asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what information he has received from Scottish education authorities on the decrease of school meals being consumed since the price was increased; and if he will make a statement.

None as yet. We shall be asking the schools for a return towards the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will send out a circular to local authorities advising them to raise the standards of school meals, having regard to the substantial increase in price since 1st April.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what statistics are available to him showing the change in the number of school dinners taken in the last month consequent on the increased prices.

None as yet. I will be asking the schools for a return towards the end of this month.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make an estimate of the average weekly increase in council house rents resulting from the policy of redirection of housing subsidies for the years ending 1972, 1973 and 1974.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) a week ago, on 28th April.—[Vol. 816, c. 136.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects full negotiations with the European Economic Community at Ministerial level to begin agan regarding the European Economic Community fishery policies and their effect on the North-East coast of Scotland.

The day-to-day conduct of our negotiations for entry into the E.E.C. is a matter for which my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster is responsible; I can assure my hon. Friend that in formulating our attitude to the Common Fisheries Policy the interests of the fishermen on the N.E. coast of Scotland will be taken fully into account.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many probationer firemen have been dismissed from the service, and how many have been required to resign for disciplinary reasons in each year during the period 1965 to 1970.

Separate records are not kept centrally for probationers; but during the period three members of fire brigades were dismissed and one was required to resign as an alternative to dismissal.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland which fire authorities in Scotland prohibit the use of breathing apparatus by retained fire crews manning outstations.

So far as I know, none.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when day room accommodation will be added to the out-lying ward at Holmhead Hospital, Cumnock.

This is a matter for the Western Regional Hospital Board but I understand that a proposal for the provision of additional accommodation, including day rooms, is now being considered for inclusion in the regional board's future building programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what projects have been added to the major hospital building programme since 18th June, 1970.

I hope to make a further announcement before long.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now able to announce a starting date for the South Ayrshire District General Hospital.

Planning is now in progress but it is too early yet to announce a starting date.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many fire authorities use operational firemen on regular fire prevention duties.

I understand that all brigades use operational firemen for fire prevention duties to some extent. A working party set up by the Scottish Fire Brigades Advisory Council has been considering how such duties could be undertaken on a more regular footing and is now completing its report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he is taking to ensure that women teachers will get a fair share of the promoted posts in secondary schools, if the proposals now being made by the Scottish Education Department are put into effect.

I have not yet completed my consultations on my Department's Memorandum on the structure of promoted posts in secondary schools. I have however noted the point made by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimates he has made of the level of private investment in Scotland in the year 1971–72.

Any such estimates could only be highly speculative. Our first objective, now being achieved, is the restoration of industrial and business confidence in the prospects for growth of the national economy of which Scotland is an integral part.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official meetings he has had with local authorities for town, county, city and district councils since June, 1970.

I have had two meetings with the four local authority associations and other Scottish Office Ministers have had eight. In addition we have had 44 meetings with local authorities or groups of authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a further statement on the progress of his consultations concerning proposed charges for admission to national galleries and museums.

As I told the hon. Member on 3rd February, I am considering the written views of the Trustees of the Scottish Institutions on the arrangements for charges and my Department will be discussing these with the Trustees in due course.—[Vol 810, c. 371–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received in the last six months concerning increasing unemployment in Scotland; and what reply he has given.

I have nothing to add to my reply of 28th April to the hon. Member.—[Vol. 816, c. 133.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate he has made of the average increase in rates in the year 1971–72.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave him on 28th April.—[Vol. 816, c. 136–7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the opening of new Government factories in the next six months.

I understand from my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry that 10 more advance factories will be completed in Scotland within the next six months.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will publish a White Paper indicating the effects of the recent Budget proposals on the Scottish economy.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, in view of the accelerating rate of redundancies in Scotland, he will cause the Scottish Development Department to initiate a study as to the desirability of reintroducing investment grants.

Such a study would of course be the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry. But the wide ranging and flexible system of incentives introduced by the present Government, which now apply in varying forms to the whole of Scotland, offer very strong inducements to new industrial investment and expansion.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the relative proportions of money spent on psychiatric and non-psychiatric patients in the hospital services.

In 1969–70 about 23 per cent. of current expenditure on the hospital services was devoted to mental and mental deficiency hospitals. It is not possible to identify separately expenditure on psychiatric patients in other hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he is taking, before the reorganisation of local government in Scotland, to reduce the statutory control by central Government over local government; and if he will make a statement.

I am in touch with the local authority associations at the moment about the relaxation of both statutory and administrative controls. Our aim will be to remove unnecessary statutory controls in the legislation on local government reform.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, of the additional sum of €5 million allocated to 1973 for social work in Scotland, what amount is expected to be consumed by the operation of the children's panels to the end of that period.

Direct expenditure by local authorities on the operation of children's hearings over the next two years is estimated at about £1·1 million.

asked the Lord Advocate 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.

There are no prices or charges for which I have responsibility.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service at what level he proposes to contain the growth of the Civil Service; and what scope he sees for effecting a reduction.

It remains our objective to contain the growth of the Civil Service and if possible to reduce it. But reducing the size of the Civil Service is essentially a matter of reducing the tasks given to it. What we can achieve will depend on policy changes which are in process of examination and implementation.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a further statement giving particulars to show to what extent since 18th June, 1970, the Government's policy of reducing the number and costs of the Civil Service administration is being implemented; to what extent he estimates the introduction of the value-added tax will assist or impede this policy; and by how much the costs of the Civil Service will rise or fall on the implementation of the value-added tax.

I have nothing further to add to the replies given on 17th March to my hon. Friend the Member for Worcestershire, South (Sir G. Nabarro) and earlier today to my hon. Friends the Members for Hampstead (Mr. Geoffrey Finsberg) and Gainsborough (Mr. Kimball).We are not yet able to assess accurately the impact of value-added tax on the size of the Civil Service pending final decisions on the scope and coverage of the tax.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will arrange for the Central Statistical Office so to set out the tables relating to non-industrial civil servants, as published in the Annual Abstract of Statistics and in the monthly digest of statistics, that it is possible to compare the statistics of Departments in the Abstract and those in the Digest, and also to provide additional categories in place of the present groupings.

The table in the Annual Abstract gives statistics for the principal Departments grouped on a functional basis. The table in the Monthly Digest gives statistics for the 11 major Departments employing between 85 and 90 per cent. of all non-industrial civil servants. Comparability is maintained in so far as this is possible when there are changes in departmental responsibility.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service, in view of the fact that, since the Government's decision to implement pay increases to the chairmen of the nationalised boards, the judges, and the higher paid civil servants, raising their salaries from £17,500 per annum to £20,000 per annum, these persons have received large financial benefits under the Budget, why he will not take steps to reduce these salaries by 10 per cent.

Such action would not be justified.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will increase the number of new town residents who serve on the Board of the Aycliffe Development Corporation.

In appointing members of a new town development corporation, my right hon. Friend is required, under the New Towns Acts, to have regard to the desirability of securing the services of one or more persons resident in or having special knowledge of the locality in which the new town is situated. Moreover, as also required under the Acts, he consults such local authorities as appear to him to be concerned. The claims of Aycliffe residents are thus invariably fully considered when appointments are made to the Board of the Aycliffe Development Corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to review membership of the Board of the Aycliffe Development Corporation.

My right hon. Friend hopes to do so this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, how many public footpaths were taken out of use in the past year.

My Department has records of public path closure orders only where Ministerial action is involved either in making an order or in confirming an opposed order made by a local authority. During 1970 there were in England 33 such orders.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a complete and up-to-date

NUMBERS OF HOUSES IN CLEARANCE AREAS REPRESENTED AS UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION
			1967	1968	1969	1970
GREATER LONDON COUNCIL	…	…	1,131	1,402	1,354	1,324
City of London	…	…	—	—	—	3
LONDON BOROUGHS	…	…	6,590	3,587	2,967	2,158
Barking	…	…	512	305	283	82
Barnet	…	…	19	—	4	2
Bexley	…	…	32	29	31	6
Brent	…	…	—	—	—	—
Bromley	…	…	123	40	6	24
Camden	…	…	29	321	32	9
Croydon	…	…	4	—	—	3
Ealing	…	…	97	24	46	2
Enfield	…	…	345	86	5	—
Greenwich	…	…	424	—	81	—
Hackney	…	…	248	—	38	130
Hammersmith	…	…	123	15	5	—
Haringey	…	…	788	366	222	537
Harrow	…	…	—	—	—	—
Havering	…	…	—	—	38	—
Hillingdon	…	…	48	24	8	10
Hounslow	…	…	71	18	13	16
Islington	…	…	35	11	16	158
Kensington and Chelsea	…	…	113	62	—	—
Kingston-upon-Thames	…	…	—	—	—	28
Lambeth	…	…	543	33	549	68
Lewisham	…	…	228	121	227	—
Merton	…	…	129	64	124	97
Newham	…	…	1,303	734	212	355
Redbridge	…	…	—	95	25	—
Richmond-upon-Thames	…	…	14	13	6	—
Southwark	…	…	371	151	353	381
Sutton	…	…	11	—	14	11
Tower Hamlets	…	…	635	937	354	113
Waltham Forest	…	…	79	63	218	37
Wandsworth	…	…	126	75	57	89
Westminster	…	…	140	—	—	—
TOTAL FOR GREATER LONDON	…	…	7,721	4,989	4,321	3,485

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made of the cost of local elections in England and Wales, and in Scotland, in the year 1969–70, calculated on the same basis as that used in the Local Government Financial Statistics and Local Financial Returns.

The net cost of local elections borne by local autho-

The figures for houses represented as unfit for human habitation and included in clearance areas submitted to the Department in 1970 are given below. I have no information about unfit houses dealt with singly since these are not referred to the Department.rities in England, Wales and Scotland in 1969–70 was £0·8 million.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will establish a committee of inquiry into the facilities for refreshment, including picnics, on motorways.

No, because the existing and future needs of motorway travellers are already under continuous review both by my Department and by the operators of service areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings in housing society schemes were approved, started and completed in England and Wales during each quarter of 1970 and

							Dwellings Approved (All co-ownership)	Started (All co-ownership)	Completed
Quarter									1 Co-ownership	2 Cost Rent
1970	1st	…	…	…	…	…	377	983	1,426	44
	2nd	…	…	…	…	…	468	768	1,482	172
	3rd	…	…	…	…	…	575	692	1,493	5
	4th	…	…	…	…	…	1,044	822	1,171	Nil
1971	1st	…	…	…	…	…	1,409	906	1,314	68

In addition, societies with schemes financed by the Department under Section 7 of the Housing Act 1961 completed 62 cost-rent dwellings in the first quarter of 1970 and 2 in the fourth.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many dwellings in housing association schemes were approved, started and completed in England and Wales during each quarter of 1970 and during the first quarter of 1971, and of these how many were in charitable and how many in non-charitable schemes.

The information is given in the table below:

	Approved	Started	Completed
1st Quarter 1970	780	1,083	431
2nd Quarter 1970	1,351	784	637
3rd Quarter 1970	1,619	616	452
4th Quarter 1970	1,697	932	847

The figures for the 1st quarter of 1971 are not yet available, nor is any analysis available between charitable and non-charitable schemes. These figures do not cover cost-rent and co-ownership societies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many proposals for rent increases have been rejected from how many different local authorities under the Rent (Control of Increases) Act prior to 18th June, 1970 and since 18th June, 1970, respectively.

18 proposals for rent increases from 18 different local authorities were rejected in the period 1st January, 1970, to 18th June, 1970, and 7 proposals

The following table covers schemes undertaken under the aegis of the Housing Corporation.from 5 different local authorities have been rejected since 18th June, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities now employ a direct-labour building department for development projects.

Information is not readily available on the number of local authorities with direct labour organisations engaged on full housebuilding schemes at any one point in time. However, 83 separate local authorities in England and Wales received approval for housing schemes to be undertaken by direct labour in the period January, 1969—March, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he proposes to take to ensure full price competition in the cement industry.

None. The Restrictive Practices Court found that the Cement Makers' Federation's common price agreement did not operate against the public interest because, under this system of pricing, cement manufacturers were willing to accept a substantially lower rate of return on capital than under conditions of free competition.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether new town development corporations have a statutory duty to inform residents of planning and other decisions; whether he is satisfied with current practice; and if he will make a statement.

The New Town Act, 1965, requires new town corporations to submit their development proposals for my right hon. Friend's approval, and requires him to consult the local planning authority. The corporation's master plan is in all cases published. It is for corporations to arrange local publicity as appropriate for individual proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in which designated new towns control of the industrial areas is vested in authorities other than the relevant development corporation; and if he will make a statement.

The main industrial areas providing employment at Aycliffe, Corby and Hatfield are not in the ownership of the new town authority. In several other new towns in England more recently designated there is substantial existing industry which the development corporations do not control.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he proposes to undertake a survey of the national housing stock.

Yes. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have decided that a new sample house condition survey for England and Wales should be carried out this autumn. This will provide a more reliable assessment than we have at present of the condition of the national housing stock including the numbers of unfit houses. It should also enable us by comparing the results with those of the 1967 sample survey to assess how far houses have been declining over recent years into unfitness or have been brought up to standard.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for the extension of the M1 bypassing Leeds and joining the A1 north of Wetherby.

My right hon. Friend is considering the results of a study to assess the feasibility of a new or improved route to relieve the Al as an outlet to the north-east for traffic from south of Leeds. His decision will be announced as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has for a motorway north of Sheffield to Manchester.

My right hon. Friend is now considering the results of a study into the feasibility of a new high standard route linking Manchester and Sheffield and hopes to make an announcement before long.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what dates he now expects each of the remaining sections of the M4 motorway to be opened for use between London and Bristol.

I expect that the section between Tormarton and Stanton St. Quintin (north of Chippenham) will be opened in the summer. It may be possible to open a further length in the autumn and the whole motorway in England by the end of the year, but there have been additional works arising from earthworks instability on some contracts and it is too early to give precise dates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he will not 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.

Such a system would be impracticable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now state the results of the discussions between his Department and the Post Office about the possibility of using Post Office vehicles to provide transport services in rural areas.

The scope for extending the use of postal buses is limited. Their use depends very much on local circumstances, but the Post Office is always ready to look at any reasonable proposals put to it by local bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what information he has available from international sources regarding the number of cars in use per thousand of the population in the six States of the European Economic Community in 1958 and today; and whether he can provide equivalent figures for the United Kingdom.

Following is the information:

			Cars in use per thousand population
	…	…	1958	1969*
Belgium	…	…	71	199
France	…	…	88	246
Italy	…	…	29	170
Luxembourg	…	…	100	232†
Netherlands	…	…	37	177
West Germany	…	…	62	214
United Kingdom	…	…	90	207
* The latest year for which E.E.C. figures are available.
† 1968.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what consideration his Department has given to setting up marine parks or aquatic reserves below low-water mark.

I look on this as a matter on which local authorities, regional sports councils and possibly private enterprise can best take the initiative. I understand, for example, that Deal Corporation has been considering, in consultation with the Greater London and South-East Sports Council, the setting up of a national playing field for water sports in an area of water off Deal and Walmer.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what changes have been made in the level of grant payable to national sporting organisations to assist in travelling expenses of teams sent to international competitions; and if he will make a statement.

The total sum available has been increased. The Sports Council has recommended that except in special cases grants should not exceed 50 per cent. of approved travel costs. This will enable more British teams to take part in international events.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he intends to make an order under Section 20 of the Transport Act, 1968, with respect to rail transport in the South-East Lancashire North-East Cheshire conurbation.

The matter is still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that in 1969 there were approximately 400,000 reports of vehicles failing to show licences; that of this number, 145,000 were prosecuted resulting in penalties and back duty payments of £1,545,000; and how much of this amount had been paid off at the latest convenient stated date.

I am aware of the figures, but information about how much of the penalties and back duty had been paid off at a particular date is not available.

asked the Lord President of the Council what was the cost of answering Questions numbered 56 to 364 published in the Order Paper for 26th March, 1971, about Great Britain entering the Common Market.

I regret that this information could not be obtained without disproportionate expenditure.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the latest orders and options position for Rolls-Royce RB211 engines for the Lockheed TriStar airplane.

Negotiations with airlines are continuing, and senior representatives of the airlines are due to come to this country on Monday. I hope to make a fuller statement shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement about the options and orders position for Concorde.

The manufacturers are currently negotiating with the 16 airlines which hold 74 options to extend them for a further period.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will extend special development area status to the travel to work area of Newton Aycliffe New Town.

No. The problems of this area are less acute than those of the special development areas.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware of the alarm and confusion caused by the Concorde bang in the Belfast area on Saturday, 24th April, at 12.30 p.m., and, having regard to the number of explosions of a different nature which are occurring, if he will arrange for due notice to be given, or for the time being avoid sonic booms which may be heard in that area.

I am sorry for any disturbance Concorde's boom may have caused. Advance warning is already given by the British Aircraft Corporation to the Press whenever a flight by Concorde down the West Coast is scheduled to take place. In addition, B.A.C. has now arranged for the B.B.C. regional station at Belfast to be informed immediately after take-off. This will enable the B.B.C. to broadcast a warning of the exact time the flight can be expected overhead.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many complaints have been received by his Department concerning tours arranged by travel agents or other bodies to the Oberammergau Festival; what investigation has been carried out on these complaints; and what further action is to be taken by his Department.

About 50 complaints have been received about one company. Inquiries have been made into the affairs of the company under Section 109 of the Companies Act, 1967. Section 111 of the Act precludes my disclosing any information relating to the inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrialists have indicated a desire to take advantage of the special development areas grants in West Central Scotland since the scheme was announced.

Thirty-eight projects are under discussion with the firms concerned, but it is too early to say how many applications will result.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates were applied for in February and March, 1970, and February and March, 1971.

Thirty-five certificates were issued in Scotland in February and March, 1970, and 27 in the same period in 1971. There were no refusals.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what recent representations have been made in the negotiations with the European Economic Community about the adverse effect of the Common Fisheries Policy on the Scottish inshore fishing industry.

Exploratory contacts, without prejudice to our position generally on the common fisheries policy of the Community, have continued with the European Economic Community Commission.Pending completion of the examination of the implications of this policy, Her Majesty's Government continue to reserve their position.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that, during his negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, he will insist that whatever conditions are eventually agreed nothing will prevent Members of Parliament from having the same rights of questions, voting and rejecting any proposals connected with or from the European Economic Community, or restrict any rights of action at present enjoyed by Members of Parliament.

The Treaties establishing the European Communities and Community instruments made under those Treaties contain no provisions on procedure in Parliaments of Member States. It is open to Parliaments of Member States to debate issues for decision in the Community before decisions are taken in the Institutions of the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the event of United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland would be permitted to apply for associate membership on the same basis as other Commonwealth African countries, or whether this would be conditional on their substantially modifying the arrangements for their Customs unions with South Africa.

The Community has confirmed that, subject to certain special arrangements which may need to be settled at a later stage, the alternatives in the 1963 Declaration of Intent are open to Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland. It should be possible, in the event of these countries opting for association, to make arrangements which would neither erode the benefits of association for them nor break up the existing Customs union with South Africa.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the event of United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community, citizens of French overseas territories and departments would have the same rights to enter the United Kingdom to seek employment as citizens of the metropolitan part of the Community.

The provisions of the Treaty of Rome and Community legislation on freedom of movement of labour apply to the French overseas Departments of Guadeloupe, La Reunion, Martinique and French Guyana.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether, in the event of United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community, East African Asians and other holders of United Kingdom passports would have the right to enter the other countries of the Community to seek work.

The categories of United Kingdom citizen who will be eligible to benefit from the European Economic Community provisions on freedom of movement of labour are at present being discussed with the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state, from the information available to him from international sources, which countries are defying the United Nations resolution applying mandatory sanctions against Rhodesia.

The extent of international compliance with Security Council Resolution No. 253 is set out in Chapter III of the 3rd Report of the Committee Established in Pursuance of Security Council Resolution 253 (1968) of 29th May, 1968 (the United Nations Sanctions Supervisory Committee) which is available in the Library of the House. The 4th Report of the Committee is expected shortly and will no doubt contain a section which brings the position further up to date.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Comonwealth Affairs what action Her Majesty's Government are taking in the current meetings of creditor countries of Pakistan with regard to the extension of credit facilities.

There have been consultations between the members of the Pakistan Aid Consortium. Its Chairman, Mr. Cargill of the World Bank, is now visiting Islamabad to discuss Pakistan's economic situation and its external debt.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the budget of the Factory Inspectorate in Hong Kong, and how many inspectors are employed per 1,000 employees.

The approved budget of the Factory Inspectorate in Hong Kong for 1971–72 is Hong Kong $4,634,000.Based on the approved establishment of the Inspectorate—which includes factory and labour inspectors—and the size of the labour force in registered and recorded industrial undertakings, there is 1 inspector employed per 4,000 industrial employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many fatal industrial accidents per 1,000 employees occurred in Hong Kong in 1970, and how this compares with the previous five years.

The figures based on reported industrial and occupational accidents in registered, recorded and registrable industrial undertakings for the last 5 years are as follows:

		Fatal Accidents	Total Employed June	Rate per 1,000 employed in registered and recorded industrial undertakings
1966–67	…	33	383,809	0·0860
1967–68	…	23	433,843	0·0530
1968–69	…	28	472,210	0·0593
1969	…	27	535,335	0·0504
1970	…	38	577,978	0·0657

The rate of accidents shown in the above table does not take into account the number of employees in registrable industrial undertakings which are not as yet recorded or registered with the Labour Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the expenditure in each of the past five years in Hong Kong's programmes for promoting employment opportunities, developing technical education, and improving health service provision.

Unemployment is at present negligible. Hong Kong's technical education and related programmes comprise institutional facilities at the Hong Kong Technical College, the Morrison Hill Technical Institute, and Government and Government-assisted secondary technical schools, secondary modern schools and pre-vocational schools. Over the past five years expenditure in the field of technical education was as follows:

Year		Capital (Building and Equipment)	Re-current	Total
		$ million	$ million	$ million
1966–67	…	4·0	12·3	16·3
1967–68	…	1·2	13·0	14·2
1968–69	…	1·5	15·1	16·6
1969–70	…	5·6	17·0	22·6
1970–71	…	5·5	20·5	26·0

These figures exclude expenditure at both universities in the training of engineers, architects, etc.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) what progress is being made by countries not having reciprocal arrangements for free medical treatment for British visitors abroad to implement the necessary legislation;(2) whether he will list the countries with which the United Kingdom now has reciprocal arrangements for free medical treatment for British citizens abroad.

I have been asked to reply.The United Kingdom has entered into reciprocal arrangements with the following countries for the medical treatment of British residents and visitors abroad:

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries of the Far East and Pacific will receive technical assistance from the United Kingdom under the Supply Estimates, Class II, Vote 5, Subhead C(9), in 1971–72; and what is the value of the assistance to each.

Expenditure from technical assistance funds is not precisely allocated in advance. The final total of expenditure will not be known until later in the year but, on the figures available at 31st March, expenditure from the equivalent item for 1970–71 was as follows:

	£
British Solomon Islands Protectorate	64,118
Gilbert and Ellice Islands Colony	12,143
Hong Kong	27,550
New Hebrides	13,158
Fiji	108,101
Tonga	44,840
Western Samoa	3,467
University of South Pacific	3,840
	277,217

I would expect expenditure under this item for the present financial year to follow a similar pattern, even though the Estimates provision has been increased.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs which countries of Latin America will receive technical assistance from the United Kingdom under the Supply Estimates, Class II, Vote 5, Subhead C(6), in 1971–72; and what is the estimated value of the assistance to each.

The allocation of £2 million provided under the Subhead is available generally to Latin American countries with which the United Kingdom has a continuing technical assistance programme. These are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, Paraguay, Uruguay and Venezuela. The Central American countries of Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama also share in this. £15,000 for aid to regional organisations is included in the overall provision. I am expecting not only that the £2 million will be fully disbursed, but that a further £500,000 will probably be required. Supplementary provision for this will be sought in due course.Technical assistance expenditure is not precisely allocated in advance. Disbursements this year are expected to follow broadly the same pattern as last year when they were as follows: Argentina £58,000; Bolivia £106,000; Brazil £188,000; Chile £214,000, Colombia £167,000; Ecuador £65,000; Mexico £77,000; Paraguay £1,000; Peru £77,000; Uruguay £13,000; Venezuela £27,000. In Central America: Costa Rica £52,000; Dominican Republic £17,000; El Salvador £48,000; Honduras £74,000; Nicaragua £5,000; Panama £50,000 (provisional figures).

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what instructions have been given to area offices of his Department concerning National Insurance coverage and its application to the wives of club stewards.

General guidance on contract of service is provided in instructions to the staff of local offices. This has been amplified in the case of wives of club stewards so that where the husband is employed under a contract of service by a club and his wife performs some services for which she receives payment, then she, too, is employed under a contract which, prima facie, is one of service by the club.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what reply has been sent from his Department to communications from the South Wales Divisional Officer of the Union of Shop,

I am sending the lion Member a copy of my reply.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) what is the cost of sickness benefit paid to the mentally ill in Scotland, and the days of incapacity this reflected, for the years 1968, 1969, and 1970;(2) what is the estimated cost in working man hours lost for mental illness in Scotland for the years 1968 and 1969, and to the latest available date in 1970.

Information is available only about sickness which is notified for the purpose of claims under the National Insurance Acts. The numbers of days of certified incapacity attributed to psycho-neuroses and psychoses in Scotland and the corresponding costs of sickness benefit are estimated to be as follows:

Year			Days (June to May) Millions	Cost (April to March) £millions
1967–68	…	…	3·5	3·2
1968–69	…	…	3·6	3·6
1969–70	…	…	3·7	3·9

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services (1) which local authorities are operating night nursing services; how many were employed in such work by each such authority; how many visits were made in total by each such authority during the last period for which records are available; how many patients were visited by each such authority during such period; how many such patients died during such period; how many such deceased patients were living alone; and how many such deceased patients living alone were singly incontinent and how many doubly incontinent;(2) which local authorities are operating night sitting-in services; how many nurses were employed in such work by each such authority; how many visits were made in total by each such authority during the last period for which records are available; how many patients were visited by each such authority during such period; how many such patients died during such period; how many such deceased patients were living alone; and how many such deceased patients living alone were singly incontinent and how many doubly incontinent.

I regret that the statistical information requested is not collected on a national basis, although individual local health authorities which are responsible for these services will doubtless have their own records.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what method of selection is used when filling temporary vacancies at the Department of Social Security, Oldham.

MEDICAL AND DENTAL CONSULTANTS WITH PAID CONTRACTS IN THE NATIONAL HEALTH SERVICE HOSPITAL SERVICE IN ENGLAND AND WALES AT 30TH SEPTEMBER, 1970
Analysis by employing board and number of sessions
		Total whole time and part time			Part Time
Employing Board			Whole time 11/11ths	Total	9/11ths (maximum)	8/11ths	7/11ths
Total without duplication	…	9,087	3,377	5,710	4,500	490	206
Total of figures shown below	…	10,327	3,603	6,724	5,257	630	273
Newcastle Regional Hospital Board	…	543	330	213	197	3	—
United Newcastle Board of Governors	…	80	37	43	39	1	1
Leeds Regional Hospital Board	…	499	188	311	297	3	1
United Leeds Board of Governors	…	75	24	51	43	—	2
Sheffield Regional Hospital Board	…	581	259	322	313	3	1
United Sheffield Board of Governors	…	96	44	52	49	2	1
East Anglian Regional Hospital Board	…	277	122	155	58	87	5
United Cambridge Board of Governors	…	63	19	44	35	4	1
North West Met. Regional Hospital Board	…	771	206	565	398	48	42
North East Met. Regional Hospital Board	…	637	203	434	329	42	19
South East Met. Regional Hospital Board	…	640	196	444	375	23	16
South West Met. Regional Hospital Board	…	619	187	432	347	24	20
London Teaching Hospitals	…	1,384	179	1,205	729	168	108
Oxford Regional Hospital Board	…	318	116	202	176	9	6
United Oxford Board of Governors	…	86	29	57	46	4	—
South Western Regional Hospital Board	…	522	184	338	305	10	7
United Bristol Board of Governors	…	90	33	57	46	5	1
Birmingham Regional Hospital Board	…	783	367	416	365	16	14
United Birmingham Board of Governors	…	116	32	84	63	10	4
Manchester Regional Hospital Board	…	701	234	467	319	125	3
United Manchester Board of Governors	…	71	18	53	46	4	1
Liverpool Regional Hospital Board	…	417	165	252	222	11	6
United Liverpool Board of Governors	…	106	31	75	55	8	5
Wessex Regional Hospital Board	…	356	142	214	191	15	2
Welsh Hospital Board	…	423	224	199	189	4	3
United Cardiff Board of Governors	…	73	34	39	25	1	4

Vacancies for casual employment in the Department's Oldham office arise in the clerical assistant grade to deal with seasonal and non-recurring jobs. Where possible, selection is made from persons with previous experience of the Department's work.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT for each regional hospital board the number of consultants who work 11/11ths, 10/11ths, 9/11ths, 8/11ths, 7/11ths, 6/11ths, 5/11ths, 4/11ths, 3/11ths, 2/11ths and 1/11th, respectively, of their time on National Health Service work; and if he will make a statement.

The information, on which I have no statement to make, is as follows: