asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what special measures his Department has introduced during the last two months to deal with the present unemployment position.

During the two months in question. I have announced additions to the Scottish primary school and hospital building programmes, a Bill to increase the rates of house improvement grant, and now a public works programme together with a special Scottish programme of additional road works, both to take effect in the near future.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what advice he has received from the Scottish Trades Union Congress and the Confederation of British Industry (Scottish Section) on the need to solve the unemployment problem in Scotland.

I have had useful consultations with both bodies about the unemployment problem in Scotland, on the seriousness of which we all agree.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the number of children receiving part-time education in primary schools at the latest available date ; and how this compares with that number at the same date last year.

In the last week in May, 1,294 primary school pupils were receiving part-time instruction. The number in May, 1970, was 4,208.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what will be the estimated expenditure on building and improving principal roads in Scotland during the year 1971–72, and how this compares with the actual expenditure in each of the last two years.

Including local authorities' own contribution, between £22 million and £23 million in 1971–72, compared with £16·3 million in 1970–71 and £15·3 million in 1969–70. This takes no account of expenditure which will be stimulated by the programme which my right hon. Friend announced yesterday of additional road works in Scotland to help unemployment.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new factories he has arranged to open officially in the next six months.

I do not myself arrange such openings, but I have received a number of invitations from firms to open factories and extensions. So far I have been able to accept one of these for a date later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many crimes of violence were committed in Scotland in 1970 ; what were the comparative figures for the four preceding years ; and what percentage of those offenders had previously received corrective training in an approved school.

The provisional number of crimes of violence made known to the police in Scotland in 1970 is 3,204. Corresponding figures for the years 1966 to 1969 are, 2,929, 3,535, 3,586 and 3,366 respectively.I regret that information is not available about the number of persons convicted of a crime of violence who had previously received training in an approved school.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what reply he has now sent to the Scottish Area of the National Union of Mineworkers on the application by the South of Scotland Electricity Board to convert Portobello Power Station from coal to oil.

My right hon. Friend has decided to suspend consideration of the application until early next year when it should be practicable to assess fully the implications of the difficulties which have recently occurred at Longannet Power Station. The South of Scotland Electricity Board has been informed of this decision as have the National Coal Board, the Scottish Area of National Union of Mineworkers and the General Council of the Scottish Trades Union Congress.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of current increases in rateable values in Scotland and consequent increases in rates being demanded, if he will seek powers to require local authorities in cases he considers appropriate to reduce the charges to be met by landward and burgh ratepayers.

Local authorities must be allowed to manage their own financial affairs, but my right hon. Friend has urged them not to take advantage of increased rateable values, in order to charge ratepayers more than they can afford. Revaluation in itself does not increase rates, but only changes their incidence to accord with current rental values.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will initiate a programme of public works in Scotland with the object of improving communications across Scotland and from Scotland to the Continent.

Substantial capital expenditure is already being incurred by the Government and transport undertakings on such works. The provision of transport services is, of course, a matter for the operators concerned.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will refer the matter of the Scottish paper and board industry to his Economic Planning Council.

I do not think that discussion in the Scottish Economic Council of this specialised industry would add to the very good appreciation of its problems which my colleagues and I have obtained through direct contact with its representatives.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now raise the amount of the annual budget for grants and loans for village halls under the 1937 Physical Training and Recreation Act.

No. The amount my right hon. Friend has provided for expenditure in 1971–72 on assistance to local voluntary organisations for village halls is already greater than that provided in any previous year's estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what representations he has received from district councils in Scotland concerning his proposals for local government reorganisation ; and what replies he has sent.

Fifty district councils, and the District Councils Association of Scotland, have commented on the structure and boundaries outlined in the White Paper on Reform of Local Government in Scotland. They have been informed that I am taking their views into account along with the many other representations received.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what further steps he proposes to explain to the people of Scotland why they should support British entry into the European Economic Community, in view of the fact that it has not proved possible to include a separate assessment of the economic implications for Scotland in the White Paper, Command No. 4715.

The White Paper published last week explains why the Government are convinced that it is in the interests of the prosperity and security of all the peoples of the United Kingdom that we should join the European Communities. A popular version is available free through Post Offices to supplement the current series of Fact Sheets on "Britain & Europe". The Government will report progress on those matters which are the subject of further negotiation.Like my predecessor, I do not consider it practicable to assess in detail the consequences of membership of the European Economic Community for particular parts of the United Kingdom. The main subjects affecting Scotland are covered in the White Paper.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will take into account the fact that 40 per cent. of the total Shetland catch of fish comes from between the six-mile and 12-mile limits in his negotiations on fisheries with the European Economic Community.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will issue a list of closures of Scottish firms on which he has had talks with trade union negotiators, and the number of jobs lost in each case.

Matters involving trade unions are the responsibility of my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Employment. I myself have had no direct discussions with trade union negotiators about the closure of particular Scottish firms.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what discussions he has had with medical officers of health on the reorganisation of the National Health Service.

There have been wide-ranging and continuous consultations about many aspects of the proposed reorganisation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is the total number of schools in Scotland providing exclusively for mentally and/or socially handicapped children ; how many children are on the rolls; how many of the schools are run by private organisations ; how many are unregistered, and for what reasons.

Figures relating to the educational provision for mentally handicapped children are as shown in the following table ; social handicap is not one of the handicaps specified in the Special Educational Treatment (Scotland) Regulations, 1954. It is illegal for anyone to conduct an unregistered independent school and I have no reason to believe that there are any such schools.The figures are as follows :

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps he has taken to satisfy himself that all local education authorities with children at the Corsbie Hall School, Thornton, Fife, have taken action to inspect the quality of the educational provision at the school.

It is for each education authority to satisfy itself as to the adequacy of the arrangements made for the education of any pupil for whom it is responsible. It would be inappropriate for me to supervise closely their exercise of this responsibility.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much of the additional money provided by the increased charges for school meals and the savings made by the abolition of free milk for primary school children he intends to devote to increased provision of primary schools.

Decisions relating to public expenditure as a whole have made it possible for me to add to the 1972–73 school building programme £4½ millions for primary school improvements and to announce a programme of £7 million a year for each of the three years 1973–74 to 1975–76.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now publish the results of his latest census of school meals, giving details of each local education authority, and also provide comparable statistics for each of the last five years.

The results of the census of school meals taken in May and of the census taken in January of this year were given in my reply to the hon. Member for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert Hughes) on 13th July.Comparable statistics from the censuses taken in January, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970 are shown in the following table :

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he intends to publish the Green Paper on local government finance.

Before the Recess, I hope.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what steps have been taken in the last 12 months to reduce central control of local government.

In the past year there have been relaxations of the con trols over the sale of council houses and the amounts of mortgage lending and of other controls in the fields of education and building regulation, and more are in prospect.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he has studied the five-point plan by Sir John Toothill concerning ways of boosting the Scottish economy ; and if he will adopt its recommendations.

I have naturally studied Sir John Toothill's suggestions with great interest. Much of what he is reported to have proposed is in line with Government thinking, as will be evident from our decisions to cut selective employment tax and lower corporation tax, and from my announcement yesterday about additional expenditure on public works.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make a statement on the case of Mr. Jack Malloch, whose appeal against his wrongful dismissal from his post at Hazelwood Academy, Aberdeen, has been upheld.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to the hon. Members for Aberdeen, North (Mr. Robert Hughes) and Inverness (Mr. Russell Johnston).

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he intends to publish his terms for redundancy in the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service.

I outlined the new proposals for redundancy terms in reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Bedfordshire, South (Mr. Madel) on 12th May. Discussions are continuing with the Staff Side of the National Whitley Council on these proposals. All redundant members of the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service will receive the new terms when agreed and, where necessary, with retrospection.—[Vol. 817, c. 120–123.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service when he expects to have completed his study into the feasibility of dispersing Government departmental work more evenly throughout the country ; and if he will consider making an interim report on the results of this study, particularly in relation to the development areas, before the Summer Recess.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what is the present basis of the Government's dispersal policy ; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service what new criteria have been established for the location of Government offices ; and if he will make a statement.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the implementation of Government policy on the dispersal of certain Government activities outside of London and the South-East.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will make a statement on the progress of his consideration of the dispersal of Government offices.

We announced in the White Paper on the Re-organisation of Central Government (Cmnd. 4506) that we would undertake a systematic study of dispersal possibilities to determine how much headquarters work needs to be in London and where the remainder might best be re-located.The review is now well under way. The main feature is an examination of communications, that is, the complex pattern of links between Ministers, Departments and Parliament on the one hand and between Departments and outside bodies on the other. The question of location will be considered in the light of the two main criteria identified in the White Paper—that is the efficiency and economy of operations and regional policy. The nature of the work under review, much of which has a high policy content, may make it more difficult to re-locate at a great distance from London, but development areas will be thoroughly considered alongside other places as the review proceeds.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a further statement on the progress of his inquiry into the organisation of Government Press officers.

I cannot yet add to the reply I gave my hon. Friend on 25th May.—[Vol. 818, c. 113.]

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will now make a statement on the salary award to Government scientific civil servants and others who work in Government science establishments.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service whether he will make a statement on the recent negotiations on the pay of the scientific classes in the Civil Service and scientists employed by other public bodies whose pay is linked to theirs.

The Government's proposals for the pay of the Scientific grades in the Civil Service with effect from 1st January, 1971 are based on evidence from the independent Pay Research Unit. They represent confirmation of existing pay for the majority of the senior and intermediate grades and increases ranging from some 9–12 per cent. for the recruitment grades. Agreement with the Staff Association concerned has not been possible on this basis and the dispute is being referred under the agreed procedure to the Civil Service Arbitration Tribunal. The pay of other scientific staff at equivalent levels is linked to that of the Scientific Civil Service and will also await the outcome of the arbitration hearing.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service how many letters he has received from Government scientists, dissatisfied with the progress of their salary negotiations.

152 letters up to and including Tuesday, 13th July, but there have been a number of other representations.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service if he will seek to introduce legislation to ensure that the unestablished service of civil servants shall count fully for pension purposes.

The future pensionability of unestablished service is being considered in the Joint Whitley Committee reviewing Civil Service superannuation ; but my right hon. and noble Friend has told the National Staff Side that the Government cannot concede the long-standing claim that unestablished service before 14th July, 1949 should now reckon in full.

asked the Minister for the Civil Service (1) to what extent interchange of labour will, on Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, affect the Civil Service ; and whether pensions and conditions of service will be interchangeable ;(2) how civil servants' conditions on hours and wages compare with those of the Six ; and what number of British civil servants he expects will be called for to enter the various administrative positions of the European Economic Community on Great Britain's entry.

We are naturally studying all these problems, but as Parliament has not yet decided whether we shall join, it is premature to reach any detailed conclusions.

asked the Lord Advocate whether he is satisfied with the working of the Criminal Appeal (Scotland) Act, 1926; and if he will make a statement.

As the hon. and learned Member is aware, appeal procedure is under consideration by the Thomson Committee. My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Scotland and I have, however, asked the Committee to consider, and to report as soon as possible on, the appeal procedure under the Criminal Appeal (Scotland) Act, 1926, without waiting for its final report which may not be available for some considerable time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by what date he proposes that the new trunk route from Scunthorpe to Grimsby will be in operation.

This route was added to the Trunk Road Preparation Pool on 26th May. Forecast dates for start of work and completion will be announced when detailed preparation has reached a more advanced stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he now anticipates an increase, a decrease or no significant change in the total number of persons employed in local government as a result of his proposed reorganisation of local government.

No estimate can be made at this stage. I am anxious that the new local authorities should make economical and efficient use of staff; I know that the local authority associations and staff bodies share this view.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a table showing the total number of persons employed in local government, classified by grades, in each of the past five years and the anticipated increase or decrease in each grade at the end of the current year.

Information in this form and in this detail is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimated expenditure for 1971–72 on non-departmental research projects ; what requirements he imposes regarding publication and consultation before publication ; whether deletions or alterations have been required or permission to publish refused in respect of all or part of any project whose results were submitted to his Department during the last 10 years ; and to what extent he controls entry for research purposes to departmentally-controlled institutions.

I estimate that I will spend about £4 million on extramural research in the year 1971–72. If entry to an establishment is required in the furtherance of research, this will normally be granted. Publication of any work based on official information requires departmental authority. The results of such work are also subject to crown copyright.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will now make a statement about the proposed review of national parks in England and Wales.

My right hon. and learned Friend the Secretary of State for Wales and I have now set up the Committee on National Park Policies and have appointed the following members :The Rev. Lord Sandford, D.S.C., Joint Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State. Department of the Environment (

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he expects to receive the recommendations of the National Ports Council regarding the proposed container terminal at Falmouth.

When it is in possession of all the necessary information and has reached a conclusion upon it.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why he will not take whatever action may be deemed necessary to encourage local authorities to keep their public buildings open for 17 hours from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m.

This is a matter for the local authorities themselves to decide in the light of local circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will appoint a committee of inquiry into the number of serious and fatal accidents on the M6.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give the names and date of appointment and condition of appointment of members of the National Ports Council, and their salaries ; why he has refused to reappoint Lord Cooper for a further period of three years ; who will replace Lord Cooper ; and whether in future he will make such announcements to the House of Commons.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Sheffield, Hallam (Mr. J. H. Osborn) on 25th May.The conditions of these appointments are similar to those applied generally in the nationalised undertakings. Information about members' salaries is laid before the House.—[Vol. 818, c. 127–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many cushions of the cushions ordered for use at the Royal Investiture in Caernarvon Castle proved surplus to requirements and are now for sale ; and what proportion of the cushions ordered this figure represents.