asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the amount of United Kingdom aid per capita spent in East Pakistan and West Pakistan, respectively, during the period since independence.

From the financial year 1951–52, when Britain first provided aid to Pakistan, until 1969–70, the total disbursements of British aid to Pakistan were £104 million. It is not possible to provide separate per capita figures for British aid to East Pakistan and West Pakistan as aid has been provided to the Central Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further steps he is now taking in concert with other nations to provide special aid for Pakistan.

At a recent meeting of aid donors, the British delegation and others expressed their willingness to participate in an international programme of relief in East Pakistan. The Pakistan Government has not yet asked for any relief aid, but I understand that it has the matter under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what machinery he will press for within an European Economic Community enlarged by the membership of the United Kingdom and Eire, to ensure that tariff barriers are not re-erected between the United Kingdom and its former European Free Trade Association partners.

The achievement of wider integration in Europe is a basic objective of both European Free Trade Association and the European Economic Community, and the Governments of members of E.F.T.A. have frequently reiterated their interest in maintaining as part of an enlarged Community the free trade already established in E.F.T.A. Two other members of E.F.T.A., apart from ourselves, are candidates for full membership of the Community; all the other members of the Association are discussing with the Community their relations with it.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many in each county of Northern Ireland have been recruited into the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve since the formation of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and what resignations have been received during the same period in each county.

During the period in question recruitment to the T & AVR in Northern Ireland as a whole has resulted in a net increase in strength of 50. The other information is not readily available.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what contribution his Department makes to Inverness County Council as education authority in respect of the children of service personnel attending schools in the Western Isles.

None.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has for extending the rocket range in South Uist.

The development of the Hebrides Range is proceeding acocording to the plans that were publicly announced in February and November, 1968, and subsequently elaborated at various public meetings, including those of the local Range Liaison Committee.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he has completed his review of the future programme for the Red Arrow Demonstration Team.

Yes. After a full review of all circumstances it has been decided that the Red Arrows will take part as planned during this year's season of displays at home and overseas. In view of the need to absorb new members into the team, a shorter season than usual has been available for training. For the time being, therefore, the formation will operate only seven aircraft in place of the usual nine, and sychronised display manoeuvres will be replaced by individual aerobatics.

NUMBERS OF MEN AGED 50 YEARS AND OVER REGISTERED AS WHOLLY UNEMPLOYED AT 11TH JANUARY. 1971
	Up to 4 weeks	Over 4, up to 6 weeks	Over 6, up to 8 weeks	Over 8, up to 13 weeks	Over 13, up to 26 weeks	Over 26 weeks	Total
South East	8,710	2,876	2,528	5,214	8,862	18,302	46,492
East Anglia	857	300	304	721	1,204	2,626	6,012
South Western	1,858	743	678	1,641	3,120	7,760	15,800
West Midlands	2,162	807	753	1,472	2,999	7,232	15,425
East Midlands	1,177	481	421	1,031	1,759	7,199	12,068
Yorkshire and Humberside	2,134	780	742	1,819	2,985	10,751	19,211
North Western	3,273	1,364	1,139	2,610	4,102	11,542	24,030
Northern	1,559	711	613	1,355	2,638	13,652	20,528
Wales	1,132	429	408	1,051	1,706	6,956	11,682
Scotland	2,632	1,154	1,080	2,431	3,836	12,736	23,869

Comparable figures are not available for Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the amount of unemployment benefit and supplementary benefit paid in the Island of Harris in the last five years.

I regret that the information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the numbers of work permit holders from Spain and Italy admitted in 1970 and by what industries and trades they were principally employed.

The numbers of work permit holders admitted in 1970 were 7,096 from Spain and 3,127 from Italy. Over 75 per cent. were employed in the hotel and catering industry and in

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of men over the age of 50 years, at present registered as unemployed, in each of the regions of the United Kingdom, and the numbers who have been unemployed for between one to four weeks, four to six weeks, six to eight weeks, eight to 12 weeks, 12 to 26 weeks, and over 26 weeks, respectively.

The numbers registered as wholly unemployed are analysed by age in January and July each year.Following is the latest information available:resident domestic work. The remainder were distributed among various occupations in industry and commerce, in nursing, student employment and in entertainment.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probationer firemen in England and Wales 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.

The figures of those dismissed for each of the years from 1965 to 1970 were respectively 39, 40, 48, 38, 30 and 31. There was no instance of requirement to resign for disciplinary reasons.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) how many persons who were granted bail by courts in England and Wales failed to answer to their bail, in each of the last five years;(2) of the number of persons granted bail by courts in England and Wales, how many committed further offences while on bail, in each of the last five years.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what would be the cost to the Exchequer in a full year of reducing the maximum rate of estate duty to 60 per cent.

About £20 million.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what is the current number of local radio stations in operation in England and Scotland, respectively, and what are the future plans for each country.

All the B.B.C.'s 20 local radio stations at present in operation are in England. The Government's plans for the future which include the retention of the Scottish national version of Radio 4 are described in the White Paper (Cmnd. 4636).This also envisages introducing local radio stations under the control of an Independent Broadcasting Authority throughout the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take steps to ensure that the survey of the numbers taking school meals includes a full study of the quality and costs of the school meals service and takes into account the attitudes of pupils, parents and staff.

The return that the schools will make later this month will simply give the numbers taking the meal free or on payment on a single day. I share the hon. Member's concern, however, on the wider aspects and I am considering how best a further inquiry could be made.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will report on the present position of plans for a permanent landing strip on the island of Barra.

It had been hoped that this landing strip could be constructed as Military Aid to the Civil Community, but a recent detailed investigation showed that, because of the serious problems of soil erosion, construction by the Army as envisaged would not be feasible. The County Council has now arranged for an assessment of the coast protection which would be an essential prerequisite for construction of an airstrip at Craigh Mhor.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make funds available for the completion of the Ness to Tolsta road in Lewis.

I am unable to do so at present as I consider that the improvement of existing sub-standard roads in the Highlands and Islands, many of which have important tourist and developmental value, must be given higher priority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will report on the present position of the proposed bulb-growing project at Vallay Strand, North Uist.

The proposal made by the Highlands and Islands Development Board in 1969 for reclamation of the Vallay Strand is in abeyance while further experimental work is undertaken. The Board intends to review the whole bulb project in autumn, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many times in the last 10 years revaluation for rating purposes has taken place; and when the next revaluation is proposed.

Twice, in 1961 and 1966, and another will take effect from 16th May. The statute requires the next to take place in 1976.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how far Huddersfield County Borough has carried out its obligations under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970.

I understand that the authority is providing welfare services under Section 2 of the Act—which I assume is what the hon. Member has in mind—and is planning to develop them further.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now take steps to issue coupons for cheaper fuel for retirement pensioners.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the anti-hijack precautions and security arrangements at Heathrow Airport following the reduction of Metropolitan Police assistance effected from the end of April.

The Government continue to give advice and guidance but responsibility for the provision and implementation of security Measures is a matter for the airlines and Airport Authority. Following the withdrawal of the last of the special contingent of Metropolitan Police from Heathrow, I understand that the British Airports Authority Constabulary is assisting airlines in this task.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will now issue an order under the Trade Descriptions Act to ensure that all small fire extinguishers are marked with a statement to show clearly the limits of their effectiveness.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply my hon. Friend the Minister of State, Home Office, gave on 6th April to my right hon. Friend the Member for Sutton Coldfield (Mr. Geoffrey Lloyd).—[Vol. 815, c. 109.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the progress of his review of the activities of package tour operators.

No review of the activities of tour operators is being undertaken, but the Civil Aviation Bill contains a provision which would enable regulations to be made for the licensing of organisers of air travel.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many toys enter this country without being marked with their country of origin; and whether he will make a statement.

This information is not available. There is no requirement that toys should bear an indication of origin at the time of importation.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what is the annual tonnage over the last five years of anorthosite imported into Great Britain.

Anorthosite is not separately distinguished in the trade statistics, but is included in the Felspars.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what are his proposals, in respect of the proposed new arrangements for the Highlands and Islands air routes, for any anticipated losses on these flights.

I have no such proposals.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the circumstances under which no Minister was available within under one month to meet the hon. Member for Eton and Slough and representatives of the unions and of Modern Wheel Drive to discuss redundancies following its closure, whereas when the firm made representations themselves, the meeting was held within a few days and the Member not informed.

The deputation made a separate request to our Regional Director by telephone for a very urgent meeting with the Minister for Industry.As this could not be arranged at such short notice and in order to save time they readily agreed to put their points to our Regional Director for onward transmission.I have now had the Regional Director's report and I will be meeting the hon. Member on 27th May, the first mutually convenient time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether Pentric Industries of Watford will be among the 20 per cent. of the users and makers of steel to be hived off to private enterprise.

I can add nothing to my right hon. Friend's statement of the 27th April, except that he did not say that "20 per cent. of the uses and services of steel" would be hived off. Any question about the future of any individual works is for the Corporation within the lines of policy my right hon. Friend announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will seek powers to control prices in any sections of the United Kingdom steel industry which are denationalised.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will list the public bodies in Wales with whom he has discussed the likely consequences to Wales of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I refer the hon. Member to my answer of 3rd May, 1971.—[Vol. 816, c. 249.]

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will hold regular meetings with the Welsh Economic Council.

Meetings with the Welsh Council will be held as required.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much extra mileage of motorway or dual carriageway has been added to the Preparation Pool and Firm Programme since 18th June, 1970; and what is the expenditure involved.

The information is as follows:

	miles	£ million
Added to the preparation pool—
Motorways	11	14·0
Dual carriageways	10	8·5
Added to the firm programme—
Motorways	None	None
Dual carriageways	2·16	0·44
Total	23·16	22·94

These figures do not include schemes transferred from the preparation pool to the firm programme since 18th June, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how much additional expenditure has been added to the Preparation Pool and Firm Programme for roads in Wales since 18th June, 1970; and what perecentage this is of the total expenditure estimated.

The information is as follows:

	Present value £m.	Added since 18.6.70	Percentage
Preparation Pool	152·50	33·0	21·64
Firm Programme	27·66	6·49	23·46
	180·16	39·49	21·9

These figures do not include schemes transferred from the preparation pool to the firm programme since 18th June, 1970, or the large number of schemes each costing less than £100,000 which have been added to the firm programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether denominational schools have equal consideration with others in her primary school improvement programme.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which primary schools in Rochester and Chatham will be improved in the current programme.

A replacement for Chatham, New Road County Primary School is included in the starts programme for 1971–72.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the number of children in schools in the London Borough of Hackney who have ceased to take school meals as a result of the recent price increase; and if she will make a statement.

I have made no such estimate. All local education authorities have been asked to make a special return of meals taken on a day in the week beginning 17th May.

asked the Secretary for Education and Science for each county borough with a population over 200,000 what proportion of pupils in maintained schools received free meals on the latest convenient date.

The following information relates to a day in the autumn of 1970. The percentages given are percentages of all pupils present in schools on that day.

			Percentages
Wolverhampton	…	…	6·8
Derby	…	…	7·2
Leicester	…	…	7·2
Coventry	…	…	7·5
Sheffield	…	…	8·0
Southampton	…	…	8·2
Bristol	…	…	8·6
Birmingham	…	…	9·4
Plymouth	…	…	10·6
Portsmouth	…	…	11·2
Kingston-upon-Hull	…	…	11·6
Tees-side	…	…	11·6
Leeds	…	…	11·7
Stoke on Trent	…	…	11·8
Nottingham	…	…	12·4
Liverpool	…	…	12·5
Cardiff	…	…	13·0
Bradford	…	…	13·5
Sunderland	…	…	14·1
Manchester	…	…	19·0
Newcastle	…	…	23·4

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the extent of grant-aid at present being paid to British Rail for services in the South-East Lancashire North-East Cheshire conurbation.

About £7½ million during 1971 for services wholly or partly in the area.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will set up an inquiry to consider action to divert goads traffic from roads to railways.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the total estimated commitments outstanding on 31st March last and the total estimated new commitments in 1971–72, in respect of new construction and major improvements for trunk roads and for principal roads and loans to highway authorities, respectively.

The provisional totals for England of commitments outstanding on 31st March, 1971 are as follows:

	£m.
Trunk roads (including Motorways)	356
Principal roads (Grants)	149
Loans	4
	509

and the estimated new commitments in 1971–72 are:

	£m.
Trunk roads (including Motorways)	280
Principal roads (Grants)	120
Loans	—
	400

Figures for the rest of Great Britain are a matter for my right hon. Friends the Secretaries of State for Scotland and Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what estimate he has made for expenditure on sport for 1971–72; and how much was actually spent of the estimate for April, 1970–71.

The present estimate for 1971–72 is £2·68 million. In 1970–71 the expenditure was £2,525,793.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he now has for the erection of crash barriers on the stretch of the MI motorway between Watford and Hemel Hempstead.

Work is expected to start next month on the erection of central reserve safety barriers on the Watford-Hemel Hempstead section of the M1.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the Government's policy as to the construction of a six- lane carriageway on the Ml between Watford and Hemel Hempstead to replace the existing four-lane carriageway.

My Department is still investigating the best means of providing additional capacity, or otherwise improving conditions for traffic, on this section of the M1.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the annual value, in each of the past five years, of young trees and other plant material imported into the United Kingdom by local authorities in England and Wales.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what date he expects to achieve his target of spending £700 million per year on projects connected with sewage, currently costing £400 million per year.

Capital expenditure on sewerage and sewage disposal by local authorities and development corporations in England is currently running at about £140 million per annum. This figure includes expenditure on surface water sewers as well as foul sewers. Making no allowance for price increases, it is expected to take between four and five years to spend £700 millions on these services.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking to update the Noise Abatement Acts.

I await the recommendations for strengthening the Noise Abatement Act, 1960 which the Noise Advisory Council are preparing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) when work will commence on the Blue Boar flyover on the A45; and when he expects it to be completed;

Work will start at the Blue Boar junction next month and is expected to be completed by the end of 1972. At Ryton Bridge, subject to satisfactory letting of contract, work should start in Autumn, 1971 and be completed by Spring, 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many times in the last 10 years revaluation for rating purposes has taken place in England, and when the next revaluation is proposed.

The one revaluation in the last ten years was in 1963. The next will take effect from 1st April, 1973.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will take steps to ensure that all foods be marked with country of origin where practicable.

My right hon. Friend is at present considering with his right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether there is a case under the Trade Descriptions Act, 1968 for the replacement of any of the Orders made for a small number of foods under the Merchandise Marks Act, 1926. It is not possible to make an order covering all foods under the 1968 Act. The case for each food must be judged under the criteria laid down in Sections 8 and 10 of the Act. If any new orders are made, I would expect the name of the country of origin to be required in most cases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, what is his estimate of the cross-subsidy from domestic consumers of liquid milk to manufacturers.

The milk guarantee arrangements enable a reasonable return to be paid to milk producers and an adequate reserve for the supply of the liquid milk market to be maintained at all times.The amount required from liquid milk consumers in the United Kingdom in 1970–71 in order to finance the guaranteed price for the milk which was within the standard quantity but was sold for manufacture was about £59 million.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food why the future production grants to the United Kingdom hill farmers is a matter of negotiation with the European Economic Community, in view of the fact that there is no specific European Economic Community prohibition of any present United Kingdom aids to hill farmers.

Our aim is to have discussions with the European Community on the problems of the hills, as it would be useful to exchange views on the subject of aid for difficult areas, which is a type of expenditure which may be financed from the Community Agricultural Fund as well as by individual member countries.