asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many teenagers are without employment in the Mexborough and Wombwell employment exchange areas, respectively; what is the estimated number that will be leaving school at the end of this month; and what action he intends to take to find work for these young people.

The number of unemployed young persons under 18 in Mexborough and Wombwell on 12th July was 188 and 38, respectively. About 1,100 young people left school for employment this summer and some have already obtained jobs. Careers officers

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the average rate of unemployment in each

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the number of jobs in the electronics industry in Scotland in each year since 1960; and what the prospects are for the next two years

I would expect the measures recently announced by my right hon. Friend the Chancellor of the Exchequer to help create a climate in which the industry could prosper. Detailed information on the numbers employed in electronics in Scotland, in each year from 1960 to 1970, is as follows:country of the Common Market and in the European Economic Community as a whole compared with the average rate in the United Kingdom over the last 10 years.

The following table shows the figures for each of the countries separately. Information for the European Economic Community as a whole is not available from international sources.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what estimate he has made of the movement of labour between the European Economic Community and the United Kingdom when the United Kingdom joins the European Economic Community.

Although it is not possible to make a precise estimate, there is no reason to believe that the United Kingdom's entry into the European Economic Community will have any significant effect on the movement of labour already taking place between member countries of the Community and the United Kingdom.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what criteria he will use when granting applications for work vouchers to aliens from countries in the European Economic Community and outside it, respectively, if Great Britain decides to enter the European Economic Community.

If we decide to enter the E.E.C., the Community's regulations will apply and nationals of member countries will be free to enter this country, without a work permit, to look for work or to take a job already arranged.When considering applications for work permits for nationals of countries outside the E.E.C., the criteria to be applied will be reviewed from time to time in the light of changing circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent the interchangeability of labour under the Treaty of Rome will enable workers from the countries of the Six to enter Great Britain and take up jobs where British workers are engaged in industrial disputes.

E.E.C. nationals allowed into this country to take work would have access to employment on the same basis as British workers.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what relationship the figures for fatal accidents at work notified to his Department's Factory Inspectorate during 1970 have to those for 1969; if he is satisfied with this trend; and if he will make a statement.

556 fatal accidents were notified in 1970, 93 fewer than in 1969. While the results of one year must be interpreted with caution. I hope that this fall may indicate that the trend has started to decline.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what was the number of severely disabled people employed by Remploy in each year from 1965 to 1970.

The number of severely disabled people employed by Remploy rose from 6,893 in 1965 to 7,567 in 1970–71.The following are the figures for the intervening years:—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he is satisfied with the work of his Department in promoting opportunities at work regardless of race; and if he will make a statement.

Yes. My Department takes every chance it can to ensure that race and colour are no bar to equal opportunity in employment and will continue to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of employers currently fulfils the 3 per cent. quota of disabled people; and what steps he is taking to raise this proportion.

41·8 per cent. of employers within the scope of the quota provisions of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Act, 1944, fulfil their obligation. As I have already told the House we have recently made improvements in our Disablement Resettlement Officer service and we are extending the inspection of employers' records. I know many employers have difficulty in reaching their quota and I have enlisted the help of Rotary International and other organisations in conducting, in collaboration with my officials, a local search for more job opportunities for disabled people.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies, male and female, have been notified to him in the county of Midlothian since July, 1970; and what assistance his Department gave in providing further employment.

Redundancies in the County of Midlothian (excluding the City of Edinburgh), involving 1,430 males and 470 females, were notified to my Department during the period 1st July, 1970, to 20th July, 1971. Local employment staff have made every effort to assist those concerned by providing information and advice about other jobs and training opportunities and, where appropriate, by advance interviews by job teams and special canvasses for vacancies.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest official figures for unemployment nationally, and by regions.

At 12th July the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in Great Britain was 785,847. This was 3·4 per cent. The rest of the information is given in the following table:—

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will arrange to supply detailed figures of unemployed men, women, boys and girls, by employment exchange areas, in the monthly or quarterly issue of the Employment and Productivity Gazette.

The numbers of unemployed men, women, boys and girls in each of 177 of the larger travel-to-work areas are published every month in the Department of Employment Gazette. Corresponding figures for each of the 1,000 or so employment exchange areas are available from my Department on request. My right hon. Friend does not propose to publish these detailed figures in the Gazette because of the expense involved.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will make a statement on the present number of unemployed in the United Kingdom.

At the latest count on 12th July the provisional total number of persons registered as unemployed in the United Kingdom was 829,181, including 785,847 persons in Great Britain. The Great Britain unemployment rate was 3·4 per cent. of all employees.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment in how many cases his Department has conciliated in industrial disputes in the last six months; and how this number compares with the first six months of 1970.

My Department conciliated in 408 disputes in the first six months of this year compared with 385 in the same period last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new industrial disputes took place in the last month for which figures are available as compared with the similar period last year; and what were the equivalent figures for the preceding three months in both years.

177 stoppages of work due to industrial disputes began in June, 1971, compared with 369 in June, 1970. In the three months ended 31st May, 1971, there were 520 stoppages, compared with 1,205 in the same period of 1970. The 1971 figures are provisional.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the latest available figures for the number of stoppages in the first six months of this year compared with the figure for the same period last year.

The provisional total of industrial stoppages which began in the first six months of this year is 1,176, compared with 2,355 in the same period in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what changes he expects to make to his Department's conciliation services as a result of the Industrial Relations Bill.

The conciliation service of my Department will be considerably strengthened for the important rôle it will play under the Industrial Relations Bill.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what categories of information are given by the Chief Inspector of Factories to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents.

The only categories of information furnished regularly to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents consist of Press notices, publications, and drafts of regulations relating to health and safety at work. Any request for information by a safety organisation is considered sympatheticaly, in the light of all the circumstances.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the latest unemployment figure for Birmingham.

At 12th July the provisional number of people registered as unemployed in the Birmingham travel-to-work area was 28,960, including 6,870 who were temporarily stopped.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what changes there have been in his Department's statistical publications in the past year.

The major change is that my Department has just published "British Labour Statistics: Historical Abstract, 1886–1968". This volume has 380 pages of tables and 50 pages of text and is intended as a standard work of reference, bringing together all the main series of statistics published by this Department and its predecessors. This publication will be followed by a series of year books of labour statistics and the first volume, relating to 1969, should appear later this year.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many cases of alleged unfair dismissal have been brought to his attention, with requests for his assistance.

About 230 in a period of 12 months. But research indicates that in that time there are likely to have been very many more who considered that they were unfairly dismissed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many Government training centres will be officially opened in the next 12 months; and if he will make a statement.

Seven have been opened during the past year and another will be opened at Dudley in the spring. In addition, the building of five new centres and a major expansion of an existing centre have been authorised but will not be opened until after 1972.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many new training centres are, at the latest scheduled date, to be opened in Scotland; where they are being opened; and if he will make a statement.

None at present. Average occupancy of the 10 Scottish centres is below 75 per cent. and the announcement by my right hon. Friend on 20th July includes measures to encourage fuller use of existing training capacity.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the total amount paid out in unemployment benefits and wage-related benefits in the latest week for which these figures are available and the total amount paid out for similar benefits in the corresponding week 12 months previously.

Weekly figures are not maintained for unemployed persons under 18 who register at careers offices administered by local education authorities. For all others the total for the week ending 9th July, 1971, was £3,340,300 and for the week ending 10th July, 1970, £2,389,753. Separate figures for flat-rate benefit and earnings-related supplement are not available.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he intends to publish his proposals for the expanded retraining programme for men and women in industry, promised in the Queen's Speech.

I announced a series of new training measures on 4th November and further measures in my reply to my hon. Friend the Member for Lewisham, West (Mr. Selwyn Gummer) on 20th July. I shall consider what additional action might be appropriate after studying the effects of these initiatives.—[Vol. 821, c. 249–50.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many redundancies have been notified to him in the Hartlepool Steel Works during the past 12 months; and what is the total of redundancies announced but not yet implemented.

During the past 12 months the British Steel Corporation has notified redundancies involving 410 workpeople in Hartlepool, including about 200 who have yet to terminate. In addition, proposals involving a loss of approximately 600 jobs have been announced, though the number of consequent redundancies may be somewhat lower.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what steps he is taking to use the specialist services of his Department to find alternative employment for the 400 employees at the British Aluminium Company's Aluminia Factory at Newport, Monmouthshire, who will be made redundant over a period following the decision to close the works.

I understand that no redundancies are expected before mid-1972, but appropriate steps are being taken to ensure that the full resources of my Department will be available to help those concerned find other jobs.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of latest average earnings in the Portsmouth travel-to-work area in relation to average earnings in South-East England and in the country as a whole.

I regret that estimates of average earnings are not available for areas smaller than the standard sub-divisions of regions. The latest available figures for the Solent sub-division of the South East region were given in the reply to the hon. Member on 28th January.—[Vol. 810, c. 167–8.]

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT details of the excess of job vacancies over unemployed or of unemployed over job vacancies in Portsmouth at 30th June, 1969, 30th June, 1970, and 30th June, 1971.

In the area covered by the Portsmouth, Fareham, Gosport and Havant employment exchanges, the number registered as wholly unemployed exceeded the number of notified vacancies remaining unfilled by 983 in June, 1969, 1,748 in June, 1970, and 2,697 in June, 1971. The vacancy statistics relate only to vacancies notified to my Department and remaining unfilled and do not purport to measure the total unsatisfied demand for labour.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will ask the British Productivity Council to examine the decline in industrial investment in the United Kingdom.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the last available figures for men and women wholly unemployed in the borough of Derby; and what were the comparable figures for the same period in 1970.

At 12th July, 1971, the provisional numbers registered as wholly unemployed in the area covered by the Derby Employment Exchange were 3,393 males and 721 females. The figure for 13th July, 1970, were 2,207 males and 409 females.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what plans he has for expansion of the industrial rehabilitation service in the next few years.

The present unit at Birmingham will be replaced by a larger unit and new units will be built at Portsmouth and in East London. Two part residential units near Preston and in South-East London will replace the present residential unit at Egham. These developments, and some expansion in existing units, will increase the number of places from 2,377 to about 2,750.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many boys and girls are registered for employment in the North-West Region at the present time; how many of these young people have been constantly unemployed since leaving school; and whether he will now take special action to provide employment for school leavers in this region.

On 12th July, 1971, there were 7,359 young people registered as unemployed, including 1,493 school leavers. The economic measures announced recently should result in an increase in job opportunities for young people as well as adults.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proportion of the time of the Factory Inspectorate is taken up with legal proceedings in court; and how much time is actually spent in factories.

Precise information is not available. However, the proportion of time given to prosecution is known to be very small. Inspectors in the field spend the bulk of their time on inspection, including travelling and consequential office work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the average weekly earnings of men employed in the motor manufacturing trade; and how these compare with the wages of transport drivers as specified by the Wages Council.

The current rates of minimum weekly remuneration of drivers as laid down in the Road Haulage Wages Council Wages Regulation Order became operative from 12th October, 1970. Outside the London area, they range from £16·50 to £18·88 for drivers of normal vehicles according to carrying capacity. In London the range is from £16·75 to £19·13.The average earnings of drivers are considerably higher than these minimum rates. The latest figures available from the New Earnings Survey shows that in April, 1970, the average weekly earnings of lorry or van drivers whose pay was reported to be affected by the Road Haulage Wages Council Wages Regulation Order were £28·1. The comparable figure for all manual workers in the motor vehicle manufacturing industry was £33·1. In both cases the figures, which are subject to sampling errors, relate to Great Britain and to full-time men, aged 21 and over, paid for a full week.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what assessment he has made of the prospects of getting employment for school-leavers in Lanarkshire; what plans he has for advising them; and if he will make a statement.

There were 1,403 school leavers registered as unemployed in Lanarkshire in July. Employment opportunities for them are limited but careers officers are doing everything

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what administrative procedure his Department applies to work people who are declared redundant when at the same time the firm employing them finds itself unable to pay the salary or wages due to the redundant employees.

In these circumstances, claims by redundant employees for the payment of wages and salaries are considered by the trustee, liquidator or receiver, if one has been appointed. My Department therefore operates no administrative procedure, but will advise employees where to make their claims.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will give detailed figures of unemployed men, women, boys and girls, respectively, in each region of the United Kingdom for June, 1970, and June, 1971.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment when he expects the Robens Committee to report.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply which I gave today to my hon. Friend the hon. Member for Paddington, South (Mr. Scott).

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will visit an Open University residential study centre during the Summer Recess.

No, but I shall in any case be following closely the achievements of these summer schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if it remains her policy to give greater independence to local education authorities in the spending of resources under their control; from what date she intends this policy to be operative; and if she will make a statement.

The future financial relationship between central and local government will be settled in the light of the Green Paper "The future shape of Local Government Finance "(Paragraphs 40–49) which was presented to Parliament yesterday and published as a basis for consultation. These paragraphs relate to the expenditure of local authorities on education as well as other services.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what restrictions are placed on the availability of central Government subsidy towards the cost of school meals when the meals are of a character which allows the child to choose his own food.

The central Government subsidy towards the cost of school meals is provided indirectly through rate support grant. Under the

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the estimate of birds killed or having to be destroyed in the past five years as a result of oil slicks at sea, and poisoning by detergents used on land.

An estimated 60,000 birds have been found dead or have had to be destroyed. This excludes oiled birds lost at sea and the relatively few birds poisoned by detergents.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will give instructions for the rapid dispersal of oil slicks near concentrations of seabirds, such as Noss in the Shetland Islands, which, while not threatening damage to beaches, may destroy birdlife.

My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry and I are giving urgent attention to this problem and have identified a number of areas where seabirds are likely to be threatened by oil slicks. There remain a number of problems to be resolved but we hope to be in a position to make suitable arrangements shortly for dealing with such oil slicks.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will make a statistical statement showing how the increased cost limits to local authorities for improvement of primary schools have affected the improvement programme for other types of school.

The increase in cost limits announced on 22nd March. 1971, applies to all school building projects.—[Vol. 814, c. 61–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if she will set out the procedures by which education authorities obtain funds for the replacement or improvement of existing primary and secondary schools, stating to what extent such funds are raised locally or are granted by the Exchequer; and by what means she regulates the sums expended on primary and secondary schools, respectively.

My Department invites local education authorities to submit details of primary and secondary school building projects which satisfy the criteria laid down and on which they wish to start work in a given year. I select from these proposals and authorise annual programmes of named projects accordingly. The Government control the total value of projects to be started in any one year but the authorisation of programmes to individual authorities is not a form of grant. Most capital expenditure is financed by borrowing and loan charges rank as relevant expenditure for the purpose of rate support grant. The programmes for improvements and replacements total £40 million in 1972–73 and £44 million in each of the three following years, and these are being allocated to primary schools in accordance with my declared policy.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is her estimate of the number of new immigrants from Kenya for whom school places in the city of Leicester will be needed in 1972.

I cannot estimate how many immigrant families from Kenya with children of school age will settle in Leicester in 1972. I understand that in 1970 930 immigrant children of school age, of whom about two-thirds were from East African countries, arrived in Leicester direct from overseas. Figures for the first half of 1971 suggest that the rate of arrival of all immigrant pupils is declining slightly, but the education authority expect a rise in demand for school places for children from Kenya following the Government's decision to increase the number of special vouchers issued to United Kingdom passport holders subject to control. The authority expects the numbers of pupils in primary schools to rise from about 32,700 to about 33,700 during 1972. In 1972 over 1,000 new permanent primary school places will be taken into use and 350 places will be provided in temporary classrooms. This should provide an adequate margin of accommodation to meet increases in numbers of immigrant pupils but the education authority and my Department will keep the position under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what communications she has received concerning the inadequacy of residential accommodation for students at Portsmouth Polytechnic; what reply she has sent; and whether she will make a statement.

I have received representations on this matter from the hon. Member and from the Portsmouth local education authority, who have put forward proposals for increasing the residential accommodation available. I have written to the hon. Member and the proposals from the local education authority are being carefully considered

asked the Minister of State for Defence what alternative air or naval forces he proposes to deploy to replace the Royal Air Force Malagasy detachment for the enforcement of sanctions against Rhodesia.

It is too soon to say what arrangements may be necessary to maintain the effectiveness of the patrol.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if his Department will publish lists of serial numbers of all guns found as a result of arms searches in Northern Ireland.

This information is not held by the Army authorities

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) what action the Army had to take in Lurgan, Northern Ireland, on Sunday, 25th July, against rioters; what section of the community attacked the security forces; what damage they did; and how many were arrested;(2) what action the Army had to take in or around Friday and Saturday, 23rd and 24th July, in Lurgan, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, against rioters; what section of the community were involved in clashes with the security forces; what damage was done; what counter-measures were put into operation; and how many arrests were made.

There was minor rioting by the hooligan section of the community in Lurgan in the period 23rd to 26th July. An assessment of the damage caused is a matter for the civil authorities. Counter-measures taken by the Army included the firing of baton rounds. The security forces made some 30 arrests.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army were called to the offices of Castlederg Rural District Council, Northern Ireland, after an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion in or around 25th July; what were the results of its investigations; what type of bomb was used; how it was detonated; what amount of damage was caused; if the area was sealed off; what searches were carried out; and what arrests were made.

Shortly before 3 a.m. on 25th July an explosion partially demolished the Castlederg Rural District Council building in Strabane Road. An Army ammunition technical officer carried out normal checks for evidence and to ensure that the immediate area, which had first been cleared, was free from explosives. He concluded that three linked charges, totalling some 50 lbs of explosive, were used. The means of detonation has not yet been established. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances the Army were called to an electricity transformer outside the city of Londonderry in or around 25th July after it had been blasted by an Irish Republican Army bomb explosion; what were the results of its investigations; what type of bomb was used; how it was detonated; what amount of damage was caused; if the area was sealed off; what searches were carried out; and what arrests were made.

In the early hours of 26th July an explosion occurred at an electricity sub-station at Culmore Road, Londonderry, causing extensive damage to the fuse cabinet and concrete plinth. The Army ammunition technical officer made the normal searches for evidence and to ensure that the immediate area which had just been cleared was free from further explosive. He estimated that some 10 to 20 lbs of explosive had been used; the means of initiation had not been established. No arrests were made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what searches for arms, etc., have been carried out by the Army in Northern Ireland from Friday, 23rd July, to Monday, 26th July; and what were the results of these searches.

The series of searches which began on Friday, 23rd July, was not concerned primarily with the capture of arms but with the disruption of terrorist activity. Several arrests have been made and quantities of equipment, including some arms and ammunition, together with other material, have been seized. In view of the nature of the operation it would be inopportune to make any fuller statement about its results.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what were the circumstances which started the rioting in Londonderry on Saturday, 24th July; how many troops were involved; what attacks were made on them; what damage was done to Army property; what measures the troops adopted to quell the riots; and what arrests were made.

Rioting began in Londonderry shortly before midnight on 24th July and continued for about four hours.

asked the Minister of State for Defence (1) what action the Army has taken against terrorists who threatened Protestants living in Malt Street, Belfast; and how many arrests have been made;(2) under what circumstances the Army was called to Malt Street, Belfast on or around Friday, 23rd July, after Protestants living there were threatened by Irish Republican Army terrorists; what representations these residents made to the Army and what protection did they request; what other representations were made to the Army on their behalf; why these residents had to evacuate because of inadequate Army protection; and what steps are now being taken to give further protection to Protestants living in this area.

This information is not readily available. I will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will list the items in common domestic or office use which the Army treats as subversive; and if he will list the reasons in each case.

No. A large number of items in common use could be used for subversive purposes. Whether or not they may be regarded as subversive depends on the circumstances in which they are found.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is his estimate of the cost in the current financial year of giving Service pensioners, officers and other ranks in all three Services, complete parity of pensions, irrespective of their date of retirement.

The additional cost of parity for all Service pensioners who are qualified for increases is estimated to be of the order of £22 million for a full year.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he can now make a further statement as to whether Commonwealth immigrants who came to the United Kingdom since 1960 will have the right to seek employment without restrictions of any kind in the European Economic Community countries should the United Kingdom accede to the Treaty of Rome.

I have nothing to add at present to the answer given on 9th July to a Question by the hon. Member for Walthamstow, West (Mr. Deakins).—[Vol. 820, c. 476.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether, before taking any irrevocable steps for Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, he will arrange for discussions to be held with the Parliament of Jersey to ensure that this island will not be adversely affected in any way by Great Britain's entry into the Common Market.

There has been full consultation with representatives of the States of Jersey on how the interests of the island can be safeguarded on the accession of the United Kingdom to the European Economic Community. The views of the representatives are fully reflected in the proposals that have been put to the Community, and the States of Jersey will be consulted before any binding commitments are entered into on their behalf.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he has studied the decision of a Divisional Court that the offence of fouling a footway does not extend to grass verges; and whether in consequence he will redraft the model byelaws, "Dogs Fouling Footways", so as to extend it to include grass verges.

My right hon. Friend is reviewing the terms of the model byelaw in the light of the Divisional Court's decision.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will give an assurance that, in arriving at a new salary structure for the Probation Service, account will not only be taken of more generous salaries at present paid for comparable forms of social work, but of the savings already made and the potential for greater savings through the work of probation officers in preventing crime and reducing the costs of the Prison Service.

The recommended scale of pay for local authority social workers is higher at some points in the scale than that which would be paid to probation officers under the offer already made, but not at others. But I shall take the considerations referred to in the Question into account in determining the Government's attitude to the negotiations.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is aware of the detrimental effect on recruitment and continuing service in the probation service of the delay in reaching a satisfactory agreement on a new salary structure; if he will now announce the new rates; and from what date they will take effect.

There was a net increase of 104 established probation officers in the first six months of 1971, bringing the number up to 3,456. I cannot yet announce a conclusion of the current pay negotiations, but there is a full meeting of the Joint Negotiating Committee today.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what is the estimated total population of Italians living in Bedford and Kempston particularising the percentage who are classified as aliens under current legislation and the percentage who have applied for and secured naturalisation.

I am informed by the Registrar General that the 1966 sample census of population gave an estimate of about 3,500 people resident in the Borough of Bedford who were born in Italy. Reliable information is not available for adjacent areas.Naturalisation application are not classified according to the applicant's place of residence.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations he has received that he should enter into consultations with a view to the internment of known Irish Republican Army terrorists in Northern Ireland; and what action he will take.

My right hon. Friend has had a few letters from members of the public on this subject.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what discussions he intends to have with the Northern Ireland Government regarding methods to be adopted by the Army for dealing with increasing violence.

The methods used by the Army in Northern Ireland are the responsibility of the G.O.C. and they are discussed regularly in the Joint Security Committee.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what procedure exists for the categorisation and decategorisation of Category A prisoners; and what effect such categorisation has.

Prisoners charged with certain types of offence are considered for category "A" when first received into custody. Provisional placements in the category are reviewed after sentence and again after assessment of the prisoner at a long-term allocation centre. The status of a prisoner remaining in the category after allocation is regularly reviewed, at least once a year and often more frequently.An "A" categorisation identifies a prisoner whose escape would be highly dangerous to the public or the police or the security of the State. It enables appropriate safeguards to be applied.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will recommend the establishment of a Royal Commission to inquire into the growth of foreign capital investment in the United Kingdom over the last 25 years, with particular reference to United States investment and its implications for the overall economic policies of Her Majesty's Government.

No. A wide-ranging study into the effects of inward investment in the United Kingdom, commissioned by the Board of Trade in 1967, is now being completed. When the report of this study has been received, the need for further inquiries will be considered.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what financial assistance he is considering for the establishment of a techno-centre at Cardiff.

Exploratory discussions have taken place with the Cardiff City Council. The Department will consider any proposal on its merits.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what further consideration has now been given to the level of marine survey and other marine fees, which were increased substantially from 1st May, 1971.

The increases in these fees, ranging from 100 per cent. to 860 per cent., were designed to ensure recovery of the full cost of providing the relevant services. This remains Government policy. In the light of the representations by hon. Members, however, I have decided that the increases should be staged over a period. Fees will accordingly be reduced until 30th April, 1972, to 50 per cent. of their present level and the Department will refund any pay- ments made since 1st May, 1971, in excess of the new reduced fees. After 30th April, 1972, fees will return to a level which will enable all costs to be recovered. In the meantime, the Department will be conducting a critical review of the structure of the fees table with a view to making it reflect more accurately the work involved in various types of survey and establishing whether there is scope for reduction in such work.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is aware that, notwithstanding the rapid rise in the cost of all types of food and merchandise over the last 12 months, natives from the countries of the Six are still entering British ports to purchase goods for personal export to the countries of the European Economic Community: to what extent he estimates this trade is assisting in Great Britain's balance of payments; and whether he will give as much detailed information on this form of trade as may be available.

Detailed information on shopping visits by E.E.C. residents is not available, but their purchases in 1970 are unlikely to have amounted to more than £2 million or £3 million, a minor, though welcome, contribution to our balance of payments.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what progress has been made with the review of the National Space Technology Programme; and if he will make a statement about the future of the Black Arrow Launcher.

The first phase in the review of the National Space Technology Programme has now been completed. Plans to launch the X3 satellite on a Black Arrow vehicle later this year have been confirmed, but it has been decided that the Black Arrow launcher programme will be terminated once that launch has taken place.We have come to this decision on Black Arrow mainly because the maintenance of a national programme for launchers of a comparatively limited capability both unduly limits the scope of the National Space Technology Programme and absorbs a disproportionate share of the resources available for that programme.We hope to complete our review in the early months of 1972. Meanwhile work is continuing in industry on research into basic satellite technology and on the development of the X4 satellite. X4 is planned to be launched in 1974 on a Scout vehicle to be purchased from N.A.S.A.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry whether he is satisfied with the organisation of the Export Credits Guarantee Department in the light of its expanding commitments; and if he will make a statement.

I am broadly satisfied that E.C.G.D. is able to give an effective and efficient service to British exporters. The existing structure of the Department is based on a review of its work in 1958. In view of its expanding commitments since then and its new functions such as investment guarantees, a new review of its organisation seems appropriate. I have therefore asked Mr. David Scholey, a member of the Export Guarantees Advisory Council, to undertake the review. He will be assisted by a team of management specialists. In view of its nature, the review will take some months to complete.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he expects to be in a position to publish, before September, a schedule showing for each article of the Treaty of Rome the Section and name of any Act of Parliament that would require amendment should the United Kingdom decide to accede to that treaty, together with statements describing the significance and effects of any such amendments.

No. The examination and modification as necessary of Community legislation is continuing and is not expected to be completed before the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will recommend the appointment of a Royal Commission to inquire into all matters connected with Great Britain's possible entry into the European Economic Community, the signing of the Treaty of Rome, the terms and conditions of entry, and to include on the Royal Commission, representatives from the Commonwealth countries of Australia, New Zealand, Canada, the Caribbean and one from the Channel Isles.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will place in the Library samples of the packages of literature on the European Economic Community which have already been made available by the Government to certain Members of Parliament.

No. The Government's publications on this subject—that is, the Factsheets "Britain and Europe", the White Paper and the short version of the White Paper—have already been made available to hon. Members through the Vote Office and the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the terms of the Anglo-Egyptian Agreement on compensation for nationalised British property.

The Agreement which was initialled in Cairo on 22nd July provided for the payment by the Government of the United Arab Republic of compensation for the assets of United Kingdom nationals whose property was nationalised under laws promulgated in the United Arab Republic from 1960 to 1964 inclusive, including Agrarian Reform Laws No. 127 of 1961 and No. 15 of 1963, but excluding Law No. 150 of 1964.Compensation will be in the form of a fixed sterling sum of £2·1 million minus £200,000 in respect of all related liabilities of the owners with the United Arab Republic. The net amount of £1·9 million will be paid in six six-monthly instalments starting on 1st March, 1972.Valuation and payment of individual claims under the terms of the Agreement will be the responsibility of Her Majesty's Government and will be carried out by the Foreign Compensation Commission which will make payments in sterling. An Order in Council will be made to this effect as soon as the Agreement has been signed, which, it is hoped, will be within the next month or so.A meeting of the Committee established to represent the interests of claimants will shortly be held in London to discuss the working of the Agreement.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations have been made to the Maltese Government about the decision of their air traffic control to refuse permission to the British Overseas Airways Corporation VC10, when under duress to land by the Libyan authorities, to return to Rome.

As I told the House on 22nd July, we have been seeking to obtain the fullest possible facts of the matter in this case. We therefore asked our High Commission in Malta to contact the Maltese authorities to ask for their help in establishing the exact sequence of events, and, from the information now available, there is no evidence that the Maltese controllers were acting other than in accordance with normal operational practice.—[Vol. 821, c. 1678–81.]

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many items of foodstuffs have now risen in price since 19th June, 1970.

The Retail Food Price Index is compiled by the Department of Employment from information about a very large number of different commodities. Information is however published monthly about 80 of the more important individual items. Between 16th June, 1970, and 18th May, 1971—the latest date for which information is available—67 of these items showed increases.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he will now take action to stabilise butter prices.

The British consumer has been having to pay more for butter because a reduction in world stocks has led to substantial increases in the prices charged by our overseas suppliers, on whom we depend for about 87 per cent. of our butter supplies. During the last five months the price of butter from our principal suppliers has risen, in the case of New Zealand and Australian packet butter by 40 per cent. and in the case of Danish butter by almost 30 per cent. Faced with the prospect of falling supplies and higher prices from our traditional overseas suppliers, my right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry introduced on 29th April for the time being what is in effect an open market for butter imports, so that United Kingdom traders could buy butter wherever it was available.United Kingdom imports of butter in June, the first full month to reflect the open import market, were 25,900 tons, 6,200 tons higher than our imports in June, 1970. They included shipments from five countries which do not normally supply us. The Irish Republic sent 7,650 tons, almost 5,000 tons more than in the same period last year. Butter stocks at the end of April were 19,400 tons lower than at the same period last year but by the end of June stocks were 3,900 tons above those at the end of June, 1970. Although United Kingdom butter prices will continue to reflect the available supply of butter, these prices have now stabilised and the prospects for the butter consumer is slightly better.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food whether he is aware that the Agriculture Fund under the European Economic Community is an open-ended commitment and the Commission is required to spend whatever it decides to keep prices at intervention levels in all the producing areas, and that the annual rise in such expenditure was £250 million since 1966; on what basis in the White Paper he estimates a rise of only £65 million a year between 1971 and 1973 and £40 million a year between 1973 and 1977; and whether he will make a statement.

The rate of increase in expenditure in past years reflects the introduction of Community financing of support buying and export aids in 1967–68, the extension of support to additional commodities and the cost of buying and disposing of exceptional surpluses. In future years the cost; both of extending support to additional commodities and of handling surpluses, should be less. These factors were taken into account in the assumptions made in paragraph 93 of the White Paper as to the total budget of the enlarged Community in future years.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he has made in implementing the recommendations of the Construction Research Advisory Council Report that research and development support for construction education should be improved; and whether he will make a statement.

My Department has brought to the notice of the Science Re- search Council both the general recommendations of the Construction Research Advisory Council on the research and development support for construction education and proposals for relevant projects.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what research his Department has conducted into the relationship between bonus payments paid to lorry drivers and accidents involving those vehicles; and if he will make a statement.

None. Drivers employed on piecework are subject to the same legal requirements as other heavy goods vehicle drivers.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he is now able to announce the results of his review of the bus licensing system.

Yes. The Government have concluded that substantial modifications are required. The main purpose will be to encourage the introduction of new types of service, while retaining necessary control over stage and express services. I am particularly concerned to help people in rural areas where bus services are being reduced.I propose to exempt from road service licensing excursions and tours, works and school contract services, small vehicles, services supported by rural bus grant and those provided as a condition of consent to closure of a rural service. I shall seek power to exempt by order selected rural areas where licensing is no longer necessary, and to simplify the procedures for fares changes.I am circulating details of the proposed changes to the bus operators' associations, local authority associations and other interested bodies.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he anticipates the Newnham Bridge will be built across the River Ouse to take a substantial volume of the traffic west of the town of Bedford; what are the reasons for the delay; what is the estimated cost of the new bridge compared with the estimate of 12 months ago; and what are the capacities the Newnham inner relief road and bridge are designed to carry.

It is not possible to forecast when the bridge will be built because statutory procedures are not yet complete.On 9th June, 1971, Bedford Borough Council made an appropriation order for the common land involved and proposals for exchange land; objections have been received. My right hon. Friend must consider these and decide whether a public inquiry is necessary before he can confirm the order; then he can consider confirmation of the Council's Bridge Scheme Order made in 1966.The estimated cost of Newnham and Everard Meadows Bridges is £277,000 which represents an increase of about 7 per cent. over 12 months.The design capacity of Bedford Inner Relief Road Stage 1 is 1,500-plus per hour.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what recent meetings he has had with representatives of the Welsh Hockey Association; and if he will make a statement.

I sent the hon. Member on 27th July an account of my meeting with the Welsh Hockey Association at which I reiterated the Government's view, that sporting tours to Rhodesia are undesirable at the present time.

asked the Lord President of the Council, whether he is now able to give an assurance that the Select Committee on Expenditure will be reappointed within a specific period after the start of the next Session; and whether the time hitherto allocated each Session for debates on reports of the former Estimates Committee will now be allocated for debates on reports of the Expenditure Committee.

I have already undertaken that I shall arrange that the Motion reappointing the Expenditure Committee will be put to the House as soonas possible after the start of the next Session—[Vol. 820, c. 393–4.] I anticipate that this will be within a fortnight of the beginning of the Session. As regards debates on the reports of the Committee I can certainly give the assurance that there will be at least one day, and I will favourably consder further opportunities.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what grant he makes to the Family Planning Association in respect of its activities in Scotland.

None directly, but local health authorities may make grants to the Asociation, and allowance for this expenditure is made in rate support grant.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what special measures he is taking to prevent British tourists who are going to Spain from contracting cholera and to prevent the spread of the disease to the United Kingdom.

My Chief Medical Officer has written to all medical officers of health and port medical officers alerting them to the possibility of importation of cholera to this country. Travellers who have been in the Saragossa province of Spain within five days of their arrival in the United Kingdom are now required to produce an international certificate of vaccination against cholera. Names and addresses of those without such a certificate will be sent to medical officers of health so that prompt action can be taken should they show signs of developing the disease. Information on vaccination requirements and advice for travellers to the infected area of Spain has been given through travel agencies, and by way of Press, radio and television. The requirements will be dropped as soon as the area has been declared free from infection.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when he now expects to publish the report of the inquiry into Scientology; and whether the scientologists will be given copies of the report prior to publication.

I am unable at present to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Wycombe (Mr. John Hall) on 13th July.—[Vol. 821, c. 198–9.]

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he intends to give some relief from value-added tax to traders who, on the day that the tax is introduced, are holding stocks on which purchase tax or excise uty will have been paid.

My right hon. Friend has received a number of representations on this subject, all of which are being carefully considered. This is a difficult issue, and my right hon. Friend is not yet ready to announce any decision.