asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will now make a statement on the National Giro service.

I have nothing yet to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Member on 12th May.—[Vol. 817, c. 349.]

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to increase purchases of telephone and other Post Office equipment made in the development areas.

No. The Post Office tells me that a large proportion of its telecommunications equipment is already produced in development areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that certain local authorities are refusing improvement grants to applicants, on the basis that at some time with in the 30-year statutory period, high way developments, as yet unplanned, may invalidate the claim for grant; and if he will issue further guidance to local authorities on the matter.

Local authorities have power to waive the normal 30-year requirement for the life of an improved dwelling if they consider it reasonable to do so.I am glad to hear that this has now been done in a recent case which may have given rise to my hon. Friend's Question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what repre- sentations he has received, since the latest local elections, from individual councils about Government housing policy.

Local authorities have been constantly in touch with my Department about housing policy; before the local elections and since.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the way that firms awarded contracts for demolishing and removing prefabricated bungalows in South Ayrshire are discharging the obligations of their contracts that sites should be properly cleared; and if he will make a statement.

Not entirely. Everything possible is done to enforce the conditions of the contract, but the principal problems in the proper clearance of sites are short notice of evacuation, vandalism and the amount of debris left by the outgoing tenants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether owner-occupiers are being considered in the Government review of financial aid in relation to housing need; and if he will make a statement.

In their reform of housing finance the Government will aim to do justice between all forms of housing tenure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish the terms of reference of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee and how its members are selected; how often the membership changes; how new members are added; how often it meets, and the frequency of its recommendations to the Minister regarding building regulations.

The terms of reference of the Building Regulations Advisory Committee are set out at Section 9 of the Public Health Act, 1961, namely,

"for the purpose of advising the Secretary of State on the exercise of his power to make building regulations, and on other subjects connected with building regulations".

The Section also requires the Secretary of State to consult the Committee, and others, before making any building regulations.Members of the Committee are appointed jointly by the Secretary of State for the Environment and the Secretary of State for Wales. They are mainly drawn from the construction professions, the construction industry and from local authorities.Appointments to the Committee have hitherto normally been for three years; the appointments of most of the present members expire at the end of 1971.The Committee normally meets once every two months, and sub-committees are set up as necessary on particular matters. The Committee's recommendations flow from its meetings.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he has studied the booklet published by Eurisol-UK, 'A Factual Report', a copy of which has been sent to him, on the need for improving the standards of thermal insulation in houses on health and economic grounds; and whether he is considering steps to achieve such improvements.

The booklet has been noted with interest. A comprehensive review of the whole question of thermal insulation is being undertaken at the present time. When this review is completed, I will decide whether to recommend any change in the required levels of thermal insulation in housing.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what restriction has been placed on local authorities as to the maximum amount or the maximum percentage that can be loaned on any one house under the Government scheme for local authority mortgages.

Under the Housing (Financial Provisions) Act, 1958, local authorities have power to make up to 100 per cent. loans, and there is no restriction of the amount of an individual loan. In the nature of their lending, local authority loans are on average lower than those of building societies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent the working conditions and natural light in the old Admiralty are interfered with by the Admiralty Citadel.

Working conditions are affected in about 5 per cent. of the rooms. Even in these, the reduction in natural light is no greater than would be experienced in a building where windows face on to a lighting well.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation enabling local authorities to prevent the opening of sex supermarkets in their areas.

I have nothing at present to add to the reply my hon. Friend gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Middlesbrough, West (Mr. Sutcliffe) on 19th May.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further proposals he has to control oil spillage in the territorial waters of the United Kingdom; what consultations he has had with other countries to establish further regulations on oil-carrying ships to prevent oil spillage; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.My Department has set up an organisation to deal with oil spillages which threaten our coasts, and this is continually being reviewed in the light of experience. The Oil in Navigable Waters Act, 1971, will introduce new restrictions on discharge of oil, increased penalties for offences, and new powers to intervene in casualties which threaten pollution. Consultations are in progress in the Intergovernmental Maritime Consultative Organisation on various aspects of the control and prevention of oil pollution in preparation for a Conference on Marine Pollution in 1973. I shall seek to ensure that these have practical results.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the steps he has taken to deal with oil pollution on the coastline, in particular on the coordination of the rôles of local authorities, mutual aid schemes, and his own Department; and whether he is satisfied that there are no areas where the normal controls for which he is responsible have failed or been neglected.

Steps were taken in July, 1968, to encourage all coastal local authorities to overhaul their preparations for dealing with oil pollution of the coastline, in concert with their neighbour. The arrangements that have been made include provision for mutual aid, all round the coast. Local authorities have frequently demonstrated their ability to deal with coastal pollution by oil, and my Department is always willing to provide advice.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what has been the cost of dealing with oil pollution around the coast of the United Kingdom for the 12 months to the latest available date; and how the total figure compares with the years 1965 to 1970.

The known cost to local and central Government in the United Kingdom of dealing with oil pollution in the 12 months ending 31st May, 1971, was about £531,000. This compares with £107,000, £35,000 and about £8,000 for the three preceding years. For the 12 months from 1st June, 1966, to 31st May, 1967—the year of the "Torrey Canyon"—the figure was approximately £3,300,000. There are no available records before March, 1967.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he proposes to bring the Motor Vehicles (Passenger Insurance) Act, 1971, into force.

An Order will be made tomorrow bringing the Act into force on 1st December, 1972. This will give insurers the necessary time to identify and adjust those policies which do not at present include passenger liability cover.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about the sale of Lunn-Poly by the Transport Holding Company.

The T.H.C. has now, in pursuance of the policy already announced and with my consent, signed Heads of Agreement for the sale of Lunn-Poly to Cunard.The T.H.C. first acquired a 51 per cent. holding in Lunn-Poly on 1st January, 1969, and a further 20 per cent. in July, that year, for a total of about £400,000. At the time of purchase, it guaranteed the new air charter arrangements which Lunn-Poly had undertaken in 1968 to replace those which it had previously had with British Eagle.In the 10 months to October, 1969, the losses were some £130,000 and in the year to October, 1970, £658,000. Since then losses have continued. The company has incurred total trading losses estimated at over £1·2 million since the T.H.C. acquired its interest, and the overall cost of the venture to the T.H.C. will have been about £1·6 million. The prospect of continuing losses and the outstanding liability on the air charter guarantees underline the soundness of the decision by the T.H.C. to sell the company.Cunard has agreed to pay a purchase price related to net asset value and expected to be about £100,000. While Cunard is confident that Lunn-Poly can, when combined with its other tour operations, quickly be restored to profitability, it seemed right that the Government should seek to avoid further risk to public funds.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what proportion of the United Kingdom population was engaged in agriculture in 1945, 1958 and 1970, respectively.

It is estimated that the proportion of United Kingdom civil employment engaged in agriculture (including horticulture) was 5·5, 4·1 and 2·7 per cent. respectively for 1948, 1958 and 1970. Comparable estimates are not available prior to 1948.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether, in view of the importance of end-prices in the Government's policy for agriculture, he will set up an inquiry into the system whereby producers enter into contractual arrangements to supply all or part of their output direct to processors, distributors or others.

Yes. My right hon. Friends and I have decided to set up a committee to inquire into the practice of contract farming in the United Kingdom. I am very pleased to say that Sir James Barker, M.B.E., Chairman of Unigate Ltd., has agreed to take the chair. Other members of the committee are: The Marchioness of Anglesey, Mr. John Arbuckle, O.B.E., Sir Roger Falk, O.B.E., Mr. Hector Laing, Mr. J. K. Lynn, J.P., Mr. A. T. Mitchell, Mr. Alan F. Shaw, J.P. Mr. J R. Catford, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, has been appointed secretary to the committee.

asked the Attorney-General what provisions there are for the granting of legal aid from the Divisional Court to the House of Lords; and if he will make a statement.

Section 1(2) of, and paragraph 1(a) of the First Schedule to, the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949, make legal aid available in proceedings in the House of Lords in relation, inter alia, to appeals from the Divisional Court. These provisions were brought into force by Commencement Orders Nos. 9 and 12 dated 10th November, 1960, and 1st December, 1969, respectively.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on Ministerial control of the terms of pension schemes for the staff of the nationalised industries.

Yes. Under existing legislation, the boards of the nationalised industries are required to secure Ministerial approval for the terms of pension schemes for their staff. The Government have decided that this requirement can be removed. The boards are responsible commercial undertakings; there is no statutory obligation to secure Ministerial approval in determining the pay and other conditions of service of their staff; and there are no longer good reasons for statutory control of their superannuation terms, subject to the conditions required for the tax approval of pension schemes generally.Where control can be removed by subordinate legislation, the necessary instruments will be laid before Parliament as soon as possible. In some cases, the requirement can be removed only by primary legislation; this will be presented to Parliament in due course. Until the legislation is passed, the terms of the pension schemes in question will remain under Ministerial control.Similar action will be taken towards a number of other bodies in the public sector which do not depend for their income mainly on public funds.The Government will continue to control the pension terms of members, as distinct from staff, of the boards of nationalised industries and certain other public sector bodies, who are appointed by Ministers. The removal of control from the staff pension schemes will in no way affect the pensions of employees of the industries who retired before the industries were nationalised, and who were in central or local government service.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the provison of diagrams to illustrate the Pensions (Increase) Bill before it is considered in Standing Committee; and how these will be made available to hon. Members.

Yes, I have explored this, as I promised when moving Second Reading. I hope to have four diagrams placed in the Vote Office today which should help to explain some of the more complicated provisions in the Bill.—[Vol. 818, c. 242.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to the Waterside Branch of the Londonderry Municipal Library on the night of 2nd June after incendiary devices had ignited in the building; what searches the Army carried out; what other incendiary devices were found as a result; and what arrests were made.

Early in the evening of 2nd June an Army ammunition technical officer was called to the Waterside Branch Library where three wax capsule-and-acid type incendiary devices had ignited. A search of the building revealed that a further three such devices had been placed among the books. I understand that no arrests have so far been made in connection with this incident.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to examine the community recreation centre built by the Army in Brooke Park, Londonderry, Northern Ireland, after it had been damaged by an explosion on the night of 2nd June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.

At 12.45 a.m. on 3rd June an explosion occurred at the Brooke Park Community Centre which caused extensive structural damage to the west end of the building, and broken windows in nearby buildings. An examination at the site of the explosion was carried out by an Army ammunition technical officer. His conclusions were that some 8 to 10 lb. of explosive had been used, and that detonation had been by means of a safety fuse. I understand that no arrests have so far been made in connection with this incident.

asked the Minister of Slate for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to examine an office block under construction for the Northern Ireland Government in Blacks Road, Dunmurry, Northern Ireland after it had been damaged by an explosion on the night of 3rd June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.

At 10.15 p.m. on 3rd June the Royal Ulster Constabulary reported an explosion at the Department of the Environment building at the junction of Blacks Road and Lisburn Road. As a result of his search of the immediate site of the explosion an Army ammunition technical officer concluded that some 5 to 101b. of explosive had been used. I understand that four men were apprehended by the R.U.C. in connection with this incident and the incident at the Ulster Public Record Office on the same day, and that charges were subsequently laid against two of them.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosive expert was called to examine an office block under construction for the Ulster Public Record Office at Balmoral Avenue, Belfast, after it had been damaged by an explosion on the night of 3rd June; what were the findings of his investigations; what searches resulted: and what arrests were made.

Shortly after 11 p.m. on 3rd June an explosion was reported in the boiler room of the Central Record Office, Belfast. As a result of his search of the site of the explosion, an Army ammunition technical officer concluded that between 10 and 201bs of explosive had been used. The matter of arrests is dealt with in my immediately preceding answer.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many civil servants work in the Admiralty Citadel.

397 people work in the Admiralty Citadel, including civil servants, uniformed personnel and Post Office employees.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the proposed formation of a full-time battalion within the Ulster Defence Regiment.

As part of our continuing review of the security forces in Northern Ireland and our wish to improve recruiting to the U.D.R., we are considering the possibility of raising a full-time battalion within the Ulster Defence Regiment. This would not be a separate force, but, like the rest of the U.D.R., would be part of the British Army.No decision has yet been taken. If it were decided to set up such a unit, legislation would be required.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will specify the benefits he expects Commonwealth developing States will receive from association with an enlarged European Economic Community which they do not have at the present time.

The benefits available to the majority of developing Commonwealth countries will depend upon the decision they take on the alternatives open to them by the Community's renewal of its 1963 Declaration of Intent, and upon their ensuing negotiations with the enlarged Community. Developing Commonwealth countries choosing association under the re-negotiated Yaoundé Convention may expect exemption from the Common External Tariff of the enlarged Community exemption from levies unless otherwise provided in a Community regulation under the Common Agricultural Policy and the opportunity of benefiting from aid provided by the European Development Fund. These countries will also have the right to participate in the planning of the enlarged Community's trading policies with them. Developing Commonwealth countries not covered by the 1963 Declaration of Intent have the possibility of trading agreements with the Community.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will make a statement on his investigation into the administration of the House of Commons Refreshment Department, the maladministration and misappropriation of the Refreshment Department's stocks and into the disappearance of 80 lb. of steak and its re-appearance after notice of investigation had been given.

I have been asked to reply.The steak to which the hon. Member is referring has now been accounted for. The investigation by Versa-Serve Limited is still continuing and the administration of the Refreshment Department has already been improved in a number of respects.

asked the Lord President of the Council when, in the event of the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community, he now expects to be able to initiate a scheme to fulfil the obligation of the British Parliament to elect from among its National Parliament Members to the European Parliament.

I do not foresee any difficulty in making the necessary arrangements for the British Parliament, in line with the present practices followed by Parliaments of other existing members of the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what recent representations he has received from Cumnock Town Council about the need to build a further advance factory at Caponacre Industrial Estate; and if he will make a statement.

A deputation from Cumnock Town Council met officials of my Department and the Department of Trade and Industry to discuss this matter on 21st May, following an approach from the town clerk to my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for Development. Responsibility for the authorisation of Government advance factories rests with my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, and the deputation was assured that the needs of the Cumnock area would be borne in mind by his Department when further advance factory building was being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has received an application from the South of Scotland Electricity Board to approve the 2½ per cent. per annum increases in pensions of former employees now that the actuarial review of their pension scheme is completed.

I have approved an amendment to the Board's superannuation scheme which will adjust pensions to take account of changes in the cost-of-living index.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to receive the interim report of the consultants commissioned by Edinburgh Corporation, and financially supported by his Department, regarding the planning and transportation study for central Edinburgh; and whether he will make a statement.

I understand that the consultants expect to present their interim report towards the end of this year. It will be made available for public discussion, which should be helpful to the consultants, the Corporation and myself.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what regulations are used to ensure safe working practices for divers both in deep sea and civil engineering operations; and how they are enforced;(2) how many deaths and accidents have been reported to the Department occurring to divers working in both deep sea diving and civil engineering operations in each of the last five years.

Diving operations on premises within the Factories Act, such as docks, wharves, quays, as well as work in connection with shipbuilding, ship- repairing, building operations and works of engineering construction are covered by the Diving Operations Special Regulations, 1960. Present regulations do not cover deep sea diving, but I would be prepared to consider any representations which the hon. Member wished to make. Separate figures for accidents and deaths as a result of diving operations are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now state what steps he has decided to take to stop the illegal exploitation of group charter flights.

I shall continue to take such measures as appear to be necessary to deal with breaches of the regulations governing group charter flights. I am also, as I have explained previously, considering whether the regulations themselves should be amended, but changes in this field involve international discussions and cannot be made quickly.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he intends to take following the report by the Institute of Economic Affairs on the Price of Air Travel, a copy of which is in his possession.

I intend to pursue my present policy, which is stated in Clause 3(1)(a) of the Civil Aviation Bill now before this House, bearing in mind that changes in the present I.A.T.A. arrangements are a matter for international agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry when he expects the Government nursery factories at Lampeter, Cardiganshire, which were announced by the preceding Government, to be built.

Negotiations for acquisition of the land are well advanced. Building should commence in the late summer and be completed early in 1972.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will announce the membership of the committee he is setting up to review National Savings.

I am pleased to announce that the following have accepted my invitation to serve on the Committee under the Chairmanship of Sir Harry Page: Professor R. J. Ball, Mr. J. M. Clay, Mr. J. G. Gulliver, Mr. Geoffrey Heywood, M.B.E., Mrs. A. M. Ward-Jackson.I placed copies of the terms of reference of this Committee in the Libraries of both Houses on 30th March after my Budget speech.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he can now state the change in the number of school children in Cardiganshire who are taking school meals in consequence of the recent increase in school meals charges.

The completed returns of the special census of school meals take-up which local education authorities have been carrying out are not yet available.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales whether he is now in a position to estimate the number of houses in the public and private sectors which will be completed in Wales in 1971; and how this figure compares with the average for the period 1965–69.

It is too early to make any reliable forecast for 1971. Completions for the period 1965–69 averaged 19,100 a year.