondary schools in Leicestershire rose by 2·2 per cent. between 1960 and 1961 and by 4·7 per cent. between 1969 and 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of primary schools in Leicestershire still using nineteenth century buildings; and what was the number five years ago.

About 130 and 160.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many primary schools in England and Wales were constructed before 1901; and how many of these have not been brought up to a modern standard.

The school building survey in 1962 showed that there were then nearly 14,000 primary schools in England and Wales built before 1903. Since then over 2,000 primary schools, many of them built in the nineteenth century, have been closed. No comparable survey has been undertaken since 1962; but, according to returns made by local authorities since November, 1969, some of them still incomplete, there remain about 5,000 primary schools built before 1903 whose replacement or substantial improvement is justified because of long-term need for the accommodation.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice she has given to local education authorities on the payment of fees for pupils at independent schools not recognised as efficient.

None. Under Section 33 of the Education Act local education authorities may place handicapped pupils at such schools only with my specific approval. For ordinary pupils authorities' arrangements do not require my approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, after decimalisation, she will give an estimate of the number of school meals the prices of which have been rounded-up and rounded-down, respectively, using a five-day week for the calculation.

I have nothing to add to the answer given to the hon. Member's Question of 25th February.—[Vol. 812, c. 223–24.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will issue a circular for the guidance of local authorities in connection with daily and weekly charges for school meals, having regard to decimalisation.

This has already been done.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether families receiving a family income supplement will be entitled to remission of school dinner charges.

I am in consultation with the local authority associations about this.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will publish a Green Paper on the development of higher education during the 1970's.

Various aspects of the development of higher education are under review but I have no plans at present for issuing a Green Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what has been the cost to public funds of the Social Science Research Council to date.

The estimated cost from 1965 to 31st March, 1971, is £8·481 million, including actual expenditure of £5·217 million by the Council up to 31st March, 1970, and estimated expenditure of £3·264 million for the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how much of the £202 average annual cost of a nursery school place is for teachers' salaries; and what consideration she is giving to the Plowden Committee's recommendation that nursery classes could be more economically provided by grouping children under teachers' aides operating under the supervision of a fully qualified teacher.

The answer to the first part of the Question is £75. I am undertaking a general review of nursery education and will, naturally, look at the Plowden recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will issue a circular encouraging short practical courses in first aid for the injured in secondary schools.

No. The Department has already issued pamphlets on "Safety at School" and "Health Education", both of which encourage secondary schools to provide suitable training in first aid.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will encourage the establishment of short courses in community relations in colleges of education for teachers in areas of high immigrant settlement.

I agree with my hon. Friend that more courses of this nature would be valuable. They supply of courses could be augmented quickly if the effective demand existed. A memorandum sent to colleges and local authorities last year drew attention to the need for more in-service training in this field.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many direct-grant schools are participating in the movement towards comprehensive reorganisation.

Twenty-three schools are known to be participating, or to be prepared to do so, in some degree.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which independent schools are registered as charities and thus relieved of payment of selective employment tax.

This information is not available and could not be obtained without excessive cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children in nursery schools and other pre-school establishments will be eligible for free milk under the new arrangements.

The new arrangements for free milk do not affect the eligibility of the children in question. It is estimated that 116,000 pupils in maintained nursery schools and classes will be eligible in 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she has considered allocating a specific grant to universities in respect of the provision of hostel accommodation for students.

No. This would restrict the freedom of the University Grants Committee, which is responsible for deciding how best to divide the total allocations for university building between residential accommodation and other requirements.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will now withdraw Circular 8/60.

For the present our first priority is the improvement of primary schools. Later I hope that we shall be able to turn to the needs of nursery education, which will continue to benefit from the urban programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many letters have now been received in regard to the proposal to introduce admission charges at art galleries and museums; and what proportion of those letters have expressed criticism of, or opposition to, the proposal.

Up to Monday, 22nd February, 345 letters about admission charges to museums and galleries had been received in the Department of Education and Science, of which 321 expressed criticism or opposition. These included 48 letters on behalf of various organisations and 20 petitions bearing 1,767 signatures.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will introduce legislation to make grants payable to students who have attained the age of responsibility, regardless of their parents' income; and if she will make a statement about the present level of income at which parents have to start contributing to their adult children's further education.

A proposal to abolish the parental contribution to student grants is among a number of representations which I am studying. At present, parents are expected to contribute if their income, after certain deductions, exceeds £899.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now increase grants for students in colleges of education.

A review of student grants is in train to determine the levels appropriate for the period beginning 1st September, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the rate of growth of local authority expenditure charged to the advanced further education pool over the last five financial years compares with the corresponding growth of local authority education expenditure generally.

91 per cent. compared with 42 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether following representations made to her by the hon. Member for South Bedfordshire about overcrowding at Downside School, Dunstable, she is considering issuing further instructions to the education authorities at Bedford; and if she will make a statement.

I have made full inquiries and understand from the local education authority that it is taking action to relieve overcrowding at this school.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her policy towards stage training schools for children; whether any of these schools are recognised by her Department; and whether she will institute inquiries into the child employment agencies associated with these schools.

These are independent establishments, seven of which are recognised as efficient independent schools. Those which are not recognised are not my concern unless they combine stage training with full-time education for five or more children of compulsory school age. They then have to satisfy the requirements of Part III of the Education Act, 1944, as independent schools. The last part of the Question is not for me.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will change the constitution of her advisory committee on handicapped children so as to provide a detailed inquiry into their educational needs.

I am not contemplating any such change at present. The advisory committee's present constitution and terms of reference are well suited to its function of advising the Department on the very diverse needs of handicapped pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representation she has had from the Inner London Education Authority and the London Youth Association regarding the proposed youth centre at Hatchard Road, N.19; when she expects work to commence; and what will be the approximate cost.

This project was submitted for the 1971–72 youth service building programme at an estimated cost of £45,445. No decision has yet been taken pending early discussion of alternative arrangements for grant-aiding voluntary youth service capital projects with local authority associations and national voluntary youth organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration she has given to the approval of a new building at St. Faith's, Winchester.

The managers' scheme of improvements at St. Faith's is among the projects being considered for an allocation under the 1971–72 aided schools minor works programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has had from the Inner London Education Authority regarding the facilities for providing school meals at Grafton Primary School, Islington; and if she will investigate this matter, with a view to approving improvements.

My right hon. Friend has had no representations from the I.L.E.A. about the meals facilities at this school. Any improvement to these facilities would be carried out by the Authority under its minor works programme. Individual projects do not require departmental approval.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations have been made to her by the Race Relations Board concerning the tests which are at present applied by local education authorities to determine whether a child is education. ally subnormal.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will cause an inquiry to be made into the classification by local education authorities of children as educationally subnormal.

No. The definition of educationally subnormal in the Handicapped Pupils and Special Schools Regulations covers retardation resulting from "other conditions" as well as retardation from limited ability. It is important to ensure that all retarded children receive the special educational help they need, and that their progress is kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what progress has been made in the reorganisation of education in Bideford, North Devon;(2) if she will give an assurance that in any reorganisation of Bideford schools adequate financial provision will be made.

Local discussions about the future pattern of secondary education in the Bideford area are continuing but the Devon authority has not yet submitted a reorganisation scheme for the area. No resources are available solely for the reorganisation of secondary education, but a building proposal to meet rising secondary numbers in Bideford is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has received from Nottinghamshire Local Education Authority regarding the future provision of secondary education in Mansfield.

The authority has proposed for its 1973–74 building programme, as 10th in order of priority, a replacement of the Brunts Grammar School; and as 14th in its list of basic needs a 150-place extension of the proposed R.C. comprehensive school at Oak Tree Lane, Mansfield.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether her Department will examine the status and facilities offered at the Cornwall Technical College, Pool, Camborne, with a view to its possible designation as a polytechnic at as early a date as is practical.

I have examined this proposal but see no present possibility of designating this college as a polytechnic.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what amount has been spent over the last 10 years on research into the causes and prevention of mental disorders; and what sums have been allocated for this purpose over each of the next five years.

The Medical Research Council has supported a wide programme of research on mental disorders, associated psychological studies and basic studies in neurobiology, at an expenditure of £8,424,000 over 10 years, to 1970–71. It is not possible to forecast expenditure for future years.Other substantial provision in this field from Government sources is made by the Health Departments and hospital boards and through the University Grants Committee's funds in universities and medical schools. Useful support is provided by several voluntary agencies.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will arrange for the Royal Mint to be used, when the production of coins ceases there, as a coins museum and an industrial museum to show the production of coins over the ages.

My noble Friend the Paymaster-General will write to the hon. Member when this suggestion has been considered in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many children leave secondary schools without taking either the General Certificate of Education Ordinary level examinations or the Certificate of Secondary Education examinations; and what proportion that number is of the total number of school leavers.

In the academic year 1968–69, 286,500. This is equivalent to 43 per cent. of the relevant school-leaving age groups.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in the light of her inquiry into student unions, she will make a statement about the enforcement of a closed shop by these unions.

The receipt of information from the selection of further education establishments concerned is being delayed by the postal strike, but the available returns are being analysed as fast as possible. When the returns in respect of colleges of education and universities have been received and analysed, I propose to consult the interested parties. The question of compulsory membership is one of the matters which will be considered when our information is complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, if she has received a letter from the Huddersfield local authority concerning the exercise of her powers in relation to the placing of the child of Mr. Selby of Huddersfield; if she has replied to a submission made by Mr. Frank Drabble, solicitor on behalf of Mr. Selby, in October, 1970; and if she is now in a position to make a statement.

I hope to inform the local education authority and the solicitors acting for Mr. Selby of my decision in this case very shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many private, fee-paying schools exist for the education of mentally-disturbed children; how many pupils there are in such schools; how many such schools have been inspected and registered as having satisfactory standards of accommodation and teaching; and what steps she takes to ensure that such standards are maintained.

On the latest information, there are 49 independent schools in England catering wholly or mainly for maladjusted pupils. They contain about 1,900 handicapped pupils placed by local education authorities which paid their fees. All these schools are subject to unannounced visits by Her Majesty's Inspectorate in the interests of maintaining standards.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she has had with Portsmouth City Council concerning financial assistance for modernisation of Stamshaw Junior School, Stamshaw Infant School and other pre-1903 schools within the city; and whether she will make a statement.

The Portsmouth education authority has just submitted proposals for the replacement of the Stamshaw and Binsteed Road primary schools in the 1973–74 programme. It has also proposed the provision of additional secondary school places which, if approved, would bring about better conditions for children of both primary and secondary school age. These proposals are now being examined.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, in view of the evidence that a high percentage of children are staying at school to the age of 16 years voluntarily, she will review her intention to make this compulsory.

No. It is encouraging that the national percentage of children aged 15+ who stay on at school beyond the statutory leaving age rose from 32·6 per cent. to 53·2 per cent. during the 10 years to 1969, and continues to rise, but there are significant regional variations and many children still leave school before their full potential has been realised.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will tabulate the current salary scales for teachers; and state approximately how many teachers come within each category.

The current salary scales for teachers in maintained establishments in England and Wales are contained in the following published documents:

Scales of Salaries for Teachers in Primary and Secondary Schools, England and Wales 1969.

Scales of Salaries for Teachers in Establishments for Further Education, England and Wales 1969.

Scales of Salaries for the Teaching Staff of Farm Institutes and for Teachers of Agricultural (including Horticultural) Subjects, England and Wales 1969.

Report of the Committee on Scales of Salaries for the Teaching Staff of Colleges of Education, England and Wales 1969.

The rates of salary shown in these documents were increased by £120 per annum from 1st April, 1970.Analyses by salary grading of teachers in full-time service at 31st March, 1968, the latest date for which the statistics have been published, are contained in tables 21, 31 and 38 of Statistics of Education, 1968, volume 4. The 1969 volume is to be published shortly.Copies of all these publications are or will be available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfield with the educational facilities available for autistic children; and if she will make a statement.

The circular of guidance which I shall shortly be issuing to local education authorities on this subject will include a request for information about the provision made or planned.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what security he is seeking for the proposed loan to Yarrow Limited; and if he will give an assurance that no money will be advanced unless and until adequate security has been obtained.

The terms of the loan to Yarrow (Shipbuilders) Limited are still under discussion.

asked the Minister of State for Defencd if he will ensure that in future the Union Flag will not be deleted from Army advertisements appearing in Northern Ireland newspapers, but that such advertisements will be kept uniform with those appearing in newspapers in other parts of the United Kingdom.

There is no significant difference between Army advertising in Northern Ireland and other parts of United Kingdom. The general custom is to use the Union Flag only in national newspaper advertisements arranged centrally for the Regular Army. Many Army advertisements without the Union Flag appear in newspapers published outside Northern Ireland.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the scrap value of H.M.S. "Belfast".

I would refer my hon. and gallant Friend to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Ilford, North (Mr. Iremonger) on Thursday, 26th November, 1970.—[Vol. 807, c. 593–4.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those statutory bodies which submit to his Department for publication annual or periodic reports.

There are no statutory bodies which submit such reports to my Department for publication.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many widows of members of the Armed Forces survive who married men after their discharge or retirement and receive no pension in accord. ance with the Royal Warrant dated 7th July, 1830.

There are no records of such widows.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the annual cost of maintenance and the scrap value of H.M.S. "President" and H.M.S. "Chrysanthemum".

The average annual cost of maintaining these ships, including a refit every six years, is about £9,500 and £6,000, respectively. Their scrap value would be the best price obtainable among United Kingdom shipbreaking firms. It would not be in the public interest to give an estimate of what this might be.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many design study contracts were completed before the placing of the contracts for the Linesman part of the Linesman/Mediator project.

I have been asked to reply.Seven.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in view of the concern in Northern Ireland, he will give an assurance that the constitution of Northern Ireland was not discussed in the recent talks with the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland at Chequers.

I am not aware of any such concern. The attitude of Her Majesty's Government to the Constitution of Northern Ireland is well known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if, in the light of the national rate of unemployment, he will instruct Her Majesty's Prisons to withdraw from such manufacturing and assembly contracts as may usefully be undertaken by the unemployed.

My right hon. Friend does not consider that this would be appropriate.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of Commonwealth citizens who are citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies resident in this country who have been resident for the last five years, and who have not been resident for the last five years, respectively.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is his estimate of the number of citizens of the United Kingdom and colonies resident in the United Kingdom who are such by reason of their birth or association with territories outside the United Kingdom, Channel Islands and the Isle of Man.

At the census of 1961, 206,000 people said that they had been born in what were then colonies and protectorates, and that they were citizens of the United Kingdom and Colonies by birth or descent. It is not known how many of these people are still here, or how many have since changed their citizenship.Between 1st July, 1962, and 31st December, 1970, the number admitted for settlement of people associated with existing colonies, together with United Kingdom passport holders made subject to control under the Commonwealth Immigrants Act, 1968, was 98,939.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what estimate he has made of the likely total prison population in England and Wales at the end of 1974.

It is difficult to make an accurate prediction, but, taking account of recent trends, and particularly the rate of increase in the number of persons convicted of indictable offences, about 50,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many men he expects to be still living two or more to a cell in prisons in England and Wales by the end of 1974; and what was the corresponding figure for 1964.

About 17,500, on the assumption that the total prison population is then about 50,000; 5,423.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those statutory bodies which submit to his Department for publication annual or periodic reports.

The information is as follows:

• Boundary Commissions for England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
• Charity Commissioners.
• Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis.
• Community Relations Commission.
• Gaming Board.
• Horserace Betting Levy Board.
• Parole Board.
• Race Relations Board.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he proposes to take on the Report of the Committee of Inquiry set up by Her Majesty's Government into the case of Michael Stanley Johnson and the events connected with it.

The arrangements for suplying information to doctors who are asked to provide medical reports to courts are being examined to see whether any improvement can be made.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a person born in India of British grandparents, living for the last 40 years in Derbyshire qualifies for a British passport.

I have been asked to reply.If the hon. Member will tell me the exact place of birth of the person concerned and his father and whether the former has been registered as a citizen of the United Kingdom and Colonies, I will gladly advise him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the average time taken by his Department for allocation of passports to individuals after application through employment exchanges.

I have been asked to reply.Normally 10 days. However, because the emergency arrangements made during the postal strike cannot provide for the regular delivery to passport offices of applications lodged at the thousand employment exchanges throughout the country, the latter have instructions not to accept applications needed in less than one month. British visitor's passports continue to be issued at employment exchanges on a "while you wait" basis.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will meet a deputation of unemployed workers.

I am well aware of the problems of unemployment but I do not think that a meeting of the kind suggested would contribute to their solution.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons in the Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello employment exchange districts are currently employed in the retail distribution trade.

At June, 1969, there were about 24,000 employees in employment in retail distribution in the area covered by the Edinburgh, Leith and Portobello Employment Exchanges. Estimates for June, 1970, will be available later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is aware of the hardship being caused to the home holiday industry by the continued stoppage of the postal services; and what action he proposes to assist this industry.

We have been greatly concerned about the effects of the strike of postal workers. Following the agreement reached between the Union and the Post Office under my right hon. Friend's chairmanship earlier today, we hope there will be a speedy return to normal working.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment for how long workers at Glynwed Fastenings Limited will have to be laid off before they will be entitled to redundancy payments.

I understand that some of the firm's employees are suspended on account of a dispute in which others are taking part. While this situation lasts no entitlement to redundancy payments arises for the suspended employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish a table showing the average weekly earnings in the European Economic Community countries since 1966, expressed in sterling, including bonuses, fringe benefits, etc., compared with the corresponding figures in the United Kingdom.

I regret that the precise figures asked for are not available, but the following figures of average income per employed person, including earnings, social security payments and fringe benefits, have been published by the European Community Information Service and relate to 1967 and 1968.Figures for 1966, 1969 and 1970 are not available.

AVERAGE INCOME PER EMPLOYED PERSON
				U.S. $ per year (in exchange rate then current)
				1967	1968
Belgium		…	…	3,32	3,512
France		…	…	3,516	3,846
Germany		…	…	2,873	3,059
Italy	…	…	…	2,415	2,588
Luxembourg		…	…	3,329	3,604
				(1965)	(1967)
Netherlands		…	…	3,270	3,546
Community		…	…	2,994	3,224
United Kingdom			…	2,716	2,578

International comparisons of this kind present many problems; they must be made in terms of a chosen currency and changes in the rate of exchange complicate the position. At the old exchange rate the figure for the United Kingdom for 1968 would have been 3,008. Furthermore there are differences in the purchasing power of the currencies and in the levels of direct and indirect taxation and of social benefits between one country and another.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what companies have installed their own equipment in the Hull Government Training Centre; and what proportion of those trained at the centre this accounts for.

One company has loaned two automatic lathes for sponsored training purposes. These were used by fewer than 2 per cent. of the trainees who completed courses during 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of those people trained in the Hull Government Training Centre found work in the Hull employment exchange area for the years 1969 and 1970.

Following is the information:

		Proportion of those trained at the Hull Government Training Centre who found work in:
		(a)	(b)
		The Hull Employment Exchange Area	The Hull Conurbation (including Hessle and Beverley)
		per cent.	per cent.
1969	…	43·5	51·9
1970	…	44·5	54·5

Many other trainees found work outside the conurbation but within daily travelling distance of Hull. The centre serves not only the Hull conurbation but a wide area of the East Riding, Humberside and North Lincolnshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of unemployed persons at Consett and Stanley, County Durham, employment exchanges, and what was the percentage unemployment rate for the Consett-Stanley-Lanchester travel-to-work area, at the latest available date.

At 8th February, 1971, there were 1,756 persons registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Consett and Stanley Employment Exchanges and the rate of unemployment for the Consett, Stanley and Lanchester travel-to-work area was 6 per cent. The figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the future of the King's National Roll which was set up in 1919 to encourage the employment of 1914–18 disabled ex-Servicemen.

As all 1914–18 pensioners are now aged 70 or over and there has been a comprehensive employment service for all disabled people since 1944, the Government has concluded that the King's National Roll should be wound up. The Roll was set up by Royal Proclamation and Her Majesty The Queen has graciously consented to the course proposed.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why a constituent of the hon. Member for Woking, who has hitherto received six monthly interest payments of £5 as interest on his holding of £333 6s. 8d. of 3 per cent. Savings Bonds, 1965–75, has now received a payment of £4·99; and whether he will ensure that payments continue in future to be made at the rate of £5 per half year.

I will write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if, in framing his Budget proposals, he will give priority to proposals designed to benefit pensioners and those on fixed incomes over a reduction in selective employment tax or of income tax in the higher wage brackets.

I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will pay an official visit to the headquarters of the Decimal Currency Board.

I have no plans to do so but I have written to the Chairman congratulating the Board on the smooth way in which the changeover to decimal currency has so far gone.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will specify the institutional changes he has requested the European Economic Community to make.

Her Majesty's Government accept the Treaty of Rome, including those parts of it which relate to the institutions of the European Community. The institutions are not the subject of negotiations. If we become a member of the enlarged Community we shall play a full rôle in the development of the Community's institutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the result of approaches by Her Majesty's Government to the French Government concerning the case of a child to whose French father custody was awarded and which award was reversed on appeal by the British High Court.

The child, as a French national domiciled and resident in France, is within the jurisdiction of the French courts, to which her mother can apply, and it would not be appropriate to make formal representations to the French Government. It may be possible, however, for Mrs. Desramault to obtain legal aid in France to open civil proceedings in a French court. My right hon. Friend the Prime Minister has asked our Ambassador in Paris to provide whatever help is possible in this connection.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT those statutory bodies which submit to his Department for publication annual or periodic reports.

The following statutory bodies submit annual reports to my Department for publication:—

1. The Marshall Aid Commemoration Commission.

2. The British Phosphate Commissioners.

3. The Foreign Compensation Commission.

4. Commonwealth Development Corporation.

5. Commonwealth Scholarship Commission in United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether non-European employees at the Simonstown base are subject to job classification under the laws enforcing apartheid.

I am awaiting a reply to inquiries made on this matter through Her Majesty's Ambassador in Cape Town.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many Africans are included in the 713 non-European employees at the Simonstown base.

There are 1,231 nonwhite employees at the Simonstown Base; of these 113 are described as Bantu. This figure does, however, vary as casual labour is used from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) how many non-Europeans are employed in supervisory or managerial jobs at the Simonstown base:(2) what are the categories of employment of the 854 Europeans and 1,231 non-Europeans employed at the Simonstown base:(3) how many European casual labourers are employed in the Simonstown base.

This information is not available, and I have, therefore, instructed Her Majesty's Ambassador in Cape Town to ask the South African authorities if they will provide it.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many local authority nursery places are at present taken up by the children of single-parent families; and what estimate he has made of the size of current unmet demand for such places from fatherless families.

I regret that figures for current use and demand are not available; but unmet need in England for facilities for the day care of children under five, including the children of single-parent families, is substantial.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total amount so far paid out by his Department for the support of postmen's wives and children; and what steps he is tak- ing to deal with any postmen who may be making fraudulent claims in not declaring their part-time earnings while on strike.

To Tuesday, 23rd February, the total of supplementary benefit payments to the dependents of persons involved in the current postal dispute was £2,056,673. As to the second part of the Question I would refer my hon. Friend to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for South Angus (Mr. Bruce-Gardyne) on 23rd February.— [Vol. 812, c. 81–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) why unemployment pay is not being paid to workers at the Glynwed Fastenings Limited, Darlaston, although these men have been laid off by their employers;(2) if he will institute an inquiry into the circumstances in which workers at Glynwed Fastenings Limited have been refused unemployment pay by officials of his Department.

I understand that as a result of a strike by shift workers at this firm, day workers were laid off. Although some of the latter qualified for the payment of unemployment benefit, the independent adjudicating authorities who decide all claims, held others to be disqualified for unemployment benefit under Section 22(1) of the National Insurance Act, 1965. Further information has, however, recently been obtained about this very complicated dispute and I will write to the right hon. Gentleman as soon as I know whether this will enable further claims to succeed.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now include the drug preparation, Tylosin, in the regulations to be made under the Therapeutic Substances Act, 1956, to be effective from 1st March, 1971, as Tylosin is cross-resistant with erythromycin and oleandomycin, both of which are used in human medicine.

The effective date of 1st September, 1971, in relation to Tylosin is designed to give manufacturers, distributors and farmers time to dispose of stocks and adjust to other products. I am advised that the availability of Tylosin without prescription up to this date is acceptable in relation to any cross-resistance arising.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons were given temporary accommodation as a result of being homeless in the London Borough of Wandsworth in each of the years from 1964 to 1970.

The available information is given below. Figures are not available for the period prior to April, 1966.

London Borough of Wandsworth
Persons admitted to temporary accommodation
1966 (1st April to 31st December only)		…	…	…	…	472
1967	…	…	…	…	…	555
1968	…	…	…	…	…	656
1969	…	…	…	…	…	760
1970	…	…	…	…	…	849

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the number of patients on waiting lists for geriatric beds throughout Great Britain.

Following are the figures at the latest dates available:

Numbers on waiting lists
England (31st December, 1969) Geriatric and chronic sick beds		9,200
Wales (31st December, 1969) Geriatric and chronic sick beds		420
Scotland (30th September, 1970) Geriatric assessment and geriatric (long-stay) beds	…	1,841

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will give an estimate of the Proportion of preschool children who are taken by their parents regularly to clinics.

About 46 per cent. of children aged under 5 years attended local authority clinics at least once during 1969. Information is not available centrally about regularity of attendance or the additional numbers attending child clinics run by general practitioners.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why there has been a delay in publishing the report of the Farleigh Hospital Inquiry.

This inquiry was set up following the conviction for ill-treating patients at the hospital of three persons. One of these has now made application for leave to appeal out of time and I have been advised that it would not be appropriate to publish the report until the appeal proceedings have been concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services for the last full year for which information is available, how many staff of the Supplementary Benefits Commission in the clerical and executive officer grades, respectively, left their jobs in each of the Department's administrative regions; and what proportions these figures represent of the total number of staff in post in these grades at the start of the year in question in each of these regions.

Some offices formerly dealing with Supplementary Benefit are now integrated with former Social Security offices, and their staff are not treated separately. The following table shows the number of executive and clerical grades who left their posts in 1969, and as a percentage of total staff in those grades, in the regional organisation of the Department. It is not possible to apportion them between the English regions without an inordinate amount of work.

Class		English Regions	Wales	Scotland
Executive	…	411	34	55
Percentage of total staff in grade	…	4·9	5	5
Clerical	…	2,330	156	401
Percentage of total staff in grades	…	9	7	10·5

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in his forthcoming reform programme, in view of the example of the Northern Ireland Government in appointing a Commissioner of Complaints for local government, he will take steps to appoint a Commissioner also, in order to ensure that there are not double standards within the United Kingdom.

The Government have accepted the need for improved arrangements for investigating complaints against local authorities and I am now consulting local authority associations on the form which such arrangements might take.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to require a standard form of rent book to be used by landlords in relation to all properties which are subject to the Rent Act, 1968.

The Rent Book (Forms of Notice) Regulations, 1965, made under the Landlord and Tenant Act, 1962, prescribe the contents of rent books, which vary according to whether the tenancy is furnished, subject to rent regulations, or subject to rent control. At present weekly tenancies require the provision by the landlord of a rent book. I am now considering the recommendations on rent books in the Francis Committee's Report and intend to take action.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many grants have been given under the Local Employment Act, 1970, for derelict land clearance in the Hull employment exchange area.

One reclamation scheme estimated to cost £59,000 submitted by Kingston-upon-Hull City Council was approved for grant under the Local Government Act, 1966, in March, 1970, and is shortly to be reapproved for the higher rate of grant (75 per cent.) available under the Local Employment Act,1970. Grant will become payable when reclamation work commences. Five outline projects submitted by the city council and estimated to cost £190,000 have been accepted by the Department and detailed schemes are awaited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the value of the public sector construction work designed in metric terms on which work started on site in 1970; and what is the estimated figure for 1971.

£108 million and £789 million respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set out in tabular form the percentage increase in building costs over each of the last 10 years.

The following is the information:

		Index of the Cost of New Construction (1963=100)	Percentage Increase	Percentage Increase 1970/1960
1960	…	91	—	—
1961	…	94	3·3	—
1962	…	97	3·2	—
1963	…	100	3·1	—
1964	…	102	2·0	—
1965	…	106	3·9	—
1966	…	111	4·7	—
1967	…	113	1·8	—
1968	…	118	4·4	—
1969	…	123	4·2	—
1970 (estimated)		131	6·5	44·0

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he made, when deciding to withdraw grants for commuter services in the financial year 1971–72, of the amount British Rail would have to earn to offset the lost grants.

£10 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the selective pricing policy for rail fares, he will give a general direction to British Rail to publish separate profit and loss figures for individual lines.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will list the local authorities which have successfully undertaken prosecutions under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968, indicating the number of prosecutions in each year since the passing of the Act. Mr. Ridley: I regret that this information is not readily available, but there have already been over 2,000 prosecutions under the Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what recent representations he has received from the Chamber of Shipping concerning the needs of the industry; and what replies he has sent.

I have received representations from the Chamber of Shipping about the transitional arrangements for ending investment grants as they affect the shipping industry. Discussions have been proceeding with the Chamber and my hon. Friend the Minister for Industry hopes to reply shortly.