asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement regarding the teachers' pay negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now make an announcement on the result of the claim for increased pay by teachers.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier today to the Question by the hon. Member for Watford (Mr. Raphael Tuck) and others.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will initiate the necessary steps to allow new teachers an advance payment on their salary for their first month's service.

Where necessary an advance payment can be made by arrangement between the teacher and his employer.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the date of the last visit to Neyland Technical College by one of Her Majesty's inspectors with responsibilities for further education.

Three H.M. Inspectors, two of whom are specialists in further education, visited the College on 20th April. Prior to that visits were paid in October, 1969 and February and May, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) whether she is now in a position to estimate the number of students not accepted or applying for entry to universities, who will be eligible for entry to polytechnics on full-time or sandwich courses next year, in 1975 and 1980;(2) whether she is now able to make a statement about the financing of poly- technics, bearing in mind the projected increase in the number of students.

It is clear that the polytechnics will need to expand conisderably during the next decade, but I am not yet in a position to make a realistic estimate of student admissions, or levels of expenditure over the period 1975–80.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what programme she has for increasing the number of places in halls of residence, special flats or housing, or authorised lodgings, in polytechnics, and how many such places will be available next year, in 1975 and in 1980.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the Answer given to his earlier Questions today. I am not yet in a position to make a realistic estimate about residential provision over the period 1975–80.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a further statement on student grant increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a further statement on grants to students.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is yet in a position to make a statement regarding the new level of grants to students.

The Government, after discussion with the local authority associations, has decided to authorise additional expenditure over the three-year period 1971–74 of £76 million for undergraduate and comparable awards.My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Scotland, and I have invited the local authority associations, the Committee of Vice-Chancellors and the student associations, to joint discussions, beginning next week, on the allocation of this total sum between increases in rates of grant and other improvements e.g. in the scale for parental contributions. I will make a statement about new levels of grants at the first opportunity.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it is her policy to encourage visits to schools by careers advisers from Her Majesty's forces.

I would hope that information about all careers, including the wide and varied opportunities in Her Majesty's forces, is made available to pupils.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now issue guidance to local education authorities to prevent young children being subjected to cinematographic sexual education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the result of her consideration of the question of the withdrawal of children from sex education films and courses.

I am still considering this matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects the review of the scale for the local educational maintenance allowance to be completed.

I am not conducting a review of the scales of educational maintenance allowances paid by local education authorities but have collected information about current practice.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she intends to introduce her scheme for having two types of school meals.

The provision of school meals is a matter for local education authorities subject to the relevant regulations. These at present empower authorities to provide other meals and refreshment in addition to the standard school dinner.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many school dinners were taken in Hull in the first week following the Easter holidays; how many were taken in the comparable period last year; how many were free dinners and how many were free because the main wage earner in the household was unemployed; and what was the comparable figure for 1970.

On a day in September, 1970, 21,550 pupils at schools in Kingston-upon-Hull took the school meal and 5,814 received it free of charge. I cannot say how many of these pupils received free meals because the main wage earner in the household was unemployed.In answer to the first part of the Question, I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given earlier to the Question by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and others.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the number of school children who ceased having school dinners after the recent price increase.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given earlier today to the Question by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and others.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many seals have been killed experimentally each year for the last 10 years on North Rona by persons for whose actions her Department was responsible; and what was the purpose of the killings.

I have made careful inquiry and I understand there have been no killings for any purpose.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) why there has been a delay of several years in agreeing a plan for the future of secondary education in Richmond-on-Thames between Richmond Council and her Department;

The first plan was rejected by the last Administration. A further plan was submitted on 31st March, 1971. There is no statutory obligation to submit plans.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what special provision she intends to make for grants to students studying medicine, to take account of the increased cost of stethoscopes and skeletons since 1962, the 18 weeks extra study each year and the two or three extra years of study required of medical as compared with other students and the fact that they are subjected to the parental means test later than other students.

These matters are the subject of representations by the students associations which we are studying in connection with the current review of student grants.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what new research the Medical Research Council intends to initiate following recent experiments into the combined effects of D.D.T. and aldrin at the Miami School of Medicine, details of which have been sent to her; and if she will make a statement.

Steps are being taken to obtain full details of this work at the Miami School of Medicine, so that they may be considered by the Advisory Committee on Pesticides and Other Toxic Chemicals. The results of the Commitee's discussions will be made available to the Medical Research Council who will then decide whether further research is required.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she has now had with local education authorities and universities with a view to improving the careers guidance services in schools, colleges and universities.

None recently. However, I have emphasised the importance which I attach to careers education and guidance, and Her Majesty's Inspectors are always available to discuss with local education authorities ways in which the service might be improved.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will institute an index of school building costs in inner London.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what steps she is taking to ensure that capital spending on schools in the London Borough of Waltham Forest takes into account the need to improve educational facilities in the borough.

The major building programme for 1972–73 includes four primary school improvement projects providing 1,040 places at a cost of £330,000. About 250 additional nursery places in Waltham Forest have so far been approved under the Urban Programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will now make a statement about future arrangements for student unions.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will make a further statement on her policy on student unions.

My right hon. Friend is not yet ready to make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consultations she has had with Portsmouth City Council on the need to improve pre-school and primary school facilities within the city; and whether she will make a statement.

A new nursery unit was approved in January, 1971, under the Urban Programme and two primary school replacement projects have been included in the school building programme, on which work is expected to start in 1972–73.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in view of the inadequacy of the existing buildings of the Neyland Technical College and of the need for agreement to be reached between her Department and the local education authority on the future development of the college, whether she will take steps to expedite a decision on this matter.

The Authority want to move their Technical College from Neyland to Haverfordwest, but have been told this could only be considered if the premises at Neyland can be put to other educational use. As the hon. Member knows, two Church Authorities have expressed interest in using Neyland premises for an interdenominational school, and the Welsh Education Office are awaiting their considered views.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will recommend to local education authorities that teachers should spend every tenth year in in-service training.

No. I think the aim that every teacher should have the equivalent of one week's in-service training each year is a more practicable one at present.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the number of students attending business schools in the United Kingdom, giving estimates for the next five years.

In 1969 there were some 23,000 full-time and part-time students taking advanced courses in business management and related subjects in universities, polytechnics and other Further Education institutions in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proposals she has for allocating extra resources to the primary sector of the education service; and what steps she proposes to give parity of treatment to those teaching in the primary sector.

I have approved a record primary school improvement programme for 1972–73. Staffing standards in the primary schools are improving rapidly and the rate support grant for this year and next allow for a real increase in expenditure per pupil.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what progress she has made in her discussions with the representatives of the national museums and galleries on the imposition of entrance charges; and if she will make a statement.

The Government intend to publish a White Paper dealing with this and other matters concerning museums and galleries shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local education authorities have not taken up their full quota of teachers on the last available return.

Following is the information:

Authorities Employing, at 1st February, 1971, Fewer of the Teachers Covered by the Quota System than their Quota Allowed.
Anglesey	Bury
Barnsley	Caernarvonshire
Barrow	Canterbury
Bath	Cardiganshire
Bedfordshire	Carmarthenshire
Birkenhead	Cheshire
Blackpool	Chester
Bolton	Cornwall
Bootle	Coventry
Bournemouth	Croydon
Bradford	Cumberland
Breconshire	Darlington
Bristol	Denbighshire
Buckinghamshire	Derby
Burnley	Derbyshire

Devon	Newport (Mon.)
Dewsbury	Northamptonshire
Dorset	Norwich
Dudley	Northumberland
Durham	Nottingham
Ealing	Nottinghamshire
Eastbourne	Oldham
Enfield	Oxford
Essex	Oxfordshire
Exeter	Pembrokeshire
Flintshire	Plymouth
Gateshead	Preston
Glamorgan	Radnorshire
Gloucester	Richmond-upon-Thames
Hampshire
Haringey	Rotherham
Harrow	St. Helens
Hartlepool	Shropshire
Hastings	Solihull
Havering	Somerset
Herefordshire	Southend-on-Sea
Hillingdon	Southport
Hounslow	Staffordshire
Huddersfield	Stockport
Ipswich	Suffolk East
Isles of Scilly	Suffolk West
Isle of Wight	Sunderland
Kent	Surry
Kingston-upon-Thames	Sussex East
	Sussex West
Lancashire	Sutton
Leeds	Teesside
Leicester	Torbay
Leicestershire	Tynemouth
Lincoln	Wakefield
Lincolnshire—Holland	Warley
	Warrington
Lincolnshire—Kesteven	warwickshire
	West Bromwich
Lincolnshire—Lindsey	Westmorland
	Wigan
Luton	Wiltshire
Manchester	Wolverhampton
Merioneth	Worcester
Merton	Worcestershire
Monmouthshire	York
Montgomeryshire	Yorkshire E. Riding
Newham	Yorkshire E. Riding

NOTE. The number of authorities below or above quota depends partly upon whether the total of teachers available turns out to be greater or less than the total of quotas allocated.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the total number of new school places provided in each divisional executive area of the West Riding during the last five years.

This information is not collected by the Department. The hon. Member may therefore wish to consult the local education authority direct.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) what are the present pupil-teacher ratios in both primary and secondary schools in each division of the West Riding;(2) what is the number of pupils of statutory school age in each West Riding division;(3) what is the number of classes of more than 40 pupils in primary schools and of more than 30 pupils in secondary schools in each division of the West Riding.

Information about divisional executives is not readily available in the Department but may be obtainable from the local education authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proportion of teachers in primary and in secondary schools in each division of the West Riding who currently hold posts providing above-scale payment.

Details of teachers in service by individual division within the West Riding are not available from records held by this Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the number of pupils from each division of the West Riding who are in receipt of education at private or direct grant schools the cost of which falls wholly or in part upon the county council.

This information is not available in the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why, and how, the Natural Environmental Research Council studies the structure of the skin and pelage of British seals at different stages in the life cycle.

This is part of a general study to see if colonies of seals from different places have distinguishing characteristics in their skin and fur. So far the study has been confined to examination of the broad form of the body.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list the number of primary schools in each of the divisions of the West Riding which require to be replaced or to be rehabilitated during the next five years.

The Department has been notified by the local education authority that 444 pre-1903 primary and middle schools require replacement or improvement because of a long-term need for the school places which they provide. My right hon. Friend hopes to achieve the replacement or improvement of as many as possible of these schools as quickly as possible but she cannot commit herself to particular dates for individual local education authorities.Details are:

Divisional Executive areas		Number of schools
1. Craven	…	22
2. Claro	…	33
3. Shipley	…	21
4. Airedale	…	12
5. Calder	…	28
6. Ashlar	…	23
7. Spen Valley	…	18
8. Morley	…	18
9. Batley	…	11
10. Rothwell and Stanley	…	7
11. Castleford and District	…	12
12. Pontefract and District	…	14
13. Gaskell	…	10
14. Upper Agbrigg	…	24
15. Hemsworth and District	…	9
16. Don Valley	…	11
17. Staincross	…	6
18. Mexborough and District	…	25
19. Wharncliffe	…	12
20. Rother Valley	…	10
Excepted district
Keighley	…	17
Districts administered by the County Council
31. Settle	…	16
32. Ripon	…	14
33. Wharfedale	…	11
34. Ainsty	…	29
35. Goole	…	19
36. Saddleworth	…	3
37. Penistone	…	9
Total	…	444

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether having regard to its attitude to offensive productions supported by public funds, she will suspend further grants to the Arts Council.

No.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in view of his decision to close the Royal Naval Stores Depot, Coventry, by 1973, he will now state his future plans for these premises; and whether it is Her Majesty's Government's intentions to lease or sell the premises after the closure, or to seek to dispose of them before the closure so that the depot may be maintained in continuous being as a source of employment.

Plans for the disposal of the Royal Naval Stores Depot, Coventry have not yet been finalised.If not required for any alternative Ministry of Defence or other Governments Department's purpose, efforts will be made to dispose of the property before closure.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what expenditure was incurred for the purpose of United States military aircraft in each of the years 1966 to date; and what expenditure is expected for each year from 1971 to 1980.

Overseas expenditure has been:

					£ million
1966–67	…	…	…	…	3
1967–68	…	…	…	…	15
1968–69	…	…	…	…	48
1969–70	…	…	…	…	43
1970–71	…	…	…	…	57

The forecast expenditure for

1971–72 is

…

…

…

58

It is not the practice to give forecasts of such expenditure beyond the Estimates year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under whose orders three Army land rovers crossed the Northern Ireland border into the Irish Republic near the village of Jonesboro on Sunday night, 2nd May, 1971; and what steps he now proposes to take to keep such patrols in Northern Ireland and not increase the risk of the lives of their crews by possible Irish Republican Army ambush.

One Army land rover and two Ferret scout cars crossed the border of the Republic of Ireland in error during the night of 2nd-3rd May. All units are aware of the importance of avoiding accidental crossings of this kind.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what searches for arms and ammunition have been carried out recently by the Army in the grounds of St. Gabriel's School, Crumlin Road, Belfast; and what number of arms and what amounts of ammunition have been discovered.

On 29th-30th April Army units searching within the curtilage of St. Gabriel's School found a machine gun, nine other firearms, nine magazines of various kinds and over 2,200 assorted rounds of ammunition.

asked the Minister of State for Defence why a Republican crowd was able to attack St. Mark's Church of Ireland Hall, Ballysillan, Belfast, on Friday night, 30th April, resulting in the breaking up of a youth club dance in the hall; at what time the Army eventually arrived at the hall; and what arrests were made.

The Army was called to the scene of this disturbance by the R.U.C. as a precautionary measure and arrived at 10.50 p.m. The assistance of the Army was not in the event required by the R.U.C., who, I understand, arrested five persons.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what consideration is being given to extending the period of unaccompanied tour of duty for soldiers posted to Northern Ireland beyond four months.

I have nothing to add to the statement made by my hon. Friend during the Defence Estimate (Army) debate on 11th March.—[Vol. 813, c. 740–1.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will give as much detailed information as may be readily available of the number of British Commonwealth citizens who hold officer positions in any of the three sections of the British Armed Forces, the ranks which they hold and the countries of origin of these Commonwealth citizens.

Almost all officers in the Armed Forces are Commonwealth citizens or citizens of the Irish Republic. Statistics of rank are shown in annual Estimates. I regret that the information sought in the last part of the Question is not readily available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on future catering facilities for civilian employees in Portsmouth Naval Dockyard.

The Management Committee of the Portsmouth Royal Dockyard Canteen and Restaurant Society Limited, which at present provides the canteen service in Portsmouth Dockyard, has recommended that its responsibilities be transferred to the Director of Civil Catering Services (Naval). Subject to ratification of this recommendation by a general meeting of the Society, the transfer will take place on 3rd July, 1971.The Director of Civil Catering Services (Naval) is responsible for the management of all other canteens in the Navy Department and the same high standard of service will be provided at Portsmouth as is already provided in the other Royal Dockyards.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arms are being supplied to Ceylon by Her Majesty's Government; whether military personnel and advisers are being sent in addition to military equipment; whether these advisers will work with the Russian military advisers who are now in Ceylon; and whether he will make a statement.

Britain is supplying the Ceylon Government with certain defence equipment, as my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, explained in his answer to the hon. Member for Bradford West (Mr. Wilkinson), on 22nd April. The Ceylon Government has not requested the provision of any British military personnel or advisers to support this equipment.—[Vol. 815, c. 457.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence why, in view of the Government's statement that all replies to questions on the Census form would be secret, he instructed a number of his employees not to fill in these forms in such a way as to give full and detailed description of their type of employment; and whether he will make a statement.Lord Balniel: My staff were instructed to provide answers in accordance with what was agreed with the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.These instructions will not in any way limit the information provided to less than what was required for the purposes of the Census.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he proposes to announce the result of the review of home defence.

I cannot at present add to the reply which I gave on 22nd April to a Question by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight).—[Vol. 815, c. 1342–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been convicted of political offences since 1968, and how many are Category A.

In this country there are no prosecutions for political offences.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the maximum period of imprisonment served by any person for nonpayment of rates in England and Wales sentenced in each of the years 1968, 1969 and 1970.

The longest period served by a civil prisoner received into prison in 1969 for non-payment of rates was 91 days. Statistics for 1970 are not yet available and could not be obtained for 1968 without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons were imprisoned for non-payament of rates in each of the years 1968, 1969, and 1970, respectively, by order of magistrates' courts in England and Wales, and how many were required to serve more than seven days' imprisonment, how many were required to serve more than 14 days' imprisonment, how many more than 21 days, and how many in excess of the latter period.

In 1969, 656 civil prisoners were received into prison for nonpayment of rates; of these, 342 served more than seven days' imprisonment, 267 served more than 14 days' imprisonment and 218 served more than 21 days' imprisonment. Statistics for 1970 are not yet available and could not be obtained for 1968 without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will call for a report from the Chief Constable on the attack on an individual assisting the police by a police Alsatian dog in Manchester; and what steps he intends to take to prevent innocent persons from attacks by police dogs.

A young man who was chasing a suspect was himself mistaken for a suspect by the dog handler. The dog, acting under orders and in accordance with his training, stopped him. I understand from the chief constable that the young man, who suffered some injury to his hand, fully appreciates how the incident happened and has no complaint against the police.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will introduce legislation to prevent the use of dangerous guard dogs by private individuals and firms.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if, as a result of the report for which he has called, he will consider taking steps to prevent the deliberate practice of provoking guard dogs to make them vicious;(2) whether he is yet able to make an announcement on his consultation with the police and the report which he has called for on the use of guard dogs; and whether, when dealing with this matter, he will give consideration to the advisability of all guard dog services being under the control of the police, hired out to private organisations and firms on a profit fee earning basis similar to that now operated by the commercial firms engaged in this business.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply I gave on 29th April to Questions by my hon. Friend the Member for Falmouth and Camborne (Mr. Mudd) and the hon. Members from West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis) and for Shoreditch and Finsbury (Mr. Ronald Brown).—[Vol. 816, c. 180–1.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from individuals and organisations for and against the Immigration Bill proposals.

Nearly 400. They cannot be classified as simply for or against.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he expects to be able to announce his decision on the request made to him by the hon. Member for Cleveland for a public inquiry into the York Hotel fire at Redcar on 22nd December, 1970.

I have written to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department now many complaints against the police were investigated by police officers from other forces during 1970; and in how many of these action was recommended by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

In 1970, 50 complaints against the police in England and Wales were investigated by officers from other forces.The statistics requested in the second part of the Question are not readily available, but I am in touch with the chief officers of police concerned and shall write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the text of the circular issued by his Department recommending cinema licensing authorities to be more resolute in their powers to deal with obscene or offensive advertisements for films.

I have arranged for copies of the circular to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take the necessary legislative action to ensure that where prima facie evidence is submitted to him of the fact that the police are failing to carry out their liability to enforce the law according to statute, aggrieved taxpayers shall be legally enabled to sue the police for damages and redress.

My right hon. Friend sees no need for any changes in the law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a committee to investigate the administration of the magistrates' courts in England and Wales, on the lines of the Beeching Report on superior criminal courts.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave to a Question by the hon. Member for Bradford, East (Mr. Edward Lyons) on 18th March.—[Vol. 813, c. 1621–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will seek to arrange for magistrates' courts to ensure that, in cases of unrepresented accused persons being refused bail, a form is provided to the accused giving the reason for the refusal and an explanation of the procedure for appealing to the judge in chambers.

I understand that forms of this kind are already used by some courts but on present information my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that their use should be made mandatory.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons during each of the last three years were kept in custody by order of magistrates' courts in England and Wales for medical, psychiatric, probation or other social reports, and how many of these were subsequently given custodial treatment.

Statistics for 1970 are not yet available. In 1969, 15,041 persons were remanded in custody by magistrates' courts under Section 26 of the Magistrates' Courts Act, 1952 or on adjournment under Section 14(3) of the Act. Of these, 4,800 were subsequently given a custodial sentence. In 1968, 12,196 persons were so remanded; the number of these subsequently given a custodial sentence could not be obtained without disproportionate cost.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons in 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively, were remanded in custody awaiting trial in England and Wales; how many of these were given no custodial sentence; and how many were ultimately acquitted.

The numbers of untried prisoners received into custody in England and Wales were 40,503 in 1968 and 44,267 in 1969; of these, 1,977 in 1968 and 2,079 in 1969 were found not guilty or discharged without formal recording of a conviction. Of those found guilty in 1969, 22,233 were not given a custodial sentence; a corresponding figure for 1968 could not be obtained without disproportionate cost. The figures for 1970 are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the percentage of the daily prison population represented by untried prisoners in 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively.

6 per cent., 7 per cent. and 7·5 per cent. respectively of the population of all prison service establishments in England and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the percentage of all prison receptions of untried prisoners in 1968, 1969 and 1970, respectively.

In 1968 46·4 per cent. of all persons received into prison service establishments in England and Wales were first received as untried prisoners. The equivalent figure in 1969 was 47 per cent. That for 1970 is not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if a pilot study will be undertaken to assess whether the method for evaluating eligibility for bail, pioneered in the United States of America by the Vera Institute of Justice, a description of which has been sent to him, could be employed in this country; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend would need to be satisfied that such a proposal was acceptable to the magistrates and the police, who would have to carry it out in practice. I understand that the Magistrates' Association are currently considering the question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he has taken since 22nd February, 1971, to ensure that the present practice of Customs and Excise officers showing privilege to first-class ships' passengers when entering British ports is ended; and whether he will personally look into the case sent to his Department by Mr. G. Harris under reference No. IMG/64 11/724/3.

My right hon. Friend is not responsible for Customs and Excise Officers. The representations to which the hon. Member refers were made in relation to immigration officers. It is not their practice to give preferential treatment to first-class passengers. In the particular case, the two classes of passengers were examined separately but simultaneously.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) on what date in November, 1970, the Metropolitan Police received a request from Mr. Peter Deeley for co-operation in writing a book on the McKay murder; what was the nature of their reply; and if he will give similar details concerning an approach from the British Broadcasting Corporation for the making of a documentary film;(2) whether at any time whilst the appeal case in connection with Mrs. McKay was pending or in process, the Metropolitan Police co-operated with the British Broadcasting Corporation or those connected with making the documentary film on the case, as subsequently made and shown by the British Broadcasting Corporation;(3) why the Metropolitan Police gave help and assistance and co-operated with the British Broadcasting Corporation in producing a film connected with the McKay murder case, whilst at the same time refusing to grant the same cooperation and assistance to journalists.

I understand that on 19th November, 1970, Mr. Deeley sought the assistance of the Metropolitan Police in writing a book about the murder of Mrs. McKay. The Metropolitan Police had already agreed to co-operate with the B.B.C., who had asked for special facilities in June and had assured the Commissioner of Police that he would have the opportunity to approve the film before it was shown; this was a safeguard against anything being shown which could have been held to prejudice appeal proceedings.The Commissioner considered it impracticable to meet the several requests which were made for special facilities and interviews with his officers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he has had his attention drawn to the BBC1 television programme Twenty-Four Hours of Friday, 30th April, 1971, dealing with illegal immigration; and if he will institute proceedings for illegal immigration against those concerned.

The institution of proceedings is not a matter for me. The police are making inquiries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now hold a public inquiry into the circumstances of the trial and conviction of James Hanratty for murder, in view of fresh evidence which has been sent to him.

I have received an advance copy of a new book about the case. It will necessarily take a little time to consider, in the light of this and the voluminous reports available to me, whether there is any fresh information, which would justify further action on my part.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many stockbrokers were registered as unemployed at the last convenient date.

I regret that separate figures relating to this specific occupation cannot be extracted from our statistics. The number of registered unemployed in a broader occupational group including other brokers and similar occupations was 37 at 3rd March, 1971, the latest date for which figures are available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT information showing precisely how the average weekly earnings of male manual workers, and all male workers, is calculated.

The return from each employer in the regular inquiry into earnings of manual workers in the United Kingom includes the aggregate amount paid to full-time men aged 21 and over in a particular pay week in October and the number of men receiving payment. The amount includes a proportionate share of annual, etc., bonus payments. The returns for a particular industry are added together and the total amount divided by the total number of men. The average for all industries covered by the inquiry is a weighted average of the individual industry averages, using as weights my Department's estimates of the numbers of full-time men employed in the industries. Separate figures are obtained for males under 21 but averages for all male manual workers are not compiled.Earnings information for individual employees was obtained in the New Earnings Survey for a sample of employees in employment in Great Britain in April, 1970. These data were used to calculate average weekly earnings for specified groups of employees. The groups

NUMBERS REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED (THAT IS, EXCLUDING THOSE TEMPORARILY STOPPED) IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE WOLVERHAMPTON EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE AND IN THE WEST MIDLANDS REGION
				Wolverhampton		West Midlands
				Males	Females	Males	Females
March, 1971	…	…	…	2,861	546	47,885	8,477
April, 1971	…	…	…	3,313	644	51,150	8,676
Percentage change	…	…	…	+15·8	+17·9	+6·8	+2·3

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the level of male and female unemployment, in percentages and totals, within the travelto-work area of the Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate.

In the Darlington and Aycliffe travel-to-work area, which includes the Newton Aycliffe Industrial Estate, there were, at 5th April, 1,624 males and 283 females registered as unemployed. The percentage rates of unemployment were 4·6 for males and 1·5 for females.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a further statement on the April figures for men and women who are wholly unemployed in the Wolverhampton and West Midlands areas, respectively, and indicate what relationship these figures bear to those for March.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table of figures giving a comparison in the annual rise in the real wages after allowing for the rise in the cost of living in each of the countries of the Six, since its inception, and those in Great Britain;(2) whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details to show how in 1970 the average wage in Great Britain compared with each of the Common Market countries; and, using as the basis of the £ sterling having a purchasing value of 20s. in 1958, what since the inception of the Common Market has been the relative rise or fall in the real standard of living of each of these countries with Great Britain.

Below are the relevant figures available from international sources.I must emphasise that owing to differences in concept, scope, methodology and presentation it cannot be assumed that the figures for different countries are

		Wages non-agricultural sectors	Variations in industrial coverage of wages figures	Consumer Prices
Belgium:
Earnings per day
Males	…	6·3	Excluding commerce	2·5
Females	…	7·9
Earnings per hour All workers	…	6·9
France:
Rates of pay per hour
Males—Adults only	…	7·8	Excluding mining and quarrying	4·1
Females—Adults only	…	8·0
All workers—Adults only	…	7·8
Earnings per hour All workers	…	8·0	Excluding mining and quarrying, state operated transport and government services.
Federal Republic of Germany:
Earnings* per hour
Males	…	8·1	Excluding commerce and transport (1958–1970).	2·5
Females	…	9·0
All workers	…	8·3
Earnings* per week All workers	…	7·6	(1958–1969)	2·3
Italy:
Rates of pay per hour All workers	…	7·3	Excluding commerce and transport	3·3
Luxembourg†:
Earnings per hour All workers	…	5·9	Excluding commerce and transport	2·0
Netherlands‡:
Earnings per hour All workers	…	7·7		3·5
United Kingdom§:
Average weekly earnings All workers	…	6·8	Excluding coalmining, commerce and railways.	3·6
* Including family allowances paid directly by the employer: Earnings per hour 1958–1970; Earnings per week 1958–1969.
† Period 1958–1968.
‡ Period 1958–1966; includes salaried employees.
§ Period October, 1958 to October, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment by how much he estimates production costs have risen in the past 12 months in percentage terms;

Between the fourth quarters of 1969 and 1970 labour costs per unit of output are estimated to have risen by 11·7 per cent. During the same period, the largest constituent item, wages and salaries per unit of output, rose by 11·8 per cent. Changes in import costs, interest rates and fuel costs are not within the responsibility of my Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the total number of unemployed in the Huddersfield district in each year in the month of April from 1964 to the latest available date.

Following is the information:

TOTAL NUMBERS REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREA COVERED BY THE HUDDERSFIELD EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE
			Total registered unemployed	Temporarily stopped included in total
April, 1971	…	…	2,532	650
April, 1970	…	…	1,251	66
April, 1969	…	…	948	30
April, 1968	…	…	1,062	13
April, 1967	…	…	723	38
April, 1966	…	…	430	9
April, 1965	…	…	522	15
April, 1964	…	…	610	21

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many surveys are currently being conducted by his Department which involve form-filling by members of the public; and whether he will list them.

Surveys conducted by my Department do not involve the completion of forms by ordinary members of the public. They do involve the completion of forms by employers and the following surveys are addressed either to all or most employers or to a random sample of all employers:

1. Census of Employment.

2. Numbers of national insurance cards held by employers.

3. New Earnings Survey.

The Family Expenditure Survey, which involves a sample of households, is sponsored by my Department but is conducted by the Social Survey Division of the Office of Population Censuses and Surveys.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many persons were involved in stoppages due to industrial disputes in Scotland in the latest known period; and how this figure compares with corresponding periods over the last five years.

Following is the information:

Stoppages of work due to industrial disputes: Scotland
		Workers involved* in stoppages which began in period
July-December, 1970†	…	134,200
July-December, 1969	…	135,200
July-December, 1968	…	51,500
July-December, 1967	…	52,900
July-December, 1966	…	22,000
July-December, 1965	…	50,500
* At the establishments where the disputes occurred.
† Provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in the series of meetings with industrialists that has included Mr. Henry Ford, he will seek to arrange a meeting with Lord Melchett.

I have regular meetings with chairmen of those nationalised industries for which I am responsible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what proportion of United Kingdom imports came from countries of the Commonwealth Preference Area in 1961 and 1970; and what were the corresponding figures for exports.

Imports: 38 per cent. and 31 per cent.; exports: 40 per cent. and 30 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will give, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time the dates when the annual accounts of the Dollar Land Company for each of the years since its formation were presented and eventually adopted; and whether, during the whole of this period, the company had properly-elected directors and company secretaries in accordance with the Companies Act, in view of the fact that he is considering the affairs of this company.

Accounts for year to 31st December.			Presented at A.G.M. held on
1961	…	…	1st June, 1962
1962	…	…	6th June, 1963
1963	…	…	26th June, 1964
1964	…	…	20th July, 1965
1965	…	…	19th December, 1966
1966	…	…	21st December, 1967
1967	…	…	30th December, 1968
1968	…	…	30th December, 1970

At the meeting held on 30th December, 1968, the accounts were not adopted.The company had no directors, or had directors without the necessary share qualifications, in the period 21st November, 1969, to 4th June, 1970. There has at all times been a secretary to the company.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a new Origin Marking Order covering all woven shirts and pyjamas when the present Order expires this autumn.

I am considering requests which I have recently received for such an Order.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department accepts a Liberian certificate of navigational competence as sufficient evidence of experience for the automatic provision of an equivalent British certificate of navigational competence as Liberia does for a British certificate.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if Her Majesty's Government will call for an emergency meeting of the International Maritime Consultative Organisation and request it to study urgently the efficacy of Liberia's efforts to enforce internationally acceptable levels of safety standards and levels of navigational competence in respect of those officers and crews of ships under its flag.

The Government of Liberia, like a number of other Governments who are parties to the International Convention for the Safety of Life at Sea 1960, entrust the inspection and survey of their ships as to compliance with the relevant safety requirements to recognised Classification Societies. Since this praotice is permitted under the Convention it would not be appropriate to request an emergency meeting of the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation. There are at present no international requirements on the levels of navigational competence of officers and crews. This question is already being studied jointly by the Inter-Governmental Maritime Consultative Organisation and the International Labour Organisation. Her Majesty's Government are participating in this important task.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list the enactments which lay down the fines and penalties for any owner or captain who allows a British vessel to sail with officers without the required certificate of navigational competence.

The requested list of enactments is as follows:Merchant Shipping Act, 1894:

State for Trade his Department asked the Secretary of and Industry what steps is taking to ensure that those British companies which register their vessels under the Liberian flag reach the standards in safety and welfare of British vessels.

No such steps are necessary because ships owned by British companies are required to be registered in accordance with the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894. Accordingly it would be an offence to register them under the Liberian flag.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps his Department takes to warn those British seamen who sign on Liberian vessels of the effect on their safety and welfare.

Clear notices are displayed in each mercantile marine office, and customs offices which deal with merchant seamen, warning them of the problem of signing on any foreign flag vessel, and telling them to check the points listed and to consult their union or association.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if his Department recognises any period of sea service or instruction by anyone serving on a Liberian vessel as a qualifying period for a person applying for a British certificate of navigational competency.

Certificates of discharge for service on foreign ships, including Liberian, may be accepted as counting towards the qualifying sea service of applicants for the Department's certificates of competency as master or mate. Such certificates or other documentary evidence are carefully examined and each application is considered on its merits. No remission of the qualifying period of sea service is granted for courses of instruction carried out by, or on behalf of, foreign countries.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what industries have notified him that they will increase their investment in Wales in the event of the United Kingdom joining the European Economic Community.

None, but I would not expect firms to notify me of such intentions. My impression is that industry generally is looking forward to the increased opportunities that would be presented by membership of the European Economic Community. Wales should share fully in these opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, in view of the proposed establishment of civil helicopter search and rescue facilities at Royal Air Force, Manston, he will now make a further statement of measures to implement the recommendations of the Board of Trade Committee on the Marine Search and Rescue Organisation published in 1970.

The Committee came to the general conclusion that the arrangements for marine search and rescue in the United Kingdom work well and it made no recommendations for major changes. Where its recommendations called for some specific action, this has already been put in hand. In particular, experiments by H.M. Coast Guard in the use of shore-based direction finding equipment and radar are continuing.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he next intends to have an official meeting with the Scottish Economic Council.

Tomorrow.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the shortage of secondary teachers at present, the subjects involved and the percentage this represents of the total approved secondary teaching establishment of each of the six largest education authorities in Scotland.

I have nothing to add to the replies given to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) on 23rd April and to my hon. Friend the Member for Perth and East Perthshire (Mr. MacArthur) on 5th May.—[Vol. 815, c. 481; Vol. 816, c. 1371–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on improving mental and mental deficiency hospitals in each year from 1965–70; and what is the expected expenditure in 1971 and 1972.

Capital expenditure in mental and mental deficiency hospitals in Scotland since 1965–66 has been as follows:

				£
1965–66	…	…	…	2,120,000
1966–67	…	…	…	2,170,000
1967–68	…	…	…	2,260,000
1968–69	…	…	…	2,730,000
1969–70	…	…	…	3,110,000

This information is not yet available for 1970–71 and estimates cannot be prepared for later years.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if, on his next official visit to Edinburgh, he will arrange to visit Register House.

I recently opened the West Register House. My noble Friend, the Minister of State, visited the Lyon Office towards the end of last year, and hopes to visit the other Register House Departments when her engagements permit. I hope to make another visit myself when my engagements permit.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many courses for hospital building supervisors have been run by his Department or regional hospital boards in the past 12 months; and how many courses are planned for the next 12 months.

			National income per head of population
			1958	1969	Percentage increase
United Kingdom	…	…	£360	£635	76
converted to dollars	…	…	$1,008	$1,525	51
European Economic Community	…	…	$758	$1,758	132

None, so far as I am aware. But suitable courses for Building Supervisors are available at Colleges of Further Education; information on attendances by hospital staffs is not available centrally.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he now has arranged a date for a meeting with the Trades Union Congress for the purpose of discussing unemployment.

I am not aware of any suggestion for such a meeting. Discussion of these matters does, of course, take place in the National Economic Development Council.