asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will now make a statement concerning local radio coverage in Worcestershire, having regard to the fact that the nearest stations at the present time are Radio Birmingham, which does not cover central, western and southern Worcestershire, and Radio Oxford, which similarly does not cover southern Worcestershire, and on what date he expects to furnish the local radio coverage stated.

The disposition of its stations will be a matter for the I.B.A. to consider in the first place; and obviously it will be some time before it is able to formulate its plans.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will issue a general direction to the Post Office to redesign the new stamps, in order that they may be more easily distinguished from those in use before decimalisation.

This is in the first instance for the Post Office but the old stamps are no longer being issued so that any risk of confusion with the new should be short-lived.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications when he will introduce legislation to implement his White Paper on Commercial Radio.

Not before the next Session of Parliament.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to remedy the shortage of decimalised coin boxes.

No. This is the responsibility of the Post Office. I understand that by the middle of March 98 per cent. of all coin boxes had been converted to decimal coins and the programme is now virtually complete.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will now make a statement on the precise assessed losses due to the postal strike, and how he proposes to re-finance the Corporation in respect of overall losses entailed and provisionally estimated at £20 million.

The House approved a borrowings order before Easter. I cannot improve on my hon. Friend's estimate of the overall loss.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make available further resources to the British Broadcasting Corporation in order that the low power 625-line booster station building programme can be accelerated.

No. The programme depends on technical as well as on financial resources. I have just announced an increase in the licence fee to allow the B.B.C. among other things to continue to extend the U.H.F. television services as fast as is practicable.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will estimate the loss to the Post Office resulting from the growing practice of commercial concerns despatching circulars and other printed material from the Continent of Europe for distribution in the United Kingdom, thereby obtaining the advantage of lower postal rates.

This is primarily a matter for the Post Office, which tells me that, while no precise estimate is available, it proposes to combat this problem by revising and strengthening the relevant postal regulations from 1st July, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress he expects to make in the Common Market negotiations at the May meetings; and how, given satisfactory future progress, he envisages the approximate timetable until the United Kingdom is able to join the European Economic Community.

We have suggested to the Community that it is entirely reasonable and possible that we should reach agreement on the main issues at or shortly after the Ministerial meetings on 11th and 12th May. If the back of the negotiations is successfully broken by the end of the summer, and subject to the approval of this House, the Treaty of Accession might be ready for signature by January, 1972, and enter into effect, after ratification, by January, 1973.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will undertake to issue a White Paper on the progress of the Common Market negotiations before July, setting out the advantages of joining the European Economic Community if equitable terms be obtained.

No. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy has made regular statements in this House on the progress of the negotiations. Her Majesty's Government are also issuing Factsheets about the negotiations for entry and about the implications for us if we join the Communities.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if the negotiations for the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community are successful on other terms, whether Her Majesty's Government will accept the principles of the European Development Fund; and what change in the level of United Kingdom aid overseas they expect to flow from that decision.

As a member of the enlarged Community, Britain would natur- ally expect to be discussing in 1973 a new association arrangement, to succeed the Yaoundé Convention. This would probably involve a British contribution to a fourth European Development Fund. Such a contribution would fall within the levels of the official aid programme, as determined in advance, in the course of the annual reviews of public expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the nature of the communication received from the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics relating to Great Britain's negotiations to join the European Economic Community; and what view is expressed.

We have received no communication from the Soviet Government about our negotiations for entry into the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the event of Her Majesty's Government being unable to obtain satisfactory terms of entry into the European Economic Community, he will lay before Parliament a White Paper setting out the circumstances of this failure.

We do not anticipate failure.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will make a statement on Great Britain's policy on the question of the status of sterling as placed on the agenda at the Brussels discussions held on Thursday, 18th March.

I have nothing to add to what I said on sterling in the debate in this House on 21st January and in answer to Questions on 22nd March. The discussions on this subject in Brussels on 18th March took place in a meeting of the Permanent Representatives to the European Economic Community, the proceedings of which were confidential.—[Vol. 809, c. 1405–6; Vol. 814, c. 6–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs to what extent during the present negotiations in Brussels for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community the French are still persisting in their demand that Great Britain cannot join the European Economic Community as long as sterling is retained as a world reserve currency; and what is Her Majesty's Government's attitude to this demand.

Her Majesty's Government are negotiating with the Communities and not with individual member Governments. In the opening statement on 30th June last year on behalf of the Communities reference was made to discussions with the United Kingdom on certain special questions relating to economic monetary and financial problems. There is nothing new or surprising in a member State raising questions in this field. I have at present nothing to add to what I said on sterling in the debate in this House on 21st January, and in answer to Questions on 22nd March.—[Vol. 809, c. 1405–6; Vol. 814, c. 6–8]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has now received the counter offer from the countries of the Six to Great Britain's offer of 3 per cent. towards the Community budget; to what extent at the forthcoming discussions, to be held in May, Her Majesty's Government are prepared to improve their offer; and whether he will make a statement.

No. We await the Community's reaction to our proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during the forthcoming discussions to be held in May with representatives of the Six, he will invite representatives from the Commonwealth countries to be affected by the negotiations to attend in an advisory and consultative capacity.

No. The negotiations are between Her Majesty's Government and the European Communities. Her Majesty's Government remain in the closest touch with their Commonwealth partners.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in view of the new proposals to increase food prices in the Euro- pean Economic Community by a further 10 per cent., he will reconsider Her Majesty's Government's policy of using the Post Office for distributing literature in favour of United Kingdom entry into the European Economic Community.

No. I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. David Stoddart) on 24th March.—[Vol. 814, c. 138–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on what date he received a communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, sent under the date of 5th April, together with the April 1971 Newsletter from the Anti-Common Market League; what was the nature of this newsletter; and what was the nature of his reply.

I received this letter on 6th April. The newsletter contained references to points arising in the United Kingdom's negotiations with the European Economic Community, to food prices, and to a referendum on entry. As the hon. Member will be aware, my letter date 14th April provided a point-by-point reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, as the European Movement and/or its predecessors received grants-in-aid of £2,500 per annum from 1964 to 1967 and £7,500 per annum subsequently, why he will not make similar grants available to the Keep Britain Out of Europe Committee.

The Government cannot be expected to provide grants for an organisation whose declared aim is to oppose a major objective of Government policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, in view of the wage increases in 1970 of 14 per cent. on average in the European Economic Community, 18 per cent. in Italy, and 15 per cent. in Germany, which, if harmonised with United Kingdom wage rates, would accelerate the rate of inflation, why he will not withdraw the application to join the European Economic Community.

There is no provision in Community legislation for the harmonisation of pay settlements or wage rates, and I see no reason on these or other grounds for the withdrawal of our application to join the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in addition to the grant-in-aid of £7,500 per annum, he gives help and support to the European Movement, in particular by information for its publicity in the national Press; and whether he will afford the same facilities to the Keep Britain Out Committee.

The European Movement, in common with many individuals and organisations holding differing views on Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, writes to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with requests for information relating to our negotiations for entry to the European Communities. Every effort is made to reply to such letters.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, requesting detailed answers to a number of queries concerning the effects of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on any known terms; when the hon. Member may expect his reply to this communication; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes. My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State replied on 15th April, providing detailed answers in a form suitable for transmission to the hon. Member's constituents.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, during Great Britain's negotiations with the European Economic Community on possible terms of entry, he will request the countries of the Six to contribute towards the costs of protection of the sea routes from the Far East and round the Cape of Good Hope, which are now being borne by British public funds.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will obtain during Her Majesty's Government's negotiations in Brussels particulars from the countries of the Six of the extent and limits of state insurance schemes and private insurance and publish these details in the OFFICIAL REPORT, together with an estimate of how the British insurance industry will be affected on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community on known terms of entry.

If in the first part of his Question the hon. Member has in mind Community legislation in the field of insurance, the Community has agreed one directive relating to re-insurance which would be acceptable to British insurance. The Commission of the Communities is also preparing draft directives on other insurance matters, including freedom of establishment in non-life insurance.We are studying the implications of these draft directives for the British insurance industry and are in touch with British insurers about them.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in view of the difficulties regarding negotiations in oil supplies and increases in prices, if he will now seek to amend the proposal of one year's transitional period for entering the European Coal and Steel Community.

The transitional arrangements for entry into the European Coal and Steel Community will not be determined by the oil supply situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to commission further studies of the activities of the Special Operations Executive in the Second World War; and whether he will make a statement on the future of the series.

A volume of the official History of the Second World War entitled "S.O.E. in France" was published in 1966. No decision has been taken whether to commission any further volume, although the matter is kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the relative cost of living for those European countries with United Kingdom Diplomatic Missions with a base of 100 for the United Kingdom and a similar table on the basis of the allowance paid to members of the Diplomatic Service under Vote II.1 A.4 and A.5, in so far as they relate to the cost of living in those countries.

The method of calculating the local allowances of Diplomatic Service Staff serving overseas is based not on a comparison between cost of living indexes, but on the application of local prices to an approved list of requirements substantially the same in all places but varying in detail from post to post according to local conditions, and thus not directly comparable. The system does not call for a similar pricing of the budget in the United Kingdom.The representational allowances of Diplomatic Service Staff covered by Vote II.A.5 are calculated in relation to requirements for official entertainment. They vary according to the post and duties of individual officers and there is no common basis on which they can be related, either to each other or to any United Kingdom standard.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many of Her Majesty's representatives abroad are supplied with official cars of foreign manufacture.

Only Her Majesty's representatives abroad who are heads of missions (that is ambassadors, high commissioners and their equivalents, permanent representatives and heads of important delegations) are supplied with official cars for their own use; all of these cars are of British manufacture.Her Majesty's Government supply other vehicles for the official use of embassies, high commissions, etc., and these are almost all British, although at Washington, New York and Rio de Janeiro some American station-wagons are used. At Washington and New York these American vehicles are better suited for the heavy work required of them because of their size, and because they can be easily and economically maintained. In Brazil, security considerations make it advisable not to use British vehicles which are conspicuous there.Security considerations in some other countries, particularly the danger of kidnapping, require policy for the supply of official motor cars to overseas posts to be kept under constant review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he last had official discussions with the Dutch Foreign Minister, when he expects to have fresh discussions and what subjects he intends to raise.

My right hon. Friend last had the pleasure of meeting Dr. Luns in Edinburgh on 11th March. My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is attending today's meeting of the Council of the Western European Union in the Hague and will tomorrow have discussions with Netherlands Ministers, notably Dr. Luns, on matters of common interest.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why he will not state the reasons for the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster's official visit to Paris on Saturday, 27th March; and why he will not make a statement on his discussions with the British Ambassador to France which took place during this visit.

The visit was made for the purpose of discussions with Her Majesty's Ambassador in Paris. The discussions during the visit were confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will cease the present practice whereby his Department keeps under constant review the prices and charges for which he has responsibility, and initiate a system of monthly reviews of such prices and charges to enable him to show from month to month to what extent since June, 1970, the Government's policy of reducing prices and costs is operating so far as it affects his departmental responsibilities; and whether he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Attorney-General if he will now consider the publication of a White Paper setting out the constitutional and legal implications for Great Britain involved in signing the Treaty of Rome.

No. These implications were fully described in a White Paper published in May, 1967. There have been developments in the European Communities since then but these were implicit in the situation as it existed in 1967. Nothing has happened since then to invalidate the broad conclusions reached in the White Paper.

asked the Attorney-General whether, in view of the number of cases now coming before the courts concerning political matters, he will discontinue the practice of appointing as chairmen and deputy chairmen of quarter sessions, recorderships and other judicial offices, Members of Parliament and others who take part in day-to-day party political activities, to ensure that there can be no charge of political prejudice.

No.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will publish in HANSARD as full and detailed a statement as may be readily available giving the names and positions of persons other than members, holding stated judicial appointments who were on appointment, or are now, actively concerned with party political activities; and whether he will take action to ensure that a limitation is placed upon such appointments in the future.

No.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as full and detailed a list as may be readily available, going back for 12 months or the longest convenient period of time, whichever is the longer, the number of judges, county court magistrates, recorders, and stipendiary magistrates and others in a judicial position who have to award sentences, who, other than Members of Parliament, were prior to their appointment known to be active in party political affairs, giving the party on whose behalf political activity was carried out.

No.

asked the Attorney-General (1) to what extent the Recorder of Cardiff has, in addition to his £9,000 per annum salary as a National Insurance Commissioner, any tax free allowance from the £300 per annum and £30 per sitting day as paid for his Recorder-ship; and whether he has to meet the costs of his secretary's salary and all other expenses incurred from these allowances;(2) to what extent the £35 per sitting day as paid to the Deputy Chairman of the Essex County Quarter Sessions is on a tax free basis; and whether he has to meet the costs of his secretary and all other expenses incurred from these allowances;(3) to what extent the £200 per annum and £29 per day sitting allowance paid to the Recorder of Colchester is on a tax free basis; and whether he has to meet the costs of his secretary's salary and all other expenses incurred from these allowances;

All remuneration and allowances payable to a recorder or a chairman or deputy chairman of quarter sessions are subject to taxation.Chairmen and deputy chairmen of quarter sessions are entitled, in certain circumstances, to claim travelling and subsistence allowances. There is no statutory provision for reimbursing them or recorders in respect of any other expenses which they may incur.Where a person holds office as a recorder and also as chairman or deputy chairman of one or more quarter sessions he can, of course, claim remuneration at the prescribed rates in respect of the judicial duties he performs in each of these several offices.The Recorder of Cardiff, to whom the hon. Member refers in Question 37, is not a National Insurance Commissioner.The Deputy Chairman of the Bedfordshire Quarter Sessions, to whom the hon. Member refers in Question 42, receives £35 per sitting day, but not £300 per annum; I regret that my Answer of the 22nd March was incorrect in this respect.—[Vol. 814, c.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time full and detailed information of the names and dates when justices of the peace have committed a misdemeanour for which they have been sentenced, or have voluntarily admitted to an error of judgment or action liable to conflict with their magisterial duties; and in how many of these cases they have been suspended and/or barred from sitting again in any case subsequent to the misdemeanour.

No. To collect the information required would require a quite disproportionate amount of time, labour and expense and my noble Friend does not consider that the interests of justice would be served by publishing lists of this kind.

asked the Attorney-General if he will now take steps to reduce legal costs.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to his Question of 5th April.—[Vol. 815, c. 51.]

asked the Attorney-General whether he is now able to announce the total and all inclusive costs of the recent secrets case trial and the costs leading up to the trial.

The prosecution costs were £5,816 7s. 11d.The taxing master is still awaiting bills from the defence solicitors; no further figures can be obtained until the defence deliver their bills.

asked the Attorney-General if he will enumerate and list the Statutes, under which Statutory Instruments now require Parliamentary action, which would be superseded by the United Kingdom's entry to the European Economic Community.

The extent to which the laws of the United Kingdom would require modification in the event of our accession to the Treaty of Rome is at present under close examination. It is too early to list the statutes affected.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will cease the present practice whereby his Department keep under constant review the prices and charges for which he has responsibility, and initiate a system of monthly reviews of such prices and charges to enable him to show from month to month to what extent since June, 1970, the Government's policy of reducing prices and costs is operating so far as it affects his departmental responsibilities; and whether he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will take whatever action may prove necessary to ensure that in 1972, when any person is charged with offences, either connected with the Industrial Relations Bill or matters connected with industrial misdemeanours, as where the person charged is known to be an active trades unionist or shop steward, the case is not heard or judged by Alderman Peter Ross, a justice of the peace of Worthing.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor has already fully dealt with this matter on the lines indicated in my answer of 23rd March.—[Vol. 814, c. 81–82.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what has been the annual value of young trees and other plant material imported by the National Coal Board in each of the past five years; what was the corresponding value of National Coal Board purchases from suppliers in the United Kingdom in the same years; and what estimate he has made of the probable totals for the current year.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the amount of solid fuel imported since the beginning of 1971; how much more it is expected will be imported during the rest of the year; and to what extent the change in the economic situation has affected the need to import such fuel.

There were 692,000 tons of coal, coke and briquettes imported during January and February, 1971. The figures for March will be published on 29th April. I do not intend to speculate about the future level of imports, which is a matter for the importers themselves.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what representations he has received from the Northern Economic Planning Council and the Teesside Regional Organisation for industrial development on the designation of Teesside as a special development area; and if he will make a statement.

Both bodies have expressed the view that Teesside should be regarded as a special development area. Given the needs of other areas with more pressing problems, I do not think such an extension of the special development areas would be justified at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he proposes to take to enable companies registered in the United Kingdom which have subsidiaries in Rhodesia to obtain supplies of raw materials, such as asbestos, from that country to enable them to resume manufacturing for the home and export market, and to make available the capital which is frozen there.

The matters to which my hon. Friend refers cannot be separated from the general policy of sanctions, which are applied under mandatory resolutions of the Security Council of the United Nations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest estimate of the cost to the United Kingdom balance of payments of imported magazines, travel brochures and similar material printed abroad for United Kingdom commercial concerns.

The import statistics do not distinguish material printed abroad for United Kingdom commercial concerns.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware of the growing practice of people and firms evading their responsibilities in registering under the Registration of Business Names Act; whether he will state, for the longest convenient period of time, the number of such reports of evasion made to his Department; what action he takes to ensure that registration is taking place; and how many prosecutions for evasion were undertaken for the most recent, and longest, stated period of time conveniently available.

The number of complaints about failure to register was 114 in 1968, 136 in 1969 and 179 in 1970. On receipt of a complaint, the individual or company concerned is approached in writing, and if this attempt to secure compliance fails, an investigating officer calls. Where these attempts to secure compliance fail, the Department considers prosecution. The number of prosecutions was nil in 1968, 1 in 1969 and 1 in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimate he has made of the extent to which, under known conditions of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, entry of carpets made in the countries of the Six into Great Britain will affect British production; and to what extent British-made carpet prices would have to be reduced to harmonise with the prices as charged in the countries of the Six.

It is impossible to quantify the effect of the two-way increase in carpet trade which entry into the E.E.C. would bring. But the British carpet industry has made clear that it is ready to face the challenge of entry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the figures for the imports of chickens and rabbits, respectively, from China for each of the last five years.

There were no imports of chickens from China. Rabbits are not separately distinguished in the trade statistics but imports of rabbit meat were 7,385 tons in 1970; figures for the previous years are published in Volume II of the Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom for the relevant years.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the value in the last 12 months of musical instruments, in particular glockenspiels and xylophones, imported into the United Kingdom.

Imports of musical instruments are given in Table III of the Overseas Trade Statistics; glockenspiels and xylophones are not separately distinguished.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what is the present membership of the Transport Aircraft Requirements Committee; and on how many occasions it has met in the last 12 months.

I have been asked to reply.There has been no recent change in representation on the Committee: it includes members from the major airframe and engine companies, the nationalised and independent airlines, Government Departments, the Air Registration Board, the Aeronautical Research Council and the Society of British Aerospace Companies. The Committee has met three times since 1st April, 1970.

asked the Minister of Aviation Supply what was the annual expenditure from public funds on research into reduced take-off and landing techniques in each of the past five years; and what are the estimated corresponding sums spent by the British aircraft manufacturing industry.

I have been asked to reply.There has been no expenditure from public funds for this specific purpose in the past five years, although some of the studies on V/STOL undertaken by the Ministry of Aviation Supply and the Ministry of Technology could be relevant to it. I have no estimates of the sums British industry has spent on similar work.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between every Department of State, and in particular Education and Science, Trade and Industry, and Defence, in the preparation of the White Paper on metrication; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. There has been extensive consultation between all Departments concerned with the preparation of the White Paper, which will he published shortly.

asked the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster whether he will cease the present practice whereby his Department keeps under constant review the prices and charges for which he has responsibility and initiate a system of monthly reviews of such prices and charges to enable him to show from month to month to what extent since June, 1970, the Government's policy of reducing prices and costs is operating so far as it affects his Departmental responsibilities; and whether he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what were the numbers of non-industrial civil servants employed on 1st June, 1970, and 1st April, 1971, respectively.

The number was 494,980 on 1st June, 1970. The figure for 1st April, 1971, is not yet available.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many computers there are in Government service.

Excluding computers costing less than £10,000, at 31st March, 1971, there were 199 digital computers in use in Government Departments; 114 for administrative and general purposes and 85 for scientific and technical purposes.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how much he estimates it would cost the Royal Engineers to demolish the Government building known as the Admiralty Citadel.

This information is not available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the five-Power talks on the defence of Malaysia and Singapore held on 15th and 16th April.

Ministers of Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and this country met in London on 15th and 16th April and agreed upon the main framework of the five-Power defence arrangements which will come into effect on 1st November, 1971. The meeting also gave approval to the establishment of the integrated air defence system on 1st September, 1971, and the establishment of an Air Defence Council to be responsible for its functioning. They agreed that a council should be set up for the purpose of regular consultation at the senior official level on matters relating to the defence arrangements.The text of the communique issued after the meeting is as follows:1. Ministers of the Governments of Australia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore and the United Kingdom met in London on 15th and 16th April, 1971, in order to consider matters of common interest to all five Governments relating to the external defence of Malaysia and Singapore.2. The Ministers of the five Governments affirmed, as the basic principles of their discussions, their continuing determination to work together for peace and stability, their respect for the sovereignty, political independence and territorial integrity of all countries, and their belief in the settlement of all international disputes by peaceful means in accord- ante with the principles of the United Nations Charter.3. In the context of their Government's determination to continue to co-operate closely in defence arrangements which are based on the need to regard the defence of Malaysia and Singapore as indivisible, the Ministers noted with gratification the development of the defence capability of Malaysia and Singapore, to which the other three Governments had given assistance, and the decisions of the Governments of Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom, which had been welcomed by the other two Governments, to continue to station forces there after the end of 1971.4. In discussing the contribution which each of the five Governments would make to defence arrangements in Malaysia and Singapore, the Ministers noted the view of the United Kingdom Government that the nature of its commitment under the Anglo-Malaysian Defence Agreement required review and that that Agreement should be replaced by new political arrangements. They declared that their Governments would continue to co-operate, in accordance with their respective policies, in the field of defence after the termination of the Agreement on 1st November, 1971.5. The Ministers also declared, in relation to the external defence of Malaysia and Singapore, that in the event of any form of armed attack externally organised or supported or the threat of such attack against Malaysia or Singapore, their Governments would immediately consult together for the purpose of deciding what measures should be taken jointly or separately in relation to such attack or threat.6. The Ministers reviewed the progress made regarding the establishment of the new defence arrangements. In particular:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest available unemployment figures for each of the regions of the United Kingdom, and the number of persons under the age of 18 years old unemployed in these regions.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, in view of unemployment which exists among chefs of British origin, he will consider reducing the number of work permits granted to those from Europe.

Permits are issued only for experienced foreign chefs where suitable British labour is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the 20,396 people on the professional and executive register as unemployed in December, 1970, were over 50 years of age, and how many were under; and for both these categories, how many had been on the register for up to three months, four to six months, seven to 12 months, 13 to 24 months, and over 24 months, respectively.

I regret that the information is not available. The first analysis of this kind was made in February, 1970. A second analysis relating to the position on 3rd March. 1971, is now being completed, but final information will not be available until early May.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will set up a departmental committee of inquiry into the problems of young persons from outlying areas seeking skilled work, with particular reference to transport difficulties.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will request the Office of Manpower Economics to undertake a study of the remuneration and efficiency of management in the car manufacturers' industry.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will withhold consent from the proposal of the Distributive Industry Training Board to increase its annual levy by 80 per cent., in view of the need to prevent cost inflation in the distributive trade.

My right hon. Friend has not yet received the board's levy proposals for 1971–72. He will have regard to all relevant considerations before coming to a decision on them.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment on how many occasions, and with whom, he has had official discussions outside the Government, concerning the Code of Industrial Relations Practice, so far as the trades unions' views are concerned, since the publication of his Bill on Industrial Relations and since 1st April, 1971, respectively; with what results; and whether he will make a statement.

No such discussions have taken place.My right hon. Friend proposes to publish a consultative document on the code shortly, and to invite comment on it from all interested parties, including the trade unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of unemployed men and women, respectively, in the Easington constituency at the latest available date; and how these numbers compare with the national averages on a percentage basis.

At 5th April, 1971, 1,694 males and 191 females were registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Peterlee and Wingate employment exchanges, which approximates broadly to the Easington constituency. Percentage rates of unemployment were 9·1 for males and 2·6 for females. The corresponding rates for Great Britain were 4·6 and 1·4. The figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a statement about the intended closure of the Department of Architecture at the North-East London Polytechnic by the Royal Institute of British Architects.

The School of Architecture at the North-East London Polytechnic is one of those "listed" by the Royal Institute of British Architects to prepare students for the Institute's external examinations. This is distinct from the category of schools whose courses and examinations are "recognised" by the R.I.B.A. for exemption from the examinations of the Institute. I understand that the R.I.B.A. wishes to discontinue the category of "listed" school but to consider the future status of the schools within it later this year when the Institute's visiting board has been to each, including the North-East London Polytechnic. Questions of "listed" and "recognised" status for schools of architecture are matters for the R.I.B.A. My right hon. Friend, for her part, has no intention of withdrawing her approval of the course so long as it remains viable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to repeal those Sections of the Transport Act, 1968, which allow local authorities to use surplus revenue from parking meters to subsidise public transport instead of to provide off-street parking.

My right hon. Friend has no plans to introduce such legislation at present.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the frequency of the damage by large vehicles, what early steps he proposes to take to protect the Strand Gate on the Folkestone-Honiton trunk road at Winchelsea.

A through route avoiding Strand Gate is already sign-posted, and recently the problem has been discussed in detail with the mayor and the chairman of the parish council. If it proves possible to make the proposed Order changing the trunk route, it will be in the power of the county council to ban large vehicles from the Strand Gate route.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department is carrying out into the production of a hand-portable noise meter for checking noise emissions from motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

None; but I am considering what further steps may be necessary to ensure adequate enforcement of the Regulations concerning the emission of noise from vehicle engines.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department is engaged in to produce a hand-portable smoke meter for checking exhaust emissions from motor vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

My Department is not currently engaged in research to develop such a smoke meter.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what inquiries are made before licences are issued for the possession of shotguns; and whether, in view of the recent case in which a 17-year-old schizophrenic was permitted to purchase a repeater shotgun for the purpose of killing a girl acquaintance, he will give instructions for more stringent inquires to be made before such licences are issued.

The issue of a shotgun certificate is a matter for the chief officer of police. Under the Firearms Act, 1968, he must grant a certificate unless he has reason to believe that the applicant is prohibited by the Act from possessing a shotgun or cannot be allowed to do so without danger to the public safety or to the peace; and it is his responsibility to decide what inquiries, either by interview or by a search of records, should be made in any particular case. In the case to which my right hon. Friend refers, the police knew of no reason to refuse a certificate.The control of all kinds of firearms is under review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why he intends to discriminate between Greater London and the rest of the country in granting certificates of consent for general gaming for the next period of licensing starting on 1st June, 1972, and what consideration he gave to the demand for a club from places such as Wembley, in which a club was formerly patronised by a clientele from a wide area.

The principle of concentrating gaming facilities applies equally to London and to other parts of the country. This object would be frustrated if clubs were allowed to open in any part of the Greater London Council area; and I thought it right to confine them to the central entertainment area.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will provide in the Finance Bill that no one who was due to benefit from a reduction in income tax under the Income and Corporation Taxes (No. 2) Act, 1970, or under his recent Budget proposals, will have that benefit nullified by the proposed increase in national insurance contributions.

No. The increased contributions are necessary to finance the proposed increases in National Insurance benefits.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will arrange to issue a 25p cupro-nickel coin in 1973 to commemorate the silver wedding of Her Majesty the Queen.

It is too early to decide on possible commemorative coins for 1973 but I will bear my hon. Friend's suggestion in mind.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) in the latest year for which the information is available, what was the number of close trading companies;(2) how many close trading companies were covered by the survey carried out by his Department in the year ended 30th June, 1970; if he will give a breakdown of the issued share capital and profits before tax; and if he will make a statement;(3) on the basis of his review of close trading companies covering the year ended 30th June, 1970, what is his estimate of the total number of close trading companies paying dividends and of the total of those dividends;(4) on the basis of his review of close trading companies covering the year ended 30th June, 1970, what is his estimate of numbers of companies with profits in the ranges nil, nil to £100, £100-£1,500, £1,50045,000, £5,000-£9,000, £9,000-£15,000, and above £15,000, respectively.

The review carried out by the Inland Revenue was designed to yield information only about companies subject to shortfall, and does not provide an adequate basis for all the information which the hon. Member seeks. About 25,000 close trading companies were included in the review; their total distributable income—after tax—amounted to £250 million: information about their issued share capital is not available. For the year ended 31st October, 1970, the total number of close companies was estimated to be approximately 215,000 but it is not known how many of these were trading companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what provision at present is being made in Norwich and Norfolk for hostel accommodation for mentally handicapped patients; and what proportion of the cost of this provision is to be met from the funds of the local authority and what proportion by the regional hospital board.

Norfolk County Council has at present one hostel of 25 places for adults and one of 12 places for children, and plans to provide two further adult hostels with a total of 50 places and two further children's hostels with a total of 36 places in the next three years. Norwich County Borough has no hostel provision, and none is planned. The regional hospital board has two hostel-type units in the Norwich area with a total of 109 places for adults: it has no immediate plans for additional places. My Department is to have early discussions with the Norwich County Borough and the regional hospital board on their mental health services.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what cuts and economies have been ordered in the proposed staffing of the outpatients department at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital.

The original estimates of running costs for the new diagnostic and treatment block (which includes an outpatient department) at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital were modified by the regional hospital board and the hospital management committee after discussions with my Department. Some proposed increases in staff were reduced after taking into account the transfer into the new block of some existing services, and the overall staffing requirements of the hospital, but no reductions of services were involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how long it takes a patient, after being referred from his general practitioner, to see a physical medicine consultant at the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital outpatients department; and how long it is after the consultant has ordered physiotherapy that treatment can start.

Waiting time depends upon the urgency of the case. Very urgent cases are seen and treated without delay. Others may have to wait up to five weeks before seeing the consultant and up to eight weeks before treatment starts.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many patients at present in full-time care at Little Plumstead Hospital are fit enough to live in hostels.

Last year medical staff estimated that there were 166 such patients in hospitals of the Little Plum-stead Group. Separate figures are not available for Little Plumstead Hospital alone.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the current average cost to public funds per year of maintaining a patient in a National Health Service hospital.

Costs are prepared and collected by type of hospital, and an overall average cost of maintaining a patient in a National Health Service hospital is not calculated. The figure for acute hospitals in 1969–70 was £2,839.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the usual daily charge for occupation of a private bed in a National Health Service hospital.

The charge varies between different types of hospital. For a single room in an acute non-teaching hospital, the patient making his own arrangements for private medical treatment, the daily charge is £10·10.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total annual running cost of Doncaster Royal Infirmary, and the average cost per bed per day of occupancy.

In 1969–70 the total running cost was £2,162,024, and the aver-

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many beds are provided in the Doncaster Royal Infirmary; and how many of these have not yet been brought into use.

The figures are 804; 44.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the total cost of building and equipping the new Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

The total cost of redeveloping Doncaster Royal Infirmary, including improvements to those existing buildings which have been retained, was £7,528,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what was the capital cost per bed of the Doncaster Royal Infirmary.

The capital cost per bed at Doncaster Royal Infirmary including beds in upgraded buildings was £9,590.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the present waiting period, analysed by speciality, for admission into the Doncaster Royal Infirmary;(2) what is the number of persons awaiting admission to the Doncaster Royal Infirmary, in total, and analysed by speciality.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average gross remuneration of senior consultants in the National Health Service.

The average gross National Health Service remuneration of all consultants—whole-time and part-time—in England and Wales is approximately £5,550; if the whole time equivalent of these consultants is taken, this would give a notional average of £6,800. There is no definition of "senior consultant" on the basis of which average remuneration could be calculated.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of occupancy of beds in National Health Service hospitals.

The latest figure is for 1969, when occupancy was 83·7 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the rate of occupancy of private pay beds in National Health Service hospitals.

The latest figure is for 1969, when occupancy by paying patients was 59·7 per cent. The beds may in addition be occupied at times by National Health Service patients.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether, in view of the substantial proportion of immigrants who require hospital services in this country very shortly after their arrival, he is satisfied that the present arrangements are adequate to prevent immigrants not enjoying the fullest health to enter the country; and if he will make a statement.

I do not know what immigrants my hon. Friend has in mind but in general I believe that the present arrangements provide fair and reasonable safeguards. All immigrants are subject to medical examination either at our ports and airports or in their coun- tries of origin. If they propose to come here to work they may be refused entry on grounds of ill health, and if they come from distant parts of the Commonwealth there are arrangements for them to be medically examined before they set out. Exceptions to this are the wives and children under age 16 of immigrants who have come here from the Commonwealth to work; these dependants are entitled to come, but they also are subject to medical examination on arrival and can if necessary be admitted subject to a condition that they report to the medical officer at their local destination with a view to receiving any necessary treatment.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimate of the total number of people awaiting admission to hospitals within the area of the Manchester Regional Hospital Board.

The number was 68,856 on 31st December, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special steps he is taking to ensure that all Commonwealth immigrants who are heads of households are able to understand and complete the census form accurately.

The Community Relations Commission has been giving most valuable help in the preparation and running of the census and, in particular, in reassuring any immigrant household who may be apprehensive. Translations of the census form and explanatory leaflets in Bengali, Gujerati, Punjabi, Urdu, Greek and Italian are being made available to any who want them. Enumerators may call upon interpreters in cases of difficulty and, where it is believed that language difficulties may exist, the number of households to be covered by enumerators is being reduced so that they can spend more time helping each household.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware of the concern felt by naturalised British subjects at having to declare on the forms provided for the forthcoming census the country of their birth; and whether he will permit such subjects to be excused from answering this question.

All persons without exception are required to state their country of birth in the forthcoming census. This information is necessary to analyse internal migration as well as immigration from abroad and to judge the progress of assimilation of immigrants. Census returns are absolutely confidential, and naturalised British subjects need have no fear that their answers will in any way affect their status or their standing in the community.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will state the current supplementary allowance rates for children.

The following amounts are laid down by the Supplementary Benefit (Decimalisation of the Currency) Regulations, 1970 (Statutory Instrument, 1970, No. 1784), for normal requirements:

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he has considered the proposal to him from the Menevia Diocesan Education Committee and the St. David's Council for Education, that a voluntary aided interdenominational comprehensive secondary school be established in Pembrokeshire, and the further proposal that the buildings of the Neyland Technical College be used for this purpose; and whether he has yet taken a decision.

The St. David's Diocesan Council for Education is reconsidering certain aspects of this proposal. When I receive its observations I will require further consultations with both church authorities and the local education authority before I can arrive at a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the present waiting time for hearing planning appeals by the Welsh Office.

The average time currently being taken from receipt of an appeal to the holding of an inquiry is about 25 weeks.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what improvements in the A477 St. Clears to Pembroke Dock trunk road are in the firm and preparation pools.

Two improvement schemes each costing £100,000 or more are included in the firm programme for 1973–74. One is for the improvement of Castle Heli Bridge and its approaches; the other for the widening and realignment of the road between Redberth and Sageston.Four smaller schemes estimated to cost a total of £150,000 are also firmly programmed. There are no schemes for the improvement of this road in the preparation pool at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he will cease the present practice whereby his Department keeps under constant review the prices and charges for which he has responsibility and initiate a system of monthly reviews of such prices and charges to enable him to show from month to month to what extent since June, 1970, the Government's policy of reducing prices and costs is operating so far as it affects his Departmental responsibilities; and whether he will make a statement.

No.