asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is now able to announce the result of the review of home defence.

I cannot at present add to the reply given to a Question by the hon. Member for Birmingham, Edgbaston (Mrs. Knight) on 22nd April.—[Vol. 815, c. 1342–3.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he can assess how many men entering on prison sentences, have court orders for payment of alimony and maintenance orders in force against them; and if he will make a statement.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will review the law relating to, and the penalties on conviction for, arson and fire raising.

These are among the matters covered by the Criminal Damage Bill, at present before Parliament.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many women have been imprisoned for offences under the Street Offences Act since it became operative.

In the three years ended 31st December, 1970, 766 women were sentenced to imprisonment for offences under Section 1 of the Street Offences Act, 1959. I regret that corresponding figures are not readily available for earlier years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department in how many cases in the past 50 years his Department has ordered an inquiry into a criminal case because it appeared that there might have been a miscarriage of justice; and what the comparative figures are for each decade.

If I am right in thinking that the hon. Member has in mind cases in which a judge or barrister has been appointed to hold an inquiry, the answer is that I have identified in the period mentioned five such inquiries which are broadly covered by the formula used in the Question. The dates of appointment were 1947, 1952, 1953, 1964 and 1965.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he has had with the Northern Ireland Government regarding safeguarding the lives of British troops at the proposed major traditional marches to be held in July in Belfast and in August in Londonderry.

The United Kingdom and Northern Ireland Governments are at all times concerned to reduce the risks created by marches in Northern Ireland; and there is regular consultation between the security forces and the Northern Ireland Government through the machinery of the Joint Security Committee. Specific measures to safeguard the lives of British troops are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Defence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether a decision has yet been reached as to whether or not the future pattern for police authorities will be based on counties or regions.

My right hon. Friend's consultations with police representative bodies, local authority associations and individual local authorities are not yet complete.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will take steps to institute a system of registration of store detectives in supermarkets.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what plans he has to change the procedure under which complaints against the police are handled.

I have nothing to add at present to the reply I gave to the Question by my hon. Friend on 18th March.—[Vol. 813, c. 367.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many probation officer posts in the Durham County Probation Service are at present unfilled.

17.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will make a statement on what further action he intends to take to cut down the wastage amongst probation officers.

Wastage generally has not so far been excessive, but I shall continue to keep the position under review. It is one of the factors which has been borne in mind during the current pay negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will make a statement on his decision to relieve the Totalisator Board of making any betting levy to the Horserace Betting Levy Board.

The Board could not be expected to contribute to the levy for the financial year 1970–71, when it was in deficit. Having regard to the scale of its past contributions, it also seemed to me right that this deficit should be offset against its liability to contribute in respect of the current year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) why he will not publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list, by reference to the Parliamentary Register which came into force in February, 1971, and to the revised constituency boundaries promulgated in the Parliamentary Counties (England) Order, 1960, of the 20 English constituencies with the largest, and the 20 English constituencies with the smallest, electorates, indicating in each case the number of electors and the amount by which the said number, respectively, exceeds or falls short of the prescribed electoral quota;(2) why he will not publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT a list, by reference to the Parliamentary Register which came into force in February, 1971, and to the revised constituency boundaries promulgated in the Parliamentary Constituencies (England) Order, 1969, of electorates of the constituencies in the County of Hertfordshire, specifying in each case the number of electors, and the amount by which the said number, respectively, exceeds or falls short of the prescribed electoral quota.

As promised in reply to a Question by my right hon. and learned Friend on 23rd March, this information was placed in the Library of the House when it became available.—[Vol. 814, c. 100.]Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what supervision is exercised over, and official advice given to, Community Relations Committees, with regard to the dis- charge of their functions; and what reports he has received from local authorities of the disciplining, or dismissal, of officials concerned with race relations for political or improper activities.

Community relations councils are local voluntary bodies. They get guidance and help, if they want it, from the Community Relations Commission. It is not for my right hon. Friend to supervise or advise them. He has received no reports from local authorities on the matters mentioned by my hon. Friend.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons, for the latest period for which information is available, are subject to maintenance orders for payment of weekly sums at a rate of, respectively, 50 per cent., 75 per cent. and 100 per cent. of their income.

I regret that information of this kind is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what consideration he has given to the latest report of the Metropolitan Police Commissioner in respect of the references to the rise in crime in the Greater London area.

I am in regular touch with the Commissioner of Police, and share his concern about increases in crimes of violence. But I am encouraged to note that, as compared with the previous year, there was a slight decrease in the total number of indictable offences known to the Metropolitan Police and an improvement in the proportion of crimes they cleared up.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department when he will make a statement on the infiltration by Mafia and other criminal elements into gaming clubs in Great Britain.

The system of control created by the Gaming Act, 1968, gives extensive powers to the Gaming Board, the police and the justices, to exclude undesirable elements from the management or financial control of clubs. My right hon. Friend believes that thus far the new system is working effectively.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what action he is taking on the majority recommendations about police powers of arrest and search by the Advisory Committee on Drug Dependence.

I have brought the Committee's report to the notice of chief officers of police and have put before them some suggestions about particular recommendations. A copy of a Home Office circular on the subject has been put in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many part-time civilian and retired persons are used in the N division area of the Metropolitan police to relieve full-time uniformed police officers of routine duties.

66.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what reply he has given to the statement on Premises for Effective Industrial Training in North-East England submitted by the Trade Union Panel of the North-East Development Council; and what action he has taken to improve industrial training in North-East England.

A Press Notice commended the Statement to employers and trade unions in February, 1970 and officials then discussed it with the Trade Union Panel. My hon. Friend the Minister of State offered to discuss it further at a convenient opportunity when he wrote to the Chairman of the Council in March.A new Government Training Centre has recently opened at Middlesbrough and the capacity of the other five Centres has been increased as has the amount of Government-supported training in Colleges of Further Education.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is his assessment of the prospects for school leavers looking for employment in the Scunthorpe area.

A canvass of employers indicates that the great majority of this year's summer term leavers will find work within three months of leaving school, as occurred last year. Prospects for boys are a little more favourable than for girls.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what representations he has received from the Durham County Council regarding provision of employment opportunities for school leavers and young people under the age of 18 years of age, and what reply he has sent.

The Durham County Council wrote to my right hon. Friend on 14th June expressing concern about the employment situation for young people in the county and their representations are now being considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will review his decision to appoint only two additional careers officers for the whole of the Northern Region, in view of the high rate of unemployment amongst young people.

When my right hon. Friend has heard from all the local authorities to whom funds for additional careers officer posts were offered he will review the position in Northern Region.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many adult male workers, over 21 years of age, working a normal week in the Yorkshire and Humberside region had gross pay of less than £15 per week, £15 to £20, £20 to £25, £25 to £30, £30 to £35 and £35 to £40, at the latest available date;

The following estimates relate to male workers, aged 21 years and over, and female workers, aged 18 years and over. They are based on the numbers of such workers in the New Earnings Survey, 1970 sample who were

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many young people in Carmarthenshire 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 14th June, the provisional number of people under 18 years of age registered as unemployed in Carmarthenshire was 101, of whom 32 were school-leavers registered for first employment.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the total net increased costs carried by Upper Clyde Shipbuilders as a result of accepting trade union wage claims during the years from 1968 until the appointment of a Receiver in 1971.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of working days lost by strikes, including those not on strike but unable to work in the Upper Clyde Shipbuilders since its formation in 1967, and the estimated cost to Upper Clyde Shipbuilders of strikes during the same period.

It is not my Department's practice to disclose information from the official disputes statistics relating to individual named undertakings or companies. Official estimates for loss of production due to industrial stoppages are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many female workers, over the age of 21 years, working a normal week in Scotland had a gross pay of less than £10, £10 to £15, £15 to £20, and £20 to £25 per week at the last count.

The following estimates are based on the numbers of female workers, aged 18 years and over in the New Earnings Survey, 1970 sample who were employed in Scotland on a full-time basis and whose pay was not affected by absence during the survey pay-period in

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the ratio of

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

At April, 1971 there were 1,871 persons registered as unemployed in the area covered by the Mexborough and Wombwell Employment Exchanges. The following table shows figures for earlier dates:

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will state

Following is the information:the cost of the radio communications establishment built at Orfordness; what is its purpose; and how much of the cost was borne by the United States of America.

The function of R.A.F. Orfordness is to conduct research into problems of long-range radio propagation. The station has been built as a joint R.A.F./U.S.A.F. project and the United Kingdom has made a capital contribution of £1·375 million. The amount of the U.S.A.F. contribution to the project is a matter for the United States Government.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action he proposes to take in regard to the provision of a grade of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service to undertake housekeeping duties.

My hon. Friend has written to my hon. Friend to say that we have now decided to set up a non-nursing branch of the Q.A.R.N.N.S. to undertake these domestic management duties. Details are being worked out. Recruiting for the new branch will start as soon as possible, probably in the autumn.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what action he is taking to modernise Citadel Barracks, Plymouth.

In conjunction with the Department of the Environment a feasibility study is being made of means to improve the accommodation of the 29 Commando Light Regiment RA. presently housed in the Royal Citadel.Until the results are known of this study, which is expected to be by the end of this year, firm plans cannot be formulated.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what steps he is taking to increase recruitment into the Royal Dockyards, in view of his announcement that it was necessary to refit H.M.S. "Otter" outside the Royal Dockyards in order to relieve the overload of work in the dockyards; and how long he envisages that the present overload will continue under the present policies of recruitment.

None. The overload on H.M. Dockyards is temporary and will be relieved to a sufficient extent by placing the refit of H.M. Submarine "Otter" to contract. Recruitment is related to the forecast load of work, and will continue selectively as circumstances require.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to Oldpark Road, Belfast, on Sunday night, 20th June, after a shooting incident in which two men were injured; at what time the shooting took place; at what time the Army arrived on the scene; whether the area was sealed off; what searches were made; and what arrests resulted.

At about 11 p.m. shots were fired at two men from a passing car. I understand that R.U.C. investigations are continuing, but the Army has not been directly involved in the incident.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to examine the Royal Ulster Constabulary Station in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, after it had been bombed by the Irish Republican Army on the night of Sunday, 20th June; at what time the explosion occurred; at what time the Army arrived on the scene; what was the result of their investigations; whether the area was sealed off; what searches were made; and what arrests resulted.

Shortly after the explosion, occurring at 11 p.m., Army technical experts made the appropriate safety and forensic searches, the area first having been cleared. These revealed that a charge of about five to 10 pounds had been used. No arrests have so far been made and those responsible for the incident have yet to be identified.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to examine an electric transformer at Carfield Street in the centre of Belfast on Monday, 21st June, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion; at what time the bomb exploded; at what time the Army arrived on the scene; what was the result of the investigations; whether the area was sealed off; what searches were made; and what arrests resulted.

Shortly after the explosion, occurring at 2 a.m., Army technical experts made the appropriate safety and forensic searches, the area, first having been cleared. These revealed that an explosive charge of five to 10 pounds had been used. No arrests have so far been made, and those responsible for the incident have yet to be identified.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to examine the Masonic Hall in Rosemary Street in the centre of Belfast on Monday, 21st June, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion; at what time the explosion took place; at what time the Army arrived on the scene; what was the result of the investigations; whether the area was sealed off; what searches were made; and what arrests resulted.

Shortly after the explosion, occurring at 2 a.m., Army technical experts made the appropriate safety and forensic searches, the area first having been cleared. These revealed that an explosive charge of five to 10 pounds had been used. No arrests have so far been made and those responsible for the incident have yet to be identified.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to examine a power station under construction at Hannahstown, Belfast, on 18th June after it had been attacked by Irish Republican Army bombers; at what time these explosions took place; at what time the Army arrived; what the findings of the investigations were; whether the area was sealed off; what searches were made; and what arrests resulted.

Shortly after the explosion, occurring at about 5.30 a.m., Army technical experts made the appropriate safety and forensic searches, the area having first been cleared. These revealed that a number of explosive charges had been used. No arrests have so far been made and the identity of those responsible for for the incident has yet to be established.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to Gallaghers' tobacco factory in Meadow Street, Belfast, on Friday, 18th June, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion; at which time the explosion occurred; at what time the Army arrived; what the findings of the investigations were; whether the area was sealed off; what searches were made; and what arrests resulted.

Shortly after the explosion, occuring at about 1.30 a.m., Army technical experts made the appropriate safety and forensic searches, the area first having been cleared. These revealed that the explosion was caused by a one to two pound pipe bomb. No arrests have so far been made and those responsible for the incident have yet to be identified.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an Army explosives expert was called to the main Belfast to Dublin railway line near Lurgan on Monday, 21st June; what the results were of his investigations; whether the area was sealed off; what searches resulted; and what arrests were made.

A report was received that an explosive device was on the railway track. Army technical experts made the appropriate safety and forensic searches, the area first having been cleared. Four two pound charges were found and dismantled. No arrests have so far been made.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances an attempt was made to blow up two mobile patrol vehicles manned by men of the 2nd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment at Whiterock Road, Belfast, on the morning of 19th June; at what time the explosion took place; how the device was detonated; what damage was done; whether the area was sealed off; what searches were made; and what arrests resulted.

Shortly after 1 a.m. a two-vehicle landrover patrol was travelling along the Whiterock Road when an explosive charge was electrically detonated inside a parked car. The car was wrecked but no damage or injury was suffered by the patrol. Road blocks were set up and searches made but no arrests have so far been made.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will invite representatives of national housewives' organisations to 10, Downing Street to explain Government policy on prices.

No. The Government have already repeatedly made clear their policy on prices.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will investigate the confiscation of Yugoslav imported covers by the Customs and Excise Department from Rinco U.K. Limited, Carlton, near Worsop; and, in view of the seasonal nature of the work there, the genuine misunderstanding, and the high area unemployment, if he will return the covers and issue a licence for import subject to duty being paid.

As the covers have already been imported illegally and seized by H.M. Customs, this is now a matter for my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer, to whom I see that the hon. Member has addressed a Question.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry why export licences are necessary for video tape recordings; why individual licences for separate countries are required for eastern Europe; and, in view of the administrative work involved when tapes have to pass through several countries for auditioning, sales, and re-exporting, if he will seek to remove the necessity for such licences.

Video tapes are subject to export control for strategic reasons in accordance with our international obligations. The nature of this control makes it necessary to issue licences for each consignment to destinations other than the Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland, the Republic of South Africa, or the United States of America.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what plans he has to attend a meeting with the Confederation of British Industry and the Trades Union Congress to discuss the general economic situation.

My right hon. Friend will be in the chair at the meeting of the National Economic Development Council on 7th July, when there will be a wide-ranging economic discussion.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why stamp duty was collected for bankers' licences in Scotland and for certificates of registration of alkali and other works in 1970–71; and whether he will now abolish these duties.

Duties have to be collected as imposed by law. The stamp duty on certificates of registration of alkali and other works was abolished as from 1st August, 1970. I have noted my hon. Friend's suggestion regarding bankers' licences in Scotland.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will explain the discrepancy between the total of £117,610,000 for total revenue from all stamp duties in 1970–71 and the sum of £121 million collected by his offices which collect stamp duty in that year.

The net receipt of £117,610,000 is after repayments and includes some stamp duties collected by the Post Office on behalf of the Inland Revenue. The gross total revenue of £121 million is before repayments and includes some fees collected by fee-stamps by the Inland Revenue on behalf of other departments.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will make a broad estimate of the revenue from those stamp duties in respect of which he is uncertain whether he received duty or not in the last full financial year, because the relevant documents were not classified to particular heads of charge when they were presented for stamping; and if he will also estimate the number of transactions making up this total.

About £1½ million in 1970–71. There is no information on which to base an estimate of the number of transactions.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what items of food are exempt from value-added tax in the European Economic Community.

Italy has not yet introduced a V.A.T. For the other five E.E.C. countries there is no present obligation to harmonise V.A.T. rates and coverage. Each country has its own system but none of them exempts items of food.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he will arrange for the expenses incurred by honourable Members in consulting constituents about the Common Market where this is done outside party political organisation, to be allowed for taxation purposes.

Expenses incurred in consulting constituents qualify for a tax deduction under the ordinary rules.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if wage and salary increases during any transition period to European Economic Community membership will have to be related to increased productivity rather than to any increases in the cost of living.

It is the Government's policy to reduce the current level of pay settlements and to bring it more closely into line with the rate of growth of national productivity. This will provide a firm basis, whether inside or outside the Community, for controlling inflation, reducing unemployment and achieving a satisfactory and sustainable rate of economic growth.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will make an official tour of Great Britain to explain his policies on inflation, in the light of the current economic situation.

My right hon. Friend has explained the Government's policies on inflation on several occasions, both in the House of Commons and in various parts of the country, in recent months, and he will continue to do so on appropriate occasions.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he has observed the statements made in the Britain Official Handbook in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971, to the effect that the number of Moslems in Great Britain amounted to, or were estimated at, 250,000, 1·5 million, several hundred thousand, and about half a million, respectively; and if he will take steps to ensure accuracy in the future.

The figures given are approximate and based on estimates made by the religious organisations. This is stated in each edition of the Handbook. No inquiries are made about religious beliefs in population censuses or other official returns. We will endeavour to ensure that these figures are as accurate as possible taking into account the difficulties explained in this answer.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what financial contributions from public funds have been made available during the last 12 months towards paying the fares of British subjects migrating to Australia and the West Indies, respectively.

Her Majesty's Government contribute £150,000 annually towards the total annual cost (approximately £8 million) of the Australian Assisted Migration Scheme. This contribution is made under the terms of the United Kingdom/Australia Assisted Passage Agreement concluded under the powers vested in my right hon. Friend by the Commonwealth Settlement Acts, 1922–1967.The Supplementary Benefits Commission of the Department of Health and Social Security assisted 75 individuals and their families to return to the Caribbean countries (69 of whom went to the West Indies) during the 12 months ending 31st December, 1970. The cost of this could not be calculated without disproportionate effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs why the United Kingdom High Commission representatives in India avoided visiting the camps for refugees from East Pakistan on the Indian side of the border.

There has been no avoidance.Our High Commissioner was in West Bengal from 7th to 9th June and visited the refugee camps in company with the Deputy High Commissioner in Calcutta. There have been further visits by members of the Calcutta staff.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if, in view of the high level of unemployment in Wales, he will instruct the British representatives at Brussels to seek from the representatives of the European Economic Community countries an agreement that the free movement of workers into Wales would not be allowed in the event of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

No. The effect of the acceptance of the European Economic Community provisions on freedom of movement of labour on Wales is not expected to be significant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons, while in receipt of supplementary benefit but wage-stopped, have been imprisoned for debt during each of the last five years; and how many such persons are imprisoned at the present time.

I regret that statistics of persons imprisoned for debt while receiving supplementary benefit are not kept.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what progress has been made towards the plan aimed at increasing hostels and reducing beds in mental hospitals by 40 per cent. by 1975.

I assume that the hon. Member is referring to the estimate in the 1962 Hospital Plan (Cmnd. 1604) that the number of beds required for mental illness would fall from 3·3 per 1,000 population at that time to 1·8 by 1975. In 1969 (the latest available date) there were 2·7 beds per 1,000 population. The decline in the number of beds reflects a reduction in the average length of stay in hospital rather than an increase in hostel provision, which has however been from 312 places to 2,400 between 1962 and 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many hospitals in England and Wales are treating patients with gonodotrophin; if he is satisfied that this treatment should continue; and if he will institute an inquiry into the advisability of continuing to treat patients with this drug, in view of the distressing results that occur in most cases.

This is one of several "fertility" drugs in clinical use. There are no central records on the use of particular forms of treatment, but I am aware of five hospitals where this treatment is used. Whether a drug should be given to an individual patient is a matter for the clinical judgment of the doctor concerned.I have no evidence to indicate hazard of a kind which would call for an inquiry with a view to securing discontinuance of the treatment; provided that, as at present, its use is confined to hospitals.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the grades of the 23 officers in the branch of his Department concerned with the production of and sponsoring the export of pharmaceuticals, the cost of this branch last year, and the total cost for the last 10 years.

The grades of the officers in the Industries and Exports branch of the Supply Division of my Department at present are:

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special action has been taken by his Department in response to the situation which has arisen from the decision to place Upper Clyde Shipbuilders Limited in liquidation.

No special action by my Department has been necessary up to the present.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now make separate provision for an assessment centre for girls on remand from juvenile courts in the Leicester area.

The provision of remand and assessment facilities is a local authority responsibility. It is a matter for the Children's Regional Planning Committee to review the adequacy of these facilities in the Leicester area in the course of preparing their regional plan under Section 36 of the Children and Young Persons Act, 1969.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what will be the daily rate of sickness and unemployment benefit after the rise in September for a man with a dependent wife and dependent children of 16 years, 14 years, nine years and two years of age.

Apart from any earnings-related supplement, a man with a dependent wife and four dependent children entitled to unemployment or sickness benefit will receive £2.37 for one day. The weekly rate will be £14.20.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the information given by the Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State to the hon. Member for Oldham, West, in his letter to him on 24lh March, 1971, concerning towns added to and removed from the list of those to which the four-week rule applied.

Following is the information: The tables compare the position in March, 1971 with the position in July, 1968, when the scheme was first introduced.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many persons below pension age he estimates on the latest evidence have been sick for six months or more during an annual period but will not qualify for the 30p invalidity allowances proposed.

The invalidity allowance will be paid at rates of 60p and £1 as well as at 30p. We estimate that, after the transitional period, the number of persons in a year who will qualify for an invalidity pension will be about 200,000, some 30 per cent. of whom will not qualify for an invalidity allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he has reached agreement with the tobacco manufacturing industry on the code of practice to govern the implementation of his agreement with them about warning messages on cigarette packets and press and poster advertising.

Yes; a copy of the Code is reproduced below. The Industry have readily agreed to meet with me regularly to review the working of the Agreement and the Code.LABELLING OF CIGARETTE PACKS AND RELATED ADVERTISEMENTS (LABELLING CODE)

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he is satisfied with the progress being made in providing new road links between South Wales and the South-East of England; what stage has the development reached; when he anticipates it will be finally completed; and if he will make a statement.

A major new road link will be provided by the completion of M4 London-South Wales Motorway. A 10 miles section was opened ahead of schedule last week and about 68 miles remain to be completed in England. It may be possible to open a further length in the autumn and the whole motorway by the end of the year, but as I said to the hon. Member for Newport (Mr. Roy Hughes) on 17th March, precise dates of completion have still to be determined.—[Vol. 813, c. 343.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he is undertaking on the extent and effect of noise in the vicinity of urban motorways; and if he will make a statement.

Studies have been made by the Noise Advisory Council; others are being carried out as part of my Department's programme of practical research.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost to public funds of the hearing of appeals against the decisions of the district auditor held on 4th, 5th, 18th and 19th November, 1969, in respect of the accounts of the Felling Urban District Council for the year ended 31st March, 1969; and how much of this was borne by the local authority, the result of this appeal having been recently communicated to the local authority.

This information is not available. The costs of the hearing fall to be borne directly by those who incurred them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects the Manchester Eastern Ring Road to be completed.

I regret I cannot say. The responsible local authorities have not yet prepared the scheme sufficiently to apply for a place in the principal roads programme.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement about the chairmanship of the National Bus Company.

The present Chairman has informed me that he does not wish to be considered for reappointment when his term of office ends on 31st December. Mr. F. A. S. Wood, Chairman and Managing Director of Croda International Limited, will succeed him as Chairman from 1st January, 1972. Mr. Wood is at present a part-time member of the National Bus Company.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many units of accommodation were completed by Southampton City Council during 1967 and 1970, respectively.

The information for 1967 is published in Local Housing Statistics No. 5 (January, 1968) and for 1970 in No. 17 (February, 1971). Copies are available in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what figures he bases his assessment that the number of council houses started in the first four months of this year compares quite well with that in the first four months of last year.

On the statistics which have been published. They show that in the first four months of 1971 44,500 dwellings were started in the public sector as against 43,600 in the same period of 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales if he is satisfied with the progress being made with the final section of the road link between the Midlands and South Wales; when the work is likely to be completed; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. I still expect work to be completed towards the end of 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales how many school leavers there will be in Wales when the present school term ends.

Separate figures relating to the two statutory school leaving dates are not yet available. For 1971 as a whole it is estimated that about 36,000 pupils will leave school in Wales.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales (1) if he has calculated what effect the lack of investment in Welsh industry, as shown by the recent Confederation of British Industry report, will have on the Welsh economy, and particularly on the level of employment;(2) if his attention has been drawn to the recent report of the Confederation of British Industry which indicated that 27 per cent. of firms surveyed in Wales have recently cancelled plans for new investment, and that more than half plan no expansion in the next year; what action he proposes to remedy the situation; and if he will make a statement.

I have received a copy of the Survey of Investment Incentives undertaken by the Wales Regional Council of the Confederation of British Industry. As the report points out, the size of the sample calls for caution in interpreting this Survey, much of which was carried out before the Budget statement of last March. I am now having the Survey examined in detail.

asked the Secretary of State for Wales what proposals he has for extending the new development plan system under the Planning Act, 1968 to local planning authorities in Wales.

Glamorgan and Monmouthshire County Councils and Cardiff, Swansea, Newport and Merthyr County Borough Councils have already been invited to prepare structure plans. I intend making a Commencement Order under the Town and Country Planning Act, 1968, formalising the position of these councils as structure plan authorities. I have asked officials of my Department to begin talks with the other local planning authorities in Wales with a view to the progressive implementation of a structure plan programme.

asked the Attorney-General how many cases in the past year have gone from the lower courts to the Court of Appeal; how this number compares with the figures for the previous three years; and how many cases are presently outstanding to be heard in the Court of Appeal.

In 1970, the Criminal Division of the Court of Appeal disposed of some 8,300 cases. Comparable figures for 1967, 1968 and 1969 were 5,798, 7,898 and 8,613, respectively. On 20th June, there were 1,917 applications outstanding.In 1970, 917 appeals were set down for hearing in the Civil Division in the Court of Appeal. Comparable figures for 1967, 1968 and 1969 were 834, 948 and 948, respectively. At 18th June, 1971, 266 appeals remained undisposed of.