asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will state the total acreage of land comprising his Department's 13 experimental husbandry farms and the 11 experimental horticultural stations.

About 15,000 acres.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many representations he has received from Northern Ireland in respect of the fishing industry in connection with the United Kingdom's application to join the European Economic Community.

Representations from the Northern Irish fishing industry are made to the Ministry of Agriculture, Northern Ireland, which is in continual contact with my Department. Consequently my right hon. Friend is fully aware of that industry's concern about the European Economic Community's common fisheries policy, particularly as regards access to inshore waters.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what changes in the regulations governing the movement of livestock between the United Kingdom and the Continent of Europe are likely to be required if Great Britain becomes a member of the European Economic Community; and whether, in particular, there are likely to be changes in the quarantine arrangements for dogs entering the United Kingdom from the continent.

The question of veterinary controls on movements of livestock between member States if the United Kingdom joined the European Economic Community is at present being discussed with the Community, and I cannot yet say what, if any, changes would be required: but there are no Community regulations governing the movements of dogs, and so our quarantine arrangements for dogs brought into this country should not be affected by membership of the Community.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what information he has of the disparity between the higher increase of food prices in Wales and the general level of increase for the United Kingdom as a whole, during the last 12 months.

No separate information about Wales is available which would enable me to comment on the point raised by the hon. Member.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what further inquiries are under way on the desirability of hiving-off activities to non-departmental organisations as suggested in the Fulton Report.

As was announced in the White Paper on the Reorganisation of Central Government (Cmnd. 4506). Departments are reviewing their functions and considering both whether they are necessary to central Government and whether they might more effectively be organised in different ways. This naturally includes the possibilty of hiving off activities to non-departmental organisations. This is a continuing process, and decisions will be announced as they are taken.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what steps have been taken to implement Report No. 146 of the National Board for Prices and Incomes on the pay and conditions of industrial civil servants; and if he will make a statement.

All the steps recommended to be taken at the 1970 pay negotiations were taken, and considerable progress has also been made on the longer-term recommendations, in particular on productivity agreements and other arrangements for relating pay more closely to performance, which now cover over half of the industrial civil service.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what progress has been made by the Committee under Sir John Mallabar, which is examining whether the existing organisation and system of control and accountability of large-scale Civil Service esablishments engaged in production offer impediments to the achievement of full efficiency, and to recommend how such impediments should be removed: and if he will make a statement.

The Committee under Sir John Mallabar has completed its task and submitted two reports, one on the Royal Ordnance Factories and the other on the Royal Dockyards. These reports are with the printer and will shortly be published. I must ask the hon. Member to await a statement when the reports are published.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many troops and members of the Ulster Defence Regiment were deployed in the security arrangements for the Dungiven parade on Sunday, 13th June.

Seven companies of regular soldiers. Members of the Ulster Defence Regiment were not involved.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what was the cost of the security operation mounted for the Dun-given parade on Sunday, 13th June.

The extra costs falling on defence Votes amounted to about £500.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many rubber bullets and C.S. gas containers were fired by the Army at the marchers in Dungiven on Sunday, 13th June, 1971.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave to the hon. Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) on 17th June.—[Vol. 819, c. 121.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called out late on the night of Monday, 14th June, in Londonderry to deal with a gang from the Bogside who smashed plate-glass windows in certain stores; what action the troops took when they were stoned; and what arrests were made.

A small, elusive gang of hooligans engaged in hit-and-run vandalism was harried by Army patrols. No arrests were made.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to an office block in Northumberland Street and Falls Road, Belfast, on Monday evening, 14th June, after an explosion; what were the findings of his investigation; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.

An Army technical expert carried out a forensic and security examination which revealed that the explosion was caused by a 10 lb. charge.No arrests have so far been made.

asked the Secretary of State for. Education and Science if she is aware of the concern of parents over the inadequacy of the size and method of rebuilding Braywick Primary School, built in 1819, and to be renamed Oldfield, as a result of a series of minor works, a description of which has been sent to her; and if she will state whether this school qualifies for help under the special allocation made by her for the improvement of old primary schools.

Building work to replace the school has just begun and is likely to be completed by a further minor project next year. In the circumstances it was not necessary for the local authority to include it in its proposals for the replacement of old primary schools in the major programme, for which it would have been a good candidate in 1973–74. My right hon. Friend will explain the background further in a letter to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many secondary schools in England and Wales had full-time careers teachers on their staffs on 1st January, 1971; and how many such schools had no member of staff specifically deputed to give careers advice to school leavers.

This information is not available. H.M. Inspectorate is preparing a survey on a national basis of the provision made for careers work in secondary schools. The survey will start at the beginning of the school year 1971 to 1972 and will take about two years to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what was the total expenditure on books in primary and secondary schools, respectively, in each year from 1965 to 1970; and what is the estimated spending in primary and in secondary schools in 1971.

The information is as follows:

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how the sum estimated for expenditure on major school-building in the 12 months from June, 1970, compares with that spent in the 12 months from October, 1964.

The value of work started on major school building in England and Wales from October, 1964 to September, 1965, was £56·9 million and from July, 1970 to March, 1971 (the nearest figure to those requested available), was £132·9 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies were registered at the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchanges in the month of April during each of the past six years.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) what is the latest available number of male labourers unemployed in the United Kingdom who, prior to their present unemployment, worked in the engineering industry;(2) what percentage of the latest available total number of male persons unemployed in the United Kingdom were previously employed as labourers.

At 8th March, out of 568,001 registered wholly unemployed men in Great Britain, 292,015 (51·4 per cent.) were registered for employment in labouring occupations. The occupational analysis does not indicate either the industry or the occupation in which an unemployed person last worked.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest available estimate of the total number of male persons unemployed in the United Kingdom.

At 10th May, 672,160 males were registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what guidance and assistance is given to rehabilitation centres to make adequate job opportunities available to patients who have been rehabilitated, in view of the distress caused to such patients who experienced delay before obtaining employment; and if he will make a statement.

The services of my Department's disablement resettlement officers are available to all who attend medical rehabilitation centres or industrial rehabilitation units to help them to find suitable employment as quickly as possible. Successful placement cannot be guaranteed, but the most recent check showed that 62 per cent. of those who completed courses at industrial rehabilitation units in the first half of 1970 were either in employment or vocational training three months later; a further 7 per cent. were awaiting admission to training courses.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in the United Kingdom under 18 years of age are now out of work; and how many have been unable to find a job since they left school.

At 10th May, 42,493 persons under 18 years of age were registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom. Of these, 7,429 were school-leavers registered for first employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken to improve the prospects for employment for the large number of school leavers, particularly in the New-ham area, who will be seeking work when the present school term ends.

I hope that the measures which the Government are taking to restore business confidence will have the result of creating more job opportunities and that this year's summer term school leavers, both in New-ham and in Great Britain as a whole, will benefit as a result. Careers officers have been canvassing employers for vacancies for summer term leavers and will do all they can to help them find suitable employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make an order giving effect to the wage settlement agreed on the Licensed Nonresidential Wages Council on 16th April, 1971.

This wages regulation order was made on 15th June, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many complaints have been received regarding the way in which driving tests are conducted in Luton; and what percentage has been sustained and a re-test granted.

Three since 1st January, 1971. An appeal is pending in one case; the other two have not been sustained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action Her Majesty's Government have taken on Resolution 71 (5), adopted on 26th March, 1971, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe and relating to air pollution in frontier areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action the Government have taken on Resolution 71 (5) adopted on 26th March, 1971, by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe relating to air pollution in frontier areas.

I noted the resolution. We are participating in research, which is being carried out by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development as part of a study of the long-range transport of air pollutants, into the question of the effects of acid gases emitted in this country.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he is taking with regard to the findings of Dr. Peter Gower, of the Charing Cross Hospital Medical School, a copy of which is in his possession, that at least 18 kidney patients have died preventably as a direct result of administrative delays by local authorities in adapting their homes and that many other lives may be threatened; if he is satisfied with the implementation to date by local authorities of Section 2(1)(e) of the Chronicaly Sick and Disabled Persons Act, 1970; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.I am writing to local health authorities asking them to review their procedures for arranging adaptations in the home and to hospital authorities reminding them of the need to give maximum notice to local health authorities. The figure given for deaths attributable to consequential delays in admission to hospital dialysis is, I understand, an estimate based on assumption open to question. All authorities are implementing Section 2(1)(

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list those trunk and principal road schemes, giving the estimated cost of each which have been added to the forward programme during the year ended 31st March last.

The following are the schemes transferred to the firm road programme from the trunk road preparation pool and the principal road preparation list during the year ended 31st March, 1971:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to complete the central barrier on the M4 between London and Maidenhead.

The installation of central reserve safety barriers on the London-Maidenhead sections of the M4 is expected to be completed by mid-October this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will ensure that his next five-year road programme will be aimed at taking traffic out of towns; and if he will, therefore, reconsider the proposal to route the M18 motorway through the county borough of Doncaster;(2) when he expects to receive the report of the public inquiry into the route of the M18 in so far as it affects the county borough of Doncaster.

My right hon. Friend hopes to make an announcement about our overall inter-urban roads strategy quite soon. The inspector's report on the route of the M18 in the Doncaster area was received on 7th May and is under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to reduce the number of staff employed by his Department; and if he will make a statement.

Steps taken to reduce the number of staff employed have already resulted in savings of some 1,000 industrial staff in 1970–71 and it is hoped to save a further 400 in the current year. Last year the Housing and Construction area of the Department was planned to grow by an extra 1,000 non-industrial staff. This growth was stopped last autumn and the numbers held some 500 lower than planned.This year we have to provide for a growth of 300 in the non-industrial staff of the centralised vehicle and licensing installation in Swansea, most of whom are being transferred from local authorities which perform this task at present. In spite of this, non-industrial numbers overall will grow by fewer than 200 in the current financial year. Taking non-industrial and industrial staff together, there will be a saving.The activities of the three former Ministries forming the Department of the Environment are being reviewed to see where Government activity can be reduced or eliminated and savings of staff and other resources made. There are three main possibilities. First, rationalisation and integration; merging the common services of the three former Ministries has enable us to save some staff already and we intend to save more by this means. Special reviews of the headquarters and regional organisations are being made which should contribute to staff economies. Second, using private firms; we are well along this road. 40 per cent. by value of our work on designing major new building projects is passed to private consulting firms and we use private contractors extensively for construction work. The third possibility with the greatest potential for significant savings is the shedding of functions. The Land Commission, when the Government decided to abolish it, employed 900 staff. It was then a separate agency, and its staff, although civil servants, were not counted among the staff of the Department of the Environment. By April, 1971, the staff had been reduced to 100. They have now been transferred to the Department of the Environment to complete the Commission's residual work and so are included in the Department's manpower. Only 50 will remain by April, 1972.Other possibilities of this kind are under close review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what was the annual consumption of lime in each of the six Common Market countries during the last year for which figures are available; and whether there is any legislative provision or subsidy available in any of the member States to encourage the use of the material for agricultural purposes.

Statistics for the annual consumption of lime in the European Economic Community countries are not readily available. There is no Community scheme for subsidising the use of lime for agricultural purposes. Detailed information about present practices in individual member States is not readily available but as far as I am aware there are no State aids of this kind.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what further consideration he has now given to the proposal for a world disaster stockpile of medical, food and other supplies, which was outlined at the Conference of the Inter-Parliamentary Union held at The Hague in October, 1970; and if he will make a statement.

Our views on stockpiling are contained in the memorandum on "Assistance in Cases of Natural Disaster", which was sent to the United Nations Secretary General on 4th March. A copy of this document has been placed in the Library. The policy of Her Majesty's Government is to work for the creation of an effective system of international relief co-ordination along the lines outlined in our memorandum.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what response he has had from the Secretary-General of the United Nations Organisation to the proposal for a world disaster stockpile; what further action is intended by Her Majesty's Government; and if he will now make a further statement.

The Secretary General's views are contained in his report to the Economic and Social Council on Natural Disaster Relief, a copy of which is in the Library of the House.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what effect the change in investment allowances has had on the purchase of computers.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to the effect on investment in computers of the change from investment grants to the new and improved system of tax allowances which was announced on 27th October last. It is too early to make any estimate.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer to what extent he estimates that the implementation of the fuel oil taxes of the European Economic Community countries being imposed in Great Britain on Great Britain's entry into the Community will increase or reduce the cost of living index figure.

This does not arise. As the hon. Member was informed in reply to his Question on 25th May, member States of the E.E.C. are currently free to decide the rates of their individual taxes on fuel oil.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the development of further education courses and examinations for technicians in Scotland.

A Report on Technician Courses and Examinations in Scotland prepared by a committee of the Scottish Technical Education Consultative Council is being published today. It offers guidance on a co-ordinated pattern of courses and examinations in each of the technical and business sectors, and makes recommendations about the bodies which should administer them.I am grateful to the Council for this comprehensive review, and I am commending the report for consideration by all interested parties. When consultations with the principal interests involved have been completed, I shall consider what action should be taken on the recommendations with which I am concerned.

asked the Secretary or State for Social Services if he will take steps to increase the number of occupational therapists who also possess technical skill, in view of the work which they perform in advising patients in modifying their homes, adjusting their working conditions and assisting rehabilitation; and if he will make a statement.

I share the hon. Member's concern for the need to secure continuity in the provision of rehabilitation; but I am not satisfied that the acquisition of technical skills on the part of occupational therapists will give the answer to such problems as exist. This essentially requires a multi-disciplinary approach which the reorganisation of the National Health Service and the local authority social service structure is designed to encourage.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will institute an investigation into the reasons why invalid cars take so long to deliver; and if he will make a statement.

The arrangements for the supply of invalid vehicles, including progressing deliveries, are under constant review, but, as I explained in reply to a Question from the hon. Member on 9th February, there may be many things to be done between a recommendation by a consultant and the supply of a vehicle. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I will gladly consider it.—[Vol. 811, c. 117-8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will consider in his review of vehicles for the disabled the provision of four-wheeled vehicles for such people as require their spouses to assist them in getting in and out; and if he will make a statement.

The review of the vehicle service which my right hon. Friend is undertaking at the present time is a comprehensive one. It takes account of all the many suggestions for improvements to and extensions of the vehicle service made by hon. Members, private individuals and voluntary organisations. It is hoped that the review will be completed by the autumn.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many of the eight members appointed to the sub-committee reconstituted in October, 1968, by the South-West Regional Hospital Board to report on the hospital services in the Bristol clinical area were general practitioners, members of the Bristol Corporation Public Health Committee, members of the Bristol Executive Council, dentists, nurses, midwives and chemists, respectively.

None. It consisted of consultants nominated two by the university, two by the United Bristol Hospitals Board of Governors, and four by the regional hospital board.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services on what date the sub-committee of the South-West Regional Hospital Board considering the hospital services in the Bristol clinical area was disbanded.

22nd March, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for the Social Services whether he will consider some relaxation of payment of insurance stamps for mature students at colleges and universities in view of the hardship caused when they return to their former occupation and/or are unable to find work for short periods.

No. These students are not obliged to pay contributions while undergoing full-time education. Most mature students will have had a substantial period of employment before the course began, and there are already special arrangements for them under which, provided that they had paid or been credited with not less than 104 contributions as employed persons in the three years preceding the course of education, any contributions paid voluntarily at the non-employed rate during the course can give cover for sickness and unemployment benefits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will make a further statement on his discussions with the brewers on the question of the tied house system.

I reported the outcome of these discussions in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Oswestry (Mr. Biffen) on 9th December last. I would draw the hon. Member's attention to the steps taken by the Brewers' Society to meet some of the Monopolies Commission's criticism of the tied house system.—[Vol. 808, c. 131–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what machinery is being sold by United Gas Industries from its factory, Teddington Aircraft Controls, at Cefn Coed, on which Government grants have been paid in the last three years.

In general, grants are made on condition that the Department must be notified, and that the grant is repayable, if inter alia the asset is sold or disposed of within three years to any other company, or if the asset ceases to be used by the applicant for the purposes described in the application for grant. It is not, however, the practice to disclose whether investment grant has been made to particular companies.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will list for industry, beef, mutton, butter and cheese,

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry (1) what the value was, country by country, during the latest 12 month period for which figures are available, of the imports and exports between the United Kingdom and each of the 14 countries which are members of the Arab League; and what was the value of the imports and exports between the United Kingdom and Israel during the same period;(2) what was the value of the oil imported into the United Kingdom from each of the oil-producing members of the Arab League during the latest 12-month period for which figures are available.

For 1970 and later periods, the figures are published in the December, 1970, and subsequent issues of Overseas Trade Statistics. Figures are shown for total imports and exports in Tables II and V, and for oil imports by country in Table III. The member countries of the Arab League are Algeria, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, the People's Republic of Southern Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Republic and Yemen.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what is the amount

Following is the information:spent currently per head of population in Wales on municipal roads; and how this compares with the average for the United Kingdom.

I assume the hon. Member is referring to local authority roads. The latest period for which full information is available is 1969–70, when expenditure on these roads amounted to £7·60 per head of population in Wales and £7·05 in the United Kingdom as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if it remains the intention to commence work on the new General Hospital for Caernarvon and Anglesey in Bangor in 1975.

Planning work is proceeding but it is still too early to say when construction will start.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he will commission studies to analyse in detail the present pattern of migration of young people from Wales.

No. The Census of Population carried out in April of this year should provide detailed information on the pattern of population movement to and from Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many representations he has received from the parents of school children at the withdrawal of the Metropolitan Police road safety demonstration teams and cycle testing teams; and what replies he has sent.

The Home Office has heard from six parent-teacher associations. They received replies in the sense of my reply on 30th October last to a Question by the right hon. and learned Member for West Ham, South (Sir Elwyn Jones).—[Vol. 805, c. 226.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what was the number of probation officers in England and Wales during each of the past four years; and what is the exact number required to bring the staff up to full strength.

There were 2,790 whole-time officers on 31st December, 1967, and in subsequent years 3,012, 3,233 and 3,426. Returns from probation authorities suggest that there are at present about 250 vacancies, of which one-third should shortly be filled by students on completion of training.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the information which he is obtaining about convictions under the Firearms Act, 1968.

I have written to my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will ensure that the terms of reference of the Erroll Committee on the liquor licensing laws are wide enough to include the social implications of tied house restrictions and the extent to which they limit choice to home and foreign tourists.

The terms of reference which I announced on 8th December are wide enough to enable the Committee to consider all the implications of any proposed change in the licensing laws.—[Vol. 808, c. 98.]