asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will announce a starting date for the Musselburgh Bypass road.

I regret that I cannot yet fix a starting date for this scheme.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he now expects to publish the proposals he is preparing on the Hunter Committee Report.

I am not yet able to add to the reply I gave to the hon. Gentleman's question on this subject on 26th May.—[Vol. 818, c. 347–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans and proposals he has prepared since Monday, 14th June, to alleviate the growing unemployment, lack of investment, and availability of work in Scotland; whether he has or will discuss these plans and proposals with the Scottish Trades Union Congress; and whether he will make a statement.

The Government have moved swiftly since 14th June with measures designed to secure the reconstruction of shipbuilding on the Upper Clyde. The Scottish Trades Union Congress discussed this with my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 21st June. I was present at that meeting and I am always prepared to consider discussions with the S.T.U.C. which I normally meet from time to time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take in regard to such local authorities which have introduced a new structure of promoted posts in secondary schools, while the proposals of the Scottish Education Department regarding this new structure were still the subject of discussion between the Department and the teachers' representatives.

None. Education authorities have exercised their discretion over a number of years to create paid posts of responsibility in addition to those that are mandatory.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland, in view of the concern felt by teachers whose promoted posts are being abolished in the new structure being created by certain education authorities, and will be abolished if the proposals of the Scottish Education Department are implemented; if he will make a statement regarding the conservation of salary for teachers adversely affected by his proposals.

This would be a matter for the Scottish Teachers' Salaries Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he intends to take to implement the most recent report of the Directorate of Fisheries Research which states that in order to achieve a recovery in the stock of North Sea herring it would be necessary first to stabilise the total fishing intensity at a reduced level.

These matters must be considered at an international level. The North-East Atlantic Fisheries Commission introduced a closed season, to which we subscribed, in 1971 and the Commission is to meet again later this year for the purpose of recommending effective conservation measures in 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further representations he has received about the future of Scottish hill farmers if Great Britain enters the European Economic Community; and what replies he has sent.

Four. My right hon. Friend has reaffirmed the Government's concern for hill farming and their intention to include this matter in the negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many civil servants in the Scottish Office are working on problems of special concern to Scotland in connection with the United Kingdom's application to join the European Economic Community; and whether he will publish a White Paper.

The implications for Scotland of United Kingdom membership of the European Economic Community are being considered throughout the Scottish Office as part of current administration, and the number of staff involved cannot readily be specified.The White Paper which will shortly be presented to Parliament will cover the interests of all parts of the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received in the last year from women complaining that court orders involving aliment awarded in their favour have not been implemented; and if he will make a statement.

Four cases of this nature have been brought to my right hon. Friend's attention. As the hon. Gentleman is aware, the adequacy of the facilities available for enforcing decrees of aliment in Scotland is at present under review by the Scottish Law Commission.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he is now able to make a statement about the future of bull licensing.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given on 17th June by my right hon. Friend the Minister of Agriculture to my hon. Friend the Member for Banff (Mr. W. H. K. Baker).—[Vol. 819, c. 135.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the amount of the present programme of roads for the crofting counties.

During 1970–71, Government expenditure on the road programme in the crofting counties, including the township road programme, amounted to £4·17 million. I estimate that it will amount to almost £5·13 million in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what amount of grant has ben paid by his Department over the last year in respect of derelict sites.

In the financial year to the end of March, 1971, the total amount of grant paid was £769,149.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what answer he intends to give to Glasgow Corporation regarding the number of lanes on the Great Western Road.

The Corporation has reconsidered its plans for Great Western Road in the light of the decision reached after the public enquiry. I have now received its revised proposals and am making a detailed technical examination of them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pay an official visit to Glasgow and address the workers of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland whether he has now met the provisional liquidator of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited.

The Government have been in close touch with the provisional liquidator since his appointment. I look forward to meeting him personally when this can be arranged.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many official meetings he has had with representatives of Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited since 1st November, 1970; and what matters were discussed.

I have had no official meetings in that period. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry is, of course, the Minister responsible for the shipbuilding industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had about Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited; and what reply he has sent.

I have received and acknowledged written representations from two Upper Clyde Shipbuilders' suppliers, Craigton Ward Labour Association, and three private individuals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now pay an official visit to Glasgow.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will pay an official visit to Clydebank.

I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the reply I gave today to the hon. Member for West Ham, North (Mr. Arthur Lewis).

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what efforts he has made to bring additional employment to Glasgow and the west of Scotland; and what results he has had.

A large part of West Central Scotland was designated in February as a Special Development Area in which additional incentives can be made available to incoming industry. It is too early to make an assessment of the effects of this measure, but a number of firms have been prospecting the possibilities of the area.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many defended divorce petitions were successful in 1968, 1969 and 1970 in each of the categories desertion, cruelty and adultery; and if he will indicate the proportions of each to the whole.

The available statistics do not show the number of defended petitions which were successful.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many divorce petitions were presented in the years 1968, 1969 and 1970; how many were successful; how many were undefended; and if he will indicate the proportion submitted on various grounds such as desertion, cruelty and adultery.

Following is the information requested:

	1968	1969	1970
Divorce petitions presented	4,953	4,421	4,809
Divorce granted	4,766	4,215	4,589
Divorce undefended	4,600	4,179	4,550
Grounds of petition Desertion	1,267 (26%)	1,122 (25%)	1,032 (22%)
Cruelty	1,736 (35%)	1,615 (37%)	1,979 (41%)
Adultery	1,939 (39%)	1,679 (38%)	1,793 (37%)
Insanity	11	3	5
Sodomy	—	2	—

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had requesting reform of Scottish divorce law to bring it into line with the Divorce Reform Act, 1969.

I have had representations from the Scottish Law Commission and the Law Society of Scotland and from 11 individual persons. The majority of these favoured reform, though not necessarily in the same form as the 1969 Act.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland (1) how many local authorities have their full quota of secondary teachers; how many have a waiting list of applicants; and if he will make a statement;(2) how many authorities have their full quota of primary teachers; how many have a waiting list of applicants; and if he will make a statement.

I do not have this information but I would refer the hon. Member to the national forecasts of teacher demand and supply for sessions 1970–71 and 1971–72, in "Education in Scotland in 1970" (Cmnd. 4605), as modified in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeen, South (Mr. Sproat) on 23rd April. These indicated that in both primary and secondary schools the total number of teachers required would exceed the supply for the sessions in question.—[Vol. 815, c. 481.]

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has had from the Church of Scotland concerning recent advertisements by the alcoholic liquor trade intended to encourage and increase the sale of beer; and what reply he has sent.

I have received representations from the Church of Scotland Committee on Moral Welfare about a particular advertising campaign. I have replied that since this campaign may involve a competition for prizes I have referred the matter to the criminal authorities to consider under Section 47 of the Betting, Gaming and Lotteries Act, 1963. I have also said that they may wish to consider submitting their complaint to the Advertising Standards Authority.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many letters he has received since the beginning of June from Scottish inshore fishing organisations about the retention of the 12-mile limit; and what replies he has sent.

I have received two letters from Scottish Inshore Fishing Organisations about the retention of the 12-mile limit. No formal replies have been sent, but I and my hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs and Agriculture met representatives of the Scottish inshore industry recently and discussed the whole question with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what plans he has for the provision of more community centres in Scotland.

The provision of community centres is the responsibility of local authorities and education authorities who also have powers to assist voluntary bodies to provide them. I have increased the allocation of capital investment for social and recreational facilities in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now give a progress report, including the total cost, the commencement date, and the completion date, respectively, of the widened and modernised bridge carrying the A440 over the main line railway Birmingham to Bristol at Defford in the parliamentary constituency of Worcestershire, South, having regard to the dangers to vehicular traffic, pedestrians and rail traffic.

This scheme is the responsibility of Worcestershire County Council, as highway authority I understand that design work is substantially complete and that no difficulties are expected with land acquisition. Subject to its priority in competition with other schemes, and availability of funds, it could be included in the 1972–73 principal road programme. Work could then start in late 1972, and would take 15 months to complete. The latest estimated cost is £155,000.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in view of the high level of cadmium discovered in the area, he will now follow up the report on Severnside by the Central Unit of Environmental Planning by authorising a closer scientific study of the environmental hazards involved in the recommendations of the study.

A study of the effects of possible contamination in the area by cadmium, lead and zinc is at present being carried out by a working party representing the Department of Health and Social Security, the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, the Alkali Inspectorate, Warren Spring Laboratory, Bristol Corporation and the Imperial Smelting Corporation Limited.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what variations in strontium 90 levels have been recorded by his Department since 1960; and what readings, by regional location of monitoring apparatus have been given.

The one aspect of this subject for which my Department is responsible is drinking water. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the H.M.S.O. publication "Radioactivity in Drinking Water in the United Kingdom", which includes the levels from 1960 to 1966; a copy of the published results for 1967; and details, given by location of the monitoring apparatus, of the readings taken between 1968 and 1970. These give no cause for anxiety.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) if he will hold joint consultations with the Secretary of State for Wales and the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry on the question of atmospheric pollution in the South Wales valleys;(2) if, in conjunction with the Welsh Office, he will commission an adequately manned and equipped research survey into the atmospheric pollution in the South Wales valleys.

Some valuable research on pollutants in the atmosphere in South Wales has been carried out, and is continuing, at the Swansea College of the University of Wales. I am considering with my right hon. Friends whether further work is called for.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make funds available for the purchase by local authorities in quantity of the movable ramp designed and produced by the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering.

Purchase of these useful ramps is a matter for the local authorities' discretion, and would be financed either from their own moneys or from the capital funds allocated, under the new loan arrangements, for locally determined schemes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment which authority, after the reorganisation of local government, will be responsible for dealing with accumulations of rubbish and the general clearing up of open land responsibilities which are presently shared, respectively, between the local authority and the planning authority.

This will be discussed in the consultations I am having with the local authority associations about the distribution of functions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether the rate support grant to be given to councils to compensate for lower revenue due to re-rating under the Mines and Quarries (Valuation) Order, 1971, will be in full; and when this will be paid in respect of the 1971–72 financial year.

Those local authorities whose rateable values are reduced and which qualify for the resources element of the rate support grant will have their loss of rate income almost exactly made good by increases in this element of their grant. The resources element for 1971–72 will be recalculated and the payments adjusted later in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement about his plans for the future trunk road programme.

I have now completed my review of inter-urban road needs and I am today adding £500 million worth of major schemes to the preparation pool of motorways and trunk roads.In selecting these schemes, which are listed below, I have had in mind the totality of my responsibilities for the environment and in particular the following six aims:

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what further steps he is taking to expedite the compulsory inclusion of safety devices in all new motor vehicles manufactured in Great Britain.

Collapsible steering columns and burst-proof doors will become compulsory next year, and regulations have just been made requiring improved types of seat belts as from 1973. Further safety standards are being developed in co-operation with other European countries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will list the statutory powers for the use of local authorities to restrict the use of speedboats in inshore areas, harbours, rivers and lakes.

Section 231, Public Health Act, 1936.Section 76, Public Health Act, 1961.Section 13, Countryside Act, 1968.Section 22, Countryside Act, 1968.Section 94, Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907.Section 172, Public Health Act, 1875.Section 249, Local Government Act, 1933.Section 18, Water Act, 1945.In addition, individual local authorities have powers under local Acts.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many local authorities in England and Wales have adopted statutory powers to restrict the use of speedboats in areas under their control.

The numbers of local authorities which have made byelaws under the various statutes are given below:

20 local authorities under Section 231, Public Health Act, 1936.

59 local authorities under Section 76, Public Health Act, 1961.

88 local authorities under Section 172, Public Health Act, 1875.

None under Sections 13 and 22, Countryside Act, 1968, and Section 18, Water Act, 1945.

In addition, 235 local authorities have adopted Section 94. Public Health Acts Amendment Act, 1907.The number of local authorities which have taken powers under local Acts is not known.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will take steps to allow export loads carried by road to exceed ordinary weight limitations in special circumstances subject to the load being carried on certain roads only; and whether he will make a statement.

I intend to discuss with industry the possibility, when a comprehensive network of improved roads embracing ports has been provided, of allowing some lorry weight increases with the heavier lorries restricted to suitable roads.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment to what extent entry into the European Economic Community will affect road transport weight regulations in the United Kingdom; and whether he will make a statement.

Road transport weight regulations have not been harmonised in the European Economic Community. The effect of entry into the Community on British regulations will depend on what standard, if any, has been adopted by the Community.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now take steps to ensure that all petrol sold in this country is free of lead.

I am at present considering what controls are required on vehicle exhaust pollutants.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will now take steps to ensure that the fumes from diesel exhausts are reduced on British roads.

Draft regulations were published last December requiring that all new diesel-engined vehicles should conform to British Standard BS AU141. The standard specifies a strict limit on smoke emission.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will extend the Road Traffic Regulations currently applicable to the operation of heavy goods vehicles to all comparable vehicles of foreign registration whenever used on British roads.

Such vehicles already have to comply with all statutory provisions currently in force, but, there are practical difficulties of enforcement. On this point I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow, East (Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson) on 11th May, 1971.—[Vol. 817. c. 89–90.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the Council of Ministers of the European Economic Community is now considering proposals whereby the cost of constructing and maintaining roads, railways, and inland waterways should fall on those using them; to what extent these proposals for a common system of users' taxes as part of a common transport policy will have to be adopted in Great Britain on entry into the European Economic Community; and with what costs to the users and the Government.

A memorandum containing such proposals, with a time scale of 10–15 years in mind, was submitted by the Commission to the Council of Ministers on 29th March, 1971. Until the Council has adopted legislation to give effect to the Commission's proposals, they are not binding on member States.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will obtain a detailed list of rents and rates charged for one, two and three bed-roomed houses and flats, both private and publicly owned, in each of the Common Market countries, and, on a basis of allowing for the cost of living, compare these with similar charges as made in the United Kingdom as at 16th June, 1971.

No.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what action he is taking to prevent foreign fishing vessels from European Economic Community countries rendering British fishing limits abortive by registering in British ports.

There is no problem at present, but if the hon. Member has in mind future arrangements in an enlarged Community, we have made clear in negotiation the need for provisions which would ensure that only vessels genuinely belonging to our ports could fish the waters within six miles from our present base lines.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the restrictions at present imposed on the movement of poultry into the scheduled areas in England and Wales.

In view of the improvement in the fowl pest situation, the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have decided, after consultations with the interests concerned and with the independent persons who are assisting the Ministry in reviewing the fowl pest arrangements, to lift from tomorrow the restrictions imposed under the Live Poultry (Restrictions) Order, 1971, on movements of live birds (other than day-old chicks) into the three Scheduled Areas in England and Wales—the Northern counties, Wales and the South-West.While it is impossible to assess how much effect the restrictions have had on the course of the epidemic, it is clear that the three areas concerned have remained relatively free from fowl pest at a time when there would normally have been substantial movements of live birds into these areas from elsewhere in England.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he has yet received a copy of the report of the Dutch Government's investigation into the sinking of the "Hereford Express" last November, when all but three of the cargo of 262 cattle were either drowned or had to be destroyed.

I have been asked to reply. I am informed that the hearings before the Dutch court of inquiry have not yet taken place.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list of any designated civil servants or group of civil servants who were, on 13th October, 1964, in receipt then of salaries of £3,250 per annum and give for each year from that date the actual cash paid or percentage increases made in such salaries.

Yes.In October, 1964, a salary of £3,300 was the scale maximum of the Senior Chief Executive Officer grade (now Senior Principal) and the scale minimum of the Assistant Secretary grade. These salaries are now £5,200 and £5,000 respectively. Details of the annual changes are as follows:

Rates payable in October of each year	Senior Chief Executive Officer maximum	Assistant Secretary minimum
	£	£
1964	3,300	3,300
1965	3,500	3,500
1966	3,500	3,500
1967	3,500	3,500
1968	3,745	3,745
1969	4,200	4,045
1970	4,555	4,390
1971*	5,200	5,000
* Current rates.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on the further payment of up to 15 per cent. for the 100,000 senior civil servants; what increases have been awarded and on what dates to these civil servants since October, 1964; why only 7½ per cent. was awarded to the industrial civil servants as from 1st July, 1970; and whether he will give a list of increases since October, 1964, paid to these industrial civil servants and the dates.

Under the recent settlement covering 100,000 staff in the former executive and administrative grades which added 9¾ per cent. to their salary bill, only a small number of staff received increases of 15 per cent.An increase of 7½ per cent. with effect from 1st July, 1971, has been offered to industrial Civil Service and negotiations are still proceeding.The other information requested by the hon. Gentleman is as follows:

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many civil servants there are working in Government Departments in Wales at 1st June, 1971; and how this compares with June, 1970.

Information in respect of 1st June is not available. On 1st January, 1971, there were 19,509 non-industrial civil servants employed in Government Departments in Wales and Monmouthshire as compared with 18,879 at 1st January, 1970.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will list the number working in each Government Department that has a section in Wales; and what further plans he has in this regard.

The information required in respect of the major Government Departments is as follows:

	Number of non-industrial civil servants at 1st January, 1971
Department	Total	In Wales and Monmouth-shire
Agriculture, Fisheries and Food	14,940	1,340
County Courts	5,651	502
Customs and Excise	17,919	426
Defence, including Aviation Supply	129,809	3,048
Employment	30,899	1,774
Environment	38,932	1,628
Health and Social Security	71,635	3,438
Home Office	21,510	491
Inland Revenue	69,620	4,712
Royal Mint	420	144
Trade and Industry	24,780	742
Welsh Office	884	856
Other departments employing staff in Wales	45,388	408

As regards the second part of the question, I would refer the Hon. Member to the reply given by my Rt. Hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Wales on 9th February, 197l.—[Vol. 811, c. 129–30.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what recent action he has taken to reduce the number of civil servants; and with what numerical result.

There were 499,605 non-industrial civil servants in post on 1st May, 1971, as compared with 499,690 on 1st January, 1971. In the same period the number of industrials has fallen by more than 2,000.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will give details of the effects of the rise in the cost of living and percentage rises in salaries from 1964 to 18th June, 1971, of civil servants within the Department of Employment, who were then on a salary scale of £3,250 per annum.

Insufficient information is available about the pattern of expenditure of civil servants on a salary of £3,250 per annum in 1964 to permit the calculation of the rise in the cost of maintaining their standard of living.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what percentage of Cornish schoolchildren, as represented by what specific numbers, are being taught in classes of a size condemned as overcrowded in 1944; and what steps are being taken to ease this situation.

In January, 1970, 3,951 primary pupils, or 11·9 per cent., were in classes with over 40 on the register; 483 secondary pupils, or 2·3 per cent., were being taught, on specific dates, in groups of over 40 but this could include the grouping of classes for particular purposes. I expect the 1971 figures to be better. My right hon. Friend has increased the authority's minor building works allocations for 1971–72 and 1972–73 to help it to meet the need for more primary school places, and the quota of teachers for Cornwall in 1971–72 is higher by 136 than in the present school year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will instruct her representatives on the Management Panel of the Burnham Committee to ask the Committee to publish evidence in its possession concerning the proposed salary structure and career prospects for the most able prospective teachers.

No. It will be for the arbiral body to decide whether it should include in its report a summary of the evidence submitted to it by both panels of the Burnham Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many professors there are at British Universities and how many of them are men and how many are women, listing the figures for each university.

The numbers of men and women professors at each university

University or College Men		Men	Women	Total
Aston	…	30	—	30
Bath	…	23	—	23
Birmingham	…	126	1	127
Bradford	…	30	—	30
Bristol	…	86	1	87
Brunei	…	16	—	16
Cambridge	…	128	3	131
City	…	20	—	20
Durham	…	45	—	45
East Anglia	…	33	—	33
Essex	…	25	1	26
Exeter	…	40	—	40
Hull	…	37	—	37
Keele	…	23	—	23
Kent	…	26	1	27
Lancaster	…	34	1	35
Leeds	…	99	—	99
Leicester	…	41	—	41
Liverpool	…	93	—	93
London Graduate School of Business Studies	…	8	—	8
London University	…	785	22	807
Loughborough	…	26	—	26
Manchester School of Business Studies	…	4	—	4
Manchester	…	134	—	134
University of Manchester Institute of Science and Technology	…	32	—	32
Newcastle	…	92	1	93
Nottingham	…	67	2	69
Oxford	…	114	4	118
Reading	…	73	—	73
Salford	…	21	—	21
Sheffield	…	82	—	82
Southampton	…	67	—	67
Surrey	…	23	—	23
Sussex	…	56	1	57
Warwick	…	27	—	27
York	…	22	2	24
Aberystwyth University College	…	33	—	33
Bangor University College	…	36	—	36
Cardiff University College	…	42	—	42
St. David's, Lampeter	…	6	—	6
Swansea University College	…	36	—	36
Welsh National School of Medicine	…	14	—	14
University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology	…	15	—	15
Aberdeen	…	56	1	57
Dundee	…	41	—	41
Edinburgh	…	128	2	130
Glasgow	…	119	—	119
Heriot-Watt	…	20	—	20
St. Andrews	…	38	—	38
Stirling	…	14	1	15
Strathclyde	…	51	—	51
Total Great Britain	…	3,237	44	3,281

asked the Secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs what communication he has had from the Common regarding its proposals of versity in Great Britain on 31st December, 1969, were follows:the six-mile fisheries limit during five years after joining; and if he will make a statement

We have had no response in the negotiating conference to our proposals press reports relate to proposals by the Commission of the European economic Community which have not yet been ggreed by the Council of Ministers.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he is seeking an undertaking from the European Economic Community member states that, after the termination of the transitional period for British entry and any subsequent period of correctives, there will be a definite opportunity to review and, if necessary, adjust, the British contribution to the European Economic Community budget.

The Community has said that if an unacceptable situation were to arise, the Community's survival would demand that equitable solutions should be found.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list the provisions of the non-proliferation treaty which will prevent the United Kingdom sharing information about nuclear weapons with other countries, which will prevent the United Kingdom sharing the production of nuclear weapons with other countries, and which will prevent the United Kingdom sharing the control of nuclear weapons with other countries.

Relations in the nuclear weapons field between the United Kingdom, as a nuclear-weapon State, and other States are subject to the provisions of Article I of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, which reads:

"Each nuclear-weapon State Party to the Treaty undertakes not to transfer to any recipient whatsoever nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices or control over such weapons or explosive devices directly, or indirectly; and not in any way to assist, encourage, or induce any non-nuclear-weapons State to manufacture or otherwise acquire nuclear weapons or other nuclear explosive devices, or control over such weapons or explosive devices.'

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the terms of the Erroll Committee in its examination of the licensing laws allows review of the possibility of more restaurants and cafes being allowed to sell wines and spirits and that no restrictions should be placed on the sale of alcoholic products.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a table showing the number of prison officers who resigned from the prison service in each of the years 1965–70 who had completed between five and ten years' service, but who resigned before the normal age of retirement from the service.

The figures for England and Wales are as follows:

1965	55
1966	33
1967	58
1968	37
1969	48
1970	45

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how soon he esxpects the committee of inquiry into the work of members of the Fire Service to publish its report.

In the later part of this year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set out the total number of staff of the United Kingdom Representative in Northern Ireland, the grades of the various people involved, and the total cost thereof.

Two principals and two personal secretaries.The total cost of the office in 1970–71 was about £31,000.Changes in staffing and accommodation made it difficult to give a precise figure for the current financial year, but it is unlikely to be significantly different.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement as to the future of the United Kingdom Representative in Northern Ireland, and as to whether he is in a permanent or a temporary capacity.

I see no reason for changing this arrangement which is working well.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is his estimated net expenditure per person registered as physically handicapped, general classes, on services provided under Section 29 of the National Assistance Act, 1948, for the latest convenient year in the cities of Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Manchester, and Newcastle-upon-Tyne.

I assume that my hon. Friend is referring to local authority expenditure. Based on the local authorities' estimates of expenditure for 1971–72 and the numbers of persons registered as physically handicapped, general classes, in December, 1970, the figures are:

	£
Birmingham	28
Bristol	80
Leeds	15
Manchester	48
Newcastle-upon-Tyne	31

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he is aware that children are being treated in mental hospitals alongside adults in unsuitable conditions because there are few special places in centres where they would be among people of their own age; to how many districts this applies; and what action he is proposing to take to improve the position in view of the fact that the mental health of these young people may be jeopardised and delayed if treated in unsuitable surroundings.

In January, 1970, when a special count was made in hospitals and hospital units for the mentally ill in England, four children and 288 adolescents were in adult wards. Not all these were necessarily in unsuitable conditions; some adolescents are better placed in wards with adults. There are special units for children in all hospital regions except East Anglia and for adolescents in all regions except Newcastle, North-East Metropolitan, and South-Western. My Department will shortly be meeting officers of each regional hospital board to discuss their plans for services for the mentally ill, including those for children and adolescents.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will publish the numbers of people who refused to answer each of the 29 questions on the 1971 Census form and the number of people who declined to fill in the form at all.

The number of people refusing to answer individual questions cannot be satisfactorily determined without disproportionate cost. Many forms are still being completed in response to correspondence from the census organisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the total number of deaths and serious injuries, respectively, caused to bathers in England and Wales during the last five years.

Deaths from accidental drowning not involving ships or boats in the coastal waters of England and Wales (including "open verdict" cases) totalled 613 in the years 1965–69. The number of accidental deaths to bathers caused by speedboats or other ships or boats is not separately available, but in years 1967–69 for the particular category of water transport accidents in which they are included the total number of deaths was 16. Figures for injuries not resulting in death are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will now make a statement on services for the mentally handicapped.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I are today publshing a Command Paper under the title "Better Services for the Mentally Handicapped". Copies are available in the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is to be the first appointed day for the purpose of the Medicines Act, 1968.

After consultation with the interests concerned, the Health and Agriculture Ministers have decided that the first appointed day under the Act will be 1st September, 1971. On or after this day new medicinal products brought on to the market in the United Kingdom will require licences.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether the British Steel Corporation is now having to borrow in order to pay the weekly wages of its employees.

No. The Corporation has a positive cash flow on trading but needs to borrow for investment and working capital purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether, without incurring a disproportionate expenditure of time and effort, he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT as much information as may be readily available, giving details of the number of public companies which have formed part of his investigations into alleged malpractices; and what action he took in each instance.

I will write to the hon. Member as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what answer he has given to requests for him to give evidence before Congress on the RB211 engine.

The following is the text of a statement which is today being transmitted to the Chairman of the Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee of the United States Senate:LAUNCHING AID

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he estimates that current stocks of house coal are sufficient to last through a severe winter.

Stocks are rising, and, provided there is no serious interruption in production, the National Coal Board expects supplies to be sufficient.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what were the specific projects in England and Wales where substantial tonnages of pulverised fly ash have been used; and what steps are being taken to increase the utilisation of this material.

I have been asked to reply.I regret that the information requested in the first part of the Question is not readily available in the Department. Since the C.E.G.B. markets this material on a commercial basis, I am asking the Chairman to write to my hon. Friend.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what response he proposes to make to the suggestion of the Secretary of the Trades Union Congress that he should recommend setting up a Royal Commission on the financial institutions of the City.

I welcome the present public discussion about the rôle of City financial institutions and the part they might play in improving industrial efficiency and management. This is likely to be more fruitful than setting up a Royal Commission on the matter.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many persons in the Vale of Glamorgan are horticultural producers and how many persons are employed in horticulture there.

Separate figures for the Vale of Glamorgan are not available but in June, 1970, there were 47 holdings in Glamorgan as a whole which were mainly devoted to horticultural production, with some 100 regular workers excluding seasonal and temporary workers. In all there were 286 holdings in the county returning some horticultural acreage, including early potatoes, but the number of workers on them is not known.

asked the Secretary of tSate for Wales what is the estimated average annual income of farmers in the Vale of Glamorgan, and what is the number of dairy farmers, sheep farmers, and beef farmers there.

The only information available for this area relates to the County of Glamorgan as a whole. In May, 1971, there were 947 registered milk producers in the county. The 1970 agricultural census showed there were 1,060 holdings with sheep. Corresponding figures are not available for holdings with beef casttle; and estimates of net farm income are not made for particular counties.