asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on proposed establishments at Singapore and elsewhere east of Suez, following recent consultations with Commonwealth and other allies in South-East Asia and elsewhere.

The British forces to be stationed east of Suez are set out in the Supplementary Statement on Defence Policy, 1970, and in the Statement on Defence Estimates, 1971. As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs announced yesterday we shall also continue to station a Gurkha battalion in Brunei. As regards the Gulf, I would refer my hon. Friend to the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary's statement on 1st March.—[Vol. 817, c. 380–2: Vol. 812, c. 1227–32.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the Five-Power defence talks in London on the defence of South-East Asia.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the Answers which I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Skipton (Mr. Drayson) on 19th April and to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis), on 22nd April.—[Vol. 815, c. 347–9, 430.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what changes in accommodation and administration he intends to make at the Navy Detention Quarters, Portsmouth.

I have already informed the House on 13th January and again during the recent debate on the Royal Navy of the improvements that we have made and are continuing to make at the Detention Quarters. The House is also aware that Brigadier Maunsell, the former Inspector-General of Prisons, has been asked to advise on the establishment.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what has been the expenditure on publicity aimed at attaining new recruits to the Ulster Defence Regiment in each of the last six months.

Altogether, about £22,000 has been spent during the last six months.Recruiting publicity expenditure for the Ulster Defence Regiment in each of the last six months was:

asked the Minister of State for Defence why, following correspondence with his Department, the right hon. Member for Aberavon was informed only in a letter dated 19th April, 1971, that a constituent had been discharged from the Royal Navy, whereas in fact the said constituent had been sent on terminal leave on 22nd February, 1971, his last day on naval pay being 22nd March, 1971, and that a letter from the Under-Secretary of State for the Navy stated this fact without any explanation for the delay.

It is normal practice in cases where the discharge of a naval rating has been the subject of Parliamentary as well as official correspondence, for the Department to notify the final decision to the naval authorities and the Member of Parliament simultaneously. I regret that this procedure was not followed on this occasion. This was due to human error and I apologise for the fact that the right hon. Member was not informed of his constituent's discharge until some weeks after the event.

asked the Minister of State for Defence having regard to the British presence proposed at Singapore and elsewhere east of Suez, whether he will expand the force of Ghurkas to include an additional brigade of Ghurkas for stationing at Singapore or elsewhere east of Suez, as part of the condominium of Commonwealth defence forces.

No. The United Kingdom Land Force contribution to the joint force will be a British infantry battalion group, with additional contribution to the integrated headquarters and supporting elements.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is his policy in regard to diverting a greater part of expenditure on defence equipment to Northern Ireland and the development areas.

It is our continuing aim to obtain the best value for money. At the same time we shall continue to apply the terms of the Preference and Special Preference Schemes to firms situated in Northern Ireland and Development Areas.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he is now in a position to state what are the future plans to keep an air-sea rescue service in north Devon; and what discussions he has had with local authorities over this matter.

Following the closure of Royal Air Force station Chivenor in 1972–73 there will be no military search and rescue helicopter service based in north Devon. The provision of search and rescue services for civilian purposes is not a matter for my Department, and the second part of the Question does not therefore arise.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what effect the Government's decision to locate the new London airport at Foulness will have on Ministry of Defence financial estimates; and how the cost of the movement of Shoeburyness facilities will be borne.

The cost of replacing the Shoeburyness facilities will not be a charge to the Defence Budget. The actual allocation to financial Votes is under consideration.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what are the latest available figures for expenditure on defence as a percentage of gross national product for the United Kingdom and each of the European Economic Community countries, respectively.

I refer the hon. Member to my reply to the right hon. Member for Jarrow (Mr. Fernyhough) on 15th March.—[Vol. 813, c. 231–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to secure international agreement as to the dates of Easter in future in view of support of the majority of Christian churches for such a change.

The Christian Churches are still working to secure agreement among themselves for an acceptable common date for Easter. It would be inappropriate for Her Majesty's Government to intervene at this time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many committal proceedings in magistrates' courts in England and Wales, presided over by lay justices, occupied more than five hearing days and extended over a period of more than 21 days from the commencement of the proceedings, during 1969 and 1970; and in how many of these cases the accused was remanded in custody during the course of the proceedings.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement about the future use of Hill Hall, Theydon Mount.

I have sought the views of the local planning authority on a proposal to use one wing of the Hall as open borstal accommodation for up to 20 girls. I hope to consult them shortly about the long-term use of the site.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why it took his Department almost a month to reply to the letter from the hon. Member for Sedgefield concerning the strike at the General Electric Company-Associated Electrical Industries, Newton Aycliffe; and what steps were taken by his Department during that time to conciliate in the dispute.

The company has reached agreement on a pay claim with three unions but members of a fourth union have not accepted the company's terms and have been on strike since January. On receiving the hon. Member's letter my Department discussed the dispute with representatives of the company and the workpeople but the employer did not wish the Department to intervene. My officers have again discussed the dispute with the parties but there is still no basis for joint talks under the Department's chairmanship.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in how many years since 1945 the total registered unemployed in Huddersfield has exceeded the present total of 2,532 and in how many years in the same period the number of tem- porarily stopped has been above the present figure of 650.

In the area covered by the Huddersfield Employment Exchange, on the basis of the April figures, none and two respectively.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will cause an investigation to be made into how and why a leak occurred in his Department on the proposals of the inquiry into the pay of Post Office workers and their proposal for a 9 per cent. increase.

An investigation is already being made to ascertain whether the leak emanated from the Secretariat which was provided by my Department, rather than elsewhere.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give a detailed list of the factors, other than the level of money wages, which affect the movement of workers between Great Britain and the countries of the Six.

It is not possible to give an exhaustive list of factors affecting the movement of workers between Great Britain and the Countries of the European Economic Community, but the availability of job opportunities, the level of fringe benefits, the mobility of workers and the cost of living in individual countries are clearly important, in addition to the level of money wages.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what were the numbers of registered unemployed under the age of 18 years in each of the London boroughs on 1st May, 1970, and 1st May, 1971;(2) what were the numbers of unemployed registered in each London borough on 1st May, 1970, and on 1st May, 1971.

Unemployment statistics are compiled for Employment Exchange areas within Greater London and the latest are for April, 1971. Following is

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will pay an official visit to those employment exchanges in Scotland in areas where the percentage rate of unemployment is over 8 per cent.

Although my right hon. Friend has no plans at present to make an official visit to Scotland, he hopes to do so when a suitable opportunity arises.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the last report on automatic volume control for hearing aids was received from the Wernher Research Unit on Deafness; if she will now call for a further report from a research department specialising in audiology; and if she will make a statement.

The Unit, now disbanded, was concerned in wider studies on hearing aids for the Medical Research Council's Electroacoustics Committee. This Committee reported on completion of its work in 1964. Responsibility for

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will list the local authorities which have indicated to her that they intend to continue to supply free school milk after the Education (Milk) Bill

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the drop in the number of school meals in the first fortnight of the new charges; if she will indicate this as a percentage of the total; and if she will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer given to Questions by the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) and other hon. Members on 6th May.—[Vol. 816, c. 1615·7.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will supply a breakdown of the cost-per-place figures for nursery, primary and secondary education, respectively, indicating what sums are attributable to salaries, capital cost of building, revenue costs, etc., in each case.

Estimated current costs per place for 1970–71 are attributable approximately as follows:comes into force, stating what will be the extra cost falling on the ratepayers of these authorities.

Under the provisions of the Education (Milk) Bill all local education authorities would still be under a duty to supply free milk to certain categories of school pupil. Authorities would have no power under the terms of the Bill to supply free milk to pupils not covered by the duty, and none has communicated to me any intention to do so.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will take steps to arrange for all Ulster Defence Regiment pay to be taxed at the standard rate before any payments are made.

Deduction of tax under P.A.Y.E. from the pay of the Ulster Defence Regiment has not so far been considered necessary, and the estimated amounts of tax due are being collected under the arrangements my hon. Friend the Financial Secretary described in the answers he gave on 20th January and 5th February to my hon. Friend's earlier Questions. But as some members of the Regiment have received considerably more pay than was expected, the question of applying P.A.Y.E. will be looked at again.—[Vol. 809, c. 307; Vol. 810, c. 487.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will give an assurance that the forms of relief he is considering for foodstuffs in a value-added tax system of taxation are, as laid down in the Green Paper, either complete exemption or the charging of a zero rate and that he has excluded from consideration the possibility of charging a reduced rate.

The question of the most appropriate method by which to relieve foodstuffs from V.A.T. is being considered in the light of views expressed by the representative interests concerned. It would be premature for me to take any decision as to the method at this stage, but I will bear in mind what the hon. Member says.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer in what circumstances non-holders of premium bond numbers have received prizes in the draw.

Non-holders of Premium Savings Bonds are never awarded prizes in the draw. In a recent case widely reported in the Press a warrant for a prize, correctly made out to the proper prize winner, was delivered to the wrong address in the same road as a result of an incorrect reading of the address given by the bondholder. Such mistakes are extremely rare and safeguards exist to prevent the encashment of prize warrants by people not entitled to them.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the commencement date and estimated cost of the Hawarden bypass; and if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the proposed line of the Hawarden bypass and its proximity to the line of the Flintshire portion of the Chester southern bypass.

This scheme is part of a westerly continuation of the Chester southerly Bypass from Broughton to Ewloe, estimated to cost £3·5 million. Possible routes are still being investigated and I hope to publish my proposals at the end of 1972. I cannot yet forecast a starting date.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will indicate the commencement date of the proposed lighting scheme which he is required to sanction from Wynt Hill, Hawarden, to the Ewloe Roundabout, A55, and the total cost of this scheme.

I hope work will begin in August. Tenders will be invited and I cannot at present say what the final cost will be.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many steelworkers and allied workers used the mobile X-ray facilities recently at the British Steel Corporation location at Shotton.

5,894.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many mobile X-ray facilities there are currently in operation in Wales; if he now proposes to close down this service; and if he will make a statement.

The Welsh Hospital Board is continuing the mobile X-ray service. There are two mobile units at present. I am informed that one is sufficient for current requirements. One will therefore be withdrawn at the end of July.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what alterations he proposes to make in regard to the payment of earnings-related supplement; and, in particular, whether he will take steps to ensure that a claimant's entitlement always depends on his earnings during the previous financial year and not the year prior thereto.

I would refer my hon. Friend to Clause 6 of the National Insurance Bill, 1971. As regards the second part of the Question, there are a few cases where earnings for an earlier year are more appropriately taken into account and usually this works to the claimant's advantage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, giving details to show that census forms have been wrongly delivered to the wrong people, that secret information has been passed on to members of the public and that some people have not received their census forms; and what action he proposes to take in connection with these matters.

I am taking legal advice on the first communication to which the hon. Member refers. As regards the case of non-delivery which he mentions, the completed form has already been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what representations he has received claiming that the income guides listed on Leaflet FB11 are misleading; and if he will withdraw or amend the leaflet.

A few people who have claimed benefits on the basis of the income guide in this leaflet have then found that they were not entitled to benefits. The leaflet makes it clear that although the table is a useful guide it is only very approximate because the income limits are affected by the age of children and such variables as rents, rates and expenses connected with work.Over 20 million copies of this leaflet have already been distributed and there is evidence that it has already succeeded in its objective. It does not need amendment and I do not propose to withdraw it. The actual claim forms spell out in much greater detail the qualifications for entitlement.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the estimated number of deaths of former coal miners from pneumoconiosis and other respiratory diseases in the Northumberland, North Durham and South Durham areas of the National Coal Board for each of the last 10 years; and what are the numbers for the whole of Great Britain's coalfields for the same period.

The statistics available relate to cases for which death benefit for pneumoconiosis was awarded under the Industrial Injuries Act, and the Pneumoconiosis, Byssinosis and Miscellaneous Diseases Benefit Scheme and to cases certified for Workmen's Compensation purposes. Figures are not available for particular areas but those for the whole of Great Britain for the years 1960–69 are given below; figures for 1970 have not yet been received.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made in investigating the possibilities of providing a single claim form for the various means-tested benefits.

An intensive study has been made in a preliminary way of a common form of inquiry for a wide range of means-tested benefits administered both locally and centrally. The feasibility of such a procedure is now being discussed with the local authority associations, whose co-operation will of course be essential if the idea is to be taken further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to compel local authorities to demolish domestic air raid shelters.

This is a matter for the owners of such shelters. Where they are dangerous, unhealthy or in the way of approved development, the local authority may demolish them at the public expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation further to protect swans and other birds against oil pollution.

The only satisfactory protection lies in preventing such pollution. It is already an offence to cause or knowingly permit polluting matter to enter a stream and I am considering in what ways the law might be improved, and extended to deal with accidental pollution. As my hon. Friend knows, Parliament has already passed a Bill earlier this Session strengthening the law relating to the pollution of navigable waters by oil.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will wind up the Regional Economic Planning Councils and in particular that for Yorkshire and Humberside.

No. In future the Regional Economic Planning Councils have important work to do in collaborating with the regional conference of local planning authorities and with Central Government in the preparation of regional strategies which will provide a framework for the modern development plans (the structure plans) dealing with land use and transportation. They will also continue to advise on the regional implications of national policies and developments. The Yorkshire and Humberside Regional Economic Planning Council will play its part in these functions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date the Severnside Study will be published.

The Severnside Study will be published next Wednesday, 19th May. I am arranging for copies to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many starts were made on houses in the private sector in the Northern Region in the past six months; and how this compares with the figures for the last six years.

Private owners had 3,854 dwellings started in the Northern Region in the six months ended 31st March, 1971. The corresponding figures for previous years were as follows:

• Six months ended 31st March, 1965–4,649.
• Six months ended 31st March, 1966–4,207.
• Six months ended 31st March, 1967–4,872.
• Six months ended 31st March, 1968–4,853.
• Six months ended 31st March, 1969–4,238.
• Six months ended 31st March, 1970–3,233.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many starts were made on houses by local authorities in the Northern Region in the last six months; and how this compares with the figures for the last six years.

Local authorities in the Northern Region had 3,799 dwellings started in the six months ended 31st March, 1971. The corresponding figures for previous years are as follows:

• Six months ended 31st March, 1965–5,680.
• Six months ended 31st March, 1966–4,185.
• Six months ended 31st March, 1967–5,734.
• Six months ended 31st March, 1968–5,389.
• Six months ended 31st March, 1969–4,730.
• Six months ended 31st March, 1974–3,256.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what investigations he has initiated since November 1970, into the entry of overweight lorries into the United Kingdom; what are the results of such investigations; and if he will now introduce a regular system of weight checking at roll on roll off berths.

I would refer the hon. Member to my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow, East (Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson) yesterday.—[Vol. 817, c. 89.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the present size of the lorry fleet now registered in Aberdeenshire; what are the categories of licences into which they are divided; and what total volume of freight they can now handle.

In the summer of 1970, the latest period for which figures are available, there were about 400 agricultural goods vehicles and over 4,000 general goods vehicles of over 1½ tons unladen weight currently licensed by the Aberdeenshire County Council or by the Burgh of Aberdeen. The carrying capacity of these vehicles was about 42,000 tons.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food when he intends to announce his decision on the

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement shortly on sire licensing generally, including that of stallions.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will give a detailed list of the prices of individual commodities as in the Food Index on 1st July, 1970, and on 1st May or the latest convenient date.

The following table gives the average prices at 16th June, 1970 and 16th March, 1971 (the latest date for which information is available) for the more important individual items included in the General Index of Retail Food Prices:

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the effect the new cereal import levy scheme will have on the price of bread in both the short term and the long term.

In the short term I do not expect the Import Levy Scheme to lead to any significant increase in the price of bread. I cannot give a forecast over the longer term since movements of cereal prices are notoriously difficulty to predict. In any case I understand that the cost of flour represents less than 30 per cent. of the retail price of bread.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what representations he has received from the National Farmers' Union on the working of the Restrictive Practices Act; and what proposals he has to meet the situation created by the recent ruling of the Restrictive Practices Court concerning recommendations by the Union to members concerning prices of farm supplies.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer my right hon. Friend gave on 11th May to his right hon. Friend the Member for Thirsk and Mallon (Mr. Turton). The President of the National Farmers' Union has written to my right hon. Friend about this matter and he is considering his letters.—[Vol. 817, c. 58–59.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will take steps to prevent the use by foreign factory fishing ships operating outside United Kingdom territorial waters of small vessels to fish inside those waters.

No foreign vessel may fish within our three-mile territorial limit. Some countries have historic rights under the European Fisheries Convention to fish for certain species in certain areas of the outer six-to-twelve mile belt of fishery limits, but none of them employs factory ships.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list, showing the mileage in respect of each, those local authority motorways or lengths of motorway in use, under construction, motorway schemes confirmed by the Secretary of State, and those made by the local authority and submitted to the Secretary of State for confirmation, as at 30th April.

The position at 30th April remains as given in my reply of 10th November, 1970, to my hon. Friend.—[Vol. 806, c. 127.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the ceiling limit of local authority mortgage lending for house purchase for each of the last three years; and what proportion of these available amounts was taken up.

The following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is now able to revise his forecast of the shortage of secondary teachers in the session 1973–74 following the raising of the school leaving age.

Until the staffing studies to which I referred in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Perth and East Perthshire on 3rd February are completed and I have been able to consult with education authorities and teachers' associations on new standards I shall not be able to commit myself to a new basis for estimating teacher demand. The studies are, however, now sufficiently advanced to make it clear that the pupil/teacher ratio of 14·5: 1 which has been used for forecasting teacher demand is too generous. Moreover, there are indications of improvement in the supply of teachers above the existing forecast. When these two factors are taken together my tentative conclusion is that the shortage after the leaving age is raised may not be significantly different from the present shortage.—[Vol. 810, c. 369–70.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether he will make a statement on his discussions and negotiations held in Brussels on 11th May, 1971;(2) whether he will make a statement on the most recent negotiations for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community and make a Ministerial broadcast on the negotiations held in May on this subject.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster will, with permission, make a statement early next week on this week's Ministerial negotiating meeting in Brussels. My right hon. Friends broadcast regularly on the negotiations and will continue to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what estimates he has made of the extent to which French exports will grow as compared with British exports on the present known terms of entry to the European Economic Community.

I would prefer not to venture numerical estimates which

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he is aware that Chevron Oil (United Kingdom) Limited has an application before the appropriate planning authority for a major oil refinery development at Portencross, Ayrshire, which would create up to 2,000 construction jobs in the short term and and a substantial number of permanent jobs in the long term; and what is his policy towards the siting of this refinery at Portencross.

I am aware of the application to build a refinery at Portencross but it is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland to decide whether the application should be granted under his planning powers.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the number of fatalities in coal mines in the Northumberland, North Durham and South Durham areas of the National Coal Board for each of the last 10 years; and what were the numbers for the whole of Great Britain for the same period.

The National Coal Board have supplied the following figures:could not be precise, but I have no doubt that entry into the E.E.C. will lead to a substantial growth of trade in both directions between ourselves and France.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what was the estimated earning of the United Kingdom tourist trade in 1970.

Earnings from overseas visitors are estimated to have been £433 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he now proposes to take to safeguard employment in Short Brothers and Harland in Belfast; and if he will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to the statement on the future of Short Brothers and Harland Ltd. which I made on 26th April.—[Vol 816, c. 51.]