asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in 1969–70, having served their sentences in Borstal institutions, were convicted of further offences within 12 months of their release.

During 1969, 5,520 persons were released from borstals in England and Wales. 3,608 of them, or 65 per cent., had been reconvicted by the end of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether the probation service in each area is up to full strength; how new entrants to the service are trained in each area; what duties they are trained for; how many probation officers are employed for the work they do before attaining full professional standards; the reason why this is done; to what extent pay and conditions of service have been cited as reasons for staff leaving the probation service; and if he will make a statement.

Most areas have vacancies. Most new entrants have been through a pre-entry course of professional training at a university or other educational or training establishment, but about one-quarter of the established strength have been appointed without this prior training, because of the need to expand the service. Some officers have left for reasons of pay, but precise figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officers left the probation service in each of the last five years.

160 established officers in 1966 and subsequently 177, 181, 231 and 250.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is yet able to announce increased pay for probation officers.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is yet in a position to make a statement about probation officers' salaries.

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the reply given today to Questions by the hon. Member for Swindon (Mr. David Stoddart) and the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proposals he has to ensure that, after unsuccessful committal proceedings in magistrates' courts resulting in the discharge of the accused person, a notice so declaring shall be exhibited in the precints of the court with the like prominence afforded to any notice announcing those proceedings.

Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1967, already requires such a notice to be displayed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will initiate an inquiry into the operation of the Judges' Rules, their observance, and the necessity for changes.

The Criminal Law Revision Committee's current examination of the law of evidence in criminal cases covers the Judges' Rules and my right hon. Friend sees no reason to initiate a further inquiry.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in view of the rising crime rate and change in the composition of the population of the United Kingdom, he will take steps to introduce some method of easy identification of persons other than credit cards and driving licences, in order to aid the police and others in the maintenance of law and order.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department by what number Her Majesty's Prisons in Yorkshire counties contain more than the recommended number of inmates; and what steps are currently being taken, or proposed, to improve this situation.

By about 700. Planning clearance is now held for schemes to provide about 2,000 new prison places in the North of England.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are his plans as regards pre-prevention publicity against fire risks, both for the protection of lives and of property.

These include experimental television and Press advertising in the North-East with a view to the planning of national campaigns; the nationwide distribution of a handbook for householders; and co-operation with the fire authorities, the Fire Protection Association, the British Insurance Association and the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he is taking to relieve overcrowding in Her Majesty's prisons.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answers given on 18th March to a Question by the hon. Member for Wandsworth, Central (Mr. Thomas Cox) and to written Questions on the same day by my hon. Friend the Member for Nottingham, South (Mr. Fowler) and the hon. Member for Oldham, West (Mr. Meacher).—[Vol. 813, c. 1622–6 and c. 366–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons during the last convenient 12 monthly period were sent to prison before their trial; how many of these were acquitted; and how many were dealt with by means other than custodial punishment.

In 1969, the latest year for which statistics are available, 44,267 untried prisoners were received into custody in England and Wales. Of these, 2,079 were found not guilty, or discharged without formal recording of a conviction, of those found guilty, 22,233 were not given a custodial sentence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the number of public demonstrations which have taken place in the United Kingdom in protest against the treatment of Jews in Russia in which breaches of the peace have occurred, together with details of the action which has been taken against those responsible.

I have information only as regards the Metropolitan Police District. Between 1st January, 1970, and 31st March, 1971, there was one such demonstration in which a number of persons were ejected from private premises as trespassers, and one man was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer. The charge was dismissed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a detailed statement on the comparative numbers of trained and untrained staff in the child care and probation services.

On 31st March, 1970, whole-time field officers of the local authority child care services in England and Wales totalled 4,064, of whom 1,999 held a professional qualification. The figures for the probation and after-care service were 3,202 and 2,367.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will seek powers to establish, in conjunction with the Metropolitan Police, a security force for collection and distribution of money, under the control of the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, on a fee-paying profit-making basis, in view of the lack of control over the private concerns now engaged in this type of activity, and the danger of criminal collusion with some of these types of organisations.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time up to and including Friday, 26th March how much stolen property involving security firms has been recovered, how many arrests have been made and how many of the security firm personnel were subsequently found to be involved with the robberies; what action has been taken by the police to check the background of this type of personnel; and whether he will institute a system of certification of this type of security firm.

The statistics are not available. Save in the investigation of offences, the police do not check the background of employees of private security organisations. My right hon. Friend has no plans for certification of these organisations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, in order to relieve the police of work connected with robberies affecting security vans, he will request the police in the Metropolis to advise security firms to introduce a system of combination locks on their vans with the number known only to the sender, not to be divulged until the vehicle has arrived at its destination, and then only by telephone to an appointed person.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent persons from the European Economic Community who enter the United Kingdom under the free movement of labour provisions of the Treaty of Rome will thereby acquire a right to settle permanently.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to his Question on 29th March.—[Vol. 814, c. 288–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give, for the longest period of time, going back if possible to the great train robbery, the total amount of moneys and valuables stolen in robberies which have taken place in homes and offices and banks, and by means of smash and grab raids; and how much of the total proceeds of these robberies have subsequently been recovered.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he is aware that before the implementation of the pay award for the police the recent Budget proposals will mean that the police will have to pay increased National Insurance contributions and that a police officer on £42 per week will have to pay a further 65p on top of his £1 per week National Insurance contribution; and whether he will take action to review the pay of police officers in general, and those earning above £42 per week in particular.

The new rates of pay for the police are effective from 1st September, 1970. The higher rates of national insurance contributions are payable from 1st September, 1971. The answer to the second part of the question is "No".

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will be laying the amending regulations to increase police pay in accordance with the recent settlement.

My right hon. Friend intends to lay these Regulations on 28th April. The new rates of pay are retrospective to 1st September, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make an estimate as to what change has taken place in police officers' take-home pay as a result of the Budget, for each grade up to £42 per week, making allowances for increased rents, rates and other known outgoings from a police officer's salary which have taken place since their last salary increase; and if he will publish these details in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I see no good purpose in calculations of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what were the technical difficulties which prevented him from laying the amending regulations to increase police pay by the end of March; and whether he will make a statement.

The Police Council agreement dispensed with age points in the pay scales, and thus required special transitional scales for many serving constables. Means of dealing with certain particularly complicated cases had to be discussed by the two sides.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what fees and salaries will be receivable by Detective Inspector John Minore and others of the Metropolitan Police who will be engaged in making a documentary film on the Mrs. Muriel McKay murder case, entitled, "Worse than Murder"; and whether he will make a statement on his policy towards police being employed on private work in general, and this type of activity in particular.

The answer to the first part of the question is "None". As regards the second part, the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis decided that it would be in the public interest to cooperate with the B.B.C. in the production of this particular documentary. No question of private work therefore arises.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department 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 Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to make it illegal for clubs run by political parties to ban persons from membership solely on the grounds of those persons' colour.

A recent case bearing on the interpretation of the existing law may be the subject of appeal, and I would prefer not to comment meanwhile.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what are the general rules which operate in cases affecting early release on parole of convicted criminals.

My right hon. Friend the Home Secretary, if recommended to do so by the Parole Board, may release on licence a person who has completed one-third or twelve months of his sentence whichever is the longer. Regard is paid, among other things, to the nature of the offence, response to prison treatment, prospects on release and the possibility of risk to the public.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on the armed robbery which took place on Thursday, 15th April, within the vicinity of New Scotland Yard, S.W.1; and whether any private security firm was involved.

Two men have been charged with offences connected with the incident. It would not therefore be proper for me to comment at this stage. As regards the second part of the Question, a security company had made the money up into wage packets but were not transporting it at the time of the incident.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the numbers unemployed, male and female separately, in each employment exchange area in Scotland for the months of February and August from 1961 to February, 1971.

The information for all of the dates specified could be provided only at a very high cost.I will send the hon. Member the figures which can be provided.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of disabled persons registered as unemployed at the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges at the latest available date, and how many of those persons have been continuously out of work for the past six months.

The number of registered disabled persons unemployed on 5th April, 1971, at Mexborough Employment Exchange was 126, of whom 109 had been unemployed six months or more. At Wombwell there were 90 unemployed

Following is the information:registered disabled persons of whom 58 had been unemployed six months or more.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why he instructed his Department in March not to assist in efforts to settle the dispute between the Scott-Lithgow Group and the Boilermakers Society.

My Department kept a close watch on events throughout this dispute and in view of the level of increase which had already been offered it was not thought appropriate for my officers to intervene or for the services of my Department to be used.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many industrial conciliation officers are available in Scotland from his Department, to assist in settling disputes between employers and employees.

18 officers are engaged on industrial relations duties at the Department's Scottish headquarters. Of these, three are engaged full time on conciliation work, and others are available as necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young persons under the age of 21 are unemployed in the Newcastle-under-Lyme constituency.

Information for this precise age group is not available. The unemployment statistics distinguish those under 18 years of age each month and those under 20 years of age in January and July. At 11th January 125 persons under 20 years of age, including 39 who were under 18, were registered as wholly unemployed in the area covered by the Newcastle-under-Lyme Employment Exchange. At 5th April the provisional number under 18 years of age was 40.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is aware that between 8th March and 5th April unemployment increased more in the East Midlands than in any of the other nine regions in Great Britain; and

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many skilled and unskilled male workers, respectively, over 45 years of age are presently unemployed in each of the planning regions of the United Kingdom; what percentage of the total unemployed they represent, and how this compares with the past 24 months.

I regret that this information is not available. Analyses of

I have been asked to reply.Although there has been an increase, unemployment in the East Midlands is no higher than the national average. Special measures for this region would not be justified in present circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give, from information available to him from international sources, the numbers unemployed in Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Switzerland, respectively, for January, 1958, and January, 1971, and the figures for the United Kingdom on those dates.

In the table below figures for countries other than the United Kingdom have been taken from the International Labour Office Year Books and Quarterly Bulletins of Statistics. For each of these countries, information has been shown for January, 1958, for the latest date for 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.the unemployment statistics are available either by age or occupation, but not by both combined.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why he will not introduce a new cost of living index figure and purchasing value of the £ sterling index based on 1st April, 1971, equalling 100 and giving quarterly estimates to show to what extent the rise and/or fall in these indices result from the Government's Budget proposals.

I see no reason for introducing a new index series. Changes in the average level of retail prices between 16th March or 20th April and later index dates can be derived easily from the index figures which will be published in due course. In any event this is a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been notified to his Department from each of the planning regions of the United Kingdom in the past two months.

Records of redundancies maintained by my Department do not enable the information to be supplied in the form requested.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects publication of the two supplements to the National Board for Prices and Incomes' report on pay in the coal mining industry.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to my reply given today to the hon. Member for Bolsover (Mr. Skinner).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, having regard to the contents, undesirable for display to children in schools, she will issue a circular to local education authorities recommending that the sex film by Dr. Martin Cole entitled, "Growing Up," be not shown in schools.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my statement in the debate on 21st April, a copy of which I am sending to him.—[Vol 815, c. 1216–17.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will appoint a committee of inquiry into the methods of sex education being made available to the schools, the system of lectures to be delivered by teachers provided by the Schools Council through money made available by the Nuffield Trust and the grants made by the Arts Council to provide special morning performances at the Royal Court Theatre for schoolchildren at schools under the Inner London Education Authority.

I appreciate my hon. Friend's concern but I do not think that such a committee would be the best way of proceeding.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is aware of the concern of many firms over the effect of the raising of the school leaving age on the number of boys available for craft apprentice intake in summer 1972; and what advice she can give to such employers in view of the fact that manpower planning is done on a long-term basis.

The immediate impact of this change on the intake of school leavers into employment will be felt in 1973 rather than 1972. The implications were drawn to the attention of Industrial Training Boards in 1969, so that they might offer appropriate advice to employers in their industries. I understand also that the Central Youth Employment Executive is to issue a memorandum on the subject to all Youth Employment Committees, on which local employers are represented. All employers affected should thus be well aware of the consequences of the change and able to plan their recruitment and training programmes accordingly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science over what period she proposes to spend the £280 million she estimates is required to improve or replace schools built before 1903.

Over £40 million will be devoted in 1972–73 to the improvement or replacement of these old primary schools. I hope that, within five years from then, we shall be in sight of their elimination.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of engineering graduates and professionally qualified engineers per 100,000 of population produced in the United Kingdom for the latest available year; and what are the comparable figures for Sweden, Denmark, Japan, the United States of America, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and for each of the member countries of the European Economic Community, from information available to her from international sources.

In 1968 the latest year for which information is available the number of engineering graduates and professional engineers per 100,000 of population produced in the United Kingdom was 23·3. Comparable figures for other countries are not available but the following information for awards of technology degrees and diplomas is based on figures published by O.E.C.D. and U.N.E.S.C.O.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will cease the present practice whereby her Department keeps under constant review the prices and charges for which she has responsibility and initiate a system of monthly reviews of such prices and charges to enable her 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 her Departmental responsibilities; and whether she will make a statement.

No.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the work to rule situation at the Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment, Portsdown.

Normal working was resumed on 14th April.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will revise the working rules applicable to employees at the Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment, Portsdown, with a view to reducing the vulnerability of that establishment to their arbitrary interpretation by employees.

Now that the situation has returned to normal, we shall examine closely with the employees' representatives what changes in working conditions are necessary to achieve the best results at the Admiralty Surface Weapons Establishment and to reduce the risk of a recurrence of industrial action.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) upon whose orders and for what reasons was a barricade erected at the Bryson Street gates of St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Chapel, Newtownards Road, Belfast, and left unmanned by the Army, on the night of Tuesday, 13th April, 1971;(2) upon whose orders and for what reasons was the Army guard removed from the Bryson Street gates of St. Matthew's Roman Catholic Chapel, Newtownards Road, Belfast, on the night of Tuesday, 13th April, 1971.

The gates which lead from St. Matthew's Church on to Bryson Street are always locked. They are not used and have not been manned by the Army for at least three months.Additionally, there are gates on to the Newtownards Road near Bryson Street at which there are two positions for a sentry, one in a tower and one on the ground. For a short period during the night of 13th April the sentry and one section were forced back from the gates by the crowd. The crowd were driven out of the yard by the section, and 64 baton rounds were fired during the encounter. The sentry was moved from the tower to the ground during this period to prevent his isolation from the remainder of his section.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) how many searches have been made by the Army in the Seaforde Street/Bryson Street area of Newtownards Road from 28th June, 1970, to Wednesday, 7th April, 1971;(2) what arms, ammunition and explosive substances have been uncovered by the Army in the Seaforde Street/Bryson Street area of the Newtownards Road, Belfast, from 28th June, 1970, to Monday, 12th April, 1971;(3) how many searches were made by the Army in the Seaforde Street/Bryson Street area of Newtownards Road from Thursday, 8th April, to Monday, 12th April, 1971.

Twelve searches were made in the area between 28th June, 1970, and 7th April, 1971, resulting in finds of 10 petrol bombs, one can of Kerosene, two ·;38 cartridges, 10 ·;303 rounds, and two 9mm rounds. No searches were made in the area between 8th and 12th April, 1971.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) upon whose orders and for what reason were troops withdrawn from the entrance of Bryson Street on to the Newtownards Road during and after the Junior Orangemen processed along that road on Tuesday, 13th April, 1971;(2) why an Army search of the Seaforde Street/Bryson Street area of the Newtownards Road, Belfast, was not made immediately after four Protestants had been shot in that area on Tuesday, 13th April, 1971;(3) upon whose orders and for what reasons did the Army direct its guns at the Protestant side of the Lower Newtownards Road, Belfast, on the early evening of Tuesday, 13th April, when the actual shooting came from the Roman Catholic side.

On the night of 13th/14th April in East Belfast a crowd made attacks on Army units deployed in support of the R.U.C. These attacks hampered the efforts of the Army to bring criminals to justice, to protect life and property, and to restore peace and order. Some of the crowd sought to attack a church, and some of the petrol bombs and other weapons used in the attack against the security forces had clearly been prepared in advance. Eight soldiers were injured, and one was admitted to hospital. The chief constable has conveyed to the G.O.C. an expression of thanks from the senior police officer of the district for the help given by the Army. The circumstances of these events are as follows:

A joint Army/ R.U.C. plan was drawn up to cover the return of the Junior Orangemen to Belfast on the afternoon of Tuesday, 13th April. In East Belfast the Army were deployed in Seaforde Street, Austin Street, St. Matthew's Churchyard, Mount Pottinger Road, Kenilworth Street, and Beechfield Street. The entrance to Bryson Street was controlled by the R.U.C.

Immediately following the shooting at the junction of Comber and Bryson Streets troops were deployed from St. Matthew's Churchyard to the east end of Comber Street, where they faced a hostile crowd, and to the west end of Comber Street.

This street was sealed within 7 minutes of the shooting.

At the same time troops were deployed to establish an outer cordon round the area bounded by Newtownards Road, Bryson Street, Beechfield Street, and Mount Pottinger Road. A cordon was in position within 25 minutes and a search commenced with the troops available. Orders were given to assemble specialist search teams to assist in the search of individual houses.

Hostile crowds gathered on the Newtownards Road between Kenilworth and Pitt Streets and on Bryson Street. These crowds were intent on attacking St. Matthew's Church and shops in the area. Troops had to be withdrawn from the search to contain these crowds. Reinforcements were not immediately available as the main parade of Junior Orangemen was taking place in West Belfast at the same time. In facing the hostile crowds the troops necessarily pointed their weapons towards them.

Search teams and reinforcements allowed searches of Comber Street to begin at 8 p.m. The searches of the area continued until 4 a.m. on 14th April, although troops had frequently to be diverted to contain the crowds attempting to attack the area. The crowds were finally brought under control shortly after midnight and 17 arrests were made.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arms, ammunition and explosive substances have been uncovered by the Army in the Seaforde Street/Bryson Street area of the Newtownards Road, Belfast, since Tuesday 13th April, 1971; and at what times and on what dates these were found.

The information is as follows, although detailed times are not available:13th April

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) upon whose orders and for what reason was uniformed Royal Ulster Constabulary constable No. 7181 twice struck with a rifle by a soldier at Tower Street, Lower Newtownards Road, Belfast, at approximately 12.15 a.m. on Wednesday, 15th April, 1971;(2) what action he now proposes to take in the matter of uniformed Royal Ulster Constabulary constable No. 7181 who was struck twice with a rifle by a soldier at Tower Street, Lower Newtownards Road, Belfast, at approximately 12.15 a.m. on Wednesday, 14th April, 1971.

The incident is being investigated by both the Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.

asked the Minister of State for Defence upon whose orders and for what reason was a deaf mute arrested by the Army on the Lower Newtownards Road, Belfast, on the night of 13th April, 1971; and with what offence was he afterwards charged.

He was arrested for throwing stones at the security forces. On account of his disabilities, charges were not pressed.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement about the delay in the development of the Mark 31 torpedo.

As a result of difficulties experienced during the development of the Mark 31 torpedo it became clear that it would enter service substantially later than expected. In January of this year I set up an internal inquiry in order to draw out any lessons that the history of the Mark 31 project may hold for the organisation and control of similar projects in the future.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the supply of torpedoes for British submarines; and whether he can give an assurance that these will be of British origin and British manufacture.

British submarines are supplied with the Mark 8 torpedo for use against surface targets, and the Mark 20 and Mark 23 for anti-submarine attacks. The Mark 24, a heavy guided anti-submarine weapon, is expected to enter service in the early part of the 1970s. All these are British torpedoes.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if it will be necessary for the United Kingdom as a member of the European Economic Community to reduce its level of defence expenditure as a percentage of gross national product to the levels of the present member countries of the European Economic Community.

No.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many members have been recruited for the Ulster Defence Regiment in each of the six counties of Northern Ireland, respectively, since its inception until 12th April, 1971; how many resignations have been received in each county; and how many dismissals

asked the Minister of State for Defence 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 of State for Defence what recent approaches he has received from the South African Government or its representatives for the supply of naval frigates and other armaments.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs on 19th April. —[Vol. 815, c. 803–804.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain how and in what way particulars concerning information submitted in secret to the intelligence department of the Army concerning illegal activities of the

Numbers recruited to and resigned or dismissed from the seven battalions of the Ulster Defence Regiment up to 16th April were as follows:Irish Republican Army, supplied by a female under the control of his Department, details of which are in his possession, were publicly revealed; and whether he will make a statement.

Investigations into the source of the information that led to this case being reported in a daily newspaper are proceeding, and I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on his recent London Conference on Far Eastern defence.

I would refer the hon. Member to my answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton (Mr. Drayson) on 19th April. The main purpose of the meeting was to approve the framework of the Five-Power defence arrangements which will come into effect on 1st November, 1971; and this was successfully achieved.—[Vol. 815, c. 347–349.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arrangements he is making for the postgraduate education of medical and dental officers.

My right hon. and noble Friend has set up a standing advisory committee to advise him on all matters affecting the postgraduate education of medical and dental officers of the Armed Forces. The chairman of the advisory committee will be Mr. Harold Edwards, C.B.E., M.S., F.R.C.S. and the following will be members:

• Professor Sir Melville Arnott, T.D., B.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.P.(Ed.), F.R.C.Path.
• Professor A. L. d'Abreu, C.B.E., D.L., Ch.M., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.P.
• Mr. T. L. T. Lewis, M.D., F.R.C.S., FR.C.O.G.
• Sir James Howie, M.D., F.R.F.P.S., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.Path.
• Dr. J. H. Hunt, C.B.E., M.D. F.R.C.G.P., F.R.C.P., F.R.C.S.
• Mr. N. L. Rowe, F.D.S., R C.S., L.R.0 P., M.R.C.S.
• Dr. A. D. Leigh, B.Sc., M.D., F.R.C.P.
• Mr. S. F. Taylor, M.A., M.D., M.Ch., F.R.C.S.
• Mr. R. Myles Gibson, E.R.D., M.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.S.(Ed.).
• Mr. T. K. Lyle, C.B.E., M.A., M.D., M.Ch., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.P.
• Surgeon-Vice Admiral E. B. Bradbury, C.B., Q.H.P., M.B., B.Ch., D.M.R.D.
• Lieutenant-General Sir Norman Talbot, K.B.E., T.D., Q.H.S., M.D., F.R.C.O.G.
• Air Marshal E. S. Sidey, C.B., Q.H.S., M.D., Ch.B., D.P.H.
• Mr. H. P. Hall, C.M.G., M B.E.

asked the Attorney-General if he is aware of the anomaly that some husbands of marriages contracted overseas whilst still resident here are seeking to divorce their wives in ways not acceptable to those married in the United Kingdom; how many applications were made in the past years to superintendent registrars for leave to remarry after declarations of divorce according to overseas rites; and what action he proposes to end such divorce law and legal domicile anomalies.

There are approximately 150 applications a year for marriage licences following divorces obtained in the United Kingdom under procedures other than proceedings for dissolution of marriage before the ordinary courts. The place of the original marriage and the country of the residence of the parties are not conclusively relevant. The recognition of foreign divorces generally is the subject of the Hague Convention and of the Bill now before the House (Recognition of Divorces and Legal Separations Bill) which is designed to give effect to that Convention and to the recommendations of the Law Commission relating to foreign divorces. The Law Commission's advice is also being sought on the issue which the hon. Member has in mind.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will refer to the Director of Public Prosecutions on grounds of obscenity and pornography the sex film by Dr. Martin Cole entitled, "Growing Up", with a view to instituting proceedings.

There is at present no evidence before me to suggest that any criminal offence may have been committed under the Cinematograph Act, 1952, or the Obscene Publications Acts, 1959 and 1964. If any such evidence is sent to me, I will certainly ask the Director of Public Prosecutions to consider it.

asked the Attorney-General (1) if he will ensure that, in documents referring to the Lord Chief Justice of Wales, he is referred to as the Lord Chief Justice of England and of Wales;(2) if he will ensure that steps are taken for the Lord Chief Justice to be referred to in Wales as the Lord Chief Justice of England and of Wales.

I do not think any change is called for in the full title of this ancient office, which is commonly referred to nowadays in statutes and many other official documents by the shorter description of Lord Chief Justice.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy towards investment as a result of his official meeting on 15th March with Henry Ford II.

I have nothing to add to the reply given by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister to a Question from the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) on 18th March. —[Vol. 813, c. 396–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on the Government's intentions about metrication in the public sector.

No. I would ask my hon. Friend to await the White Paper on metrication which should be published shortly. This will outline the Government's views on the use of metric units in the economy generally, including the public sector.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if the special arrangements to protect sugar exports from Queensland, Australia, to the United Kingdom, being sought by the United Kingdom in the current negotiations with the European Economic Community, will be on the same basis as those for other sugar producing countries of the Commonwealth.

No. Our proposals for Australian sugar are intended to provide transitional measures appropriate to this particular case. We have told the Com

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the identity, type, and operating company of the aircraft that flew low over central London at 00.01 hours on Monday, 19th

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if United Kingdom steel prices will have to be raised to the European Economic Community levels in the event of the United Kingdom becoming a European Economic Community member; and what effect such increases will have on the competitive performance of United Kingdom exports using steel.

No. Subject to the requirements of the Treaty of Paris the level of prices is a matter for the individual producer's own commercial judgment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the number of cars, refrigerators, telephones, television sets and washing machines, respectively, per 1,000 of the United Kingdom population, together with the comparable figures for each member country of the European Economic Community.

The information is not available for refrigerators and washing machines; for the other products, the latest data are as follows:April, 1971; what was its altitude; what were the reasons for its exceptional noise level; what its sound emission was recorded as being; how it compared with the mean noisiness of aircraft over London; and why it was directed in such a way as to cause this amount of disturbance.

A B.E.A. Trident on flight number 5425 crossed central London at a height of 2,500 feet about midnight on 18th-19th April on approach to Heathrow where it landed at 00.06. Noise levels of aircraft on approach are not regularly monitored so comparisons are impossible, but nothing in the way the aircraft was directed should have caused abnormal disturbance.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average annual percentage increase in output in the Swedish, Danish, Swiss, Japanese, United States and United Kingdom steel industries, respectively, since 1958, from information available to him from international sources.

In terms of output of crude steel, the average annual percentage increases from 1958 to 1970 were:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average annual percentage increase in output in the Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Japanese, United States and United Kingdom shipbuilding industries, respectively, since 1958, from information available to him from international sources.

The following annual growth rates are based on completions of merchant ships by gross tonnage between 1958 and 1970:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average annual percentage increase in output in the Swedish, Danish, Swiss, Japanese, United States and United Kingdom chemical industries, respectively, since 1958, from information available to him from international sources.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average annual percentage increase in output in the Swedish, Danish, Swiss, Japanese, United States and United Kingdom paper industries, respectively, since 1958, from information available to him from international sources.

The information, from available index numbers of production, is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why it is Government policy to allow private companies to make price changes in the light of market conditions, in view of the fact that Her Majesty's Government object when such companies give wage and salary increases in the light of market conditions.

In the private sector, prices are determined by competitive market forces whose effectiveness we are determined to maintain and where necessary to strengthen. Wages and salaries on the other hand are determined by a complex of many factors, not all of which are open to the free play of competition.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the average annual percentage increase in output in the Swedish, Danish, Swiss, Japanese, United States and United Kingdom mechanical engineering industries, respectively, since 1958, from information available to him from international sources.

The following annual growth rates are based on output indices for 1958 and 1970: Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland, all not available; Japan, +22 per cent.; United States, +7 per cent.; United Kingdom, +4 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will publish the National Board for Prices and Incomes report into miners' pay.

I have been asked to reply.Two supplements to the Board's Second Report on Coal Prices (No. 153), the second of which is concerned with hours and earnings, will be published on Tuesday, 27th April.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give a general direction to the gas boards to withdraw a pamphlet

No. It is for the Area Boards to ensure, in their pre-conversion literature, and in other ways, that their consumers are fully aware of the replacement procedure. I am asking the Gas Council to consider with the Boards whether the information provided for this purpose is satisfactory.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what plans he has to transfer further work to the Investment Grants Office, Billing-ham; and if he will make a statement.

None, pending consideration of the possibility that the setting up of a local value added tax office will provide posts for the Investment Grants Office staff who cannot be absorbed on accounts work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how much cash assistance has been given to families under Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1963, by each local authority for each year since the passing of the Act.

Total expenditure under Section 1 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1963 returned by local authorities in England was as follows: