asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many people are employed in his Department on telecommunication matters.

266. This includes staff concerned with radio and broadcasting.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will make a statement in furtherance of the official announcement which he made on Monday, 4th October regarding the policy of Her Majesty's Government concerning the evasion of payment of television licences.

Television licence evaders are costing the B.B.C. £9 million in lost revenue.The campaign I have just launched is aiming at a substantial reduction in the number of evaders.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications how many television licence fees in Northern Ireland are in arrears as at the 1st August, 1st September and 1st October, 1971.

The number of television licences not yet renewed in Northern Ireland was:

	(a)	(b)
	(2–3 months outstanding)	(more than 3 months outstanding)
At 1st August, 1971	4,290	6,719
At 1st September 1971	5,046	6,880
At 1st October, 1971	5,401	6,438

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will make a statement on the non-payment of television licences in Northern Ireland during the current civil disobedience campaign; and what action he proposes to take in relation thereto.

The number of television licences not renewed has increased in the last two months. This is not yet a serious problem but I am keeping the situation under review.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what increase there will be in staff, temporary or permanent, in his Department, as a result of the introduction of commercial radio.

I have made three temporary appointments so far and may need to make a further five or six. It is too soon to say whether any increase in permanent staff will be required but this would, in any case, not exceed two or three posts.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications whether he will now issue a general direction to the Post Office Corporation to place trade union branch secretaries and disabled persons on the priority list in the allocation for telephone service.

No, but I would refer the hon. and learned Member to the reply to the hon. Member for Leicester, North-West (Mr. Janner) today.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what recent representations he has received on the establishment of a broadcasting council; and what replies he has made.

I have received 27 requests this year for a broadcasting council. I have replied that the B.B.C. Governors and the I.T.A. Members are appointed as trustees for the public and that there is not much attraction in the idea of appointing a further public body to oversee their activities.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the number of houses completed to the latest date in the public and private sectors, respectively.

The number of new permanent houses and flats completed in the public and private sectors in Great Britain in the period from January to August, 1971, was as follows:Public sector: 104,300; Private sector: 118,600.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of starts in the private housing sector to the latest date in 1971 for which figures are available; and what is the relative figure for the same period of 1970.

There were 129,000 starts in the private housing sector in Great Britain in the period January—August, 1971 compared with 107,600 in the same period last year, an increase of 20 per cent.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what proposals he has received from local authorities for dealing with the remainder canals.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what is the number of improvement grants approved to the latest date in 1971 for which figures are available; and what is the relative figure for the same period of 1970.

117,128 in England and Wales up to the end of August. This compares with 95,875 during the same period in 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what representations has has received on the subject of a change from rental values to capital values in the process of rate assessment since the publication of the Green Paper on Local Government Finance.

My hon. Friend has so far received one representation, opposing such a change.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will make a statement regarding the progress made in the building of the M18 and M62 trunk roads eastwards to Hull.

The Hatfield to Thorne section of the M18 is under construction and the draft schemes for the remaining sections to complete the link between the M1 and M62 have been published. Draft schemes for the M62 from Ferrybridge to Balkholme have also been published.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what progress he can now report on the granting of access to parts of national parks and the coastline at present occupied by military installations.

The land holdings of the Services and the question of improved access for the public are under consideration by the Defence Lands Committee under the chairmanship of my noble friend, Lord Nugent. In view of the many sites involved and the large number of representations that have been made to the Committee, its deliberations will necessarily take some time.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if lie will send a circular to local authorities encouraging them to give 100 per cent. loans to housing communes; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend will continue to give the voluntary housing movement all possible encouragement. A letter sent to housing authorities in England by the Department on 31st August stressed that housing associations may need 100 per cent. mortgages.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he has finished his informal consultations with interested bodies on the disposal of disused railway lines in the countryside; and when he will issue a circular to local authorities.

A circular was issued to local authorities on 20th September. I am sending a copy to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what are the present interest rates charged for loans for house purchase in Great Britain; and what are the comparable rates charged in the countries within the European Economic Community.

Most house purchase loans in Great Britain are at the Building Societies Association's recommended rate of interest. This is being reduced to 8 per cent. I am not aware of anything comparable with the Building Societies' recommended rate in the countries of the Community, where rates for this kind of loan vary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if, before the date of entry into the European Economic Community, he will seek powers to prevent vehicles over 32 tons in weight from entering the United Kingdom.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether present regulations comply with the technical requirements for heavy vehicles laid down by the Council of Ministers in Europe on 26th July; and if he will indicate the requirements with regard to dual braking circuits.

Our regulations on brakes do not correspond to the E.E.C. directives. Neither requires dual braking circuits, but the E.E.C. directive does require a "split" braking system.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will introduce legislation to make Her Majesty's Government responsible for compensating house-owners for losses arising from faulty building work and for failure to remedy defects in a reasonable time by firms expelled from the National Housebuilders' Registration Council.

The guarantee of the N.H.B.R.C. already covers losses in those circumstances and legislation is therefore not necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will make a statement on the Government's proposals and intentions for dealing with smoke and noise from vehicles.

My right hon. Friend announced on 7th October his decision on new regulations to control smoke and noise emissions from vehicles. From October next year new dieselengined vehicles will have to conform to the British Standard on diesel engines which contains a strict limit on smoke. From April, 1973, new cars, and April, 1974, new vans, buses and lorries, will have to comply with noise limits substantially lower than those now in force.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will estimate the direct financial saving that would be involved should he decide to sanction the closure of the Romford-Upminster railway line.

The deficit on this service, as currently estimated on the basis used for assessing grant, is about £70,000 per annum. After the deduction of shared costs, interest and administration costs, some £40,000 per annum would be saved if the service were withdrawn.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what was the cost to public funds of the redecorating of the rooms in the new block in Star Chamber Court; and at whose request this work was undertken.

About £1,200. The work was done as part of the Department's normal maintenance programme for the Palace of Westminster.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what plans he has for the Forest Products Research Laboratory to come under the direct control of the Director of the Building Research Station; and if he will give an assurance that the volume and type of research and development work executed by the laboratory will at least continue at the level of recent years.

The future relationship of the Forest Products Research Laboratory with the Building Research Station is one of a number of organisational matters in the research field currently under consideration. There are no plans to reduce the amount of work carried out by the Laboratory but there could be a gradual reorientation of the research programme so that it is fully geared to the Government's broad field of interest in housing and construction.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether, in connection with the proposed arrangements for the Joint Fire Research Organisation to come under the control of the Director of the Building Research Station in 1972, he will give an assurance that the present impartial testing facilities at the Joint Fire Research Organisation will continue to be under the control of his department.

No firm decision has yet been taken about the future relationship of the Joint Fire Research Organisation with the Building Research Station but this is one of a number of organisational matters within the research field now receiving attention. The arrangements for carrying out routine testing of products and materials (as distinct from the development of test methodology) are under review, bearing in mind that the Holroyd Committee on the Fire Service which reported in May last year recommended the separation of this function from research. The responsibilities of the Department in ensuring that such routine testing is properly carried out are recognised and will be maintained.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what assessment has been made by his Department of the dangers to health of the use of lead additives in petrol; what studies have been made of this problem; if he will publish in the OFFICIAL REPORT the extent of the health hazard; and if he will make a statement.

The Chief Medical Officer of the Department of Health and Social Security has recently advised me that he does not find evidence that the present levels of lead in the atmosphere constitute a general hazard to health. Nevertheless, it would be advisable to halt the present rising trend in lead emissions to the environment and if possible to reverse it. The trend largely results from increasing numbers of motor vehicles and we are considering possible action.In this connection I would refer the hon. Gentleman to the answer I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Walthamstow, East (Mr. Michael McNair-Wilson) on 3rd August.—[Vol. 822, c.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment if he will take account of the recent report of the Mobil Oil Corporation in the United States of America, a copy of which is in his possession, on the dangers to health of the lead content in petrol in his current review of the lead pollution problem; and if he will make a statement.

I know of no report by the company. I received at second hand a report by a computer analyst employed by the company, primarily concerned with ways of supplying low-lead petrol. We are actively pursuing detailed studies of the complex subject of the use of lead in petrol and as soon as these are completed, I shall make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment in view of the concern expressed by the Royal Borough of New Windsor, on behalf of residents affected by noise connected with London Airport, Heathrow, at his announcement that the Foulness airport may not now be operational until 1980, whether he will take steps to expedite the completion of Foulness.

The Government will move as fast as possible to relieve the serious noise problem around existing London airports. But in view of the size and complexity of the Foulness project 1980 remains a realistic target date for the opening of the Third London Airport.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment how many articles or reports by research departments, for which Her Majesty's Government are responsible, have been censored or restricted by his Department; why these reports were censored or restricted; and if he will make a statement.

My Department does not restrict the free expression of scientific opinion.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment (1) how many persons between the ages of 1 and 7, 7 and 14, and 14 and 18 years, respectively, were fatally injured in road accidents while they were being driven as pillion passengers on motor cycles in 1970, in England and Wales;(2) how many persons between the ages of 1 and 7, 7 and 14, and 14 and 18 years, respectively, were fatally injured in road accidents while they were being driven as passengers in motor cars in 1970, in England and Wales;(3) how many persons between the ages of 1 and 7, 7 and 14, and 14 and 17 years, respectively, were killed in road accidents while they were being driven as passengers on motor cycles, in England and Wales;(4) how many persons between the ages of 1 and 7, 7 and 14, and 14 and 18 years, respectively, were killed in road accidents while they were being driven as passengers in motor cars in 1970, in England and Wales;(5) how many persons between the ages of 1 and 7, 7 and 14, and 14 and 18 years, respectively, were killed in road accidents while they were being driven as passengers in side-cars attached to motor cycles, in 1970, in England and Wales;(6) how many persons between the ages of 1 and 7, 7 and 14, and 14 and 18 years, respectively, were injured in road accidents while they were being driven as passengers in side-cars attached to motor cycles in 1970, in England and Wales;(7) how many persons between the ages of 7, 14 and 18 years, respectively, were fatally injured in accidents while driving bicycles in 1970, in England and Wales;(8) how many persons between the ages of 7, 14 and 18 years, respectively, were injured in accidents while driving bicycles in 1970, in England and Wales.

Following is the information:

CASUALTIES IN ENGLAND AND WALES, 1970
	Age at Last Birthday	Killed	Injured
Rider of pedal cycle	7–13	72	6,428
	14–17	35	4,363
Passenger of:
Moped, solo	1–6	—	2
	7–13	—	11
	14–17	—	33
Motor scooter, solo	1–6	—	6
	7–13	—	55
	14–17	15	1,222
Motorcycle, solo	1–6	—	10
	7–13	1	82
	14–17	38	1,852
Combination (moped, scooter or motorcycle).	1–6	2	19
	7–13	—	23
	14–17	2	179
Car	1–6	54	4,618
	7–13	32	4,471
	14–17	106	7,004

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give, for the latest most convenient stated date, the actual or estimated loss per annum to the revenue for evasion of the road fund licence by owners of cars, lorries and other such vehicles; and how these figures compare with a year earlier, so far as the Greater London area is concerned.

Between 1st January and 30th June this year £380,000 was recovered in penalties and arrears of duty from people detected in the unlicensed use of a motor vehicle in the Greater London area. The comparable figures for the first six months of 1970 was £330,000. It is not possible however to estimate any rate of evasion or loss of revenue from these figures.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment whether he will give, for the latest and most convenient stated period, the amount expended from the Government's hospitality fund on the purchase of cigarettes; and how this amount compares with stated periods during the previous five years.

Figures are not available broken down between cigars and cigarettes. To ascertain the amount spent on cigarettes alone would involve a disproportionate amount of staff time. The total amount spent annually on cigars and cigarettes during the past five years is as follows:

1966–67—£1,964	4s.
1967–68—£4,398	12s.	9d.
1968–69—£1,691	17s.	6d.
1969–70—£3,689	1s.	3d.
1970–71—£3,553.85

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment when he now expects to complete his review of the Report of the Francis Committee; and if he will make a statement.

My right hon. Friend announced the Government's conclusions on some of the most important recommendations on 10th March; others have been taken into account in the White Paper "Fair Deal for Housing" (Cmnd. 4728); and the remainder are still under consideration.

asked the Secretary of State for the Environment what discussions have taken place between him and motoring organisations with regard to the question of the safety of the child in the car; and if he will make a statement.

The Department regularly meets with motoring organisations to discuss matters related to road safety.Children in cars should be seated in the rear-seat preferably using a suitable safety harness. It is particularly dangerous to carry children on a front passenger's lap.

asked the Lord President of the Council if he will make a statement about the co-ordination and progress of work on population policy since the report from the Select Committee on Science and Technology was published.

The task of ensuring that prospective population trends are adequately taken account of in formulating Government policy is being co- ordinated centrally by the Cabinet Office machinery. The work now in hand is entirely in accordance with the recommendations of the Select Committee. I expect to be able to announce very shortly the membership of the Population Panel which the Government is setting up in response to the Select Committee's Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what new initiative he proposes to arrest the continuing decline of salmon breeding stocks in Scottish rivers, in view of the agreement that Danish fishermen may harvest Scottish salmon as long as they can profitably do so.

Under current international agreements, restrictions on the Greenland salmon fishery came into operation this year and are to continue in 1972 and 1973, subject to review in that period if there are significant changes in relevant circumstances. The Danish Government are a party to these agreements. The Government will continue to keep a close watch on the situation.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland in view of the statement in Clause 7 of Scottish Development Department Circular No. 78/1971 that fees and salaries for an authoritys' own staff might be half the scale of fees for private practice, what measures he proposes to reverse the trend towards the elimination of chartered architects in private practice by the substitution of paid officials of national or local government authorities.

Paragraph 7 of this circular merely suggests a way of apportioning notionally the salaries of local authority staff engaged on approved housing improvements. It does not imply any policy regarding the choice between private practitioners and an authority's own staff, which is one for each council to make.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what increase or decrease in the total number of male persons employed in Wales he expects to be shown in the current year.

Forecasts are not available for the year. The latest information relates to March, 1971, when it was provisionally estimated that there were 586,000 male employees in employment in Wales, 26,000 less than in March, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the present number of unemployed school-leavers in the North Hull Intermediate Area both

(1) UNEMPLOYED SCHOOL LEAVERS—NORTH HUMBERSIDE INTERMEDIATE AREA
			Boys		Girls
Date			Number of unemployed school leavers*	As a percentage of the total number of summer school leavers known to the Youth Employment Service	Number of unemployed school leavers*	As a percentage of the total number of summer school leavers known to the Youth Employment Service
October, 1971	…	…	126	6·6	57	3·2
October, 1970	…	…	94	5·5	22	1·2
October, 1969	…	…	58	3·2	60	3·1
* These figures may include some young people who left school prior to the Summer term and who are still seeking their first jobs.

(2) YOUNG PERSONS ENTERING THEIR FIRST PERMANENT JOBS AFTER LEAVING SCHOOL
	Boys			Girls
	Total new entrants to employment	Number entering apprenticeships or jobs leading to recognised professional qualifications	Percentage of Col. 2 to Col. 1	Total new entrants to employment	Number entering apprenticeships or jobs leading to recognised professional qualifications	Percentage of Col. 2 to Col. 1
Period	(Col. 1)	(Col. 2)	(Col. 3)	(Col. 1)	(Col. 2)	(Col. 3)
January-September, 1971	2,205	730	33·2	2,205	214	9·7
January-September, 1971	2,154	782	35·5	2,241	190	8·6
January-September, 1969	2,363	927	38·6	2,349	192	9·0

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many men are registered as unemployed in the South Shields Employment Exchange area at the latest available date; how many have

MALES REGISTERED AS UNEMPLOYED IN THE AREA COVERFD BY THE SOUTH SHIELDS EMPLOYMENT EXCHANGE
	Total registered	Temporarily stopped and casual workers	Total	Wholly unemployed
				Over 26 weeks*	Over 52 weeks
October, 1971 (provisional)	3,279	60	3,219	1,044	676
October, 1970	2,379	18	2,361	985	705
October, 1969	2,723	54	2,669	913	656
October, 1968	2,697	65	2,632	604	325
October, 1967	2,449	711	1,738	456	230
October, 1966	1,497	242	1,255	193	129
* Including those registered for 52 weeks and over which are shown separately.

Information is not available in the precise form requested. The following two tables give such information as is available in respect of the North Humberside Intermediate Area:been out of work for over six months, and for over one year; and how these figures compare with those for a comparable date in each of the last five years.

Following is the information:

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what is the number of school-leavers registered as unemployed in Sunderland at the latest available date and the corresponding figure for the previous year.

There were 476 school-leavers registered as unemployed in Sunderland on 11th October, 1971, as compared with 235 in October, 1970.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many registered blind, male and female, are unemployed; what are their aces; and if he will give separate figures for Scotland, England and Wales.

The number of blind people registered with my Depart-

		Scotland		England		Wales		Total
		M	F	M	F	M	F	M	F
1971	…	88	17	658	109	35	7	781	133
1970	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	747	127
1969	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	759	137
1968	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	680	124
1967	…	—	—	—	—	—	—	613	105

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what were the average wages of registered blind persons, male and female, in Scotland, England and Wales during the last five years to the nearest available date.

Blind people are employed in all types of work—professional, managerial, executive, commercial, technical and industrial, both skilled and unskilled, and they are paid the rate for the job.Blind people employed in sheltered workshops are paid rates negotiated through the National Joint Council for Workshops for the Blind. The current basic rate for men is £20 in London and £18 in other areas. There are additional payments for long service and incentive bonuses.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Common-

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what are the unemployment figures for registered blind persons, male and female, in Scotland, England and Wales during the last five years to the nearest available date.

The unemployment figures for registered blind people, male and female, during the past five years, on the first Monday in April, are set out in the following table. Separate figures for England, Wales and Scotland are not available prior to 1971.wealth Affairs how many copies of the short version of the Government's White Paper on Britain and Europe have been supplied free to each major political party in Great Britain since 26th July; and what has been the cost to the Central Office of Information and Stationery Office Votes.

At the request of the political parties, they have been supplied with the following quantities since the 26th of July:

Conservative Party	563,365 copies
Liberal Party	550 copies
Labour Party	184 copies

at a cost to public funds of £7,019, £6·85 and £2·30 respectively. There has been a considerable reduction in the unit cost of the short version of the White Paper since the estimates used in the preparation of the answer given by my right hon. Friend the Lord President to my hon. and learned Friend the Member for Buckinghamshire, South (Mr. Ronald Bell) on 26th July.The figures for the total estimated cost of all copies of the short version of the

White Paper supplied to political parties at their request are now as follows:

Conservative Party	£17,495
Liberal Party	£46·85
Labour Party	£3·22

The figure for the Labour Party given above does not take into account 5,000 copies included in my right hon. Friend the Lord President's answer of 26th July as supplied to the Labour Party, almost all of which were returned subsequently.—[Vol. 822, c.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make available to hon. Members through the Vote Office copies of, or a summary of the content of, the Instruments of the Commission of the European Economic Community to which Great Britain would require to conform in the event of joining the Community.

Preparation of authentic English texts is proceeding. These will be made available in due course, if Parliament decides that we should join the Communities. Unofficial English translations of Community legislation are, of course, available in the Library of the House and translations produced prior to 1967 have been published by Her Majesty's Stationery Office. These are available through the Vote Office.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on Her Majesty's Government's policy on the holding of a European Security Conference following the progress made in talks on Berlin.

Her Majesty's Government s policy is to work constructively, together with their NATO Allies, for the preparation and holding of a Conference on European Security once the Berlin Agreement has been concluded.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now increase the grant made by Her Majesty's Government to the European Movement on con- dition that they use these extra funds for the purpose of ascertaining the views of the British electorate on the issue of whether or not Great Britain should enter the European Economic Community.

No. The purpose of the Grant-in-Aid given by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the European Movement continues to be to assist exchanges of views with other Europeans.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made, following the replies of the Western European Union Council and the indications given by the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster to the Western European Union Assembly on 16th June, 1971, in finalising arrangements for the improvement of staff conditions in the Western European Union and other co-ordinated organisations proposed by the Assembly of Western European Union in Recommendations 173, 188, and 200.

Arrangements designed to improve staffing structures and conditions of service in Western European Union and the other five co-ordinated organisations were embodied in a proposal by the Council of Western European Union that a Committee of Experts be set up to study these matters.This proposal of the Council of Western European Union was put to all the other co-ordinated organisations in May of this year, and their substantive responses are still awaited. The Standing Committee of the Secretaries-General of the co-ordinated organisations met recently to discuss the proposal and to concert views which will be conveyed to their respective organisations.I hope that this will lead to an early decision to set up a Committee of Experts.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what progress has been made with the study of the harmonisation of conditions for the secondment of national officials to European Parliamentary institutions undertaken within the framework of the Western European Union at the request of the Council of Ministers.

When replying to the Western European Union Assembly's Recommendation No. 200, the Council of Western European Union proposed that an Expert Working Group be set up to study the possibility of harmonising the conditions for secondment of national officials to the co-ordinated organisations.As a preliminary step comprehensive information about their respective national procedures governing secondment was obtained from all members of Western European Union. This revealed that the subject was one of greater complexity than was at first thought because of a wide divergence in national procedures and practice.The Council of Western European Union is still considering the overall problem and it is possible that a Working Group of Experts may be set up shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs when he expects to publish the results of the review undertaken by the Committee of independent experts on the staffing structures and conditions of staff of the co-ordinated organisations of Western European Union.

The proposal for a review by a Committee of Experts of staffing structures and conditions of service in the six- co-ordinated organisations (Council of Europe, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, European Space Research Organisation, European Launcher Development Organisation and Western European Union) was an initiative taken by the Council of Western European Union. It was put to the other organisations by my right hon. Friend in his capacity as the then Chairman-in-Office of the Council of Western European Union. But it will not be for us to publish the results of this review: that is likely to be a matter for the co-ordinated organisations acting in concert.I understand that the present position is that the proposal is still under study by the various organisations. The Standing Committee of Secretaries-General of the co-ordinated organisations met recently to discuss the proposal and to concert views which will be conveyed to their respective organisations.I hope this will lead to an early decision to proceed with the review.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will now publish the correspondence he has had in the last year with embassies suspected of having excessive numbers of diplomatic personnel; and what steps he now intends to take to ensure these numbers are reduced forthwith.

I have published all the correspondence which I intend to publish for the time being. I hope I shall not find it necessary to take any further steps.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps are taken by Her Majesty's Government to correct inaccurate Press, television and radio reports overseas in relation to Northern Ireland, in particular in relation to the role of the army and of the Northern Ireland Government.

Her Majesty's Government seek to prevent and correct inaccuracies by regular and, where practicable, detailed briefing of correspondents and agencies both in the United Kingdom and abroad. Her Majesty's Missions overseas receive information and guidance on all aspects of the situation in Northern Ireland.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what steps he is taking to prevent money raised by the Irish Republican Army in the United States of America being transferred to the United Kingdom.

I am of course aware of the danger that money innocently subscribed to allegedly charitable organisations by people in the United States of America may eventually be used by terrorists for their own needs. If my hon. Friend should have in his possession any firm evidence that this is happening, I should be glad to see it and shall ensure that it is followed up.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) if he will arrange for the British High Commissioner in Dublin to prepare a report on Irish Republican Army training camps in the Republic of Ireland and their effect on the security of Northern Ireland;(2) if he will make representations to the Republic of Ireland Government on Irish Republican Army training camps operating in that country against the interests of the security of Northern Ireland.

Her Britannic Majesty's Ambassador in Dublin is in close touch with the authorities of the Irish Republic on a number of matters of common concern, and we receive full and frequent reports from him. Details must remain confidential.The Irish Republican Army is an illegal organisation on both sides of the Border; if my hon. Friend would care to pass to me any firm evidence he may have of the existence of training camps I shall certainly see that it is followed up.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will enter into negotiations with the Government of the Republic of Ireland to arrange for an extradition treaty to cover persons involved in the murder of soldiers serving in Northern Ireland.

I have nothing to add to the reply I gave to my hon. Friend the Member for Antrim, North (Rev. Ian Paisley) on 3rd August.—[Vol. 822, col. 291–2.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what representations he has now made or now proposes to make to the Government of Czechoslovakia concern- ing the shipment of four tons of arms and ammunition for the Irish Republican Army from Prague which was seized at Amsterdam on Saturday, 16th October, 1971.

As I told the House on 18th October in reply to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bute and North Ayrshire (Sir F. Maclean), we are in touch with the Government of Czechoslovakia. After we have received and studied all official reports, I shall consider whether a further statement to the House would be advisable.—[Vol. 823, col. 377–9.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a further statement on aid to India to assist with the burden of refugees from East Bengal, giving details of the amounts pledged, the up-to-date position on commitments to separate items of expenditure, and the amounts actually disbursed; and whether he will now make a pledge of more aid.

Of the £8 million Her Majesty's Government had previously offered, the £250,000 offered to the British charities has been spent; the £750,000 offered through the World Food Programme for the purchase of wheat has been declined by the Government of India; the £2 million offered to the United Nations High Commissioner for refugees has been spent; £500,000 has been spent on the purchase and freight of tents and other shelter materials; £2·5 million has been committed to the purchase and freight of rice, which is being shipped; and we are ready to pay over the balance of £2 million for purchases in India of blankets, clothing, etc.My right hon. Friend the Foreign and Commonwealth Secretary announced a further contribution of £7·5 million in his statement on 18th October, 1971.—[Vol. 823, c. 373.]

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now bring up to date the details of official and private flows of development assistance during 1970 which were given on 24th May.

These are the detailed figures for 1970:

	£ millions	Percentage
Official flows	188·9	0·37
Private flows:
Net guaranteed export credits	181·8	0·36
Private investment	[136·0]	0·28
Voluntary grants	[19·0]	0·03
	525·7	1·04
[] Estimates.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what are her plans to ensure that all primary school children can swim.

The teaching of swimming is a curriculum matter and is the responsibility of local education authorities. Increasing importance is attached to teaching children to swim while they are at primary school. Facilities for teaching are steadily improving as the number of school swimming pools increases.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she will consult the trade unions concerned about the proposal to site the North Staffordshire Polytechnic at Stafford.

I have myself received representations about the matter from many individuals and groups, including the North Staffordshire Trades Council, a number of local trade union branches and some of the teachers' organisations. These representations will certainly be borne in mind when the Joint Education Committee submits its proposals for the development of the Polytechnic.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what proportion of the United Kingdom's gross national product is estimated to be spent on research and development compared with each of the members of the European Economic Community, the United States of America and Japan, from information available from international sources.

In 1968–69 the latest year for which expenditure figures are available, expenditure on scientific research and development in the United Kingdom was 2·71 per cent. of gross national product (at factor cost). International information, but for earlier years, is given in Table 2 of "The Overall Level and Structure of Research and Development Efforts in O.E.C.D. Member Countries" published by O.E.C.D. Table 3 of "National Science Policies in Europe" published by U.N.E.S.C.O. gives later figures (based on gross national product at market prices) for members of the European Economic Community.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science whether she has received the report of the arbitral body appointed to determine the pay of teachers in establishments for further education in England and Wales.

Yes. The arbitrators have recommended that all such teachers should receive a general increase of 10 per cent. from 1st April, 1971. This, together with certain consequential items, involves an increase of about £11·9 million or 10·5 per cent. in the salary bill this year.I am informing the parties today that the Government accept the recommendations.I will arrange for copies of the report to be placed in the Library.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services whether he will now hold a meeting with the tobacco manufacturing industry to review the working of the Agreement and Code about warning messages on cigarette packets, with a view to amending the health warning to read, "Smoking will damage your health".

The manufacturers and I agreed at the outset to meet regularly to review the working of the Agreement and the Code. I expect a meeting in November on some aspects of the Code and a general review early in the New Year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services why, in his recent White Paper, he has not established the same retirement age for men and women.

To reduce the minimum pension age for men would cause a massive increase in the cost of pensions and therefore in the contributions by which they are largely financed. Married women would gain as well as men, since the pensions of most married couples depend upon the husband's contributions and the amount of their joint benefit is generally the same whether or not the wife has reached pension age. To raise the pension age for women would make little saving therefore as regards married women. The only significant saving that would be made by raising the pension age for women would be in relation to single women who would be the main losers.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services how many private pensions schemes in the past 10 years have failed, leaving contributors without or with only partial benefit.

There are no central records which would enable me to give a precise answer to the hon. Member's Question. I understand that in some insured pension schemes the premiums have not been kept up, but otherwise I believe that there can have been very few cases in the past 10 years in which an occupational pension scheme has failed to pay its benefits in full.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services what further proposals he has for the development of services for the care of the mentally handicapped of the Nottinghamshire area; and if he will make a statement.

The Regional Hospital Board's plans include improvements to existing hospitals for the mentally handicapped and new facilities, including small units, at centres of population. Nottinghamshire County Council have plans for a substantial increase in their training facilities; they and Nottingham County Borough are also to increase the amount of residential accommodation. Discussions are shortly to take place between hospital and local authorities on how the full range of services described in Cmnd. 4683 might best be developed and we have asked for progress reports by the end of the year.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services if he will inquire into the cost-effectiveness of the expenditure by his Department of £488,000 and of regional hospital boards to the extent of £146,000 on advertising.

No.This expenditure appears to me to have given good value for money. Three-quarters of the Department's expenditure was for nursing publicity and provisional figures for March, 1971 show the largest number of hospital nursing staff (in terms of whole-time equivalents) ever recorded. A specific objective was to check the decline in the number of student nurses, and the provisional figures indicate an increase of over 300 between March, 1970 and March, 1971. The other campaign in 1970–71 from the Department's budget was to identify pensioners who were over 80. This has also been successful.Most of the expenditure by regional hospital boards enables staff vacancies (medical, technical and some of the more senior administrative posts) to be brought to the attention of the most suitable candidates through professional journals. Boards are required by the Appointment of Consultants Regulations (Statutory Instrument No. 163/1969), to advertise all consultant posts in not less than two medical journals, and most other medical vacancies, chiefly in training posts of limited tenure, are advertised similarly. General advice on economical advertising was last given to Boards in a letter from my Department in February, 1968. Boards' expenditure on advertising, as on other things, is subject to the scrutiny of my Auditors.

asked the Secretary of State for Social Services when the six study groups, set up by Her Majesty's Government to look at nutrition among the elderly at home, will report.

Consideration of the Report by expert Committees is almost complete, and we expect their findings to be made known shortly.

asked the Prime Minister to what extent the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland has control of security matters in Northern Ireland.

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on the present division of responsibility for internal security in Northern Ireland, in particular specifying the scope of the authority of the General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland and of the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland.

The Northern Ireland Government has responsibility for maintaining law and order in the Province. In exercise of this responsibility it has called in the support of the Armed Forces. Within this framework, the General Officer Commanding, Northern Ireland, has overall responsibility, to the Ministry of Defence, for security operations. He works in the closest co-operation with the Northern Ireland Government through the Joint Security Committee, and co-ordinates the allocation of duties to the Royal Ulster Constabulary in relation to security operations.These responsibilities date from 24th October, 1969, when those set out in the communique issued on 19th August, 1969, and published as Cmnd. 4154, were modified. In August, 1969, the General Officer Commanding was given full control of the deployment and allocation of duties to the Royal Ulster Constabulary for all matters relating to security operations; in October, 1969, his directive was amended to make him responsible for co-ordinating the allocation of duties to them in relation to such operations.

asked the Prime Minister what representations he received on the subject of the European Economic Community from the Co-operative Movement, following the Special Co-operative Congress held in London on 4th September, 1971; what reply he has made; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.Letters were addressed to my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister by the Parliamentary Committee of the Co-operative Union and the Political Committee of the London Co-operative Society. Each called on Her Majesty's Government to appoint a Select Committee to study the implication of Britain's entry into the European Economic Community. Replies explained that the place for Ministers to justify their policies on a major issue is the Floor of the House and that much of Parliament's time has been and will be devoted to this.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will make a statement on the effect on prices for the consumer in this country of the European Economic Community's regulations on reference prices as regards table wines and fortified wines such as sherry, in the event of Great Britain joining the European Community.

Consumer prices for wines would be affected by other provisions besides reference prices. It is too early to assess each separate effect in detail but, taken together, they are not likely to cause any great change in consumer prices.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food to what extent Great Britain's joining the European Economic Community will involve the application of French wine laws in this country; and whether it will involve conforming to Regulations 816/70 and 817/70 and similar provisions relating to the transport and marketing of wine.

The legislation applying to the United Kingdom as a member of the E.E.C. would be Community legislation and not the national legislation of any other Member State. Community rules on the transport and marketing of wines such as my hon. Friend has in mind have not yet been introduced, and in the meantime national laws apply to national territories.

asked the Attorney-General (1) whether he will list the occupations of Newcastle-under-Lyme Justices of the Peace;(2) whether he will state the proportion of Newcastle-under-Lyme Justices of the Peace who live in the Westlands area of the Borough.

I will obtain the information asked for and send it to the hon. Member.

asked the Attorney-General what was, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, the number of cases in the London Borough of Newham where motorists who have been charged with a drink and driving charge have had the case against them commenced in the courts, not proceeded with, and subsequently referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions, and with what results.

There have been no such cases within the last year.

asked the Attorney-General, under what statutory authority cases or prosecution under a drink and driving charge, once commenced, have subsequently been withdrawn, or not proceeded with, and sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions, for the longest and most convenient stated period.

Any charge can be withdrawn by the prosecutor, with the leave of the court; no statutory authority is required.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will extend the practice whereby persons appointed to the position of a judge should cease carrying on party political activities to those appointed as part-time judges by ensuring that no professionally paid party politician is appointed to any part-time paid or unpaid judiciary position until such time as he resigns his political appointments.

No. The matter was fully discussed in Parliament during the passage of the Courts Act, 1971, and Parliament reached a decision on the subject which was not that of the hon. Member.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will arrange to have published in some form, placed in the Library of the House of Commons or circulated to Members of Parliament, details of the official facts and figures given at the London Magistrates Association meeting held in London on Friday, 8th October, 1971, regarding the £5½ million of fines which are not paid and the profitability of persons deliberately evading the payment of their road fund licences and their television licences; and what action he proposes to take to change this situation.

My noble Friend the Lord Chancellor drew magistrates' attention to the fact that the level of fines, averaging £9, imposed for non-payment of vehicle and television licences did not appear to reflect recent increases in the cost of licences and in the maximum penalties for those offences. Any alteration in this situation is a matter for the magistrates and not for my noble Friend.

asked the Minister of State for Defence under what circumstances was Guardsman George Hamilton shot dead in the Roman Catholic Ballymurphy area of Belfast on Sunday, 17th October; what sort of bullet was used; whether the fire was returned; and what arrests were made.

At approximately 2.30 p.m. on 17th October Guardsman Hamilton was shot in the back while on foot patrol in Glenalina Park, Belfast, by a bullet from a Thompson machine gun. Other members of his patrol returned three shots. No arrest was made by the Army at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will list the number and names of the unapproved roads on the border of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic which the Army have cratered by explosives.

Up to 8.00 p.m. on 19th October, 61 unapproved crossings had been cratered or spiked by the Army. Only three of these crossings are numbered roads—the B32, B45 and B136. The remainder are un-numbered minor roads and tracks.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what counter-measures he proposes to take to stop the Irish Republican Army supporters filling in the craters made by the Army in unapproved roads on the border of Northern Ireland and the Irish Republic.

Additional patrols are being introduced into the border area.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what changes he proposes to make in the organisation of the Ulster Defence Reserve so that local units can operate locally even when subversive activity and rioting occur in their areas.

Under the plans for expanding the Ulster Defence Regiment, there are immediate proposals for creating three additional battalions, five new companies and 32 new platoons, and, as the strength increases, further changes in organisation will be necessary. This will allow greater opportunity for men to serve closer to their homes than hitherto. The rôle of the Regiment remains as stated in Command Paper 4188 of November, 1969. The precise tasks on which U.D.R. units and sub-units are employed are decided by the local Commanders in the light of requirements at the time.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will state the whereabouts of Mr. William A. Shannon who was arrested by the Army in Belfast on 9th October.

Mr. Shannon, who was arrested by the Army in Belfast at 12.15 a.m. on 10th October, was handed over to the R.U.C. straight away. From then onwards his custody became a matter for the Northern Ireland Government.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will state the whereabouts of Mr. Liam D. Rogers who was arrested by the Army in Belfast on 11th October.

Mr. Rogers, who was arrested by the Army in Belfast at 4.45 p.m. on 11th October, was handed over to the R.U.C. straight away. His custody thereafter became a matter for the Northern Ireland Government.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has to enable the security authorities to trace the source of gelignite, fuses and detonators used in Northern Ireland to establish their source of origin and thereby tighten up the use of these items.

Studies are in hand on the marking and detection of explosive material as a means of assisting its identification and tracing sources from which terrorists are acquiring supplies.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what consultation there was with the Northern Ireland Government before troops were withdrawn from guarding key electricity points.

The list of key electricity points guarded by the Army is kept under review with the Northern Ireland Government through the Key Points Committee.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many soldiers have been killed and wounded in each month since August, 1969.

If, as I assume, my hon. Friend is referring to soldiers involved in operations in Northern Ireland, the information is as follows:

Year	Month	Soldiers Killed	Soldiers Wounded
1969	August	nil	nil
	September	nil	2
	October	nil	21
	November	nil	nil
	December	nil	nil
1970	January	nil	nil
	February	nil	2
	March	nil	3
	April	nil	4
	May	nil	3
	June	nil	16
	July	nil	20
	August	nil	16
	September	nil	7
	October	nil	15
	November	nil	2
	December	nil	nil
1971	January	nil	9
	February	2	23
	March	4	3
	April	nil	6
	May	2	6
	June	nil	5
	July	2	15
	August	7*	45
	September	7*	41
	October (to date)	6	6
		30	270

Figures for those wounded refer to those admitted to hospital as a result of security operations. The figures marked

asked the Minister of State for Defence why Army guards were withdrawn from Royal Ulster Constabulary stations; how many stations were involved; if he will indicate how many stations Army guards have now been returned to; and what steps he is taking to co-ordinate such activity.

Guards are provided at a number of R.U.C. stations by units of the Regular Army and U.D.R. in the light of the current situation at each station as assessed in consultation with the R.U.C. on a daily basis at local level. The number of stations guarded fluctuates according to circumstances, and central records are not normally maintained by the Army. However, since 9th October the Army has been guarding 61 stations, some full time and some part time; the number in early September was over 70.

asked the Minister of State for Defence on what date the Northern Ireland Government originally requested him to make arrangements to crater roads in the border areas of Northern Ireland; on what date this work was done; how many roads have been so dealt with; and how many are still open.

The present programme of closing unapproved crossings was first considered in detail by the Joint Security Committee on 2nd September. Following the necessary consultations with the County Surveyors and a detailed reconnaissance of the crossings, work began on 13th October. By 8 a.m. on 19th October a total of 61 unapproved crossings had been cratered or spiked. The operation is continuing but it would be contrary to the public interest to reveal its planned extent at this stage.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the average time taken far security screening for applicants of the Ulster Defence Regiment; and how this compares with the position 12 months ago.

The processing of applications to join the Ulster Defence Regiment involves a number of concurrent enquiries, including medical examination as well as security investigations.The whole procedure now takes about four weeks on average, as compared with six weeks a year ago and we hope to reduce this still further.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons have been detained in custody for psychiatric reports in the past 12 months.

In England and Wales, 13,680 during the 12 months ended 31st December, 1970. I am arranging for the figures up to 30th September to be collected and will write to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will now take steps to introduce legislation to license zoos.

My right hon. Friend is keeping under review the general question of the need for controls over zoos, but he has not so far received evidence which persuades him that legislation is required.

INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT CERTIFICATES APPROVED* IN THE NORTH-EAST†
		Number	Area ('000 sq. ft.)	Estimated Additional Employment
				Males	Total
1970 July-September	…	38	1,417	1,550	2,280
1971 July-September	…	26	675	410	700
Notes
* Projects of 10,000 sq. ft. and over.
† Northumberland, Durham and the North Riding of Yorkshire.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what consideration has been given to the introduction of an industrial congestion tax, as well as the restoration of industrial development grants, in place of tax allowances to help steer industry to development areas.

All relevant possibilities are kept under review.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he has received Her Majesty's Stationery Office Report, Scientific and Engineering Manpower and Research in Small Firms; what conclusions he has reached; and what action he proposes with regard to the future of small firms and the employment of the two-and-a-half million people working in those firms employing 200 or less.

This is one of a number of Reports embodying the results of research commissioned by the Committee of Inquiry on Small Firms which are being published separately from the Commit-

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many industrial development certificates have been issued during the last three months for developments in the north-east; how many jobs are likely to be provided; and how these figures compare with the similar period last year.

Following is the information:tee's own Report. My right hon. Friend received the latter a short while ago and he will announce his first conclusions on the Committee's recommendations when it is published in about two weeks' time.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what steps he has taken to develop trade between Canada and the United Kingdom.

Canada, which last year took 3·6 per cent. of United Kingdom exports and supplied 7·5 per cent. of our imports, is one of our most important markets. With a view to increasing our share of this two-way trade this Department and the official commercial services in Canada have maintained a full programme of promotional events in addition to the normal services to exporters; and in support of these my right hon. Friend the Minister for Trade visited Toronto, Quebec, Ottawa and the British Columbia International Trade Fair in Vancouver last June.Our exports to Canada during the first nine months of this year amounted to £239 million, an increase of 11·5 per cent. over the corresponding period last year.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will have discussions with the British motor industry to improve its servicing arrangements in Canada to provide a service comparable with that provided by Japanese and German manufacturers.