asked the Minister of State for Defence what will be the total strength on 1st May of the Gurkha Brigade; and what is its cost to the British taxpayer.

The active strength on 1st May will be about 6,800. The cost of the Brigade will be about £7 million in the financial year 1971–72.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many Territorial Army centres, drill halls, were available for the new Territorial Army on 1st April; how many were sold between November, 1964 and June, 1970; and how many more are required for training.

167 centres have been allocated for the use of the new units of the Territorial and Army Volunter Reserve and meet their full requirement for training. Between November, 1964 and June, 1970 about 490 centres were sold.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make further financial assistance available to the Royal United Services Institution.

The Ministry of Defence will again be making a contribution to the funds of the Royal United Services Institution for the year ending 31st March, 1971. My right hon. and noble Friend and I will be considering whether a longer term contribution from public funds can be justified.

asked the Minister of State for Defence for what other purposes the computers in his Department will be used, apart from pay, personnel, maintenance, servicing and administration.

Apart from the uses to which the hon. Gentleman has referred, the Department uses computers for logistic, financial, training, scientific and operational analysis applications, and for the control of weapons and communications systems. Projects are also under development for the use of computers in production control, operational command and control systems and procurement applications including the preparation and issue of contracts.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the projected total cost of the Linesman system in the Linesman Mediator project.

About £97 million including research and development.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many soldiers have been killed and injured in Northern Ireland since 1st January; and how many arrests, by the security forces, have been made in relation thereto.

In the period 1st January to 31st March, three soldiers were killed and 36 received injuries requiring hospital treatment as a result of security operations in Northern Ireland, In addition three soldiers were murdered. In the same period over 300 people were arrested by the Army for riotous or disorderly behaviour of whom over 130 have received prison sentences.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on operations in aid of the civil power in Northern Ireland.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my hon. and noble friend the Minister of State for Defence in the debate on Northern Ireland on Tuesday, 6th April.—[Vol. 815, c. 369–70.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many searches for arms have been carried out in Northern Ireland by Her Majesty's forces since 1st January; how many arms and how much ammunition has been discovered; and what proportion was found on the premises of organisations known to profess republican beliefs.

Since 1st January the armed services, often in conjunction with the R.U.C. have carried out searches of 381 occupied houses, 1,589 unoccupied buildings and 862 areas of countryside, quarries, etc., 124,234 cars and other vehicles have been stopped and checked. The amount of arms and ammunition found by the armed services alone is 54 guns and 13,654 rounds of ammunition. The political beliefs of those whose premises contain arms are not investigated by the Army.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will visit Her Majesty's Forces in the Gulf, and in the Mozambique Channel.

I have no plans to do so at present. However, my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for the Army, will be visiting British forces in the Gulf later this month.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will review the regulations which require money sent by postal order from this country to Service wives overseas, and the payment of family allowances and new baby bonuses, to be payable to the husband; and if he will make a statement.

First of all, regarding postal orders, Service rules about sending money overseas are based on the normal Exchange Control regulations and cannot be reviewed in isolation. Secondly, with regard to the Overseas Family Allowance, this is drawn by Service men with their pay or, if a Service man and his wife are in different places overseas, he can arrange for the money to be paid to her. It would be administratively impracticable to issue Service wives with the equivalent of the Family Allowance order books they would have in this country and to set up facilities for cashing the orders in the various overseas stations.Lastly, Maternity Grant is payable direct to the wife unless she authorises her husband to receive payment on her

behalf. Maternity Allowance ceases to be payable when a wife goes abroad, but my Department, in consultation with the Department of Health and Social Security, may authorise

asked the Minister of State for Defence when he expects to be in a position to make a decision on the projected new trainer aircraft for the Royal Air Force.

I cannot at present add to the reply given to my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Wilkinson) on 11th March.—[Vol. 813, c. 145–6.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the progress of the design of the proposed command-through-deck cruisers.

Good progress is being maintained in the design of the new cruiser, which we intend to bring into service as quickly as possible. A contract will shortly be placed with a shipbuilder for assistance with planning and detailed design of the ship.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if a decision has been reached about the provision of a fifth Polaris submarine; and if he will make a statement.

No decision has been taken. The option to provide a fifth Polaris submarine remains under continuing review.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will release some of the accommodation, previously used by the Women's Royal Naval Service at Bull Point, Plymouth, for the use of a youth club.

Plans are in hand to build ratings' married quarters on the site and none of the former W.R.N.S. quarters will be available for the purpose suggested.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are his plans in regard to the future of the Raglan Barrack site, Devonport.

The Raglan site is being considered for new Service housing requirements. We are in close touch with the City of Plymouth authorities over the use to be made of the site.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a further statement on the progress of the operation of vertical/short take-off and landing aircraft from Her Majesty's ships.

Trials of the "Harrier" have already been carried out in a number of ships of the Royal Navy. These were designed to give clearance for landing and take off from ships' decks. Further trials will take place in H.M.S. "Ark Royal" next month to evaluate further the implications of deploying the "Harrier" in an operational environment at sea.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what has been the response to recruiting to the new Territorial and Auxiliary Volunteer Reserve units which opened on 1st April.

Subject to normal processing, its seems that the strength of the new units is already close to the 2,000 mark.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the future lightweight torpedo programme.

The Government have continued their review of the programme for developing the very advanced torpedoes required by the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force. It is now clear that the programme for the Mark 31 antisubmarine torpedo, which cannot be accelerated, will result in the weapon entering service at a time when it will be inadequate to meet the operational requirement. Development work has therefore stopped on the Mark 31 torpedo, but studies will proceed on an advanced anti-submarine torpedo to meet the requirement for the next generation of sur- face ship-launched and air-launched torpedoes. In the meantime the Government are considering the possibility of acquiring the American Mark 46 torpedo provided appropriate arrangements can be made.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why, in view of the possible dangers to the person concerned, for whom he is responsible, particulars concerning information submitted to the Army of illegal Irish Republican Army activities by this person were given publicity by his Department; and whether in future he will ensure that the strictest secrecy is observed when information is supplied in similar cases to this, details of which have been supplied to him.

Naturally we always try to avoid publicity in matters of this kind. In this case none was given by my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of the refusal of the Department of Health and Social Security to refund bus fares to persons travelling to employment exchanges to collect unemployment benefit, he will arrange for claims for unemployment benefit to be made in Selkirk to persons resident there.

No. People who live in Selkirk and are receiving unemployment benefit normally get it by post. This arrangement could not, of course, operate during the recent postal strike, but it has now been resumed and I see no reason to change it.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) from information available from international sources, what is the current rate of unemployment in France, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Holland and Luxembourg; and what is the comparable figure for the United Kingdom;(2) from information available from international sources, what is the current rate of unemployment in the European Economic Community taken as a whole; and what is the comparable figure for the United Kingdom.

The following figures have been published as part of a table in "The Common Market and the Common Man", published by the European Community Information Service:

Unemployment as a percentage of Civil Employment at Mid-year 1969
				Per cent.
Belgium	…	…	…	2·5*
France	…	…	…	1·1
Germany	…	…	…	0·7
Italy	…	…	…	3·4
Luxembourg	…	…	…	0
Netherlands	…	…	…	1·4
E.E.C	…	…	…	1·7
United Kingdom	…	…	…	2·0†
* Mid-year 1968 figure.
† The United Kingdom percentage in this table represents the wholly unemployed as a percentage of the civilian labour force. The normal method is to take the total registered unemployed, as a percentage of total employees, employed and unemployed. On this basis the United Kingdom figure for June, 1969 is 2·3 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether, from information available from international sources, he will give the comparison between numbers unemployed in Germany on 1st January, 1958, and 1st January, 1971; and the figures for the United Kingdom on these dates;(2) whether, from information available from international sources, he will give the comparison between numbers unemployed in France on 1st January, 1958, and 1st January, 1971; and the figures for the United Kingdom on these dates;(3) whether, from information available from international sources, he will

NUMBERS UNEMPLOYED
		Germany* (Federal Republic)	France	Italy	Belgium	Holland	Luxembourg	United Kingdom
July, 1957	…			1,626,108
October, 1957	…	368,637	76,043				1
November, 1957	…				118,920
December, 1957	…					97,283
January, 1958	…	1,432,067	100,148	1,961,838	204,037	111,129	65	415,235 (439,929)
July, 1970	…			623,000
October, 1970	…	106,494	297,400				45
November, 1970	…				69,779
December, 1970	…					58,700
January, 1971	…							714,379 (731,190)
* Saar is included in the figure for October, 1970 but not in the figures for October, 1957, and January, 1958.
Because of differences in scope, definitions and concept, the statistics for different countries are not necessarily comparable. Two sets of figures are shown for the United Kingdom, that is, the wholly unemployed and, in brackets, the total registered unemployed.

In the table below, figures for countries other than the United Kingdom have been taken from the International Labour Office Year Books and from monthly supplements to the International Labour Office Quarterly Bulletins. For each of these countries, information has been shown for January, 1958, for the latest date from which figures can be derived from these sources and for the corresponding month 13 years earlier. For the United Kingdom, information has been shown for January, 1958, and January, 1971:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom steel industries, respectively, since 1958;(2) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom paper industries, respectively, since 1958;(3) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom chemical industries, respectively, since 1958;

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgium/Luxembourg and United King

Earnings
	Steel industry	Paper industry	Chemical industry	Food manufacturing industry	Building and construction industry	Electrical engineering industry	Consumer Prices
France
Average hourly earnings	n.a.	8·4	n.a.	n.a.	7·9	n.a.	4·0
Federal Republic of Germany
Earnings per hour including family allowances paid directly by employers:
Males	6·6	8·1	8·1	7·8	7·9	n.a.	2·3
Females	7·9	8·6	8·7	8·8	n.a.	n.a.	—
Italy
Average hourly earnings including the value of payments in kind	n.a.	9·0	7·9	n.a.	n.a.	7·5	3·3
Netherlands
Average hourly earnings	n.a.	9·5	10·0	n.a.	9·4	n.a.	3·9
Belgium*
Average daily earnings
Males	n.a.	7·0	7·5	6·8	6·5	n.a.	2·4
Females	n.a.	7·7	8·4	8·3	n.a.	n.a.	—
Luxembourg*
Average hourly earnings	5·8	n.a.	6·8	n.a.	6·7	n.a.	2·0
United Kingdom†
Average weekly earnings:
All workers	6·5	7·0	7·0	7·3	6·6	5·9	3·6
* 1958 to 1968.
† October, 1958 to October, 1970.

Following are the average annual percentage (compound) increases in earnings for industries for which figures are available and in consumer prices for the period 1958–1969 (except where otherwise stated). It must be emphasised that owing to differences in concept, scope, methodology and presentation, it cannot be assumed that the figures for different countries are comparable. Because of these differences and also because social security systems vary so much from country to country, it is not possible to produce a reliable measure of changes in the "real" value of earnings.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, (1) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom paper industries, respectively, since 1958;(2) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom building and construction industries, respectively, since 1958;(3) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom cement industries, respectively, since 1958;(4) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom mechanical engineering industries, respectively, since 1958;(5) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom electrical engineering industries, respectively, since 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, (1) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom food manufacturing industries, respectively, since 1958;(2) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in manufacturing industry in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium/ Luxembourg and the United Kingdom, respectively, since 1958.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1), from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/ Luxembourg and the United Kingdom chemical industries, respectively, since 1958;(2) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom electricity industries, respectively, since 1958;(3) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and United Kingdom steel industries, respectively, since 1958;(4) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom shipbuilding industries, respectively, since 1958;(5) from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage of unemployment in the French, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian/Luxembourg and the United Kingdom motor manufacturing industries, respectively, since 1958.

I regret that this information is not available from international sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment, from information available from international sources, what was the average annual percentage increase in real wages in manufacturing industry in France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium/Luxembourg, and the United Kingdom, respectively, since 1958.

The following are the average annual percentage (compound) increases in wages and consumer prices for the period October, 1958, to October, 1970 (except where otherwise stated).I must emphasise that owing to differences in concept, scope, methodology and presentation it cannot be assumed that the figures for different countries are comparable. Because of these differences and also because social security systems vary so much from country to country, it is not possible to produce a reliable measure of changes in the "real" value of wages.

	Wages. Manufacturing	Consumer prices
France*:
Rates of pay per hour:
Adults only	8·1	4·1
Germany (Federal Republic)†:
Earnings per hour:
Males	8·3	2·6
Females	9·1
All workers	8·6
Italy‡:
Earnings per hour:
All workers	8·6	3·4
Netherlands:
Rates of pay per hour:
Adults only	9·0	4·2
Belgium §:
Earnings per day:
Males	6·4	2·7
Females	7·5
Luxembourg:
Not available	—	—
United Kingdom:
Earnings per week:
All workers	6·9	3·6
* Period September, 1958-September, 1970.

		Wages non-agricultural sectors	Variations in industrial coverage	Consumer prices
Belgium:
Earnings per day:
Males	…	96·1	Excluding commerce.	31·6
Females	…	130·5
Earnings per hour:
All workers	…	107·8
France:
Rates of pay per hour:
Males	adults only	127·9	Excluding mining and quarrying.
Females		132·7
All workers		128·9
Earnings per hour:
All workers	…	132·4	Excluding mining and quarrying, state operated transport and government services.	54·9
Federal Republic of Germany:
Earnings* per hour:
Males	…	127·5	Excluding commerce and transport.	29·0
Females	…	151·3
All workers	…	131·5
Earnings* per week:
All workers	…	124·0
Italy:
Rates of pay per hour:
All workers	…	116·7	Excluding commerce and transport.	42·9
Luxembourg†:
Earnings per hour:
All workers	…	77·4	Excluding commerce and transport.	21·3
Netherlands‡:
Earnings per hour:
All workers	…	80·7		31·9
United Kingdom§:
Average weekly earnings:
All workers	…	120·2	Excluding coal-mining, commerce and railways.	53·6
* Including family allowances paid directly by the employer.
† Period 1958–1968.
‡Period 1958–1966: includes salaried employees.
§ Period October, 1958 to October, 1970.
Sources: European Economic Community Countries: ILO Year Books.
United Kingdom: Department of Employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what has been the percentage rise in real wages in Great Britain between 1958 and 1970; and how this compares with the countries of the European Economic Community taken together and separately, from information available from international sources.

Figures are not available for countries of the European Economic Community taken together for the periods requested. The following are the percentage increases in wages and consumer prices between 1958 and 1969, the latest year for which figures are available (except where otherwise stated):

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many employees were declared redundant in the wool textile and engineering industries, respectively, in the Bradford-Shipley area for each year from 1964 to 1970, inclusive.

Comprehensive figures are not available, but the following numbers of redundancies were recorded as due to occur in the wool textile and engineering industries in the Bradford/Shipley area:

			Wool Textiles	Engineering
1966	…	…	1,000	100
1967	…	…	750	160
1968	…	…	1,500	540
1969	…	…	670	920
1970	…	…	2,200	600

I regret that comparable information is not available for 1964 and 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many factories were closed in the engineering and wool textile industry, respectively, in each year from 1964 to 1970, inclusive, in the Bradford/Shipley area.

Comprehensive figures are not available but the following numbers of closures were recorded by my Department in the Bradford/Shipley area in the wool textile and engineering industries:

			Wool Textiles	Engineering
1964	…	…	5	—
1965	…	…	4	1
1966	…	…	4	1
1967	…	…	9	1
1968	…	…	16	3
1969	…	…	8	2
1970	…	…	15	3

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what measures his Department has taken to deal with the effects arising from redundancies within the Bradford employment area recently.

Wherever possible, special arrangements are made by my Department to canvas for other jobs and to provide job teams to give advice and information to those affected by redundancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people began engineering apprenticeships in the year 1970; what is the comparable figure for 1960; and if he is satisfied that sufficient new apprenticeships are being taken up to replace engineering workers leaving the industry for retirement, and other reasons.

Of 45,161 boys entering engineering in 1970, 27,859 (62 per cent.) took up apprenticeships. The corresponding figures for 1960 were 52,538 new entrants and 29,050 (55 per cent.) apprenticeships. Although shortages of skilled men occur in various areas and occupations, the general indications are that the industry is obtaining sufficient apprentices nationally for its foreseeable needs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is aware that the Caterpillar Tractor Company of Birtley, County Durham, is proposing to reduce its labour force by a substantial number; and what action he proposes to take to help to find alternative employment for the workers involved.

My local officers are in close touch with the firm and arrangements have been made for a job team to begin interviewing at the factory on 19th April following a special canvass for jobs in the area. Every effort will be made to find alternative employment for those made redundant.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to ease the overcrowding, caused by rising unemployment, at the Wythenshawe Employment Exchange; what turnover of staff there has been at this exchange during the past 12 months; if he is satisfied with the sanitary conveniences available to staff and the public at this exchange; when new and enlarged accommodation will be available; and if he will make a statement.

The present employment exchange accommodation at Wythenshawe has been inadequate for some years and plans have been approved for the construction of a new Crown building, to be completed in May, 1972.In view of the recent increase in the unemployed register, the Department of the Environment, which is responsible for housing Government Departments, is actively searching for relief accommodation which is expected to be available shortly.

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE PLYMOUTH, DEVONPORT, GUNNISLAKE, PLYMPTON AND SALTASH EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGES
				Men	Women	Boys	Girls	Total
March, 1971	…	…	…	3,310	737	126	109	4,282
March, 1970	…	…	…	2,973	586	97	83	3,739

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered disabled persons are unemployed in the Plymouth area; and what was the figure at the same time last year.

On 8th March, 387 registered disabled persons were registered as unemployed in the Plymouth employment area. The comparable figure in March, 1970, was 380.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the number of men unemployed at the latest count at the employment exchange areas of Crook, Stanley, Consett and Durham, with percentages of male unemployment in each case and the numbers at each exchange who are 55 years of age or over.

At 8th March, 1971, the numbers of males registered as unemployed in the Crook, Stanley, Consett and Durham Employment Exchange areas were 612, 965, 569 and 1,019 respectively. The rates of male unemployment for the Consett, Lanchester and Stanley travel-to-work area and for the Durham employment exchange area were 7·4 and 6·5 per cent. respectively. For the Bishop Auckland travel-to-work area,

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men, women, boys and girls are at present unemployed in the Plymouth area; and what was the figure at the same time last year.

Following is the information:which included Crook, the rate was 9·1 per cent.Detailed age analyses of the numbers registered as wholly unemployed are made in January and July each year. Following is the information for January, 1971:

NUMBERS OF MALES REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED AT 11TH JANUARY, 1971
Wholly unemployed
		Total on registers	All ages	Aged 55 and over
Crook	…	638	629	273
Stanley	…	955	952	547
Consett	…	542	531	241
Durham	…	1,210	1,163	473

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in reaching his decision to phase out the grant to the British Productivity Council, he took account of the joint management/shop floor membership and voluntary work of the local productivity associations.

Yes. The Government value the work done by the local productivity associations in promoting higher productivity and appreciate that the voluntary co-operation of both sides of industry has greatly contributed to its success. The Government hope that the associations will continue their work after direct financial assistance has been withdrawn in March, 1973, and consideration is being given to other forms of support.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total amount paid out in unemployment benefit and in redundancy payments in the United Kingdom in the last six months; and what are the corresponding figures for Wales.

I am not able to give figures for the whole of the United Kingdom as unemployment benefit and redundancy payments in Northern Ireland are administered by the Northern Ireland Government under separate Acts.In Great Britain, the total amount of unemployment benefit paid in the six months ended 13th February, 1971, which is the most convenient period for which statistics can be given, was £79,620,756 12s. 10d. Of this, £4,514,360 5s. 10d. was paid in Wales.In Great Britain, redundancy payments to employees in the six months ended 31st March, 1971, totalled about £38 million. Of this total, about £18 million was borne by employers and the remainder by the Redundancy Fund. Owing to the postal strike, the figures are in the nature of an assessment for the period since mid-February. No figures for Wales are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will introduce a new cost of living index figure and purchasing value of the £ index based upon 1st April, 1971, equalling 100, and give quarterly estimates to show to what extent the rise and/or fall in these indices result from the Government's Budget proposals.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give a list of those trades and industries which allow those employed therein a holiday with pay in respect of New Year's Day; and what percentage they represent of the total workers in employment.

There are differences in practice within industries and as between different parts of the country and I regret that information on which a comprehensive reply could be based is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many work permits have been issued for foreign girls to work at Oundle School in the last four years.

The following numbers of permits have been issued for foreign girls to work as resident domestics at Oundle School:

1967	…	…	…	20 permits
1968	…	…	…	25 permits
1969	…	…	…	30 permits
1970	…	…	…	35 permits

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what long-term plans he has to ensure the continuation of efficient delivery of Rolls-Royce spares to the Royal Air Force.

I have been asked to reply. Provision for the continued availability of spares for the Royal Air Force will be made in contracts with Rolls-Royce (1971) Ltd. in the same way as for equipment procured from other companies.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply whether he will make a statement on the supply of parts from Great Britain for incorporation in PUMA SA.330 helicopters used by the Portuguese Army, with particular reference to their operation in the Portuguese colonial wars in Africa.

I have been asked to reply. Only 20 per cent. of the Puma helicopter is produced in this country. The French are responsible for manufacture and export sales of the helicopter and the sale to Portugal was not subject to the prior approval of Her Majesty's Government. The order has now been completed.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what advice he has received from the Aeronautical Research Council on the probable timescale of development of aircraft with reduced takeoff and landing characteristics; and what consideration he has given to the effect that such developments may have on previous assumptions concerning a third London airport.

I have been asked to reply.My right hon. Friend has received no advice on this point as yet from the Aeronautical Research Council. Further study is required of aircraft with reduced takeoff and landing characteristics; I do not believe that their use could affect the decision on a Third London airport.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what has been the cost increase in the Rolls-Royce Snecma M45H engine project since the original estimates were made; what are the reasons for this; and what discussions he has had with the German Government on the apportionment of this increased cost.

I have been asked to reply.The current estimate of £31 million is now under review. It compares with the 1966 estimate of £20 million, and reflects inflation, normal development problems and new certification requirements. My right hon. Friend is seeking with the German Government mutually acceptable ways of funding the increase.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now make a statement on the financial help he expects from the German Federal Republic to offset the cost of maintaining British forces in Western Germany.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on the British Army of the Rhine costs-offset agreement with the West German Government.

I have nothing to add to the reply my right hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Leicester, South-East (Mr. Peel) on 18th March.—[Vol. 813, c. 400.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has yet received confirmation of the proposed official visit to the United Kingdom of General Gowon of Nigeria.

I have nothing to add to what my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister told the House in reply to the hon. Member's Question on 11th February.—[Vol. 811, c. 256.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches he proposes to make to the Government of the Irish Republic for the extradition of a man who took part in the murder of two Ulster policemen and who is now discharged from a Dublin hospital after being treated for bullet wounds he received when an Army marksman returned his fire.

I understand that the Northern Ireland police inquiries are continuing. I have no approaches to the Government of the Irish Republic in mind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, from information available from international sources, which of the members of the European Economic Community have housing shortages; what effect their membership of the European Economic Community has had on such problems; and what estimate he has made of the effect of United Kingdom membership on housing shortages in this country.

Membership of the European Economic Community has no direct effect on the national housing policies of member States and there is no evidence that membership of the Communities has had any adverse effect on moves to remedy housing shortages in the Six. The Communities have made available low interest loans to assist the financing of over 100,000 houses for coal and steel workers. In general countries in the Six spend more per head on housing than is the case in the United Kingdom. It is not anticipated that membership of the Communities would adversely affect the housing situation in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, from information available from international sources, which of the countries of the European Economic Community pursue policies of preservation and conservation of the environment; and whether such policies are comparable with those of Her Majesty's Government.

All members of the European Economic Community pursue policies of preservation and conservation of the environment. These policies have similar objectives to those of Her Majesty's Government but are of course related to the particular environmental conditions prevailing in individual member States.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the members of the European Economic Community have a joint policy to tackle pollution; and what amendments in United Kingdom law in this regard would necessarily follow from accession to this Community.

The Community has agreed to take steps to harmonise future legislative policies on pollution control relating to a large number of consumer products, vehicles and capital goods and has so far approved directives on vehicle noise and air pollution from motor vehicles. The legislative changes which would be required in this respect in the event of the United Kingdom joining the Communities are under study.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether the entry of Great Britain into the European Economic Community will affect the limits of territorial waters claimed by the United Kingdom.

Entry into the European Communities will not affect the delimitation of British territorial waters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what consultations he has had with governments in the European Economic Community countries about standardising laws on the protection of birds and animals in line with British practice; and if he will make a statement.

I have had no consultations with member Governments of the European Economic Community on this subject. There are points arising from the European Economic Community directives on animal health to be discussed with the Community in the context of the entry negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what plans he now has to increase the United Kingdom offer of 3 per cent. as its initial contribution to the cost of the European Economic Community budget.

We must await the Community's reaction to our proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what additional burden on the United Kingdom balance of payments will be involved as a result of the recent decision by the European Economic Community Council of Ministers to raise agricultural prices in the next two years.

While the increase in agricultural prices in the Community would lead to an increase in the cost of our agricultural imports in the event of our joining the Communities, this would be offset by a fall in the volume of these imports as a result of marginal changes in United Kingdom output and consumption.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, whether he will seek to arrange with other applicant countries for membership of the European Economic Community an international referendum on entry, when the terms are known, for the guidance of the respective national parliaments.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made by Her Majesty's Government to the Government of the Irish Republic to stop the open recruiting and training of Republican gunmen in the Republic, and the collecting of money, to wage war in Northern Ireland.

None. But any exchanges on such matters would naturaly remain confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what approaches he proposes to make to the Government of the Irish Republic about the training for attacks on the security forces in Northern Ireland of Irish Republican Army provisionals in their territory, in view of the fact that a young Irish Republican Army volunteer from Belfast was shot dead at one of these training centres on Sunday, 4th April.

Her Majesty's Government remain in close contact with the Government of the Irish Republic on matters of common concern. The details of our exchanges must remain confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if the recent agreement on financing the Suez-Mediterranean oil pipeline has been followed by a speeding-up of the release of British-owned property seized in 1961, in accordance with the agreements of 1959 and 1967; and if he will make a statement.

There is nothing I can add at present to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend on 12th January. The recent decision to support British participation in the Suez-Mediterranean pipeline, while unconnected with sequestration matters, will, it is hoped, lead to a further strengthening in Anglo-Egyptian relations and in this way help to contribute towards a solution of outstanding problems.—[Vol. 809, c. 28–30.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the international discussions taking place on the emplacement of static weapons on the sea bed.

The Seabed Arms Control Treaty, banning the emplacement of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction on the seabed outside a 12-mile coastal zone, was negotiated in the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva, and was opened for signature on the 11th of February this year. Article V of the Seabed Treaty provides for continued negotiations concerning further measures in the field of disarmament for the prevention of an arms race on the seabed. We will of course play our full part in these negotiations in the Conference of the Committee on Disarmament in Geneva.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what requests he has received from the Government of Zambia for assistance with transport of goods and raw materials into and out of Zambia following the imposition of a blockade by the Portuguese Government; and what reply he has given.

I have had no such requests from the Government of Zambia.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements have been made under the new agreement with the Kenya Government to safeguard the rights of the Agricultural Settlement Trust farmers.

Their rights are safeguarded to the same extent as under the previous agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what action is proposed under the new agreement with the Kenya Government to assist compassionate farm cases of British nationals in Kenya.

Arrangements to enable certain British farms to be bought out on compassionate grounds came to an end after March, 1970. Under the new agreement, however, a grant of £250,000 has been allocated to deal with farms which for one reason or another cannot be properly maintained and managed by their British owners. These cases will be considered by a joint committee in Nairobi, composed of representatives of our High Commission and the Kenya Government.—[Vol. 787, c. 551.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on future aid to Lesotho.

Subject to the approval of Parliament, I have agreed to make available to the Government of Lesotho budgetary grants of up to £580,000 in 1971–72 and up to £600,000 in 1972–73. I have also agreed to make development grants of £1½ millions for each of the two years. This offer has been accepted by the Lesotho Government. I shall consider providing a limited amount of additional aid, within the limits imposed by the aid programme as a whole, if it appears that Lesotho can effectively absorb additional development funds. The full range of technical assistance, at present about £250,000 a year, will continue to be available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the percentage bed occupancy rate for pay beds in each of the hospitals containing these facilities in the area of the South-West Regional Hospital Board in the years 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970.

This information is not readily available as some 70 hospitals are involved, but I will write to the hon. Member and give him such information as can be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if, in his next visit to Scotland, he will seek a meeting with the Old-Age Pensions' Association to explain the policies of his Government.

My right hon. Friend explained our policies when he received a deputation from the National Association of Old Aged Associations, Scotland, Wales and Merseyside, last October.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people were on the waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery and for ear, nose and throat operations in the Leicester area, in each of the years from 1948 to 1970, inclusive.

Waiting lists in the Leicester area in the ear, nose and throat and orthopaedic surgery specialties on 31st December, in each of the last ten years were as follows:

		Ear, Nose and Throat Tonsils and Adenoids	Other	Orthopaedic Surgery
1961	…	967	659	368
1962	…	1,103	695	404
1963	…	1,168	408	441
1964	…	1,065	292	375
1965	…	1,765	281	445
1966	…	1,782	643	652
1967	…	1,815	749	529
1968	…	2,203	950	593
1969	…	2,689	1,291	737
1970	…	2,879	1,456	1,068

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what were the national costs, in clerical wages and other administrative charges, of checking for fraudulent claims for free prescriptions for each year since 1968; and, for each of these years, how many forms were checked, how many persons were found to be making fraudulent claims, what proportion this number was of the total claimants for this benefit, what penalties were imposed and how much money was recovered.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to him on 23rd February.—[Vol. 812, c. 100–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many people are on the waiting list for all types of operation at the Plymouth hospitals; and what is the average time of waiting.

The total waiting list in the Plymouth and District group of hospitals for the surgical specialties and gynaecology was 7,114 on 31st December, 1970; but not all of these patients may require operations. Waiting time varies according to the specialty and the circumstances of each case and an average figure is not available. Urgent cases are admitted without delay.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will arrange for the enumerators to be employed under the forthcoming census arrangements to be required to obtain information requisite to selective areas of the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

No. This would not have been practicable.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) how many terminal patients suffering from cancer were discharged from hospital or other institutions for the care of the sick in each of the years from 1953 to 1970, inclusive;(2) how many patients suffering from cancer were refused admission to hospitals or other institutions for the care of the sick, during each of the years from 1953 to 1970, inclusive, and how many of such patients were terminal patients.

I regret this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will institute an inquiry into the treatment of terminal patients suffering from cancer, for whom there is no room in hospitals or other institutions for the care of the sick.

I would refer the hon. Member to my right hon. Friend's reply to him on 6th April.—[Vol. 815, c. 67.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons aged 65 or above were treated as in-patients in hospitals in England and Wales in each of the years from 1965 to 1970, respectively.

The available information is as follows:

					Thousands
1965	…	…	…	…	818
1966	…	…	…	…	856
1967	…	…	…	…	873
1968	…	…	…	…	938

NOTES:(1) The figures are based on estimated discharges and deaths from non-psychiatric hospitals and admissions to psychiatric hospitals and units.(2) Figures for later years are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what proposals have been made for the introduction of private pay beds at the Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

My right hon. Friend has not at present received any proposals from the Regional Hospital Board.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he expects the Central Council for Education and Training in Social Work to begin its work; and if he will make a statement.

Most of the members-designate of the proposed Council have already been nominated by organisations named in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Newbury (Mr. Astor) on 18th December, 1970. The remaining members-designate, except a very few whose nomination must await the establishment of the nominating body, will be named shortly.I expect the first meeting of the members-designate to take place in a few weeks' time and hope that, subject to their advice and to the completion of the constitutional procedures mentioned in my

previous reply, the Council will be able to assume its statutory functions in the early autumn. I am glad to be able to announce that Sir Derman Christopherson, O.B.E., F.R.S., Vice-Chancellor of Durham University, has agreed that he will be willing, in due course, to accept the appointment of Chairman of the proposed Council.—[Vol. 808, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will amend the regulations so that unemployed persons are not discouraged from taking part in the work of the 1971 census; and how many days unemployment benefit would be lost by such persons.

The operation of the regulations to which my hon. Friend refers is under consideration. I understand that the independent determining authorities, who decide all claims for unemployment benefit, regard census enumerators as following an occupation and their earnings as accruing from 1st April to 10th May, inclusive, which will preclude the payment of unemployment benefit for any day in that period.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now enable husbands to go into Part III accommodation with their families.

Our policy, set out in Circulars 20/66 and 19/67, is that wherever possible husbands should remain with their families in temporary accommodation. I understand that, in Leicester, in the view of the County Borough Council, existing temporary accommodation does not permit this, but that suitable alternative accommodation is being sought as a matter of urgency.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether in close co-operation with the medical profession he is prepared to promote, and further develop, arrangements for making regular preventive examinations more readily available to the population in general, and particularly to those most at risk, and to introduce new examina- tions to allow an early diagnosis of degenerative diseases.

Regular health checks are carried out for selected groups at special risk, such as expectant and nursing mothers, babies and women considered to be at risk of developing cancer of the cervix.My right hon. Friend's Standing Medical Advisory Committee at present recommends that regular preventive examinations for the general public should be undertaken only for conditions which can be clearly and accurately dianosed and for which effective treatment is available but it has set up, jointly with its Scottish counterpart, a sub-committee to review and report on screening generally to ensure that the subject is given continuing and special attention.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will provide resources for research into the priority aspects of preventive medicine, with particular reference to universities and medical facilities.

A great deal of the research funds at my right hon. Friend's disposal are used for this purpose and I will send particulars to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why British residents of East European nationality displaced from States which have been incorporated into the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics by force are to be required to register as Soviet citizens in the 1971 Census; and whether he will now announce plans for such persons to register their ethnic nationality rather than citizenship of a régime which they do not recognise.

The Census of Population to be held on 25th April next is in no sense a registration of the population but a purely statistical inquiry. No questions are being asked on either race, nationality or citizenship, but the form requires the country of birth of each individual and the country of birth of his parents to be recorded.In order to obtain the information on a standard basis the public are being asked to enter the present name of the country in which their place of birth is now situated. There is however, no objection to persons born in identifiable countries now within the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics recording that country (e.g., Byelorussia, Ukraine, Latvia) as their own or their parents' country of birth.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry having regard to the prospective loss of £100 million by the British Steel Corporation during 1971, whether he will state the aggregate of profits, before tax, of the constituent companies of the steel industry in a corresponding year, approximately 10 years earlier and prior to the prospect of nationalisation.

The British Steel Corporation calculate that the aggregate trading profits of the 14 major steel companies for their varying financial years ending in the calendar year 1961 amounted to £104 million, after depreciation but before interest and taxation. This calculation is on the basis of the companies' individual practices in charging depreciation. The Corporation's financial outturn for 1971–72 is a subject of the review I announced on 18th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give an analysis of the appropriate figures of the British Steel Corporation showing the profits and losses in a comparable context from the period when steel was produced on a profitable basis up to the last figures available, and including the losses which have resulted in price increases and price increases foreshadowed.

The profits (losses) before tax, but after depreciation and interest, of the British Steel Corporation as recorded in its Annual Reports were:

£ million	£ million	£ million
1967–68*	1968–691†	1969–70‡
(21·3)	(21·9)	10·2
*18 month period. †12-month period.
‡6-month period.

For previous years I would refer my hon. Friend to the replies given today to the right hon. Member for Sheffield, Hills- borough (Mr. Darling) and the hon. Member for Cambridge (Mr. Lane). The Corporation's current financial situation is a subject of the review my right hon. Friend announced on 18th March.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will state respectively the turnover, profit, and the percentage return on capital employed of the steel companies and their subsidiaries which are now part of the British Steel Corporation, individually, and in total, for each of the five years before nationalisation, together with the comparable figures for each year since nationalisation.

It will take some time to extract the information sought by my hon. Friend and to put it on a comparable basis so far as this is possible. I will reply further as soon as I am in a position to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the total sum of profits or losses of the steel companies, now within the British Steel Corporation, in the financial year prior to nationalisation, calculated on the same basis for depreciation and other factors as in the Corporation's financial accounts, and compared with the most recent available figures.

The information in the precise form requested in the first part of the Question is not available to me, but the 14 major companies' aggregated trading profits in the financial year ending in 1967 was £23 million after depreciation on their own individual bases but before interest and tax. The latest audited figures in its last Annual Report and Accounts for the 26-week period from September, 1969, to March, 1970, show that the British Steel Corporation made a profit of £26·2 million before tax and interest but after depreciation on the Corporation's present bases.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he is proposing to take to protect United Kingdom industry from the full impact of the higher oil prices recently agreed with the oil-producing countries.

Oil prices are a matter for the companies. I look to competition in the oil supply industry to protect consumer interests.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many firms, having employees in the County Borough of Warley, have gone bankrupt in the last year; and what is his estimate of the number of redundancies which ensued.

Comprehensive information is not available. I understand, however, that, when one particular business carried on in the County Borough of Warley ceased in October, 1970, there were 60 redundancies among its employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement regarding the grounding of the tanker "Panther" on the Goodwin Sands, and detail the measures the Government had in readiness to prevent pollution and what steps are now to be taken to protect amenities to the coast line.

The Liberian-registered tanker "Panther", loaded with some 25,000 tons of crude oil, grounded on the South Goodwin Sands, outside United Kingdom territorial waters, on 30th March. Early efforts to refloat the ship were unsuccessful but after being lightened of some of her cargo she was refloated on 4th April and has since proceeded to the Netherlands.Immediately upon hearing of the grounding, the Department activated its standing arrangements for dealing with any oil pollution which might result. Vessels equipped for spraying operations were in position at Dover by the following day and they went into operation as soon as significant quantities of oil were observed on the sea, which was on 2nd April.Some oil, which has not yet been identified as coming from the "Panther", contaminated beaches during the incident and was cleared up by local authorities, which also took action to disperse oil floating close inshore.We are continually reviewing our contingency planning so as to make improvement in the light of any incident. One immediate step which I am taking is to seek powers in the Oil in Navigable Waters Bill to put beyond doubt our right to take action when, as a result of an accident, oil pollution of our coasts is threatened by a foreign ship lying outside our territorial waters.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement regarding the salvage operation of the tanker "Panther" grounded upon the Goodwin Sands and, in particular, by what authority Her Majesty's Government intervenes in international waters when disagreements arise between salvage operators.

The German tug "Danzig" was first on the scene of the casualty and, in accordance with longstanding maritime practice, took charge of the salvage operations. During the early stages of the operation, the "Danzig" refused to accept assistance from some of the other tugs which were present, but the disagreements were eventually resolved. The Government throughout pressed the owners strongly to have the tanker lightened as quickly as possible. We are seeking power, by an Amendment to the Oil in Navigable Waters Bill, to extend to foreign ships on the high seas the powers provided in the Bill to give directions as to the salvage of a ship or to take direct action, as respects the ship and its cargo, for preventing or reducing oil pollution.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps Her Majesty's Government have taken to urge other countries to ratify the 1969 Brussels Convention relating to intervention in cases of emergency where there has been oil pollution from the high seas, and whether this will be pursued with the powers concerned as a matter of urgency.

Her Majesty's Government take every suitable opportunity of drawing the attention of other countries to the desirability of ratifying the Convention and will continue to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Her Majesty's Government will now extend territorial waters to a distance of 12 miles or some other suitable extension so that in future the Goodwin Sands will be within territorial waters and the interests of the coast line may thereby be safeguarded.

The mere extension of territorial waters would not necessarily have the desired effect of safeguarding the coastline. Such extension also raises other issues including our interest in the free movement of international trade world wide.The question of territorial limits is best approached multilaterally, and we are

					LANDING		TAKE-OFF
					Day	Night*	Day	Night*
1968	…	…	…	…	106,464	8,018	107,171	7,552
1969	…	…	…	…	109,847	8,518	111,312	7,301
1970	…	…	…	…	115,282	7,755	116,241	7,169
* Night equals 11.30 p.m. to 6 a.m. local time.

Other movements in 1968, 1969 and 1970 were 18,805, 22,388 and 24,252, respectively, for which, however, no corresponding time analysis is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects to complete his survey of scrap supplies for steel works; and if he is now able to state when he intends to remove export controls on domestic scrap and provide a free market for scrap processors.

A study of short-term demand has been completed; work is proceeding on a review of the long-term position. Poorer qualities of steel scrap were freed from export controls on 29th March. The Scrap Federation's request for further relaxation of controls is being considered urgently.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how much steelworks scrap in tonnage and value was imported from the United States of America in the first three months of this

Product	United Kingdom	West Germany	France	Italy	Belgium	Netherlands	Luxembourg
Billets	100	117	109	100	120	—	92
Medium Plates	100	123	126	114	111	102	124
Heavy Plates	100	135	132	120	129	119	—
Beams	100	—	132	133	—	—	143
Steel for Reinforcement	100	100	97	98	91	93	104
Hot Rolled Strip	100	101	97	95	97	102	101
Hot Rolled Coil	100	107	104	103	97	87	—