asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will provide finance so as to extend nursery education in the City of Newcastle upon Tyne and Newburn Urban District Council areas.

I will be prepared to consider any proposals put forward by the Newcastle upon Tyne and Northumberland Local Education Authorities which meet the criteria for future instalments of the Urban Programme.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science which local authorities have submitted proposals for the building of new selective schools since the issue of Circular 10/70.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what advice she has given to local authorities on their proposal to record on computerised files the educational and other data on 600,000 schoolchildren.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what estimate she has made of the number of teachers who withdrew their labour on 30th June.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will amend the regulations relating to free travel to school for children living more than three miles from school to include all areas where the boundary line bisects streets and segregates children who have to travel on the same bus.

No. Local education authorities already have discretionary powers to pay for the transport of children who live nearer to school than the statutory walking distances and it is for them to decide whether to use these powers to avoid the situation described by the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the Schools' Council have informed her that examination papers set in 1974 and thereafter will be based on the present form of metric system or on system international units.

I undertand from the Schools Council that the secondary schools examining boards are moving towards the use of the Système International but the timing of this will vary from board to board and from subject to subject.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether the increased cost limits for the building of new schools by the Inner London Education Authority make allowance for the provision of access and toilet facilities for the disabled in primary schools.

Experience has shown that many of the special needs of the disabled can be met within the building cost limits if they are considered early in the design stage.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science by how much she estimates the anticipated revenue of £1·3 million would be reduced if children not in organised school parties were exempted from museum entrance charges and if retirement pensioners were so exempted.

My noble Friend estimates that if children and retirement pensioners were exempted the reduction of revenue would be such that the charge for adults would have to go up to 20p for several months in the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the average number of nursery school places provided by education authorities in England and Wales; and which authority has the most and which the fewest.

The average number of nursery school places in 1970 was 210. The I.L.E.A. had the most places, and 50 authorities had none. Nursery places are also provided in classes attached to primary schools. If these are included, the average for 1970 was 862. The I.L.E.A. again had the most places. Fifteen authorities had none.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action she is taking to assess the problems of the large numbers of school leavers who are unable to obtain jobs; what proposals she has to deal with this situation; and whether she will seek to reverse the restrictions and increased charges imposed upon further and adult education facilities, in order that all educational resources can be mobilised to meet the needs of the unemployed school leavers.

My Department is closely informed of the assessments of the employment situation continuously made by the Department of Employment. I shall encourage the education service to co-operate, in whatever ways possible, with any initiatives my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment difficulty. Young school leavers choosing to enter full-time further education are commonly not charged tuition fees, and I have no intention of changing that arrangement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether, after the present negotiations on teachers' pay are concluded, she will take steps to ensure that the procedure rule which prevents any union other than the National Union of Teachers putting its views on pay structure in the Burnham Committee is revised.

The rules of procedure in the Burnham Committee are a matter for the Committee itself. It would be open to the Committee by agreement to change its rules to bring about the situation my hon. Friend desires.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is satisfied with the response to her circular to local authorities on sandwiches eaten in schools; and if she will make a statement.

I have nothing to add to my reply to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Norwich, South (Dr. Stuttaford) on 5th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will issue guidance to schools and other educational bodies over the use of furniture containing rubber or plastic foam, in view of their potential fire risk.

A new edition of the Department's Building Bulletin, "Fire and the Design of Schools", which will shortly be available, draws attention to the need to ensure that furnishings do not constitute a fire hazard.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from Nottinghamshire County Council with regard to the School Milk Bill; what reply she has sent; and if she will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from the Association of Education Committees on the subject of school milk; and if she will make a statement.

The Association wrote to the Department towards the end of May suggesting an amendment to the Education (Milk) Bill to give authorities discretion to provide free milk for primary school children between the ages of 7 and 11 from rate-borne expenditure. This matter has been thoroughly debated in Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what diminution in supply of school milk has occurred in the last two years following restrictions on supply of free school milk by the last and present Governments; and what encouragement of consumption of school milk she is now sponsoring by all available agencies and media.

The withdrawal by the previous Government of free school milk from senior pupils in September, 1968, led to a reduction of about 12½ million gallons of milk consumed in schools in England and Wales. The present Government's proposed changes in the school milk arrangements have not yet been implemented.The sponsoring activities referred to in the last part of the Question are matters for the interests concerned with milk consumption generally.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she hopes to state her policy towards university development in the 1970s.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Cambridge (Mr. Lane).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many boys and girls, respectively, have enrolled as apprentice hairdressers for day release at colleges of further education for each year for the last five years; and how many of these completed their apprenticeship and became trained hairdressers.

Following is a table showing the enrolments on part-time courses in hairdressing; it is not know how many represented apprentices released by their employers. My Department has no information about the completion of apprenticeships.

STUDENTS ENROLLED ON PART-TIME DAY COURSES IN HAIRDRESSING AT ESTABLISHMENTS OF FURTHER EDUCATION IN ENGLAND AND WALES 1966–1970
	Men	Women	Total
November, 1966	920	10,001	10,921
November, 1967	877	11,215	12,092
November, 1968	1,005	12,288	13,293
November, 1969	945	13,083	14,028
November, 1970	828	12,990	13,818

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she now expects to receive the report from the Vice-Chancellors' and Principals' Committee on students' unions and their finances.

The returns from the universities, together with those from further education establishments and colleges of education, have been received and are now being studied. I shall be consulting the Committee and other interested parties about any proposals for follow-up action.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she is aware of misunderstandings created by her Department's advertising material in respect of entitlement to free school meals, particularly in respect of the distinction between gross and presumed net income; and if she will take steps to clarify the position.

I am aware that the publicity resulted in some applications from parents whose net income proved on assessment to be too high. On the credit side, it is to be noted that the May census showed an increase of 136,000 free school meals compared with last September. I will bear in mind for future publicity the need for the clearest possible distinction between net and gross income.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what studies have been made by her Department of the use of industrial catering for school meals; and with what result.

None by the Department itself but we have been aiding a joint research project into the use of frozen food being conducted by the Leeds local education authority and Leeds University.Other local education authorities are experimenting with different forms of catering and my Department is keeping in touch with them.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will list in the OFFICIAL REPORT the totals of school meals taken under each local education authority during the weeks beginning 4th May, 1970, 5th October, 1970, 11th January, 1971, 8th March, 1971, 3rd May, 1971, and the latest week for which figures are available.

The information requested is available to my Department only in respect of the last of the periods specified. For this, I would refer him to my reply to the Question of 5th July by my hon. Friend the Member for Stratford-on-Avon (Mr. Maude).—[Vol. 820, c. 299–310.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has received the communication from the hon. Member for West Ham, North, enclosing details of a resolution passed by the Newham Teachers' Association showing that there has been a 40 per cent. fall off in the take-up of school meals since the recent price increase; and what was the nature of her reply.

A reply was sent yesterday pointing out that for reasons explained in the letter the Association's estimate was too high.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will seek to obtain from the European Economic Community details of the amounts of subsidies and payments made towards free and cheap meals, milk, &c., which are paid in each of the countries of the Six, and publish these in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received about teachers' salaries since deadlock was reached in the negotiations; and whether she will make a statement.

Since the deadlock on 5th March I have received a number of representations on the question of arbitration. I have received correspondence on salaries from hon. Members and from teachers and other members of the public. The arbitration panel set up by my right hon. Friend started work on 30th June.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what representations she has received from local education authorities following her advice to them that children should still know about the avoirdupois as well as the metric system of weights and measures.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she will publish her Department's review into education for the under-fives.

My review of present educational provision and possible future lines of development for children below the compulsory school age was not designed to lead to the publication of a report. It was carried out as a part of the Department's work.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statement on the work of the Schools Council on which it has reported to her.

The Schools Council issues an annual report but it is not addressed to me. The terms of the report for 1970–71 are being considered by the Council today.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science from what organisations she has now received representations supporting or opposing the Education (Milk) Bill; what replies she has sent; and if she will make a statement.

I have received representations from some organisations, such as parent-teacher associations and similar groups, expressing general opposition to the Bill's proposals; I have also had suggestions from a number of local authorities and their representative associations that the Bill's provisions should be amended to enable local authorities to continue to supply free milk at their own discretion to primary school pupils over 7.Detailed information about the bodies concerned and the nature of the reply sent in each case cannot be provided without undue expenditure of time and effort.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in view of the desire of the Trustees of the National Gallery to acquire Titian's painting. The Death of Actaeon, and their willingness to mortgage their future grants to do so, what financial provision the Government is willing to make towards the national purchase of this painting.

I understand that the purchasers have applied for a licence to export the painting and that the matter will be referred to the Reviewing Committee on the Export of Works of Art. We must wait until the Committee has given its decision and the purchaser's reaction to this decision is known before action on the future of the picture can be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what further discussions she has now had with the Inner London Education Authority, regarding primary schools built prior to 1903, in the North Islington area; and if she will make a statement as to what plans have been submitted to her by the Inner London Education Authority with a view to rebuilding or improving of such schools to bring them up to modern standards.

The I.L.E.A has put forward two such proposals in Islington for the 1973–74 programme. They are the rebuilding of Grafton School and the provision of a new Roman Catholic School in Elthorne Road. My right hon. Friend is considering them along with those of other authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what statistics are available indicating the number of children who leave school nearly or completely illiterate.

None in the terms of the Question. The Department has commissioned periodic surveys of the general level of reading ability of 11 and 15 year old pupils. The results of the latest of these will be available later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she is aware that the Sussex University Union, being a recipient of public funds, decided at meetings attended by constitutional irregularities to subsidise, and pay the fines of, demonstrators supporting a strike; whether she will take these facts into account in her consideration of the financing of student unions; and whether she will make an interim statement.

I am aware of the union's decision and will take it into account in considering the general question of the financing of student unions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will conduct an investigation into the use of rubber or plastic foam in furniture in view of the fire hazards such materials present.

On present information my right hon. Friend is not persuaded that such hazards in the home are so serious as to call for a special investigation. But the matter is one which he keeps under review, especially in the light of relevant research undertaken by the manufacturers and others.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many drivers on motorway M1 have been prosecuted since 1st January, 1971, for allowing excessive smoke to be emitted from their vehicles.

I regret that this information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why, in view of the fact that the present figure of over £6 million of outstanding fines is greatly in excess of last year's figure, he will not take steps to initiate a scheme of payment of such fines on a basis of a discount for early payment and a cumulative percentage increase for fines outstanding on a 2½ per cent. per month on such arrears.

Because the figure includes fines, the time for payment of which had not expired, and because my right hon. Friend is not satisfied that such a scheme, which would require legislation and greatly complicate the procedure for the enforcement of fines, would be effective as an inducement to defaulters to pay.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what consultation he has had with the Trade Union Congress on the subject of unemployment among young people.

The subject of unemployment amongst young people is discussed regularly by the National Youth Employment Council, on which the T.U.C. is represented. The Council, which advises my right hon. Friend on youth employment questions, will be discussing the subject again at its next meeting on 15th July.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the ratio of wholly unemployed to outstanding vacancies in the Wearside area at the latest available date.

At June, 1971, there were in the Wearside area 3·4 notified vacancies to every hundred persons registered as wholly unemployed. There is no obligation on employers to notify their vacancies to my Department. The vacancy statistics relate only to those vacancies which are notified and remain unfilled on certain dates, and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if it is intended that the Industrial Relations Bill should apply to the staff of the Houses of Parliament.

No. The House authorities will ensure, however, that, as far as possible, the staff will receive analogous treatment to employees covered by the legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered unemployed there are in the London Borough of Hackney; how many of these are school-leavers who have been unable to find employment; and what were the comparative figures for 1970.

At 14th June, 1,811 men and women were registered as unemployed at the Hackney employment exchange and 77 boys and girls, of whom eight were school-leavers, were registered at the Hackney careers office. The corresponding figures for 8th June, 1970, were 1,795, 81 and four.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many unfilled vacancies available to school-leavers there are in the London Borough of Hackney.

At 9th June, 397 notified vacancies for young persons under 18 years of age remained unfilled in the area covered by the Hackney careers office but the statistics do not indicate how many of these vacancies were specifically for school-leavers. The figure relates only to notified vacancies remaining unfilled and does not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour in this age group.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps are being taken by his Department to find other jobs for those employees of the David Brown Corporation who are faced with redundancy.

My Department is doing everything possible to find other jobs for employees of the David Brown Corporation who have been made redundant at Leigh and at Newport Pagnell. No other redundancies have been notified by the corporation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will seek to obtain, for the benefit of the self-employed, the benefits of the inter-changeability of labour on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

No. The Treaty of Rome provides that restrictions on the freedom of establishment, including the right to engage in self-employed business, of nationals of a member State in the territory of another member State shall be abolished by progressive stages.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, now that Her Majesty's Government have accepted terms and conditions for Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community, he will give the reasons why he has not taken action to increase wage rates in Great Britain to those as now paid in the countries of the Six.

Membership of the European Economic Community does not require the equalisation of wage rates. Real wages have been increasing faster in the E.E.C. than in Great Britain because of a correspondingly faster rise in productivity and economic growth. An important argument for entry is that, along with the Government's economic policies, it will create the conditions for faster economic growth leading to a more rapid increase in real wages.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he is aware that between June, 1970, and April, 1971, the number of operatives on short-time working in manufacturing industries in Great Britain increased from 32,000 to 90,000; what was the reason for this increase; what action he has taken or intends taking to restore the June, 1970, figure; and why he is not able to give the figures for Scotland, Wales and the Northern Region.

Almost half the increase in short-time working in manufacturing industries between June, 1970, and April, 1971, was in the textile industry.The increase in short-time working generally, like the increase in unemployment, should be halted and eventually reduced as the Government's various measures progressively take effect.The information on short-time working is derived from a sample inquiry which provides results only for Great Britain as a whole.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment why the number of working days lost through strikes had increased to 17,337,000 in the year ended 31st May, 1971, from 8,623,000 in the year ended 31st May, 1970; what action he has taken or intends taking to restore the position to that of 1970; and whether he will make a statement.

Most of the increase occurred in local government service, postal services and motor vehicles. I am confident that the provisions of the Industrial Relations Bill will in time reduce both the number of strikes and the number of working days lost through strikes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what additional employment for males is in prospect in Sunderland.

1,000 male jobs were reported to be in prospect within the next four years in the Sunderland employment exchange area in authorised new industrial buildings and in buildings taken over by manufacturing industry.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will make a statement on the action taken by Her Majesty's Government since the publication on 24th July, 1969, of the Third Report from the Select Committee on Science and Technology, H.C. Paper 400, on the Natural Environment Research Council, especially in respect of paragraphs 33, 82, 90 and 93, and on the reasons for any variations from, or non-acceptance of, any of these recommendations.

The recommendation of paragraph 33 of the Third Report from the Select Committee on Science and Technology is for my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for the Environment, but I am advised that it will be necessary to complete certain associated work before the allocation of resources to the particular problems mentioned by the Select Committee on Science and Technology can be considered.The recommendations in paragraphs 82 and 93 are subject to the review of functions of central Government as announced in the White Paper on the Re-organisation of Central Government.The recommendation contained in paragraph 90 is for the Construction and Industry Research and Information Association and the industrial companies concerned to consider. The Department has close contacts with the Underwater Engineering Group of C.I.R.I.A., and since the Select Committee reported the Association of British Oceanological Industries has come into being with the aim, among others, of effecting liaison with governmental and trade departments in the United Kingdom and abroad.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received the report of the official inquiry into the affairs of the Pergamon Press; and whether he proposes to publish it.

I received on 9th June from the Inspectors appointed, Mr. R. O. C. Stable, O.C. and Sir Ronald George Leach, F.C.A., a "Report on the affairs of International Learning Systems Corporation Limited and an interim report on the affairs of Pergamon Press Limited". The question of publication is receiving consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what action he now proposes to take to encourage the mineral industry to explore and prove mineral resources.

This country has considerable potential for mineral development and we have been considering how to encourage mining companies to prove our mineral resources so that they can be used to best advantage. Exploration and evaluation involve exceptional and unavoidable risks and, even when successful, it takes a very long time before expenditure can be recovered. We propose, therefore, to meet 35 per cent. of the cost of work done by mining companies in exploring for and evaluating deposits of certain minerals in Great Britain. The scheme will be confined to non-ferrous metal ores and to barium minerals, fluorspar and potash. It will be administered in a selective manner; financial assistance will be given only to approved projects and will be recovered in those cases which result in the development of a productive mine. The necessary legislation, which will be introduced as soon as possible, will permit expenditure up to £25 million on the scheme with provision for a further £25 million if necessary.The scheme will, of course, in no way affect the operation of the normal planning controls under the Town and Country Planning Acts.The details of the scheme will now be settled in consultation with the mining industry, and it will come into effect as soon as possible. In the meantime, I hope that the mining companies will consider how they can make use of the scheme and will be drawing up their proposals for exploration to put forward to the Department.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry who will provide the financial advice which he undertook to take when the former Industrial Reorganisation Corporation investments were vested in him; and what will be the nature of that advice.

After careful consideration, I have appointed N. M. Rothschild and Sons Ltd. as my general financial adviser in relation to the I.R.C. investments. Its duties will be:

(a) to seek parties interested in purchasing the equity investments or accepting transfer of the loans;

(b) to advise on and negotiate the terms of any particular disposal;

(c) to provide general financial advice in relation to the assets vested in me;

(d) to assess any proposals that may be put by a borrower, or by a company in which I hold a substantial shareholding or by a potential purchaser and;

(e) to give advice in connection with the making of any further loans or investments in execution of arrangements made by the I.R.C.

This appointment covers the period from 1st June up to 31st December, 1971. N. M. Rothschild and Sons Ltd. was engaged by the I.R.C. to advise it on a number of its investments.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what saving was achieved by the decision of the British Council not to exhibit in the gallery allocated to Great Britain at the Florence Biennale of World Art.

It is not possible to say precisely what saving might have been achieved, but a conservative estimate would be between £1,500 and £2,000. The exhibition organisers were not requested to reserve any gallery for a British exhibit.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will state his proposals for publishing, prior to the main debate on the terms the Government have obtained in negotiations to join the European Economic Community, any outline or details of enabling legislation required under the Treaty of Rome.

I have nothing to add to the statement by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister on 17th June.—[Vol. 819, c. 643–5.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what is the cost to the Exchequer of the current national Common Market poster campaign.

The cost as envisaged at present of the poster campaign advertising the Factsheets entitled "Britain and Europe" is estimated at £111,900.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will arrange to publish in his forthcoming White Paper on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community full details of how, and in what way, the present powers of the House of Commons in opposing and amending legislation will be affected on entry so far as amendment and rejection of decisions of the Council of Ministers are concerned.

No. The White Paper was published yesterday. The position remains as described in paragraphs 22 and 23 of the White Paper on the Legal and Constitutional Implications of United Kingdom Membership of the European Communities published in May, 1967 (Cmnd. 3301), to which my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney-General referred in his reply to the hon. Member for Ealing, North (Mr. Molloy) on 19th April, 1971.—[Vol. 815, c. 337.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs under what head of expenditure funds are being disbursed in connection with the information programme which has been launched by the Government in connection with Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given to my right hon. Friend the Member for Wolverhampton, South-West (Mr. Powell) on 27th May.—[Vol. 818, c. 219–20.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how much has been expended, and what is the proposed expenditure for the future, in connection with the information programme which has been launched by the Government in connection with Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

To 7th July expenditure of £345,150 has been committed to this information programme, including the cost of the publications and advertising for them. Further issues of the Factsheets and advertising would involve expenditure of a further £302,400 on present plans, but much will depend on public response to and demand for the material issued.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs in view of the agricultural trade problems created for Australia if Great Britain joins the European Economic Community, if he will support Australia's efforts to be included in the study group that is being established by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to make recommendations to the Ministerial Council of the organisation on the measures that should be taken towards freer world trade in both industrial and agricultural products.

As my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade explained in answer to a Question by my right hon. and learned Friend the Member for Hertfordshire, East (Sir D. Walker-Smith) on 14th June, the composition and terms of reference of this group have still to be settled. The Ministerial Council of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development decided that the members of the group should be chosen from among high officials or other personalities of suitably wide competence and experience to be designated by Governments. The Secretary-General is continuing his consultations with member Governments about this.—[Vol. 819, c. 14.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will give an assurance that British sovereignty of the Falkland Islands and Dependencies has been in no way affected by the recent exchanges with Argentina; and whether he will make a statement thereon.

Talks about communications took place in Buenos Aires between 21st and 30th June between British and Argentine delegations, the former including participants from the Falkland Islands. The Falkland Islands Dependencies were not discussed. British sovereignty has been in no way affected by the talks.As my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary said on 6th July in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr.

Tebbit), the talks were

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the full text of the recent agreement concerning communications between the Argentine and the Falkland Islands.

As I told my hon. Friend the Member for Epping (Mr. Tebbit) on 6th July, the documents initialled ad referendum in Buenos Aires have been placed in the Library of the House. When the documents have been approved by Governments I will arrange for them to be reproduced in full in the OFFICIAL REPORT. —[Vol. 820, c. 346–47.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what were the fees paid by the Overseas Development Administration for both residence and tuition for a student at Oxford or Loughborough last year.

In the academic year 1970–71 the fees paid for individual students were:

	Residence	Tuition
	£	£
Oxford (Ruskin College)	200	150
Loughborough	270	115

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what is the average number of patients on the books of doctors in the Wembley area.

The average number of patients on doctors' lists in the area of the former London Borough of Wembley is at present 2,113.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment who owns the franchise of the Port of Chepstow; and what are the plans for the future of the port.

It is not for me to investigate or admit claims to the franchise of the Port of Chepstow. I am not aware of plans for the future of the port.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to have completed his inquiries into the possibility of withdrawing his directive imposing fixed price tendering for public contracts on the building contracting industry.

I am sending the hon. Member a copy of my statement of 17th March, 1971, to the National Consultative Council for the Building and Civil Engineering Industries. In this I explained why the Govtrnment decided to retain the firm price tendering policy, but offered to review the situation if circumstances showed this to be necessary. I have nothing to add to this statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in view of the continued increase in the amount of loss from fires, particularly in large industrial and commercial establishments, he will now consider the advisability of amending the relevant Building Regulations with the particular object of reducing such losses at least so far as new building and reconstructed buildings are concerned.

Building regulations, which are made for the purposes of health and safety of life, as well as other legislation directed specifically at safety of life in fire, play a considerable part in reducing economic losses due to fire. The Departmental Committee on the Fire Service considered that the introduction of legislation directed specifically to reducing property losses in fire was not justifiable.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost in the last financial year, or the latest period for which figures are available, of Exchequer subsidies for the purpose of financing housing owned by local authorities; and in respect of how many houses were such subsidies paid.

The estimated total payment of Exchequer housing subsidies for 1970–71 in respect of new dwellings provided by local authorities and the new towns in England and Wales was £154 million. The number of dwellings covered by such subsidies cannot be established at reasonable expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the total cost in the last financial year, or in the latest period for which figures are available, of Exchequer subsidies to housing trusts and associations; and in respect of how many houses were such subsidies paid.

The estimated total payment of Exchequer housing subsidies for 1970–71 in respect of new dwellings provided by housing trusts and associations in England and Wales was £2·5 million. The number of dwellings covered by such subsidies cannot be established at reasonable expense.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made towards his target of constructing 20 per cent. of all motorways and trunk roads in concrete.

In August, 1969, the then Minister of Transport announced his intention to increase to about 20 per cent. for a trial period the proportion of all new major trunk roads, including motorways, using concrete pavement construction.At 31st December, 1969, the proportion was 5·3 per cent. In the case of new contracts let during the half year ending March, 1971, the proportion of concrete roads amounted to 10·2 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, in respect of the totality of his responsibilties, he will publish the results of his appreciation of the potential of the railway network in linking industrial areas to air and sea ports; and how this use of existing facilities affects his proposals for an expansion of the road programme.

The railway network already makes an important contribution and has considerable potential. At the same time there can be no doubt of the need for good road access: roads carry over 60 per cent. of total goods traffic.The British Railways Board's corporate plan envisages a substantial capital programme over the coming five years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the target date for the clearance of derelict land.

Local authorities in the priority areas are aiming to clear their derelict land in a 10-year period, and in this objective they are receiving our full support. This is most ambitious, covering as it does the development, intermediate and derelict land clearance areas. Elsewhere local authorities are tackling the problem as systematically as other commitments and priorities permit.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what steps he is taking to ensure that all householders eligible to claim a rate rebate are informed of their rights.

Administration of the rate rebate scheme, including any necessary local publicity, is the responsibility of rating authorities, and the rate demand note must refer to the scheme. My Department encourages their efforts and supports them by the bulk printing and distribution of leaflets and posters and from time to time in national Press publicity.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether his new improvements on the trunk road network will include a western bypass to relieve the historic city of Winchester.

There is already an eastern bypass of Winchester which caters for through trunk road traffic. The M3 extension from Popham will provide additional relief. The route for this extension is still under consideration.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will place an annotated copy of the Purchase Tax Act, 1963 in the Library.

I understand that the Library is obtaining a replacement annotated copy of the Purchase Tax Act, 1963, as soon as possible.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the average amount of value of Scottish bank notes in circulation during every half year in the last five years.

Following is the information:

	£ million
	First half of Year	Second half of Year
1966	134	134
1967	136	137
1968	141	143
1969	147	148
1970	154	157

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what is his estimate of the saving to public funds in Wales in 1971 of substituting investment allowances for investment grants on the assumption that there would have been the same amount paid in respect of investment grant as was paid in 1969.

Investment grants were replaced as from 27th October, 1970, by improved capital allowances for investment in machinery and plant. As I told the hon. Member on 2nd February last, it is not possible to apportion corporation tax revenue or the value of capital allowances by regions. In any case substantial Exchequer savings from the ending of investment grants are not expected to arise before 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will give details of the revised proposals for the Highlands and Islands Veterinary Services Scheme which have been accepted by the British Veterinary Association.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs and Agriculture explained the basis of the revised proposals in the letters which he sent earlier this week to right hon. and hon. Members representing Highland constituencies. A leaflet is being printed setting out the full details of the scheme: when it is available I will send copies to Members whose constituencies are involved.

asked the Prime Minister what plans he now has to discuss with President Nixon the present state of negotiations for this country's adherence to the Treaty of Rome.

None at present, but President Nixon has often made clear his whole-hearted support for United Kingdom membership of an enlarged Community.

asked the Prime Minister, in view of his agreement with M. Pompidou on the limited rôle of the Commission in an enlarged European Community and on the Community's development, what is Her Majesty's Government's policy on the inclusion of the Commission in the study group being established by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development to make recommendations for freer world trade, in view of the Commission not being a member of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and three European Economic Community members being and the United Kingdom expecting to be members of the group.

The Secretary-General of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development is carrying out consultations on the group's composition. Her Majesty's Government would be content with any arrangement which is generally acceptable to the other members of the Organisation, although we would naturally expect the group to include a representative of the United Kingdom.

asked the Prime Minister if he will call a constitutional conference at which representatives of the political leaders of the countries of Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man may discuss with him the various issues arising out of Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community.

No. The elected Parliamentary representatives of constitu- encies in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland will be able to debate and vote on these issues in the House. As far as the implications for the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are concerned there has been and will continue to be close consultation between Her Majsty's Government and the Island authorities.

asked the Prime Minister how many ministerial broadcasts he has now made during his term of office.

None, but I propose to broadcast this evening on the case for United Kingdom membership of the European Communities.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will give a detailed list of the official Ministerial broadcasts which he has arranged for the longest convenient stated period of time.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to a Question from the hon. Member for Stoke-on-Trent, South (Mr. Ashley).

asked the Prime Minister if, when he visits the West Midlands in the autumn he will ensure that he passes through the Northfield constituency.

I have nothing to add to the reply which I gave on 1st July to a Question from the hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. Peter Archer).—[Vol. 820, c. 197.]

asked the Prime Minister if he is now in a position to give further details of his intended official visit to the West Midlands.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave on 1st July to a Question from the hon. and learned Member for Rowley Regis and Tipton (Mr. Peter Archer).—[Vol. 820, c. 197.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will pay an official visit to Edinburg.

I hope to do so in the course of a visit to Central Scotland on 9th and 10th September.

asked the Prime Minister whether he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Department of Trade and Industry and the Department of employment in considering all proposals, including any from private enterprise, that might carry on steel production at the Irlam Steel Works and safeguard the jobs of many of the 4,300 men who are to be made redundant by the British Steel Corporation.

Yes. There is already close consultation between all the Departments concerned, although proposals for the future of individual works are a matter for the Corporation.

asked the Prime Minister if he will now pay an official visit to Rhodesia.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech

VISITS OVERSEAS BY MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT, WHERE THE COST HAS BEEN PAID FROM THE VOTE OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS, BETWEEN 1ST APRIL AND 30TH JUNE, 1971
Date of Meeting		Venue		Purpose of Visit	Number of Members attended
28th March to 5th April, 1971.		Australia (Woomera)	…	Science and Technology Sub-Committee B.	4
19th April, 1971	…	Holland (The Hague)	…	W.E.U. Presidential Committee	2
19th April, 1971	…	France (Paris)	…	C. of E. Social and Health Questions Committee.	5
20th April, 1971	…	France (Paris)	…	C. of E. Social and Health Questions—Sub-Committee on 4th Seminar on International Voluntary Services.	1
22nd April, 1971	…	France (Paris)	…	C. of E. Regional Planning and Local Authorities Committee.	4
22nd April, 1971	…	Austria (Vienna)	…	C. of E. Budget Committe.	1

Yes.

asked the Prime Minister if the public speech of the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food at Spalding on 12th June, 1971, on prices represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Yes.