asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will seek to give instructions that volunteers for the armed Services whose applications to join are rejected should be informed of such rejections in a tactful and kindly manner.

The Services are well aware of the need for tact and kindness when informing rejected applicants of their rejection. In general I am satisfied that their procedures reflect this need, but I am considering whether improvements can be made.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will institute an inquiry into the qualifications and competence of the staff of the Meteorological Office.

No. Its staff are recruited in accordance with standards laid down for the civil service as a whole.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is the present enrolled level of the Ulster Defence Regiment; and for what duration of time new recruits are being enrolled.

On 15th October the strength was 253 officers and 4,120 soldiers. About 75 per cent. of the soldiers have engaged to serve for three years, 9 per cent. for two years and 16 per cent. for one year.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what is now the proportion of Roman Catholic officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and other ranks in the Ulster Defence Regiment.

Approximately 8 per cent. of the officers and 11 per cent. of the soldiers in the Ulster Defence Regiment are Roman Catholics.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has for new recruiting initiatives in the Ulster Defence Regiment, particularly at a local level.

At company level recruiting caravans are being used to visit local towns and villages. Officers of the Regiment are speaking at local meetings to explain its purpose and answer questions about it. Local newspapers are helping by giving publicity to regimental news and events in their area. At the headquarters of the Regiment an officer has been specially appointed to undertake full-time recruiting duties, and I am considering other proposals.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arrangements he is making for the Ulster Defence Regiment to serve in the area from which the men are recruited, particularly in Belfast.

New battalions and additional companies and platoons are being raised in areas including Belfast where the numbers of serving volunteers and recruits indicate that a viable subunit would be supported. As the strength of the Regiment increases so will opportunities increase for members to serve nearer their homes than hitherto.

asked the Minister of State for Defence how many recruiting points there are in Northern Ireland for the Ulster Defence Regiment; and if he will list these and what plans he has to extend them.

At present, recruits may be enrolled at Battalion and Company Headquarters at 35 separate locations. Application forms for enrolment may be obtained at these and over 200 other locations comprising Army Careers Information Offices, Police Stations, Post Offices, T.A.V.R. Centres and mobile recruiting caravans.With the planned increase in the size of the Regiment, there will be more locations at which recruits may be enrolled and we are planning to increase the number of recruiting caravans.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has for recruiting for the Ulster Defence Regiment in conjunction with employers, trade unions and local authorities, respectively.

The Colonel Commandant and the Advisory Council of the Ulster Defence Regiment and individual battalion commanders and their officers are continuing to make personal contacts with employers, trade unions and local authorities with a view to obtaining their co-operation in recruiting for the Regiment.

asked the Minister State for Defence what plans he has for improving the equipment of the Ulster Defence Regiment, and in particular in equipping them with self-loading rifles and Shoreland armoured cars.

Issue of the self-loading rifle to the Ulster Defence Regiment began in September, 1971 and should be completed by the end of December. The new battalions will also be issued with self-loading rifles. Following trials undertaken by the Ulster Defence Regiment since early this year, it has been decided to equip the border companies of the Regiment with Shoreland armoured patrol cars. Some vehicles are now in use, and others are now on order for delivery in early 1972. Other proposals for improvements in U.D.R. equipment, including vehicles and specialised clothing, are currently being considered.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has for creating new battalions of the Ulster Defence Regiment.

It is planned to form an additional battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment in each of Co. Tyrone, Co. Antrim and Belfast in December, 1971 or January, 1972. Further new battalions of the Ulster Defence Regiment will be formed elsewhere as required when strength of the existing units increases sufficiently.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has for the Ulster Defence Regiment to guard key industrial units, electricity stations and other public installations.

The Ulster Defence Regiment already guards key points. As the strength of the Regiment grows, with new recruis becoming available, it will be able to undertake an even greater number of these guard duties than at present.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement as to the result of the trials of the Harrier aircraft with the Royal Navy; and whether he now intends to order a number of these aircraft for use by the Royal Navy.

I would refer my right hon. Friend to the answer which I gave earlier in the day in reply to a similar question from my hon. Friend, the Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Wilkinson).

asked the Minister of State for Defence what procedures are necessary for the call-up of the Territorial Army and Volunteer Reserve in Northern Ireland.

Authority for the call-out of the whole of the T.A.V.R. in the United Kingdom including Northern Ireland, the circumstances in which such call-out may be authorised and the procedure to be followed are contained in Section 25 of the Auxiliary Forces Act, 1953 and Sections 5 and 6 of the Reserve Forces Act, 1966. Section 9 of the latter Act also prescribes the procedure under which, after call-out has been authorised, any member of the force may be called in to service by notice in writing. The circumstances in which the individual will be released from service are set out in Section 12 of this Act.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what instructions troops now have when fired on from terrorists operating from the Republic of Ireland side of the border; and if he will make a statement.

In accordance with international law, soldiers may return fire when this is essential for self defence, as it has been on occasions in recent weeks.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what arrangements he is making to tighten security on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

During recent weeks the Army has provided additional patrols and has cratered or spiked a number of unapproved crossings. The programme of blocking such crossings will continue, and measures to tighten the control of traffic on approved crossings are being considered. The three additional major units that have recently arrived in Northern Ireland will enable the General Officer Commanding, among other things, to strengthen control of the border.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the operations of British troops in Ulster.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a further statement about operations in Northern Ireland.

Terrorist outrages continue but the security forces are being steadily successful in their operations to combat the terrorist activities. Control of the Border has been tightened with the recent increase in force level and the cratering of a number of unapproved crossings.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether a compound was erected and finished by 23rd August, 1971 in Palace Military Barracks, Holy-wood, for the use of the Special Branch of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in conducting interrogations.

Yes.

asked the Minister of State for Defence, in view of the concern among the Catholic community in Northern Ireland about interrogations going on daily in Palace Military Barracks, if he will take steps to stop such treatment taking place in these barracks.

The questioning of arrested men by the police at Palace Barracks will continue.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he is satisfied with the conditions and treatment of detainees arrested by the Army and held without charge or trial in Northern Ireland; and if he will make a statement.

I have been asked to reply.I would refer the hon. Member to what I said in answer to Questions on 19th October.—[Vol. 823, c. 546–550.]

asked the Minister of State for Defence what sections or agencies exist in his Department for collecting information from, or giving advice and assistance to, private sector industry.

No separate sections or agencies exist within the Ministry of Defence for these purposes. Our procurement responsibilities do, however, inevitably entail the frequent exchange of information, advice and assistance with contractors.

asked the Minister of State for Defence what plans he has for the continued admission of Commonwealth officers or officers from allied nations overseas to courses at the National Defence College.

None. Admission to the National Defence College is confined to students from the United Kingdom.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether he will make a statement about the development and equipment of the multi-rôle combat aircraft.

asked the Minister of State for Defence if he will give a progress report on the multi-rôle combat aircraft.

The arrangements agreed with the Federal Republic of Germany, and Italy, our partners in this collaborative project, provided for a comprehensive review of progress at the end of the first year of the development programme. That review has been completed and all three Governments have expressed their satisfaction at the progress which has been made in this important programme. Equipments for the M.C.R.A. are being selected progressively after a process of competitive tendering.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether Bernard McGeary, Ardmere Road, Coalisland, County Tyrone, was brought to the compound in Holywood Military Barracks on Friday, 17th September, 1971; and what complaints have been made about his treatment there.

Mr. McGeary was arrested by the Army on 17th September and was promptly transferred to the civil authorities at Holywood Barracks. No complaint about his treatment there has been received by the authorities—the Royal Ulster Contabulary being the proper authority for complaints of this kind.

asked the Minister of State for Defence whether, in the light of the recent announcement of measures to accelerate the shipbuilding programme for the Royal Navy and to increase the strength of the Army, he has any proposals in respect of the Royal Air Force programme.

We have decided, subject to the conclusion of satisfactory contractual arrangements, to order sufficient Buccaneers to enable the Royal Air Force to form an additional squadron.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, for the period between August, 1971, and 1st October, 1971, was the number of British citizens resident in the Parliamentary constituency of West Ham, North, and the London Borough of Newham who were charged with and prosecuted for the offence of drunken driving, and with what results; and in how many cases after the process of law had commenced the trial was not proceeded with, and for what reasons.

This information is not available.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many persons appeared at Marlborough Street Magistrates' Court on 31st August, 1971, charged with driving a car while unfit through drink and failing to give breath and laboratory specimens; and what was the result of these prosecutions in each stated case.

Two appeared for having a blood-alcohol concentration above the prescribed limit. Both were convicted, fined, ordered to pay costs and disqualified from driving. There was no case involving failure to provide a specimen.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what, for the longest and most convenient stated period of time, is the number of cases where persons who have been charged with driving a car while unfit through drink and failing to give breath and laboratory specimens have had the case withdrawn by the Metropolitan Police after refusing to re-appear on expiration of the bail period, so far as the Marlborough Street Court is concerned and the Metropolitan Police area of magistrates' courts are concerned, respectively.

None at Marlborough Street between 1st January and 19th October, 1971. One such case was withdrawn on application by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he is satisfied that internees in Northern Ireland are being humanely treated; and if he will make a statement.

I would refer the hon. Member to what my right hon. Friend said in answer to Questions on 19th October.—[Vol. 823, c. 546–50.]

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will set up a committee of inquiry into the methods by which psychiatric reports are obtained on persons who are charged with offences.

My right hon. Friend has very much in mind the desirability of facilitating the provision of psychiatric reports in circumstances which will diminish the need for remands in custody. The Home Office has been exploring various possibilities in consultation with those concerned, and the matter will be further considered by the joint working party which has been set up, after discussion with the Magistrates' Association, to examine various aspects of bail procedure.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department what steps he proposes to take to organise the vigilantes now working in the city of Belfast into a Civil Defence Corps.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the concern of policemen and their wives and families residing in Royal Ulster Constabulary stations in Northern Ireland about the security of these stations, what steps he now proposes to take, in view of the disarming of the Royal Ulster Constabulary under the terms of the Hunt Report, either to provide adequate military protection for these stations, or so to alter the Hunt Report that the Royal Ulster Constabulary can be re-armed with weapons suitable to resist Irish Republican Army attacks.

37 police stations in Northern Ireland are at present protected day and night by static guards provided by the regular army or the U.D.R. A further 31 are so protected at night only. The remaining 82 are patrolled by the regular army or the U.D.R.My right hon. and noble Friend the Defence Secretary and I are considering in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Government and the Police Authority for Northern Ireland what additional or alternative measures may be necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many prisoners sentenced to imprisonment for life between 1st July, 1960, and 1st July, 1961, have been released; how many are still in prison; and how many died in prison.

In England and Wales, 35 prisoners sentenced during this period to imprisonment for life, or to detention during Her Majesty's Pleasure, have been released on licence. Five have been transferred to hospital under Section 72 of the Mental Health Act, 1959; one of these was later repatriated for further treatment in his native country. Fifteen are still detained in prison. Two have died in prison.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department for what reasons Police Constable Charles Shearer and Police Constable George Paterson attended the Marlborough Street Court on Thursday, 30th September; how long they were in attendance; and at what costs.

To give evidence in the case of Elias Eliopoulas; for about 3¾ hours; there was no additional cost to the police fund.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department why a qualified doctor who applied for a position as a police surgeon or deputy police surgeon as a result of an advertisement did not receive an acknowledgement of his application until after the intervention of the hon. Member for West Ham, North; on what date this man applied for these posts; on what date the hon. Member's letter asking for an investigation was received; and on what date the Establishment Office wrote to the doctor, and with what results.

I have written to the hon. Member, giving an explanation of the circumstances, in reply to his letters of 24th September and 4th October.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of the full complement of police surgeons and deputy police surgeons in the Metropolitan Police area; whether at all times during the current year to date the establishment has been up to full strength; and how many coloured Asian and African medically qualified persons hold such appointments.

54 police surgeons and 41 deputy police surgeons. Vacancies occurred this year following reorganisation and some retirements. One coloured Asian and one coloured African hold appointments.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details of the shortage of police surgeons and deputy police surgeons in the Metropolitan Police area; what action is being taken to overcome these shortages; whether public advertisements were made to encourage applicants, at what costs, and with what results; whether all applicants received an acknowledgement of their applications and an explanation if they were not selected; and whether all positions are now filled.

Arrangements to fill vacancies are not yet complete but there may be up to four places for deputy police surgeons. These places will be filled from the 39 applications already received. The vacancies were advertised in May in the medical Press at a cost of £250. All applications were acknowledged but it is not the custom of the Commissioner to give explanations to those who are not selected.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give the latest figures of murders since the last date of publication; and how these figures compare with the preceding five-yearly period.

The latest corrected figure for murders known to the police in England and Wales in 1970 is 137. The figures for the preceding five years are: 1965, 135; 1966, 122; 1967, 154; 1968, 148; 1969, 119.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, in view of the recent official statistics prepared by his Department during the week commencing 9th October on matters connected with murders and punishment, what plans he has to re-introduce capital punishment.

I would refer the hon. Member to the reply given today to a similar Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Redmond).

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) whether he is aware that, during last year, cash and valuables totalling £55,336,400 were stolen, an increase of 6 per cent. up on the previous year; whether he will give the figures for the preceding four years, and what action has been, or is being, taken to arrest and prevent this growth in crime;(2) how much of the £55,336,400 cash and valuables stolen during last year was from security vans and security firms; and what action he has taken, or intends taking, to prevent this form of robbery.

I have no statistics which enable me to make a worth-while estimate either of the total value of cash and valuables stolen or of the proportion taken from security vans and firms. The scale of loss could be reduced if suitable precautions were always taken by owners and their agents. The police are ready to advise on what would be suitable. Measures to assist them include the current national crime prevention publicity campaign.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to change the present situation to enable the same privileges to be given to Commonwealth citizens to settle in Great Britain as those afforded to aliens, such as spies, who have broken the law.

As there is no such distinction no change is necessary.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will cause an investigation to be made to ascertain to what extent revenue can be obtained with a view to increasing police salaries and pensions and thereby increasing the police manpower by enabling the police forces to establish security firms on a payment basis in competition with the private enterprise organisations in this field.

No. My right hon. Friend does not think it would be right, even if it were practicable, for police forces to go into business.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will give details for the week ending 10th October of the number of Metropolitan police officers who were injured whilst carrying out arrests in London, the nature of their injuries, and how many had to attend hospital, and have time off from their normal duties.

Fifty-one Metropolitan police officers sustained injuries in the week ending 10th October while carrying out arrests in London. Twelve suffered head injuries, 33 injuries to the body, and six injuries to both head and body. Twenty had to have time off from normal duties, of whom 13 had to attend hospital.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will call for reports from chief constables as to the action taken by them to ensure that persons awaiting trial or the completion of their trial are not treated as guilty until so found by a court.

No.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department, as further evidence has now been submitted to him showing that the police are failing to carry out their liability to enforce the law according to statute, if he will now introduce the necessary legislation to enable aggrieved taxpayers the opportunity to sue the police for damages and redress.

My right hon. Friend is not aware of any need for legislation of the kind suggested.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department (1) if he will now introduce legislation for the reimposition of the death penalty for the crime of murder, in view of recent killings;(2) if, in view of the great increase in crime, he will legislate for greater penalties for crimes of violence; and he will make a statement.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the reply given today to a Question by my hon. Friend the Member for Bolton, West (Mr. Redmond).

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether he will make a statement on the report of the Commission on Industrial Relations on industrial relations in the shipbuilding and shiprepairing industries.

With the co-operation of the employers and unions the Commission on Industrial Relations has examined in depth the industrial relations problems of the ship-repairing industry. I commended the Commission's Report to both sides of the industry when it was published.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what proposals he has for amendment of current legislation concerning redundancy payments.

The review of the redundancy payments scheme which my right hon. Friend has been carrying out has not yet been completed.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many special investigators are now employed by his Department; what is their present annual cost in salaries; and how much public expenditure they are estimated to have saved as a result of their work during the last year.

The number of special investigators now employed in my Department is 30 at an average annual salary cost, including superannuation, of £2,245 per investigator.An exact calculation of savings is not possible, but it has been estimated that during the first six months of 1971 savings were at the rate of £5,500 per investigator per annum.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment what percentage of employed men there are in the wage bands £15 per week or less, £17 per week or less, £20 per week or less, £25 per week or less, and £30 per week or less, respectively.

Estimates derived from this year's New Earnings Survey will be available shortly. Figures relating to April, 1970, were given in Table 3 in page 977 of the November, 1970, issue of the Employment and Productivity Gazette.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if, in view of the need for barrier creams in certain processes of industry, and in view of the failure of certain barrier creams to provide adequate protection, he will introduce legislation to lay down acceptable standards for industrial barrier creams; and if he will make a statement.

No. While the use of barrier creams may be useful in certain industrial processes, there are many complex formulations designed for different uses and it would be impracticable to lay down standards by legislation.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent he estimates the decline in fatal and other accidents in factories in 1970 was due to improved safety practices; to what extent to the number of unemployed; and if he will make a statement.

The figures for any one year must always be interpreted with caution, but there are grounds for thinking that there has been a slight but encouraging improvement in the level of safety performance. The reduction in the average number of persons at risk is, of course, a primary cause of the reduction in the gross figures.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will introduce legislation to require that employers prosecuted for offences under the health and safety sections of the Factories Act are compelled to close their factories, sections of their factories or the affending plant until the best safety standards are made available; and if he will make a statement.

This is within the field being considered by the Committee on Safety and Health under the chairmanship of Lord Robens, and I am drawing the Committee's attention to the hon. Member's suggestion.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment if he will consider taking steps to increase the maximum fines for offences under the Factories Act; and if he will make a statement.

This is a subject which ought to await the report of Lord Robens' Committee on Safety and Health at Work.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many vacancies exist for computer operators; and how many computer operators are registered as unemployed.

I regret that the information is not available. Computer operators are not separately identified in my Department's vacancy and unemployment statistics.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment to what extent the increase in unemployment since last year has resulted in an increase in the number of staff at employment exchanges.

In the main, this has been dealt with by the employment of casual staff, but there was an addition of 457 non-industrial staff between 1st January and 1st July, 1971.

asked the Secretary of State for Employment whether, as a means of assisting Great Britain's entry into the European Economic Community, he will take whatever action may be necessary to increase the existing British public holidays to the level of the country in the Six which has the highest number of public holidays; and by how many extra days holiday the British workers would benefit from this action.

As regards the arrangements for public holidays, I have nothing to add to the answer I gave to the hon. Member on 18th March.The position may vary in different parts of this country but, in general, six days are treated as public holidays each year in England and Wales, and five in Scotland. In E.E.C. countries, the comparable figures range from seven in the Netherlands, to 17 in Italy.—[Vol. 813, c. 377.]

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when she expects to issue her circular on help for slow learners at secondary schools; and if she will make a statement.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science when the departmental circular on slow learners is likely to be published.

My right hon. Friend has had discussions with the local authority and teachers' associations and has now decided to publish in full the survey made by H.M. inspectors. This will enable all those concerned to review the arrangements made to help these children in the light of the inspectors' comments and to consider what improvements can be made.

asked the Secretary of State of State for Education and Science if it is her policy to promote the mutual recognition of diplomas, certificates and other evidence of qualification for the teaching profession with the countries of the European Economic Community and within the United Kingdom.

There is no mutual recognition of teachers' qualification among the members of the European Economic Community. Within the United Kingdom my Department already accepts for qualified teacher status for teaching in primary and secondary schools in England and Wales all teachers registered by the Scottish Teachers' Council and, with few exceptions, all teachers recognised by the Northern Ireland Government.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science in how many schools in the borough of Derby is, and in how many is not, milk now available for sale; why arrangements have not been made to provide milk in all schools; and what action she is taking.

This information will not be available until the results of the autumn census of school meals and milk are known. Local education authorities decide to what extent they wish to exercise their discretion to provide milk for sale in their schools.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date she received from the Chief Education Officer of the London Borough of Newham a communication dated 21st July, 1971, concerning the Education (Milk) Bill; what was its nature; when she replied; and what were the terms of her reply.

I have no trace of any communication on the Education (Milk) Bill dated 21st July from the Chief Education Officer of Newham. The hon. Member may recall that he sent me a copy of an official letter of 21st June from the Chief Education Officer to my Department on this subject. In that connection, I have nothing to add to my reply of 1st July to the hon. Member.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date she received from the Chief Education Officer of the London Borough of Newham a communication dated 14th October, 1971 concerning the Education (Milk) Act, 1971; what was its nature; when she replied; and what were the terms of her reply.

On 18th October: it conveyed a Resolution by Newham Education Committee expressing disapproval of the Education (Milk) Act, a reply will be sent shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science on what date she received the communication sent on 17th October to her by the hon. Member for West Ham, North regarding the attitude of the London Borough of Newham to the Education (Milk) Act, 1971; when a reply may be expected; and whether she will make a statement.

18th October. A reply will be sent shortly.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science how many grants of free milk have been made on medical grounds to the latest available date.

This information will not be available until the results of the autumn census of school meals and milk are known.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what reply she has made to the letter of 11th October from the Director of Education, the County Borough of Oldham, which contained the text of a resolution passed by the Education Committee and by the Borough Council on the subject of school milk.

A reply was sent by the Department on 19th October.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what instructions are given regarding the availability and accessibility of adequate first-aid facilities and equipment in schools; if she will consider improving training facilities in first aid for school staffs; and if she will make a statement.

Local education authorities are not required to inform the Department of their arrangements and instructions for first aid in schools. Advice on the subject is given in the Department's pamphlet "Safety at School", from which I am sending the hon. Member an extract.Training in first aid is provided by voluntary bodies to which the pamphlet refers local education authorities for further help.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science if, in view of the work of the British Association for the Advancement of Science in spreading knowledge of developments in the scientific field and making it possible for the interchange of knowledge about developments in a wide range of disciplines, she will consider making a grant to assist the Association to continue and expand its work; and if she will make a statement.

The Association, which is an independent body, has been told that when the period for the present grant ends in 1973, my Department will consider giving support only in respect of specific services that may be required by the Department. The Association is now exploring the possibility of other sources of help.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science, what sections or agencies exist in her Department for collecting information from, or giving advice and assistance to, private sector industry.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what is the proposed building programme for all primary school building comparing the programme for 1971–72 with that for 1972–73, 1973–74 and any subsequent years.

At constant 1971 prices the total value of primary school building in England and Wales approved for starting in the major programme will be £55 million this year, £70 million in 1972–73 and £68·5 million in 1973–74.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science (1) if she will amend school premises regulations to ensure that every sanitary convenience shall be sufficiently ventilated and shall not communicate with any teaching or dining space except through the open air or through an intervening ventilated space;(2) if she will amend the School Premises Regulations to ensure that school kitchens and dining spaces comply with Food Hygiene Regulations.

No. School premises are subject to the Food Hygiene Regulations, which include requirements as to the ventilation and siting of sanitary conveniences.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what reports she has received from local education authorities that dairies are finding it uneconomic to deliver fresh milk to rural schools; and if she will make a statement.

None.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science what consideration she has given to the principle of a four-term year instead of the three-term year in all schools; and if she will make a statement.

Local education authorities are free to organise the school year in maintained schools as they think fit and no approaches have been made to my right hon. Friend about this.

asked the Secretary of State for Education and Science why there has been a delay in the announcement of an arbitration award for further education teachers, originally promised for seven days from 27th September, and when the award can now be expected.

The arbitral body duly heard the parties on 27th September. It delivered its recommendations to me at the end of last week.I told my hon. Friend the Member for Brierley Hill (Mr. Montgomery) yesterday in a Written Answer that the Government accepted the recommendations.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will address the next meeting of the National Research and Development Council.

I have no plans to do so. My Department is in regular contact with the Corporation on matters of common concern.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many oil rigs are being built in the United Kingdom and where; and how many are on order for use in British waters that are being constructed outside the United Kingdom.

Regular statistics are not collected on drilling platforms. No drilling vessels are currently being built or on order in United Kingdom yards, nor in overseas yards for registration under the British flag. One drilling vessel has recently been completed in U.C.S. Clydebank Division.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what flights are scheduled to land at London Heathrow Airport between midnight and 07.30 on weekdays during the summer and autumn.

I regret that the information sought is not readily available but I will communicate with the hon. Member with the object of providing such information as can reasonably be obtained and which is best suited to his purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry up to what strength of easterly winds the controllers at London Heathrow Airport are instructed to persist in bringing in aircraft down wind and across London.

In the interests of noise reduction, in weather conditions when the tail wind component is no greater than five knots on the main runways 28R and 28L, these runways will normally he used in preference to runways 10R and 10L, provided their surfaces are dry.

asked the Secretary it State for Trade and Industry if he will make a statement regarding negotiations for the sale of Rolls-Royce Composite Materials and on his policy with regard to the possible purchase of the company by a foreign country.

Disposal of Rolls-Royce (Composite Materials) Ltd. is a matter for the Receiver and Joint Liquidators of Rolls-Royce Ltd. A proposal to transfer the company into foreign ownership would be considered on its merits, as are all proposals for inward investment.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will consider taking steps to make it a requirement for the price in ounces or pounds to be indicated when foods are offered for sale.

I appreciate that consumers might benefit by the marking of some foods with the price per unit weight. But we have no power to require it, and can hold out no hope of introducing legislation on this subject during the coming Session. We will, however, bear the hon. Member's suggestion in mind when considering further legislation in this field. As the hon. Member will know, this is a complex subject and the benefits of unit pricing are by no means clear-cut on those foods, for example butter, sugar, etc., for which quantities are now prescribed by law.

asked the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry if he will now give an assurance that he intends to set up the proposed new British Export Board to take the place of the British National Export Council.

Yes.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether he will now make a statement concerning the former Ghanaian frigate constructed especially for ex-President Nkrumah, which has been lying in the Clyde awaiting disposal and is now written off by Her Majesty's Government as a Ghanaian liability; what reconstruction of such vessel has occurred at his instigation; and whether he has now found a buyer or whether the Royal Navy is to take over the frigate.

Her Majesty's Government have agreed to release the Ghana Government from their obligation in respect of the outstanding balance of the purchase price of the frigate, and arrangements are being made to give effect to this agreement and to transfer ownership of the vessel to Her Majesty's Government Parliamentary authority will be sought in due course. No reconstruction has been undertaken, and we are considering with my right hon, and noble Friend, the Secretary of State for Defence, what the future of the vessel should be.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1) whether Her Majesty's Government supports the proposal in Recommendation 204 of the Assembly of Western European Union, passed in June, 1971, that Denmark, Norway and the Republic of Ireland should be invited to accede to the modified Brussels Treaty;(2) what action Her Majesty's Government are taking on Recommendation 204 of the Assembly of Western European Union, passed in June, 1971, on the Evolution of the European Institutions; and what progress has been made in convening a high level of conference to consider the best means of implementing the Western European Treaty, mentioned in this Recommendation;(3) what is the attitude of Her Majesty's Government to Recommendation 207 of the Assembly of Western European Union passed in June, 1971 and whether he will support the proposal to convene a Technological Ministerial Conference in the Council of Ministers of Western European Union;(4) what is the attitude of Her Majesty's Government to Recommendation 209 of the Western European Union Assembly passed in June, 1971, on the Brussels Treaty and the Control of Armaments, and in particular whether he favours the setting up of an armaments trade office;(5) what is his policy towards the future of the Agency for the Control of Armaments, mentioned by the Western European Assembly in their Recommendation No. 209, passed by that Assembly in June, 1971.

Replies to Recommendations of the Assembly of Western European Union are a matter for the Council of Western European Union

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will list for the period 1965 to date the members of the United Kingdom delegations to the Council of Europe, the North Atlantic Assembly, and to the Western European Union; and how many were men and how many were women, respectively, in each delegation each year.

The Members of the United Kingdom Delegations to the Council of Europe and to the Western European Union are to be found in the Official Report.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he intends to accept the draft directives for European Economic Community opticians.

The European Economic Community Council of Ministers have not yet expressed their opinion on these draft directives. At this stage it would be premature for Her Majesty's Government to do so.

asked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many young persons are involved in international voluntary service through the British Volunteer Programme; and what percentage is recruited from universities, colleges of education, public schools, grammar schools and comprehensive schools, respectively.

At the beginning of this year there were 1,847 volunteers. All had degrees or comparable qualifications. 58 per cent. were from universities and 15 per cent. from colleges of education: the rest qualified elsewhere. Details of the earlier education of these volunteers are not readily available.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications if he will give a general direction to the Post Office to ensure that sub-postmasters are reimbursed the cost to them of converting existing scales as a result of the change to decimal currency.

No. This is a management matter for the Post Office.

asked the Minister of Posts and Telecommunications what proportion of telephone subscribers in the United Kingdom now has full subscriber trunk-dialling facilities; and whether he will now give a general direction for the level of charges to other subscribers to be reduced for trunk calls of less than three minutes.

These are matters for the Post Office, but I understand that 92 per cent. of telephone subscribers in the United Kingdom have subscriber trunk-dialling facilities, enabling them to dial most of their calls.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food how many cases of Dutch Elm disease have now been reported in England and Wales; and whether he will make a statement.

There are no statistics for England and Wales as a whole. According to the Foresty Commission's recent suvey of the worst affected areas, about 580,000 elms, or about 3 per cent. of the total elm population in those areas, have recently died from the disease or are very severely affected by it. A further 1,600,000, or 9 per cent., have slight to moderate infection.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps are being taken by Her Majesty's Government to monitor the dumping of highly poisonous chemical wastes in the North Sea; what international discussions, to which Her Majesty's Government is a party, are taking place regarding control of the dumping of such wastes; and if he will make a statement.

Under its voluntary arrangements for controlling the dumping of waste at sea, my Department evaluates each proposal and gives agreement only if it will cause no harm to fisheries or the marine environment. We would not agree to wastes containing significant quantities of poisonous substances being dumped in the North Sea. Fish and shellfish landed from all sources. including the North Sea, are monitored' by my Department's Fisheries Laboratory, and the United Kingdom is cooperating in a study of pollution of the North Sea under the auspices of the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea. The United Kingdom is also taking part in a series of discussions with other North Sea countries to consider joint measures for controlling pollution of the North Sea; a meeting is at present taking place in Oslo.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what criteria, he is applying in his assessment as to whether or not imported food should be marked with the country of origin when the new regulations come into force at the end of November.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer given by my hon. Friend the Under-Secretary of State for Trade and Industry to my hon. Friends the Members for Torrington (Mr. Peter Mills) and Leicester, South-West (Mr. Tom Boardman) on 19th October.—[Vol. 823, c. 104·5.]

asked the Prime Minister how many letters he has received since 27th July on the subject of the coordination of his social and economic policies.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave last Tuesday to Questions from the hon. Member for Birmingham, Northfield (Mr. Carter) and other hon. Members.—[Vol. 823, c. 540.]

asked the Prime Minister if he will make a statement on his talks on 20th October with the Prime Minister of the Republic of Ireland.

My talks with the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic, which had been arranged for 20th and 21st October, were brought forward to 6th and 7th September. I subsequently had discussions with the Prime Minister of the Irish Republic and the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland on 27th and 28th September. I am arranging for a copy of the statement issued after that meeting to be circulated in the OFFICIAL REPORT.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Heads of Government of the Common Market countries on the future development of defence policies.

When I meet Heads of Government of members of the Community, questions of common defence interest are naturally discussed. All European Economic Community countries are members of the Atlantic Alliance. There have been no such meetings specially to discuss defence.

asked the Prime Minister what discussions he has had with the Heads of Government of the European Economic Community countries on the development of European defence policies.

I would refer my hon. Friend to the answer I gave earlier today to a Question from the hon. Member for Wolverhampton, North-East (Mrs. Renée Short).

asked the Prime Minister what exchanges he has had to date with the Prime Ministers of Canada, Australia and New Zealand about the admission of patrials to the United Kingdom; and with what result.

While there has been close consultation between Governments, we have had no personal exchanges on this subject.

asked the Prime Minister whether he will now seek to arrange to pay an official visit to China before May, 1972, to discuss with the leaders of the Government of the People's Republic of China international affairs.

I have no plans to do so.

asked the Prime Minister if he is satisfied with the co-ordination between the Ministry of Defence and the Department of Trade and Industry on long-term projects in aerospace, in the light of the Rayner Committee Report.

I would refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave earlier today to a similar Question from my hon. Friend the Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow).

asked the Prime Minister what further consideration he has given to the representations that have been made to him about the recognition of the Albert and Edward Medals; and if he will make a statement.