asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects the M11 to be opened to traffic from London to Stamp Cross.

By the end of 1975.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will advance the construction of through routes in order to alleviate the problems caused by large numbers of heavy commercial vehicles crossing the River Lea bridges in the Epping division and using residential roads and country lanes un suited for such traffic.

Ringway 3 between A10 and M11 will include a new crossing of the River Lea ; investigations to decide the most suitable line are proceeding. The North Circular Road is also due to be comprehensively improved. Construction dates can be decided only when preparation has reached a more advanced stage.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations he has received from anglers' associations following his decision to permit further pollution of the River Trent by allowing into it the discharge of a lower standard of sewage effluent.

The Association have written to me about the need to make Trent water fit for re-use and recreation and in particular about the proposed decision on an appeal by the Upper Tame Main Drainage Authority against conditions imposed by the Trent River Authority for the discharge of treated effluent to the River Tame from the sewage treatment works at Minworth. I am sending the hon. Member a copy of the proposed decision on the appeal. I shall also be sending him a copy of the replv to the Association.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will consider the advisability of a winter relief programme of public works in the development areas, co-ordinated between the Departments responsible, in order to combat growing unemployment in the regions.

I refer the hon. Member to my statement of 14th July.—[Vol. 821, c. 510–16.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will publish a report on his meeting with the Smaller Libraries Group on the revised proposals for the control of the Public Library Service ; and if he will make a statement.

The Group were received in April by my noble Friend the Paymaster-General. He is in touch with them about proposals they have subsequently forwarded to him.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement concerning approvals of capital expenditure on road and rail improvements in South-East England.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what priority is now given to the provision of either a by-pass for Aston in the Rother Valley constituency, or of a new road to link Mosborough and the Ml at Aston.

A decision about a by-pass for Aston (A57) is dependent on the result of the study being pursued by Sheffield County Borough Council in preparing the scheme for Mosborough Expressway, including proposals for a link with Ml.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number and type of accidents which have occurred on the A57 at Aston in the Rother Valley constituency in each of the last five years.

Between Church Lane and Aughton Lane the figures are :

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will reconsider proposals to effect changes in the line of the A57 at Aston in the Rother Valley constituency, in view of the fact that the line will adversely affect the appearance of the village, and will make little contribution to the improvement of road safety.

This must await investigation of other proposals which could be expected to relieve the A57 at Aston.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what degree of noise has been measured in or by any of the dwellings in Aston in the Rother Valley constituency which are close to the A57 in the centre of the village.

The Department has not taken noise measurements.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date or dates was a census of traffic on the A57 at Aston in the Rother Valley constituency last taken ; and if he will arrange for a further census to be carried out especially between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. on any weekday.

On 3rd and 4th August, 1969. I have no reason to think that any further census is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of vehicles using the A57 at Aston in the Rother Valley constituency between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. and 5 p.m.

Updating of the 1969 census indicates a peak hour flow of about 1,000 vehicles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement on the implementation of his policies for improving the infrastructure of the development areas.

I refer the hon. Member to my statement on 14th July about the Government's decision to authorise an additional £100 million for infrastructure works in the development and intermediate areas—in addition to the extra £46 million announced earlier for the improvement of older houses in these areas. The infrastructure of the development areas will also benefit considerably from the Government's road programme and from rising expenditure on derelict land clearance.—[Vol. 821, c. 510–516.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what studies he has made of the cost of measures to improve the condition of coastal waters ; and what is the incidence of this on industrial costs and upon ratepayers.

The River Pollution Survey will provide an estimate of the cost necessary to bring discharges to rivers up to the river authorities' requirements. The approximate cost of controlling sewage discharges direct to the sea was estimated by the Jeger Committee to be £11 million per million population. To that would be added the unknown cost to industry of dealing with their discharge to the sea. The cost of treating industrial waste whether incurred direct or by the sewerage authority is expected to be borne by industry as part of their production costs, while the cost of disposing of domestic sewage falls on the rates.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will arrange that his official activities in support of the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign should be held in the London Borough of Newham.

I will certainly consider any invitation to me from the London Borough of Newham to support anti-litter activities which the authority may arrange in consultation with the Keep Britain Tidy Campaign. I very much hope that they and other authorities, and hon. Members, will give this important campaign all the support they can.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment why information is not available about the actual rate payments on a three-bedroomed council house generally ; and whether he will publish what information is available for stated areas, including those in the Greater London area, for the latest stated date in each of the years 1969, 1970 and 1971.

Because my Department does not collect this information and to do so would involve an expenditure of effort wholly disproportionate to its value. The hon. Member may be able to obtain some information from the individual rating authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment, in view of the fact that the percentage increases in the average domestic rate poundages have increased since 1969–70 to 1970–71 from 41 per cent. to 13·7 per cent. from 1970–71 to 1971–72, if he will now take steps to restore the position to that of 1969–1970.

The responsibility for deciding rate poundages rests with rating authorities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the average amount per person at present unemployed which is represented by the sums announced by Her Majesty's Government to be spent in England, Wales and Sotland, respectively, to combat unemployment within the next two years.

The estimated increased public expenditure of about £100 million on infrastructure works which I announced on 14th July forms one part only of total public expenditure, including differential assistance to industry, to help the development and intermediate areas of Great Britain. The figures for the respective countries were determined by the estimated volume of useful work that could be mounted in the period in development and intermediate areas and not by the numbers of unemployed.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how much of the £100 million of the proposed infrastructure programmes is allocated for the North Humberside intermediate area ; and what estimate he has made of its effect on the high unemployment and on the economy of the area.

This will not be clear until full discussions have taken place with the local authorities and others concerned.Precise estimates of the effects of the additional expenditure on unemployment are not possible because of the wide range of work involved and the varying degrees of labour intensity attaching to construction work. But overall, the injection of £100 million of additional work, together with the extra £46 million to be spent on the improvement of older houses, should have a substantial effect on employment in the construction industry in the development and intermediate areas.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will realign the proposed link motorway in South Leeds to prevent the cutting of school playing fields and the resultant problem of noise to the Matthew Murray Comprehensive School.

The scheme for this motorway has been made by Leeds City Council and submitted to my right hon. Friend for confirmation. Before deciding whether or not to confirm it, my right hon. Friend will consider all objections. The objection period expires on 25th September.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce measures to require planning authorities to compile, make freely available and circulate at nominal cost, lists of planning applications received by them during periods no longer than a fortnight.

No. While I think the preparation and distribution of lists can be useful, the precise arrangements for local publicity for planning applications—over and above that required under existing statutory provisions—should be at the discretion of the local planning authority. I intend however to give further general guidance on this subject by circular and have consulted the local authority associations thereon.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment on what date the present levels of housing cost yardsticks were established ; what is his estimate of the increase in building costs since then ; and what proposals he has for raising the yardstick levels.

The cost yardsticks were raised on 1st April this year. The increases provided for future rises in tender prices. We have no positive evidence on changes in tender prices since then to show that another increase is necessary, but we are keeping the situation under close review.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many persons it is proposed to appoint to the board of the Preston New Town ;(2) whether he proposes to appoint women to the board of the Preston New Town, and how many.

As required by the new Towns Act, my right hon. Friend is consulting the local authorities about the eight members of this Corporation who remain to be appointed. The qualifications and sex of the persons eventually appointed will be made known as soon as possible after those confidential consultations are complete, which I hope will be before long. The Act requires my right hon. Friend to have regard to the desirability of securing the services of one or more persons resident in or having special knowledge of the locality and he will do this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) whether he will confine his appointments to the board of the Preston New Town Corporation to persons who reside in, and have close acquaintance with, the area to be comprised in the new town;(2) when he expects to conclude his consultations with local authorities as to the persons to be appointed to the board of the Preston New Town ; and whether such consultations are confidential ;(3) which bodies, other than local authorities, he proposes to consult when appointing people to the board of the Preston New Town Corporation ; and when ;(4) whether he will appoint to the board of the Preston New Town Corporation a person or persons who has or have no connections with the area to be covered by the Preston Chorley Leyland New Town but connections only with a town in East Lancashire.

I would refer my hon. Friend to my Answer given earlier today to similar Questions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how long the cartoon consisting of six black lines on a white background and described as a Linear Motif in Black and White has been hanging among the pictures in the Harcourt Room ; and when it will be removed.

Since October, 1968. In matters of this kind, Mr. Speaker and my right hon. Friend are advised by the Advisory Committee on Works of Art in the House of Commons. I understand that the Committee will be discussing the changing of pictures in the Harcourt Room when they next meet in a few days time. When their report has been considered, I will write to the hon. Member in answer to the second part of his question.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what action he proposes to take to protect the Palace of Westminster against the risk of flooding.

In keeping with the action which the Greater London Council are taking to raise the level of the Thames flood defences generally, I am arranging for the terrace wall of the Palace of Westminster to be raised by some 15–18 ins. and for a wall some 6 ins. high to be built along Black Rock Garden. This work will be carried out during the Summer Recess.I have recently invited the Services Committee to consider proposals for raising the level of the terrace so that Members may continue to enjoy the same view over the river as they now have. Following the completion of the Thames barrier the terrace wall may be lowered if the level of the water permits.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will set out in tabular form the percentage increases in the cost of building for each year since the introduction of the firm price tendering policy in 1957.

The following is the information, taken from the Index of the Cost of New Construction prepared by my Department (1963 = 100).

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to enable landlords to obtain an earlier court hearing and an order for possession in respect of tenants of furnished accommodation who refuse to vacate the premises at the termination of their lease.

The County Court rules already provide for expedited hearings where appropriate. Citizens' Advice Bureaux and the Courts themselves are able to advise about these special procedures. I am considering what further publicity should be given in the light of the Francis Committee's recommendation on this.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will seek to make the site of the Abingdon Street Garden available for the erection of the proposed Churchill memorial.

I have had no other request to make this site available for the memorial. The Churchill Memorial Committee, who are making all the arrangements for the memorial, decided some time ago to accept the site in Parliament Square offered by the previous Government.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will introduce legislation to provide special penalties for the use of electronic metal detectors in the looting of archaeological sites.

No ; but I shall watch any activities of this sort very closely.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the percentage increase in unrebated rents of Manchester Corporation houses if his proposals in Command Paper No. 4728 become law.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment by how much he estimates that council house rents will increase following the rephasing of subsidies.

I have made no such estimates since fair rents will depend on the character, size and location of individual dwellings. The fair rents of council houses will not be affected by the rephasing of subsidies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is his estimate of the proportion of tenants of private landlords of controlled houses who will pay increased rents if Fair Deal in Housing becomes law.

Increased rent will normally become payable, by stages, when controlled tenancies are transferred to regulation (they will not be so transferred if the dwelling is formally notified as unfit) ; but what the tenant pays from his own resources will depend also on whether he needs and claims a rent allowance.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the ratio between net rent and gross rateable value of registered rents of private houses in the London Borough of Brent Rent Officer's area.

The Department's computer sample gives the ratio between the registered rent and the gross value as 1·91. This sample covers all types of unfurnished dwelling.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the average rents from three-bedroomed council houses in England and Wales rose between 31st March, 1969, and 31st March, 1970, from £2·05 to £2·22 ; why the figure for March, 1971, is not yet available ; when he expects to get the latter figure ; and whether he will arrange to publish this in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

I am aware of the answer given to the hon. Member in reply to his Question given on 9th July. The figures for average rents were taken from the annual statistics published by the Institute of Municipal Treasurers and Accountants. I understand that the edition for 1970–71 will not be available for several months, but will be placed in the Library on publication, as usual.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is aware that the average total construction costs of five-bedroomed houses in the second quarter of 1969 was £3,089 and that for the second quarter of 1970 £3,317 on a provisional basis; why the definite figures for this year and 1971 are not available ; when they will be avail- able; and whether he will arrange to publish them in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

The answers to the three parts of this Question are as follows : These figures, as stated in the Answer of 9th July, relate to bedspaces and not bedrooms, and are concerned only with council houses in England and Wales.Definite figures for 1970 and 1971 are not yet available because some of the returns from local authorities from which they derive have not yet been received. They will be produced as soon as possible. The figures will be published as usual in "Housing Statistics", and so will be in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will air condition the Table Office.

There are difficulties about bringing this office into the general air-conditioning system. My right hon. Friend is arranging for a feasibility study and in the meantime a removable unit will be installed to provide air-conditioning especially for that office.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the provisions in the contract between his Department and the landlords of Pembroke House whereby office cleaning and window cleaning at these premises are undertaken by Messrs. Office Cleaning Services Limited ; and whether he will also make a statement on the action he has taken to ensure that Messrs. Office Cleaning Services Limited observe the provisions of the fair wages resolution.

My Department has an underlease in respect of the 4th to 9th floors of Pembroke House, City Road, E.C.I. The terms of the underlease stipulate that only office and window cleaners nominated by the landlord may be employed. The contract for office cleaning, arranged by the Department for Trade and Industry who occupy the accommodation, is held by Office Cleaning Service Ltd. The contract for window cleaning, arranged by the Department of the Environment, is held by the City of Westminster Window and General Cleaning Company Ltd. Both contracts include provisions for the contractor to observe the obligations specified in the fair wages resolution.I am not aware of any complaints that the contractors have not met their obligations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how the number

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many of the 34 water undertakings replying to his request for increased recreational use of their reservoirs allow access to the general public to the water's edge, or intend to do so.

The answers I received do not provide exact figures for this. Controlled access to reservoirs for sailing and fishing is now fairly common and is increasing, but uncontrolled access to the water by the general public is a different question requiring separate consideration by the individual undertakings, in the light of local conditions.

The table below shows the numbers of injury accidents and casualties in the countries concerned for 1969. Where figures are available casualties are also shown in terms of rates per million vehicle miles.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans the Road Research Laboratory has for studying the safety value of high penetrant resistant windscreens.

The R.R.L. is evaluating all the available studies both from this country and the United States and is maintaining its continuous research into the causes of road accident injuries.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many licences to drive motorcycles have been issued to persons under 17 years of age, and to those aged 17 to 18 years, respectively, for each of the years 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1970.

I am obtaining the numbers for persons under 17 years of age from licensing offices and will write to my hon. Friend. I regret that the other figures are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is satisfied that adequate car parks have been provided in St. Columb Major from 1st May, 1971, to accommodate the additional car parking made necessary by the Trunk Road (St. Columb Major) (Prohibition and Restriction of Waiting) Order.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will seek powers to enable him to ensure that, when the school-leaving age is raised to 16 years of age, pupils will be allowed to travel at juvenile fare ; and if he will make a statement.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish detailed official application forms for operator's licences for heavy goods vehicles which will include provision for listing maintenance procedures.

No.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he is

Sufficient places should normally be available in public car parks, private garages and on nearby side roads.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT. details of the number of goods wagons derailed on British Rail in each of the past five years ; how many of these derailments caused damage to, or obstructed the road of, other trains ; and whether he will make a statement.

I regret that all this information is not available without disproportionate research. The following table sets out what is available.satisfied that the procedures for Parliamentary scrutiny of public expenditure are adequate to deal with cases such as Rolls-Royce ; and if he will make a statement.

I am confident that the Select Committee system set up by the House last November will provide proper Parliamentary scrutiny of the full range of Government expenditure.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to appoint a Select Committee of the House of Commons to inquire into and recommend methods whereby British Parliamentary representation of 36 Members of Parliament who will be required to attend the European Parliament in Strasbourg, if the United Kingdom joins the European Economic Community, can be achieved in accordance with their continuing to represent their British constituencies in this House.

No. As my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster has already informed the House, the composition of the British delegation to the European Parliament is not a matter which need be considered in detail until a decision has been taken on Britain's entry into the European Economic Community. I have, however, noted my hon. Friend's suggestion.—[Vol. 820, cc. 89–90, 259.]

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will move to appoint a Select Committee of the House of Commons to inquire into the relationship between the British Parliament and the European Communities.

Not at this stage.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will take steps to enable police on duty in the Palace of Westminster to adopt shirtsleeve order in hot weather.

No. This is a matter for the police authorities.

asked the Lord President of the Council, in view of the fact that between 16th June, 1970, and 18th May, 1971, prices of food have risen on average by 10·4 per cent., and that in some instances price rises of 15·9 per cent. and up to 36·2 per cent. have taken place in staple foods, why he will not move to appoint a Select Committee to investigate food prices and recommend to the House what action should be taken to effect a reduction.

Because I do not believe that a Select Committee would be appropriate.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether he will arrange for Questions to the Lord Advocate to appear at a fixed place in the rota.

I am, of course, always willing to discuss, through the usual channels, changes to the Question roster if there appears to be a general wish.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he is satisfied with the current arrangements for visitors to the House of Commons ; and if he will make a statement.

Yes.

asked the Lord President of the Council whether, as no decisions are to be taken about paid appointments to organisations and committees of the European Economic Community until such time as it is clear that the United Kingdom will join the Communities, he will give an assurance that no appointments of any sort, on any basis, will be made to any of the European Economic Community organisations until Great Britain has come to a decision on joining the European Economic Community.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many telephones have now been supplied free to pensioners and disabled persons under the Social Work Act, 1970.

This is a matter for local authorities and the information is not available centrally.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland to what extent Government expenditure on infrastructure in Scotland will be related to the development of Leith as a major terminal of the transporation landbridge between the Clyde and the Forth.

It is not practicable to relate infrastructure exclusively to one transport installation. Leith will benefit directly and indirectly from the substantial expenditure by Government and transport undertakings on the provision of a modern and comprehensive communications network in Central Scotland.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what are the operational costs of the Scottish Fishery Protection Service.

The cost of maintaining and operating my Department's fishery cruisers, including expenditure on salaries and wages, is expected to be about £500,000 in the current financial year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what he estimates to be the capital value of the Scottish Fishery Protection Service.

On the basis of depreciated book value, I estimate the capital value of the present vessels at about £300,000 ; but this does not reflect their current value for the purpose of fishery protection or their replacement cost.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many meetings he had with local authority associations about his new policy for housing finance, and what views they expressed to him on his proposals.

My hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Development had two meetings with the local authority asociations, in addition to the meetings of officials. The discussions were confidential.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when was the last occasion on which a Scottish Office Minister attended a meeting of the Scottish Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council.

In the past 10 years a Scottish Office Minister has attended a meeting of the Scottish Central Fire Brigades Advisory Council only once, on 10th November, 1967. My hon. Friend, the Under-Secretary of State for Home Affairs and Agriculture hopes to attend their next meeting, the date for which has not yet been fixed.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will list the areas of acute housing need in Scotland to which general reference is made in paragraph 3 of Command Paper No. 4727.

The paragraph states that acute need is increasingly concentrated in fewer areas. The situation is not static or susceptible of listing as suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what is his latest estimate of the effect on the crofting system if Great Britain enters the European Economic Community, in view of the Market's policy to create larger agricultural units.

The measures which the Community are at present considering to deal with the problem of small agricultural units would operate on a voluntary basis. Entry into membership of the Community does not have any fundamental implications for the present system of crofting.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will now take steps to review the legislation which has the effect of requiring local authorities to dismiss teachers who fail to register with the General Teaching Council.

No. The Teaching Council (Scotland) Act, 1965 removed from the Secretary of State his power to award and to suspend or withdraw certificates of competency to teach and conferred comparable powers on the General Teaching Council. To enable the Council to exercise these powers effectively it was necessary to provide that only registered teachers should be eligible to hold permanent appointments in the schools and that is still the position.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland why revaluation for rating purposes has taken place in Scotland in 1961, 1966 and 1971, in view of the fact that in England it took place in 1963 and is proposed for 1973.

Quinquennial revaluation is required by statute, but in England and Wales the law had to be altered to postpone the 1968 revaluation because of a shortage of valuers and the increasing commitments of the Valuation Office of Inland Revenue.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will investigate the possible use of the anorthosite deposits in the Isle of Harris ; and if he will make a statement.

I do not think any investigation on my part is necessary. These deposits were worked until some two years ago, and the possibility of resuming operations is essentially a matter for the commercial judgment of the mining industry in the light of their assessment of the economic potential.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he expects to issue his decision on the proposals of the Crofters Commission on owner-occupation of crofts.

Useful consultations are proceeding, but I cannot yet say when I will be in a position to announce a decision.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how much was spent on roads in Scotland in 1970.

Total expenditure on the construction, improvement and maintenance of roads in Scotland in the year ended 15th May, 1970, the latest period for which information is at present available, amounted to £59·7 million.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many consultants have changed from part-time to full-time contracts in the National Health Service in the last 12 months ; how many have changed from full-time to part-time ; and if he will state the age of each one at the time of changing his contract.

Eleven aged 38, 39, 45 (three), 51, 57 (two), 58 and 60 (two) changed from part-time to whole time ; two aged 44 and 57 changed from whole-time to part-time.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many applications for pay beds the Western Regional Hospital Board has received from either boards of management or organisations representing the views of the medical profession in the past year ; how many of these applications were granted in full ; how many were entirely rejected ; and how many were partly met by the regional board.

The Regional Board received three applications for facilities for private in-patients ; two of these the Board asked me to authorise in full and I did so. In the third case, which has not yet been decided, the Regional Board has asked me to authorise facilities but not to the full extent requested by the Board of Management.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many convictions resulted from interception or detection of vessels fishing illegally within Scottish waters in each of the years 1968, 1969 and 1970.

Convictions were obtained in all cases in which detections by my fishery protection vessels in 1968, 1969 and 1970 resulted in prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland when he proposes to inform education authorities of their school building allocations for work starting in 1973–74.

The additional public works programme which I announced on 13th July will give education authorities an opportunity of bringing forward into earlier years some of the projects which they have included in their proposed school building programmes for 1973–74. I therefore propose to await the outcome of consultations about the additional works programme before determining the allocations for that year.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he proposes to take over the representations made to him by the industry about the milk standard quantities set out in the White Paper Annual Review and Determination of Guarantees 1971 Command Paper No. 4623.

Following discussions with the industry the standard quantities for milk for 1971–72 have been revised on a common basis as follows :

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what reports he has called for to chief constables regarding the security clearance required for civilian employees of the police forces.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will issue a memorandum to all police forces recommending the provision to accused persons or their legal representatives of copies of statements taken from witnesses who are not proposed to be called at the trial by the prosecution.

I have not yet completed my inquiries into the particular case to which the hon. Member drew my attention.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department to what extent before engaging the firms of Messrs. Sidney and Graham Motion of London and Messrs. Storey, Son and Partners to act jointly in the disposal of the public houses in Carlisle and the Carlisle Brewery, he made inquiries as to the amount of work they had done on behalf of brewery companies in the past five years ; and what were the results of these inquiries.

My right hon. Friend saw no need for such inquiries, when the agents concerned had been recommended by the President of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors for their specialised experience of the licensed trade.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what will be the requirements for persons born in the European Economic Community requesting United Kingdom citizenship should the United Kingdom join the European Economic Community.

They would, as at present, have to satisfy the requirements for naturalisation set out in the British Nationality Act, 1948.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he will lay down certain conditions in the event of a possible takeover of the Cunard Steamship Company to protect British national interests and maintain British crew manning on Cunard vessels.

I shall take into account in the usual way all relevant factors when considering what action, if any, I can and should take.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether in view of the delay of the British Insurance Association in complying with its expressed undertaking to set up a fund to compensate injured persons who would otherwise receive no compensation, he will now introduce legislation to prevent any recurrence of situations such as that created by the insolvency of a member company of that Association.

As part of the review of the controls applicable to insurance companies I am considering the question of compensation for those affected by motor insurance company failures.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to what extent the British Insurance Association has redeemed its undertakings to him regarding the setting up of a fund arising from the insolvency of the Vehicle and General Insurance Company ; and what steps he has taken and what steps he proposes to take to achieve the speedy implementation thereof, and the avoidance of further suffering by innocent passengers.

As I informed the hon. Member on 28th June I understand that the B.I.A. is well on the way to overcoming the legal problems involved in setting up the special fund.—[Vol. 820, c. 17–8.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement on the Government's plans for implementing the recommendations on dockyards contained in the Second Mallabar Report.

As my hon. Friend the Parliamentary Secretary for the Civil Service Department stated on 15th July, the Government are considering how best to implement the recommendations of the Mallabar Report on the Royal Dockyards. There is nothing more that I can say at this stage.—[Vol. 821, c. 154.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army was called to the printing works of the Daily Mirror, Dun- murry, Belfast, on Saturday, 17th July after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion ; how the bomb was constructed ; how it was detonated and planted ; how many Irish Republican Army members took part in the operation ; how they were armed ; at what time the bomb exploded ; how soon afterwards the Army arrived on the scene ; what damage was caused ; if the area was sealed off ; what searcher were made ; and what arrests resulted.

There are no Army eyewitness reports of this raid. The estimate of the Army ammunition technical officer is that 20 to 50 lbs. of explosive were used, detonated by a fuse. Severe structural damage was caused.The security forces quickly set up checkpoints, but I understand that no arrests have so far been made in connection with the incident.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many bomb explosions other than the one at the Daily Mirror Works, Belfast, the Army have investigated in Northern Ireland during the last five days ; where these took place ; what sort of bombs were used ; how they were detonated ; what amount of damage was done ; and what arrests have ben made in connection with the same.

In the period 15th–20th July, 19 bomb explosions were investigated by the Army ; two of these were in Newry and the remainder in Belfast. Most of the explosions are thought to have resulted from the detonation of gelignite by a fuse. The damage varied from slight to serious structural damage. I understand that no charges have so far been brought in connection with these incidents.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what analysis has been made by his Department of the chemical nature of the effluent discharged into the sea from Nancekuke ; and what investigations have been made into the possible teratogenic effects of this effluent.

I refer the hon. Gentleman to the comments on the effluent disposal system at Nancekuke in the report of a working party of eminent scientists published on 31st, July 1970—Report of a Working Party on the transport of nerve agents from Nancekuke to Porton and the disposal of effluent from nerve agent production.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what has been the average number of aircraft movements per day at Royal Air Force Abingdon over the last two months and one month, respectively.

135 (mid-May to mid-July) and 225 (mid-June to mid-July).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many secondary school closure notices awaited her decisison under Section 13 of the 1944 Education Act when she took office in June, 1970 ; how many have been sent to her since then ; and of all of these, how many were for schools taking part in comprehensive reorganisation, either changing to comprehensive status or opening in another capacity because of comprehensive reorganisation or closing altogether ; and whether she will list those she has accepted and those she has rejected, giving the reasons in each case.

Under Section 13 of the Education Act, 1944, as amended, there is a period of two months following publication of notices in which objections to proposals may be lodged with my Department. On 19th June, 1970, there were 62 proposals before the Department for the closure of secondary schools for which notices had been published on or before 18th April, 1970. Since that date notices for a further 228 such proposals have been published. Of the total of 290, 240 are connected in one way or another with the establishment of comprehensive schools. I have approved 134 of these 290 proposals and rejected 3, in each case on their educational merits and in the light of the principles set out in Circular 10/70. I am sending the hon. Member the names of these 137 schools concerned. In the remaining 153 cases I am either still considering the proposals or awaiting the expiry of the period in which objections may be lodged.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how soon the present salary claim of further education teachers will be settled ; and if she will make a statement on the present state of the negotiations.

The Burnham Further Education Committee is to meet on 2nd August.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many representations she has now received from members of the National Association of Schoolmasters, the Union of Women Teachers, and the Association of Teachers in Technical Institutions about the activities of the Burnham Committee and the Burnham Further Education Committee ; and what reply she has made.

I have received some 250 letters from hon. Members on behalf of constituents and about 50 other letters. I have on different occasions met representatives of the N.A.S. and A.T.T.I. when salary negotiations were among the matters discussed. My replies have depended on the points raised and the views expressed.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to have completed her study of the Bridgwater secondary education reorganisation scheme, and to be announcing her decision on it.

The local education authority is being asked to provide certain additional information. I shall announce my decision as soon as possible.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how soon she expects to be able to decide on the proposal to extend Hampton Hill Junior Mixed School, in the Twickenham constituency.

My right hon. Friend has approved the final plans on tender for the building extensions at this school and work can start on the site immediately.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will seek to bring about an agreement between the relevant bodies to ensure that examinations in comprehensive schools are not spread out throughout the summer term ; and that all public examinations for secondary schoolchildren take place at the end of the summer term.

No. The C.S.E. and G.C.E. examining bodies are already aware of the disadvantages of the spread of their examinations in the sumer term and some C.S.E. and G.C.E. examinations already take place at the same time. Any extension of this arrangement is a matter for the examining bodies. To hold examinations at the end of the summer term would mean that the results would appear much later than at present, with consequent difficulties for the schools and institutions of further and higher education.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what action her Department takes to co-ordinate cancer research ; whether she is satisfied with the arrangements ; and if she will make a statement.

The arrangements for the co-ordination of cancer research were described in my answer to the Question by the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins) on 28th May last. I consider them satisfactory.—[Vol. 818, c. 239–40.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science to which organisations grant is paid for cancer

I explained the position in my reply to the Question by the hon. Member on 16th March last, and gave figures for the years 1968–69 to 1970–71. The estimated expenditure by the Medical Research Council on cancer research in 1971–72 is £225 million, and the subscription to the International Agency for Research on Cancer will be about £100,000. It is not possible to give estimates for future years.—[Vol. 813, c. 301.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many nursery school places were provided under Phase III of the Urban Aid Programme, and how many will be provided under Phase IV.

1,580 additional nursery school places will be provided in England and Wales under the third phase of the Urban Programme announced in January, 1971. Phase IV of the Programme is for non-capital projects only and the scope for additional nursery provision is therefore very limited. The list of approved projects has not yet been announced.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many males and females were registered as unemployed at the Bexhill, Hailsham and Rye employment exchanges on 16th July, 1971 ; and how many of these were over 55 years of age, under 18 years of age and school leavers, respectively.

The following table shows, by age group, the numbers registered as wholly unemployed :

asked the Secretary of State for Employment (1) how many males were temporarily stopped from

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of young persons aged 20 years and under who are unemployed in the Macclesfield constituency.

Information is not available for this precise age group, but at 12th July the provisional number of persons registered as wholly unemployed in the area covered by the Macclesfield and Congleton Employment Exchanges who were under 20 years of age was 86.

Following is the available information :

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men and women aged 18 years and over were unemployed in each region of Great Britain in June, 1971 ; and what has been the percentage increase in each region since June, 1970.

Following is the information :

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many of the boys and girls under the age of 18 years unemployed in each of the regions of Great Britain in June, 1971, were school leavers ; what were the corresponding figures in the months of June, July and